About the Book
Book: Dogwood Winter
Author: Candace West
Genre: Historical Romance
Release date: August 24, 2021
A Lukewarm Correspondence. A Tattered Reputation. Two Hearts at Odds.
He is walking away while she is fighting to walk.
After a springtime swim, Ella Steen is stricken with a dire illness, leaving her without the use of her legs. Meanwhile, Dr. George Curtis, the man she secretly loves, faces ruin. For over a year, the crusty New York City bachelor and vivacious spinster have exchanged dozens of letters and formed a wary friendship.
Neither are willing to open their hearts completely. Until they face each other. The past looms between them, however. Does George still love another or is his heart completely free?
A trip to Valley Creek holds the answers. Instead, when George and Ella arrive, they encounter obstacles that force other truths to the surface. Is George brave enough to confront what he fled in New York? Can Ella confess why she hates dogwood winters? Will their hearts survive?
If only their pasts would keep out of the present.
Click here to get your copy!
My Review
How dependent am I on my independence—my ability to walk and roam freely—or how stubborn am I about getting my own way? This novel causes me to question the secrets I keep and the schemes I make. Dancing around the issues and skirting the drama determine that the distance between hearts might continue to grow to a point where reconciliation is no longer an option.
Candace West puts her characters through devastating predicaments—ones that leave scars and changes, causing them to reach beyond physical and emotional barriers. If they want a means to overcome and live within the circumstances of life, they must find the source and strength from God. When was the last time I struggles and finally had to turn it all over to the only One who could make a difference—a huge, life-changing step toward a powerful, purposeful existence?
About the Author
Candace West was born in the Mississippi delta to a young minister and his wife. She grew up in small-town Arkansas and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. At twelve years old, she wrote her first story, “Following Prairie River.” In 2018, she published her debut novel Lane Steen, book one of the Valley Creek Redemption Series. By weaving entertaining, hope-filled stories, Candace shares the Gospel and encourages her readers. She currently lives in Arkansas with her husband and their son along with two dogs and three bossy cats.
More from Candace
Biscuits and gravy has been a staple for generations in my family. It’s perfect for any occasion or breakfast, dinner, and supper. Yes, in our neck of the woods, dinner is lunch, and supper is—well, supper.
And then, we have biscuits and gravy with a twist. We’ll shove the traditional aside for a bowl of chocolate gravy. That’s right, chocolate.
Now, don’t get grossed out. Some people believe chocolate gravy is this weird, mysterious concoction made with meat grease. It’s the gravy part that boggles their mind, but it’s actually straightforward and easy—not true gravy at all. Trust me, if you like chocolate, you’ll want to try this. When you butter a biscuit and drizzle the chocolate over it, you’ll get a little taste of heaven on earth.
And you’ll get a little taste of the Appalachians and Ozarks.
My grandparents, both raised deep in the Arkansas Ozarks, were raised on “chocolate an’ biscuits” and passed the recipe down to us. Throughout the mountains and in pockets throughout the country, you’ll find this lesser-known treat on kitchen tables and family gatherings.
Every recipe is a little different. Every family has their own special way of making it. My family likes their chocolate gravy a little thinner while my husband’s family wants theirs to be the consistency of pudding.
In Dogwood Winter, my characters would’ve eaten chocolate an’ biscuits. Their corner of the Ozarks is famous for it. I can see Ella and George, along with the Steen family, gathering around a table, saying the blessing, and passing the fare to each other. The only skeptical one in the bunch would be George, a New Yorker who wasn’t raised on it. One bite would make him a believer.
Have you ever eaten biscuits and chocolate gravy? If not, would you try it?
This is our family recipe.
Chocolate Gravy
1 ½ cups sugar
1 tbs Hershey Cocoa powder
2 ½ tbs flour
Mix dry ingredients in a saucepan
Add 1 ½ to 2 cups of milk (depends on the thickness you want)
Bring to a boil and cook until thickened (3 or 4 minutes) Note: Bring to a slow boil and continually stir. Remove from heat then add 2 tbs butter and 1 tsp of Vanilla extract. Pour over buttered biscuits and enjoy!
Blog Stops
deb’s Book Review, August 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 27
Connect in Fiction, August 27
Inklings and notions, August 28
For Him and My Family, August 29
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 30
Reviewingbooksplusmore, August 30
Connie’s History Classroom, August 31
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 1
Texas Book-aholic, September 2
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 3
Daysong Reflections, September 4
Britt Reads Fiction, September 4
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, September 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 6
Life, Love, Writing, September 7
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 8
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Candace is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/1161b/dogwood-winter-celebration-tour-giveaway
Great review, thank you for sharing.
Sounds great. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Lucy! Good luck on the contest!
Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Love book cover, excerpt, review. very intriguing with romance. Looks like a fantastic read. Would love to read and review this book in print format. That book title really makes me want to read the book.
Hope I Win
This is book is the kind I can get so deep into that my surroundings fade into the background …much to the chagrin of my family.
This sounds really good!
I love the cover. The design and colors are beautiful.
This sounds like a really good read. Pretty cover!
Good book for summer reading.
Thanks for the contest.
The cover is beautiful and the story sounds amazing.
This cover is so pretty. Thank you for sharing!