Carolina Gold by Dorothy Love

January 11, 2014

I loved that the main character in this book was a women and that she was fighting through the whole book to prove to men that she could do everything they were doing. I loved how no matter how bad things got she kept on fighting and trying to find a way to make things work and not lose her land. This is the first book I have read that takes place right after the Civil War ends and I was almost shocked at how people acted after it all ended. I love how it all worked out in the end even though it wasn’t the way she thought it was going to work out.

About The Book

The war is over, but her struggle is just beginning.

Charlotte Fraser returns to her late father’s once-flourishing rice plantation on the Waccamaw River, determined to continue growing the special kind of rice known as Carolina Gold. But Fairhaven Plantation is in ruins, the bondsmen are free, and money is scarce.

To make ends meet, Charlotte reluctantly accepts a position as tutor to the young daughters of Nicholas Betancourt, heir to the neighboring Willowood Plantation. Then Nick’s quest to prove his ownership of Willowood sends Charlotte on a dangerous journey that reveals an old family mystery—and threatens all that she holds dear.

Inspired by the life of a 19th century woman rice planter,Carolina Gold continues Dorothy Love’s winning tradition of weaving together mystery, romance, and rich historical detail, bringing to life the story of one young woman’s struggle to restore her ruined world.

About 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.

To keep up with Dorothy Love, visithttp://www.dorothylovebooks.com, become a fan on Facebook(Dorothy Love Books) or follow her on Twitter(@writerDorothy).

Buy A Copy

8 Things People Forgot

January 9, 2014

This week for the writers workshop I am going to write about number 3 which is: list 8 things you think people forgot how to do. I loved this prompt because there are a few things that I think people have forgotten how to do. I always find myself asking out loud to really no one how hard would it be to do this that or another thing depending on the situation so this post was a fun one to write and a change from the normal posts I write.

Anyway now on to 8 things people forgot how to do.

They have forgotten how to use the blinker. You would think it was an optional feature on vehicles because people rarely use them anymore. I love when people get pissed off that I wouldn’t let them but they didn’t use a blinker because if they had I almost always let people over.
People forgetting that they need to stop at red lights or even start slowing down when the light turns yellow. I have to be honest there are times when I speed up when the light turns yellow but I am trying to break myself of that habit.
People have forgotten how to move out of the fast lane when they are driving slower than the speed limit.
People have forgotten how to say “Thank You” when people do something for you. They also don’t say “excuse me” when they want to get past you in a store or any other place.
Some parents have forgotten how to teach their children respect for authority & just respect in general.
People have forgotten the saying “If you don’t have anything nice to say than don’t say anything at all”.
Some people have forgotten that you need to work for things and that not everything is handed to you.
People have forgotten how to respect other people’s belongings. I am amazed at how people don’t care about other people’s things anymore.

Those are 8 things that I think people have forgotten. What do you think people have forgotten?

If you want to be apart of the writers workshop you can click here and find out all about it! I also have included this weeks prompts at the end of this post.

1.) Find a photo of yourself taken 10 years ago and display it on your blog along with a current photo. How have you changed since the day that photo was taken?
2.) Write a blog post inspired by the word: dog house.
3.) List 8 things you think people forgot how to do.
4.) A childhood toy you once loved.
5.) Show us what winter looks like in your neck of the woods!

Best Thinking. . .

January 8, 2014

I got the idea for this post from the blog Daily Post and the topic is:

When and where do you do your best thinking? In the bathroom? While running? Just before bed, or first thing in the morning? On the bus? Why do you think that is?

I chose this prompt because everyone has different places where they do their best thinking and I think it would be fun to find out where other people feel that they do their best thinking. I have to be honest this post took me awhile to write because I wasn’t really sure where I did my best thinking until I stopped and really thought about it.

After thinking about it I came to see that I do my best thinking at night when I am should be sleeping which is probably one of the many reasons that I can’t sleep. The minute I lay down my head starts going and I always get such great ideas for blog posts or other things I want/need to do.

I also find that for some reason I write the best blog posts while I am on my lunch break at work. I am sure that is because my brain is already in work mode so it is easy to switch from doing work and writing a blog post pretty easily. I am also lucky that my job doesn’t mind that I blog as long as all my work is done.

So that is when I do my best thinking. When and where do you do your best thinking?

No Kids

January 7, 2014

My brother and his girlfriend had a baby at the end of November. I wondered how it would make me feel when there was a baby around. His girlfriend went back to work this past weekend and I was shocked to see that it wasn’t sad for me to have baby around. In fact having a baby around made me realize that I am 100% right when I tell people I don’t want kids.

When I tell people that I don’t want kids they always tell me that I will change my mind and things will change when I fall in love but I can honestly say I have no desire to have kids. The baby is a good baby I just don’t have the patience or even want to find the patience to deal with kids.

I realized that I am selfish person and to be honest I am 100% okay with that. I have to wonder how many women feel like I do but because people in this country expect you to have children so you never hear about it. I also wonder if there would be less child abuse if women weren’t made to feel like they have to have children.

As most of you are aware I did have a daughter when I was 20 that I placed for adoption. I now look at the situation and I am so grateful that I placed her because I am not cut out to be a mother to children. I love my daughter more than anything but I don’t have the patience to deal with children. I love to do my own things and be able to do what I want to do when I want to do it. I believe this is also part of the reason that I am okay being single and not looking for people to date.

Anyway I guess I want women out there to know that it is okay if you don’t want children and to not let the world make you feel pressured into having them! It is okay to say “No Kids”!

Let Her Go by Passenger-Musical Monday

January 6, 2014

I haven’t done a musical Monday post for months and months but I have to post this song because I am listening to it on repeat all day long. It is called Let Her Go by Passenger.

I am not sure what it is about this song that I love so much but I can’t stop listening to it. I bought the whole album and I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed. I am not a huge fan of the music videos but I do love his music. I think I like it so much because he has a very different voice than anything I have heard in years so that always a good thing to me.

What songs are you loving this week????? Leave them below because I am always on the lookout for great music.

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2014

The World As I See It

PERSONAL THOUGHTS