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dogs_books_pats's review
4.0
Another great book by Beckstrand.
Loved this couple. Cute. Funny. Emotional. Had it all. I do love this series.
Loved this couple. Cute. Funny. Emotional. Had it all. I do love this series.
kelly_clovers's review
4.0
A fun series.
This one had humor and I loved it. I found myself laughing out loud a few times. The author has a way of bringing her characters and stories to life. You really want to meet them and hang out with them. Everyone seems so relatable and friendly.
The romance was also very sweet and heartwarming.
I would recommend this to Amish fans, but also clean romance fans. This series has been a sweet read so far.
This one had humor and I loved it. I found myself laughing out loud a few times. The author has a way of bringing her characters and stories to life. You really want to meet them and hang out with them. Everyone seems so relatable and friendly.
The romance was also very sweet and heartwarming.
I would recommend this to Amish fans, but also clean romance fans. This series has been a sweet read so far.
scoutmomskf's review
4.0
Good book. Aden is something nearly unheard of in the Amish community - an environmentalist and an activist. He cares deeply about the environment and animal welfare, and his actions frequently get him into trouble - including three arrests. Then a life-threatening accident sends him to his grandparents' home, looking for a fresh start. His grandmother Anna is thrilled to have him there and has just the woman in mind to settle him down.
Lily is the youngest of two daughters and a complete daddy's girl. She lives in fear of disappointing him, constantly worries about everything, and is dating the man her father recommends. When Anna asks Lily to work for her during the summer, Lily is hesitant to step outside her comfort zone. She has no idea how far out of that comfort zone she will be.
The first meeting between Aden and Lily did not go as Anna had hoped. Upon her arrival at Anna's home, Lily, afraid of dogs, was knocked down and thoroughly licked by Aden's undisciplined Goldendoodle, Pilot. After she makes her displeasure known, Aden, who is aware of his grandmother's plan, decides that he's not interested in a woman who clearly hates his dog. Undeterred, Anna takes every opportunity to throw Aden and Lily together. On the other hand, once Lily's dad hears of Aden's reputation, he's adamant that Lily avoid being around him.
Anna's tactics work very well, and I enjoyed seeing Lily and Aden get to know one another. It's a slow process because, quite frankly, Lily is a wimp. She's afraid of the water, getting dirty, children, and living outside her father's narrow view of being a "good girl." There are some sweet scenes of them together as Aden starts to break through Lily's fears. It's not long before Aden is thoroughly smitten and doing his best to live the kind of life Lily's dad would approve of.
Complicating matters, Lily's father pushes the bishop's son, Tyler Yoder, at her every chance he gets. Tyler is a nice guy, and Lily likes him. She understands his appeal as a good, steady man who doesn't make waves. Tyler and Aden become friends as well as rivals for Lily's hand.
When Aden hears about a puppy mill from his friend Jamal and is asked to help get the proof needed to take to the police, he is initially reluctant to risk his improving reputation. However, Jamal convinces him it should be safe, so he agrees. Unfortunately, Lily chooses this time to find her courage and insists on going along. Aden tries to dissuade her, but she won't be denied. Of course, nothing goes as planned, and all three end up arrested. Lily is terrified, furious, and stuck facing her father's anger and disappointment when he picks her up. He blames everything on Aden, convinces Lily she was led astray, and pushes her harder toward Tyler.
I ached for Aden. He is swamped with guilt over what happened to Lily and believes he deserves all of the disapproval heaped on him. I loved how he accepted responsibility and embraced the meted-out discipline. He hoped that when his shunning time was over that he would be able to fix things with Lily. My heart broke for him when he found out she had agreed to marry Tyler.
I was furious at Lily. She took no responsibility for her decision to go with Aden. Instead, she accepted her father's pronouncement that it was due to Aden's bad influence on her. Then agreeing to marry Tyler, who she didn't love, was terribly unfair to Tyler, who loves her. I was also angry at her father. He claims her troubles were caused by Aden manipulating her, but he's a fine one to talk. He keeps her under his thumb by bringing up the two traumatic events from her childhood whenever he feels her slipping away.
