"Ruby Among Us" Book Review AND GIVEAWAY!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing

Ruby Among Us
(WaterBrook Press May 20, 2008)
by
Tina Ann Forkner


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:





Tina Ann Forkner writes contemporary fiction that challenges and inspires. Originally from Oklahoma, she graduated with honors in English from CSU Sacramento before ultimately settling in the wide-open spaces of Wyoming where she now resides with her husband and their three children. Tina serves on the Laramie County Library Foundation Board of Directors and enjoys gardening, spending time outdoors with her family, and works as a full-time writer.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Sometimes, the key that unlocks your future lies in someone else’s past...

In Ruby Among Us, Lucy DiCamillo is safely surrounded by her books, music, and art─but none of these reclusive comforts or even the protective efforts of her grandmother, Kitty can shield her from the memory of the mother she can no longer remember. Lucy senses her grandmother holds the key, but Kitty seems as eager to hide from the past as Lucy is eager to find it.

From the streets of San Francisco and Sacramento, to the lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley, Lucy follows the thread of memory in search for a heritage that seems long-buried with her mother, Ruby.

What she finds is enigmatic and stirring in this redemptive tale about the power of faith and mother-daughter love.

“What an incredible story. As both mothers and daughters, Ruby Among Us struck a special cord in each of the four of us. Tina writes in a way that makes us feel like we’re there; from the first line, we were captivated and drawn into an intricate weaving of the precious and fragile relationships that define us.”
~Point of Grace~

“Reading is a passion of mine, and when I find myself identifying with the characters, anxious to get to the next page to find answers to my questions, I know I’m into a good book! The daughter-mother-grandmother theme in Ruby Among Us pulled me in. Wonderful story-telling.”
~Jordin Sparks~, 2007 winner of American Idol

“Highly recommended. If you’re a mother or daughter, you’re going to love Ruby Among Us. Forkner does an extraordinary job…. I look forward to more from this author.”
~Ane Mulligan~, Novel Journey

“Don’t miss this one! Tina Ann Forkner is a strong new voice in fiction and Ruby Among Us is an amazing story of trials, regrets, and, ultimately, redemption. Lucy and her family history in the historic wine country of Sonoma bring to life the Scriptures about the Vine and His branches.”
~Kristin Billerbeck~, author of The Trophy Wives Club

If you would like to read the first chapter go HERE

MY REVIEW:
I had been looking forward to reading this book, I thought the cover was very compelling and while I know they say that you can't judge a book by its cover, in this case they are very wrong. "Ruby Among Us" was just as compelling in story and content as the cover led me to hope that it would be. It is a very interesting story of Lucy, her mother Ruby and her grandmother Kitty - Tina intertwines their lives from before Ruby or Lucy was born all the way up to the present and she does it so well that you are never lost as to who is being talked about or when it happened.
This is a beautiful story of love lost, love found and love experienced that is held together through forgiveness and redemption. For a fantastic summer read, get a copy of Tina's debut novel and you won't be disappointed...

I didn't think I had a copy to giveaway, but Tina contacted me and said I can - so please leave a comment (with a way to reach you!) to be entered in this drawing for a copy of "Ruby Among Us" - you will just love it! Just in case you don't win though this book is worth searching out - so check it out on Amazon at -

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400073588