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Carolina Gold
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.
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.
336 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 2013
70 people are currently reading
2037 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Love
23 books234 followersBefore returning to her writing roots in historical fiction, Dorothy Love published twelve novels for young adults. Her work has garnered numerous honors from the American Library Association, the Friends of American Writers, the International Reading Association, the New York Public Library, and many others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
August 3, 2016
Setting: 19th Century South Carolina
Charlotte Fraser has returned to Fairhaven once again, to rebuild what was destroyed by the War.
Her family had always produced rice on their Plantation, and she knows she's in for the long haul to get it going again. To do this means trying to find workers, equipment and money for it to happen.
So Charlotte agrees to tutor Nicholas Betancourt's two daughters to make this dream come true.
When Nicholas strives to prove his ownership of his family's Willowood Plantation, deep rooted secrets about Charlotte's own family are brought to the surface. If everything they learn from the past comes true, she could lose all that she has worked for. I enjoyed how this story unfolded, it is loosely based on the life of a 19th Century female rice farmer in the South Carolina Low country( I thought it was a story to do with gold mining or some such thing by the title.) The historical details were not heavy-handed which kept the novel from being bogged down. I also found the characters fresh, charming, gutsy and not stereotypical but characters who were determined to make something beautiful out of the horrors of the American Civil War. This story has romance,family secrets and an element of mystery that leaves it for the reader to uncover. There were a few times it dragged for me, but then got back on track and kept me into it. Otherwise a very enjoyable read.
Charlotte Fraser has returned to Fairhaven once again, to rebuild what was destroyed by the War.
Her family had always produced rice on their Plantation, and she knows she's in for the long haul to get it going again. To do this means trying to find workers, equipment and money for it to happen.
So Charlotte agrees to tutor Nicholas Betancourt's two daughters to make this dream come true.
When Nicholas strives to prove his ownership of his family's Willowood Plantation, deep rooted secrets about Charlotte's own family are brought to the surface. If everything they learn from the past comes true, she could lose all that she has worked for. I enjoyed how this story unfolded, it is loosely based on the life of a 19th Century female rice farmer in the South Carolina Low country( I thought it was a story to do with gold mining or some such thing by the title.) The historical details were not heavy-handed which kept the novel from being bogged down. I also found the characters fresh, charming, gutsy and not stereotypical but characters who were determined to make something beautiful out of the horrors of the American Civil War. This story has romance,family secrets and an element of mystery that leaves it for the reader to uncover. There were a few times it dragged for me, but then got back on track and kept me into it. Otherwise a very enjoyable read.
December 18, 2013
2 stars…
I wish that I could write that I loved Carolina Gold and in some ways the story moved me. But in the end nothing seemed to happen. I was looking for the mystery that was promised in the synopsis but again; there really wasn’t much to it at all.
I found the descriptions of the South Carolina rice plantation to be fascinating, taking me into a time and place that is so foreign to me. Carolina Gold takes place after the Civil War when our country is broken and trying to go on with a new kind of life. So much has changed for Charlotte; she’s written in such a way that you believe that this one woman is going to somehow single handedly save her families plantation. Although, this idea is beyond far fetched, I enjoyed reading the process. Simple details of farm life, social norms and even the way that the rolls of woman were changing were very interesting. Carolina Gold simply lacked that passion to pull a reader into a story and get lost in it. Not sexual passion, but a feeling of the character having to accomplish this feet.
Having been my first book by, Dorthy Love I didn’t have any expectations. I wasn’t completely let down but in the end I felt that the storyline really didn’t give me the range of emotions I’m normally looking for in a Historical read.
ARC courtesy of Thomas Nelson – Fiction via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wish that I could write that I loved Carolina Gold and in some ways the story moved me. But in the end nothing seemed to happen. I was looking for the mystery that was promised in the synopsis but again; there really wasn’t much to it at all.
I found the descriptions of the South Carolina rice plantation to be fascinating, taking me into a time and place that is so foreign to me. Carolina Gold takes place after the Civil War when our country is broken and trying to go on with a new kind of life. So much has changed for Charlotte; she’s written in such a way that you believe that this one woman is going to somehow single handedly save her families plantation. Although, this idea is beyond far fetched, I enjoyed reading the process. Simple details of farm life, social norms and even the way that the rolls of woman were changing were very interesting. Carolina Gold simply lacked that passion to pull a reader into a story and get lost in it. Not sexual passion, but a feeling of the character having to accomplish this feet.
Having been my first book by, Dorthy Love I didn’t have any expectations. I wasn’t completely let down but in the end I felt that the storyline really didn’t give me the range of emotions I’m normally looking for in a Historical read.
ARC courtesy of Thomas Nelson – Fiction via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2024
We have been to the Lowcountry and Charleston a couple of times, the latest just this past summer. We love it!!
This is the story of Charlotte Fraser. Coming back to her plantation after the Civil War and after her father dies. Determined to start growing rice, just like her father did. But without the help needed to plow, plant, and keep up the fields to harvest, the task is rather daunting. Nicholas Betancourt is a newcomer to the area, having inherited a plantation not far from Charlotte. Between them and a few other plantation owners, they hire a foreman to hire workers and do the work. Not all goes as well as they want, crops die, people run off, and Nicholas goes back to New Orleans and leaves his two girls with Charlotte. When he doesn't return, Charlotte goes to New Orleans to find him, in a world he thought he was leaving behind.
I enjoyed this story, a different take on reconstruction, from a woman's point-of-view. I enjoyed the characters and how they all made the story better. The setting was one I could picture and see in my mind which made it that much more interesting to me.
This is the story of Charlotte Fraser. Coming back to her plantation after the Civil War and after her father dies. Determined to start growing rice, just like her father did. But without the help needed to plow, plant, and keep up the fields to harvest, the task is rather daunting. Nicholas Betancourt is a newcomer to the area, having inherited a plantation not far from Charlotte. Between them and a few other plantation owners, they hire a foreman to hire workers and do the work. Not all goes as well as they want, crops die, people run off, and Nicholas goes back to New Orleans and leaves his two girls with Charlotte. When he doesn't return, Charlotte goes to New Orleans to find him, in a world he thought he was leaving behind.
I enjoyed this story, a different take on reconstruction, from a woman's point-of-view. I enjoyed the characters and how they all made the story better. The setting was one I could picture and see in my mind which made it that much more interesting to me.
April 9, 2020
About this 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.”
Series: No, a stand-alone.
Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are read & quoted; Church going; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of reading a Psalter; Mentions of churches/chapels, services, sermons, hymns, & pastors; Mentions of priests, nuns, & incense in a church; A few mentions of thanking God; A few mentions of Heaven & angels; A few mentions of missionaries; A mention of the holy family; A mention of someone in the Bible; A mention of Easter; A mention of a godsend; A mention of a blessing;
*Note: Mentions of demons plaguing a man; A few mentions of ghosts.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, a ‘dumb’, a ‘holy cats’, a ‘what the devil’, three ‘drat’s, and three ‘stupid’s; A mention of a curse (said, not written); A bit of eye rolling; All about many mentions of the war, deaths, injuries, slavery, slaves, vandalism, hatred; Many mentions of deaths, fevers, illnesses, bloodletting, poisoning, vomit, urine, & the smells (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of injuries, blood/bleeding, & helping someone (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of thieves & stealing; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & a drunk; Mentions of tobacco & cigars; Mentions of lying, liars, & jealously; A few mentions of fighting, brawls, & being robbed; A few mentions of gossip; A couple mentions of a solider being kept at a prison camp; A couple mentions of a ferry accident & deaths; A couple mentions of a family starving their slaves; A couple mentions of coffins; A couple mentions of arrests; A couple mentions of gambling; A couple mentions of killing livestock; A couple mentions of finding the carcass of a drowned fawn; A couple mentions of the body of a dead bird (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of coming across an alligator and not surviving; A couple mentions of nearly drowning & a drowning victim.
Sexual Content- a semi-detailed kiss; A couple embraces & hand holding (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing; Mentions of a kiss & remembering it (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of flirting; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of rich men keeping a second family hidden; A mention of a mother being a lady of the evening (keeping company with rich gentlemen); Very light love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Charlotte Fraser, age 23
P.O.V. of Charlotte
Set in 1868
336 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars
Because this book is very clean in the romance and emotions, I have in the past called it to be a “light romance” book. That opinion still stands with this second reading. There is not a lot of Spiritual Content, unfortunately, but a bit here and there.
It’s interesting to read this book set from a Southern’s perspective after the Civil War with her and others’ opinions about the North and freed slaves. Charlotte does not support slavery, of course, but finds herself in the middle of this new normal. It was interesting to see that perspective because I think one of the few books I’ve read about the Civil War is from those in the North’s opinion.
The author’s writing style is unique in the way that you have to pay strong attention to notice it. I do like that about the books I’ve read by her.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“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.”
Series: No, a stand-alone.
Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are read & quoted; Church going; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of reading a Psalter; Mentions of churches/chapels, services, sermons, hymns, & pastors; Mentions of priests, nuns, & incense in a church; A few mentions of thanking God; A few mentions of Heaven & angels; A few mentions of missionaries; A mention of the holy family; A mention of someone in the Bible; A mention of Easter; A mention of a godsend; A mention of a blessing;
*Note: Mentions of demons plaguing a man; A few mentions of ghosts.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, a ‘dumb’, a ‘holy cats’, a ‘what the devil’, three ‘drat’s, and three ‘stupid’s; A mention of a curse (said, not written); A bit of eye rolling; All about many mentions of the war, deaths, injuries, slavery, slaves, vandalism, hatred; Many mentions of deaths, fevers, illnesses, bloodletting, poisoning, vomit, urine, & the smells (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of injuries, blood/bleeding, & helping someone (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of thieves & stealing; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & a drunk; Mentions of tobacco & cigars; Mentions of lying, liars, & jealously; A few mentions of fighting, brawls, & being robbed; A few mentions of gossip; A couple mentions of a solider being kept at a prison camp; A couple mentions of a ferry accident & deaths; A couple mentions of a family starving their slaves; A couple mentions of coffins; A couple mentions of arrests; A couple mentions of gambling; A couple mentions of killing livestock; A couple mentions of finding the carcass of a drowned fawn; A couple mentions of the body of a dead bird (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of coming across an alligator and not surviving; A couple mentions of nearly drowning & a drowning victim.
Sexual Content- a semi-detailed kiss; A couple embraces & hand holding (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing; Mentions of a kiss & remembering it (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of flirting; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of rich men keeping a second family hidden; A mention of a mother being a lady of the evening (keeping company with rich gentlemen); Very light love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Charlotte Fraser, age 23
P.O.V. of Charlotte
Set in 1868
336 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars
Because this book is very clean in the romance and emotions, I have in the past called it to be a “light romance” book. That opinion still stands with this second reading. There is not a lot of Spiritual Content, unfortunately, but a bit here and there.
It’s interesting to read this book set from a Southern’s perspective after the Civil War with her and others’ opinions about the North and freed slaves. Charlotte does not support slavery, of course, but finds herself in the middle of this new normal. It was interesting to see that perspective because I think one of the few books I’ve read about the Civil War is from those in the North’s opinion.
The author’s writing style is unique in the way that you have to pay strong attention to notice it. I do like that about the books I’ve read by her.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
January 9, 2014
About the book:
Publisher - Thomas Nelson, published December 2013.
Pages - 336
Formats - ebook, paper.
Author - Dorothy Love
Buy on Amazon.
Summary (from Amazon):
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 Thoughts:
I was really excited to read this book. The Civil War and Reconstruction are some of my favorite time periods to read about. I'd never read anything by Dorothy Love before, so I didn't know what to expect. I found this book to not hold my interest at all. I had a really hard time getting into the book and relating to the main character. While I did admire Charlotte's determination to save her plantation and make a go of planting rice, she came across the pages as really rather stiff.
The education that I received of rice planting was very interesting. I honestly never knew that parts of the South were ideal for rice growing. I knew of the cotton and tobacco, but never the rice. That was very interesting to discover. I also didn't know that this book was inspired by a true story.
The interaction Charlotte had with Nick and his daughters, I did find endearing. I loved how she figured out each of the girls' personalities and tailored her teaching to those personalities.
Overall, while the book itself was pretty boring, parts of it were good enough to capture my attention. For someone who loves history and historical detail, this would be a great book for them.
I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to like the book, only give my honest opinion.
Recommended to fans of historical fiction.
Rating - 3 stars.
Publisher - Thomas Nelson, published December 2013.
Pages - 336
Formats - ebook, paper.
Author - Dorothy Love
Buy on Amazon.
Summary (from Amazon):
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 Thoughts:
I was really excited to read this book. The Civil War and Reconstruction are some of my favorite time periods to read about. I'd never read anything by Dorothy Love before, so I didn't know what to expect. I found this book to not hold my interest at all. I had a really hard time getting into the book and relating to the main character. While I did admire Charlotte's determination to save her plantation and make a go of planting rice, she came across the pages as really rather stiff.
The education that I received of rice planting was very interesting. I honestly never knew that parts of the South were ideal for rice growing. I knew of the cotton and tobacco, but never the rice. That was very interesting to discover. I also didn't know that this book was inspired by a true story.
The interaction Charlotte had with Nick and his daughters, I did find endearing. I loved how she figured out each of the girls' personalities and tailored her teaching to those personalities.
Overall, while the book itself was pretty boring, parts of it were good enough to capture my attention. For someone who loves history and historical detail, this would be a great book for them.
I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to like the book, only give my honest opinion.
Recommended to fans of historical fiction.
Rating - 3 stars.
