Carolina Gold by Dorothy Love

Dorothy Love has become an author that I seek out and am always excited when I see that a new book has come out.  Carolina Gold was an interesting book, especially after the book I just finished reading.  It picked up where the book I had just finished had left... but the books were by 2 different authors!  This book was post war and all of the changes that occurred and how much the people had to fight to rebuild.  For many, it wasn't worth it.  To Charlotte, though, it meant everything. 

Charlotte went back to her childhood home without her father, who had just died. She is determined to make an income and keep her land by planting Carolina Gold... that would be rice.  As the obstacles stack up against her, she has to decide if its worth it to keep trying or not.

I liked Nicholas from the beginning. I was glad to see him go back to his former occupation and help others with his skills. Josie wore on me, though.  I was mad at her for all she did, but I did come to forgive her a bit.  I hurt for Nick's 2 daughters as they were left wondering if their dad had left them or not.

My favorite person, though, was the boy who wanted to learn and begged Charlotte to teach him.  I really wish she had taught him.  He was wanting to soak it all in.  I was glad she sort of took care of him, though, and gave him hope.

This was another great book by Dorothy Love.  It's a fast read, but sweeps you up in the time period.  It's a relevant book and one that is easy to visualize.  I liked the dark cover on this book, because it matches the story line perfectly. Not that good doesn't happen in it, but they are struggling through recovery from war and from the fever and these are, in deed, dark times for many.

Read more reviews on this book by going to http://litfusegroup.com/author/dlove.

__________________

Book Info

About the book: The war is over, but her struggle is just beginning. Charlotte Fraser returns to her late father's once-flourishing rice plantation on the Waccamaw River, determined to continue growing the special kind of rice known as Carolina Gold. But Fairhaven Plantation is in ruins, the bondsmen are free, and money is scarce. To make ends meet, Charlotte reluctantly accepts a position as tutor to the young daughters of Nicholas Betancourt, heir to the neighboring Willowood Plantation. Then Nick's quest to prove his ownership of Willowood sends Charlotte on a dangerous journey that reveals an old family mystery---and threatens all that she holds dear. Inspired by the life of a 19th century woman rice planter, Carolina Gold continues Dorothy Love's winning tradition of weaving together mystery, romance, and rich historical detail, bringing to life the story of one young woman's struggle to restore her ruined world. Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/s2Q5l About the author: A former journalist, free-lance writer and college professor, Dorothy Love explores the intersection of history and human relationships to create novels that speak to the hearts of women everywhere. She is the author of the acclaimed Hickory Ridge novels set in her native state of Tennessee. After earning a masters degree and Ph.D, she authored dozens of magazine articles before breaking into book publishing with a number of award-winning novels for preteens and young adults. The Hickory Ridge series marked her adult fiction debut. Currently she is working on several stand-alone historical novels set in the South. When she isn't busy writing or researching her next book, Love enjoys hiking, traveling, and hanging out with her husband Ron and their rambunctious golden retriever. The Loves make their home in the Texas hill country. To keep up with Dorothy Love, visit www.dorothylovebooks.com, become a fan on Facebook (Dorothy Love Books) or follow her on Twitter (@writerDorothy).

__________________

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Songs of the Shenandoah by Michael K. Reynolds

I'll be completely honest....when I first opened this book out of the envelope, I grimaced at how long this book was.  I was afraid I wouldn't be able to read it all in time because there were over 400 pages.  Not knowing if I'd like it anyway, I braced myself when I started the first page.  What I didn't expect was to be sucked in and reading over 100 pages a night!  I didn't want this story to end.  No wonder it's so long!  There was a lot of story to tell.  In fact, I liked this book so much that when it went on sale for the kindle, I bought this one and the first two books so I could see what I had missed.  With that said, I never once felt like I was missing something by not having read the first 2 books.

I normally have a hard time getting into these books, but I really want to like them.  That said, I always like to give them a chance to be read.  I am so glad I did with this one.  I've never read anything by Michael K. Reynolds, but he is an excellent storyteller.  He brought the Civil War alive for me.  Brothers fighting brothers, the horror of the slaves, and so much more.  I didn't really know that the Irish immigrants had been involved in any way and was shocked at how they were treated and how they treated others.  (I'm Irish myself, so I really found that interesting.)

The love between Seamus and Davin towards the end blew me away.  Davin's selfless act was beautiful.  I was shocked by Murial and never saw through her secret and never ever expected for it to be what it really was.  My heart broke for Cassie towards the end as hatred is taken out on her.  I loved seeing the church come together for the cause of the newspaper and watching miracle after miracle take place through the book.  It's really hard to sum this book up in a few sentences because it's one of those that just leaves you feeling complete.  Bad things happened, but you see God's hand through it all.  Relationships are formed, people die, and wars occur.  But God is still there and is still answering prayers and still working.

I am definitely looking forward to going back to read the first two books and can't wait for him to come out with another series.  I'll expect it to be a big book this time, though!

_____________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael K. Reynolds is a writer with more than two decades of experience in crafting fiction, non-fiction, journalism, copywriting and documentary production. He is the author of a series of Irish historical novels published by B&H Publishing Group. These highly acclaimed books are available in bookstores and libraries across the nation and beyond.

Michael is the writer and producer of an Emmy and Telly award-winning series of documentaries titled, Crystal Darkness. These thirty minute anti-meth films have been heavily promoted and broadcast in cities and states throughout the United States and Mexico. They have been viewed collectedly by more than 10 million people and the message has reached more than 30 million to date.

He also has wide experience as a speaker and on-air personality and has been interviewed on a variety of newspapers, radio stations and televisions networks throughout the nation. Michael earned his B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of California, San Diego and lives in Reno with his wife and three children. He is active in marketplace, marriage, small group and men’s ministries as a leader and speaker.

ABOUT THE BOOK

At the onset of the Civil War, Seamus heeds his wife’s wishes to return to her beloved family farm in the South, where he takes a post as chaplain for General Stonewall Jackson’s brigade. As Seamus ministers to the troops, his sister Clare ministers in a different way—by being a powerful voice in the Northern cause toward freeing the slaves. All this while their youngest brother Davin, who became wealthy during the Gold Rush, struggles to find love and identity in a fallen world. It’s a clash of loyalties and beliefs that threaten the entire family, each of them trying to hear God’s encouragement in the midst of the tragedy of war. The dramatic conclusion to the acclaimed Heirs of Ireland Series.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Songs of the Shenandoah, go HERE.

____________

I received this book free from CFBA and B & H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.