Christian Fiction Devourers discussion
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After the Shadows
Archived BOTM & GBR 2023
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August's Book of the Month - After the Shadows by Amanda Cabot
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Loved this Book, and can't wait for the next book, Happy Reading!
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Glad to hear this, Milena! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I am reading this book now. I have to say this book hooked me from the very first chapter. I am excited to see what is ahead!
I am planning to read it. I am really excited to read it.
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I just grabbed this from the library, and I'm hoping to read it soon.
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Jenn, I'll be picking up a copy from the library this weekend. So grateful for our libraries!
I will be reading this next. So hope to join in later this month.
Just finished this one. Eager to hear what everyone thinks.
I will be picking this up at the library tomorrow. It will be my next read after the one I'm working on now.
I’m new here. I’m excited to read this book with you all. I’m almost to chapter 3 and already hooked! That doesn’t happen often…
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Welcome, Samantha! I'm so glad you're joining in.
I just finished this one! Looking forward to the questions. 😊
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Finished it today! Looking forward to book 2 in this series!
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1. Emily arrived home to an angry sister who didn’t believe her when she said she didn’t receive the letters or dictate the nasty one the sister received. How did this relationship and misunderstanding play into the family dynamics throughout the story? What might Emily and Louisa have done differently to better understand one another?
2. Craig’s young son, Noah, struggled with nightmares triggered by the loss of his mother. How did living in a house of grief affect him? How did he affect the mood of the household?
3. The sisters held opposite views on the circumstances surrounding their father’s demise. What did you think of Emily’s perspective that her father couldn’t have tied the knot in the rope? What did you think of Louisa’s insistence that Emily was believing a made-up notion?
Although it didn't solve anything, I think Emily's determination to respond to Louisa with love and patience was really good. That would be difficult, especially in the face of untrue accusations. I think maybe Emily should have shared more of the truth with Louisa. Not sure if it would have made a difference, though. Louisa seems to think mostly about herself, so she might have not really listened.
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As to the other questions, I love that Craig was in tune enough with Noah's emotions to understand that continuing to live in the place where his mother died would have had bad consequences for his son. Since Noah was so little when his mother died, it wasn't like he had the ability to talk to Craig about his feelings of loss and grief. I can't imagine how hard that must have been for sweet Noah . . . to have all these big feelings of sadness and not be able to articulate them in ways that people would understand!
First let me say that this was my favorite book that I have read this year! I loved it from start to finish.Emily showed amazing character in her gracious treatment of her sisters even when they would not receive her. The patience and love that she showed is commendable and definitely speaks to her faith. I do think that Louisa was responding out of the hurt that was created based on a lack of knowledge of Emily’s situation. George made it appear to the family that Emily did not want anything to do with them and they did not know any better. Maybe if Emily would have shared her ordeal with her sister, Louisa might have been able to understand and let go of the hurt of being cast off by her sister.
Noah was so young and to have seen his mother die - how tramatizing! Living in the house where this horrible event took place would be a continual reminder and source of pain to this young boy. But the love that Emily and Mrs. Carmichael lavished on Noah made the difference in helping Noah move forward and not be held captive by the nightmares of seeing his mother die.
I admire Emily’s persistence even when she stood alone. Everyone else was blinded by what they saw on the surface - that Emily’s father hung himself. However, Emily hung on to what she knew in her heart concerning her father. The difference truly came when she handed it over to God. He brought her the peace that she needed. He then began to reveal the truth. I am reminded of the hymn, “Only Trust Him”.
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So sorry for the delay in bringing you more questions. My back locked up, so I had to switch to audios for a while there, as the paperback was too much of a strain on my back to hold it long enough to read more.
While I'm not done with the book yet, I do have a few more questions to get this discussion going again.
4. Craig surprised Emily by helping with the dishes. In what other ways was Craig different from Emily's late husband? In what ways was he similar? How did Emily surprise Craig? How was she similar and different to Craig's late wife?
5. Emily says she's stopped dreaming. Do you think she had good cause to stop hoping for good things to come into her life? What, if anything, reignited her dreaming nature? How did this grow her character?
6. Emily's friends provided financial support so she wouldn't lose her home. In what other ways did they show their friendship? How did this prove important to Emily?
7. Beulah craves schooling. Were you a student who loved learning or one who couldn't wait for the next holiday? What were your reasons?
8. Alice struggles to cope with Beulah's presence. How was this handled by Emily? How did it affect Beulah? What, if anything, encouraged Alice to gain more compassion and understanding for the unique child?
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But, in the mean time, speaking of Beulah, her 'diagnosis' is never shared, but from the brief descriptions we got, I definitely got Down Syndrome 'vibes'. Did anyone else have that same impression, or a different one?
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To be honest, when I was reading the book, I had visions of an older version of a little girl I know with DS . . . charming and eager to learn describe little Tessa to a 't' as well! And yes, SO difficult to see the dislike, especially from people that should be examples of Christlike love for all!
Ok, I have to say that this was an unexpected *love* on my list this year. This month was absolutely crazy for a variety of reasons and I've been struggling to do much reading. However, when I finally picked this book up, I did not want to put it down. Thank you to whomever recommended it and for those of who you voted for it this month. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it. Kate wrote: "Great questions, Andrea . . . I'll be thinking about how I might answer them.
But, in the mean time, speaking of Beulah, her 'diagnosis' is never shared, but from the brief descriptions we got, I d..."
I definitely thought Down Syndrome when I read it.
