Beauty For Ashes

Rating:
Summary: Loved It!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: What would you sacrifice to escape an arranged marriage with a cruel, evil man? Would you leave your home and sacrifice any hope of finding true love? Would you trade a loveless marriage of convenience to an absolute stranger for safety from the abusive man your parents want you to marry? Elizabeth Frazier is faced with this dilemma in Beauty for Ashes. If you enjoy historical romance, you'll enjoy this story that interweaves suspense and romance with Elizabeth's growing awakening to the power of prayer and her own personal trust in God. When she discovers God is a real and loving God, perhaps she can open her own heart to love-and trade beauty for ashes.

Reviewed by: Tina L. Miller, author of "When A Woman Prays" (also available at Amazon.com)

Rating:
Summary: History, Romance, and Suspense -- A Novel With It All
Review: What would you sacrifice to escape an arranged marriage with a cruel, evil man? Would you leave your home and sacrifice any hope of finding true love? Would you trade a loveless marriage of convenience to an absolute stranger for safety from the abusive man your parents want you to marry? Elizabeth Frazier is faced with this dilemma in Beauty for Ashes. If you enjoy historical romance, you'll enjoy this story that interweaves suspense and romance with Elizabeth's growing awakening to the power of prayer and her own personal trust in God. When she discovers God is a real and loving God, perhaps she can open her own heart to love-and trade beauty for ashes.

Reviewed by: Tina L. Miller, author of "When A Woman Prays" (also available at Amazon.com)

Rating:
Summary: Christian Book Previews
Review: When Elizabeth married Justin Randolph, it was strictly a business deal. She was to take care of the children, run his house, and put up a good "wifely" appearance for people in general. No intimacy. For this, she received room and board, proper clothing, and a goodly monetary settlement. That was Justin's understanding and desire.


Elizabeth`s desire was a place to escape her father and marriage to Reginald Burton-Smythe. Intimacy was not necessary. She accepted the clothing to look proper but wanted no money. "...I do not wish to feel purchased."


She thought God had forsaken her. But did she want to know a Father God who left such bad things happen to his children? Her father was a wealthy, selfish, greedy man. Money was his god and Elizabeth his chattel. Were all men like that? According to her mother, yes. But she had heard of a different relationship between her grandparents.


Justin was a ship owner of means. He had earlier been jilted for lack of money by his fiancée and later was married for his money. His wife left him for her old boyfriend. Her death left him with two babies and a bitter, battered heart.


But God had other plans. Isaiah 61:1-3 reads: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;...to bind up the brokenhearted, ...to comfort all that mourn; ...to give unto them beauty for ashes...."


Could Elizabeth and Justin learn to trust God and each other? Could God heal? Were they willing to let Him?
Dorothy Clark has woven a beautiful, compelling story of God's mercy and healing as she shows how He can draw two bruised and battered people back to Himself. Truly, God can and does give "beauty for ashes" in our lives as we yield ourselves to Him. - Linda Demorest, Christian Book Previews.com