One look at Baby Doe and you know she was meant to be a legend! She was just twenty years old when she came to Colorado to work a gold mine with her new husband. Little did she expect that she’d be abandoned and pregnant and left to manage the gold mine alone. But that didn’t stop her!She moved to Leadville and fell in love with a married prospector, twice her age. Horace Tabor struck the biggest … biggest silver vein in history, divorced his wife and married Baby Doe. Though his new wife was known for her beauty, her fashion, and even her philanthropy, she was never welcomed in polite society.Discover how the Tabors navigated the worlds of wealth, power, politics, and scandal in the wild days of western mining.
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Newlyweds Elizabeth “Baby Doe” and Harvey Doe travel to Colorado in 1878 to manage a gold mine belonging to Harvey’s father. Baby Doe is counting on their success to help support her parents in Wisconsin. Harvey proves to be inept at management and his poor work ethic forces Baby Doe to get involved in the daily operations.
Harveys eventually abandons Baby Doe which forces her to navigate life as a single woman. She is shunned by her former friends and has trouble gaining acceptance as an attractive working woman. Her path crosses with Horace Tabor who is a prosperous silver miner and on the path to be a US senator. A strong connection is formed but their complicated lives put a strain on the relationship.
Gold Digger: The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor by Rebecca Rosenberg is a historical fiction novel that provides insight into life during the Colorado Silver Boom. The book is well researched and includes engaging dialogue that draws readers into the time period. I look forward to the sequel about Baby Doe.
I first heard about Baby Doe Tabor while visiting Leadville, Colorado on vacation, so I was looking forward to reading “Gold Digger”. I was not disappointed!
The book covers her trip from Wisconsin to Colorado and her working in her father-in-law’s mine. She endured not only physical abuse but also harsh winter weather and living conditions.
She was determined to make a better life for herself in a time when women were meant to be married and stay at home.
“Gold Digger” also tells the story of how she meant Horace Tabor and their love and devotion to each other.
It’s an interesting story and definitely worth reading. Looking forward to reading “Silver Dollar” and the continuing story of Baby Doe.
Don’t be put off by the unappealing cover of this book. The story was a great look into what life was like out west in the 1800’s during the growth of the United States. It delves into women’s suffrage, divorce (which was considered a sin), the up and downs of mining, and how hard it was for a woman to fend for herself. Lizzie (Baby Doe) is abandoned by her young husband. A husband who was brought up in a wealthy home, who was weak in both character and stature. He lies to her when tells her he has to leave her out west to help an ailing mother. When she finds out what he was really doing she divorces him. From the time she came out west with him, she was ignored and shunned by the women who were jealous of her beauty. She was kind and just wanted to make friends, but they wouldn’t embrace her. It was worse after her divorce. Men preyed upon her but she wanted to carve out a life for herself. Until she falls in love with Horace Talbor. Unhappily married, but rich, and adventurous, Horace will do anything to be with her. The book deals with everything o through to be together. How people took advantage of their generosity, and shunned them. It was so unfair. They were always helping the unfortunate, and just wanted to be liked. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but there will be a sequel. Can’t wait to see what is in Baby Doe’s future.
Baby Doe was a fascinating woman, especially considering where she was living and the time she was living in. There weren’t exactly a lot of opportunities for women in the mid-1870’s in a mining town in CO. Respectable women, that is.
Baby Doe leaves her middle-class family in Minnesota and moves to Colorado to help her new husband run a goldmine for his father. The living conditions there are hardly what she was led to expect. And her new husband, is also a great disappointment. He starts drinking and Baby Doe will not put up with that.
She divorces him and moves to Leadville, CO where she meets Horace Tabor, a wealthy man nearly twice her age. What a fascinating couple. I highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC of the ebook and this is my honest review. You will fall in love with Baby Doe Tabor.
Gold Digger is a great story about the gold rush and how silver played a big part of that. The main character, Lizzie, aka Baby Doe, is a beautiful young woman. This is her story through strife, courage and love. Fortunes were won and lost and people did their best to make a living or follow their dream. I love the plot and characters whether they be good or bad. I highly recommend this book!
Rebecca Rosenberg Struck Gold
I won a Kindle Edition of this book from the Author.
