Ten years after her parents were killed, Evelyn Radcliffe is once more homeless. The orphanage that was her refuge and later her workplace has burned to the ground, and only she and a young orphan girl have escaped. Convinced this must be related to her parents’ murders, Evelyn flees with the girl to Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country and finds refuge in the home of Wyatt Clark, a talented horse rancher whose plans don’t include a family of his own.
At first, Evelyn is a distraction. But when it becomes clear that trouble has followed her to Mesquite Springs, she becomes a full-blown disruption. Can Wyatt keep her safe from the man who wants her dead? And will his own plans become collateral damage?
Suspenseful and sweetly romantic, Out of the Embers is the first in a new series that invites you to the Texas Hill Country in the 1850s, when the West was wild, the men were noble, and the women were strong.
PRAISE FOR OUT OF THE EMBERS:
“Out of the Embers is part prairie romance, part romantic suspense. I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed a book more. Amanda Cabot has written an intriguing, chilling mystery and she winds it through the pages of a sweet romance in a way that made me keep turning the pages fast to see what was going to happen next. An absolutely excellent read. And now I’m hungry for oatmeal pecan pie!”
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“You need to be strong to survive losing everything.”
It is hard to imagine any book by Amanda Cabot not being a sure-fire winner. Out of the Embers is the first book in the Mesquite Springs series, and what a beginning!
Evelyn Radcliffe was orphaned ten years after her parents were brutally murdered, and she lives in constant fear that the killer will one day finish the job and kill her too. The orphanage near Gilmorton, Texas, has been her safe haven as an orphan and now an employee, but when twenty-three-year-old Evelyn returns from town, accompanied by another orphan, six-year-old Polly, they discover their home has gone up in smoke, with nothing left of the orphanage but embers, ashes, and fear. The fire was no accident. The girls are homeless and on the run from Polly’s mysterious background and from a faceless stranger who has watched Evelyn from the shadows every time she returns to town. Where will they go? How will they survive? Will they ever feel safe again?
After traveling for miles, Evelyn and Polly, posing as sisters and with a new last name, are exhausted and suddenly at the mercy of a severe thunderstorm, but both their lives are about to take a sharp turn for the better. Enter Wyatt Clark.
Amanda Cabot delivers a lovely story about trust, honesty, friendship, and the realization that dreams really do come true, even the dreams you never knew you had. Evelyn is looking for a safe place to land for both herself and Polly. Wyatt wants to travel the world, but he needs to ensure the horse ranch he inherited from his father, who was killed by the Comanche, is solvent for his mother and sister. But when Wyatt and Evelyn meet during that fateful thunderstorm, their lives become forever changed and forever entwined.
Set in the Texas Hill Country, Out of the Embers is an engaging story about survival, miracles, and the unwavering trust in God’s plan. This first book in the Mesquite Springs series, however, is not all about love and romance and starting over in a new town. A couple of mysteries need to be solved, and a bit of rivalry for Evelyn’s attention throws a little spice and even some danger into the mix.
Amanda Cabot’s writing is always so smooth and captivating, and she builds characters, plots, and scenes with ease and with such tender care. The story is not too complicated, but it has quite a few twists and a few turns to keep the reader guessing. As an added bonus, it is wonderful when Evelyn opens a restaurant in Mesquite Springs and follows in her late parents’ footsteps of serving comfort food and scrumptious desserts to crowds of hungry people. I would love the recipe to Evelyn’s oatmeal pecan pie, but apparently it is a closely guarded family secret. Prepare to crave this pie throughout most of this delightful story.
Out of the Embers is the perfect book if you love a sweet Christian romance with just enough drama, mystery, and surprises to keep you on your toes. While you’re at it, take a look at the other series by Amanda Cabot. You’ll fall in love with those books, too.
Enter the giveaway below on or before March 20, 2020, for a chance to win some fabulous prizes!
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of the Cimarron Creek trilogy, as well as the Texas Crossroads series, the Texas Dreams series, the Westward Winds series, and Christmas Roses. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers’ Best. She lives in Wyoming.
VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
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| 3/10/20 | Review | Librariel Book Adventures |
| 3/11/20 | Review | Jennifer Silverwood |
| 3/11/20 | BONUS Post | Hall Ways Blog |
| 3/12/20 | Excerpt, Part 1 | Story Schmoozing Book Reviews |
| 3/12/20 | Author Interview | All the Ups and Downs |
| 3/13/20 | Character Spotlight | The Clueless Gent |
| 3/13/20 | Review | Reading by Moonlight |
| 3/14/20 | Guest Post | Chapter Break Book Blog |
| 3/15/20 | Author Interview | Carpe Diem Chronicles |
| 3/16/20 | Excerpt, Part 2 | That’s What She’s Reading |
| 3/16/20 | Review | StoreyBook Reviews |
| 3/17/20 | Review | Missus Gonzo |
| 3/18/20 | Excerpt, Part 3 | Max Knight |
| 3/19/20 | Review | Momma on the Rocks |
| 3/19/20 | Review | Book Fidelity |
