"HUCKLEBERRY HEARTS: The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill No. 6," by Jennifer Beckstrand, Zebra Books, $7.99, 388 pages (f)
When Cassie Coblenz refused to be baptized and left the Amish community, her mother and brother warned her that she would burn in hell for eternity. So it is little surprise that when Anna Helmuth, her grandmother who she calls Mammi, needs help recovering from a serious surgery, Cassie chooses to stay with Mammi and Dawdi, who is her grandfather Felty Helmuth, in "Huckleberry Hearts," the sixth book in the Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series by Utah author Jennifer Beckstrand. It was released Nov. 24.
By staying away from her mother and brother, she hopes to avoid uncomfortable interactions with her immediate family. Her mother and brother find ways to make Cassie's visit to the Wisconsin community miserable as they pester her to repent.
Anna and Felty Helmuth, Cassie's Mammi and Dawdi, have had success in previous books with a little matchmaking. Since the Helmuths think that Cassie needs a little love in her life, Mammi prepares for a new match with Dr. Zach Reynolds, her doctor with an attractive face, albeit with a crooked nose, and a soul ready to be saved by just the right girl — Cassie.
The problem with the match is that Cassie knows Zach, who is originally from California and is working in an area hospital. Though he does not remember her, Cassie ran into Zach twice when he was a college student. Both encounters led Cassie to believe Zach was just like every other male outside of the Amish community.
Battling against his own negative reputation, Zach vows to win and protect Cassie's heart. The story builds to a sweet conclusion, about 100 pages too early. Then Beckstrand delivers her trademark twist, but adds two more twists in quick succession to keep readers turning the page.
"Huckleberry Hearts" is an Amish romance, though the characters are living outside of the faith and the community. The book is free of swearing. Though there is a serious wrestling match, there is no violence, and there are only a few kisses.
"Huckleberry Hearts" is the final installment of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill for now. Beckstrand is pursuing the Honeybee Sisters trilogy about beekeeping Amish sisters, and the first installment, "Sweet As Honey," is scheduled to be released in July 2016. After the project is complete, Beckstrand promises to return to Huckleberry Hill and help Mammi find just the right girl for her sweet (and perhaps favorite) grandson, Titus.
Alicia Cunningham is a graduate of Brigham Young University and George Mason School of Law. A mother of four, she teaches American government and intellectual property law at Neumont University. She blogs at bloggingonbooks.wordpress.com.