A Borrowed Dream by Amanda Cabot

At various points throughout the book, two main characters pause and sample fudge recipes. This is a great sensory strategy that immediately draws you right into the plot of A Borrowed Dream by Amanda Cabot. How fun that Lydia, a confectioner, is married to Travis, the Sheriff of this Texas town. Lydia and her good friend, Catherine, share important updates at the Candy Shop. They’re confidants and their frequent check-in’s keep the plot moving. Amanda Cabot gives us a strong cast of characters to warm up to as well as some reprobates to spurn. The characters’ entrance into the storyline is well timed and their dialogue keeps the story moving.

I appreciate that Cabot reveals plot details in a manner that resembles peeling back the layers of something edible. Step by step, she eases you into the various plot twists. This is book two in a trilogy. I had not read book one, but I easily jumped into the story.

There’s a love story for Catherine. Yet this is not the only emotional journey she travels. She must overcome resentment and find forgiveness for one character who figures prominently in her life. Readers will appreciate that she eventually understands what her Mama had told her, “Forgiveness helps you.”

The setting is 1881 in the small town of Cimarron Creek, Texas. There is a Wild West flavor to some of the story. Our main character, Catherine, is an independent problem solver who also works as the local school teacher. Overall, I found this book satisfying to read. Some questions I had about historical details were answered in the author notes.