Carolina Gold by Dorothy Love

Carolina Gold by Dorothy Love   

From booksneeze.com:

Book Description

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.

Leona's Review:

Carolina Gold by Dorothy Love takes us back to the time era after the Civil War of the United States.  The book begins in Charleston, South Carolina, 3 March 1868.

Charlotte Fraser has lost her father and is about the meet with his lawyer.  She is 23 years of age and alone as both of her parents are gone, her mother when Charlotte was 12 years old. Their plantation grew rice before the war and Charlotte if trying to grow the crop again.

Carolina Gold concentrates on a young woman trying to survive without help, a home that has been partially destroyed and money that is very tight for Charlotte as well as her neighbors who also lost so much during this trying time. It does not spend a lot of time on the war period but after the war and the problems they have. There are also some good times that are refreshing, the beach for example.

Charlotte tutors the children of Nicholas Betancourt, who has lost his wife; the children and Charlotte become very close. I really liked the character of Daniel and was so glad he was added to the book. In fact, all the characters played an important role. Every woman needs a good friend such as Augusta.

Charlotte's father told her "you must have patience and faith." (page 150)

"Circumstances has given me little choice" says Charlotte. (page 266)

Real life situations such as "swatting flies", "humidity and wiping the face with a handkerchief" and  "bleeding patients". Some politics and just enough to add to the time period.  Books and education were some of the main topics and played an important role.

Many occasions in the book which add to the story and always seem to advance the projects such as reading, drawing, sickness, crops ruined and searching for what and why her father was telling her before he died.

I liked this book and give it a 5 star. There was a lot of history and I personally thought feelings for the characters.  The clothes of the period, carriages, needlework, church, sickness, New Orleans, the South, books, the beach and when and how to do the crops. No bad language and a love story that is of the time era such as courtships.

I would have liked to see a recipe for Augusta's tea cakes, they sounded good.

The front of the book has a map (always appreciated) and the back has a Reading Group Guide. (page 323) Question # 3: How did the war change the roles of Southern women? How were these changes shown in the book?

The book is "Dedicated to the memory of Elizabeth Waties Allston Pringle (1845-1921), whose remarkable life and work inspired this novel" There is also a picture of her on the dedication page.

Author's Note on page 320.

Acknowledgements on page 325.

About the Author on page 328.

I received a complimentary copy of Carolina Gold from booksneeze.com to read and review. The opinions are my own.

Dorothy Love may be reached at: www.dorothylovebooks.com

Leona Olson

www.mnleona.blogspot.com

Chasing the Sun

Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson

Hannah Dandridge is in Cedar Springs, Texas near Dallas awaiting for the return of her father John, who has gone to Vicksburg, Mississippi to see his dying mother. His partner, Herbert Lockhart, has told Hannah he has been probably been taken prisoner by the Union and may be dead. This is in the middle of the Civil War, October 1863. Herbert Lockhard had been wanting Hannah to marry him but she does not love him. The siblings of Hannah by her step-mother are also worried about their father; Andy is 8 years old and Marty is 5 years old; their mother died at Marty's birth.

They came to Texas after the death of Hannah's step-mother because John Dandridge had become depressed. The ranch they now owned was confiscated by the government because the Barnetts left to fight on the side of the Union.

On the ranch there is also Berto Montoya and his wife Juanita who worked for the Barnetts. They have two children, Pepita and Pablo.

This is also the time of the Comanche raids in the area.

Andy has left the ranch as a Longhorn has wandered. He comes across a soldier who is coming home after being wounded. As they are trying to free the animal, a young Indian warrior comes towards them but his horse is spooked and he falls to the ground. Andy brings both home to the ranch; one is William Barnett and the other is Night Bear of the Comanche tribe. The author uses the word Numunuu which is what the Comanche's name for themselves. (All the books I have read, this is the first time I have seen this name. The author uses respect in this book for the Tribe.).

The book is one I have found to be very emotional and also fun such as the birth of a calf. The Civil war was a hard time for our country but the book is also about hardships in this time period. There is love, friendship, hardships, death, greed, family and history. This is a Christian Romance book. I give it a five star.

I have been to Vicksburg, Mississippi and have seen the graves of many soldiers who died. It is a startling fact and very somber.

I was given a complimentary copy of "Chasing the Sun" by Tracie Peterson from Bethany House to read and review. The opinions are my own.

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Cleopatra's Daughter

This was a good historical fiction book that starts with the deaths of Marc Antony and Cleopatra on August 12,30 BC.

The three children of Cleopatra, Kleopatra, and Marc Antony are taken to Rome after the death of their parents. Cleopatra's Daughter is Kleopatra Serene and Serene is the narrator of the book. Her twin brother is Alexander Helios and the youngest of the children is Ptolemy. Serena and Alexander are ten years old and Ptolemy is six years old. They are taken to Rome and paraded before the Romans wearing golden chains. The children go to live with the sister of Octavian, Octavia, who was the former wife of Marc Antony.

I do want to give more details because I did not know that Cleopatra and Marc Antony had children even though I have read a lot about history and watch the archaeology programs. (Learn something new every day). The details in the book are close to history, even though this is fiction and the author has taken some liberties in her writings.

This is my first read by Michelle Moran and I am really impressed in her knowledge and research. She has many tidbits that bring the reader into the era. I was a volunteer at a Pompeii exhibit and I appreciated the descriptions of the people, clothing and living areas as they were so simlar.