I cheered when Lily's sister, Estee, called Lily out on her hypocrisy. She pointed out that Lily was just as guilty, and blaming others doesn't change the truth. Lily was horrified when she realized what she had done and was determined to fix things. I loved seeing her grow a backbone and tell her father the truth about that night and her feelings and intentions. Her dad reacted exactly as she feared, and she had some big decisions to make. I loved watching the events of that evening unfold, from her trip to see Tyler to their visit to Aden. I loved their plan for the next day and couldn't wait to see the reactions - which were everything I could have hoped for. The ending was terrific.
This was my first book by this author, but it won't be the last. I look forward to reading more about Anna's matchmaking attempts.
#netgalley
Lily is the youngest of two daughters and a complete daddy's girl. She lives in fear of disappointing him, constantly worries about everything, and is dating the man her father recommends. When Anna asks Lily to work for her during the summer, Lily is hesitant to step outside her comfort zone. She has no idea how far out of that comfort zone she will be.
The first meeting between Aden and Lily did not go as Anna had hoped. Upon her arrival at Anna's home, Lily, afraid of dogs, was knocked down and thoroughly licked by Aden's undisciplined Goldendoodle, Pilot. After she makes her displeasure known, Aden, who is aware of his grandmother's plan, decides that he's not interested in a woman who clearly hates his dog. Undeterred, Anna takes every opportunity to throw Aden and Lily together. On the other hand, once Lily's dad hears of Aden's reputation, he's adamant that Lily avoid being around him.
Anna's tactics work very well, and I enjoyed seeing Lily and Aden get to know one another. It's a slow process because, quite frankly, Lily is a wimp. She's afraid of the water, getting dirty, children, and living outside her father's narrow view of being a "good girl." There are some sweet scenes of them together as Aden starts to break through Lily's fears. It's not long before Aden is thoroughly smitten and doing his best to live the kind of life Lily's dad would approve of.
Complicating matters, Lily's father pushes the bishop's son, Tyler Yoder, at her every chance he gets. Tyler is a nice guy, and Lily likes him. She understands his appeal as a good, steady man who doesn't make waves. Tyler and Aden become friends as well as rivals for Lily's hand.
When Aden hears about a puppy mill from his friend Jamal and is asked to help get the proof needed to take to the police, he is initially reluctant to risk his improving reputation. However, Jamal convinces him it should be safe, so he agrees. Unfortunately, Lily chooses this time to find her courage and insists on going along. Aden tries to dissuade her, but she won't be denied. Of course, nothing goes as planned, and all three end up arrested. Lily is terrified, furious, and stuck facing her father's anger and disappointment when he picks her up. He blames everything on Aden, convinces Lily she was led astray, and pushes her harder toward Tyler.
I ached for Aden. He is swamped with guilt over what happened to Lily and believes he deserves all of the disapproval heaped on him. I loved how he accepted responsibility and embraced the meted-out discipline. He hoped that when his shunning time was over that he would be able to fix things with Lily. My heart broke for him when he found out she had agreed to marry Tyler.
I was furious at Lily. She took no responsibility for her decision to go with Aden. Instead, she accepted her father's pronouncement that it was due to Aden's bad influence on her. Then agreeing to marry Tyler, who she didn't love, was terribly unfair to Tyler, who loves her. I was also angry at her father. He claims her troubles were caused by Aden manipulating her, but he's a fine one to talk. He keeps her under his thumb by bringing up the two traumatic events from her childhood whenever he feels her slipping away.
I cheered when Lily's sister, Estee, called Lily out on her hypocrisy. She pointed out that Lily was just as guilty, and blaming others doesn't change the truth. Lily was horrified when she realized what she had done and was determined to fix things. I loved seeing her grow a backbone and tell her father the truth about that night and her feelings and intentions. Her dad reacted exactly as she feared, and she had some big decisions to make. I loved watching the events of that evening unfold, from her trip to see Tyler to their visit to Aden. I loved their plan for the next day and couldn't wait to see the reactions - which were everything I could have hoped for. The ending was terrific.
This was my first book by this author, but it won't be the last. I look forward to reading more about Anna's matchmaking attempts.
