Review & Giveaway: Huckleberry Hearts by Jennifer Beckstrand

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Young-at-heart octogenarians Anna and Felty Helmuth never miss the chance to find a perfect match for one of their grandchildren. And when their beloved Cassie returns to Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin, Anna has a feeling they might soon have a doctor in the family… 

Though Cassie Coblenz left her Amish community to go to college, Mammi and Dawdi’s farm will always feel like home. It’s the ideal place for an extended study break—at least until her grandmother’s handsome Englisch doctor becomes a regular distraction. Zach Reynolds is the kind of heartbreaker Cassie has learned to avoid, no matter how charming he may be.
 
Unlike every woman Zach has met in recent years, Cassie doesn’t fall at his feet. Strong, generous, beautiful within and without —she’s everything he could want. Yet the gulf between them deepens when a tragedy shakes his faith. Now the good doctor has one goal—to become a man who could be worthy of Cassie’s love…

My Review

Huckleberry Hearts is the sixth in the Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series, but can definitely be read as a stand alone. I haven't read any of the previous books but now I want to! The grandparents Anna and Felty are quirky and charming. They are the only ones in Cassie's family who support her decision to find her own path, even though it's not with the Amish. Anna sees something in Zach that makes her select him for her matchmaking scheme, however unlikely the pairing is. I liked how the story line is different from other Amish fiction in that the main characters are not Amish although they have strong ties to the community. There are several strong themes that play out, including self-control, forgiveness and second chances, grief and trusting God, and staying true to one's self. There are many unexpected moments between Zach and Cassie that are pretty wonderful, but also some predictable ones where you can see the conflict coming. An admirable trait in Zach was that he tried his best to defend Cassie from her verbally abusive mother and brother while keeping his temper in check for her sake. I felt the story was well-written and held my attention throughout. I'm looking forward to reading more by the author!

(Thank you to CelebrateLit Publicity and Kensington Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

About the Author

Jennifer Beckstrand is the bestselling Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series for Kensington Books. Huckleberry Summer was nominated for the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award and the 2015 RITA® Award, and Huckleberry Hill won the 2014 LIME Award for Inspirational fiction. Both Huckleberry Hill and Huckleberry Christmas appeared in Examiner.com list of top ten inspirational books for 2014.

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. Jennifer has a degree in mathematics and a background in editing. She and her husband have been married for thirty years, and she has four daughters, two sons, and four adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.

Check out other reviews of Huckleberry Hearts on the Blog tour:

Nov 23: Kick off Celebrate Lit
Nov 23 Southern Chelle
Nov 24: Books!Books!Books!
Nov 25: Heidi Reads...
Nov 26: Artistic Nobody
Nov 27: Simple Harvest Reads
Nov 28: Bukwurmzzz
Nov 28: Cassandra M’s (spotlight)
Nov 29: cherylbbookblog
Nov 30: A Greater Yes
Dec 1: Texas Book Aholic
Dec 2: Two Girls and a Book
Dec 3: Quiet Quilter
Dec 3: Southern Gal
Dec 4:Reading is my Superpower
Dec 4: Power of Words
Dec 5: Bigreadersite
Dec 6: Henry Happens
Dec 6: Debbies Dusty Deliberations
Dec 7: Singing Librarian Books

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Review: The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower.

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man around. And her skills as an artist rival those of any artist she’s met. But for a woman in medieval times, the one skill she most desires is the hardest one to obtain: the ability to read.

After yet another young man asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides they need to move once again, but this time to a larger city. Rapunzel’s heart soars—surely there she can fulfill her dream. But Mother won’t let her close to a man. She claims that no man can be trusted.

After being rescued by a knight on the road to the city, and in turn rescuing him farther down the road, Rapunzel’s opportunity arrives at last. This knight, Sir Gerek, agrees to educate Rapunzel in order to pay back his debt. She just has to put up with his arrogant nature and single-minded focus on riches and prestige.

But this Rapunzel story is unlike any other and the mystery that she uncovers will change everything—except her happily ever after.

