Rebecca’s Bouquet by Lisa Jones Baker is the first book in Hope Chest of Dreams. Rebecca Sommer is eighteen years old and engaged. Her fiancé, William Conrad needs to leave town. His father has suffered a heart attack and needs William to run the cabinet business while he is out. Rebecca does not wish to be away from her fiancé for several months and decides to go with him (despite objections). Rebecca’s family object because Williams father’s, Daniel is Englisch. Daniel left the faith when he married his second wife, Beth. Rebecca understands their concerns, but she refuses to leave her fiancé for that length of time. The Bishop gives Rebecca an assignment to complete while she is away (three tasks). William and Rebecca are in for some new experiences. Daniel has a modern household. They have contemporary appliances, air conditioning, a car, and, of course, a television. William takes to these modern inventions quickly (especially likes ESPN). Their short visit gets extended when Daniel has a setback. Then Rebecca’s starts receiving threatening notes. Someone is not happy that Rebecca is visiting and wants her to leave. But Rebecca refuses to be frightened away. She is determined to help Daniel and Beth (William’s stepmother). Then Daniel offers William a partnership in the cabinet business. William is tempted by this better way of life, but Rebecca would never give up her Old Order Amish roots. Will William and Rebecca return to their community or will they be lured away by the Englisch lifestyle?

Rebecca’s Bouquet was lacking. Rebecca came across as a “goody two shoes”! She was too perfect and, after a while, really got on my nerves. The same issues are rehashed over and over throughout the book. It made the story tiring and boring. It is basically about the choice that William and Rebecca have to make (well, really just William’s because Rebecca will not change). There was too much of Rebecca and William thinking, contemplating, and deciding instead of the story moving forward (having some substance). The ending is abrupt and predictable. I was very disappointed. The book needed more substance to bring it alive. I give Rebecca’s Bouquet 3 out of 5 stars. This will not stop me from trying a Lisa Jones Baker book in the future. This was just a first book. I am hoping there will be significant improvement in the next book in Hope Chest of Dreams series. ( )