Book Review and Giveaway: The Spark of Love by Amanda Cabot | Lone Star Book Blog Tours

THE SPARK OF LOVE
by
AMANDA CABOT
Categories: Fiction / Christian / Historical Romance
Series: Mesquite Springs Series, Book 3
Publisher: Revell
Date of Publication: March 1, 2022
Number of Pages: 352 pages 
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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.
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Alexandra Tarkington has been raised by her aunt since her mother’s death. Her father left for parts unknown and returned only a couple of times a year to see his daughter. But when Alexandra needs to leave town because of a persistent and difficult suitor who won’t take “no” for an answer, it is her father she seeks out.

Gabe Seymour is an investigator hired to look into the business dealings of Calvin Tarkington, Alexandra’s father. Neither Gabe nor Alexandra knows who the other is when they hit it off on a stagecoach headed for Mesquite Springs, Texas. Calvin – now known as Mr. King – is building a grand hotel in Mesquite Springs. It appears to be a legitimate business venture, but Gabe feels certain there is chicanery afoot, if he can only track it down. But what will happen when Gabe’s true purpose for coming to Mesquite Springs is revealed? And when it becomes clear that someone intends harm to Alexandra, can Gabe identify the culprit and keep Alexandra safe?

The Spark of Love is the third in Amanda Cabot’s Mesquite Springs series. It’s the first I’ve read, but I was able to follow the story just fine. Of course, now I must read the first two, because I want the backstory on all of the characters. But the reading of this one didn’t suffer for me not having read the first two.

Alexandra is a marvelous heroine. In the 1850s, when the book is set, women were not really expected to be strong-willed, outspoken, and independent. Yet she sets out for Texas alone to avoid an unpleasantly persistent suitor. She is clearly intelligent and not afraid to engage in the fine art of verbal self-defense. And she wants desperately for her father to get past his narrow, rather archaic mindset and see that she is capable and has skills that she can use. She makes herself useful, both to her father at the hotel and in her new role as the local school’s art teacher.

Gabe is a delightful hero as well. He may not be described as the most handsome man in the story, but we see that the prettiest face is not always the one that’s most worthwhile. He’s clearly taken with Alexandra, and he’s a good sport, too. I love the part where Alexandra is giving the Gottlieb twins painting lessons, and Gabe just rolls with it when the twins call him out for his poor artistic skills (as only young childen can do).

The supporting characters are wonderfully drawn, some loveable, some despicable. The Hill Country setting that Cabot describes makes me want to go visit. And the mystery and suspense woven throughout made the book hard to put down!

I laughed, I cheered, I booed, I jeered, I even teared up a little sometimes. I’m sad that this is the last of the Mesquite Springs series. I just got here, and I don’t want to leave! If you love historical fiction, clean romance, action, and suspense,  you will adore The Spark of Love. I give it five shiny stars. The only thing that would have made it better was if it had included the recipe for that famous oatmeal pecan pie that was mentioned so often!

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.

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All Three Books in the Mesquite Springs Series +
Keychain & Reader Stickers

(US only, ends midnight CST, 3/18/2022.)

FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly:

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4 Responses to Book Review and Giveaway: The Spark of Love by Amanda Cabot | Lone Star Book Blog Tours

  1. Hall Ways says:

    Fabulous review, and what a compliment to the author’s writing that you just joined the series and don’t want to leave — aren’t you lucky there are 2 other books! Thanks for sharing.

  2. Amanda Cabot says:

    Of course I’m delighted that you enjoyed Alexandra and Gabe’s story so much! The oatmeal pecan pie was a major part of Out of the Embers (the first in the series) and was featured in a cookbook Revell and I used as a preorder giveaway. But since there was such a high demand for that recipe, I featured it on a blog post. Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/2UWx6n2

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