Review & Giveaway: Carolina Gold by Dorthoy Love (Litfuse Blog Tour & $100 Visa GC Giveaway and Facebook Party)

January 6, 2014

Title: Carolina Gold
Author: Dorothy Love
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pages: 328
ISBN: 978-1-4016-8761-8
Publication Date: December 10th, 2013

Synopsis:
The war is over, but at Fairhaven
Plantation, Charlotte's struggle has just begun.

Following her father’s death, Charlotte Fraser returns to Fairhaven, her family’s rice plantation in the South Carolina Lowcountry. With no one else to rely upon, smart, independent Charlotte is determined to resume cultivating the superior strain of rice called Carolina Gold. But the war has left the plantation in ruins, her father’s former bondsmen are free, and workers and equipment are in short supply.

To make ends meet, Charlotte reluctantly agrees to tutor the two young daughters of her widowed neighbor and heir to Willowood Plantation, Nicholas Betancourt. Just as her friendship with Nick deepens, he embarks upon a quest to prove his claim to Willowood and sends Charlotte on a dangerous journey that uncovers a long-held family secret, and threatens everything she holds dear.

Inspired by the life of a 19th-century woman rice farmer, Carolina Gold pays tribute to the hauntingly beautiful Lowcountry and weaves together mystery, romance, and historical detail, bringing to life the story of one young woman’s struggle to restore her ruined world.
Review:
I jumped at the chance to read Carolina Gold. I love novels that are based at or around the time of the Civil War. It is such an interesting time in history and there is still so much to uncover of the lives of people around that time.

Carolina Gold follows Charlotte Fraser, a young woman in her twenties who has lost her mother before the war and her father shortly before the Civil War ended. Charlotte made a promise to her father before he died that she would do her best to keep Fairhaven, their family home, running and get it back to the flourishing farm it was before destruction came to their community.

Upon arriving home, Charlotte finds there is hardly anything left except the shell of the house that they once lived in. All the clothes, furnishings, paintings, anything that wasn't hidden has been taken or destroyed by the Yankees as they pushed South. Some neighbors had stuck around, while other were slowly trickling back in like Charlotte. Each had their own coping ability to what had happened. Some wanted to keep going like nothing had happened. Other wanted to put it far behind and move forward to what the future had in store and make their land profitable in some form or fashion.

Charlotte knew the past was gone, but she was determined to keep her promise. She sets out with just a little help to get her rice planted in her fields, even though it is late in the season. She battles sky rocketing prices, unprepared fields, and storms. The ability to make money from her first crop isn't happening the way she hoped. One day, Charlotte comes across two little girls sopping wet in need of help. She brings them home to find out they are the daughters of a nearby widowed neighbor. Charlotte is able to get them back to their father, Nicholas Betancourt, without incident and in doing so is offered a position as their personal tutor. At first, Charlotte doesn't except, wanting to work on her crops, but after many obstacles, Charlotte agrees, knowing she needs the income.

I enjoyed reading about Nicholas Batencourt's daughters. They were fun and very true to their ages. I also enjoyed reading about Nicholas, but was disappointed when he had to head off on business in the story. Charlotte was alright, her constant desire to keep her promise to her father kept her from agreeing to help and do things for fear of straying from her personal path she had created. Josie, a friend of Charlotte, was a girl who drove me nuts. Her constant desire to marry any eligible bachelor was a bit much and the extremes she took was hard to read at times, since she was so desperate, and the lies and false fronts she presented were aggravating. Thankfully she wasn't around a whole lot.

Carolina Gold was an interesting story. I like how it was based on an actual woman and her accounts. When I think of the Civil War I think of Gettysburg, Georgia, and Virginia. This book offered another state to look into with South Carolina.

3 1/2 out of 5

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).



Don't miss Dorothy Love's latest historical novel, Carolina Gold. Fun news: The release of Carolina Gold coincides with Dorothy's birthday. Celebrate with her by entering the Southern Essentials Giveaway and RSVPing to her Facebook party on January 14th!
carolinagold-400
 
Between January 3–14, visit Dorothy Love's Facebook Page to enter to win a new giveaway each day and be entered to win the $100 Visa Cash Card grand prize. Winners will be announced at the Facebook Author Chat party on January 14th! (Don't have a Facebook account? Enter here.) RSVP today for Dorothy's Carolina Gold Author Chat Party on Facebook.

During the party Dorothy will be hosting a book chat, testing your trivia skills, announcing the winner of the Southern Essentials Giveaway, and giving away books, gift certificates, and more. Oh, and she'll also be giving partygoers an exclusive look at her next book!

So grab your copy of Carolina Gold and help Dorothy celebrate her birthday on the evening of January 14th! (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)

DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN; RSVP TODAY. HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 14th!


Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and to Thomas Nelson, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

2 comments

  1. Love the cover :) Never heard of the author before, looks like a great story to read. I love history, so maybe I will love this too :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elin, The cover is gorgeous! This was the first book I've read by Dorothy Love. It was interesting and taken from actual accounts. I really liked that. Give it a try!

    ReplyDelete

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