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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A fantastic read. Wonderful plot and characters. I volunteered to read a copy for an honest review.
GOLD DIGGER: THE REMARKABLE BABY DOE TABOR by Rebecca Rosenberg is a work of historical fiction based on the life of Elizabeth McCourt Doe Tabor, aka Baby Doe. It is set in the late 1800s during the heyday of gold and silver mining in Colorado. After moving to Colorado with her new husband, Harvey, to make their fortune in a gold mine, Baby Doe finds herself suddenly without a husband and living alone in poverty, estranged from friends and family. Later, she meets “silver king” and politician, Horace Tabor and despite him being married, they embark on a forbidden romance that eventually results in them both being shunned by the society they once dominated. This intriguing rags-to-riches-to-rags story is told with vivid descriptions and realistic detail. The characters were well-portrayed and believable and I loved how fiercely independent and resilient Baby Doe was in the face of all the difficulties she faced. I must confess I knew nothing about this strong woman from American history and I always like learning something new when I read historical fiction. I really enjoyed this well-written and engaging book and I look forward to the sequel, SILVER DOLLAR, coming later this year. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.
Rebecca Rosenberg’s writes a captivating story about legendary Baby Doe Tabor. Her story is very convincing and moving with intimate details about Baby Doe’s scandalous reputation and tenacity for prosperity from mining in the late 1800’s.
I am looking forward to reading her sequel, SILVER DOLLAR.
This is a Victorian era Western tale, the historical novel of Lizzie “Baby Doe” Tabor. Lizzie is a strong and confident young woman who thrives and matures during the heyday of Colorado silver mining. A story of love, politics, morality, and survival, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this new book by Rebecca Rosenberg!
Rebecca Rosenberg brings the story of Baby Doe Tabor’s remarkable life about a young beauty who travels to the Wild West with her new husband to find riches in the Colorado gold mines. While her looks are what attracts the attention of everyone in these dusty and unsophisticated towns, it is Baby Doe’s determination and strength that makes the reader fall in love with her.
I loved the descriptions of that era that the author used including details of clothing, from the Buckskinned Indians in beaver pelts, the threadbare denims of the miners and the beautiful dresses Baby Doe wore, such as the “violet organdy edged with silver filigree” and “ribbons that tied up the outer skirt revealing an underskirt of cornflower blue”. And the thrill that Baby Doe felt when she first saw the Clear Creek Canyon, “sheer rock walls rose like a formidable fortress, grand and terrifying” with “the majesty of it all cracked her heart open as surely as if the Pawnee had, pouring her hopes onto the magnificent mountains.” These vivid descriptions fill the book with images that take you to that time and place.
Baby Doe’s life moves at a frenetic speed and there are such joyful times but also an abundance of sadness. I was fully engaged in her story while I rooted for her, laughed with her and cried with her. It’s a story that leaves you wondering whatever became of her and her beloved Matchless Mine. It’s so wonderful to know that Rosenberg has already started the sequel to this remarkable woman’s story.
Very interesting, well written Historical fiction about the struggles and triumphs of Lizzie ‘Baby Doe’ Tabor. In the late 1800’s., she was beautiful strong and stubborn and she defied Victorian gender values to work in the Colorado gold mines or what ever she needed to do to make it rich. I loved how the author weaved the story and how she portrayed the rich and colorful characters, I’m giving this one a 4 star rating and suggest you grab a copy!
Rebecca Rosenberg brings the past alive with her prose. Gold Digger, The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor is based on the life of Elizabeth McCourt Doe Tabor and obviously a great deal of background research went into the writing of this historical novel. Gold Digger takes us to Colorado mining country with the arrival of newlyweds Harvey and ‘Lizzy’ Elizabeth McCourt Doe in Denver by rail in April of 1878. We see Baby Doe through years of trying to help Harvey cope with life in general and the expectations of his wealthy East Coast parents, his desertion and the birth and death of their son, divorce from Harvey despite her Catholic faith and the lifetime of censure from Colorado’s social class.
We are with her also through much happier times, her later marriage to Horace and the birth of her two daughters, and watch as she copes with poverty, great wealth, and back to poverty, and the death of Husband #2, Horace Austin Warner Tabor in 1899.
