Out of the Embers, by Amanda Cabot, 2020, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review, and I chose this one because I like historical fiction with some romance to give it spice. Speaking of which, the main character in this novel is a cook, so you can pick up a few cooking tips from her!

Out of the Embers

Although it is Book One of a series, it reads well as a stand-alone too, as all the strings are tied up at the end. The author tells you what Book Two will be about and includes the first chapter. The focus will shift onto different characters in the same town.

Out of the Embers starts with Evelyn, a young woman who works in an orphanage in 1855, with Polly, a recently orphaned little girl. They are returning to the orphanage with the horse and wagon when they discover that the orphanage has been burned to the ground and there are no survivors.

Fleeing to get away from whoever did this, they end up in a pretty ranch town at the foot of a mountain. A handsome cowboy finds them caught in a thunderstorm and invites them to his home where his mother and sister insist that they stay.

Evelyn and Polly settle in happily to Mesquite Springs but there is always this underlying fear that somebody is after them. Indeed it’s true! More than one person is after them! But I’m not giving away any spoilers, so you’ll just have to read it yourself to find out!

https://amandajoycabot.blogspot.com/2020/04/evelyns-oatmeal-pecan-pie.html?m=1 Check out this link to the recipe for Evelyn’s oatmeal pie.

https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-9212800-14380659
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The Wheatsheaf Pub, Hemer, Canada

Just a twenty minute drive south of Nanaimo in the small country town of Hemer is one of our favourite places to go for an afternoon outing and early dinner. The Wheatsheaf Pub is quiet in the mid afternoon, cozy inside with a fireplace, or nice outside on the deck when the weather’s warm.

My current favourite is a half order of potato and cheese perogies–four large home made perogies loaded down with fried bacon and onions and served with a side of sour cream and a little salad. $9.75C. Sid likes the meat eater’s pizza ($14.25)–too big for one person to eat but great to take home the rest of for another meal for the two of us. We always get a Grower’s Peach cooler each, which is a nice cool taste of summer all year ($6 X 2).

Appies here are yummy too. They mostly come with carrot and celery sticks on the side. We like the prawns.

We’ve never tried the burgers because they look too huge for our senior appetites but I’ve noticed young working men scarfing them down.

The atmosphere is friendly, the décor is old and homey, there’s a bookcase to borrow from and a pool table to play at. Even live music some evenings. Next time you’re out for a country drive in the vicinity perhaps you’d like to stop in!