Home on Huckleberry Hill

Jennifer Beckstrand

Jun 2018 · The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill Book 9 · Zebra Books

About this ebook

“A heart-warming story of faith, hope, and second chances…will captivate readers who love the Amish culture and enjoy an endearing romance.”–Amy Clipston, bestselling author of A Place at Our Table
 
The irrepressible eighty-something matchmakers ofHuckleberry Hill, Wisconsin, Anna and Felty Helmuth, are at it again. And this time they’re willing to rough it to get the job done . . .
 
Mary Anne Neuenschwander knows she should be content with what Gotte has given her. She has a comfortable house, a fruitful farm, and a good, steady husband. But after nearly six years of marriage, she still longs for a baby. Yet her husband, Jethro, seems to care more about fishing than about his wife. Unable to bear Jethro’s indifference, Mary Anne moves into a tent in the woods where he won’t have to be bothered with her. But when her mammi and dawdi find out what she’s done, they’ll stop at nothing—including a little camping trip of their own—to help save their granddaughter’s marriage . . .
 
Jethro’s greatest blessing is his beloved wife, Mary Anne. Nothing else in his life has turned out anywhere near the way he expected. Rather than burden Mary Anne with his disappointment, he shields her by spending less and less time at home and more time on the river. But when he finds that she’s moved out, he’s shocked. What will people think? What is Mary Anne thinking? And what clever plans are her grandparents hatching?

“A delightful voice in Amish romance.”—Emma Miller, author of The Amish Bride

Ratings and reviews

Home on Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand is the ninth tale in The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill. Anna Helmuth is worried about her granddaughter, Mary Anne’s marriage and, as usual, her instincts are spot on. Mary Anne Neuenschwander is fed up. She knows that she should be grateful for her home and her husband, but Mary Anne is not happy. Jethro cares more about his fishing pole than he does about Mary Anne. When he fails to remember their six-year anniversary, she moves into a tent in the backyard. Ever since her miscarriage four years prior along with the news regarding future children, Jethro has been a different man. Now Mary Anne is going to focus on making herself happy instead of satisfying Jethro. Jethro was devastated when Mary Anne had her miscarriage and he was afraid of letting her see his disappointment. He threw himself into fishing with his friends and even bought a $400 fishing pole which is keeps on the bed in the spare room. When he arrives home and finds that Mary Anne has moved out, he is dumbfounded. He is worried about what people in the district will think (oh dear). Anna and Felty soon arrive and set up their tent. They want to support Mary Anne, but they are not quite prepared for roughing it. Anna has a plan, but she did not count on Jethro being so obtuse. Anna will need more than pot holders if this project is going to succeed. Break out your best camping gear, cozy up to the campfire and submerge yourself in Home on Huckleberry Hill. Home on Huckleberry Hill is a delight to read. The story is well-written and it has a nice, steady pace throughout. This book is different from the others in the series. Anna and Felty are trying to assist a married couple instead of match up to singles. Jennifer Beckstrand has created a wonderful pair of characters. Anna and Felty are darling and their antics had me laughing frequently (their chickens, the RV, the hammock, Anna’s cooking). At one point, Anna offers to knit a scarf or a Minion beanie if it would help (the pot holders were not cutting it) and I continue to chuckle every time I think about that line (and situation). I also enjoyed Mary Anne’s creative outlets. They were very clever and unique (I will never look at cheese doodles the same way again). I was quite taken with the butterfly quilt she constructed. I like how Mary Anne’s family supported her decision and aided her. The campground got quite large and Jethro’s tent will never be the same again. There are good life lessons in Home on Huckleberry Hill. The importance of communication in a marriage, putting your partner’s happiness ahead of your own, and remembering that there are two sides to every story. This is a book about learning from your mistakes, remembering why you love your spouse (falling in love again) and moving forward in harmony. While Home on Huckleberry Hill is part of a series, it can be read alone. I thoroughly recommend every book in this engaging Amish series. Each book is better than the previous and Jennifer Beckstrand did not disappoint in Home on Huckleberry Hill. Home on Huckleberry Hill is a warm-hearted, humorous story that will leave you wanting more. My rating for Home on Huckleberry Hill is 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it).

What a fabulous read! It is a joy to visit the Helmuth family again! The author weaves important lessons about faith and marriage during a painful season of a young married couple and Anna and Felty’s attempt to reunite them. The story brings laugh-out-loud moments, heartbreaking disagreements, and how each character looks deep within to determine, “Lord, is it I?” Mary Anne and Jethro have been married six years. Despite the growing canyon between them since the tragedy of four years earlier, Mary Anne prepared a special anniversary dinner. Instead, Jethro came home from work long enough to gather his new $400 fishing pole, tell her to not wait up, and go fishing with his buddies. Mary Anne has had enough. Enough of Jethro’s absences. Of him loving his new fishing rod more than her. His complaints about her spending money or time on what he considered frivolous, such as getting a special cheese or making rosettes in the radishes. Once they adored each other, but she no longer even likes him, as he keeps her from doing anything that brings her joy. Mary Anne hates camping. She doesn’t have anywhere to go, though, so she borrows her Jethro’s tent, cot, and sleeping bag and camps in the woods. She borrows a few things from the house, such as the table next to his comfortable chair, pots and pans, and a lantern. First, Jethro noticed that Mary Anne didn’t make his coffee or breakfast the next morning. He found a very sad note from her which included that she borrowed $200 from his money jar. He did not even understand that she had left! Not until he came home that evening and found other things missing from his house. Things that he considers his, since he earns the money. He finally found the tent Mary Anne set up in the woods. How dare she? Mary Anne knows she must get a job and a small apartment before autumn. She borrows another tent to set up her sewing machine and quilt frames to earn money, also. The next night, Jethro brings Bishop Yoder! In his wisdom, the bishop tells the story of Jesus and the disciples on that Passover they celebrated when Jesus said He would be betrayed and killed, and each of the disciples asked “Lord, is it I?” Mary Anne graciously takes the blame for everything, and an irate Jethro feels she is right. When Mary Anne’s grandparents, octogenarians Anna and Felty Helmuth, heard what happened, they borrow a small tent and join her in the woods as a show of their love. Soon, more relatives join them. As the hilarity begins that only her grandparents can bring, the angry words and actions between the couple multiply until it is certain they will never be able to bridge the gap, even when Jethro recalls just how much he loves his wife. I absolutely loved this novel! I was happy to join the Helmuth’s again where almost anything can happen when Anna sets her skills to matchmaking skills. I appreciated the lessons about love and forgiveness despite several uncomfortable “ouch” moments. Yes, it is at great expense to Mary Anne and Jethro to navigate through their pain and hear what each other’s truth Is, even when hope seems gone. I highly recommend this novel and series to anyone who appreciates Amish Christian fiction that teaches through laughter and tears, scripture and action. From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Celebrate Lit, and this is my honest review.

This whole series has been a wonderful read.

About the author

Jennifer Beckstrand is the RITA-nominated and award-winning author of the Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill and The Honeybee Sisters series, as well as a number of novellas. Novels in her Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series have been RITA® Award and RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award finalists. Huckleberry Hill won the 2014 LIME Award for inspirational fiction and Huckleberry Hearts was named a Booklist Top 10 Inspirational Fiction Book of the Year. Jennifer has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people. She and her husband have been married for thirty-three years, and she has four daughters, two sons, and seven adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten. Please visit her online at www.JenniferBeckstrand.com.