Andrea wrote: "4. Craig surprised Emily by helping with the dishes. In what other ways was Craig different from Emily's late husband? In what ways was he similar? How did Emily surprise Craig? How was she similar and different to Craig's late wife?"
Honestly, I think the reason the relationship flourished in the way that it did was because he saw her intrinsic worth because she was made in God's image. I think he genuinely enjoyed getting to know who God created her to be. The fact that he trusted her assertion that her father couldn't have killed himself with nothing but her word about it was a very welcome surprise. He knew her and valued her in a way that her husband never did. In response to how Craig treated her, Emily opens up to him and I think surprises Craig that he's ready to move on from his late wife - her openness and interactions with him lead to a friendship that also help him to heal and move forward.
Andrea wrote: "5. Emily says she's stopped dreaming. Do you think she had good cause to stop hoping for good things to come into her life? What, if anything, reignited her dreaming nature? How did this grow her character?
Sometimes there are "good reasons" for things but that doesn't mean that we should let those reasons determine our behavior, if that makes sense. That being said, it's totally understandable. Life with her husband killed her hope, which is ultimately we must place our trust in Christ and not in man. I attribute her ability to begin dreaming again to her friendship in Craig - that he demonstrated Christ-like love towards her. That he wanted to do things for her without an expectation of anything in return.
Andrea wrote: "7. Beulah craves schooling. Were you a student who loved learning or one who couldn't wait for the next holiday? What were your reasons?
I always excelled in school and I think genuinely enjoyed it, but also would be excited for school breaks. I definitely don't think I ever had Beulah's passion for it, but I still like learning/understanding new things.
Andrea wrote: "8. Alice struggles to cope with Beulah's presence. How was this handled by Emily? How did it affect Beulah? What, if anything, encouraged Alice to gain more compassion and understanding for the unique child?
I actually kinda love how Emily handled this. She accepted where Alice was at in her struggle, but didn't allow Alice's perspective to change how she behaved towards Beulah or the love that she showed the girl. We all fall short sometimes, but getting in someone's face about something doesn't always work. It's the goodness of God that leads men to repentance, right? I feel like that's some of what Emily demonstrated here. She continued to love Alice while Alice worked through her issues.
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Y'all, I'm sorry my reading got pushed out because of editing recovery. I think we've had a nice discussion anyway. Y'all are so thoughtful, and it's always a blessing to hear your thoughts on the books we read as a group.
I'm enjoying the book and am hoping to finish it this weekend while dog sitting. I did not like Mrs. Deitrich and her daughter. They would be such challenges to deal with. However, I think Emily handled them with so much love and kindness yet firmness in her own home. This was a great example of how to set healthy boundaries and stick to them. And I especially liked that Craig pulled Emily aside to comfort and support her through the mess. (That scene is where I'm at now, actually, so I still have a ways to go in the story.)
The mystery of the deaths of Emily's father and two of Mrs. Carmichael's friends has me wishing I could read faster. Very curious as to what happened and whodunit!
I am enjoying this book... I have not yet finished it. I probably shouldn't have purchased the book... as I seem to finish library books faster over the ones I own. The library books have deadlines... but the ones I own don't. haha... I will be finished it soon though. There has been some great discussion and I will come back and read it all once I finish the book.
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I finished the book. The answer to the mystery was a bit of a surprise. Crazy!!! I loved how Craig was so patient with Emily... so different from her first husband and I am so glad they grew close. I hope we get a mention of them in future books, as I am sure Emily will be able to have a child one day. I don't think they knew much about infertility in those days and it could have been the father's fault in her first marriage.
I liked how Beulah loved getting an education and how both Craig and Emily treated her.
Happy that Alice found love again as well.
I really love the cover, but sometimes I would forget they were in Texas as the cover looked like a scene out of England. But then, I have never been to Texas and I am sure there are estates like this one there too.
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Great thoughts, Katrina!
We'll have questions on August 15. In the meantime, happy reading!
About the Book:
Emily Leland sheds no tears when her abusive husband is killed in a bar fight, but what awaits her back home in Sweetwater Crossing is far from the welcome and comfort she expected. First she discovers her father has died under mysterious circumstances. Then the house where the new schoolteacher and his son are supposed to board burns, leaving them homeless. When Emily proposes turning the family home into a boardinghouse, her sister is so incensed that she leaves town.
Alone and broke, her family name sullied by controversy, Emily is determined to solve the mystery of her father's death--and to aid Craig Ferguson, despite her fears of men. The widowed schoolmaster proves to be a devoted father, an innovative teacher, and an unexpected ally. Together they must work to unmask a killer and escape the shadows of their own pasts in order to forge a brighter future.
Bestselling author Amanda Cabot transports you to 1880s Texas Hill Country for a brand-new series that will have you flipping pages to solve the mystery and get to the happily-ever-after you long for.
About the Author:
With both parents avid readers, it's no surprise that Amanda Cabot learned to read at an early age. From there it was only a small step to deciding to become a writer. Of course, deciding and becoming are two different things, as she soon discovered. Fortunately for the world, her first attempts at fiction were not published, but she did meet her goal of selling a novel by her thirtieth birthday. Since then she’s sold more than forty novels. When she’s not writing, Amanda enjoys sewing, cooking and – of course – reading.
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Has anyone read and enjoyed other books by this author? I would love to hear your thoughts on them (hide spoilers, please), as this will be my first by Mrs. Cabot.