Review: Huckleberry Lake by Catherine Anderson

Huckleberry Lake (Mystic Creek #6) by Catherine Anderson

Publication Date: December 31st 2019 by Berkley Books

Pages: 560

Source: Publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo 

About the book:

Love blooms once more in the quaint town of Mystic Creek, Oregon, from the New York Times bestselling author of Strawberry Hill.

Erin De Laney came to Mystic Creek hoping that the slower pace might rekindle her enthusiasm for law enforcement. Instead she feels as frustrated as she did in the city and when her disillusionment with the job increases, she takes a position on her uncle's ranch.

Her life has enough complications without her attraction to handsome, deaf cowboy, Wyatt Fitzgerald, the foreman on the ranch. Wyatt has sworn off dating, and Erin fears that nothing she does will ever change his mind. Yet while working with an abused horse under Wyatt's guidance, Erin comes to better understand herself. She also learns that love can heal almost anything.

Wyatt yearns to take Erin into his arms, but he's hesitant to pursue a romantic relationship. When their work sends them out alone together into a wilderness area, Wyatt is even more determined to hold Erin at arm's length.

But out of their time alone together on the mountain blossoms a chance for a once-in-a-lifetime love if only he's willing to give her his heart and make her his.

My Thoughts:

Huckleberry Lake is the story I thought I was getting in the last book, Strawberry Hill. Due to some sort of snafu the first book description of Strawberry Hill made it seem like it was focused on Erin and Wyatt, (now since corrected) and they were featured proximately, but it was Vicky and Slade’s book, which was completely confusing when I got to the end and everything was still up in the air with Erin and Wyatt.

 I don’t think you need to read the entire previous book to enjoy this story, but there was one scene at the very beginning where they meet for the first time and another when Wyatt deals with a horse in distress that I think would be unfortunate to miss, and give some much needed background to their relationship here.

I LOVED Huckleberry Lake! This is the book that I read by the fire for four hours straight, and then missed working up my Sunday Post because I was so wrapped up in the story. This is three-romances in one story: Erin and Wyatt, Julie and Blackie, and the start of one with Kennedy (Wyatt’s younger brother) and Jen.

Erin is an officer, bullied into the career path by her father. She hoped the move to Mystic Creek with its slower pace would make her love the job, but Erin’s coming to the realization that she may never be happy as a deputy.  Fortunately, Erin loves Mystic Creek and has the support of her wonderful Uncle Slade, so it’s just a matter of figuring it out. Wyatt Fitzgerald, the deaf foreman of her uncle’s ranch, is another burr in Erin’s side. She’s so attracted to this sexy cowboy, and there were signals that he felt the same, but now she feels like Wyatt actively dislikes her.

Wyatt is very attracted to Erin, but a bad experience in the past made him swear off romance for good. When his reason was revealed I could understand why he felt that way, but I did think it was a bit extreme, and as Erin as spends more time on the ranch it’s harder for Wyatt to stick to his decision. I loved that Erin and Wyatt formed a friendship while slowly falling in love.

Julie and Blackie’s story was just a great, easy going romance, and loved how it all turned out.

Kennedy and Jen’s story really captured my heart, with all that happened! Kennedy’s attending college, working on getting his degree while supporting himself as a ranch hand.  He meets Jen, a high school senior at the local burger joint, and having college and career goals in common they strike up a friendship. There was some danger, and a situation I won’t get into, but it will affect how things proceed in the future. I really, really hope Kennedy and Jen get their own book next.

I’d be remiss not mentioning the picturesque setting of Huckleberry Lake.  Small towns and ranching life appeals so much to me, and the animals were like secondary characters here.  Erin at times found it hard to take counsel from others, but she was able to come to these important truths by working with one of the new horses on Slade’s ranch. Their relationship was so touching, and I just love Slade’s bear, Four Toes!

