Written by Diane Estrella

Beauty for Ashes (A Hickory Ridge Romance) by Dorothy Love & GIVEAWAY!

by Diane Estrella

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.

You can buy the book here on Amazon or here at Thomas Nelson.

About Dorothy:

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.

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!

My Review

“Mary’s life had not turned out as she wanted. Perhaps no one’s did.

Perhaps the secret to a happy life was to want the one you had.”~~~~Beauty for Ashes

I think the above quote represents this book and the outlook we all should have in life, beautifully.

I felt like I had to play catch up at the beginning of this book for about the first two chapters. There were a lot of names from the first book in this series, Beyond All Measure, and a lot of characters that I had to get to know quickly. After that, the story moved along very nicely and easily.

Trusting God in the hardest of times, can be the hardest of things to do.

We want to rely on our own strength, our own understanding, and our own abilities to get us through whatever life dishes out. The greatest of joys can only be found when we rely completely on Him. The author did a wonderful job of portraying these truths in this story. Carrie had to overcome so many of life’s disappointments and ultimately put herself into God’s care for her future. When she is finally able to do this, the joy that has eluded her for so long is abundantly found.

A sweet story that shows what life can be like when we stop seeing ourselves as a victim and see ourselves through God’s eyes as a victor.