July 9, 2016
Dorothy Love takes us to the reconstruction Era in South Carolina. By no means fast paced, it is a facinating look at the struggle of the South to find a new economy and new way of life after being decimated during the Civil War.
March 23, 2019
A pleasant read, although sometimes it felt a bit slow. But the setting has a special place in my heart, since Charleston was my home for nearly ten years and I am preparing to move back. The story was filled with familiar names and places, and I could picture so much of what I read, which really added to the experience. So I kept reading to see how Charlotte’s story would end.
It is labeled Christian fiction, but is so low on the preachy meter, it barely registers. Just a nice, clean story.
It is labeled Christian fiction, but is so low on the preachy meter, it barely registers. Just a nice, clean story.
November 25, 2013
Charlotte Fraser is all alone in the world. Her mother died when Charlotte was just 12 years old and her father has only recently passed, leaving her to shoulder a load. Against the better judgment of others Charlotte is determined to get the family rice plantation up and running in Reconstruction Era South Carolina. The obstacles are many, the solutions few. To bring in the very much needed cash Charlotte takes up writing while agreeing to educate her widower neighbor's two daughters, all the while attempting to run a plantation. It doesn't exactly bring her tears of joy, however, when she learns her neighbor, Nicholas Betancourt, might be the true owner of her property. Charlotte has her job cut out for her and it isn't going to be easy to come to terms with what lays ahead.
First off Carolina Gold was a downright decent book. What a novelty! High five, Dorothy Love! The story itself wasn't action-packed, but then if you're not like me that may be all right with you. But speaking for myself, I like a healthy dose of adventure in stories. It was refreshing to see former Confederates in Reconstruction Era South having difficulties coping with the Union soldiers and carpetbaggers. Off the top of my head, the last few novels I read set in this period usually showed Southerners very chummy with Northerners (that's not to say they weren't; I recall some children's stories from the 70s and 80s usually followed characters with an anti-North stances, but more recently characters have been given rather progressive/modern viewpoints). As for the writing it was first-rate. I look forward to seeing other books by this author.
DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we received an electronic copy of “Carolina Gold” from NetGalley.com provided by the publishers, Thomas Nelson, in exchange for our honest review.
reetchampionbookreviews.wordpress.com
First off Carolina Gold was a downright decent book. What a novelty! High five, Dorothy Love! The story itself wasn't action-packed, but then if you're not like me that may be all right with you. But speaking for myself, I like a healthy dose of adventure in stories. It was refreshing to see former Confederates in Reconstruction Era South having difficulties coping with the Union soldiers and carpetbaggers. Off the top of my head, the last few novels I read set in this period usually showed Southerners very chummy with Northerners (that's not to say they weren't; I recall some children's stories from the 70s and 80s usually followed characters with an anti-North stances, but more recently characters have been given rather progressive/modern viewpoints). As for the writing it was first-rate. I look forward to seeing other books by this author.
DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we received an electronic copy of “Carolina Gold” from NetGalley.com provided by the publishers, Thomas Nelson, in exchange for our honest review.
reetchampionbookreviews.wordpress.com
November 6, 2018
Surrounded by the chaos following the end of the Civil War and her father’s death, Charlotte Fraser returns home to Fairhaven, her family’s rice plantation in the South Carolina Lowcountry. The war has left this once-thriving plantation in ruins, and with no one else to rely upon, Charlotte sets out the restore her home to its former glory. Yet, despite her perseverance and determination, overcoming the obstacles set before her is no easy task. Facing a shortage of supplies, labor and money, Charlotte begins tutoring the two young daughters of her widowed neighbor, Nicholas Betancourt, in order to make ends meet. As her relationship with the Betancourt family grows, Charlotte sees just how dauntingly extensive her chosen task is. Is she putting everything she holds dear at risk? Can she ever regain the comfort of her pre-Civil War life?
Dorothy Love’s Carolina Gold caught my attention, since the story is told from the perspective of a Southern female rice planter. Born and raised in what would be considered the North, throughout my years of education the focus tended to be on the Northern perspective of life during the Restoration, post-Civil War, and I never truly learned how the Southerners dealt with the experiences and challenges of the time. Without focusing too much on the politics of the characters, Love does a great job of exploring the different roles and interactions of Southern society at the time and I greatly appreciated the change in perspective. Though the story started off a bit slowly, I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone with an interest in the post-Civil War era, looking to experience it from a new perspective. As always, I greatly appreciate BookSneeze for providing me with yet another free copy of a novel and the opportunity to review it honestly.
http://pagebypagebookbybook.blogspot....
Dorothy Love’s Carolina Gold caught my attention, since the story is told from the perspective of a Southern female rice planter. Born and raised in what would be considered the North, throughout my years of education the focus tended to be on the Northern perspective of life during the Restoration, post-Civil War, and I never truly learned how the Southerners dealt with the experiences and challenges of the time. Without focusing too much on the politics of the characters, Love does a great job of exploring the different roles and interactions of Southern society at the time and I greatly appreciated the change in perspective. Though the story started off a bit slowly, I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone with an interest in the post-Civil War era, looking to experience it from a new perspective. As always, I greatly appreciate BookSneeze for providing me with yet another free copy of a novel and the opportunity to review it honestly.
http://pagebypagebookbybook.blogspot....
July 28, 2014
I enjoyed this book. In fact, I'm glad I had forgotten the previous book I had read by Dorothy Love because this felt like an entirely different author. The storyline was complex, interesting, and well-paced, with likeable characters. I felt like I learned a lot about a historical time period I'm interested in but know little about. Well done!
July 28, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book. Love the Carolina's & learning a bit about the history. Dorothy Love introduced everyone & made it easy to follow their roles. I didn't want to put it down. This is the second book I have read by Dorothy Love. I will be sure to read more.
December 8, 2013
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
September 17, 2016
A charming Southern novel about pursuing your dreams - and knowing the right time to embrace it and the right time to leave it for something better.
Charlotte Fraser is determined to keep her word given to her dying father, that she will produce rice again at their family plantation of Fairhaven near Waccamaw River. But the times are difficult - the Civil War between North and South just ended, the plantations are destroyed and the former slaves are not keen on working for their former masters, even for the salary. But Charlotte starts the planting in hopes for harvest of crops of the "Carolina Gold" rice and bravely fights the life of poverty (comparing to being a rich man's daughter). But life is bringing the new challenges still-like the lack of money who had her starting to teach her handsome widowed neighbour's daughters. Anne-Louise and Marie-Claire soon claim her heart. But what about their father, who is prolonging his stay in the New Orleans? He went there in hopes to find the documentation to claim his land rights - and might his land include Fairhaven, even?
Ms Love is one of the most skilled authors when it comes to the vivid descriptions of her novel's environment. Reading this book was more like watching the well-shot movie, with the cameraman knowing his work - I immediately felt being there in the beautiful South (if damaged by war), the wild jessamine in the air, the birds flying above my head, the little shells near my feet, the gallantry, the food. And now I want to visit this lovely part of the world!
