Beauty for Ashes written by Dorothy Love is a must read for the reader who’s read Ms. Love’s previous book, Beyond All Measure. Some of the characters appear in the second book of this series but it is focused on Carrie Daly. Mrs. Daly is a widow in Hickory Ridge looking to find happiness & purpose in her life after the death of her husband.
Carrie lives with her brother until he marries a bitter, hateful woman with two undiscipled children. She is forced to leave her home to make it on her own. Along the way, she meets Griff Rutledge. Griff is seen as a no-good gambler passing through town. The attraction between the two is instant even though Carrie is courted by the bookshop owner, Nate Chastain. When her brother loses his job & goes to Chicago to find work, Carries reluctantly moves back to help Mary, her now pregnant & sick sister-in-law.
Money is tight due to the recession. Mary’s lack of running the farm has the family in desperate times. Griff helps out, much to Mary’s & the town’s disapproval. Carrie, however sees more substance in Griff than the town’s gossip makes out. Grateful for his help, Carrie in turn helps Griff when he is injured. Through each crisis, the writer portrays Carrie has a normal, believable character. She relies on God but has her moments of doubt as to His purpose for her life & if she’ll ever be happy.
By the end of the book, there is a change in Mary as well as Griff. Carrie is finally appreciated for her sacrifice & her work to help the family stay together. Griff comes to a peace with his father & his wanderlust subsides. He realizes his love for Carrie who he proposes to. Carrie, at last, has found happiness. A wonderful book for anyone who likes realistic characters that depend on God.
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