Dorothy Clark has written off marriage, and instead dreams of putting her words to paper to inspire and inform others. When Newspaperman Brandon Holloway comes to Mesquite Springs to start a paper, she jumps at the chance to assist him, but as trouble stirs in town Brandon and Dorothy must decide to take a stand or stay silent.

A historical romance set in the growing town of Mesquite Springs, though the second in a series, it could be read as a stand alone. Dorothy is an observant and capable young woman, she is kind to others and has a way of putting them at ease. I liked how she encourages Brandon, and her relationship with her little niece, Polly, is adorable.

This was an enjoyable historical romance with likable characters, and a bit of mystery. Nutmeg the dog was super sweet, and I loved the scenes with her in them. I also liked the themes of faith and redemption, woven into the story. A great addition to the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A great Christian/romance novel. The cover is beautiful.

Dorothy dreams of becoming a writer who can influence others in a positive way. When Brandon comes to town to start a newspaper, Dorothy begins to believe her dream can become a reality. But when someone starts creating division among the townspeople, will her dreams be dashed? I always enjoy Amanda Cabot's books and Dreams Rekindled is no exception. I love to pick them up when I need a little escape, as they are so easy to get into and enjoy.

Dreams Rekindled
by Amanda Cabot
Pub Date 02 Mar 2021 | Archive Date 22 May 2021
Revell
Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance



I am reviewing a copy of Dreams Rekindled through Revell and Netgalley:



Dorothy Clark wants nothing more than to stir others up, though she hopes for a quiet, uncomplicated life for herself. Specifically, she 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 Halloway has seen the disastrous effects of challenging others and has no intention of repeating that mistake. Instead of following his dreams, he has committed himself 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.





If your looking for a historical novel full of action and intrigue I highly recommend Dreams Rekindled five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

Cabot delivers again! Really good book with a HEA.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Amanda Cabot is a talented author that can quickly draw me into whatever setting she’s created. Her characters have depth to them and by the time you finish one of her books, you feel as if you’ve actually known them. This book is an excellent example of just how great Christian historical fiction can be. This book’s faith theme is one of forgiveness. There’s some mystery woven into story as well as romance. This is entertaining reading. Once you’ve read this book, you’ll want to read more by this author.

I received a copy of this book the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Another Amanda Cabot masterpiece. Beautifully written. Engaging characters. A thread of mystery. A story of redemption. Five stars.

One of my favorite historical fiction tropes is the classic, “I don’t need a man, I got ambition!” In a time when women were afforded few career choices and fewer civil rights, the chance for freedom was too good to pass up for most. Sadly, in many cases, women were forced to choose either career or family. I’m always reminded of the sacrifices generations of women made before me when I read these stories. So, while part of me was already laughing at Dorothy Clark’s determination to avoid marriage, another simply rooted for her to fulfill her dreams. Dorothy was the “little sister” in the first installment of Cabot’s Mesquite Springs series. In Out of the Embers, we meet a Dorothy who is brimming with words and desperate to be anywhere but the family ranch. Polly’s arrival and friendship give Dorothy the chance to move to town and help run Polly’s Place.

At the beginning of Dreams Rekindled, we find Dorothy exactly where we last left her: living above Polly’s Place, working the restaurant in her siblings’ absence, and still yearning to become a writer. Why are there so many books about writers? It’s a story similar to those I adored as a child. L.M. Montgomery sharing her passion for words and writing through Emily of New Moon, or Jane Austen giving her heroines a slightly happier-ever-after than she was afforded. It’s a story that resonates with me because I saw myself in those stories. I wanted to write because of those stories. That’s the gift Amanda Cabot gives us in Dreams Rekindled. It’s not necessarily the West as it truly was, but it is a beautifully romanticized past we want to inhabit. By slipping into Dorothy Clark’s shoes, we get to fall in love for the first time and fulfill both ambition and romance in spades.

While I adored the addition of Brandon Holloway’s to the town of Mesquite Springs (who doesn’t love a man who’s not afraid to let his woman be strong?) the highlight of this novel remains the town itself. Again, Cabot proved her gift for writing memorable characters. My favorite relationship in this story was the friendship and contrast between Dorothy and her newly returned best friend, Laura. We don’t get enough best female friendships in romance novels when in life, friends are often the sandpaper and the glue. I loved Laura’s insistence on finding a husband paired with Dorothy’s insistence on becoming a writer. Both women have the best intentions at heart, and in Laura’s case, not the best execution. It made for some of my favorite moments in Dreams Rekindled, and I look forward to seeing where Cabot brings these characters in her next installment. Brimming with heart, hope, and all the warmth of your favorite pie, Dreams Rekindled brings new depth to beloved characters in our favorite town of Mesquite Springs.

