Dreams Rekindled

Author: Amanda Cabot
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Mesquite Springs #2
Release Date: March 2, 2021

He's bound and determined to find peace . . . but she's about to stir things up

Dorothy Clark dreams of writing something that will challenge people as much as Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin seems to have. But in 1850s Mesquite Springs, there are few opportunities for writers--until newspaperman Brandon Holloway arrives, that is.

Brandon Holloway has seen firsthand the disastrous effects of challenging others. He has no intention of repeating that mistake. Instead of following his dreams, he's committed to making a new--and completely uncontroversial--start in the Hill Country.

As Dorothy's involvement in the fledgling newspaper grows from convenient to essential, the same change seems to be happening in Brandon's heart. But before romance can bloom, Dorothy and Brandon must work together to discover who's determined to divide the town and destroy Brandon's livelihood.

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Reviewer: Cheryl Wood

I loved Dreams Rekindled! A story of mystery, romance, mercy, forgiveness, and healing.

Dorothy’s plan does not include marriage, she wishes to be a writer where she can influence others through her words, however real life gets in the way. Bachelor, Brandon Holloway arrives in Mesquite Springs looking to start a newspaper, but when a stranger comes to town, things start to change and not for the better.

I don’t want to spoil the plot, pick up Dreams Rekindled, you will not be disappointed.

This book was provided courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews.

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Reviewer: Deanne Patterson

Dreams Rekindled is the second book in the Mesquite Springs series. I read the first in this series and I was highly anticipating this book and believe me it hasn't disappointed.

Dorothy Clark's story takes place in small town, Mesquite Springs, Texas. She runs a restaurant, sure it fills people's stomach's but doesn't do anything to fill her mind with knowledge. She's a smart woman who wants to stir things up and make a difference in people's lives. She wants to be remembered like her heroine Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin has.

When handsome newspaper man Brandon Holloway comes into town opening his newspaper printing company she knows it's her perfect opportunity as a newspaper writer. Even as Dorothy and Brandon strive to make the newspaper office viable some love it and want it to succeed and other's are determined to not only shut it down but to destroy Brandon's livelihood and run him out of town. Now to determine the who and the why.

A delightful historical with realistic and likable characters . Cabot can really bring a book alive with her descriptions and compassionate writing style.

This book was provided courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews.

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Reviewer: Lori Parrish

I really really enjoyed this book, and I finished it one night. It was so good! Cabot writes the most wonderful stories. This is my favorite series so far.

Her descriptions of the scenery and town of Mesquite Springs really make you feel like you are there, and I didn't want to leave. I give this book 5 stars for the well-rounded characters, and the plot really kept your attention. I was sad when I came to the end of the book. I wish I didn't have to wait so long for the next one.

One reason I love and enjoy books like this is that I like learning how things like how the newspaper gets started and where it came from. I love the way this author writes her stories. I love relating to her characters and how they overcome all the problems they encounter along the way. It's like she's telling my story in some way and knows exactly how I feel at times.

This book has all the feel-goods, if you know what I mean. It has all the ingredients of a wonderful story. It made me stay in until the book was finished. 

I received this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. 

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Reviewer: Marta Aldrighetti

Mesquite Springs is a nice village.

In the year 1856, Dorothy Clark has a big dream to write. But in the village, there isn't a newspaper, and she is a woman.

"I'm angry, sad, and hopeful, all at the same time. Doesn't that sound crazy?"

Two new men come to town... trouble, love, lies?

"He had been trapped by the shadow of his past, but now he was free."

The author tells a fiction story to the readers. Still, the story and the happenings could be realistic. Restaurants and bars are places of gossip, and to hear the village's news, bad people can cause serious harm both with words and hands. Ignorant people believe all that others tell them.

I like this book because I also like to write and in the past, I wrote articles for my village newspaper, so I find it exciting and interesting.

This book was provided courtesy of Revell through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews.

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Reviewer: June McCrary Jacobs

A pre-Civil War historical romance set in Mesquite Springs, Texas.
 
Dreams Rekindled is the second installment in author Amanda Cabot's Mesquite Springs series. I had the pleasure of reading Book One, Out of the Embers, early in 2020. The author does a fine job of inserting details and descriptions from the first book into the Dreams Rekindled story which will allow readers to enjoy this story as a standalone, too.
 
Dorothy Clark is a strong young woman who has a secret passion for writing. She dreams of writing for a newspaper in the future because she enjoys sharing facts rather than creating fiction. She is deeply devoted to her family which includes her mother, her older brother, Wyatt, Wyatt's recent bride, Evelyn, and the couple's adopted daughter, Polly. Dorothy is a thoughtful, kind, compassionate woman who is committed to her Christian faith and to her community. She is willing to pitch in and help anyone in need.
 
For reasons painstakingly revealed bit-by-bit throughout the story, Dorothy has made the difficult decision never to marry. She would like to be a wife and mother, but she has chosen caution over romance and is dealing with the ramifications of becoming a lonely spinster.
 
Newspaperman Brandon Holloway enters the story early-on and creates a stir in town as he establishes the first newspaper ever published in Mesquite Springs. As a fan of American history, I found the passages about printing presses, the process of setting type, and publishing a newspaper to be intriguing. Readers benefit from the author's thorough research.
 
The story content includes some suspense and a mystery, both of which I feel added dimension to the basic story. There are some extremely unsavory characters in the story along with one who garnered my sympathy due to his tragic childhood. Many difficult lessons were learned by the main characters in the story and the entire community.
 
One of the most satisfying elements of the story for me was the strong faith thread woven throughout the story, most of the characters, and the lessons shared by the town's Pastor Coleman, as he spoke from his pulpit or counseled people on an individual basis. I found his words to be inspiring. The setting for the story along with the strong characters makes this a memorable follow-up to Out of the Embers.
 
Recommended to fans of Christian/clean romance, Christian/clean historical fiction, and Christian/clean Western fiction.
 
I received a paperback copy of this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. My thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely my own.

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Reviewer: Rebecca Maney

"He'd said 'we.' Was there ever a more beautiful word in the English language?. . . . . . he was offering her a chance to make one of her dreams come true."

While most lovely young ladies dream of marriage and a family, Dorothy Clark spends her time longing for an opportunity to become a writer. To experience what it would be like to change the world with her words, and if not the world, at least her community. When Brandon Holloway arrives in Mesquite Springs with an iron printing press and intentions to launch a town newspaper, Dorothy is thrilled when he accepts some of her suggestions, such as naming the publication "The Mesquite Springs Chronicle" and giving her the opportunity to organize themes for the instantly popular "Sociable" column.

Unfortunately, not everyone was excited about the newspaper. Newcomer Phil Blakeslee is determined to undermine the periodical's success. His employer, a Mr. K., is not interested in doing business in a town where the local paper might sway folks' thinking on local matters. Posing as a casual acquaintance, Phil watches Dorothy and Brandon form an alliance. When fed information about the new editor's past, Phil is given a perfect chance to stir up some trouble. But then again, Dorothy and Brandon have formed the kind of partnership that is quick to listen, slow to speak, and willing to forgive, making Phil's job much more difficult than he originally thought it might be. What he needs are reinforcements.

Readers will enjoy the easy pace of this series addition while waiting for the grand finale and what a finale it turns out to be! It seems that more than one dream is going to be "rekindled," for there are three more beautiful words in the English language, just waiting to be spoken.

I received a copy of this book from the Baker Publishing Group through Interviews & Reviews. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

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