Maps are in the beginning of the book and always an added bonus for me as a reader. There is List of Characters and a Timeline front of the book and a Glossary, Afterword, Historical Notes and Acknowledgements in the back.

I give this a five star. It is certainly a re-read for me because of so much history.

I am now reading Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran.

You can find her on www.michellemoran.com

Leona Olson

www.mnleona.blogspot.com

The American Patriot's Almanac by William Bennett

The American Patriot's Almanac by William J. Bennett and John T. E. Cribb
This book is about America and our history. It is well done and each chapter is based on months. January: Flags of the Revolutionary War; February: The History of the Stars and Stripes; March: Fifty All- American Movies; April: Fifty American Quotes; May: Flag Etiquette: Guidelines for Displaying and Handling the U. S. Flag; June: How the Declaration of Independence was Written and Signed and The Declaration of Independence; July: How the Constitution Was Written and Ratified, The Constitution of the United States, The Bill of Rights and Amendments of the U.S.; August: The Gettysburg Address, The Emancipation Proclamation, The Pledge of Allegiance and The American's Creed; September: Songs of American Patriotism; October: Poems of the American Patriotism; November: Faith and the Founders and December: State Flags, Facts and Symbols.
There are Daily Readings and each had meanings. A lot of research has gone into this book and the reader will find so much of American History in the book.
At the end of each chapter is a calendar of some events. December 7, for example, has "1787 Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the U. S. constitution" and 1805: "Lewis and Clark camp near the mouth of the Columbus River at a site that becomes Fort Clatsop; their winter quarters".
Before the chapters begin there are Twelve Great Reasons to Love a Great Country on pages xx-xxiii. Prayers by a number of our Presidents and people in our history are included; President Lincoln's "Prayer for Our Country" and from President George W. Bush's "Prayer for Times of National Grief" after the tragedy of 9-11.
The American Flag gets a lot of respect in the book; how to fold the Flag, how to display and when and how to acquire a flag that has flown over the U. S. Capitol. The Pledge of Allegiance and the history is on pages 542-543.
There are so many people that belong to our history in this book. I was reading one Daily Reading and there was something on Vietnam; I looked up John McCain and did not find him in the book. I realize only so many people can be in a book but because I am giving my opinion, I will say I was a little disappointed.
This book is one not to be on a shelf but on a table to be read daily. Parents can use this as a history book to read with their kids, anyone who loves facts will enjoy The American Patriot's Almanac as well history buffs. Everyone will learn something about America.
A wonderful Christmas present for those on your list who have everything or a birthday present for someone.
I received a complimentary copy of The American Patriot's Almanac from Thomas Nelson Publishers to review. I will post my review on booksneeze.com, LibraryThing.com, Facebook and my blog: mnleona.blogspot.com.The opinions are my own. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Petra:City of Stone

Petra: City of Stone by T. L. Higley
First, I would like to thank the author for the complimentary electronic version of the book, this is my first time to read T.L.Higley.
The book begins with Julian leaving Rome because of religious persecution and the next chapter is about Cassia who has left Damascus with her son Alexander because of the death of the father of her son, Aretas. Cassia knows that Aretas is from Petra and wants to find his family.
Julian and Cassia meet at the Nymphaeum Fountain in Petra where Alexander and Julian quickly become friends. Julian also meets Malik at the fountain; Malik plays an important part in the lives of Cassia and Julian.
Cassia is robbed and attacked the first night in Petra and awakens to find herself and Alexander under protective care of Malik and his followers. It is here she finds that her son is the grandson of the king, Rabbel and heir to the throne. Alexander's father was the estranged son of Rabbel. Rabbel's first wife, Gamilath, Aretas' mother died; King Rabbel remarried and had a son with Hagiru.
Cassia takes Alexander to the Royal House to see the King but his wife, Queen Hagiru, refuses to let them see him because she said the King was unavailable; later the King comes into the room and does acknowledge Alexander is his grandson. Hagiru is upset because she thought her son, Obadas, would be the heir to the throne. The King leaves the room and Hagiru tells Cassia her son would be raised by them and she should leave Petra.
Julian finds Cassia injured and takes her to Malik. From there the story is based on trying to get Alexander back to Cassia and the finding of Christianity for Cassia.
I liked this book and the history of Petra was evident. I thought it would be more on archaeology but found it is based on Christianity. My major is Anthropology/Archaeology and I always have an interest in this subject. I read somewhere that Petra:City of Stone is a book for adults but would highly recommend it for young Christian adults. This is a good book for a book club for a church group or one interested in history.
Some tag words I found are Jesus, one God, sandals, amphitheater, death, sacrifice, suffering, strength, stone sculptors, power of Jesus, figs, triclinium, incense, siq and gods which bring you into the time era of the book. Some historical names are Petra, Damascus, Jerusalem, Nymphaeum Fountain, Temple al-Uzza. Petra and Paul of Tarsus. Faith and love are two words used quite a bit. Jesus is very involved with the characters in the book and the reader could sense that with feelings. At one point the "faces" are described as peaceful and there was singing from the Christian group.
I found the last chapters of the book more powerful and emotional as Cassia and others try to rescue Alexander from the evil Hagiru.
The book definitely has history and encouraged me as the reader to do more research on Petra. Check out some sites on the Internet for more information. I did find T. L. Higley (Tracy) on Facebook. She has traveled through Greece,Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Italy to research. I look forward to reading more of her books.