I always love to read about The Civil War from the Southern point of view, as the Southerners were facing a big cultural shift at the time. And certainly it must have been challenging to accept that their world has changed! I gained some new food for thought from this novel (like I find the unwillingness of the former slaves to work very understandable-and yet, they needed their salaries to feed their families, wont they? I would love to read some take on them facing this huge shift in their lives, too!).
As for the plot - I immensely enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the country and character's actions. Yet I have to confess that there is actually a very little plot. It is more about small actions described with very skilled pen than about the real plot changes, which can feel a bit prolonged. I would also love for the characters to feel more of the real hardships in the sake of their character development - I just don't feel the reasons for them to change and evolve.
As for the characters-well, here I mostly love the side characters like Daniel Graves, theboy determined to learn. I would love to know more about his life! Also the Betancourt girls are very real with their wild ways. Augusta, Charlotte's older friend, is captivating with her wisdom and inner peace.
I somehow feel that the main characters are played from the safe side. Maybe that's why I don't feel their romance.
Having said all that-this is still beautiful read. And I am very thankful for being able to experience its (almost) physical beauty, as the beauty holds the power to heal the heart.
Charlotte Fraser is determined to keep her word given to her dying father, that she will produce rice again at their family plantation of Fairhaven near Waccamaw River. But the times are difficult - the Civil War between North and South just ended, the plantations are destroyed and the former slaves are not keen on working for their former masters, even for the salary. But Charlotte starts the planting in hopes for harvest of crops of the "Carolina Gold" rice and bravely fights the life of poverty (comparing to being a rich man's daughter). But life is bringing the new challenges still-like the lack of money who had her starting to teach her handsome widowed neighbour's daughters. Anne-Louise and Marie-Claire soon claim her heart. But what about their father, who is prolonging his stay in the New Orleans? He went there in hopes to find the documentation to claim his land rights - and might his land include Fairhaven, even?
Ms Love is one of the most skilled authors when it comes to the vivid descriptions of her novel's environment. Reading this book was more like watching the well-shot movie, with the cameraman knowing his work - I immediately felt being there in the beautiful South (if damaged by war), the wild jessamine in the air, the birds flying above my head, the little shells near my feet, the gallantry, the food. And now I want to visit this lovely part of the world!
I always love to read about The Civil War from the Southern point of view, as the Southerners were facing a big cultural shift at the time. And certainly it must have been challenging to accept that their world has changed! I gained some new food for thought from this novel (like I find the unwillingness of the former slaves to work very understandable-and yet, they needed their salaries to feed their families, wont they? I would love to read some take on them facing this huge shift in their lives, too!).
As for the plot - I immensely enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the country and character's actions. Yet I have to confess that there is actually a very little plot. It is more about small actions described with very skilled pen than about the real plot changes, which can feel a bit prolonged. I would also love for the characters to feel more of the real hardships in the sake of their character development - I just don't feel the reasons for them to change and evolve.
As for the characters-well, here I mostly love the side characters like Daniel Graves, theboy determined to learn. I would love to know more about his life! Also the Betancourt girls are very real with their wild ways. Augusta, Charlotte's older friend, is captivating with her wisdom and inner peace.
I somehow feel that the main characters are played from the safe side. Maybe that's why I don't feel their romance.
Having said all that-this is still beautiful read. And I am very thankful for being able to experience its (almost) physical beauty, as the beauty holds the power to heal the heart.
September 11, 2016
I jumped at the chance to read Carolina Gold. I love novels that are based at or around the time of the Civil War. It is such an interesting time in history and there is still so much to uncover of the lives of people around that time.
Carolina Gold follows Charlotte Fraser, a young woman in her twenties who has lost her mother before the war and her father shortly before the Civil War ended. Charlotte made a promise to her father before he died that she would do her best to keep Fairhaven, their family home, running and get it back to the flourishing farm it was before destruction came to their community.
Upon arriving home, Charlotte finds there is hardly anything left except the shell of the house that they once lived in. All the clothes, furnishings, paintings, anything that wasn't hidden has been taken or destroyed by the Yankees as they pushed South. Some neighbors had stuck around, while other were slowly trickling back in like Charlotte. Each had their own coping ability to what had happened. Some wanted to keep going like nothing had happened. Other wanted to put it far behind and move forward to what the future had in store and make their land profitable in some form or fashion.
Charlotte knew the past was gone, but she was determined to keep her promise. She sets out with just a little help to get her rice planted in her fields, even though it is late in the season. She battles sky rocketing prices, unprepared fields, and storms. The ability to make money from her first crop isn't happening the way she hoped. One day, Charlotte comes across two little girls sopping wet in need of help. She brings them home to find out they are the daughters of a nearby widowed neighbor. Charlotte is able to get them back to their father, Nicholas Betancourt, without incident and in doing so is offered a position as their personal tutor. At first, Charlotte doesn't except, wanting to work on her crops, but after many obstacles, Charlotte agrees, knowing she needs the income.
I enjoyed reading about Nicholas Batencourt's daughters. They were fun and very true to their ages. I also enjoyed reading about Nicholas, but was disappointed when he had to head off on business in the story. Charlotte was alright, her constant desire to keep her promise to her father kept her from agreeing to help and do things for fear of straying from her personal path she had created. Josie, a friend of Charlotte, was a girl who drove me nuts. Her constant desire to marry any eligible bachelor was a bit much and the extremes she took was hard to read at times, since she was so desperate, and the lies and false fronts she presented were aggravating. Thankfully she wasn't around a whole lot.
Carolina Gold was an interesting story. I like how it was based on an actual woman and her accounts. When I think of the Civil War I think of Gettysburg, Georgia, and Virginia. This book offered another state to look into with South Carolina.
Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and to Thomas Nelson, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Carolina Gold follows Charlotte Fraser, a young woman in her twenties who has lost her mother before the war and her father shortly before the Civil War ended. Charlotte made a promise to her father before he died that she would do her best to keep Fairhaven, their family home, running and get it back to the flourishing farm it was before destruction came to their community.
Upon arriving home, Charlotte finds there is hardly anything left except the shell of the house that they once lived in. All the clothes, furnishings, paintings, anything that wasn't hidden has been taken or destroyed by the Yankees as they pushed South. Some neighbors had stuck around, while other were slowly trickling back in like Charlotte. Each had their own coping ability to what had happened. Some wanted to keep going like nothing had happened. Other wanted to put it far behind and move forward to what the future had in store and make their land profitable in some form or fashion.
Charlotte knew the past was gone, but she was determined to keep her promise. She sets out with just a little help to get her rice planted in her fields, even though it is late in the season. She battles sky rocketing prices, unprepared fields, and storms. The ability to make money from her first crop isn't happening the way she hoped. One day, Charlotte comes across two little girls sopping wet in need of help. She brings them home to find out they are the daughters of a nearby widowed neighbor. Charlotte is able to get them back to their father, Nicholas Betancourt, without incident and in doing so is offered a position as their personal tutor. At first, Charlotte doesn't except, wanting to work on her crops, but after many obstacles, Charlotte agrees, knowing she needs the income.
