Secret at Pebble Creek

Hope Chest of Dreams #4

by Lisa Jones Baker

A new Amish generation inherits precious hand-carved chests that bring blessings of faith, love, and happiness—from the author of Rachel’s Dream . When Jessica Beachy temporarily moves into the home of her late great-uncle, Sam Beachy, she merely plans to remodel, sell, and head back to the city. She’s used to busy St. Louis and can’t imagine how she’ll spend her time in the quiet Amish countryside. But the carpenter she hires, Eli Miller, doesn’t think selling Sam’s home is a good idea. And while he’s steadfast in his Amish faith, he’s instantly drawn to Jessica’s vivacity and unexpected caring—especially as peaceful country ways make her question the dream she thought she wanted . . . But a lucrative offer to turn the house into a vacation retreat confronts Jessica with a heartbreaking choice. It will take trust, perseverance—and discovering a hope chest thought forever lost—for Jessica and Eli to boldly face obstacles and embark on a joyous future together . . . Praise for the Hope Chest of Dreams series “Written with tenderness and simplicity.” —Joan Wester Anderson, New York Times –bestselling author “The heart of this romance goes far beyond stereotypes . . . Providing an unusual and welcome level of insight into the characters’ inner lives.” — Publishers Weekly , starred review “A sweet tale . . . Forgiveness is a key theme, as is the concept that life is a combination of good and bad situations that make us who we are.” — RT Book Reviews

Genres: Amish

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2018

About the author

Lisa Jones Baker grew up near a small Amish town in Illinois that she frequented with her family on weekends. She's also a dog lover and a fan of Scottsdale, Arizona, where she spent nearly two decades. Lisa graduated from Illinois State University with a French major, has been on 5 out of 7 continents, and considers her parents the best in the world. Raised in a Christian home, Lisa has always been blessed with love and support.

Reviews

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth book in the Hope Chest of Dreams series is so filled with hope and inspiration. Even though this is part of a series it can easily be read as a stand alone. Very uplifting,quick and easy read, the words just flew by. Very inspiring to see a nonbeliever Englisher become a believer by the faith filled messages of an Amish man. A sweet tale that takes us inside the minds of the main characters as one struggles in disbelief that the other is a nonbeliever and the nonbeliever struggles with wanting to be a believer but not knowing how to. It gladdens my heart to see this nonbeliever come to know God and discover who she really is as well.
Beautiful story I highly recommend to readers of clean inspirational fiction.
Pub Date 28 Aug 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in this series, but this one can be read alone, and while Sam is no longer with us, and the young girls have grown up and have families of their own, his legacy lives on.
We meet part of Sam’s family that left the Amish and has come, oh no, to sell Pebble Creek. What starts out as a done deal, well now you will need to read this heartwarming story to find out the rest.
Will the beautiful gift Sam made his wife be found? What will become of the now modern Amish home?
A sweet a delightful quick read, with a little romance thrown in, and welcome to a less stressful life.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zebra, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Secret at Pebble Creek by Lisa Jones Baker is the fourth novel in Hope Chest of Dreams series. Jessica Beachy has come to Arthur, Illinois to fix-up the house she has inherited from her great-uncle, Sam Beachy. Jessica was surprised by the inheritance since she had never met Sam. She has managed to take four weeks off from work to fix up the house and get is listed for sale. Jessica needs a carpenter to work on the house and Eli Miller was recommended. Eli is surprised to learn that Jessica is going to sell the property because it has special meaning for his family. Eli shares the story of how his parents fell in love on the property and the special place on the hill where they talked for hours. While working on the home, Eli shares stories of Sam and his strong faith in God. Jessica had not had a relationship with God and asks Eli questions. Eli is drawn is to Jessica, but, as an Englisher, she is off limits to him. While cleaning the cottage, Jessica finds a hidden envelope. Inside is a letter from Sam to his wife along with a key. It seems he had made a special gift for their sixtieth wedding anniversary, but Esther passed away before the occasion. Jessica sets out on a quest to find the handmade gift and learns so much more along the way.

