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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Lately, I have become hooked on historical fiction. Gold Digger is a wonderful look at what life was like during the gold and silver rush in Colorado. Life wasn’t easy, working a mine was a lot of work with the risk of injury and death every day. There is social acceptance, which Baby Doe didn’t have. There is the political aspect of Gold vs. Silver.
Gold Digger is from a time that I am just starting to explore and I couldn’t wait to read about Baby Doe’s life as a miner’s wife. Not only was she a miner’s wife but she also worked alongside the men at the mines learning the trade. I loved that she didn’t stay in the traditional wife role but wanted to learn about what her husband was doing even if this meant she wasn’t accepted by everyone. Baby Doe broke barriers and blazed her own trail.
I love when I finish a book, a historical book, and then realize how much I have learned while reading it. Gold Digger opened the door to time, a location, and a lifestyle that I didn’t know much about.
Baby Doe bursts off the pages of this historical novel. How she becomes a Tabor fills her story with more twists than a mining shaft.
No spoilers here. I thank the author, Rebecca Rosenberg, for telling her story in a lively style. We need more stories of strong women. Gold Digger’s story starts as she travels west to Colorado during the Gold mine frenzy.
Married to a man her mother believes will be rich, simply because his family owns a goldmine.
Elizabeth tries to please her father-in-law and listens to his advice. As she cares for his asthmatic son, her new husband shows little interest in the future they face.
I mediately liked Baby Doe. Her earnest desire to be a good wife. Her efforts to rescue her parents from financial ruin. Despite little education or support, Baby Doe proves resolved to make her new life a success.
Gold Digger: The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor by Rebecca Rosenberg is a historical novel set during a period in American History when the search for gold led to the establishment of many towns in the West and the state of Colorado. Not since school have I gained such insight into the establishment of the West and this period in American History. This is the story of the impact of the search for gold and wealth on one woman’s life, Lizzie McCourt Doe, later to be nicknamed Baby Doe.
Lizzie Doe came west to run a gold mine owned by her new husband’s father. This is where the story begins. It is the start of the struggles to acclimate to new surroundings in the West that are much more austere than in the East. This is the story of love, loss, tragedy and strength of character. Do not let the name Baby Doe lead you to think that this is a woman who is helpless and needy. It is the furthest thing from the truth. Baby Doe is a strong, resilient and fierce woman who does not fit the mold of women at this time in history. Baby Doe did not let hardships and loss destroy her, she used it to strengthen both herself and her resolve.
This is a very well written book. Rebecca Rosenberg paints a very vivid picture of the mining towns, that grew into cities and the characters that inhabit them. I was able to visualize the people, the places and the action. The description was so subtle and was made so much a part of the story that I sometimes wondered how I could see the action and the people as well as sense their character. The characters are built with distinctive qualities that you can either support or dislike. I had some very emotional reactions during the reading of this book. I really liked the character of Baby Doe Tabor and I rooted for her throughout.
I highly recommend this well written novel of historical fiction to everyone. It has all the elements that a reader wants in a good book. I look forward to reading more books by Rebecca Rosenberg.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #LionHeartPublishing for approving my request. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
After reading this I realized this story though not nonfiction is based on a true story. The sequel, which I can’t wait to read will be releasing in September.
Calling all historical fiction readers, you’re going to really enjoy this one.
It is rich in historical detail. Very word heavy, you’ll love the descriptions. Lizzie aka Baby Doe comes from poverty but with her exceptional beauty her Mama always said she would marry rich.
This woman is a survivor, just twenty years old she travels to Colorado with her husband to work a gold mine with her new husband. It wasn’t long before he deserted her leaving her hungry and pregnant to work the mine herself.
With her beauty attracting men like bees to honey it wasn’t long before they were swarming. Rich,poor they all wanted her and not to have a cup of tea with them.
After she moves to Leadville she fell in love with and marries a prospector twice her age.
Horace Tabor strikes the biggest silver vein in history . Though she is now rich Baby Doe is never accepted into polite society despite wearing the latest fashions and living in opulence.
Scandal,wealth,power we encounter them all before the bottom drops out.
Baby Doe is a real spit-fire, I think you’re gonna enjoy reading about her.
Published May 28th 2019 by LION HEART PUBLISHING.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Great book to learn about the life of a Colorado legend Baby Doe. You learn all about her journey from rags to riches back to rags. Learning why this woman inspired an opera and movies. True American legend who life has both triumphs and tragedies.
Wonderful story, interesting complex characters. a great fictional history. loved the book!
I have just finished another incredible novel by Rebecca Rosenberg, who is fast becoming a favorite of mine. She writes novels about strong women who defy societal norms (and you all know how I enjoy reading about amazing women) and with Gold Digger we get to meet Baby Doe Tabor.
“She’s something, isn’t she?”
“Some kind of trouble.”
