Saturday, January 4, 2014

Carolina Gold

by Dorothy Love
Thomas Nelson Publishers

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 Review:

Charlotte is a remarkable young woman with perseverance that spans the annals of time. Her ability to keep going despite her circumstances is a true example of what the human spirit is capable of. What captured my attention the most about this story was how everyone pulled together to rebuild after the Civil War. and Love. I was blown away with the way the author portrayed the unity and harmony of the Fairhaven Plantation despite such trying times. 

Love relates in perfect detail the time period that this novel is set in. I learned many new facts about rice plantations, the time after the Civil War, and the concept of living near the beach during the summer. I enjoy novels that open up to worlds to me, that teach me about things I've never heard of, and take me places I can never visit. Love does an excellent job of doing all of these things, while also writing a romance as a beautiful backdrop to the story. The author never overwhelms us with the romantic side of things, and that makes this a novel an exemplary piece of fiction that belongs on every historical fiction fan's bookshelf. 

This book was provided by the publisher through Litfuse Nest for free in exchange for an honest review. 

Purchase your copy here: http://ow.ly/s2Q5l

Connect with Dorothy here: www.dorothylovebooks.com

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