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Beauty for Ashes (Hickory Ridge Romance) by Dorothy Love {Review}

I received this product free from Litfuse Publicity, NetGalley for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.

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Beauty for Ashes (Hickory Ridge Romance) by Dorothy Love {Review}Beauty for Ashes by Dorothy Love
Series: ,

Find the Author: Website, Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, Pinterest
Also by this author: Carolina Gold, Among the Fair Magnolias: Four Southern Love Stories, A Heart So True: A Southern Love Story
ISBN: 1595549013
Genres: Christian Historical Fiction
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers on February 28th 2012
Pages: 329
Format: eARC, Paperback
Source: Litfuse Publicity, NetGalley
Buy on Amazon | Buy on BN.com | Buy on Thriftbooks
Find on Goodreads

She's a beautiful young widow. He's a Southern gentleman with a thirst for adventure. Both need a place to call home.After losing her husband in the Civil War, Carrie Daly is scared she will never have the family she longs for. Eligible bachelors are scarce in Hickory Ridge, Tennessee, but Carrie has found love. Not the weak-in-the-knees kind, but something practical. Still, she isn't quite ready to set a wedding date with Nate Chastain.Griff Rutledge is a former member of Charleston society, but has been estranged from his family for years. He's determined to remain unattached, never settling in one place for too long. But when asked to train a Thoroughbred for an upcoming race in Hickory Ridge, he decides to stay awhile.Despite objections from the townsfolk, and her fear that true happiness has eluded her, Carrie is drawn to Griff's kindness and charm. It will take a leap of faith for them to open their hearts and claim God's promise to give beauty for ashes.

*This post has been updated,
thanks to the Ultimate Book Blogger Plugin, on July 22, 2015.*

Read from March 01 to 04, 2012 — I own a copy

With this book for me it first starts with the cover, instant love – absolutely gorgeous. Then it goes to my interview with Dorothy (http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2012…) which makes me super excited for this novel and for the next. Lastly it comes to actually reading this one. Similar on the lines of how I felt about Ann Shorey and Amanda Cabot as well as Maggie Brendan – This story (and perhaps the whole series) is full of hard and troubling events of the historical time, but also full of romance to be had with a good bit of trust and inspiration from the Lord. This was not a fast read for me, but it was an overall good one.

When I read the title, “Beauty for Ashes”, I was not exactly sure what it meant or what to expect. Thinking about ashes makes me think about first the children’s song London Bridge, but then the mythical creature Pheonix. I think in a way that it fits both. It’s always darkest before dawn right? I think that each character had to accept and submit their ashes before they were able to see and enjoy the beauty that was possible. That is so difficult as I know from our unemployment situation a few years ago that turned out to be a wonderfully timed blessing and transition in our lives.

While I’m still new to West Tennessee, I am not new to the South and reading a book that containing my vacation home away from home of Charleston, South Carolina (my blood runs to South Carolina as far back as the states history!) and West Tennessee was exciting and enchanting to want to connect to something and somewhere that relates to me. I personally live in a small rural town near Memphis and while times are different electronically, getting into small town lives is much the same and difficult.

Loneliness. That is something I understand, especially since the move from Georgia. Carrie’s way of dealing was to find a new focus and stay busy. She jumped into being helpful and gave her time so she did not have the opportunity to worry or be lonely much or realize that she was. Griff however was so misguided in his opinion of what made him lonely in the first place that he set himself up as a runner. He was that guy that would break up with you in a fabulous relationship because he thought there was a chance you might break up with him and he wanted to come out on top, or at least to look like it. He had this same relationship with towns and communities; he would not let himself connect.

There are definitely a few characters in this story that drive me nuts and a few that leave me with unanswered questions, but I think perhaps they will come in the third book as well as fully weave into the first novel. In any story I suppose it is quite necessary to have some static and I think that perhaps the characters that are nuts (in my opinion) to lead to chaos, but in an interesting way. As for the main “thoughts” of the town… that was irritating, but in a people are stupid sort of way. Also added to the emotional factor for me.

This one is a reader. Dorothy Love is going on my shelf and list to watch for more to come.

*Thanks to Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Publicity for providing a copy for review.*

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Before returning to her writing roots in historical fiction, Dorothy Love published twelve novels for young adults. Her work has garnered numerous honors from the American Library Association, the Friends of American Writers, the International Reading Association, the New York Public Library, and many others. The Hickory Ridge Novels mark her Christian fiction debut.

For more about Dorothy visit her website, www.dorothylovebooks.com or friend her on Facebook.com/DorothyLoveBooks.

Buy it through Thomas Nelson…

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Dorothy Love’s Beauty for Ashes Kindle Fire and a Sapphire Ring Giveaway! Enter Today & RSVP for 3/20 Facebook Author Chat Party!

We’re thrilled to announce the fun giveaway Dorothy is hosting! First, she’ll be giving away a Kindle Fire (3/1-3/20), then on the evening of the 20th she’s inviting everyone to her Facebook Author Page for a fun Author Chat party! Don’t miss a minute of the fun … sigh.

One beautiful winner will receive:

  • A Brand new Kindle Fire with Wi-Fi
  • Beauty for Ashes by Dorothy Love
  • Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/20/12. Winner will be announced at Dorothy’s Facebook Author Chat Party on 3/20. Come for an evening of chat, trivia, and a sneak peek at the next book in Dorothy’s Hickory Ridge series – bring your friends! She’ll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books and a stunning sapphire ring!

So grab your copy of Beauty for Ashes  and join Dorothy and friends on the evening of March 20th for an evening of fun.

Don’t miss Dorothy’s delightful giveaway and party. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 20th!

About Dorothy Love

A native of west Tennessee, Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their golden retriever. An award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, Dorothy made her adult debut with the Hickory Ridge novels. Facebook: dorothylovebooks Twitter: @WriterDorothy

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(No spam, I promise. Just creative madness ramblings, reviews and life-stories, with quilting and cross stitch inspiration in between!)

The Creative Madness Mama also known as Margaret is a Christian Stay-at-home Mama, married to the Enginerd, quilter, cross stitcher, avid reader and book-a-holic. As book blogger for various publicists, she loves to share the latest and greatest about books coming out as well as her needle art and other crafty projects with some pictures of her fourteen-year-old AppleBlossom, twelve-year-old OrangeBlossom (the Princess), nine-year-old Almond Blossom (the Rascal boy!), six-year-old (red) Mermaid Warrior, the four-and-a-half-year-old Viking Dragon, and Huckleberry (due in June 2024!) in between. Homeschooling, cloth diapering, breastfeeding, babywearing, bone broth brewing, tea drinking, list making mama full of a little creative and a lot of madness.

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