Dorothy Love's Every Perfect Gift, ©2012

Sophie Robillard Caldwell's story, Book 3
A Hickory Ridge Romance series

Every Perfect Gift

By Dorothy Love
Published by Thomas Nelson

Book Description

Ethan and Sophie long to share a future together. But the secrets they’re not sharing could tear them apart. Sophie Caldwell has returned to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee after years away. Despite the heartaches of her childhood, Sophie is determined to make a home, and a name, for herself in the growing town. A gifted writer, she plans to resurrect the local newspaper that so enchanted her as a girl. Ethan Heyward’s idyllic childhood was shattered by a tragedy he has spent years trying to forget. An accomplished businessman and architect, he has built a majestic resort in the mountains above Hickory Ridge, drawing wealthy tourists from all over the country. When Sophie interviews Ethan for the paper, he is impressed with her intelligence and astounded by her beauty. She's equally intrigued with him but fears he will reject her if he learns about her shadowed past. Just as she summons the courage to tell him, Ethan’s own past unexpectedly and violently catches up with him, threatening not only his life but their budding romance.

My Review

As Historical Fiction is my very favorite genre, I was eager to read Dorothy Love's third novel in the Hickory Ridge trilogy, set in 1886 in Hickory Ridge, Tennessee. The town is bustling as new hopes are aglow with the development and hopes for tourism to this Smoky Mountains region. High on a ridge, a luxury resort designed and in the building process by architect, Ethan Heyward, "Blue Smoke is expected to rival the Greenbrier, the plush West Virginia resort that attracted wealthy guests from all over the country."
Greenbriar Hotel, Greenbriar, West Virginia. 1872

That looks like quite a feat to accomplish on the high hillside incline arriving to the top! Ethan Heyward's boss, Horace Blakely, is certainly chomping at the bit for his railcar to be completed to bring these visitors to his fresh air retreat, Blue Smoke, in these "Great Smokies" of Tennessee!

Sophie Robillard Caldwell returns to Hickory Ridge after fifteen years in Texas. She began her formative years in the Hickory Ridge orphanage, shunned because of rumors of her mixed parentage. Newlyweds, Wyatt and Amy Caldwell become Sophie's guardians when she is ten, leaving Hickory Ridge to establish a ranch in Texas. They have provided the best schooling for Sophie, supporting her interest in reporting and newspaper apprenticeship. What a brave young woman to face the past to move into the future! She is now very busy as the new owner of the formerly defunct newspaper, Hickory Ridge Gazette, she was intrigued by as a child. Those whom she did admire and treated her fairly have moved, leaving behind a booming community growing beyond what she had known. Immediately, Sophie is welcomed by the banker's daughter, Sabrina (Gillie) Gilman, and her childhood friend, Robbie Whiting, now the minister. Sophie visits the horse farm of Griff and Carrie Rutledge, Amy Caldwell's friend, and is well received by their young daughter. Children recognize those who are trustworthy! I am glad to see those arriving to welcome Sophie home.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

and cometh down from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17

Sophie's first interview for the Gazette is with the architect for the new Blue Smoke. Later that evening a fight breaks out and Sophie joins the sheriff's group as they go to Blue Smoke. A young man fills Sophie in about the unrest among workers amid fault-finding, crowded living, and lack of opportunity to leave the grounds. Ethan gets wind of it and visits Sophie to suggest he might like to review her editorials before publishing. She tells him she is honest in reporting accuracy with her opinion. Their attraction gets clouded by his waning days to complete the resort to go with the advertised opening dates and her doubtfulness of his intent in protecting his interests.

Book 3 in Dorothy Love’s Hickory Ridge Romance series, Every Perfect Gift can be read as a stand-alone novel. It is very well processed in introduction of the characters and is read smoothly. Don't miss Dorothy Love's fine writing. Life is full of complications; love is stronger.

*Thank you to BookSneeze for sending me a copy of Every Perfect Gift to review in my own words.*

Ada Wentworth Caldwell's story, Book 1
A Hickory Ridge Romance series

Carrie Daly Rutledge's story, Book 2
A Hickory Ridge Romance series

Find out more about Dorothy at http://dorothylovebooks.com/.

Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love | “Home for the Holidays” 12 Days of Gifts and 12/13 Facebook Party!

Author: Dorothy Love

Welcome to the campaign launch for the third book in Dorothy Love’s Hickory Ridge Romance series, Every Perfect Gift. Dorothy is celebrating by hosting the Home for the Holidays 12 Days of Gifts contest.

Celebrate the holidays with Dorothy Love and her protagonist, Sophie Caldwell, as they count down the days to Dorothy’s author chat party with 12 Days of Gifts! Dorothy will be giving away copies of Every Perfect Gift and other holiday essentials, as well as key items from the book that Sophie would have worn during or used to celebrate the holidays (a beautiful, red shawl, Victorian ornaments, stockings). It’s all happening on Dorothy’s Facebook page. She’ll post a new giveaway each day.
So bring on the Christmas cheer with Dorothy and the Home for the Holidays 12 Days of Gifts. Then join Dorothy on the evening of December 13 for her author chat party! During the party, Dorothy will announce the 12 winners from the Home for the Holidays giveaway and host an author chat about Every Perfect Gift and favorite Christmas traditions. Oh, and she’ll be giving away lots of fun prizes. RSVP today.