Out of the Embers

Out of the Embers (Mesquite Springs book 1) by: Amanda Cabot Paperback Pages: 336 2020 ISBN: 0800735358 Revell Publishing Reviewed by: HuberK, Arkansas, USA January 16, 2020 Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 Evelyn works at the orphanage, where she has spent many years. She was taken there, after her parents were murdered in their cafe. She is the designated salesperson for the lace that the children create, she makes a trip once a month, to a neighboring town, to sell the lace. She hates to go, the town she journeys to, is where she used to live. She feels there is always a Watcher there, keeping an eye on her and it scares her. Will the watcher try again to kill her, as he did when her parents were murdered? A small girl, Polly from the orphanage, keeps her company on the long trip, occasionally. As they are returning home from their trip, one day, as they are getting close to the orphanage, they begin to smell smoke. Finding out the unbelievable truth, that the orphanage has been deliberately burnt down, with all 22 orphans and the director inside. Evelyn panics, she and Polly stop in at the general store and load up on supplies and aims their wagon and old horse to the west, so hopefully, they can outrun the Watcher. They end up huddled under the wagon, waiting for a cold thunderstorm to pass, when Wyatt comes upon them. He convinces Evelyn that she and Polly can come to his horse ranch and have a warm, dry and safe place to stay, while they decide what to do next. Wyatt's mother and sister make the two girls feel at home. Evelyn does what she does best and begins to help with the cooking, because she is a very accomplished cook. Evelyn decides to open the vacant cafe in town, there is an apartment that sits above the cafe, a perfect little home for her and Polly. Polly can attend school in town and they can begin their new life in Mesquite Springs, Texas. Wyatt slowly realizes that he has more than just a passing interest in Evelyn. This is a romantic, suspenseful mystery. Very enjoyable. Keeps you reckoning until the very end. I received a complimentary copy of this book from LibraryThing and Revell Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.