Fresh Fiction Excerpt of AGAINST THE WIND by Amanda Cabot   “Where are we headed?” Josh directed his question to the woman who’d rescued him. The water she’d given him had relieved some of his discomfort, but the damage to his head must have been more severe than he’d realized, because he thought he recalled her saying she would set his leg. Obviously, he’d been mistaken. With her caramel-colored hair and those deep blue eyes, not to mention her self-assured air, Miss Vaughn was striking. But she was no more capable of setting his leg than Winifred. Miss Vaughn turned slightly. “We’re going to Sweetwater Crossing. It’s about an hour away. Once we arrive, I’ll be able to set your leg. As far as I can tell, the lump on your head will heal itself.” It hadn’t been his imagination. Miss Vaughn had indeed claimed she would set his leg. “You’re a doctor?” Josh knew there were a few lady doctors, but he hadn’t expected to encounter one here. Grandfather would have approved of Miss Vaughn. She had the cool composure he claimed was essential. If she had the business connections he craved, Grandfather would deem her worthy of being…

Excerpt from AFTER THE SHADOWS by Amanda Cabot     “Emily Vaughn, why, it is you. I didn’t know you were back in town.” Emily turned, recognizing the voice of the woman whose home was now no more than smoldering ruins. Mrs. Carmichael was sitting on her neighbor’s porch, her arm wrapped around Clara Adams’s shoulders, giving comfort though she was the one who needed it. How typical of the gray-haired widow. Though she was close to seventy, Mrs. Carmichael had always impressed Emily as being much younger, perhaps because her light blue eyes normally seemed to sparkle with happiness. She doubted they were sparkling now. “I arrived this afternoon,” Emily said as she approached the older women. “I’m sorry about what happened to your house.” It was a day no one in Sweetwater Crossing would soon forget. “I wish I knew what happened. I didn’t leave anything cooking on the stove, but someone said embers might have started the fire.” “Now, Mary, it doesn’t matter.” Mrs. Adams shook her head, strands of white hair escaping from the knot at the back of her neck, her gray eyes solemn. The widow was the shortest of Mrs. Carmichael’s friends, like Emily…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE SPARK OF LOVE   2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Fearing a spurned suitor, Alexandra Tarkington flees to Mesquite Springs, hoping for a happy reunion with her father. Little does she know that two men have followed her, each with his own agenda, and that the intriguing man she met on the stagecoach is an investigator determined to unmask a con man … her father.   3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? That was actually very simple. Since this is the third book in the Mesquite Springs trilogy, it takes place in the Mesquite Springs, the small town in the Texas Hill Country where danger lurks in the most unexpected places.   4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely. Alexandra is strong, determined, and has the talent I’ve always wished I had: being able to draw and paint. Who knows? Maybe if we spent time together, some of that talent would wear off on me.   5–What are three words that describe your hero? Principled, determined, handsome. (It’s a romance, so you knew I’d include the last one, didn’t…

She was being as silly as Laura. Dorothy frowned as she placed the hat on her head for what felt like the hundredth time, tilting it ever so slightly to the left. It wasn’t as if she were about to meet the president. All she was doing was going for a walk. There was no reason to fuss so much over her appearance. Today was the fourth day since Brandon Holloway had come to Mesquite Springs, and it seemed that both he and Laura had fallen into a routine. Each day Brandon came to Polly’s Place for his midday meal. Each day Laura kept peeking out the kitchen door, almost as if she didn’t trust Dorothy to tell her when he arrived. And when he did, she insisted on taking Brandon’s meal to him, returning to the kitchen with the same report: there was no question about it; he was the man she was meant to marry. Finally satisfied with the angle of the hat, Dorothy secured it with two of her prettiest hatpins, then descended the stairs. Once a quick look confirmed that nothing in the kitchen needed her attention, she opened the back door and stepped out into…

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Amanda Cabot! Writes: Historical inspirational romances with more than a dash of danger and suspense to keep readers turning pages. Out of the Embers, the first of the Mesquite Springs trilogy, takes readers to a town in the beautiful Texas Hill Country where a young woman with a tragic past arrives, only to discover that trouble is close behind her. About: Incurably romantic author seeks readers who share her love for heroes and heroines who defy the odds, finding love and happily-ever-after despite danger, betrayal, and the occasional small-town busybody’s meddling. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Loves stories of heroes and heroines surmounting obstacles to find true love Savors the closeness of small-town life, at least in fiction Doesn’t mind the occasional sleepless night when she has to read “just one more page” Cheers when justice prevails Enjoys the slower pace and different social structure of the nineteenth century Old West Believes that faith is an integral part of life…

It seems everywhere you look, authors are writing books in series, and that includes me.  As both an author and an avid reader, I love series. Why? Here are my top five reasons: 1. More complex plots – When stories span more than one book, the author has the ability to have multiple levels of plots.  Typically, each book has its own storyline that’s begun and resolved within that book, but there’s an overarching question or plot line that’s not resolved until the end of the series.  Think about TV’s Castle.  While the immediate mystery was solved in each episode, viewers kept tuning in to discover who killed Kate’s mother.  In the case of my Cimarron Creek books, the overarching question is, “What happened to Aunt Bertha’s daughter?” Although there’ve been partial answers, the final one comes in A Tender Hope. 2. Familiar Location – Consider the difference between visiting a place the first time and returning to it.  While there’s adventure the first time, there’s also a bit of apprehension. Will I get lost?  Will I like this place? All of that’s gone the second time. Instead of being worried, you’re excited about returning to a place you’ve visited…