**I was provided with a copy of Dreams Rekindled by the publisher and this is my voluntary and honest review.**

Fantastic addition to this series! I loved all the historical detail in this novel, the spiritual thread was touching, and there's a dog! I love that she finds a different angle to her calling because lots of times, we think we are called for something but then realize our real purpose. And it's always fun to see past characters appear. With its cozy mystery and tad of suspense, I rate it a five-star!

Oh, my! What a great read! This book was not what I expected, it was so much more. I was anticipating a sweet Christian romance and, while it was that, I was not expecting the mystery, tension, and redemption that Cabot perfectly laid out.

This was my first read by Cabot and I’m looking forward to exploring more of her books. Dreams Rekindled is the second in the Mesquite Springs trilogy. I have not read the first book and had no problem picking this up as a standalone. Cabot expertly filled the reader in on what happened in Book 1 (Out of the Embers) as needed.

I appreciated how she slowly introduced the well-developed characters of Dorothy, Brandon, Phil, Laura, and other supporting cast. Nutmeg may have been my favorite! The story progressed at a great pace and kept you guessing at several characters’ pasts and also as to what would happen next.

Thank you to Revell and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Here’s a story where you will sit back and dream along side of Dorothy, wanting to see her hopes become a reality and also wanting more than what she was envisioning. Dorothy is a sweet hearted young lady who has so much ambition and hopes to do good in the world, she’s driven by the desire to help others and hopes of leaving an indelible impression of good. Her biggest wish is to write a novel to help others, her role model being Harriet Tubman, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

What seems like luck, later finding out there’s more to this than we realize, Brandon Holloway moves to the little town of Mesquite Springs and begins a newspaper. Dorothy quickly finds her way into working with Brandon and sowing the seeds of her dream of writing and influencing her town.

Although we see dreams being pursued, the story is about so much more. We see depression, death, love, forgiveness, and acceptance. You will leave this book with lots of questions, so if you’re the type that wants every little loose end tied up, you’ll need to be patient. There are more books to come, which now I have to learn patience and wait. ... who am I kidding? Until then, I’m going to be searching out Amanda Cabot’s other books to fill my Texas romance needs.

By the way, she did an excellent job describing the hill country of Texas. It took me back to when I grew up in the hill country and it made me homesick. Amanda has a gift for words and Dreams Rekindled will be a book that isn’t forgotten ❤️

Thank you Netgalley for providing an ebook copy, these thoughts are completely my own.

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 was an alright book. Its a historical romance novel. Overall, this is probably one of the books that I would read just once and that would be it. There isn’t much of me to say about what I enjoy about the book. I do think that Amanda Cabot did a good job with the book but it just didn’t stand out to me. I do recommend the book for others who enjoy historical romance type books.

*Note this is a review for netgallery.com. I had gotten an advance copy of the book in order to review it for others on netgallery.com and also for my blog.

This is the second book in the Mesquite Springs Series. It is not necessary to read the first book. But it does explain a few things in book 2

Dreams Rekindled is about Dorothy Clark who has dreams about becoming a writer. In the 1860's women did not become writers. They were expected to get married and have children. Dorothy is filling in for her new sister in law at her restaurant while she is on her honeymoon. While doing that she discovers a newspaper has come to town. Brandon Holloway has just come to town open a newspaper. Where he came from erupted into violence regards to slavery. His father has also just died. And he blames himself. Phil the trouble maker comes to town spreading all kinds of gossip. His sole purpose is to divide the town and make it so his boss can buy up property.

This book should make up stop and think when we hear gossip. Is it the truth or is it a lie to spread division.

A good book that shows how events can shape our lives. We need to delve into them and resolve them.

I was give this book by Revell Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Thank you to Net Galley and Revell for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is the second installment in this series. It takes place in 1850 Mesquite Springs. This is the story of young Dorothy Clark, who dreams of writing something important like '"Uncle Tom's Cabin." When Brandon Holloway moves to town, looking for a fresh start, he opens a newspaper office. Dorothy and Brandon start working together to write articles for the newspaper. Romance blossoms, but there are some problems in the town that need to be solved first. I enjoyed this story! I think Amanda Cabot is an excellent author of this genre!

