My Thoughts on After the Shadows by Amanda Cabot

 

About:

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 handsome new schoolteacher, Craig Ferguson, 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, despite her fears of men. The widowed schoolmaster proves to be a devoted father, an innovative teacher, and an unexpected ally. As they work to uncover the truth, they just may find the key to unlock a future neither could have imagined.

My Thoughts:

After the Shadows is an appropriate title for this storyline, but as we start out, our characters have some shadows they still need to walk through.

Emily Leland is a new widow, but she does not mourn her husband. After her short courtship and quick wedding, she finds out soon enough that George is not a nice man. She still bears the marks of his last beating before he died suddenly. Emily goes back home to Sweetwater Crossing, to a home that is not the same. Her mother has died, one sister is traveling, and Louise her youngest sister is angry. What none of the sisters can imagine is what happens next. Their world continues to become shattered.

Craig Ferguson and his little boy, Noah, want a fresh start after the tragic accident killing his beloved wife. So, he decides to move to Sweetwater Crossing and start over as the town's schoolteacher. However, on his very first day Craig is wondering if he will ever escape tragedy as in this town, something is seriously wrong.

Craig and Emily, two strangers, begin to know each other under unusual circumstances along with the pain of loss in their lives. But there is something going on the town that really needs to be stopped.

I enjoyed the sweet romance between Craig and Emily that happened despite their circumstances. The mystery was well done and kept me turning the pages.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of After the Shadows, as well as several 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.