I enjoyed reading about Nicholas Batencourt's daughters. They were fun and very true to their ages. I also enjoyed reading about Nicholas, but was disappointed when he had to head off on business in the story. Charlotte was alright, her constant desire to keep her promise to her father kept her from agreeing to help and do things for fear of straying from her personal path she had created. Josie, a friend of Charlotte, was a girl who drove me nuts. Her constant desire to marry any eligible bachelor was a bit much and the extremes she took was hard to read at times, since she was so desperate, and the lies and false fronts she presented were aggravating. Thankfully she wasn't around a whole lot.
Carolina Gold was an interesting story. I like how it was based on an actual woman and her accounts. When I think of the Civil War I think of Gettysburg, Georgia, and Virginia. This book offered another state to look into with South Carolina.
Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and to Thomas Nelson, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2016
Carolina Gold is an exciting new novel from author Dorothy Love which excellently portrays the true story of a woman battling to save her family's rice plantation right after the war in the 1800s. Full of historical accuracy, courage, bravery and hard work, this novel is sure to delight and inspire any historical fiction reader.
Before reading Carolina Gold, I'd never read any other book by this author, and though I'd heard good reviews of her novels, I didn't know from experience if I'd love this author. However after reading Carolina Gold I've proclaimed Dorothy Love to be a favorite author, and have put her newest release on my favorite reads of 2013 list! I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this novel and would love to see similar works or historical fiction from this author in the future!
One of the things that really made me love this book was how it was based on the true story of Elizabeth Waties Allston Pringle who lived from 1845-1921. I always love learning about remarkable women of the past who went above and beyond what was expected of them and made history-and this lady certainly fits this bill as she definitely was a woman who was a hard worker who wasn't afraid to get dirty and do what needed to be done. I love a good fictional story, as well as an interesting true story on a woman from the past, so to have the two combined with the addition of a beautiful writing style; it made for a very enjoyable read. I loved all the historical details that were in this story. I felt like while I was reading a fictionalized story, I was learning, and it inspired me to want to learn more about this woman. The historical details found in the book made it obvious that Dorothy Love took her research for this book seriously, and I really think it added so much to the story. Anyone who loves reading books that are very informative about history should read this book!
Another big plus for me in this story was how low the level of romance was. However even though there wasn't a bunch of romance, there was enough to keep it interesting and was very clean, but it wasn't the main focus of the novel. I always admire an author who is able to - and sees the value in writing an interesting story that is always keeping you engaged in the story, without needing a lot of romance to bring you to that point. I think the romance involved was the perfect amount and made it a sweet story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves history and a good read. I eagerly look forward to reading more books by this author in the future!
N O T E :: I received a free copy of this book through Litfuse Publicity and the publisher to read and honestly review. I was not paid in any way to review this book, and all thoughts expressed in my review are completely honest and unbiased.
Before reading Carolina Gold, I'd never read any other book by this author, and though I'd heard good reviews of her novels, I didn't know from experience if I'd love this author. However after reading Carolina Gold I've proclaimed Dorothy Love to be a favorite author, and have put her newest release on my favorite reads of 2013 list! I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this novel and would love to see similar works or historical fiction from this author in the future!
One of the things that really made me love this book was how it was based on the true story of Elizabeth Waties Allston Pringle who lived from 1845-1921. I always love learning about remarkable women of the past who went above and beyond what was expected of them and made history-and this lady certainly fits this bill as she definitely was a woman who was a hard worker who wasn't afraid to get dirty and do what needed to be done. I love a good fictional story, as well as an interesting true story on a woman from the past, so to have the two combined with the addition of a beautiful writing style; it made for a very enjoyable read. I loved all the historical details that were in this story. I felt like while I was reading a fictionalized story, I was learning, and it inspired me to want to learn more about this woman. The historical details found in the book made it obvious that Dorothy Love took her research for this book seriously, and I really think it added so much to the story. Anyone who loves reading books that are very informative about history should read this book!
Another big plus for me in this story was how low the level of romance was. However even though there wasn't a bunch of romance, there was enough to keep it interesting and was very clean, but it wasn't the main focus of the novel. I always admire an author who is able to - and sees the value in writing an interesting story that is always keeping you engaged in the story, without needing a lot of romance to bring you to that point. I think the romance involved was the perfect amount and made it a sweet story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves history and a good read. I eagerly look forward to reading more books by this author in the future!
N O T E :: I received a free copy of this book through Litfuse Publicity and the publisher to read and honestly review. I was not paid in any way to review this book, and all thoughts expressed in my review are completely honest and unbiased.
December 11, 2013
Having read Dorothy Love’s Hickory Ridge series, I was eager to dive in to another of her books. I am a big fan of the civil war time period, so I was pretty sure I would enjoy this book. I am happy to say that I was right about that.
Carolina Gold tells the story of Charlotte Fraser. The Civil War has ended and having lost her father, Charlotte is determined to return to her father’s rice plantation and bring it back to life. Despite Charlotte’s wish to bring Fairhaven back to working order, she finds it in ruins and has a hard time finding ways to make ends meet.
In order to generate more income, Charlotte takes a teaching position for her neighbor, Nicholas Betancourt’s two young daughters. When Nicholas leaves town, Charlotte finds herself as caretaker for the girls. She has no idea where Nicholas has gone and when he does not answer her correspondence, she sets off to New Orleans to find him. What she discovers along the way will bring up secrets from the past and threaten her future at Fairhaven.
I admired Charlotte’s strength and determination to bring a dying plantation back to life. It must not have been very discouraging after the Civil War and I’m sure I would have run out of motivation shortly after the first obstacle. But Charlotte was determined to override all obstacles and make the plantation thrive. I enjoyed reading about these characters and having them come to life in my mind. I think the author did a great job at capturing the attitudes of some of the southerners after the war. Obviously they were very bitter and you can see some of that in this novel. One complaint I have is that there are a few articles/letters written in cursive font. While I can read cursive, I know a lot of people struggle with it and I do hope that this won’t hinder readers. But other then that, this was a beautiful story and one I am glad I was able to read and enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, through BookSneeze, in exchange for my honest review. I received no compensation for this review, nor was I required to write a positive review. All opinions stated are my own.
Leah B.
Must Love Books
http://mustlovereading.wordpress.com/
Carolina Gold tells the story of Charlotte Fraser. The Civil War has ended and having lost her father, Charlotte is determined to return to her father’s rice plantation and bring it back to life. Despite Charlotte’s wish to bring Fairhaven back to working order, she finds it in ruins and has a hard time finding ways to make ends meet.
