Giveaway & Review ~ Beauty for Ashes by Dorothy Love

About the Book


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.
My Review
Beauty for Ashes is a story of hardship and loyalty. Siblings Henry and Carrie have been dependent on each other for a number of years, holding the family farm together after the death of their parents, and Carrie's husband. It works well for them, even if life is not as exciting as she wishes it could be.
Shortly after the story opens, Henry is getting married to Mary, a widow with two young sons. Both boys are extremely rude and disrespectful towards Carrie. Needless to say, since they are all living in the same home, this causes some serious problems between the three adults.
Griff Rutledge is old money from Charleston, and has no plans to settle down in any town, any time soon. He's a wanderer. You know what that means. When he meets Carrie he decides he might need to hang around a while. It helps that he's asked to train a beautiful piece of horse flesh for a race that will rival the new Kentucky Derby. A race that will hopefully bring new people and growth to Hickory Ridge.
Due to the authors word artistry in describing the area, I had no problems visualizing the scenes but the pacing of this drama was too slow for me. On several occasions I found myself putting it down to do something else. It lacked the level of excitement that I prefer in my reading material. However, if you like an unhurried pace then this book will appeal to you. It does have some interesting historical details that will intrigue most historical fiction fans. I also think the cover is lovely and does a good job conveying the essence of the book.
BookSneeze provided a copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, just my honest opinion of the book, which I have done.
You can purchase Dorothy Love's  books at Amazon, CBD, or Thomas Nelson. (also available as an Ebook)
I'm giving away my copy. Leave a comment* to be entered. Ends March 22nd. Continental US Only!

♥ Cover love ♥

Here's a sneak peek of the next book :)
Coming Fall 2012. Sophie Robillard Caldwell has spent a lifetime guarding her heart.... and a life changing secret. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of the newspaperwomen she has come to admire, she returns to Hickory Ridge from Texas to revive the local paper, the Gazette. Ethan Heyward, son of a Georgia planter has come to town to build and manage Blue Smoke, a luxury resort soon to open at the top of Hickory Ridge. He, too, is harboring a secret too painful to share with anyone...even Sophie.