Out of the Embers is the first book of the Mesquite Springs Series written by Amanda Cabot.  The story takes place in the decade prior to the American Civil War. The characters are appealing and it will be enjoyable to return to Mesquite Springs again to follow their lives.

An interesting aspect of this story is that none of the characters are so broken emotionally that they have to spend the whole book fighting against their brokenness.  Many of the novels out there focus on this.  Characters can’t–or refuse to love, because they have had some traumatic experiences in their past.  This book rather focuses on the strength of the characters as they move forward in all aspects of their lives.

The story is one in which reader will ponder the lessons taught in the book without feeling as though the messages have been beaten into them.  Romantics will be pleased; unsolved mystery readers will be satiated; historical fiction readers will be satisfied.

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Revell

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None 

Violence/Gore:  A character reflects often on the murder of her parents; a home is deliberately burned to the ground, killing the occupants; a character shoots another and kills him; a report that a man was hung for murder; several scenes in which shots are fired, some blood is mentioned, some fatal; a man strikes a person in the head with a metal bar; it is assumed that a man deliberately killed someone to get financial gain. 

Sex/Nudity:  Non-married characters kiss, hold hands, and embrace.

Mature Subject Matter:

Murder, death of parents, adoption.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Characters discuss consumption of alcohol.