Baby Doe Tabor is well known in Colorado history but I hadn’t heard of her until Rebecca’s novel. Set in the late 1800’s, Gold Digger tells the rags-to-riches story of Baby Doe (Lizzie), a beautiful yet scandalous woman. She was admired by many men and shunned by the women in their social circles. Rosenberg chronicles half of Baby’s life – the remaining half of her story will be continued in Rosenberg’s next book, Silver Dollar, which releases in 2020. I am also very excited for the 2021 release of her Champagne Widows Series.
I loved all of the historical cameos in the book – Oscar Wilde, Doc Holliday, President Grant & Arthur, the Vanderbilts, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.
I inhaled Gold Digger in two sittings. It was fascinating to read about the mining industry during that time and Baby Doe sure lived an interesting life, which was spectacularly told as only Rosenberg can!
What a fun book. It certainly had ups and downs, as well as common catastrophes of the times, but I seriously had fun reading this book. Baby Doe Tabor is a strong, capable women in a time when such characteristics are not popular or even fashionable in ladies.
This story takes us from the train that Lizzie and her newlywed husband, Harvey take to Colorado to a time when she is friends with the President. We follow her excitement and disappointments. The characters are interesting. At once, they are self-deprecating, egotistical, humble and lovestruck. The author portrays the early west as wild while still holding on to its societal norms and prejudices. The tale weaves in between minute towns, desolate mines and cities. The writing is concise and it reads easily. I wanted to read it in one sitting.
I highly recommend this book. I tend to read more Civil War and World War II historical fiction. This was a breath of fresh air and left me scampering to find more from this era. I have already joined Rebecca Rosenberg’s website so that I can be notified upon the publication of the second installment of Baby Doe Tabor’s fascinating life.
I received an ARC from Lion Heart Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book.
Epic love story. Fantastic depiction of late 1800s-early 1900s gold rush in Colorado. I was not familiar with Baby Doe Tabor but after reading this book I want to find out more about her life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a woman determined to be independent and ask questions and stand up for herself.
It was a wild time in history, but also opulence and riches beyond compare for the lucky few. Baby Doe experiences everything from infidelity, miscarriage, betrayal, abandonment, crooks and more and swears off men and marriage.
When Horace Tabor meets Baby Doe, sparks fly (pun intended) and their love story is based on true admiration and respect. They both have big hearts and faith in human nature and each other.
I am thrilled to have discovered this California author and can’t wait to read the sequel!
Wonderful Historical Fiction
What a wonderful rendition of Baby Doe’s life and legacy. I was raised on the stories out of Central City and Leadville. I am a Colorado native born of native Coloradans. I even went to high school with a Tabor, the great-granddaughter of Horace and Augusta. I have hiked and explored all of the areas in this book. As well as visited every museum in the mining areas multiple times. The whore house museums are the best! At any rate, the author stayed close to the facts throughout this book. The book began painfully slow, I stayed with it and it got much better. I received this ARC book from Net Galley for free and this is my honest review.
The story of Baby Doe Tabor is exciting—full of love, rich living, and beautiful things, while at the same time we get to witness the hard life she lived and the rags to riches and back to rags struggles she endured. She definitely was a very strong woman and one who was not afraid to speak her mind, which was pretty much unheard of at that time in the old West. What a spitfire she was!
I love that this story took me back to that old West and let me experience life the way it was back then. I became immersed in that time period and learned so much about the silver mining in that area. It was interesting to experience the life of an ‘outsider’ to the area as Baby Doe was shunned by society and was never really accepted. I admired her strength and her determination to get what she wanted.
Gold Digger: The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor is a must read for historical fiction lovers. It truly gives us a look at the tough times, but also the glorious times, of the old West through the eyes of an amazing woman.
I found this to be a well-researched fictional account of the life of Baby Doe Tabor, born Elizabeth McCourt. I have always found the lives of women who forged new paths in society to be fascinating. While Baby Doe Tabor was previously unknown by me, I found her story intriguing. This is literally the biggest rags-to-riches and back again story I have ever read. The author’s fascination with this historical character and the silver mining industry in Colorado is apparent. She accurately paints the lavishness and hardships of life, along with the isolation from public approval that were a result of her affair and marriage to Tabor.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I won a copy of this book and also got a copy via NetGalley from the author for my complete, unbiased, and honest review.
This book was so good from the very beginning. I was a bit unsure whether I was going to like it at first but after reading the very first page I was hooked. It weaves so much history throughout the story. I learned so much about the gold and silver mines in Colorado. I also remembered a President that I had forgotten about. The 21st president of the United States. President Arthur. I know my presidents usually but for some reason forgot about him so I googled him. I love when I read a book that makes me a bit smarter.
