BEAUTY FOR ASHES - Dorothy Love - Free Book

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.

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.

Why do you write the kind of books you do?

As a native Southern girl I love the rich history and the untold stories of Southern life, and I love weaving together the historical and the personal into stories that I hope will entertain and edify at the same time.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

Oh wow, Lena, it would be hard to pick just one. My wedding day. The day I received my PhD and realized I would never again be forced to take a test! The day in 1996 when my first book came out. Any day at the beach makes me supremely happy.

How has being published changed your life?

I published my first novel after a long career as a school administrator and college teacher. If I hadn’t left that world to take a chance on becoming published, I might still be working in the same city, in the same office and would have missed out on the travel, the people, the sheer joy of creating a novel. It has made me much more observant of everything and much more aware of how fragile and heartbreaking and beautiful life is. 

What are you reading right now?

I’m in the middle of line edits for my next novel, and in the middle of a publicity push for BEAUTY FOR ASHES so I have limited time for reading anything other than research materials these days. But last weekend I dipped into Liz Curtis Higgs’s  Mine Is The Night and it’s a fabulous read. I can’t wait until I have more time to enjoy it.

What is your current work in progress?

A stand alone Southern historical set on a South Carolina rice plantation. It doesn’t’ have a title yet. I’m waiting for the muse to whisper it into my ear.

What would be your dream vacation?

A summer in Italy with plenty of time to visit Florence, Venice, and Rome.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

All I write is Southern historicals, so someplace in the South is a given. After that, it’s a matter of what inspires me. The novel I’m writing now set on the Waccamaw River rice plantation is inspired by the life of a real life woman rice planter.  In 2014 I’ll be writing about a fictional South Texas ranch inspired by the real life King Ranch.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

Maya Angelou.  Several years ago I attended her one woman show and was absolutely mesmerized not only by that honeyed Southern voice, but by her grace, intelligence, insights, and the sheer beauty of her words. I would love to spend an evening learning from her about writing, about life.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

My husband and I are avid collectors of antique maps. We got started more than 30 years ago on a trip to Hawaii when we found a map drawn by one of Captain Cook’s men.  Since then we have specialized in collecting the works of English cartographer John Rapkin, whose maps were published in England by John Tallis.  Apart from collecting, we love hiking and traveling. We’ve been lucky enough to spend time in New Zealand, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

As I’m contracted to write more books, juggling the various deadlines becomes more of a challenge. I make lots of lists and calendars, and try to pad my schedule with a bit more time than I think I will need, in case life intervenes and I have to drop everything for a bit. So far, the system is working.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read ten books for every one you hope to write. Read widely, not only the kinds of books you want to write. Write every day, even if it’s only a journal entry, a blog post, an essay. Writers improve by writing.

Tell us about the featured book.

BEAUTY FOR ASHES is the second Hickory Ridge novel, following BEYOND ALL MEASURE.  The series is set in the Southern Appalachians in the years just after the Civil War and follows three strong and determined women as they seek to better their lives against long odds.  In this novel, my protagonist Carrie Daly is a war widow who has promised to wed the local book shop owner. Someday. But something is missing, and Carrie is plagued with doubts. Then Charlestonian Griff Rutledge arrives in Hickory Ridge to collect an old debt, and it’s a case of love at first sight.  But Griff too, has had his share of sorrow and doesn’t seem to be the marrying kind.

Please give us the first page of the book.

May 1876

Carrie Daly watched a knot of people hurrying past the dress-shop window and tried to think of something—anything---except the wedding. These days everybody in Hickory Ridge made a point of speaking to her about it. For Henry’s sake she smiled and thanked them for their good wishes, ignoring the creeping dismay at the bottom of her heart.

“Hold still a minute longer, Miz Daly. Almost done here.” Jeanne Pruitt, the wife of the mercantile owner and the new proprietress of Norah’s Fine Frocks, knelt on the floor to attach the lace trim to the hem of Carrie’s dress.

In her stocking feet, Carrie balanced on the small step stool and listened to Mrs. Pruitt’s detailed recounting of her recent visit to her sister’s place in Muddy Hollow. The new dressmaker wasn’t as stylish as Norah had been. She was, however, a magician with needle and thread. The ladies of Hickory Ridge kept her busy repairing seams, restyling old frocks, and occasionally making a new dress from scratch. Now, with a final snip of her scissors, she finished both the hem and her tale and got to her feet.

“You’re all set, dear. Take a look.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

At my website, www.DorothyLoveBooks.com and on my  Facebook author page at www.facebook.com/dorothylovebooks.

Dorothy Love's Beauty for Ashes Kindle Fire and a Sapphire Ring Giveaway! Enter Today and RSVP for 3/20 Facebook Author Chat Party! 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!

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

Beauty for Ashes (A Hickory Ridge Romance) - paperback
Beauty for Ashes (A Hickory Ridge Romance) - Kindle


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