My Review

There are so many things that make this book a pleasure to read! The setting, the time period, the adventure, the characters, and the light romance all balance together to create an epic story. The author deviated enough from the classic tale to make it interesting and not predictable, but included elements that made it recognizable. Rapunzel's dilemma of submitting to her mother while desiring to stretch her wings puts her in a conflicting position. It was interesting to see her independence develop slowly, which made the transition realistic. Gerek and Rapunzel have a rough start to their friendship with her mistrust and his arrogance, but they learn to value each other even with social class differences. I especially enjoyed her teasing and sassiness which brought a light tone and a few chuckles. I could tell the book was written for a young adult audience and didn't feel like I connected with the emotions of the characters at a higher level, but it was a great adventure to go on.

(Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and Thomas Nelson Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review & Giveaway: One Last Spring by Sian Ann Bessey

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

The quiet village of Llanwddyn has long been a safe haven for Gwen, a young Welsh country girl whose life has been fraught with tragedy. Following the untimely death of her parents, it was her aunt's home in Llanwddyn that provided Gwen and her brother a refuge from their grief. Now, with the unwelcome news that the village is to be razed in the name of progress, an inescapable wave of change has begun.

When her brother departs to follow his dream of sailing the high seas, Gwen is left alone to navigate the shifting world around her. She soon finds herself relying on the support of her brother's best friend, Lewis, a gentle blacksmith whose kindness stirs her heart. Resigned to the fact that Lewis may never see her as more than a child, Gwen is soon swept off her feet by Thomas, a prosperous young Englishman. Torn between two men and two very different paths, Gwen has little time to determine what course her heart will follow. With time running out for her beautiful valley, will love come too late?

My Review

What a lovely book. It was so easy for me to relate to the main character Gwen, one who is sentimental, stubborn, and has a difficult time adjusting to change. I love that she is an artist, sketching her changing village from her perch on the mountain. Her way of coping with life is admirable, to make each day meaningful in some small way, whether it's taking a moment to appreciate nature or helping someone in the community. Even though the book is not fast-paced, it was one that I wanted to take my time reading and enjoy every page as it steadily moved forward with Gwen's feelings of anxiety and conflict along her journey of transition. The Welsh setting and words were completely charming. Highly recommend!

(Thank you to Covenant Communications for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Blog Tour Schedule

November 16th

Heidi Reads...

Books are Sanity

November 17th

Mel's Shelves

Wishful Endings

November 18th

Joy in the Moments

Bookworm Lisa

Literary Time Out

November 19th

Singing Librarian Books

LDS and Lovin' It

Rockin' Book Reviews

Fire and Ice Reads

November 20th

Katie's Clean Book Collection

My Book a Day

Getting Your Read On

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Gratitude Giveaway Hop! A Reluctant Bride by Kathleen Fuller

I love this time of year to refocus on all the blessings I have to be grateful for. Just one of them is the opportunity to read and review so many amazing books on my blog. I'm also thankful for all the friends I've made with fellow bloggers, authors, and readers! Thank you for your support!

Synopsis

She never wanted to marry. He hopes to make amends for past wrongs. Can love find a way to heal both of their hearts?

Sadie Schrock swore she would never marry. All of her other Amish friends could court and marry she was content to manage the family business and eventually take it over when her parents are ready to retire. But all of that changes when a reckless driver kills both of her parents and seriously injures her younger sister. With mounting hospital bills adding to the pile of debt her parents left behind, Sadie is left with no choice: she must marry. And not just any man the man who saw her at her weakest and walked away.

Aden knows what his brother did to Sadie years ago was inexcusable. And every day since that incident, Aden has lived with the guilt for not intervening sooner. When he is faced with the chance to protect Sadie once again, he can t let her down even if it means living with the scorn of the woman he loves for the rest of his life.

Working alongside Aden at the store, Sadie realizes he isn t the same boy who once betrayed her. Just when Sadie starts to let her guard down and perhaps develop feelings for her new husband, dangerous secrets are revealed. Now everything Sadie has worked so hard to protect is threatened, and she must find a way to save her family and herself.

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