Rebecca Rosenberg has written a Historical Fiction Novel based on actual events that is so well developed and historically accurate that I felt like I was watching a movie as I devoured the pages. Lizzie Taber was a Woman definitely born “before her time”.
She is so strong and independent she remains relevant Today, thanks to Rebecca Rosenberg’s masterful storytelling. This is so much more than a rags to riches story, Rosenberg has crafted history into this novel in such a way that you you will cheer for the characters, cry for them and at times dislike them. Horace’s love for Lizzie seems so genuine but is it enough for her? I’m not telling! The dramatic ending is written in such a manner that it leaves an opening for a sequel. I can hope! This is by far my favorite Novel written in this time period!
Excellent book. Was definitely a page Turner. Learned so much about the history of the era. She lived through so much & came out on top. Yay for women!! Rebecca, keep doing what U do. So interesting 2 read a wonderful historical book & learn about what this strong woman lived through. Thank U so much.
My favorite thing about reading historical fiction is that I can be entertained while learning something new about a time, a place, and people I’m not familiar with. I felt like I was living in the 19th century in Colorado, a time of hope and desperation. The author has told this story with gritty honesty, and with the great ability to transport readers. The characters were immensely fascinating, especially Baby Doe, who really comes to life on the pages of this book!
When asked to review this book, I was conflicted. Not because of the author. I loved her first book “The Secret Life of Mrs. London”. I also love historical fiction. But, the Gold Rush era is not one of my favorites. After reading this book, Ms. Rosenberg has changed my mind.
I knew absolutely nothing about Baby Doe and had limited knowledge of the late 1800s gold rush. Mrs. Rosenberg quickly transports the reader to Colorado as we meet newly married Lizzie and Harvey Doe. On their way to make a fortune mining. Lizzie is beautiful, something I don’t think Harvey was quite ready for the effect her beauty would have on people. Not a marriage of love, more of convenience, you feel for Lizzie as you find out her background and her present state. Life is not easy in the mines. Gold Fever was a real thing that many men fell victim too. It was a brutal life for all involved.
Baby Doe is a force to be reckoned with. Fierce, independent and willing to work alongside her husband as a partner. She will do anything for her family and is so needing of love. Life is hard and heartbreaking. Her life takes a turn when she meets Horace Tabor, a man with a wife, son and a large dream. These two are drawn to each other and the sparks fly.
Descriptive, well researched, fast paced and informative. I thoroughly enjoyed this read so much more than I expected to. I look forward to reading the sequel coming out soon!
Thanks to the Author for this ARC. Opinion is my own!
Story of the famous Baby Doe, Married the ,”good catch” for her Mother. She traveled to Colorado to help work his mine. Left pregnant to work the mine, Lizzie divorced her husband, and continued to run the mine .She falls for a wealthy miner who ultimately leaves his wife for her . Lots more happens but you need to read it to find out. I enjoyed it and would
Recommend it.
Another great write by Rebecca Rosenberg. Determination can lead to strange bedfellows as they say, but it can also lead to a strong woman. As having read Mrs. London by the same author, this is just as good it not better. Keep up the great work.
Rebecca Rosenberg’s novel, Gold Digger, is a work of historical fiction based on an actual person. Elizabeth McCourt Tabor came to be known as Baby Doe after she moved to Colorado in 1878 with her first husband to work her father-in-law’s gold mine. Everything goes wrong and she vows never to be dependent on anyone again. Resourceful, strong and independent are just a few of adjectives that describe her. She struggles to make her own way, all the while rejecting offers from men. Finally, there is one man she can not refuse. Her life takes a path she could never have imagined.
This is a well written and enthralling novel. It brings to life important historical characters who lived in an exciting age. The story is so well told readers that are transported back in time and become immersed in the narrative. Highly recommended.
