The Hope Chest by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Brides of Lancaster County

Book 1 – A Merry Heart
Book 2 – Looking for a Miracle
Book 3 – Plain and Fancy
Book 4 - The Hope Chest

The final book in this series went a little differently than I had hoped even though the back of the book told me how things would go... I guess I just hoped some things would have changed before the conclusion of the book. Everything ended well though. I'm not a big fan of romance books (even Christian romance) because they are usually so unrealistic. The Amish books that I've been reading have been refreshing (even though they are romance books) because they are so sweet and innocent and the trappings of the modern world aren't destroying the main characters.

Back of the Book Says:

Rachel Beachy desires and hopes for something she can’t have her sister Anna’s boyfriend.

Silas Swartley has been in love with the spirited Anna since they were children, and Rachel, the tomboy, has loves Silas for nearly as long. Like Job from the Bible, Rachel feels that her swiftly moving days are spent without hope – hope of ever making Silas take notice of her.

But when Anna unexpectedly leaves the Amish faith, Rachel’s hope is rekindled. She initiates a campaign to win Silas’s heart and begins to fill her hope chest when she discovers how much she and Silas have in common.

Can Silas set the pain of Anna’s rejection aside and see Rachel as anything more than a tomboy who is little more than a child? Will Rachel be disappointed in Silas and in God, or will she learn the true meaning of hope?

Find The Brides of Lancaster County series and enjoy your journey into Amish Country. You may even decide you'd like a simpler life yourself...

For discussion questions (spoiler alert) go here.

Rachel’s Ribbon Salad recipe was listed at the end of The Hope Chest – each book in this series shared a special recipe that was mentioned in the book. It has three different kinds of jello, pineapple, walnuts, cream cheese and cool whip. Each layer has something special... It sounds like fun and I plan to give it a try…