Out of the Embers

Amanda Cabot has a serious bent to her writing, her plots have a bit of intrigue, and her characters are rather solemn.  Out of the Embers is one of her better writings.  She seems to improve with every book she authors. 

Evelyn Radcliffe grew up in an orphanage from the time she was ten years old, after her parents were killed.  When a fire takes the orphanage, it also takes all of the children too, except for Evelyn and Polly.  The two girls had been sent to get the food supplies for the orphanage and saw what the fire had done when they came back.  They decided to keep on going, which is all well and good until they get to Mesquite Springs, Texas, when the horse, Reginald, throws a shoe. 

Wyatt Clark finds them hunkered down under the wagon during a particularly vicious storm.  Wyatt takes them back to his ranch house where his mother and sister take care of them, and they become almost like part of the family in a few short days.

Evelyn and Polly are both keeping secrets and look to Wyatt for their protection, but Evelyn wants to earn her own way as well.  They look to the owner of what used to be the only restaurant in Mesquite Springs to make a deal with him to lease it and open a new one in its place.  Evelyn's prowess in the kitchen becomes known all around the Springs and Evelyn begins to get regular customers.

A sale of horses at Wyatt's ranch brings a lot of the mysteries to a head.  Amanda's talent for writing has shone throughout this book and brings the reader much satisfaction.  This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and an apple pie that will tease your taste buds unmercifully.

Revell Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the galley I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.