I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Elizabeth McCourt Doe lived a remarkable life. I was enthralled by her story. She had the strength and tenacity to fight for her survival. Her beauty was both a blessing and a curse. She became famous or infamous as Baby Doe, but she was no fragile beauty. I admired her desire to learn about mining so that she could help her husband, Harvey, secure their fortune. Unfortunately he was a weak man who abandoned her. When Baby Doe divorced him, she flaunted society’s rules. I was impressed by her courage. When she found love with the Silver King, I wanted her to find the love and acceptance she deserved. Horace Tabor was a good and generous man who worked to improve the lives of people. What started out as admiration turned to love. Unfortunately he was married to a controlling woman. Baby Doe was a religious and didn’t want to spend her life hiding in the shadows. I understood why she left Tabor and went back to Wisconsin. How he won his bride was romantic. It broke my heart how Baby Doe was vilified when they married. People showed their hatred and prejudice. I cried when Horace died and was overcome when Baby Doe faced the people who came to honor her late husband. Rebecca Rosenberg pulled me into this remarkable book. The characters came alive. I couldn’t believe that I had never heard of Baby Doe Tabor before. I can’t wait to read the sequel, Silver Dollar, to see what life has in store for her.
An engaging tale based on Elizabeth McCourt Doe(nicknamed Baby Doe)’s life in Colorado during the late 1800s. A time of Indian massacres, Chinese riots, railroad and mine wars. A time of colorful characters- Doc Holliday, Presidents Grant and Arthur, cowboys and gamblers. Her story is one of rags to riches to rags, heartache, love found and lost and found, scandals, politics and loyalty. The book dragged at times and for such an intriguing character I felt the portrayal of Baby doe was flat at times. I still recommend spending time reading this especially if you love learning about our country’s history. This is a tale of survival and resilience and I look forward to the sequel. I received an advanced copy and am thrilled to leave a review.
So Ms. Rosenberg is a new to me author – and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read this book. This book has well written characters and intriguing story line. Baby Doe is the main character who is intriuging, charming, and beautiful. You will see her story unfold in 19th Century gold country. One of the things I really liked is that her story is based on the real Baby Doe. This had me looking up the true Baby Doe. I love when I can read a book and learn some stuff along the way. I look forward to more from this author.
I received a copy of this book through the author. All thoughts are my own.
I requested an ARC of this book because the title and cover intrigued me. My Great Aunt Nellie and her husband mined gold in Fairbanks, Alaska and I inherited a bracelet made from the first nuggets taken from their mine. Sadly, I never had the opportunity to hear her tales of those days, and I felt that reading this novel would give me some insight into what life might have been like for a woman in this exciting time.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fact-based historical novel. Baby Doe Tabor was in many ways a women ahead of her time. Men saw her beauty and wanted her, but few saw her inner strength and willingness to work hard in a world where women were expected to be wives, mothers and housekeepers and not involved in men’s work. Her journey was filled with highs and lows, set against the landscape of Colorado in the late 19th century and the story is rich with atmosphere and history. It is a love story of a woman who was ostracized for causing a scandal in a small town and who followed her heart in spite of it. Ultimately, however, it is the story of a woman discovering who she is and how to use that knowledge to survive when the men in her life are unable or unwilling to help. I have a greater than ever respect for the women who came before us and the role they played in our country’s history.
I love stories of strong women who defy expectations and social convention. Baby Doe Tabor rose to the challenge of making her own way the Wild West. Good historical fiction entertains me; great historial fiction like Gold Digger sends me on a quest to discover more about the characters. Rebecca Rosenberg combines impeccable research with exceptional storytelling. I can’t wait for Silver Dollar, when we’ll learn more about Baby Doe.
What a incredible book! Of historical novels, this time period is a intriguing favorite. The hardship Baby Doe overcomes, to find love with a hard visioned, not always lucky man who happens to be married to a less than supportive wife, the journey is incredible. The names dropped in this book, just kept me asking for more! I’m so thrilled there will be a sequel!
I did not want Gold Digger, The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor, to end. Author Rebecca Rosenberg made the pages flow, from one well-defined scene to the next…beautifully painting a picture with words, Rosenberg brings us into the scene, as if we were present. The Tabors and Colorado come alive.
When something is so well done, you want more and I look forward to Silver Dollar, the Sequel to Gold Digger, with great anticipation.
Thanks for bringing Leadville, Central City, Denver and the Tabors alive on the pages of Gold Digger.
PJ Fisher
This story is so fascinating! Baby Doe Tabor was a woman of courage and strength. Ms. Rosenberg gives us a look at the harsh life of miners and their communities. This book is hard to put down.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.