Secret at Pebble Creek can be read alone. The other characters from the series are mentioned along with Sam Beachy, the hope chest maker. The author provided their backstories, so readers will not be lost. Jessica learns about God while fixing up the cottage. The stories from Eli about Sam helped to teach Jessica about God and being a Christian. Eli’s strong faith and that of those in the community played a big part. Lisa Jones Baker has a nice writing style that makes Secret at Pebble Creek easy to read. I did feel the pace was too slow. But part of it was a lack of solid content. The story is very light. The attraction between Jessica and Eli was instantaneous (of course). The romance portion of the story was predictable. It was obvious how this pair’s tale would play out. The Christian element was abundant with numerous scripture passages (too many) along with discussions about God, faith, love, hope, importance of family and good friends. I wish the author had taken the time to establish the characters (give us more background on them). Jessica was a hard character to like. She has trouble handling stress, frequent panic attacks and has yet to address the issue of growing up with an alcoholic father. I did like how Jessica came to know God and develop a relationship with Him. My rating for Secret at Pebble Creek is 3 out of 5 stars. Secret at Pebble Creek is a simple yet sweet romance novel that will appeal to a younger audience or those looking for a nice escape novel.

[Tammy Bernadt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Novel

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets At Pebble Creek ( Hope Chest of Dreams #4 )
By: Lisa Jones Baker
Secrets At Pebble Creek is book four in Hope Chest of Dreams Series by Lisa Jones Baker. I really love this series and it just got better with Secrets At Pebble Creek. This one got to my heart. The story was well written. The characters were real like. Baker carries you back to Pebbles Creek. In the other books we got to know Old Sam and the special Home Chests that he made. Jessica inherits Sam’s old place and she has plans to remodel and sell. This is a sweet heartwarming story that will touch your heart. Forgiveness plays a big part in this story. Will Jessica sell Old Sam’s place? You can see God’s work in this wonderful addition to a great series.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but was not told that I had to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is Wonderful!!

Full of delightful messages about God's love for us.
One of my favorite verse was John 3:16. A powerful message just by itself. I love this particular verse. It talks about everlasting life through the Son and that my friends is what hope is all about.

Old Sam reminds me of my grandfather. Even
though my grandfather wasn't a talented woodworker like Old Sam, he sure could tell some fantastic stories!! The thing was the story would change each time. Lol!! Sort of like Old Sam's hope chests.

I loved it when the characters would kneel down by their bed each night and pray before they go to bed. I wonder if ppl still do this in today's society?

It truly amazes still that there are ppl who don't know Jesus or don't want to have time for him. I'm glad Eli was there for Jessica. I was rooting for Jessica the whole time I was reading this book. I thought Eli was a wonderful messenger

Everyone says that this book can be read as a stand a lone but I dont think so. I'd say that this is the conclusion and it's the best written so far.
I strongly recommend this book. I think y'all will enjoy the story and the author's writing style

I received a Netgalley copy of this book. No compensations were received. All are my honest opinions!

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book four in The Hope Chest of Dreams Series but I had no trouble reading it as a stand-alone. It is full of hopes, dreams, inspiration, and family. Jessica is struggling with stress and panic attacks when she is given a gift from her great uncle, Sam. Will she open her heart to the legacy of love he has left her? You will have to read to find out. This is a story of a young woman trying to find a place in life and her journey to a relationship with the Lord. It is an easy read and has a different perspective on the Amish lifestyle.
This is a new author to me and I enjoyed her characters and theme. I hope to read more of this series.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light and fun read. The main character was relatable, the setting was beautifully described and they all live happily ever after.

[Mary Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. I LOVED this story. Was hard to put down. Went to bed thinking about the story. This is a beautiful, Christian love story. Jessica (Englisher) inherits her Great Uncle Sams (Amish) homestead after his passing. Jessica plans to fix up the home, sell it, and get back to the city and her job. But, her life changes after meeting the neighbors, whom are the Miller family. Eli Miller is the highly recommended carpenter doing the repairs for Jessica. Jessica is not a Christian. Will Eli be able to change that? Will the Millers, especially Eli be able to encourage Jessica to not sell after renovation? The story ended just as I hoped it would. You may be very surprised! This is a must read that will be available September 2018. I was very lucky to be able to pre read an advanced uncorrected copy.
Thank you Lisa Jones Baker. This is the first book I read by this author and I want to read all of her writings now! Watch for release date and or preorder. You will not be disappointed!!

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this isn’t the first book in the series, I had no trouble reading it as a stand-alone. Ms Baker is a new author to me but, she is definitely going on my must-read list of authors!

She writes a story of love, undying love between a husband and wife and, the unconditional love that God has for us. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Old Sam as his story was told to his great niece Jessica by his friends and neighbors. He was a man who loved his wife dearly and loved God more. Jessica had never met her great-uncle but he left her his house and land upon his death.