In order to generate more income, Charlotte takes a teaching position for her neighbor, Nicholas Betancourt’s two young daughters. When Nicholas leaves town, Charlotte finds herself as caretaker for the girls. She has no idea where Nicholas has gone and when he does not answer her correspondence, she sets off to New Orleans to find him. What she discovers along the way will bring up secrets from the past and threaten her future at Fairhaven.
I admired Charlotte’s strength and determination to bring a dying plantation back to life. It must not have been very discouraging after the Civil War and I’m sure I would have run out of motivation shortly after the first obstacle. But Charlotte was determined to override all obstacles and make the plantation thrive. I enjoyed reading about these characters and having them come to life in my mind. I think the author did a great job at capturing the attitudes of some of the southerners after the war. Obviously they were very bitter and you can see some of that in this novel. One complaint I have is that there are a few articles/letters written in cursive font. While I can read cursive, I know a lot of people struggle with it and I do hope that this won’t hinder readers. But other then that, this was a beautiful story and one I am glad I was able to read and enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, through BookSneeze, in exchange for my honest review. I received no compensation for this review, nor was I required to write a positive review. All opinions stated are my own.
Leah B.
Must Love Books
http://mustlovereading.wordpress.com/
January 19, 2014
Dorothy Love writes "Carolina Gold"
This is the story of a young woman who returns to the old plantation after the war to refurbish and try to make a living raising Rice.
she has many problems from the house needing lot of work to the fields that she needs help with to grow crops.
Many of the black people that used to be slaves that she thought would be loyal and help didn't want to work for wages. with a small crew she worked alongside them to make a rice crop. Many times failing and starting again.
The beautiful lowcountry is just that,with the river nearby where she could use a boat to go upriver to her summer home at Pawley's Island, which was also in bad shape but livable and she so enjoyed the summers there when she was a kid playing on nearby beach. Many memories came back as she sat on the little beach...
Not long after coming back to the plantation she meets Nicholas Baetencourt who has two little girls that needs someone to tutor them since their mama had died, he ask Charlotte to take on the work. she is reluctant at first but when she has such hard times with the rice crops and needs money she takes the job part-time.
A young boy named Daniel showed up one day hoping he could sit it on the girls lessons and learn too. He was refused at first but when she found out he was homeless , he too ended up learning with the girls and helping out around the plantation for Charlotte in exchange of food and place to sleep.
I enjoyed reading the story of how all these people came together and became "almost family". You will learn many things about the south as you read this story and I was thrilled to learn that a young woman by the name of Elizabeth Waites Allston Pringle actually did work in the rice fields of her family home after the war and was the inspiration for this story Dorothy has told. I love to read about strong women who try to make a difference in the world.
This is the story of a young woman who returns to the old plantation after the war to refurbish and try to make a living raising Rice.
she has many problems from the house needing lot of work to the fields that she needs help with to grow crops.
Many of the black people that used to be slaves that she thought would be loyal and help didn't want to work for wages. with a small crew she worked alongside them to make a rice crop. Many times failing and starting again.
The beautiful lowcountry is just that,with the river nearby where she could use a boat to go upriver to her summer home at Pawley's Island, which was also in bad shape but livable and she so enjoyed the summers there when she was a kid playing on nearby beach. Many memories came back as she sat on the little beach...
Not long after coming back to the plantation she meets Nicholas Baetencourt who has two little girls that needs someone to tutor them since their mama had died, he ask Charlotte to take on the work. she is reluctant at first but when she has such hard times with the rice crops and needs money she takes the job part-time.
A young boy named Daniel showed up one day hoping he could sit it on the girls lessons and learn too. He was refused at first but when she found out he was homeless , he too ended up learning with the girls and helping out around the plantation for Charlotte in exchange of food and place to sleep.
I enjoyed reading the story of how all these people came together and became "almost family". You will learn many things about the south as you read this story and I was thrilled to learn that a young woman by the name of Elizabeth Waites Allston Pringle actually did work in the rice fields of her family home after the war and was the inspiration for this story Dorothy has told. I love to read about strong women who try to make a difference in the world.
January 9, 2014
Growing up and attending school in the North, we learned that Reconstruction was a wonderful time period. Slavery was abolished, the country was whole again, and the South was just fine. I know as an adult that the history Northerners and Southerners learn about anything regarding slavery and the Civil War are completely different, and Carolina Gold drives that point home. After giving many of their men to fight for what they believed in, the inhabitants of the South lost that fight. Then the victors came in and did what they could to make sure that the people of the South would never prosper again. We see that struggle as Charlotte tries her hardest to make a profit on a rice harvest, to no avail. Instead, she grows and flourishes in other ways.
I found this book fascinating. I loved learning about the Carolina low country, a place of the country I had really only known about in name. Reading about getting almost anywhere involved an elaborate system of ferries to navigate the waterways boggled my mind. It seems that the ferries were well before their time and probably operated better than our mass transit does today.
Once again, though, the different version of history than I had been taught most of my life was what really captivated me. I don’t doubt for a second that as school children, the nasty fact of the destruction left behind by the Yankee army was left out.
I can only imagine at the research that Love undertook to write this book. The manners, the houses, the means of transportation, and even the illnesses seemed true-to-life. I think one could read this novel and know that they’re coming away with an accurate representation of that area of the United States at that time in history. I recommend Carolina Gold to anybody who finds American history fascinating.
I received a copy of this book in order to provide a review. All thoughts are my own.
I found this book fascinating. I loved learning about the Carolina low country, a place of the country I had really only known about in name. Reading about getting almost anywhere involved an elaborate system of ferries to navigate the waterways boggled my mind. It seems that the ferries were well before their time and probably operated better than our mass transit does today.
Once again, though, the different version of history than I had been taught most of my life was what really captivated me. I don’t doubt for a second that as school children, the nasty fact of the destruction left behind by the Yankee army was left out.
I can only imagine at the research that Love undertook to write this book. The manners, the houses, the means of transportation, and even the illnesses seemed true-to-life. I think one could read this novel and know that they’re coming away with an accurate representation of that area of the United States at that time in history. I recommend Carolina Gold to anybody who finds American history fascinating.
I received a copy of this book in order to provide a review. All thoughts are my own.
December 18, 2013
This novel is based on a woman who experienced the struggles and heartache of trying to rebuild a rice plantation during Reconstruction. And since I live near those very swamplands, I knew I would enjoy this look at the Antebellum South--and one woman's struggle to survive.
I found Charlotte somewhat distant but endearingly stubborn. Determined to make a go out of the post-war plantation her father left to her, she puts her heart and soul into cultivating the land and restoring it to its former glory. Obstacle after obstacle, however, kept me reading to find out how she would get out of the next scrape!
Enter a charming widower with two little lonely little girls, and fiascoes ensued in quick succession. A dash of mystery and the author's clever use of a "villain" made Carolina Gold an interesting look at this corner of history.
