Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin’s irrepressible eighty-something matchmakers 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 … 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. 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 heart-warming story of faith, hope, and second chances. The story will captivate readers who love the Amish culture and enjoy an endearing romance.”
–Amy Clipston, bestselling author of A Place at Our Table
more
Oh my! Get ready for some Amish fireworks! This book moves quickly and is riveting. Well developed characters who go through some rough times, but are about family, kept me turning pages quickly.
First, I have to say that I love Anna and Felty. They make me laugh with their antics and attitudes, and yet are so endearing that I would love to have them as grandparents. They truly do show what family is all about. Mary Anne and Jethro learn a lot from them and grow as a couple.
Beckstrand teaches some lessons throughout, about the give and take of marriage, and dealing with hard situations. But it’s done with humor and warmth. I loved this book! If you enjoy Amish fiction I highly recommend Home on Huckleberry Hill.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
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.
Home On Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand is the most charming contemporary Amish novel that will make you smile and leave you feeling good.
I always know that when I pick up a Jennifer Beckstrand novel, I will be in for a real treat. There are always wonderful, warm characters that move into my heart. I love her Huckleberry Hill residents of Felty and Annie – octogenarians who have a huge heart for others, a playful sense of humour, and a tendency to match-make. They say some outrageous things that are picked up as gossip and taken as truth. “Gossip is like a bag of feathers” and once it is out there, we cannot gather it in. It is important not to gossip and spread rumours. We must guard against it.
The main focus of the novel is a marriage that is floundering. The reader learns about love. “Love isn’t a feeling… Love is something we do.” We need to work at the love in our marriages to keep them alive. Within the novel, we witness love in action. There are many different types of love but only one word that covers all… we have the love in a marriage, in a family, in a community and we have the love of God.
If we love someone, we want the best for them. We must put aside our selfish nature and live a life of selfless love. If a marriage is stale, we need to go back and remember what it was that made us fall in love with that person.
Sometimes the past holds painful memories. We see the pain caused by miscarriage and infertility, and the damage caused when we keep silent and brush the pain under the carpet. We risk becoming two lone ships on painful voyages if we do not open up and become vulnerable.
We need to trust in God. “It wasn’t easy… to put his life in Gotte’s hands.” God will never let us down. He did not promise us a trouble-free life but He did promise to never leave nor forsake us. Do not equate His silence with His absence.
Home On Huckleberry Hill was so delightfully amusing. There were some serious themes but a wonderful light air to the whole novel. It was a totally charming read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
A fun and heartwarming story
When Jethro forgets their sixth anniversary, Mary Anne can’t take it any longer. And thus begins a humorous and heartwarming adventure!
I loved this story from the very start. Mammi and Dawdi are so cute and so funny! Their whispers in the grocery store start rumors as they set out to help Mary Anne and Jethro in their marriage. When Mary Anne moves out of the house and into a tent, they show their solidarity by moving into their own borrowed tent!
I love the way this elderly couple meddles so kindly. Mammi is so funny with all her attempts at cooking that she thinks turn out so well but which end with less than desirable results. Cabbage lasagna?? Eew!
Jethro is quite dense. And at first, I didn’t care for him. He was so self-centered he never saw the pain poor Mary Anne was in or how his method of dealing with grief and attempting to help her was interpreted. And yet, I began to love him more and more as he began to have the courage to stand up against the (terrible!) advice from his family and the community. And as he began to fall back in love with his wife again.
There were so many laugh-out-loud moments in this story!! One of my very favorite parts was when Jethro suggested he and Mary Anne go to town for bacon-maple doughnuts early in the morning and the adventures they had in their attempt to get there in the fastest possible way. I was only surprised that he didn’t cite this as another example to prove that he wasn’t boring!
In addition to the laughter, the story also dealt with real heartbreak sensitively. The balance between the humor and the hurt was perfect, with neither one overdone.
If you enjoy humorous romance with relevant life-lessons, even if you are not a fan of Amish fiction, I encourage you to read Home on Huckleberry Hill!
Read my review of Home on Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
This was such a unique Amish book!
I loved the synopsis of the book; it is part of the reason I originally wanted to read this book. It turned out to be a great story, with a storyline I had never read in an Amish book before. Women everywhere want to be heard and loved for who they are, the Amish women are no different; it is just harder for them to show it. Jennifer Beckstrand explained the situation very well and made everything seem very plausible. She also did a great job describing the setting, the characters and their emotions. Jennifer Beckstrand really crafted a very good story about communication, forgiveness and second chances. With a little quirkiness thrown in, the Home on Huckleberry Hill is sure to be an interesting and fun read for everyone. I truly enjoyed this book.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
Okay Amish book!
I loved it! Excellent offer! Great series, I’m looking forward to reading them all! Thank you!
I loved this book.