#netgalley
kbranfield's review
4.0
In Jennifer Beckstrand's Huckleberry Summer, matchmakers Anna and Felty Helmuth are back and this time they are setting up their bad boy grandson Aden with cautious Lily Eicher. This delightful addition to The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series is another captivating romance with a charming cast of likable characters and a unique storyline.
Lily is a thoughtful and obedient young woman who strives to live up to her dat's high expectations. She is timid and cautious but she is also sweet and kind-hearted. Lily follows rules to the letter and never deviates from doing what is expected of her. While her dat wants her to marry their neighbor Tyler, Aden is the man she desires to wed. Will she find the courage to follow her heart despite his vehement disapproval?
Aden is definitely not the typical Amish young man. He has strong beliefs about protecting the environment and he does not hesitate to jump into the middle of the action. After his latest escapade goes dangerously awry, he is more than ready to accept his grandparents' invitation to move in with them. Of course Aden does not realize until after he moves that Anna is planning a little matchmaking between him and Lily. Aden is pretty smitten with Lily right from their first meeting but Lily is under strict orders to keep her distance from Aden.
While it is not exactly smooth sailing for the young couple, a romance slowly begins to bloom between Lily and Aden. Lily knows convincing her father to change his mind about Aden is going to take time, and she remains hopeful he will eventually approve their match. Lily has her own reservations about Aden, but as they get to know one another, she discovers the truth about his reputation and she agrees with some of his "unorthodox" ideas. However, when she decides to take a more active role in one of his exploits, their relationship takes a turn for the worse when Lily refuses to accept the consequences for her actions.
The conflict between Lily and Aden is mainly internal as they both deal with their individual issues. Aden struggles with his faith and he is does not fully come to embrace all aspects of Amish beliefs until the aftermath of the latest incident that lands him in a trouble. Lily is so afraid of disappointing her dat that she trusts his judgment over her own which leads her to a decision that makes her miserable.
Huckleberry Summer is a sweetly romantic addition to Jennifer Beckstrand's The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series. Valuable life lessons, heartfelt emotions and a gentle undercurrent of faith are expertly interwoven into a warm and lovely story that fans of Amish fictions are sure to enjoy.
Lily is a thoughtful and obedient young woman who strives to live up to her dat's high expectations. She is timid and cautious but she is also sweet and kind-hearted. Lily follows rules to the letter and never deviates from doing what is expected of her. While her dat wants her to marry their neighbor Tyler, Aden is the man she desires to wed. Will she find the courage to follow her heart despite his vehement disapproval?
Aden is definitely not the typical Amish young man. He has strong beliefs about protecting the environment and he does not hesitate to jump into the middle of the action. After his latest escapade goes dangerously awry, he is more than ready to accept his grandparents' invitation to move in with them. Of course Aden does not realize until after he moves that Anna is planning a little matchmaking between him and Lily. Aden is pretty smitten with Lily right from their first meeting but Lily is under strict orders to keep her distance from Aden.
While it is not exactly smooth sailing for the young couple, a romance slowly begins to bloom between Lily and Aden. Lily knows convincing her father to change his mind about Aden is going to take time, and she remains hopeful he will eventually approve their match. Lily has her own reservations about Aden, but as they get to know one another, she discovers the truth about his reputation and she agrees with some of his "unorthodox" ideas. However, when she decides to take a more active role in one of his exploits, their relationship takes a turn for the worse when Lily refuses to accept the consequences for her actions.
The conflict between Lily and Aden is mainly internal as they both deal with their individual issues. Aden struggles with his faith and he is does not fully come to embrace all aspects of Amish beliefs until the aftermath of the latest incident that lands him in a trouble. Lily is so afraid of disappointing her dat that she trusts his judgment over her own which leads her to a decision that makes her miserable.
Huckleberry Summer is a sweetly romantic addition to Jennifer Beckstrand's The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series. Valuable life lessons, heartfelt emotions and a gentle undercurrent of faith are expertly interwoven into a warm and lovely story that fans of Amish fictions are sure to enjoy.
dk4him's review
5.0
From my blog: Yes.... You are now so glad you visited today because yay! It is book review day! Especially for this wonderful book. So fun. Let's get started.
