Catherine Whitfield is sure that she will never again be able to trust anyone in the medical profession after the town doctor’s excessive bleeding treatments killed her mother. Despite her loneliness and her broken heart, she carries bravely on as Cimarron Creek’s dutiful schoolteacher, resigned to a life without love or family, a life where dreams rarely come true.Austin Goddard is a newcomer to … newcomer to Cimarron Creek. Posing as a rancher, he fled to Texas to protect his daughter from a dangerous criminal. He’s managed to keep his past as a surgeon a secret. But when Catherine Whitfield captures his heart, he wonders how long he will be able to keep up the charade.
With a deft hand, Amanda Cabot teases out the strands of love, deception, and redemption in this charming tale of dreams deferred and hopes becoming reality.
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A Borrowed Dream (2018) by Amanda Cabot is the second book in her Cimarron Creek series. This book comes in all forms including eBook, and is 347 pages in length. With a full-time job and a very busy five-year old, A Borrowed Dream took me four days to read. I received a review copy of this novel in paperback form from Revell Books. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give A Borrowed Dream 5 STARS. This story is a Christian Historical Romance.
A Borrowed Dream has a little bit of everything — a sweet friendship that becomes a wonderful romance, good friends who can be counted on for a laugh and guidance, a bit of suspense and mystery, a colorful town full of various personalities, a couple of the cutest children who manage to wriggle into the reader’s heart, and a two of the most vile of villains. There is definitely no way to be bored by this book!
Catherine Whitfield is the main character of this book, and boy does she hold a grudge! She hates doctors. The local doctor of Cimarron Creek single-handedly killed Catherine’s mother due to archaic medical practices. Now, Catherine does everything in her power to keep people as far away from the town doctor as possible. I can honestly say that I have never read a book before that dealt with a character hating on a medical professional, and I admit I found it interesting. In fact, I even found myself rallying to Catherine’s side as I can completely relate to Catherine’s feelings. Due to serious doctor negligence, my husband and I almost lost our daughter when she was three months old. Only by the grace of God, and one fantastic Children’s Hospital Emergency Team, did my daughter survive the gross negligence. To this day, I am always hesitant to take my daughter to anyone but her wonderful pediatrician. I do have a slight distrust of doctors. I mean, it’s called “practicing medicine.” That doesn’t really instill in me a sense that doctors know what they are doing. As I was reading, all of the old feelings of mistrust were rising up in me. It was at that moment that I realized one very big theme of this book — forgiveness. Neither the fictional Catherine, nor the very real me, should hold grudges against people. And, we definitely shouldn’t hold prejudices against an entire group of people because of the actions of one. That completely goes against everything Jesus teaches. Halfway through this book, I realized I still needed to forgive the doctors who did not treat my daughter appropriately. I needed to forgive and move on. It was like God reached into my heart and told me, “Nicole, it’s time to let that anger go.” I love that God was able to work through this wonderful story and change my heart for the better!
This book does deal with some really ugly truths. As a warning to sensitive readers, child abuse, rape, adoption, murder-suicide, and the criminal underbelly of society are all topics dealt with in this novel. I felt these topics were handled in a very respectful manner, but I do think it should be known going into this novel that things get very heavy. With that said, it is a lovely story of friendship, protection, forgiveness, and grace as well. Literally, this book has it all!
Overall, A Borrowed Dream is a very well-written, well-crafted story that I highly recommend. It is a fast-paced and highly engaging read. I very much look forward to book 3 in this series. If you are looking for a book that is “un-put-downable” and forces the reader to really look inside to the prejudices that may be within, then I recommend running to the nearest bookstore and purchasing a copy of A Borrowed Dream. You will not be disappointed!
This was a perfect follow up book in the series! It was great getting to know about Catherine and more about what chaos is happening/ happened with the founding families. I also found the topic of being someone’s “first love” vs “last love” interesting. It was an interesting topic and I think that Amanda Cabot did an excellent job addressing it as well.
A Borrowed Dream by Amanda Cabot
The overarching theme of A Borrowed Dream is forgiveness. Catherine needed to forgive the doctor who used archaic treatments on her mother, resulting in her death. She was so disgusted with the methods that he used, she purchased her own medical books and supplies so she could treat her students and prevent them by any means possible from having to see him.
Austin was such a noble man. He stood up for what was right, even when it meant he needed to flee his home to protect his daughter. I enjoyed the way he pretended that he had no medical knowledge and yet managed to take over when helping Catherine treat the broken arm of one of her students.
There were several conflicts in the story. Child abuse and rape were dealt with in the story, though no details were shared.
This second book of the Cimarron Creek Trilogy has characters from the first book, yet it is a complete story in itself.
This review was originally posted on AmongTheReads.net
I would like to thank Netgalley, Revell for giving me this item. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
Catherine is the schoolmarm in Cimarron Creek and is still in mourning for her mother who passed away less than a year ago. She has a great distrust for doctors as the town’s doctor still practiced things such as bleeding and leeching. Catherine believes these practices killed her mother.
She meets Austin, the new rancher in town, when he brings his young daughter, Hannah, to her school. Hannah was very withdrawn, breaking Catherine’s heart to see a child this way. With love and patience, Hannah eventually became as the other children and Catherine began to have feelings for her father, Austin. She did not know he was a doctor hiding from a gangster who wanted him and his daughter dead.
