Review: First Christmas on Huckleberry Hill

First Christmas on Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my, what a sweet story. It never occurred to me to wonder how and when Felty and Anna met and fell in love. I'm certainly glad that Ms. Beckstrand took the time to tell us this heart-warming story. And just in time for the Christmas season too!

If you have been following this series as I have, then I really don't need to recap the story for you. But I will say that this story surprised me---a lot. It was an experience to see an Amish man go against his faith yet keep his faith-all for the good of his country and his God.

This quick, sweet read was funny and thought-provoking. All of Ms. Beckstrand's books are funny to a certain degree, but this book stands out. I've loved all of her books, but I'll have to say that this one is going to become one of my favorite 'comfort reads'.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Zebra, the author, and NetGalley. My thanks to all

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SYNOPSIS:

"The endearingly mischievous matchmaking grandparents Anna and Felty Helmuth have helped generations of their Wisconsin community - including many of their own grandchildren - find love over the course of USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Beckstrand's beloved Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series. Now, in this heartwarming prequel set in 1952, Anna and Felty's own love story takes center stage as the young couple spends their first uncertain Christmas together.

Before irrepressible eighty-somethings Anna and Felty Helmuth became Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin's most-beloved matchmakers, they were mismatched young lovers facing seemingly impossible obstacles...

She can't cook, sew, sing, or clean. And no matter how hard young Anna Yoder tries, she'd much rather help people in trouble than be a well-behaved pretty face and properly perfect Amish maidel. So she instantly reaches out to her old schoolmate, Felty Helmuth, when their Amish town ostracizes him for his Korean War army service. He's still the only one who's ever understood Anna--and liked everything from her green Jello carrot salads to her love of books. And this holiday season, she can't help hoping that somehow she and Felty can find a way to be the perfect match...

Felty sensed he was called by Gotte to serve his country, though it went against his community's peaceful ways. Troubled by his wartime experiences, he is resigned to being an outsider avoided by most eligible Amish girls. But lively, intelligent Anna has grown into a warm-hearted generous woman who accepts Felty for who he is. And in the face of family and community opposition, he and Anna will take a leap of faith to prove they are made for each other--and a lifetime of happiness.