Book review for: Huckleberry Summer, by Jennifer Beckstrand. Publisher, Zebra Books, June 3, 2014, 353 pages.
I was first turned on to The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series because I was eager to read anything by Jennifer Beckstrand after enjoying her Forever After in Apple Lake series. Loved it and yes, had to have more!
Enter Huckleberry Hill which came out in January of this year. Huckleberry Hill is book one in the Matchmakers series. LOVED it. and loved loved "the Matchmakers" who are Anna and Felty Helmuth... the sweet lovable grand parents of the story. Or should I saw Mammi and Dawdi?
I was tickled to find out their story would continue in this book 2, Huckleberry Summer. (Not to mention the Upcoming Huckleberry Christmas and Huckleberry Spring) And OK.... after typing Huckleberry that many times you'd think I'd be doing a better job at spelling it! Ha.
Here is a summary of Huckleberry Summer from the publisher:
With one of their grandchildren happily married, Anna and Felty Helmuth are ready for their next matchmaking success. Because there's nothing more rewarding than sparking unexpected love--and putting Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin, on the map for romance. . .
Cautious to a fault, Lily Eicher strives to live up to her dat's high standards. She's certainly not the kind of proper Amish girl who would make time for someone as impetuous as the Helmuths' grandson, Aden--even if his lively spirit and caring ways are showing her just how wonderful following her heart can be. . .
Recklessly doing the right thing got Aden into big trouble. A fresh start at his grandparents' is just what he needs. And shy, pretty Lily is turning his world upside down and making him want to prove he can do good within the rules. But now both must find enough faith and understanding to risk pursuing their dreams--together. . .
This was a wonderful story. Anna & Felty are just wonderful. Anna has a mission and that mission is to introduce her grand kids to their perfect mate. Anna is not the best cook..... she might be the best knitter.... and she is certainly the best grandma and wife! Love how Felty thinks anything Anna does is wonderful. Felty's license plate obsession is also quite entertaining. They are just way too cute.
Anna works to bring together Lily Eicher with their grandson Aden. They don't have the best meeting due to Aden's giant loveable clumsy dog, Pilot. I found myself laughing out loud as Lily referred to him as everything from pie crust to pie dog.... never seeming to be able to remember the name Pilot. Too funny.
This was a wonderful story of forgiveness and second chances, of not making judgements about people based on reputations and things other's have said, and of love. When you have the beautiful setting of Huckleberry Hill, Grandma Anna and her freshly knitted scarf perfect for all occasions... even in the middle of summer.... and add in a young couple falling in love.... what's not to enjoy. And of course... we can't forget Pilot the wonder dog.
Highly recommend this book, this series, and anything else you can get your hands on by Jennifer Beckstrand. Enjoy!
I was provided with a copy of this book for a fair & honest review courtesy of Zebra Books via Netgalley
Book review for: Huckleberry Summer, by Jennifer Beckstrand. Publisher, Zebra Books, June 3, 2014, 353 pages.
I was first turned on to The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series because I was eager to read anything by Jennifer Beckstrand after enjoying her Forever After in Apple Lake series. Loved it and yes, had to have more!
Enter Huckleberry Hill which came out in January of this year. Huckleberry Hill is book one in the Matchmakers series. LOVED it. and loved loved "the Matchmakers" who are Anna and Felty Helmuth... the sweet lovable grand parents of the story. Or should I saw Mammi and Dawdi?
I was tickled to find out their story would continue in this book 2, Huckleberry Summer. (Not to mention the Upcoming Huckleberry Christmas and Huckleberry Spring) And OK.... after typing Huckleberry that many times you'd think I'd be doing a better job at spelling it! Ha.
Here is a summary of Huckleberry Summer from the publisher:
With one of their grandchildren happily married, Anna and Felty Helmuth are ready for their next matchmaking success. Because there's nothing more rewarding than sparking unexpected love--and putting Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin, on the map for romance. . .
Cautious to a fault, Lily Eicher strives to live up to her dat's high standards. She's certainly not the kind of proper Amish girl who would make time for someone as impetuous as the Helmuths' grandson, Aden--even if his lively spirit and caring ways are showing her just how wonderful following her heart can be. . .