What I Didn't Like As Much
I struggled to get into this book at first because the beginning was somewhat slow. I'm not sure why this is, exactly--I didn't feel as if the story began too soon. Also, I didn't like that a long-lost cousin appears out of nowhere only to disappear out of Charlotte's life again or that the widower is absent from the middle of the book.
All in all, though, history lovers like myself (especially those fond of the Civil War era) will appreciate this glimpse into life after the war, when destruction and defeat ran rampant and faith and love were hard to believe in. Carolina Gold has Charlotte finding faith and love worthy of belief.
I found Charlotte somewhat distant but endearingly stubborn. Determined to make a go out of the post-war plantation her father left to her, she puts her heart and soul into cultivating the land and restoring it to its former glory. Obstacle after obstacle, however, kept me reading to find out how she would get out of the next scrape!
Enter a charming widower with two little lonely little girls, and fiascoes ensued in quick succession. A dash of mystery and the author's clever use of a "villain" made Carolina Gold an interesting look at this corner of history.
What I Didn't Like As Much
I struggled to get into this book at first because the beginning was somewhat slow. I'm not sure why this is, exactly--I didn't feel as if the story began too soon. Also, I didn't like that a long-lost cousin appears out of nowhere only to disappear out of Charlotte's life again or that the widower is absent from the middle of the book.
All in all, though, history lovers like myself (especially those fond of the Civil War era) will appreciate this glimpse into life after the war, when destruction and defeat ran rampant and faith and love were hard to believe in. Carolina Gold has Charlotte finding faith and love worthy of belief.
November 22, 2013
This story is set after the civil war and located in the south. Charlotte has returned home in hopes of reviving her deceased father’s rice plantation. She stumbles upon many hardships with faring weather, unreliable workers and lack of funds. Needing another source of income, she agrees to tutor Nicholas’ (her neighbor) daughters.
I appreciated how the author displayed all the adversities of post-civil war. I liked how Charlotte was determined to make her rice patties succeed and I liked that Nicholas was a very caring father to his two young children. I did however feel like the book moved a bit too slow for me. We follow the characters through a lot of everyday details which got rather repetitive. When we journeyed with Charlotte in search of Nicholas, it dragged a bit through many monotonous parts before we get any outcome. When the big secret was revealed, I wasn’t very interested by that time. I also regret that I didn’t feel any strong sense of connection between Charlotte and Nicholas due to lack luster scenes together. If you enjoy simply written words as well as storytelling, I think you will enjoy this book. Unfortunately, this just didn’t work for me.
* ARC provided by Thomas Nelson Publishing via Netgalley
I appreciated how the author displayed all the adversities of post-civil war. I liked how Charlotte was determined to make her rice patties succeed and I liked that Nicholas was a very caring father to his two young children. I did however feel like the book moved a bit too slow for me. We follow the characters through a lot of everyday details which got rather repetitive. When we journeyed with Charlotte in search of Nicholas, it dragged a bit through many monotonous parts before we get any outcome. When the big secret was revealed, I wasn’t very interested by that time. I also regret that I didn’t feel any strong sense of connection between Charlotte and Nicholas due to lack luster scenes together. If you enjoy simply written words as well as storytelling, I think you will enjoy this book. Unfortunately, this just didn’t work for me.
* ARC provided by Thomas Nelson Publishing via Netgalley
September 30, 2013
I received an ARC of Carolina Gold from the author and I really enjoyed this intro to her writing.
I guess I hadn't really read or thought much about the South after the civil war and the devastation that many of the plantation owners suffered. Not only had they lost their way of life but their properties/homes were often destroyed. Not only had Charlotte lost her Father, but she came back to this destruction of her home and with very few resources to plant a rice crop.
She meets a new neighbor Nicholas who has been widowed and has two little girls. To make a little extra money she agrees to tutor the girls for a period of time. I enjoyed Charlotte's interaction with the little girls and seeing her relationship with Nicholas develop over time.
I guess I hadn't really read or thought much about the South after the civil war and the devastation that many of the plantation owners suffered. Not only had they lost their way of life but their properties/homes were often destroyed. Not only had Charlotte lost her Father, but she came back to this destruction of her home and with very few resources to plant a rice crop.
She meets a new neighbor Nicholas who has been widowed and has two little girls. To make a little extra money she agrees to tutor the girls for a period of time. I enjoyed Charlotte's interaction with the little girls and seeing her relationship with Nicholas develop over time.
February 13, 2019
Charlotte Fraser is an only child whose father has just died shortly after the end of the Civil War. She is left with the family rice plantation in South Carolina and is determined to run it successfully after promising her father that she would keep it running. She is faced with all of challenges of reconstruction as well as weather and a neighbor who may actually own the land she believes to be her own.
Overall, I enjoyed Carolina Gold. There is a bit of history and a bit of romance. The book moves a bit slowly and predictably, but the author does a good job with describing the beautiful low country.
Overall, I enjoyed Carolina Gold. There is a bit of history and a bit of romance. The book moves a bit slowly and predictably, but the author does a good job with describing the beautiful low country.
January 1, 2015
okay. this is a well written book set during the reconstruction period following the civil war. I enjoyed the view given across the time period alot because I love history. however, it was slow moving and just dull at times. I should have taken the other reviews more seriously. I hate giving a book written this well 2 stars....it is somewhere between 2 & 3. only recommend to people interested in the historical aspects.
March 17, 2017
I loved the descriptions of the time period and the life on plantations after the Civil War. I did not love the repetitive descriptions of daily routines that made the story drag along. I also felt that Charlotte lacked any emotional connection to anyone or anything. The words said that she cared for certain people, or her home, but they lacked any passion to make me really get the sense that she had strong feelings.
May 12, 2020
Having ancestors who lived in the Charleston area during the Civil War period, I especially enjoyed reading Carolina Gold. Dorothy Love did an excellent job with research and the story accurately portrayed life in the rice plantation area during a very difficult time in the South. I was drawn to the main characters from the start and couldn't wait to find out how the story would unfold! Carolina Gold held my interest from the first page to the last! A great read from a talented author!
September 27, 2021
The book took a huge turn in the middle that really didn’t make sense. There were lots of unanswered questions that were left hanging, some never answered. If she was so broke in the beginning of the book, how did she have money for a train ride to New Orleans? The care of the two young girls in her absence was not addressed until much later, leaving the reader hanging and concerned about their welfare.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2022
2.5 stars. This was an entertaining book that focused on major changes that were brought to the South after the Civil War. Atmospheric with crafted characters, my only complaint is that the romance itself was weak. There was a significant lack of chemistry between the two leads. This would have been a better book if the author had stuck strictly to the historical fiction genre.
March 19, 2023
3.5 Stars!
So I literally just received this book in the mail from Harper Collins, with no warning or indication as to why. So that's weird...but I'm not complaining! Adding it to the stack - thanks, mysterious book-giver!!
So I literally just received this book in the mail from Harper Collins, with no warning or indication as to why. So that's weird...but I'm not complaining! Adding it to the stack - thanks, mysterious book-giver!!
