Blog Tour: Rachel’s Dream by Lisa Jones (Excerpt & Giveaway)

Rachel's Dream (Hope Chest of Dreams #3) by Lisa Jones Baker
Published by Zebra on April 25th 2017
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo
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Patience, faith--and the hopes and dreams within their hand-carved hope chests--help to bring three young Amish women, one by one, the blessed futures their hearts desire...
Rachel Kauffman and Jarred Zimmerman seem to have nothing in common. She's the outgoing youngest of a large, close-knit Amish clan, and longs to raise a brood of her own near those she loves. Estranged from his family by tragedy, Jarred is a young veterinarian who trusts the animals he heals far more than he trusts people. However, when Rachel's beloved horse falls ill, Jarred's struggles to save him show Rachel he's a man who cares deeply. And the respect he feels for her gentle warmhearted ways soon becomes an irresistible bond... When Rachel tries to help Jarred reunite with his parents, it is an unexpected blessing--with one complication. If he takes this chance to put his past to rest, it could separate him and Rachel for good. Now, with prayer, love--and her hope chest's small miracles--Jarred and Rachel must find the courage to reconcile their wishes into a joyous life together. -Written with tenderness and simplicity.- --New York Times bestselling author Joan Wester Anderson, on Rebecca's Bouquet

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He didn’t know Rachel well, but his instincts were usually right on target. His keen sense of reading people had kicked in at an early age. So had his lack of trust. By contrast, the Kauffman girl was unusually open and honest. Without a doubt, Rachel represented everything he’d yearned for growing up. When he was with her, an unprecedented sense of comfort and security filled his heart and soul.

But he had reciprocated her sentiment. And to his surprise, he’d confessed to her that his parents hadn’t raised him. It was the first time he’d ever told anyone, but she was a good listener, and the sad story of growing up without his own mom and dad was something he’d carried on his shoulders a long time.

He stood and paced to the living room to glance at the picture of his brother. At that moment, he knew to stay realistic about this sudden adoration for the beautiful Amish girl. Although she was of the Christian faith, the Amish way of life differed greatly from his own, so his feelings he had for Rachel could only lead to a dead-end street.

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