Recklessly doing the right thing got Aden into big trouble. A fresh start at his grandparents' is just what he needs. And shy, pretty Lily is turning his world upside down and making him want to prove he can do good within the rules. But now both must find enough faith and understanding to risk pursuing their dreams--together. . .
This was a wonderful story. Anna & Felty are just wonderful. Anna has a mission and that mission is to introduce her grand kids to their perfect mate. Anna is not the best cook..... she might be the best knitter.... and she is certainly the best grandma and wife! Love how Felty thinks anything Anna does is wonderful. Felty's license plate obsession is also quite entertaining. They are just way too cute.
Anna works to bring together Lily Eicher with their grandson Aden. They don't have the best meeting due to Aden's giant loveable clumsy dog, Pilot. I found myself laughing out loud as Lily referred to him as everything from pie crust to pie dog.... never seeming to be able to remember the name Pilot. Too funny.
This was a wonderful story of forgiveness and second chances, of not making judgements about people based on reputations and things other's have said, and of love. When you have the beautiful setting of Huckleberry Hill, Grandma Anna and her freshly knitted scarf perfect for all occasions... even in the middle of summer.... and add in a young couple falling in love.... what's not to enjoy. And of course... we can't forget Pilot the wonder dog.
Highly recommend this book, this series, and anything else you can get your hands on by Jennifer Beckstrand. Enjoy!
I was provided with a copy of this book for a fair & honest review courtesy of Zebra Books via Netgalley
loverofromance's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this one and it did have a great premise and the first half of the story started out super strong with both characters and I soon became endeared by their romance and the strong bond that they quickly built. But the later half of the story just plummeted my true enjoyment of it. I had high hopes as the first book was so fabulous. The major issue that I ended up having with this one is the heroine. To be honest she was irresponsible, not willing to stand up for herself especially when it came to her father. There was this disconnect like she would bow down to him and accept everything that he said and wouldn't stand up and be honest with him about what events happen. I was really disappointed and while she eventually grew a pair and finally stood up to him, she never was truly honest with him fully. I just struggle with these type of heroines that won't stand up for their men and the way that the hero was treated, just broke my heart. He was such a honest and good hearted men who pretty much was treated like a hardened criminal when technically he went to jail but it was for less than a day haha and he was protecting a TREE ....a TREE!! Like that is no hardened criminal at all. The only one that was willing to stand up for him was the sister of the heroine, and I just wanted to cheer her on because she was the only one that seemed to have any sense and human compassion for others. So while I enjoy many aspects to the story, I also wanted to throw my phone against the wall while listening to this. So I think I am being generous with a 3 star rating. I am trying to not let this upset me too much, but it was just frustrating when I wanted to love this one but other factors just brought down the level of enjoyment in a impactful way. However, I am loving the grandparents, and I can't wait for Tyler's book which I think is next! He deserves a good HEA!
jacquibear's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kgormley's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this story, but wish the producer would have paid a little more attention ... more than once, the narrator referred to Aden, one of the main characters, as Adam. I do wonder however if there might have been an early version of the book where the character's name was Adam and it was later changed to Aden. The description of the book here on Goodreads says "Libby" Eicher ... in the version I listened to and the description on Amazon, her name is "Lily". Anna and Felty are funny as always. I look forward to reading more of the books in this series at some point in the future. These are not books that must be read in order or back to back. Previous characters are referred to, but not in a way that makes you feel like you missed on on their story if you haven't read it.
stacyroth's review
3.0
Aden Helmuth is a vegetarian and a conservationist; he believes so strongly in saving animals and the earth that it has led to his arrest 3 times near his Ohio home. His grandma, Anna, invites Aden to stay with her and his grandpa at their Wisconsin home for the summer because she believes he needs a wife to settle him down, and she has just the girl in mind.
Lily Eicher is the type of girl who would never put a toe out of line, especially if it goes against her dad's wishes. Lily accepts a job working 3 days a week for the Helmuths, and despite her dad's admonitions to stay away from their grandson, she finds herself attracted to him. However, the bishop's son, Tyler Yoder, is interested in Lily, and her dad feels that would be a match made in heaven. Will Lily continue to follow her dad's wishes or defy him to follow her heart?
