Dreams Rekindled (Mesquite Springs Book #2)

This is book two in the Mesquite Springs series, however I believe it is a stand alone book. You do miss a little history of Mesquite Springs and some of its towns people, yet you will not be lost if you jump right into this one. (But I would recommend reading it, its a good read as well.) If you like historical, suspenseful, mysterious books with a little romance you will like this series. Dorothy Clark has plans for herself and is only hoping to fulfill them. Brandon Holloway wants a fresh start, when he starts his paper in a new town, could it be an answer to Dorothy's prayers and open doors to her new beginning? When Mesquite Springs starts to get a little disgruntled Dorothy and Brandon try to find the source before the town is torn apart. I look forward to reading more in this series. I was given a copy of this novel for my honest opinion.

Dreams Rekindled by Amanda Cabot is the 2nd book in the Mesquite Springs series. Dreams Rekindled can be read as a standalone for those who have not read Out of the Embers. I thought Dreams Rekindled was well-written with developed characters. Nutmeg, Dorothy’s rescue dog, was my favorite character. He is a clever and cute canine. I thought the author captured the time-period (button hooks, printing press, the printer’s type, a woman’s reticule, Uncle Tom’s Cabin) and the setting (especially the small-town feel). I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of Mesquite Springs and the surrounding countryside. Dorothy Clark and Brandon Holloway are attracted to each other from the beginning, but grief and past events prevent them from acting on their feelings. I liked that the characters are realistic with strengths and weaknesses. To counteract the good guys, we have a villain. Phil Blakeslee arrives in town the same day as Brandon. He is an artist who is town for nefarious purposes. He is working for the mysterious Mr. K who has his own agenda for Mesquite Springs. Phil has a troubled background that has influenced his opinion of newsman and ministers. I like how everything came together in this story. Faith is woven into the story. It added just the right note. I enjoyed the suspense and mystery. It added depth to the story. I quickly turned the pages eager to see how this story would turn out. There are some unanswered questions at the end of the book. We will have to wait for the next installment to get those answers. Dreams Rekindled is a complex novel with family, friends, faith, hope, foul play, and forgiveness.

Dreams Rekindled by Amanda Cabot is the second book in her Mesquite Springs series. I liked Dorothy from the first novel in the series, so I was thrilled to read her story in this book. As a book lover, I adore characters who are writers or aspire to be writers, so fell in love with Dorothy’s dream of making a difference in the world through her writing. Her passion is contagious, and her kindness and generosity are admirable. I loved her quick, witty mind, too. Dorothy is just a great heroine in my opinion! And Brandon. Sigh. He may be a little bit of an atypical hero, but he is still so, so swoon-worthy. His tender heart, his brilliant mind, his respect for Dorothy’s opinion, and his desire to serve his community all add up to make an honorable and attractive man. Whew! I just loved all the witty banter between Dorothy and Brandon. Their friends to more romance was a joy to watch develop. I loved all the secrets and mysteries surrounding Phil Blakeslee and his sudden arrival in town. Watching Dorothy and Brandon work together to put all the pieces together was so much fun. It kept me turning pages Overall, I loved this story! This series keeps getting better, and I can’t wait to read the third book! Fans of Christian historical fiction will enjoy this story.