Ruby Among Us: A Novel (edit title)

• Rated 5 stars

“Wow! What a story. Tina really brings the wine country to life. Her visual descriptions are vivid and breathtaking. The story is so captivating you’re pulled in with the first page. You’ll immediately connect with the well-written, intricate characters, and feel they are friends. Mrs. Forkner’s writing style is relaxed and fresh. This wonderful novel will be in my top ten of the year. I’d love to see it win a Christy award.

To read more of my review, visit [a href="http://rcwriter.wordpress.com"]Beach Reads[/a]”

• Rated 4 stars

“"Ruby Among Us" is an outstanding novel from debut author Tina Ann Forkner. The story of 3 generations of women and the men they love is woven among the lush scenery of the places they cherish. Long-held family secrets unravel in a unique writing style that brings the characters to life and is at the same time both honest and sensitive about topics rarely brought out in Christian fiction. This is a fast-paced read that at times leaves you breathless to learn both the history and the future of characters you come to love.”

• Rated 5 stars

“A heartwarming novel about a young woman's search for family. The intense opening scene drew me into the story and Forkner's compelling prose kept me there. How true it is that people we love never leave us, and this is illustrated by Lucy DiCamillo's hunger to know more about the mother who died when Lucy was young.

Tina Ann Forkner has done a masterful job of describing the Sonoma Valley. The reader is right there with the characters.


Stop by my website--www dot annshorey dot com and click on the blog tab for a full review.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Ruby Among Us starts with a heavy theme, but it's important in order to understand Lucy's perspective throughout the story. If you love and miss your mother who has passed on, this story will move you to tears of healing and unleash memories of love. My mother had gone to be with the Lord for over ten years now, and reading Ruby Among Us sparked memories of loving times as I reached the conclusion of the book.

I don't want to give away any key plot points because half the pull of this story is not knowing imporant things about Lucy, Kitty and Ruby's pasts, and wanting so desperately to find out that you have trouble putting the book down. Forkner's writing style and voice is fresh, unique, and insightful. It's beautiful how she pulls you into the heart and mind of someone sheltered from life so much that she truly is an innocent in many of the things that take place around her. But the fresh, healing experiences she embraces, and her journey toward trusting others outside her immediate family is exciting and deep. And the romantic portions of this book are WONDERFUL and exciting. I felt my heart being tugged and moved with the tiny steps of faith that Lucy made toward healing...and toward love.

For someone who has always had a father in her life, it was eye-opening for me to see how truly painful it is for a young woman to never have a father figure in her life. In fact, so much pain is evoked that the hurt can taint choices and destroy a young woman's security for years to come. Our culture has tried very hard to shut down the importance of a man's role in a family and in a daughter's heart. Ruby Among Us beautifully illustrates how erroneous this belief is. For that reason alone I would love to see many men embrace this book. The bummer is that this story was so good I'm sad it had to end. I am praying that Waterbrook has enough sense to realize that readers will want more of Forkner's work in their hands, so hopefully there will be a sequel coming. Pretty please?”

• Rated 4 stars

“Ruby Among Us by Tina Ann Forkner is the intergenerational tale of the DiCamillo women: Kitty, Ruby, and Lucy. Lucy has been raised by her grandmother, Kitty, since the death of her mother, Ruby, when she was eight. Kitty has been Lucy's whole world; there are no fathers or grandfathers or boyfriends is their comfortable, but isolated, universe. When Lucy starts college, she starts asking questions about her past, questions that open wounds for Kitty and start them both down a path of self-discovery. Lucy is a sweet, smart narrator filling the story with a wealth of descriptive details bringing California, especially its wine country, to life. Kitty is resistant to bringing up the past; because of her sins, she doesn't feel that she can ever gain forgiveness. The story is in part an allegorical tale of the prodigal son. Kitty has sinned and so turns her back on her past and God for fear of rejection. But both her husband Blake and God have wide open arms filled with love, and it's a lesson for both women, one that in the end they learn from Ruby and her courageous faith.”

• Rated 5 stars

“This to me was a very thought-provoking book about family and the perceptions we ourselves have of our own families. Sometimes things are not as they appear and sometimes people make bad choices. This is a story about Ruby and the choices she made in her life and how they affected those around her. Do you ever wonder how the choices you make may affect others? Like I said, this was very thought provoking and definitely a worthwhile read. I loved the characters and couldn't wait to get more of them. Each page brought forth a new revelation that kept me spinning and seeking to learn more about the details that brought them to the choices they made. This is a book that I would highly recommend.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Forkner's debut novel is a compelling story with engaging characters, but the writing lacks depth, particularly the dialogue, which is sometimes stilted and unrealistic.”

• Rated 4 stars

“This is a very thought provoking and moving book. Tina tells a tale that is intense. The plot is intricately woven with many twists and turns. The curiosity, pain and deep yearning of Lucy to get to the truth of her life, her mother’s life and her grandmothers kept me reading this book every chance I could get to see if the truth would ever come out. This book showed me a word picture for John 8:32 which says “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Lucy longed to be free of the family secrets but how? Kitty was the keeper of the family secrets. Her heart was broken and her spirit crushed by the storms of life. Kitty felt that she had to hold onto these secrets to survive. This book showed another word picture for Psalm 34:18 which says “The Lord is close to the broken hearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” This story also is about forgiveness, redemption, and new beginnings. I was compelled to keep reading this rich story to find out if Lucy could put the pieces of her life together. The life she never knew she had. Her Heritage. It’s definitely a page turner! Nora St.Laurent www.psalm516.blogspot.com ”

• Rated 4 stars

“In her debut novel, Forkner explores the relationship between three generations of mothers and daughters with the sensitivity of a seasoned novelist. When her young, single-mother dies, eight-year-old Lucy loses her memories of Ruby. Grandmother Kitty moves in to raise Lucy. But as Lucy grows up, she's no longer satisfied with Kitty's memories of Ruby. Lucy wants her own and begins to search for them.

Forkner does an extraordinary job of drawing the reader into the mystery surrounding Lucy's heritage and her grandmother's past. As she struggles to regain some memory of Ruby and delve into the secrets everyone else seems to know, you'll feel as if you're walking beside Lucy, discovering each piece of the puzzle with her.

I loved how Forkner resisted telling too much before Lucy discovered it, which created a very credible tale. If you're a mother or a daughter, you're going to love Ruby Among Us. I give it a high recommendation and look forward to more from this author.
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