After the Shadows by Amanda Cabot:Book Review

  *Book received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

A brighter future awaits--if she can escape the shadows of the past

Emily Leland sheds no tears when her abusive husband is killed in a bar fight, but what awaits her back home in Sweetwater Crossing is far from the welcome and comfort she expected. First she discovers her father has died under mysterious circumstances. Then the house where the new schoolteacher and his son are supposed to board burns, leaving them homeless. When Emily proposes turning the family home into a boardinghouse, her sister is so incensed that she leaves town.

Alone and broke, her family name sullied by controversy, Emily is determined to solve the mystery of her father's death--and to aid Craig Ferguson, despite her fears of men. The widowed schoolmaster proves to be a devoted father, an innovative teacher, and an unexpected ally. Together they must work to unmask a killer and escape the shadows of their own pasts in order to forge a brighter future.

Bestselling author Amanda Cabot transports you to 1880s Texas Hill Country for a brand-new series that will have you flipping pages to solve the mystery and get to the happily-ever-after you long for.

Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of After the Shadows, as well asseveral historical and contemporary romance series, including Mesquite Springs, Cimarron Creek Trilogy, Texas Crossroads, Texas Dreams, and Westward Winds. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers' Best. She lives in Wyoming. Learn more at www.amandacabot.com.

Amanda Cabot never fails to create novels that transport readers into the past, with fantastic historical detail and captivating storylines to draw the reader in... and After the Shadows is a great example of that. 

This one got off to a bit of a slower pace for me, though that might just be me, as I'd been reading much faster-paced stories before this one. The story does take on some rather difficult subjects, which had the potential to weigh down the story, but the author does a great job of approaching the subjects with grace and crafting a story that does not leave readers walking away feeling heavy despite those subject matters. It offers a great mix of history, suspense, and romance... and has me looking forward to what's coming next in the series. If you enjoy historical fiction, you'll want to be sure to check this one out.