Monday, June 5, 2017

Return to Huckleberry Hill- June 5

My take:
Reuben is a forlorn young man who has been jilted... for his best friend.
His best friend's sister, Fern feels awful about the situation.
His grandmother is determined to find him a good wife, and his best friend's sister is happy to help with the matchmaking.
The two decide to form a knitting group so that Reuben will have lots of young ladies to socialize with as they visit his grandmother's house.
I loved how Reuben's pride was seen as such an issue... too often he was convinced others would judge him because he had been abandoned for his best friend, but they really didn't see it as being a big deal.
I loved his elderly grandmother, as well.
Fern is a likeable character who truly has his best interests at heart.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Amish fiction with a little bit of romance.
I've never read other books set in Huckleberry Hill but believe I will give them a try.
I did receive a complimentary book for giving an honest review through Celebrate Lit. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE BOOK






Book: Return to Huckleberry Hill
Author: Jennifer Beckstrand
Genre: Inspirational Amish Romance
Release Date: May 30, 2017
When it comes to matchmaking, Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin’s unstoppable octogenarians Anna and Felty Helmuth never seem to run out of opportunities—or grandchildren…
Reuben Helmuth is plenty bitter. John King, his best friend—or so he thought—is engaged to the girl Reuben loved. Humiliated, Reuben flees from Ohio to his grandparents’ home on Huckleberry Hill, where he knows he’ll find comfort. He’s enjoying wallowing in his misery—until John’s sister, Fern, shows up. She won’t stop pestering Reuben about forgiveness—or trying to help him find love again. Yet Fern’s efforts only reawaken Reuben’s long-buried feelings—for her…
With her brother too ashamed to face Reuben, it’s fallen to Fern to help mend fences. But as she and the Helmuths do all they can—even organizing a knitting club event filled with eligible girls—it may take one more challenge to inspire Reuben to forget his heartache, recognize his own blunders, and embrace the true love that’s right in front of him…


ABOUT THE AUTHOR




Jennifer Beckstrand is the award winning Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hillseries and The Honeybee Sisters series for Kensington Books. Jennifer has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people and loves writing about the antics of Anna and Felty Helmuth and the Honeybee sisters’ aendi Bitsy. Jennifer has a degree in mathematics and a passion for Jane Austen and Shakespeare. She and her husband have been married for thirty-two years, and she has four daughters, two sons, and soon-to-be six adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.


In Return to Huckleberry Hill, Anna Helmuth and Fern King decide to start a knitting club in order to introduce Anna’s grandson Reuben to some girls from Bonduel, Wisconsin. Anna is a very good knitter, with years of practice making baby blankets, scarves, mittens, and potholders. One of Anna’s scarves actually saved someone’s life, and her potholders have helped her make many a match.
When I was a young teenager, I learned how to knit and crochet. My mom taught me how to sew and quilt, and I made several of my own dresses in high school. I never learned to love sewing, but it was an invaluable skill that I am so grateful to have. Now that I’m a little older, I love putting together simple quilts for baby gifts and making quilts for the local children’s hospital. There is nothing like a homemade gift to say, “I care about you.”
I have a friend who is a wonderful cook. Making a delicious, beautiful meal is how she tells her family she loves them. I don’t consider myself a great cook, but I still take pride in putting something nutritious and satisfying on the table for my family.
It seems to me that some of the “home arts” that our mothers and grandmothers practiced are dying out. Who knows how to tat anymore? Or embroider? Some of these arts have died because of expediency. Who doesn’t think today’s stocking choices are more comfortable and practical than knitted wool ones? Others have died out because so few people want to learn.
What about you? Do you still practice any of the home arts that your grandmother did? What do you want to pass on to the next generation?

Blog Stops

May 24: A Greater Yes
May 25: Just Commonly
May 30: Quiet Quilter

GIVEAWAY
To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away a $15 Amazon gift card to three lucky winners!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/b3b2

6 comments:

  1. I knit a little and crochet a little. I am an uber beginner at both arts. :)

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    1. That is so wonderful, though, that you have started. :) I have a reader who crochets a baby blanket every time I get a new grandchild. They are priceless!

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  2. I sew and crochet, and cook everything from scratch.

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  3. Emma, I used to do a lot more cooking than I do now. Since I became an empty nester, I've almost forgotten how to cook!

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  4. Thank you so much for having me on your blog today. I am thrilled you enjoyed "Return to Huckleberry Hill." I have so much fun writing Anna and Felty's adventures. :)

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  5. My grandma taught me how to quilt and crochet!

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