He’s bound and determined to find peace . . . but she’s about to stir things up. 
 
Dorothy Clark dreams of writing something that will challenge people as much as Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin seems to have. But in 1850s Mesquite Springs, there are few opportunities for writers–until newspaperman Brandon Holloway arrives, that is. 
 
Brandon Holloway has seen firsthand the disastrous effects of challenging others. He has no intention of repeating that mistake. Instead of following his dreams, he’s committed to making a new–and completely uncontroversial–start in the Hill Country. 
 
As Dorothy’s involvement in the fledgling newspaper grows from convenient to essential, the same change seems to be happening in Brandon’s heart. But before romance can bloom, Dorothy and Brandon must work together to discover who’s determined to divide the town and destroy Brandon’s livelihood. 

“You can choose happiness or fear.”

Dreams Rekindled by Amanda Cabot is Book 2 in the Mesquite Springs series. While each book can be enjoyed as a standalone, reading them in sequence is advised because Dreams Rekindled definitely follows on the heels of Book 1, Out of the Embers. Plus, Amanda Cabot’s books are a true Texas delight that most certainly should not be missed.

In Dreams Rekindled, Dorothy Clark is the star of the show, and when Brandon Holloway arrives in Mesquite Springs with a printing press in tow and a sad secret tucked away in his heart, Dorothy finally sees her chance to fulfill her dream to be a writer, even if it is for a weekly newspaper. Dorothy is firm in her desire to stay single to avoid the same heartache as her widowed mother, and she tries hard to remain immune to Brandon’s good looks and equally good personality. Besides infatuation, however, other pressing issues are on the horizon in peaceful Mesquite Springs, Texas. Someone else has arrived in town and is secretly setting the stage and preparing the town and townspeople for another man’s scheme. The troublesome and even dangerous events that plague Brandon, the preacher and his wife, and eventually the town at large provide quite a bit of high drama and a chilling charade.

On the lighter side, Amanda Cabot once again delivers a story that engulfs the reader in the positive message that love always finds a way and that  forgiving oneself  and asking for forgiveness are just as important as forgiving others. The added mystery and danger provide the right amount of contrast to all the love floating around in the air, making Dreams Rekindled the perfect mix of sweet and serious; enchanting and enigmatic. While the reader knows who is behind the destruction and mayhem in the town, the characters do not, contributing some entertaining dramatic irony in an already enjoyable story.

Amanda’s writing is uncomplicated and cozy, allowing the reader to melt into the story and feel like a cherished resident of Mesquite Springs and a friend to Dorothy, Brandon, and the other main characters. The addition of a cute pup named Nutmeg pushes the story to an even higher level of perfection. Animals have a way of stealing both a reader’s heart and the hearts of fictional characters, and Nutmeg and her puppies do just that.

As a romance/mystery, Dreams Rekindled will appeal to a wide reader audience because it includes fantastic characterization and a diverting plot that picks up speed with each chapter before clattering to a rousing and romantic halt, with a perplexing loose end that the author addresses in her letter to her readers. Anticipation is high for the next in the Mesquite Springs series!

Enter the giveaway below on or before March 12, 2021, 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.