While the story was predictable in many areas, I still found it to be a good story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A Borrowed Dream is a book about trust, opening of ones self up too another, forgiveness and care-giving. You have one that doesn’t trust one group of people because of their profession because of what one cruel idiotic person .did to a loved one and they have closed themselves off because of it. You have another closing themselves off to protect their family (daughter) and themselves from irreparable harm. You have another who is being harmed left and right and the first two are trying to help and whilst doing so starting to fall for each other while one holds a secret that could be detrimental to the relationship. So where does their help come from? Who do they turn to trust and lean on? That’s right – you all have it! I received a copy of this book from the Publisher and Netgalley; all of the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.
if you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com
A Borrowed Dream by Amanda Cabot is the second novel in Cimarron Creek Trilogy. Catherine Whitfield is the schoolteacher in Cimarron Creek and lives alone since her mother passed away. Catherine has a strong dislike of physician’s courtesy of the local doctors archaic practice of bleeding, purging and blistering which hastened her mother’s demise. Catherine has a chance to marry, but she does not want to be a person’s second choice. Austin Goodard is the new widower in town with a young daughter, Hannah. He has traveled across the country to hide from Sherman Enright. Sherman is a dangerous criminal who wants Austin to use his surgical skills in a way that goes against Austin’s values. Unfortunately, Sherman is not one to take no for an answer. Austin has bought a ranch and is keeping his medical background under wraps. Catherine and Austin are brought together in their desire to help Hannah, who has become withdrawn and quiet, and assist Seth Dalton. Seth has an abusive, slave driver for a father and natural artistic skill. Austin is falling for the schoolteacher, but she is unaware of his secret. In order for Austin to have the future he envisions with Catherine, he will have to deal with Sherman Enright.
A Borrowed Dream is well-written, has a steady pace and delightful characters. The characters are well-developed and, most of them, are warm caring people that you would want as friends. Sherman Enright and his minions along with Seth’s father provide a counterpoint to Austin and Catherine. There are smooth transitions as the story goes from one scene to the next. Amanda Cabot has a fluid writing style that gives readers an engaging novel. It is a multi-layered story (which I loved) filled with suspense, mystery, history and romance. I had no idea there were plastic surgeons that far back in history. The author included some research information at the end of the book that propelled me into finding out more about the profession (it is fascinating). The Christian element is present and is gently woven into the story (forgiveness, prayer, having faith, trust, helping others and letting God show you the way). It is done with a light touch. A Borrowed Dream can be read alone. The characters from A Stolen Heart are in A Borrowed Dream, and it is nice to catch up with them. Grace Sims is a character introduced in the story (Catherine takes her in), and I hope we get to find out more about Grace in the next book in the trilogy. A Borrowed Dream is a heartwarming and charming story that will delight those who read it.
This is book 2 in the series, and I haven’t read book 1. However I still enjoyed and followed this story with no issues. I am going to go back and read book 1 because I enjoyed this one.
Well written, author Amanda Cabot does a good job of pulling the reader into the story right away. You’ll meet colorful characters you love, and others you really dislike. Just when I thought I had everything figured out there was an unexpected twist that left me guessing.
God’s love, forgiveness, and redemption are woven throughout the story; a great reminder to us.
I will say that there is some violence towards the end, but it was not graphically written in. If you enjoy stories set in the old west, you will enjoy this one! It really has something for everyone; history, intrigue, light romance, adventure, and more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
This is the first book by Amanda Cabot that I have read and it was quite enjoyable. I did not read the first book in this series (A Stolen Heart) but that did not detract from enjoying this book. This definitely can be read as a stand-alone novel. The author combines good, easy-to-read writing with a fast-paced plot and great characters in a small Texas town of Cimarron Creek in 1881. Anyone who likes a well-written historical romance will love this book.
Catherine is a school teacher who is jaded in her view of love and marriage. Austin is a plastic surgeon from Philadelphia now turned rancher who comes to Cimarron Creek, hoping to outrun a thug who wants his professional services. Austin’s young daughter and a teenaged neighbor add details and heart-warming scenes to the plot as hints of danger from the thug’s minions who are looking for Austin play subtly in the background. A recurring theme of extending forgiveness and reconciliation is evident throughout the lives of the characters in the book. I also learned something new regarding plastic surgery as a medical subspecialty in the late 1800s.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Interviews and Reviews via NetGalley. I was not required to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own. (
When I finally got my hands on A Borrowed Dream, the second in the Cimarron Creek Trilogy by Amanda Cabot, I couldn’t put it down. It’s not just a beautiful love story, but is a very well-researched historical romance laced with suspense — eye-opening to say the least. Not only did the author delve into the hardships of certain medical conditions through the lives of some of the characters, but the reader is hit with the reality of medicine’s limitations at that time in history and its progression.
Second book in the series Cimarron Creek. . Loved it from page one to the end. Read it in one day. Could not put it down. I always enjoy Amanda Cabot’s books. This is a story of Catherine Whitfield who is a school teacher. She losses her Mother and can not trust medical doctors. She blames the Doctor for killing her mother due to the bleeding treatments he performed. She treats her students so they do not have to go through that treatment. Austin Goddard is a newcomer to Cimarron Creek. He has a daughter who is school age. He pretends to be a rancher to hide a secret and protect his daughter. He is a surgeon. Catherine and Austin meet and sparks begin to fly. Will they find love or will his secret destroy him?
Have you ever had a dream and have it come to pass? I loved the dream sequences and how they played a part in the story and the plan that God had in store. Ms. Cabot has a way of weaving faith and suspense in a subtle way into her historical romance tales that it is natural and flows with the story like a well tuned piano playing a sonata. I enjoyed getting to know Catherine better and meeting Austin Goddard and his daughter, Hannah. I fell in love with the character of young Seth and had such empathy for him and his situation. Realistic characters with real life problems that develop through the story and leave you wanting more. A very engaging storyline that is well written. You can’t fail when you read a book by Amanda Cabot, so grab a cup of tea, a blanket, and this book and curl up for an enjoyable ride to 1881 where you will feel like a part of Cimarron Creek.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.