Baby Doe Tabor was a remarkable woman, independent to a fault, kind and generous and a remarkable helpmate to both of the men in her life. Her travels through many of the mining towns in the Colorado mountains are so well described you feel like you have been there, at that time, in the cold or the warmth of the sun. And watching Denver grow into the transportation hub of the western Rocky Mountains is an exceptional experience as well.
I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Rebecca Rosenberg, Netgalley and IBPA Publisher Lion Heart in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
Great story. I learned so much about an era that I feel needs to get more attention. The storytelling was amazing and I became so interested in Baby Doe’s story that I had to find out the rest of her story. I was very glad to find out at the end of the book that a sequel is in the works! #GoldDigger
If you, like me, enjoy historical fiction centered around a courageous leading lady, then Gold Digger, The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor by Rebecca Rosenberg is the book for you. Set during the gold rush, this gem of a novel tells the rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-cliffhanger story of a young and newlywed woman who travels west to stake their claim on a mine gifted by her wealthy father-in-law. Her goal and her family’s expectation were that she would send riches home to bail out her bankrupt father. While Lizzie a/k/a Baby Doe is up for the challenge, her husband is not. He abandons her while she is carrying his child. Rather than return home a failure in the eyes of her family, Baby Doe resolves to make it on her own despite enormous odds.
As in Rosenberg’s earlier novel, The Secret Life of Mrs. London, Gold Digger has some hilarious and unexpectant scenes. The quick-witted and silver-tongued Baby Doe and had me snickering as she brushed off endless unwanted advances and engaged in Real Housewife franchise level spats with the women. Cast as a woman who could have any man she wanted but not a single female friend, Baby Doe kept her eye on the prize. Once she set her sights on the silver king Horace Tabor, you knew his heart didn’t stand a chance.
Gold Digger is rich with colorful characters, quick dialogue, interesting facts, and a fascinating era. An enthusiastic 4-star review; I eagerly await publication of the continuation of Baby Doe’s story in Rosenberg’s Silver Dollar, scheduled for publication in September 2019.
Thank you to Rebecca Rosenberg and NetGalley for an ARC of Gold Digger in exchange for an honest review.
What an incredible woman Baby Doe Tabor was. This book told of the mining and growth in the Colorado territory and how Baby Doe and Horace Tabor navigated all the ups and downs it brought. This is the reason I love historical fiction – through books you learn about history in an more personal and entertaining way. It is not just facts, there is more to the story than facts, it is real people and their struggles that paved the way for life today. A very good read, and I am thrilled that there is a sequel in the works. I want to know what happens next in Baby Doe’s life!
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book. This is my honest review.
I was given a free copy of the book by Rebecca Rosenberg. Thank you! A rags to riches and then back story that captivated me. Getting to know Baby Doe Tabor was fascinating. The story tells about a young woman that struggles to send money to her family, is deserted, when pregnant by her first husband, and finally meets her soulmate. Raising a family and living as a wealthy woman isn’t as pleasurable as it should be. Because of her divorce, she is shunned by society. Her strength and resilience amazed me. I am looking forward to the sequel.
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Received an arc of this book. I loved this book. It is well written and was well researched. Was especially interesting to me as I live near Denver. Am looking forward to read the sequel, Silver Dollar
was given a free copy for an honest review. not my normal genre that I read but found this book quite fascinating. glad I choose to read the book. if enjoy biographies would highly recommend you reading her story. baby doe led a life of ups and downs, happiness and despair which shaped the woman she was. she endured ridicule and even shunning from society but she endured all for her true love. you will feel her joys and her sadness but will continue to root for her. will look forward to the sequel on the next chapters of her life. highly recommend
I really enjoyed reading Gold Digger. Even though I had looked up her story, so I knew what happened, I was still intrigued throughout the entire book. Rebecca Rosenberg did a great job creating a character that you couldn’t help but love and cheer for throughout the book. Baby Doe was a heroine you wanted to be happy and succeed! Even when she did stupid things, I still wanted the best for her! I didn’t want to like Tabor, but I couldn’t help it. I liked him despite his flaws! I would definitely recommend this book. It kindled an interest in a part of American history that I know little about. Clean romance.