I loved this book. I loved most of the characters. There were some that I detested but that happens. It had so much feeling. Deep love, aching, heartbreaking pain, a bit of laughter. All the feels I expect from a good book. Baby Doe was a great beauty and all the men wanted her. When she gave her heart it was for real. It was for life. Not for money but for true love. I wept in a few parts of this book. It broke my heart and then I would feel so happy. I hated how the women treated Baby Doe. They should have given her a chance. She was kind, tender, loving, giving to a fault and loyal. Horace Tabor fell in love with her and made her his wife against all the crazy odds of the Colorado laws. I could not believe that a woman could not get a divorce back then. That was crazy, but true. It was hard for Horace to get a divorce so he could marry Baby Doe. Theirs is a love story that transcends the ages. And what an age difference they had. Her young and beautiful and him somewhat old. He was actually quite a bit older than her but they had the thing that keeps a couple together. Complete love and loyalty.
This book was so well researched. I felt like I was right there. In the mines, in the mountains, in the hotels, opera houses and even in the White House. Ms Rosenberg did an outstanding job with this book. She brought history to life with words. Words that I won’t soon forget. I treasured each word in this book. It was truly a beautiful story of love and loss.
I can’t wait for the sequel now.
A great big 5 stars and more if I could.
Thank you to #NetGalley #Rebecca Rosenberg for this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book that is based on a real life person. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. Baby Doe goes to Colorado, with her new husband to start gold and silver mining. All at the suggestion of her new father-in-law. When the marriage falls apart, she does what she has to, to survive.
This book takes place during the 1870’s. I highly recommend this book.
Lindas Book Obsession Review
Rebecca Rosenberg, Author for “Gold Digger The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor” has written a captivating, enthralling, intriguing, intense, and suspenseful novel. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction and Romance. The timeline for this story is around 1878, around the time of the gold rush, in Colorado. The author describes her colorful cast of characters as complex and complicated.
Baby Doe came to Colorida with her new husband to work and look for gold in the mine her father-in-law had suggested. She wants to send money to her family. Baby Doe finds herself working very hard. Baby Doe shows how courageous she is when her husband leaves her. She files for a divorce
After this happens, Baby Doe moves to Leadville. Baby Doe does meet someone. I love the way that Rebecca Rosenberg vividly describes the Western days of mining. The prospectors are looking for gold and veins of silver. Men are fighting for their mining rights. There is a political agenda, discrimination, betrayals and danger. Even when Baby Doe is considered successful and is charitable, it is difficult for her to make friends. I eagerly await the next novel in this series. I highly recommend this Historical Fiction Read.
I love a story that can draw me into another time and place! Rebecca Rosenberg has done a marvelous job with creating Baby Doe’s world and I am so glad that I got to take a peek! You can feel the cold of the blizzard the night Baby Doe delivers her son and you slow your breathing has you read of Horace claustrophobia and feel the mines walls closing in! Such a good read!
This immersive novel tells the true story of Lizzie “Baby Doe” Tabor, a celebrated beauty in America’s Gilded Age, who went from rags to riches in the late 19th century. Without giving away too much, Baby Doe marries the son of a wealthy minor in order to save her family from poverty, only to find herself in a new kind of trouble. The novel is fast-paced and dramatic, and I found the scenes exquisitely written as Baby Doe—a wonderful, big-hearted character—finds love, thumbs her nose at the society that snubs her, raises a child, and manages her own business. I highly recommend it.
BOOK REVIEW: (ARC)
Gold Digger, The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor
By: Rebecca Rosenberg
Product Description:
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!
As I read the above synopsis, I was intrigued….
The geographical descriptions are vivid against the backdrop of the Gold and Silver rush of the 1800s.
Lizzy, aka Baby Doe, although thrust into a life she knew nothing about, becomes a fierce force to be reckoned with. She’s known for her beauty and strength, but not well received by the townspeople in a place she now calls home with her new husband, a man she doesn’t love, all the while trying to forge a path of her own and help her family back home as they, in her eyes, continually whine for her help, financially. As life progresses, it takes a toll in ways Lizzy is not prepared for, but during a time where women were to cowar, not fight back against their struggles, this little lady pushes past all that is holding her down and becomes a fighter against scandals, and for loyalty.
This rags to riches, and back to rags again story, is based on truth and researched very well by the author. It’s engaging, full of courage, love and heartache, grit and honesty.
I thank Rebecca Rosenberg for my personal, signed gift of Gold Digger, for my reading enjoyment and opportunity to review.
4 Stars
#GoldDigger The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor
#Rebecca Rosenberg
#LionHeartPublishing
Wild Sage Book Blog (FB)
Novels & Latte Book Club (FB)
Rebecca Rosenberg’s has brought Baby Doe Tabor to life in her book Gold Digger: The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor. Baby Doe married for love and found riches and tragedy in a real-life adventure that sounds like it should be fiction because it is so amazing. She was an incredibly determined, stubborn woman who survived unbelievable events.
This is the first book that I have read by this author and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Loved it!!!
I loved finding out about the mines and mining practice. Baby Doe is a great and I
unexpected heroine, and that makes her story particularly unique for the time period in which she lived.
I just hope that there are more great books like this to follow up.