This story is fully of indecision on Jessica’s part, a growing relationship that seemed impossible by all accounts, and mostly, trusting God to direct their paths.

Thank you Lisa for a great read!! This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Beachy lives in St. Louis. She is lives in a bad area, an hour away from the restaurant where she is employed, as she is unable to afford housing nearer her job. Where she lives, as well as the commute, are both sources of stress for Jessica.
Then, she learns of a great uncle, whom she never met, in Illinois, who has passed away and left his home and property to her. So, she takes time off work with plans to have some remodeling done on the house so she can sell it and buy a home close to her job in St. Louis.
What she wasn't prepared for was the beauty and serenity of Pebble Creek, her great uncle's property. Jessica suffers from anxiety from the turmoil of her childhood, but soon realizes she has very little at Old Sam's place. As remodel is going on at the house, she finds herself loving the peacefulness of being there and the Amish neighbors nearby.
Eli is a neighbor she has hired to do the remodel. From Eli, she begins to learn and feel like she knows her great uncle. She asks Eli to tell her more and to help her know the great uncle she never met. Old Sam had words of wisdom and helped many in the community over the years. They all miss him dearly and love sharing their stories.
Eli is dismayed when he learns that Jessica doesn't believe in God. How can someone not believe He exists, Eli wonders? Eli grew up Amish and belief has always been there. He never doubted. He makes it his goal and prayer to show Jessica that there is, indeed, a God.
She learns that her great uncle, Old Sam, made hope chests and they were shipped all over the country to buyers. What made them so special was the intricately carvings on the lids. Many had a story behind the carvings.
Jessica finds an old key with a riddle for Old Sam's deceased wife and she is determined to find what the key fits into. Eli helps her in her mission.
I found it unusual that Eli spent so much time in her company, outside of the remodel, and his parents didn't question it or caution him. Remember that he is Amish and Jessica is Englisch. From what I've read about the Amish, they are cautious of outsiders.
Aside from that, it is a wonderfully sweet story. You'll love the ending.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Englisher, Jessica Beachy, has inherited her late great uncle's Amish farm in Illinois. She makes the journey from St. Louis, MO to sell the property but one thing she did not expect was to fall in love, with the memory of her late great uncle, the property and the handsome Amish carpenter, Eli. As Eli remodels the house for Jessica to sell, he tells Jessica stories of her great uncle and the loves found at Pebble Creek. Will Eli lose his heart to Jessica?

This was my first visit to Pebble Creek and I am absolutely smitten. Lisa Jones Baker does an incredible job in making the reader feel as if Pebble Creek is a real and magical place. I am afraid of heights and would never in my right mind climb a ladder into a hay loft but she made me want to when reading about the view of Pebble Creek from Old Sam's hayloft.

It was beautiful to read about the witnessing Eli does with Jessica. A non-believer learning about our beautiful God and coming to the realization that Jesus died for you to have eternal life with him in the kingdom of heaven is a miracle. Lisa Jones Baker did just this in a subtle but powerful way.

I would recommend this book to any fan of Christian and/or Amish romance. It is definitely safe for a young teenage girl ready to read clean romance novels. No sex, foul language or violence.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Kensington through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secret at Pebble Creek is book four of the Hope Chest of Dreams series by Lisa Jones Baker and in my option the best in the series.
Jessica Beachy has been raised in a modern, dysfunctional home in St. Louis, MO. When she inherits her late great-uncle Sam’s farm in the middle of Amish county in Illinois, she is quick to think about how fast she can flip the property to improve her life in St. Louis. What she didn’t know is that God plays a hand in everything in our lives.
I especially loved how Lisa wrote about the love Old Sam shared with his wife of 60 years. As Jessica learns about her beloved uncle, God opens her eyes to His love which in turn causes Jessica to desire the relationship her uncle had with God.
I really enjoyed this story immensely and think it is her best work yet. The one true gift we can give to others is God’s love and Baker portrayed this beautifully in the way Old Sam, and the Millers loved and opened their hearts to others. I only hope that my life reflects this kind of love and I can rely on God to direct my path.
For those who have not read the rest of the series, fear not as this can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author, Kensington Books, and netgalley.com in return for my honest opinion. All comments are my own.

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secret at Pebblecreek is the 4th book written by Lisa Jones Baker in her new series Hope Chest of Dreams. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it tells Old Sam's story. Old Sam was a big presence in the first three books so learning his story really brought the series to life for me.