I was given an ARC for an honest review. Thank you!
I was instantly drawn in by the cover and then the summary. That is a lovely cover and the story sounds sooooooo good.
The story follows Baby Doe, born Elizabeth McCourt, who would become a legend of Colorado! Things do not start off so great. She thinks she finds her true love but is abandoned pregnant and no money. However, she kept pushing. Things happen and she meets Tabor who would move the Earth for her.
I felt so bad for Baby Doe. She was treated like crap by that jerkface! Ugh. He didn’t deserve her. I’m glad Baby Doe realized this and got a divorce even though it went against her religion and society. But he didn’t love her and she deserved better for sure.
Honestly? I wasn’t a huge Tabor fan at first. It took eons for me to really warm up to him. Maybe it is because I didn’t trust him? I’m not sure but I was constantly worried that he was going to hurt her. She really deserved happiness! I adored her. She was not only beautiful, but she was smart and strong.
I liked Billy at first, but grrrr he was a snot.
The writing was beautiful! I had enjoyed a previous novel by the author a while back and adored the writing style. This was the same. Simply lovely. It really hooks you into the story and characters.
The ending was cliff-hanger-ish…but not at the same time. I liked how it ended. You can leave as is or move forward. It was very nice, but it did make me sad at the same time. Oooo the feels.
I had no major issues at all. I really enjoyed the story. I highly recommend it for historical fiction lovers. I’ll stamp this with 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book. What I love is that I knew nothing of Baby Doe Tabor before reading this book, and I now I do! Informative, educational, entertaining, and so well written. I cannot wait for the sequel.
“Gold Digger”: The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor by Rebecca Rosenberg is a book of heartbreak, scandal and resilience. This is a very interesting rags to riches Historical Romance Book. The best part is that it is based on a real life woman Baby Doe Tabor. The book kept me turning the pages I didn’t want to put it down. The way that Ms. Rosenberg describes the scenes and people are so vivid you feel like you are right there in the book. I enjoyed learning from this book the trials and troubles of mining, the stigma from getting a divorce and being a woman trying to take care of yourself in those days. I completely enjoyed this true life love story and am looking forward to reading the next book “Silver Dollar.”
Gold digger by Rebecca Rosenberg
This novel was engrossing from beginning to end. Based on the real-life story of Baby Doe Tabor, Rosenberg has created a lively and moving portrait of this pioneer woman. Her indomitable spirit and fierce determination, despite the challenging circumstances, is brought to life here, with Rosenberg’s talent for fine details and her astute attention to the history of the Gold Rush. I’m a sucker for love stories and was drawn into the telling of Baby Doe and Horace Tabor’s relationship and the sacrifices they both made. I also have a life-long fascination for this period in American history in the 19th century, having grown up reading and treasuring all of Laura Ingall Wilder’s books. I enjoyed Rosenberg’s fresh perspective in Gold Digger, and learned a lot about mining for gold and silver in the West as well as about our country’s early beginnings. Curl up on the couch with this one, and enjoy!
I absolutely love how this author tells a story; she takes lesser known historical women and gives readers insight into their lives. The Secret Life of Mrs. London was an absolute treat to read and I was thrilled to have to the opportunity to read an advanced copy of God Digger. It did not disappoint. While it is not 100% historically accurate, I found through a little research that the underlying truths are present. Since this isn’t non-fiction, that was good enough for me. The overall telling is masterful and captivating and I can’t wait to read more from this author!
An exciting look into the past at the life of Lizzie “Baby Doe” Tabor. Lizzie is determined to help her family who has lost everything as a result of a fire. Taking her to Colorado on an adventure to prospect a gold mine, Lizzie has only just begun to know the hardships that she must endure to survive.. During numerous twists and turns, Lizzie stands strong throughout it all. Author, Rebecca Rosenberg, has written a novel that has given her readers a look at the life of Baby Doe and the desperate plight that a young girl’s life has taken. I highly recommend this novel to those who love a mix of history, love and adventure. I can’t wait to see what else author Rosenberg has in store!