Beauty for Ashes...Review

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.

It's 1876 and eligible bachelors are scarce in Hickory Ridge. 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 date with Nate Chastain.

Griff Rutledge is passing through to collect an old debt. Formerly a member of Charleston society, Griff has been estranged from his family for years. Determined to lead an unencumbered life, he is on his way to explore the gold fields and cattle ranches of Australia. But when he's asked to train a Thoroughbred for an upcoming race in Hickory Ridge, he decides to stay a bit longer.

Despite objections from the townsfolk, and her fear that true happiness has eluded her, Carrie is drawn to Griff's kindness and charm. But Griff isn't sure if he wants to settle down. It will take a leap of faith for them to open their hearts and claim God's promise of beauty for ashes.

Widowed young, Carrie Daly has come out of mourning and finds herself falling for a charming newcomer.  Griff was just passing through Hickory Ridge, trying to collect a debt, but once he meets Carrie, he decides to stay and accepts a job training a horse for an upcoming race.  Carrie's brother has married a local widow with two young sons and when they move into Henry and Carrie's home, drama ensues, driving Carrie away and into town.

The townspeople are judgmental and not welcoming of Griff, but Carrie is her own person and determined to find her own happiness.  The horse racing aspect was interesting with references to what would have been the first race of the Kentucky Derby.

I loved Carrie and her strength and spunk and determination.  I hated, absolutely hated, Mary.  I don't care that her life was difficult, she was a mean, angry shrew and the kind of person who would have been that way even if her life had been rosy.  The dynamics between Carrie and Mary made for an interesting story and I did like the changes that took place in Mary's children.  I think Carrie was a saint for what she put up with from her brother's wife out of love for him and Christian duty.

Second in the Hickory Ridge series,  Ada and Wyatt return as do other characters from  Beyond All Measure, but the book stands alone well.   You can click on the link to see my review of the first book. Beauty for Ashes is definitely my favorite so far and I look forward to the next book which is about Sophie.

Thanks to Amy at Litfuse Publicity for the opportunity to review this book.  You can learn more about Dorothy Love here.  You can purchase your own copy here.  You can see other reviews and tour stops here.

Read 2/12

* * * *
4/5 Stars