After the Shadows

Written by Amanda Cabot

Narrated by Jeanine Bartel

A brighter future awaits—if she can escape the shadows of the past

Emily Leland sheds no tears when her abusive husband is killed in a bar fight, but what awaits her back home in Sweetwater Crossing is far from the welcome and comfort she expected. First she discovers her father has died under mysterious circumstances. Then the house where the handsome new schoolteacher, Craig
Ferguson, and his son are supposed to board burns, leaving them homeless. When Emily proposes turning the family home into a boardinghouse, her sister is so incensed that she leaves town.

Alone and broke, her family name sullied by controversy, Emily is determined to solve the mystery of her father’s death—and to aid Craig, despite her fears of men. The widowed schoolmaster proves to be a devoted father, an innovative teacher, and an unexpected ally. As they work to uncover the truth, they just may
find the key to unlock a future neither could have imagined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9781705083673

Amanda Cabot

Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of A Stolen Heart, A Borrowed Dream, and A Tender Hope, as well as 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. For more information, visit www.amandacabot.com.

Reviews for After the Shadows

[misterehmuseseh · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

AFTER THE SHADOWS book reviewDeaths and sorrows, but bright tomorrows. That pretty much sums up my thoughts on this well-written historical romance situated in the Hill Country of Texas. Great character development around all-too-human interactions, biases and prejudices, and an unexpected ending – it’s a book worth reading.

[lifeofliterature · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was pleasantly surprised by the mystery and twists in this novel! I have read previous books by Amanda Cabot and she always writes romance well, but this novel had additional depth I was not expecting. It was a little slow at first, but it did not take long for me to be invested in the story. I really like the characters and was cheering for Emily and Craig from the beginning. They both have difficult circumstances, but they learn to overcome their pasts and work towards a more hopeful future. There are a few questions left unanswered, but I’m looking forward to the next book in the series with hopes that they will be answered! I overall enjoyed this novel and am anxious to read the next.I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an arrival home Emily receives, she is at the home she has known most of her life, but as she arrives she learns things will never be the same. We are in Sweetwater Crossings Texas, a quaint town, but is it a safe town? Emily arrives to find herself an orphan, an adult, but now both parents are gone, one of her sisters is in Europe and the other is gone within a few days of her arrival.The author gives us a sweet caring young woman who has suffered more than she should have, and is now a widow, but she is safe.Enter the new school teacher with a sweet two year old, and we hope that something will happen between these two people who have both lost their spouses, time will tell, as will page turning!This is the beginning of a new series by an author I love, and was surely not disappointed! Now I can't wait for the next book in this series!I received this book through the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

[grammy57 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I requested and was given a copy of this book through the Revell Reads program. My review is my own and freely given.I have always enjoyed Amanda Cabot's books, and this is no different. Ms. Cabot did a very good job in writing this book. The characters were well-developed. You felt like you might know these people or people similar to them.The story flowed well. It had an interesting twist at the end. It mainly was a love story with a bit of mystery thrown in. It kept my interest throughout.My only complaint is that I felt too much was left unanswered. I realize that this is the first book in a series but it would have been nice to have some of the questions answered as there is still plenty of story left for the upcoming books.I give this a 3 out of 5 rating, and I would recommend it to my friends. I look forward to reading the next book as I hope it answers some of my questions.

[juju2cat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a good read. Family, love, tragedy and love again.

[candyh_64 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting reading by Amanda Cabot. This is a book of mystery, love, family relationships and feelings of many different kinds. Thank you LibraryThing for allowing me to read this book.

[tabrowne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another great one by Amanda Cabot. This one sucked me in from the start. The main character, Emily, is quite interesting with a complex back story and the rest of the characters are well developed. There are numerous storylines going on along with the main one and they all complement each other and make this story unputdownable. Like her other books, many of the characters are Christian and the book shows the courting, chaperoning and such that are appropriate for the times it is set in. Highly recommend.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Heavy on the romance, light on the suspense and intrigue - this inspirational historical read will woo readers. When Emily Leland returns home she discovers not one, but both of her parents are dead. Emily had left the year before when she married George, a dashing man with a hot temper. When she failed to give him a child he quickly turned abusive and when he suddenly died she was not remotely sad. She was just ready to return to her parents home - but now with both parents dead and her sister furious at her; Emily doesn't know what to do. She decides to turn her childhood home into a boardinghouse so she can pay the taxes and soon she is introduced to the dashing new school teacher and his adorable son. He too is a widower and if they aren't careful they might start falling for each other. At the heart of the story is their romance, but in the background is a mystery - how did her father really die and will the new teacher help her get to the bottom of it? The first in a new series!

[amybooksy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have always loved reading Amanda Cabot historical fiction. I was exited that she had a new series called Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing releasing and having the opportunity to read book one, After the Shadows. I loved every single page and had no problem reading it from cover to cover in one sitting. I am giving it five stars

[chrirob · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Emily has lost her husband, mother, father, and sister to illness, tragedy, hot headedness, or just plain stubbornness over the past few months. To top it all off, she has also lost her trust, love, and faith in people...well, not all people. Craig has lost his wife and must now care for his son alone. He is hoping a change of scenario in Sweetwater Crossing will help his young son move forward and away from the tragedies & nightmares of their past. While Emily and Craig carefully cross paths, mysterious events begin to unfurl and a series of tragedies takes place that makes it impossible for them to work together...and get closer in the process.This was a really good book! Could not put it down and wanted to see what happened! Was sad to see it end, but it is part of what I suspect will be a trilogy.Thank you LibraryThing for the great Early Reviewer read!

[DevotedToHope · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Delightfully Written!

After the Shadows is magnificently written by bestselling author of inspirational fiction, Amanda Cabot. I highly recommend After the Shadows to everyone who enjoys reading delightfully written historical fiction, mystery, and romance!

This lovely novel is set in Texas Hill Country in the 1880s. The multi-faceted characters, including the main characters, Emily and Craig, and two sweet and lovable children, Beulah and Noah, are masterfully developed with individuality, backstory, priorities, strengths, and weaknesses.

The flow and the realism of After the Shadows intertwine with sorrow, family relationships, hope, friendships, heartaches, grace, love, mystery, faith, and romance. There are a few intense concepts woven into the shadows that is done delicately and flawlessly.

After the Shadows truly touched my heart in a multitude of ways. It gripped my attention --and I didn’t want to stop reading it! I encourage you to spend time in Sweetwater Crossing -- you will be blessed! I am anxiously waiting for the second book in this series!

I received a requested eArc of After the Shadows, Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing from Revell Fiction through NetGalley.com. I was not required to write a review or paid to do so. The words above are my honest review.

[Carolyn Brown · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The narrator was awful, very had to listen to her.