Tag: second chance

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AFTER the SHADOWS, by Amanda Cabot, 2023, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

After the Shadows
After the Shadows

AFTER the SHADOWS is Book 1 in the secrets of SWEETWATER CROSSINGS series by Amanda Cabot. I chose this book from Revell to read and review because I loved the previous stories I read by her, and this one didn’t disappoint me. It works fine as a stand-alone, but I do look forward to the next books in the series to see what happens to familiar characters.

Emily is a likable main character, returning to her hometown and large family home as a young widow after an abusive marriage. She ends up using the house and her hospitality and cooking skills to board several people who need a home. Without giving spoilers, I’ll say there are a series of suspicious deaths that occur, eventually turning the plot into a murder mystery. Craig, the new schoolteacher, helps her solve the mystery.

Cabot’s writing is a nice balance of characters and plot, intriguing without stressful suspense, and an enjoyable pace. Not to mention the thought-provoking principles of life sprinkled in. I’d recommend it to those who want a relaxing yet captivating book to read. I liked that the characters span all age categories and friendship and compassion for all kinds of people are central. Emily and Craig step up to the plate and fight for what’s right.

Visit AmandaCabot.com to learn more about Amanda and her books, and to sign up for her newsletter.

Click on this link to buy the book: https://www.amazon.ca/After-Shadows-Amanda-Cabot/dp/0800740645/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35XTKACG4BPIM&keywords=After+the+Shadows&qid=1680204577&sprefix=after+the+shadows%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-1#:~:text=https%3A//amzn.to/3zD8SDb As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Click here to read more reviews on Goodreads: Pearl Fredericksen’s review of After the Shadows | Goodreads

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when the MEADOW BLOOMS, by Ann H. Gabhart, 2022, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

A meadow in bloom is a vast bouquet of love from our heavenly Father.
when the MEADOW BLOOMS

A meadow in bloom

A meadow in bloom is a vast bouquet of love from our heavenly Father. A sensual treat, enveloping in joy. Ann Gabhart makes you feel it in this novel. Her word pictures put you in the meadow, a magical place lit up by moonlight. Natural, health-giving comforts of God’s creation, away from the institutional jails of the city.

Rose and her daughters, Calla and Sienna, have no place to go. The girls have been in an orphanage for two years while their mother is treated for tuberculosis in a sanitarium. It’s 1925. With no one else to turn to, they reach out to her husband’s brother, a recluse who they barely know. But alas, he has a heart. Or at least a sense of duty. And space for them in his house, situated in beautiful Meadowland.

Wonder, danger, mystery

The author skillfully brings readers into their lives, with their worries and fears. Some wonder, some new experiences, some danger and fighting for their lives. An old mystery threads through the story, to be solved at the end. The characters are alive, with their distinct personalities. I do hope this becomes a series. I want to know what happens to them later. And I want to visit Meadowland again.

Animals included

Not all the characters are human. A pair of crows are integral in solving the mystery. The dog plays a role too, and a loveable cat comforts Rose. Even chickens contribute to the healing of this family. Perhaps in the next book Sienna will meet the mouse she hopes to befriend.

My thanks to Revell for sending me this beautifully made paperback. The cover is gorgeous. I’m so glad I chose this book to review. I can honestly say I loved it! It inspired me to visit the meadows in bloom near my own home, and bask in the vast bouquets of love from my heavenly Father.

Learn more about Ann Gabhart and her books at AnnHGabhart.com.

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