First Christmas on Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand - Review of the tenth book in the Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series

BACK  OF THE  BOOK BLURB

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.

MY  REVIEW

It is so wonderful to finally hear Anna and Felty's story! I have enjoyed this series so much I hate to see it end, I am so hoping the author has more stories for us to enjoy.

 

Lemon Drop Dead by Amanda Flower - Review of the sixth book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series

BACK  OF  THE  BOOK  BLURB

Murder always leaves a sour taste . . .

Though baby showers aren't an Amis tradition, Bailey King wants to celebrate Emily Keim's forthcoming bundle of joy. It's the least she can do for her hardworking assistant at Swissmen Sweets, especially with Emily being estranged from her siblings. Everyone in Harvest, Ohio has gathered at the town gazebo--decked out in lemon-themed decor to add some of Emily's favorite flavor to the festivities--including Juliet Brook, Jethro the Pig, and in a last-minute invite, Emily's sister Esther Esh.

But Esther isn't the only surprise guest. A mysterious Amish woman confronts Emily claiming to know about her secret shame--the child she had as a teenager who was given up for adoption. The stranger vanishes before Bailey can find out who she was and if she knew what happened to Emily's first baby. Later that evening, the woman reappears--dead in Esh Family Pretzels, with a threatening letter written by Esther found on her body.

Emily knows her sister is not a murderer and convinces Bailey to help clear Esther's name and put the squeeze on the real killer ...

MY  REVIEW

It's been a year since I read a book in this series, to be fair, this one came out this April and I had to wait for my daughter to read it and get it too me, now I will pass it on to her mother-in-law. It seemed like it was just yesterday that I read the last one though as the characters were all still there and what a story this was, couldn't put it down. I really enjoy this series.

Just an FYI, there is a book coming out anytime now, I think, "Amish Candy Shop Holidays", which will be the three short stories ("Criminally Cocoa"1.5, "Botched Butterscotch" 2.5 and "Candy Cane Crime" 3.5 that you could only get as an e-book before). Yes, my daughter has it ordered so we can all read it too.