Shannon here: Amanda Cabot shares the inspiration for her latest Historical Romance, Out of the Embers. All comments or answers to the question will go in the drawing for my latest title. Deadline: April 4th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Amanda:
Out of the Embers by Amanda Cabot:
“It was a marriage made in heaven.” How often have you heard that phrase? It may seem like a cliché, but as someone who writes inspirational romances, I believe it’s true. There are marriages that are made in heaven, where God brings the right people together at the right time, they fall in love and live happily ever after. I say this from firsthand experience, because that’s what happened to me. And, yes, the fact that I’m living a happily-ever-after is one of the reasons I write romance.
I love pairing couples who seem to be mismatched, putting them up against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and ultimately giving them a happy ending. That’s the fun of being an author. The problem comes when my characters refuse to believe that the person right in front of them is the one God intended for them. That was the case with Out of the Embers, the first in my Mesquite Springs trilogy.
Evelyn Radcliffe is afraid, and she has good reason to be. Not only were her parents killed ten years ago, leaving her no choice other than to live in an orphanage, but ever since then when she’s forced to return to her hometown, she feels as if someone is watching her. That someone, she’s certain, means to harm her.
Imagine how she feels when she and the young orphan who’s with her return to the orphanage late one night to discover that it’s been burned to the ground and everyone inside has been killed. With not just her life but that of an innocent child at stake, there’s only one thing to do – flee. And so Evelyn does, changing her name and pretending that little Polly is her sister. The one thing she’s certain of is that she needs to keep Polly safe, and because they may have to flee again to do that, Evelyn cannot allow herself to become attached to anyone, not even Wyatt Clark.
Wyatt has no intention of becoming attached to anyone. Ever since his father was killed by the Comanche, he’s felt responsible for his mother, his younger sister, and his family’s horse ranch. It’s time for a new life, one where he’ll have no responsibilities. And while there’s no doubt that he’s attracted to Evelyn (and her cooking), he knows they have no future together.
What will it take for this seemingly mismatched couple to admit that their love can bridge the gaps that divide them? Will the danger that follows Evelyn divide them or bring them together? And how will they find their happily-ever-after when there are so many people trying to keep them apart?
Because Out of the Embers is a romance, you know that ultimately Evelyn and Wyatt will wind up together. That’s part of the contract I make with my readers: there’s always a happy ending. But, if you’ve read any of my books, you know that the road to that happy ending is never easy. After all, if it were, the story would be boring, and that’s the last thing you or I want.
About Amanda: Amanda Cabot’s dream of selling a book before her thirtieth birthday came true, and she’s now the author of more than thirty-five novels as well as eight novellas, four non-fiction books, and what she describes as enough technical articles to cure insomnia in a medium-sized city. Her inspirational romances have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists, have garnered a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and have been nominated for the ACFW Carol, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers Best awards. A popular workshop presenter, Amanda takes pleasure in helping other writers achieve their dreams of publication. Learn more & connect:
Amanda’s Website Amanda’s Facebook Amanda’s Twitter Amanda’s Blog
About the book – Out of the Embers:
A young woman with a tragic past has arrived in town . . . and trouble is following close behind
Ten years after her parents were killed, Evelyn Radcliffe is once more homeless. The orphanage that was her refuge and later her workplace has burned to the ground, and only she and a young orphan girl have escaped. Convinced this must be related to her parents’ murders, Evelyn flees with the girl to Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country and finds shelter in the home of Wyatt Clark, a talented horse rancher whose plans don’t include a family of his own.
At first, Evelyn is a distraction. But when it becomes clear that trouble has followed her to Mesquite Springs, she becomes a full-blown disruption. Can Wyatt keep her safe from the man who wants her dead? And will his own plans become collateral damage?
Suspenseful and sweetly romantic, Out of the Embers is the first in a new series that invites you to the Texas Hill Country in the 1850s, when the West was wild, the men were noble, and the women were strong.
Can’t wait for the drawing or worried you won’t win? Get your copy now!
Out of the Embers – Amazon Out of the Embers – Barnes & Noble
Out of the Embers – Christian Book Distributors
Question for Readers: Do you believe that marriages are made in heaven? Why or why not?
Come back March 27th for Jamie Adams!
not sure
Marriages can be made in Heaven, but all are not
Not sure. I know we’re called to make our marriages worthy of Him who gave it to us…..but made in heaven….hmm….
some seem like they are
I think that a good healthy marriage is “Made in Heaven”. If not made there it should be blessed by the one who made Heaven. I have seen these little old couples that have been married for 50 or 60 years. I have no doubt those marriages were clearly made in Heaven. When. I see these little old couples holding hands it is so sweet.
I believe marriages are made in Heaven IF you follow God’s will for your life when searching for a life partner. This book sounds interesting. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Glad to have you here, Amanda. I think marriages can be made in Heaven if you trust God to find your mate. But you still have to work at it and keep God in the center.
Marriage dates back to the Garden of Eden, so I would definitely say that marriage was made in heaven. A good, strong marriage relies on God.
I don’t believe that there was only one person in the world for me to marry. Now, there is only one person in the world for me because I married him. I think that two Christians, following the Bible and loving God, will have a heaven-made marriage; but it’s more something that happens because of the way they choose to live (following God).
I believe that some marriages, but not all, are made in heaven due to the high divorce rate. It would make sense that Christian marriages would stand a better chance.
I have a winner! Perrianne Askew won the drawing. I appreciate Amanda for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.