Litfuse Blog Tour: Beauty For Ashes

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:

Picture it: A quaint little frontier town buzzing with activity. On the town's old dirt roads a beautiful young woman walks back to her buggy. Suddenly, a wild horse nearly tramples her to death and would have done so had she not been rescued by a mysterious southern gentlemen. Next... 

Dorothy is a phenomenal author in that she immediately portrays a scenario that intrigued me. The happenings and where abouts of a young widow and a mysterious southerner sparked curiosity. She also painted a very vivid image of the town that I immediately felt embedded onto the wooden plank side walks of Hickory ridge.

Most of the characters face trials and respond as people do -- sometimes with great faith, sometimes in their own reasoning, and sometimes wavering between the two. Carrie was confronted with many difficulties and often tested, but faith stepped in at some point to reel her back toward the right choices. I was especially fond of Carrie's flash backs of her wise, proverbial grandmother. 

The plot of the story was superbly written and as you read, you will encounter twists and turns. Throughout the novel, a bond with the characters is created, one that allows you to "feel for them" in their times of trouble and heartache. I enjoyed Dorothy's portrayal of the characters. Her writing style thus far is quite enjoyable and the romance level is appropriate.

Aside from Dorothy's wonderful writings, I felt that Carrie should have left her "husband hunt" to God. She nearly married a man out of sheer pity for herself.

I would rate Beauty For Ashes a 4 out of 5 stars. The characters, the mood and faith based plot were all pluses for me. This book didn't leave me thirsting for the next in the series, but it was a pleasant diversion for a few hours one day. I also enjoyed the hinted aspects of the Civil War.

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my honest review.

About The Author:

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 onFacebook.com/DorothyLoveBooks.

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!