The Spark of Love by Amanda Cabot
MY REVIEW:
I enjoy historical fiction, especially when the book contains a bit of mystery and/or suspense as well as a believable romance. I particularly like those with a western setting, possibly because I can live my adventures through those of the characters. As a senior citizen, I’m afraid my adventure days are best spent in the pages of a book.
A Spark of Love has all those essential components and more. Alexandra Tarkington is a young woman who has fled New York to get away from a threatening suitor. Her arrival in Mesquite Springs to spend time with her father does not go as well as expected but she has met an interesting young man on the stage during her journey and he seems quite willing to be her friend. What Alexandra does not know is that Gabe is an investigator hired to prove that her father has cheated a number of people through dubious investment schemes.
Two other men have arrived in Mesquite Springs shortly after Alexandra and Gabe. Both exhibit more than passing interest in Alexandra although one remains in the shadows. A series of apparent accidents seem to follow Alexandra although she and Gabe have few clues about who could wish to harm her.
With its steady plot and abundance of mysteries, A Spark of Love kept me engrossed and turning pages into the night. The author had me guessing until the very end. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
She’s determined to start a new life in the West . . . if only the old one would leave her alone
When a spurned suitor threatens her, heiress Alexandra Tarkington flees New York for Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country, where her father is building a hotel. But the happy reunion she envisions is not to be, as her father insists she return to New York. Instead, Alexandra carves out a niche for herself in town, teaching schoolchildren to paint and enjoying the company of Gabe Seymour, a delightful man she met on the stagecoach.
But all is not as it seems. Two men, each with his own agenda, have followed her to Mesquite Springs. And Gabe, an investigator, is searching for proof that her father is a swindler.
With so much to lose–and hide from one another–Alexandra and Gabe will have to come together if they are ever to discover whether the sparks they’ve felt from the beginning can kindle the fire of true love.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of Out of the Embers and Dreams Rekindled, as well as the Cimarron Creek Trilogy and the Texas Crossroads, Texas Dreams, and Westward Winds series. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers’ Best. She lives in Wyoming. Learn more at www.amandacabot.com.