Among the Fair Magnolias Novella Collection

About the Book
In the most turbulent decade of our nation's history, four Southern women--destinies forged by birth, hearts steeled by war--face near impossible choices on their journeys in life . . . and in love.
To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander
Savannah Darby would do almost anything to revisit her family home. So when new owner, Aidan Bedford, a Boston attorney and former Union soldier, seeks to redecorate the house for his fiancée, Savannah jumps at the opportunity. But the clock is ticking. Can she find the box her father supposedly hid there during the war before her assignment is completed? And before she sees yet another battle lost on the home front. This time, one of the heart.
An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray
When Russell Stark returns to Fort Worth, he's determined to begin a new life. But when he arrives at his mother's homestead, he discovers she's very ill, and the woman he loved is still as beautiful and sweet as he remembered. With time running out, Russell must come to terms with both his future and his past.
A Heart So True by Dorothy Love
Abigail knows all too well what is expected of her: to marry her distant cousin Charles and take her place in society. But her heart belongs to another. A terrible incident forces Abby to choose between love and duty.
Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser
Emily has a secret: She's in love with one of the freedmen on her family's plantation. Meanwhile, another man declares his love for her. Emily realizes some things are not as they seem and secrets must be kept in order to keep those she loves safe.

My Thoughts
To Mend a Dream-This was by far my favorite and quite honestly the reason I picked up this collection in the first place. It was beautifully written and while I would have enjoyed seeing more of the romance rather than it just being alluded to I still enjoyed Savannah and Aidan's love story. My favorite parts of the story though were when Aidan was recalling the day met a confederate soldier he called "Nashville"!
An Outlaw's Heart-This was a cute story! It was a little redundant at the beginning but after that I found myself enjoying it! I did like how Russell and Nora had previously had a relationship so the faster pace of the novella wasn't unbelievable. I liked both of their characters and it was fun to watch everything play out!
A Heart So True-As I started this novella the similarities to the beginning of Gone With the Wind had me smiling since I recently enjoyed that movie with friends. But that aside it was a good story in it's own right. I liked the characters and and even though it would have been fun to see more of their romance I did like that they already had an established relationship. The ending was a bit rushed but otherwise this was an enjoyable story.
Love Beyond Limits-Sadly I didn't enjoy this novella at all. It was a bit disjointed, there were way too many unnecessary facts, I didn't really like the heroine, and the "love story" didn't really make sense to me. I really hate to write negative reviews but it really was a struggle for me to get through.

Meet the Authors

Tamera Alexander is the best-selling author of numerous books including A Lasting Impression and The Inheritance. Tamera is a two-time Christy Award winner, two-time RITA winner, and a recipient of the prestigious Library Journal Award. A native of west Tennessee. website, Twitter, Facebook

Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their golden retriever. An award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, Dorothy made her adult debut with the Hickory Ridge novels. website, Twitter, Facebook

Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. website, Twitter, Facebook


Elizabeth Musser, a native of Atlanta, Georgia now living in France, is a novelist who writes what she calls 'entertainment with a soul.' For over 25 years, Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have been involved in mission work with International Teams. website, Twitter, Facebook


I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Four best-selling novelists bring tales of four Southern women who face near impossible choices on their journeys in life and in love during the most turbulent decade of our nation’s history in Among the Fair Magnolias. Don't miss this collection of stories from Tamera Alexander, Shelley Gray, Dorothy Love, and Elizabeth Musser.

Join the authors in celebrating the release of Among the Fair Magnolias by entering to win their Southern Hearts Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVPing to their August 13th author chat party!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD 6
• One copy of Among the Fair Magnolias

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/13. The winner will be announced at the Among the Fair Magnolias Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Tamera, Dorothy, Shelley, and Elizabeth, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 13th!

Carolina Gold by Dorothy Love

I am so sorry I am posting this a little later than I was supposed to! I have been sick, we've had tons of company, and we've been helping my brother whose basement flooded and in all the craziness I just forgot! 

About the Book
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.

My Thoughts
This book was a bit of a disappointment for me. There were things I liked but they were outweighed by the things I didn't. I'm gonna start with the good though!
I loved the way this book gave us a glimpse into post Civil War in the south. I have read countless books that take place shortly after the war but they are almost always either set in the west or the north so it was cool to see the other side! I also liked Charlotte and I admired her perseverance and tenacity. Nick and his girls were fun too though I didn't feel like I ever really got to know Nick.
Now for the bad, I hate this part but I was asked for an honest review so an honest review I will write. To begin the story started off really slowly and never really picked up though about 200 pages in I did start turning the pages faster to see how it would turn out. Then there was the whole secret that is talked about in the synopsis, I figured out part of it early on and it was rather anticlimactic in the end. I also didn't like the way Nick and Charlotte reacted to something in the story (don't want to spoil anything!). They claimed to have feelings for each other but the way the handled the situation left no evidence of that. And lastly I felt that the end was a little rushed.

I still did enjoy the book especially the historical aspects of it!

Meet 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.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.



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!

 
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!

Waiting on Wednesday #72: Carolina Gold

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're
eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Carolina Gold by Dorothy Love
Thomas Nelson-December 10, 2013

About the Book

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

Charlotte Fraser returns to her late father's once-flourishing rice plantation on the Waccamaw River, determined to continue his tradition of 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 Fairhaven sends Charlotte on a dangerous journey that uncovers a family mystery . . . and threatens all that she holds dear.

Inspired by historical events, Carolina Gold weaves together mystery, romance, and rich historical detail, bringing to life the story of one young woman's struggle to restore her ruined world.

Why I Want It

I've enjoyed the two books I've read of this author's and this one sounds interesting!

