Embers of Love

Embers of Love (Striking a Match #1) Tracie Peterson. Bethany House. 352 pages.

"I won't let you go through with this," Deborah Vandermark declared.

This historical romance is set in Texas in the 1880s. It's the first in a new series. 

Wanting to save her friend, Lizzie, from a loveless marriage, our heroine, Deborah, invites her best friend to stay with her and her family in Texas. Deborah's brother, G.W., likes Lizzie quite a lot. And Lizzie is the first person who has been able to convince him that his father's death is not his fault. But this romance isn't without conflict. For Lizzie's mother--a suffragist--and her former fiance, Stuart, arrive to make everyone's lives miserable. They both insist that the marriage is legal--because she signed the paperwork--even if there were no vows or ceremony. They both insist that she accompany them back East, back to Philadelphia. But Lizzie knows that she could never go back. Even if she wasn't desperately in love with someone else.

Is this Lizzie's story? Partly. It also stars Deborah Vandermark. A well-educated woman returning to her home after several years away, after several years of education. She loves her family. But. She's having a hard time fitting back in the community as well. It's a good thing there is a new doctor in town to distract her. These two become good friends. He is one of the few men in town Deborah feels is smart enough to hold a real conversation with. But the doctor provides some conflict as well. Because he isn't accepted by the community--not at first. For this small Texas town is superstitious and foolish. It may take a major epidemic for him to prove himself worthy.

Plenty of conflict, plenty of drama. (Personally, I could have used a little less.) I liked it well enough, but didn't love it.


© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews


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