Shannon here: Amanda Cabot shares the inspiration behind her latest Historical Romance, After the Shadows. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for an autographed print copy. Deadline: March 25th, 11:59 pm central time. U.S. only. Here’s Amanda:
How do you recover from an abusive marriage? How do you face the future when your happily-ever-after is cut short? Those are the questions that the protagonists of After the Shadows must answer.
Emily Leland has both physical and emotional scars from her marriage and has vowed two things: she will never tell anyone, not even her sisters, the truth about her marriage, and she will never again trust a man.
Craig Ferguson knows that life must go on, even though he’s lost the love of his life. After all, he has a young son to raise. But a second marriage? How could he even consider it when no one could ever take Rachel’s place?
Are you shaking your head and wondering why I created characters with such tragic histories? There are two reasons. First, I believe in the healing power of love. I suspect that’s no surprise if you’ve read my books, since it’s a frequent theme in them. But you can’t have healing if there are no wounds, and the deeper the wounds, the greater the stakes and the greater the ultimate happiness when characters surmount their past, conquer their fears, and find love.
Secondly, I believe in second chances, because I’ve seen evidence of it in my friends’ lives. Like Emily, one of my friends had a fairy tale wedding that turned into a nightmare. Her husband literally threw her out of the house. Was she eager to marry again? Of course not, but eventually she met a man who loved her and who gave her the marriage she deserved.
Another friend’s childhood sweetheart died of cancer when they were both very young, leaving her to raise their children alone. Was it easy? Again, of course not. It took a few years, but she too found a second love.
As a writer of romance, I was inspired by their stories, because they confirmed some of my most deeply held beliefs, and so they became the catalyst when I was creating Emily and Craig.
After the Shadows is a work of fiction, but it’s based on universal truths. Love does heal wounds, and life often gives us a second chance. My hope is that you will laugh and cry along with Emily and Craig and that when you turn the last page, you’ll be smiling at the prospect of happily-ever-after for these two wounded people.
Question for Readers: Have you or anyone you know experienced a second chance at love? Share your story with us.
About Amanda: Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of more than forty books and a variety of novellas. Her books have been honored with a starred review from Publishers Weekly and have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Award, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers’ Best. Learn more & connect:
Amanda’s Website Amanda’s Facebook
Amanda’s Twitter Amanda’s Blog
About the book – After the Shadows:
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.
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After the Shadows ‘ Amazon After the Shadows – BakerBookHouse
After the Shadows – BarnesandNoble After the Shadows – Christianbook
Come back March 21st for Sherri Stewart!
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No, I don’t know anyone personally who experienced that.
My now husband and I had a second chance at love when we were engaged and then we broke up but eventually found our way back to each other and finally got married.
What a great story!
My parents. My mom’s first husband left her for a neighbor when my oldest brother was very young. My dad’s first wife also left him. Mutual friends introduced my parents to each other. This year they will have been married for 48 years.
And that’s proof that second chances can lead to happily-ever-after. Thanks for sharing their story.
I love the stories. My husband and I broke up when we were dating. He was a bit of a wild child. He promised to do better and we got back together. A month or so later, after that promise, he recommitted his life to Jesus. That promise held and we’ve been married 38 years.
I also knew a couple in high school. They were nuts about each other, but the guy’s father didn’t approve because he wanted his son to marry money. He actually moved his family away to break the couple up. They both married other people. But years later, both ended up divorced. They reconnected on Facebook and they’ve been married several years now.
Wow! Moving a family just to break up a couple sounds like something we’d read in a book, not something that actually happened. I’m glad the couple reconnected and found their HEA.
I have a winner! Maryann won the drawing. I appreciate Amanda for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.