Out of the Embers – Amanda Cabot – Revell – Published 3 March 2020

♥♥♥♥

 

Synopsis

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?

My thoughts

Out of the Embers is a charming historical Christian romance. Despite the historical setting, it’s quite modern from the female-empowerment positive messages and the independence of our female main character Evelyn. With a touch of mystery and a looming threat that overhangs the characters, the climax was a little suspenseful, but overall this is an easy book to read and enjoy.

When the orphanage destroys the only friends and home Evelyn has, she and the only other survivor run for their lives and make a new start in Mesquite Springs. Evelyn is used to watching over her shoulder ever since her parents were murdered and the feeling of being watched haunted her in the years following. But in Mesquite Springs she dares to dream of a new future for her and Polly. She finds good friends in Wyatt, Dorothy and their mother. She even opens up her very own dinning hall. But the threat promises to follow the two young ladies.

If you enjoy historical Christian romance, try this latest offering from Amanda Cabot. Out of the Embers is the first book in a new series. The sequels are set to follow characters from this book and I’m looking forward to reading Dorothy’s book in the next instalment.

Evelyn is an independent young woman and Wyatt, despite a few poorly placed sentiments that she quickly puts right, supports her and loves her for it.

The suspense in this story come from three angles and I liked how the threads weave together to build the threat and leave you wondering how it all fits together, even as more details about previous crimes are provided.

I enjoyed the sections of the book devoted to Evelyn starting and running her own business and preparing the food for the townspeople. I also thought the mayoral race was a wonderful addition to the story and allowed the exploration of Wyatt’s character.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

More information

Category: Adult fiction

Genre: Christian – historical.

Themes: Romance, horse racing, murder, orphans, death, politics.

Published: 3 March 2020 by Revell

Format: Hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook. 336 pages.

ISBN: 9780800737801

Find it on Goodreads