Embers of Love

PETERSON, TRACIE

EMBERS OF LOVE

After being educated in the East, Deborah Vandermark returns to Perkinsville, Texas, where her family is part of the thriving logging industry. She brings along an unexpected companion -- her best friend, who is fleeing a wedding and groom she has no interest in. A determined matchmaker, Deborah sets her sights on uniting her brother and friend in what she hopes will be a true love match.

Then Deborah meets Christopher Clayton, the town's new doctor -- and quickly realizes she has a much greater interest in medicine and science than the bookkeeping she studied at college. Soon Deborah is caught between her fascination for doctoring and her obligation to her family. And in the midst of her warring emotions is the doctor himself. Are her tumultuous feelings for the man, or for what he can teach her?

HAVE YOU EVER OPENED A BOOK AND IMMEDIATELY LOST YOURSELF IN ANOTHER WORLD?

HAS AN AUTHOR EVER MANAGED TO TRANSPORT YOUR BACK IN TIME SO THAT YOU ARE STARTLED BY THE 21ST CENTURY WORLD YOU SUDDENLY FIND YOURSELF IN WHEN YOU LOOK UP FROM READING THAT BOOK?

DID YOU EVER REACH 'THE END' WITH A JOLT AND A SUFFER A SENSE OF LOSS?

IF YOU CAN ANSWER 'YES' TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS THEN YOU HAVE AN INKLING OF JUST HOW GOOD EMBERS OF LOVE IS.

I WAS IMMEDIATELY STRUCK BY THE HISTORICAL DETAIL AND HOW PETERSON EXPERTLY WOVE THE STORY AROUND IT. IT JUST FELT AUTHENTIC -- LIKE THE KIND OF BOOK A TURN OF THE CENTURY WOMAN MIGHT HAVE PICKED UP AND READ. THAT DETAIL MADE THE ERA AND THE SETTING COME TO LIFE FOR ME.

I WAS INTRIGUED BY THE MULTIPLE VIEWPOINTS PETERSON USED TO TELL THIS STORY. MOST ROMANCE AUTHORS WRITE FROM ONLY TWO PERSPECTIVES -- THE HERO AND HEROINE -- BUT WE ARE TREATED TO MULTIPLE POINTS OF VIEW -- FROM LIZZIE (DEBORAH'S FRIEND), G.W. (HER BROTHER), AND EVEN OCCASIONALLY HER MOTHER! ALL IN ADDITION TO DEBORAH'S AND CHRISTOPHER'S. I ENJOYED THIS OMNISCIENT VIEWPOINT AND FOUND THAT EACH CHARACTER'S STORYLINE WOVE SEAMLESSLY AROUND THE OTHERS.

EVEN THOUGH DEBORAH IS GIVEN 'TOP BILLING' AS THE HEROINE OF EMBERS OF LOVE, IT FEELS LIKE HER STORY ISN'T FINISHED YET AND WILL CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES. IN A WAY, LIZZIE'S STORY TOOK CENTER STAGE AS DID HER ROMANCE WITH G.W. AND I LOVED EVERY WORD OF IT.

I'M DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARTS AGLOW, NEXT INT THE STRIKING A MATCH SERIES WHICH WILL BE ON BOOKSHELVES IN MARCH 2011