Anyone who loves Christian Historical Romance will enjoy Dreams Rekindled, the second in Amanda Cabot's, Mesquite Springs Trilogy. There were so many things I love about the way Amanda writes her novels. I found this to be a very believable love match. Her characters are so well written. I found myself even pulling for the bad guy. He seemed so torn, like he didn't want to do what he did, but he couldn't help himself. I liked that we returned to Mesquite Springs and we could learn more about the town and the people there. I am excitedly waiting the third in this series. I am almost positive I know who the next one will be about, but I don't want to give anything away. I thought I had figured out the plot but I was surprised by the ending.
I thank Revell through NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

NOTE - I was late to down load this novel. I went to read it and I couldn't find it on my kindle.
Then I went to my Kindle account and the book isn't there.
I also tried to download the NetGalley copy again. It won't work.
I normally liked this authors book! I'm sorry I am unable to read and review this book. It's technical difficulty I'm not able to fix.

My thoughts: Amanda Cabot has outdone herself with this historical romance with a touch of suspense. The romance is slow but there is plenty to keep the pages turning. Someone is planning on building a hotel in town and buying out all the best properties and someone is trying to run the pastor out of town. Why? Will they succeed? You will love the second book in the series and while it stands alone, fans will want to read the first book. I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

Brandon lost everything when he printed an unpopular editorial in his paper. Now as he moves to Mesquite Springs, drawn by a poetic description he'd once read in a newspaper, he plans to be entirely neutral in his paper. But as he finds an unexpected helper, Dorothy, who's always wanted to be a writer, he slowly realises that he's met not only the author of the description that attracted him there, but perhaps even something more. She, however, considers it important for newspapers to try to make a positive difference, not just be neutral. When things come up in the town that require a response, will Brandon stand up for the right, or turn tail? And will those he loves survive to tell the tale?

The thread of mystery woven through this definitely kept me interested and intrigued, even if there hadn't been the interactions between Brandon and Dorothy. With the combination, it was a hard book to put down. Brandon in particular has various demons to battle, and Phil's efforts keep things interesting too. The story as a whole is very well written (as expected with this author!), and the characters feel real. The ending is highly satisfying, and I very much look forward to future visits to Mesquite Springs. Note that, while there are occasional references to the first book in the series, it is not necessary to read it first to enjoy this book. All in all, highly recommended.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Dreams Rekindled
by Amanda Cabot
Back of the Book: “Though she hopes for a quiet, uncomplicated life for herself, Dorothy Clark wants nothing more than to stir others up. Specifically, she 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 the disastrous effects of challenging others and 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.
With this second novel in the Mesquite Springs series, bestselling author Amanda Cabot invites you to discover the healing power of truth.”
Impressions: Although this is the second book of the Mesquite Springs series it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. This was a sweet historical Christian romance that will give you the happy glow of new love.
Rated: Clean romance
Liked: I liked that Brandon was open and encouraging of Dorothy and her writing. Dorothy’s character bloomed with encouragement as she developed the gifts God gave her. I’m also glad she went to her mom with her fears. I have suffered from depression and anxiety and it is ugly but the last thing I would want as a mother is for my kids to fear the same for themselves. There are so many
Disliked: There wasn’t anything to dislike 😊
Quotes: “She hadn’t changed the world, but she’d made one woman’s life a bit happier.” -I apricated this optimism and found it encouraging to keep on loving others.
“‘If you order them to do something, their first reaction is to refuse-no one likes being commanded- but they’ll almost always agree to a humble request from someone they’ve learned to trust.’” - Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
“‘I suffered from bouts of melancholy when I was a child. When they’d strike me, I felt like I was surrounded by a dark cloud. All the color was drained out of the world, and I could hardly move because I felt weighted down by some invisible force. All I wanted to do was curl up on my bed and hide. It was terrible.’” – This described my anxiety and depression so well. I wish Dorothy could have understood her mother's struggles sooner as well as had the opportunity to understand and work through her own feelings sooner. It can be hard to talk to others when you are experiencing anxiety and/or depression. Sometimes you feel confused about your feelings and others that no one will understand you. It is also important though to share your feelings. I don’t want to give unsolicited advice do suggest keeping a journal or talking to a therapist who can listen unbiasedly to you.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.