Beauty for ashes

With this book for me it first starts with the cover, instant love - absolutely gorgeous. Then it goes to my interview with Dorothy (http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2012/03/03/coming-soon-from-the-pen-please-welcome-historical-author-dorothy-love/) which makes me super excited for this novel and for the next. Lastly it comes to actually reading this one. Similar on the lines of how I felt about [a:Ann Shorey 1949873 Ann Shorey https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1231558780p2/1949873.jpg] and [a:Amanda Cabot 1609844 Amanda Cabot https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1531846816p2/1609844.jpg] as well as [a:Maggie Brendan 1682579 Maggie Brendan https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1221105184p2/1682579.jpg] - This story (and perhaps the whole series) is full of hard and troubling events of the historical time, but also full of romance to be had with a good bit of trust and inspiration from the Lord. This was not a fast read for me, but it was an overall good one. When I read the title, “Beauty for Ashes”, I was not exactly sure what it meant or what to expect. Thinking about ashes makes me think about first the children's song London Bridge, but then the mythical creature Pheonix. I think in a way that it fits both. It's always darkest before dawn right? I think that each character had to accept and submit their ashes before they were able to see and enjoy the beauty that was possible. That is so difficult as I know from our unemployment situation a few years ago that turned out to be a wonderfully timed blessing and transition in our lives. While I'm still new to West Tennessee, I am not new to the South and reading a book that containing my vacation home away from home of Charleston, South Carolina (my blood runs to South Carolina as far back as the states history!) and West Tennessee was exciting and enchanting to want to connect to something and somewhere that relates to me. I personally live in a small rural town near Memphis and while times are different electronically, getting into small town lives is much the same and difficult. Loneliness. That is something I understand, especially since the move from Georgia. Carrie's way of dealing was to find a new focus and stay busy. She jumped into being helpful and gave her time so she did not have the opportunity to worry or be lonely much or realize that she was. Griff however was so misguided in his opinion of what made him lonely in the first place that he set himself up as a runner. He was that guy that would break up with you in a fabulous relationship because he thought there was a chance you might break up with him and he wanted to come out on top, or at least to look like it. He had this same relationship with towns and communities; he would not let himself connect. There are definitely a few characters in this story that drive me nuts and a few that leave me with unanswered questions, but I think perhaps they will come in the third book as well as fully weave into the first novel. In any story I suppose it is quite necessary to have some static and I think that perhaps the characters that are nuts (in my opinion) to lead to chaos, but in an interesting way. As for the main “thoughts” of the town... that was irritating, but in a people are stupid sort of way. Also added to the emotional factor for me. This one is a reader. Dorothy Love is going on my shelf and list to watch for more to come. Thanks to Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Publicity for providing a copy for review.posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2012/03/06/beauty-for-ashes/

The pathos in the story is pretty amazing. There are things that happen that sort of rise up and grip you by the throat and make you feel so deeply for the characters. I loved Carrie from the beginning; it seemed so plain that she and Nate weren't truly in love. I loved how the story unfolded and the influence of the small town.
The romance was perfect, exactly my taste...getting to know each other wisely, not having lustful angst or stupid misunderstandings. It didn't overpower the story, so it seemed that I could really get to know the characters and enjoy the story of the town, struggling so hard against the Reconstruction-era poverty.
I'm looking forward to reading the first book!