After the Shadows
Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing #1
Historical Romance
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
This book turned out quite different than I originally thought it would. From the look of the cover I thought it would be more of a British countryside Regency romance type. Nope! It's set in 1882 Sweetwater Crossing, Texas.
The story is one of tragedy and redemption. Emily Leland is the main character and we meet her as she is arriving at her family home. She's journeyed there to start over after becoming a recent widow. The homecoming she expected is far from the reality that greets her.
One of the main things that I liked about Emily is that she is determined to not only survive but thrive. And she has the wherewithal to pull others along with her. There are seemingly insurmountable odds but she continues to persevere.
There are two other sisters in this story that we get a bit of background on. I am assuming that they will be featured in the next couple of books in this series. I can't wait to find out the rest of Emily's story (surely it will be included in the next books) and also get to know her sisters better.
While this is considered an Historical Romance it also has an element of mystery to it. I enjoyed trying to figure out the who, what, when and why of what happened. It was a very surprising ending. If this first book of the series is any indication of what's to come . . . we're in for a real treat!
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| Photo Credit: Photo by: Val Rothwell Photography |
Disclosure
I received a copy of this book from the publisher to facilitate my review.
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