4.5 Suns

Review & Giveaway: Strawberry Hill by Catherine Anderson

Strawberry Hill (Mystic Creek #5) by Catherine Anderson

Publication Date: December 31st 2018 by Berkley

Pages: 448

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

The New York Times bestselling author of Spring Forward returns to Mystic Creek, Oregon, where an estranged pair are given a second chance.

As a camp cook, Vickie Brown loves feeding any size crowd in the great outdoors--with one notable exception. She never would have predicted she'd join the crew led by gruff cowboy Slade Wilder, the man who broke her heart just days before their wedding.

Life has gone on since Vickie left him, but Slade can admit his attraction to the one woman he's ever loved remains stronger than ever. If he wasn't in such desperate need of an experienced cook for his paying guests, he would send Vickie packing. He knows better than to seek out the company of the woman who broke off their engagement so many years ago.

Except there's no escaping each other in the confines of the wilderness area, especially once their anger begins to soften in the shared close quarters. But after Vickie finds the courage to confront Slade, it will take a leap of faith for them to put their past behind him, even if it's the only way to recapture their once-in-a-lifetime love.

My Thoughts:

Going in to Strawberry Hill I thought this was a romance between Erin, the new Mystic Creek Deputy and Wyatt, a ranch foreman who is deaf, because there are two book descriptions out there and the one originally read was about Erin and Wyatt.  I didn’t realize this until I got to the epilogue and Erin and Wyatt hadn’t exchange as much as a kiss through the story, and I went onto Goodreads to investigate. I think I would’ve enjoyed this story more if I’d known this was Vicky and Slade’s romance going in. I wouldn’t have had expectations for Erin and Wyatt only to be disappointed.

I’ve featured the accurate book description for this story above, because this is mainly a romance between Vicky and Slade, a couple torn apart right before their wedding day some forty-years earlier.  Now, in their 60’s Vicky feels it’s time to confront Slade about the past and she intends to make him own up to responsibilities she thinks he’s knowingly ignored all these years. 

I had fun with all the characters, Vicky and Slade were very likable and hilarious at times, and I loved all of Erin and Wyatt’s interactions. Erin kind of made a fool of herself as a Deputy Sheriff when she doesn’t realize Wyatt is deaf.  They’re both very much attracted, but Wyatt is hesitant for reasons I’m not yet sure of at this point.  I was totally enamored with Wyatt and in awe of his abilities with horses and people even with his disability.  It was almost uncanny. Erin and Wyatt had a lot of page time and I kept thinking they’d transition into more.

But I think the biggest hang-up for me here was the forty-years Vicky and Slade wasted being apart, mainly Vicky’s fault, in my opinion.  Instead of hashing out an accusation, Vicky broke off their engagement and took off.  Also, Vicky seemed to think the world of Slade but still wouldn’t take his word even when never wavered about his innocence all these years later.  I was baffled by Vicky’s stubborn refusal to believe Slade when she supposedly had such a high opinion of him.  It bothers me that they could’ve been happy together all those years, especially because neither healed or moved on after the breakup.  When I finished, I just kept thinking about all that wasted time and it just made me sad.

Still, while I was reading, I wasn’t as stuck on these things, I was more in the moment, so I did enjoy the story as I was reading it.   Vicky’s lack of confidence in Slade’s word was annoying, but they just seemed so meant-to-be every time they were together.  They had an easy rapport, and their chemistry was impossible to ignore.

I really liked the little town of Mystic Creek Catherine Anderson created. It’s beautifully described, and the characters were both quirky and charming. The idea of a camp vacation with horses sounds like a lot of fun. The pine, moss, and starry nights came to life with Ms. Anderson’s writing.

While I think Vicky and Slade’s romance was bittersweet, even with the wonderful ending, I am totally looking forward to Erin and Wyatt’s romance which I hope is next!

3.5 Suns

The lovely people of Berkley have kindly provided A Paperback Copy of Strawberry Hill by Catherine Anderson to one lucky reader.  The giveaway is open to US Residents only.  Fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win.