I enjoyed getting to know the wonderful characters of Jessica and Eli and also to see what has happened to former characters. I am hoping for another book to tell Mary's story and her love of plants. The author has done an exceptional job creating her characters and leaving her readers wanting more.

The storyline brought tears to my eyes several times and the sincere love of Old Sam among all of the community is very heartwarming. I enjoyed the hunt for the missing gift Old Samm made for his wife of 60 years. This part really shows how much love he had for his wife.

I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached by anyone to post a favorable review. I have rated this book with five stars for meeting my expectations of an amazing story that I can highly recommend to others.

Congratulations to Lisa Jones Baker for delivering another amazing story for her readers to enjoy. I am looking forward to more wonderful stories from this author in the future.

[Tiffany Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hope Chest of Dreams series by Lisa Jones Baker is such a wonderful series, and her latest book, Secrets at Pebble Creek, was a truly heartwarming story.
While this book is part of a series, it could easily be read as a stand-a-book. But trust me, if you read this one and haven't read the others, this book will convince you to go back and read the others.
This story line and its characters just pulled at my heartstrings as we saw so much love for Old Sam, Esther, and the Miller's in Pebble Creek.
Inheriting an old house from her great uncle out in the middle of nowhere in an Amish community, Jessica Beachy comes to Pebble Creek to get her great uncle's house fixed up and ready to sell in order to have the money to better her life in the city. What she doesn't realize is that her life is about to be better, but in ways she never expected. This story of love, forgiveness, and finding God and his plan had me turning page after page to the very end wondering how things would turn out for Jessica.
I received a copy of this book from the author, but was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion of this book.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secret at Pebble Creek was the best of the series. It’s the fourth book in the series. A little sad that Old Sam is no longer with us but he leaves many memories behind. He also left his home to his great niece Jessica whom he has never met and who is English. She comes to her great uncle’s home with the intention of fixing it up and selling it. Amish carpenter, Eli and his younger brother do the remodeling. Eli tells Jessica stories about her great uncle and what he is known for. Old Sam was a hope chest maker with a lot of wisdom. He made hope chests for people all over the world. The more stories Eli told, the more it was harder for Jessica to leave her great uncle’s home. It is delayed a little longer when she finds a key and a note that was intended for Old Sam’s late wife. Jessica had to find out what Old Sam was going to give to his wife with that key. With Eli’s help and her determination, she finds what she was looking for. But does it change how she feels about Pebble Creek? You have to read the book to find out. I love this book and I highly recommend anyone to read it. The author has written an excellent series.

[Janet Marie Dowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Lisa is an awesome author. If you enjoy Amish books, you won't be disappointed with her. I highly recommend it to anyone.

Jessica Beachy is a city girl who moves to country because she inherits her Uncle Sam's house. She has no idea how her life is about to change. She has trust issues because of what happened to her as a child. We have all experienced things like this. Sometimes God makes us get out of our comfort zones so we can grow closer to him.

Eli Miller is an handsome Amish man who grew up in a loving home. He's very stable and doesn't have any trust issues. Jessica asks him a question that rocks his world. Even though Sam has passed away, his Love helps Eli figure what he needs to do. This is the kind of legacy we all need to leave behind. Jessica's uncle Sam loved the Lord and shared that love with everyone he came in contact with, even Jessica.

To find out what happened to Jessica when she was a child, and what the question was that rocked Eli's world, and how Sam's love helps them figure out life. You have to read the book. Happy Reading!

[C Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Jones Baker has hit a home run with SECRET AT PEBBLE CREEK. I have loved all the Pebble Creek series and I encourage to read all of them, but this one has stolen my heart. It is always wonderful to visit a place and characters you have loved in a book series and this one is no exception. We have grown to love Old Sam in Lisa's stories, but this one has a different twist. Jessica has inherited her great uncle's homeplace in Pebble Creek. She has temporarily moved into the house to fix it up to sell so she can have a better life in the city. She hires a neighbor, Eli Miller and his brother to do the remodel. Together they grow in the love of Pebble Creek, understanding of the pull of the place, and Jessica finds somethings she had never really had, love of family and love of God. Join Jessica and Eli as they embrace Pebble Creek together. Although I was able to read an ARC of this book, you will be able to join the adventure soon. The book is Available for Pre-order now and will be released on August 28, 2018.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the Hope Chest of Dreams series, in which Jessica Beachy inherits the home of her great-uncle following his death. Her plans are simple: sell it and use the money to find a house closer to her work in St. Louis.

