Litfuse Blog Tour: Carolina Gold by Dorothy Love

January 07, 2014

Carolina Gold
by Dorothy Love
Copyright 2013
Thomas Nelson Publishers
ISBN: 9781401687618

The Story:
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.

Sneak Peek:

My Thoughts:
Dorothy Love's novels always have a genuineness that I love. With an easy pace, it's easy to relax and imagine the warmth and beauty of the South while at the same time confronting the hardships that those in the post-bellum Lowcountry faced. Carolina Gold is Love's latest novel tackling the issues of restoration and romance.

Charlotte Fraser, like many women of the time is faced with the challenge of keeping the family plantation afloat. With little income and with field hands difficult to come by, she turns to her neighbors for help. Nicholas Betancourt a neighboring plantation owner, offers to pay her to tutor his young daughters. Charlotte reluctantly agrees only to make ends meet. Soon, they find their lives intertwined in ways they never thought possible.

Carolina Gold is difficult to peg. It started out with the feel of an epic saga reminiscent of Gone With the Wind only to cool off as it progressed into something of a mild romance. Charlotte promised to be charismatic and sassy, but she fell a bit flat. Nicholas was something of a stranger -- he disappeared midway through the story, so I never really made a connection to him. If there was a little more interaction between Charlotte and Nicholas, this could have been a much more enjoyable story. However, the Lowcountry of South Carolina is expertly depicted and saves Carolina Gold from a non-recommendation. The rice paddies, the ocean waves, and the open fields transport the reader into a summery setting that is truly paradise for those stuck in the midst of the 2014 Polar Vortex!

~ My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars ~

*I receive complimentary books for review from the publisher. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*

To read what others are saying about Carolina Gold, go HERE!

Purchase a copy HERE.

Meet 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.

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

********************************

Giveaway Details!

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!)