12 Days of Gifts with Dorothy Love’s “Home for the Holidays” Contest and Facebook Party {12/13}

Dorothy Love is celebrating the new book in her Hickory Ridge Romance series, Every Perfect Gift with a "Home for the Holidays" 12 Days of Gifts contest.

Celebrate the holidays with Dorothy Love and her protagonist, Sophie Caldwell, as they count down the days to Dorothy's author chat party with 12 Days of Gifts! Dorothy will be giving away copies of Every Perfect Gift and other holiday essentials, as well as key items from the book that Sophie would have worn during or used to celebrate the holidays (a beautiful, red shawl, Victorian ornaments, stockings). It's all happening on Dorothy's Facebook page. She'll post a new giveaway each day.

So bring on the Christmas cheer with Dorothy and the "Home for the Holidays" 12 Days of Gifts. Then join Dorothy on the evening of December 13 for her author chat party! During the party, Dorothy will announce the 12 winners from the Home for the Holidays giveaway and host an author chat about Every Perfect Gift and favorite Christmas traditions. Oh, and she'll be giving away lots of fun prizes. RSVP today.

Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love

About the Book
Ethan and Sophie long to share a future together. But the secrets they're not sharing could tear them apart.
Sophie Caldwell has returned to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee, after years away. Despite the heartaches of her childhood, Sophie is determined to make a home, and a name, for herself in the growing town. A gifted writer, she plans to resurrect the local newspaper that so enchanted her as a girl.
Ethan Heyward's idyllic childhood was shattered by a tragedy he has spent years trying to forget. An accomplished businessman and architect, he has built a majestic resort in the mountains above Hickory Ridge, drawing wealthy tourists from all over the country.
When Sophie interviews Ethan for the paper, he is impressed with her intelligence and astounded by her beauty. She's equally intrigued but fears he will reject her if he learns about her shadowed past. Just as she summons the courage to tell him, Ethan's own past unexpectedly and violently catches up with him, threatening not only his life but their budding romance.
Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/ftJyo

My Thoughts
 After reading Beauty For Ashes I knew that I wanted to read more of this author's books so I jumped at the chance to review Every Perfect Gift. When I read BFA it wasn't till part way through that I realized it was the second book of a series but there weren't too many references to book one and I made it through. Unfortunately for me this book was a lot more connected to the first one and I was a little lost sometimes. I was however able to piece most of it together but I highly recommend reading them in order! Now that I explained all that, on to the actual review!
I did really enjoy this book-it wasn't show-stoppingly awesome but good nonetheless. Honestly I kinda read this book at a bad time. I just finished a couple books that I absolutely loved so pretty much anything else paled in comparison. I'm racking my brain trying to come up with things to say but I can't seem to come up with any thoughts either way. It was one of those books that lands perfectly in the middle, nothing wrong but nothing amazing either. There were a few times that it got a little Hallmark-ish but even that wasn't too bad and was easy to overlook. I do like how, since the series is set in a small town, you get to visit many of the characters throughout all of the books. All in all I really enjoyed the two books I've read in this series and I'm going to try to read Book 1 in the near future!
 I received this book free from the publisher through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my honest review!

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.
Find out more about Dorothy at http://dorothylovebooks.com/

Check out the other stops on the tour at: http://litfusegroup.com/campaigns/everyperfectgift

Waiting on Wednesday #29: Every Perfect Gift

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're
eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love
Thomas Nelson-December 4, 2012

About the Book

Ethan and Sophie long to share a future together. But the secrets they’re not sharing could tear them apart.

Sophie Caldwell has returned to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee after years away. Despite the heartaches of her childhood, Sophie is determined to make a home, and a name, for herself in the growing town. A gifted writer, she plans to resurrect the local newspaper that so enchanted her as a girl.

Ethan Heyward’s idyllic childhood was shattered by a tragedy he has spent years trying to forget. An accomplished businessman and architect, he has built a majestic resort in the mountains above Hickory Ridge, drawing wealthy tourists from all over the country.

When Sophie interviews Ethan for the paper, he is impressed with her intelligence and astounded by her beauty. She's equally intrigued with him but fears he will reject her if he learns about her shadowed past. Just as she summons the courage to tell him, Ethan’s own past unexpectedly and violently catches up with him, threatening not only his life but their budding romance.

Why I Want It

I really enjoyed the other Dorothy Love book, Beauty For Ashes, that I read and this one sounds like it will be just as good! And also who wouldn't want to read a book with that cover?!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #6

 Hosted By: Book Journey

Here is what I read last week:

I really enjoyed this reading week! 

Pure Love Pure Life was amazing! You can read my review HERE

I also LOVED A Little Help From My Friends, Prairie Hills, 

and Beauty For Ashes The other 2 were pretty good but not amazing.

What I am currently reading:

Yes I'm reading four books at once-I like multitasking 

I like to have a fiction hard copy book, a non-fiction book, 

and a classic all going at once. 

And there usually is a review book thrown in too!

What I hope to read this week:

Considering that I hope to finish 2 if not 3 of the books 

I'm currently reading, I only put 2 on my "hope to read" list!

Beauty For Ashes by Dorothy Love

Book Description

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 Daly 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 trade beauty for ashes.

My Thoughts

This book is the second in the series but you don't necessarily need to read them in order. I didn't and had no problems with it.

The main character, Carrie Daly, was very easy to relate to and I found myself mad, happy, and sad when she was. I loved how Carrie did what needed to be down with little thought to herself. Not that she was always happy with what was required of her but she did it in spite of her feelings, which I admire. 

The romance between Carrie and Griff was nice but the author did a great job of not making it the overwhelming focus of the story. Instead she split the plot between their romance and each of the character's personal and spiritual growth. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from Dorothy Love.

 I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com  book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.