A neighbor, Eli Miller, is a builder and agrees to do the renovations Jessica feels are necessary before she puts the house on the market. However, in the course of doing his work, he decides that his most important chore is convincing Jessica that God exists and that He loves her.

When Jessica finds a key, she is determined to find what it will open--hence the secret referred to in the title. When she is successful, both she and Eli have an epiphany about their feelings for each other, but will Jessica continue with her plans to sell the old house? After all, a buyer has suddenly shown up. Read and find out.

[Tish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Hope Chest of Dream series. I really enjoyed it. This book is about Sam Beachy's niece Jessica Beachy. Jessica was not raised plain. Her father left the Amish ways and married a Englisher. When her uncle dies she is notified that he left his home to her. She moves in just to have it fixed up and for her to sell it. After she hires Eli Miller to do the work on the home they click immediately. Sam and his family tell Jessica all about her Uncle and his beautiful Hope Chests. When Jessica finds a note that leads her to a Hope Chest can she sell the home? Another beautiful book in this series.

[Lisa Norato · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful, heartwarming love story. If you love Amish romance, you will want to read Lisa’s entire Pebble Creek series. All of Lisa’s characters touch my heart, especially Jessica and Eli. Also in this book, a beloved character of the series, Old Sam (the hope chest carver) has his own beautiful love story told. You don’t need to have read the previous books to enjoy Secret at Pebble Creek. This book is a stand-alone, but once you have read it, I guarantee you will want to go back and read all stories in the series. A feel good, quick read you will surely enjoy!

[Connie Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read the Hope Chest of Dream Series by Lisa Jones Baker - Do not miss this book. It is wonderful. I love Jessica and her journey to find GOD and her Faith. I truly enjoyed the way Lisa Jones Baker shared Eli's conviction to his Faith and the Faith that his Amish family show daily. This is a wonderful book of an English girls journey from a battered and broken childhood to a deep and abiding Faith in God and the love of a Great Uncle she never knew. Thank you for sharing your talent Lisa Jones Baker

[Barbara Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secret at Pebble Creek is my first book to read by Author Lisa Jones Baker. This book is well-written and showed mystery, romance and most of all faith. I became involved into the storyline by the author's superb writing. I was so involved in the book I didn't want to stop reading until I was finished. I highly recommend reading Secret at Pebble Creek by Author Lisa Jones Baker. I believe you will enjoy this fantastic book like I did.

I received a copy from the publisher, but was not required to review it. This review is one hundred percent my opinion.

[Rosemary Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

secret at pebble creek touched my heart. the characters are amazing people, old sam left a piece of his heart to everyone, I am reading it AGAIN!! and I will read it the third and fourth time in a few months, this book will touch anyone's heart that reads it, Lisa jones baker is an amazing author and I look forward to reading her next book! if I could I would rate secret at pebble creek 10 stars. thank you Lisa for your inspiring beautifully written books

[Emily Yager · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first novel to read in this series and by this author. This is a beautifully written story the melds together the "Englisher" and "Amish" worlds in a lovely heartwarming way . It's a must read for anyone who loves a sweet, inspirational romance.

I received an Advance Copy from NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions and expression are me own.

[Crissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did it again, didn't realize it was well into the series. Lucky for me that didn't matter. I was able to read the story and have no problems keeping up. I find that generally the other stories may have shared about the other characters just barely mentioned or those who were friends of the main characters. The book drew me in and had me turning pages to find out what she was going to do.

[Anne Chlovechok · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sweet romance about a woman who inherited a house in Amish country, who goes there expecting to sell it and return home. Instead, she finds a whole new life. If you have read Lisa Jones Baker's previous stories set in Pebble Creek, you need to read this "next generation" tale in the world of the Hope Chest artist, Old Sam.

[Felicidad Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

" Secret at Pebble Creek " by Lisa Jones Baker is a simple yet uplifting read. It's refreshing and spiritual, filled with themes of love and faith that really warm the heart. I enjoyed how easy it was to connect with the characters and the gentle flow of the story. Highly recommend if you are looking for something wholesome and inspiring to read.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully written book. God's love and forgiveness makes the impossible, possible. This is such a heartwarming story. I loved it and read it in one sitting. Thank you NetGalley and Kingston Books Zebra for the ARC copy of this book. This is my honest review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Sweet Story

This is a beautiful story of community coming together to help one another, and finding love and happiness in life.