Aden being an environmentalist definitely lent a unique twist to the typical Amish story, giving it something to stand out from the others. It was a cute story, and although it is the second in a series, you do not need to have read the first to enjoy this one.
Lily Eicher is the type of girl who would never put a toe out of line, especially if it goes against her dad's wishes. Lily accepts a job working 3 days a week for the Helmuths, and despite her dad's admonitions to stay away from their grandson, she finds herself attracted to him. However, the bishop's son, Tyler Yoder, is interested in Lily, and her dad feels that would be a match made in heaven. Will Lily continue to follow her dad's wishes or defy him to follow her heart?
Aden being an environmentalist definitely lent a unique twist to the typical Amish story, giving it something to stand out from the others. It was a cute story, and although it is the second in a series, you do not need to have read the first to enjoy this one.
bindingthepages's review
4.0
With one successful matchmaking scheme under her belt, Anna sets off to match a different grandson up with a young lady she thinks is perfect for him. Once she hires Lily to help her and her husband out, she busts a move and then lets the magic happen. However, Lily immediately dislikes Aden. She thinks his big dog is out of control just like Aden, who is a conservationist and has been arrested for protesting. Meanwhile, Aden thinks Lily is cute, but isn’t interested in someone who hates him and his dog. When they grow feelings for each other, their love is put to the test when Lily’s father disapproves of Aden. Besides, her dad already has a husband picked out for her, and he's safe and reliable. What is this sweet couple to do?
After reading the first book in the series, I knew I had to pick up the second installment and get started on it right away. While I loved the first book, I didn’t particularly care for the new couple we follow. I still can’t put my finger on what it is that I don’t like about Aden. He’s a conservationist who cares about saving the planet as well as animals. Like Lily, he’s sweet and honest, but there was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way. His dog sounded adorable though and I’d give him all the pats in the world.
Lily is a sweet woman who is a serial rule follower, loves to be helpful, and hangs on every word her father has to say. The drawback is that she never steps a foot out of line, and when she does, she doesn’t take responsibility. Instead of acknowledging the choices she makes, she points the finger elsewhere and goes off crying in the other direction. I saw this coming early on and it reminded me of the few people I’ve known throughout my life who always made it seem like they just happened to be there whenever they did something that led to any kind trouble. I think this is why I didn’t care for Lily. No one has time for her shenanigans when she does pull them.
That said, I loved every other character that appears in the book, including the ones we’ve seen before. I loved seeing Anna and Felty again and I loved meeting the new characters, especially Lily’s sister, Estee. I love that we got a glimpse at the next book as well and I’m really excited that Anna will be fixing up one of her granddaughters with someone.
All in all, this book had a great cast of characters and told a wonderful story. I just didn’t care for Lily and Aden, but I think that most people will. I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the next book.
After reading the first book in the series, I knew I had to pick up the second installment and get started on it right away. While I loved the first book, I didn’t particularly care for the new couple we follow. I still can’t put my finger on what it is that I don’t like about Aden. He’s a conservationist who cares about saving the planet as well as animals. Like Lily, he’s sweet and honest, but there was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way. His dog sounded adorable though and I’d give him all the pats in the world.
Lily is a sweet woman who is a serial rule follower, loves to be helpful, and hangs on every word her father has to say. The drawback is that she never steps a foot out of line, and when she does, she doesn’t take responsibility. Instead of acknowledging the choices she makes, she points the finger elsewhere and goes off crying in the other direction. I saw this coming early on and it reminded me of the few people I’ve known throughout my life who always made it seem like they just happened to be there whenever they did something that led to any kind trouble. I think this is why I didn’t care for Lily. No one has time for her shenanigans when she does pull them.
That said, I loved every other character that appears in the book, including the ones we’ve seen before. I loved seeing Anna and Felty again and I loved meeting the new characters, especially Lily’s sister, Estee. I love that we got a glimpse at the next book as well and I’m really excited that Anna will be fixing up one of her granddaughters with someone.
All in all, this book had a great cast of characters and told a wonderful story. I just didn’t care for Lily and Aden, but I think that most people will. I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the next book.