Beauty for Ashes (A Hickory Ridge Romance) [Paperback]

Dorothy Love (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2012 | Series: A Hickory Ridge Romance (Book 2)

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A native of west Tennessee, Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their two golden retrievers. An accomplished author, Dorothy made her debut in Christian fiction with the Hickory Ridge novels.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 28, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595549013
• ISBN-13: 978-1595549013
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (137 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,012,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

An accomplished author in the secular market, Dorothy Love makes her inspirational fiction debut with her Hickory Ridge series of historicals set in her native South. Her skillful blending of the historical and the personal reflect her passion for discovering the histories of ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary things and set her apart as an authoritative voice of Southern historical fiction.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Little Surprised... December 27, 2012

By Melanie

Format:Paperback

Beauty for Ashes was a wonderful read! I really enjoyed reading Carrie's story and was a little surprised (but happy!) by the way things turned out. Having read the first book, Beyond All Measure, before this one, I had assumed Carrie would end up marrying a certain guy, but reading the book's description made me think I might have assumed incorrectly.

I really liked the characters in Beauty for Ashes and especially liked getting an update on Ada and Wyatt's life. Carrie seemed like a strong woman and I felt bad for how she got treated by her brother's wife and stepsons. There were some surprises in Beauty for Ashes, too.

Overall, Beauty for Ashes was a great read and I really liked it! If you like historical romances, then I think you'll enjoy Beauty for Ashes.

*I received this book (ARC copy) for free for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as Good as the First Book in the Series May 1, 2012

By Patricia Mejia Burke VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I read "Beyond All Measure" which was the first in the "Hickory Ridge Romance" series and truly enjoyed it. However, "Beauty for Ashes", the second book in the series was a bit of a disappointment.

I'll try not to spoil the story for future readers; however, I have to mention a few facts of the novel in order to explain my disappointment.

Our hero, Griff is the one character that I really liked; author Dorothy Love goes into detail with his character enough that the reader can empathize and relate to him. Carrie, the heroine, isn't really created deeply enough to make a real impression on me nor did I really and truly like her. And, yes, I'm one of those people who gets caught up in fictional characters. Without liking the main characters, what's the point of reading a novel?

Carrie's one fault, was that she was a push-over. She claimed that her brother, Henry, was her defender and best friend, yet when he married a spoiled widow with two children, not once did Henry stick up for Carrie. Perhaps Carrie put Henry on a tall pedestal and when push came to shove, he was no defender at all. Also, Henry's wife was a demanding and whiny woman and her children were brats that could control Carrie with tears, violence, threats and anger.

Carrie finally had enough and moved out of her own home (she and Henry owned it together); yet when Mary (Harry's wife) needs her, she goes home, telling herself that "family comes first" and that she must do this for Henry. It was very frustrating knowing and seeing Carrie being bossed around by Mary and her children. Occasionally, Mary would apologize for her overbearing ways but those times were few and far between.

Carrie's relationship with Nate, her "intended" also rang false. Nate was a pushover who claimed he loved Carrie yet when Roselle, with all of her beauty and airs, started flirting outrageously with Nate, he ran off with her and they married in Chicago!

Anyway....Griff was real; we got to know him and how he became the man he was. I'm glad that things turned out well for Griff and his father.

Do Carrie and Griff end up with a "happily ever after"? Read the book and find out. I hope that the author's next book in the series is more enjoyable.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Beauty for Ashes March 17, 2012

By Megan

Format:Paperback

Beauty for Ashes is a very moving story and I very much enjoyed reading it. I felt an immediate connection with Carrie - something that I didn't feel with Ada in Beyond All Measure. I love the covers of both of Dorothy's books - they are both so beautiful and the texture on them feels so nice!

The story begins with Carrie getting a dress for her brother's upcoming wedding to Mary, a woman she doesn't like very much - that is putting it mildly. Mary has two sons, Caleb and Joe, who are in desperate need of a firm hand - Mary has coddled them way too much - but, she won't allow anyone to discipline them. Henry seems like such a weakling, so afraid to step on toes or to have his own opinion.

Mary treats Carrie as a servant, as though she is there to do her bidding. When Carrie decides to do something else and tells Mary that she should take a part in caring for her family, Mary tells Carrie not to be so lazy! I kept waiting for the time in the book when Mary would see the error in how she was treating Carrie and was slightly disappointed that it didn't happen the way I wanted it to.

I am looking forward to Sophie's story, which is coming out sometime next year. I recommend that if you want to read this book, you should read Beyond All Measure first - otherwise if you decide that you want to read that book after reading this one, it may be spoiled for you.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***