April 7, 2020
It was okay. The setting was interesting, I liked most of the characters (especially Charlotte’s relationship with the two girls) but it was lacking in the romance area and mystery of her land.
June 30, 2017
Carolina gold. At first glance, you may associate the title with the golden beaches of South Carolina’s coast, or maybe a dazzling sunset over the Atlantic’s shoreline. Though the title of this historical romance does not exclude those things in its meaning, you might be surprised to learn that the warm and fuzzy feeling the title gives you actually refers to rice. Yep, that’s right – rice. Set among the marshes and beaches of South Carolina, this book gives you a glimpse into the struggles of rice planters who dreamed of resurrecting their plantations after the Civil War. The heroin in this story, Charlotte, dreams of returning to her childhood home/plantation after her father’s death and growing Carolina Gold – a superb brand of rice South Carolina planters were famous for before the war.
The story is set in 1868 in the Charleston area of South Carolina, though you’ll see references to many notable places throughout the book; Georgetown, Pawley’s Island and Winyah Bay, just to name a few. I’ve been to Pawley’s Island once and just visited Charleston for the first time this spring, so you could say that my visits to the area were a major influence when thinking about purchasing this book. I must say, I wasn’t disappointed. The author’s writing style made me fall in love with the land all over again. After my own ferry ride on the Cooper River to Fort Sumter in April, I could easily imagine Charlotte riding the Pee Dee River as she traveled to and from her plantation. Also, a visit to Boone Hall Plantation gave me insights into why the plantations have such long driveways, what a “slave street” was, and how far the distance between the fields and the house would be.
The heroine, Charlotte Fraser, is a young lady who grew up following her father around his rice plantation; instilling in her a love of the land and the rice they grew on it. During the Reconstruction of the South after the Civil War, Charlotte is determined to revive the plantation and once again grow Carolina Gold. When she returns to her childhood home, the reality of such a dream grows dimmer and dimmer. Her neighbors experience the same struggles. If a seasoned rice planter like Mr. Hadley couldn’t make a go of it, how could she? A woman?
The hero of the book is a French gentleman who moves into a neighboring plantation from New Orleans. Nicholas Betancourt meets Charlotte and immediately offers her a position to be governess for his two young daughters who are in desperate need of formal education. Young, handsome, and single, the matchmaking begins among some of the books other characters. But after a while, Nick disappears during a trip to New Orleans. With his young daughters in Charlotte’s care, worries rise when he doesn’t reply to Charlotte’s letters. Did he abandon his children? Was he in trouble? When was he coming home?
Conclusion: Carolina Gold was my first read with a Dorothy Love book and as I stated above, I was impressed. The author’s style reminded me of Tamera Alexander’s Belle Meade Plantation and Belmont Mansion books; the love story was sweet, the land came alive with beautiful descriptions and the issues of the time period portrayed honestly - yet, with depth that pulls you into the struggles these people faced when life and laws changed. I enjoyed how the author portrayed the romantic part of the book. So often, love stories are accused of depicting “perfect” men who, as some say, don’t exist in real life. Well, you would have a hard time putting Nick in that stereotype! Though this hero was likeable, he was also practical in all that he did. Also, there was a good amount of time when he was absent from the story. Likewise, Charlotte wasn’t your girl who was on the hunt for a man. She wanted to make a way for herself, but found a friend in her neighbor and that friendship slowly developed into something more. Finally, I loved how Dorothy Love integrated the uniqueness of the land into the story. There were no boring descriptions of rice, sand or marshes, instead, each line dropped here and there added to the story and made it more beautiful… Or maybe I’m just in love with the Carolina coast from my visit there! Either way, Carolina Gold gets five stars from me! I highly recommend!
Romance Rating…
To me, there are three different ratings for romance…the way-to-gushy romance, the love at first sight/passionate romance and the sweet romance that makes friends, couples. Carolina Gold is definitely the sweet romance.
The story is set in 1868 in the Charleston area of South Carolina, though you’ll see references to many notable places throughout the book; Georgetown, Pawley’s Island and Winyah Bay, just to name a few. I’ve been to Pawley’s Island once and just visited Charleston for the first time this spring, so you could say that my visits to the area were a major influence when thinking about purchasing this book. I must say, I wasn’t disappointed. The author’s writing style made me fall in love with the land all over again. After my own ferry ride on the Cooper River to Fort Sumter in April, I could easily imagine Charlotte riding the Pee Dee River as she traveled to and from her plantation. Also, a visit to Boone Hall Plantation gave me insights into why the plantations have such long driveways, what a “slave street” was, and how far the distance between the fields and the house would be.
The heroine, Charlotte Fraser, is a young lady who grew up following her father around his rice plantation; instilling in her a love of the land and the rice they grew on it. During the Reconstruction of the South after the Civil War, Charlotte is determined to revive the plantation and once again grow Carolina Gold. When she returns to her childhood home, the reality of such a dream grows dimmer and dimmer. Her neighbors experience the same struggles. If a seasoned rice planter like Mr. Hadley couldn’t make a go of it, how could she? A woman?
The hero of the book is a French gentleman who moves into a neighboring plantation from New Orleans. Nicholas Betancourt meets Charlotte and immediately offers her a position to be governess for his two young daughters who are in desperate need of formal education. Young, handsome, and single, the matchmaking begins among some of the books other characters. But after a while, Nick disappears during a trip to New Orleans. With his young daughters in Charlotte’s care, worries rise when he doesn’t reply to Charlotte’s letters. Did he abandon his children? Was he in trouble? When was he coming home?
Conclusion: Carolina Gold was my first read with a Dorothy Love book and as I stated above, I was impressed. The author’s style reminded me of Tamera Alexander’s Belle Meade Plantation and Belmont Mansion books; the love story was sweet, the land came alive with beautiful descriptions and the issues of the time period portrayed honestly - yet, with depth that pulls you into the struggles these people faced when life and laws changed. I enjoyed how the author portrayed the romantic part of the book. So often, love stories are accused of depicting “perfect” men who, as some say, don’t exist in real life. Well, you would have a hard time putting Nick in that stereotype! Though this hero was likeable, he was also practical in all that he did. Also, there was a good amount of time when he was absent from the story. Likewise, Charlotte wasn’t your girl who was on the hunt for a man. She wanted to make a way for herself, but found a friend in her neighbor and that friendship slowly developed into something more. Finally, I loved how Dorothy Love integrated the uniqueness of the land into the story. There were no boring descriptions of rice, sand or marshes, instead, each line dropped here and there added to the story and made it more beautiful… Or maybe I’m just in love with the Carolina coast from my visit there! Either way, Carolina Gold gets five stars from me! I highly recommend!
Romance Rating…
To me, there are three different ratings for romance…the way-to-gushy romance, the love at first sight/passionate romance and the sweet romance that makes friends, couples. Carolina Gold is definitely the sweet romance.
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