Scan barcode
quieswallflower's review against another edition
1.0
I was firstly attracted to this book by the very pretty looking girl on the cover, and that should've warned me right there.
Assuming you've read the synopsis above, I will just go straight into my review.
Ruby is your typical Christian young woman in the 1800s. Wise, Patient, Sweet, Kind, Tender, excetera. And that's fine! Nothing wrong with it at all! But I just didn't like how often the author made Ruby talk too kindly in arguments and bantering. She didn't feel REAL to me; she never raised her voice, and if she did it was still sweetly. Now I'm not saying she needs to curse, but I just was looking for some realness.
Secondly, the writing was too bland. Nothing to it. Lauraine Snelling's dialog tags state the obvious over and over again after I already know how the character said something just by simply reading the words exchanged.
It is filled with tons and tons of tropes. Especially Christian tropes and makes us Believers sound like we are weak and have no backbone. I did NOT like that.
Ruby talks to herself WAY TOO MUCH. The italics are all over in every page. Plus her thoughts are so "Lord help me." and other OBVIOUS and crybaby stuff.
All in all, I had to stop when the love interest came, which I saw coming five chapter in advance. He's your typical handsome Cowboy that sounds like he walked straight outta the show Gunsmoke and Bonanza. ;)
"He was better looking than she had remembered" is where I laughed and shut the book and gave up.
Assuming you've read the synopsis above, I will just go straight into my review.
Ruby is your typical Christian young woman in the 1800s. Wise, Patient, Sweet, Kind, Tender, excetera. And that's fine! Nothing wrong with it at all! But I just didn't like how often the author made Ruby talk too kindly in arguments and bantering. She didn't feel REAL to me; she never raised her voice, and if she did it was still sweetly. Now I'm not saying she needs to curse, but I just was looking for some realness.
Secondly, the writing was too bland. Nothing to it. Lauraine Snelling's dialog tags state the obvious over and over again after I already know how the character said something just by simply reading the words exchanged.
It is filled with tons and tons of tropes. Especially Christian tropes and makes us Believers sound like we are weak and have no backbone. I did NOT like that.
Ruby talks to herself WAY TOO MUCH. The italics are all over in every page. Plus her thoughts are so "Lord help me." and other OBVIOUS and crybaby stuff.
All in all, I had to stop when the love interest came, which I saw coming five chapter in advance. He's your typical handsome Cowboy that sounds like he walked straight outta the show Gunsmoke and Bonanza. ;)
"He was better looking than she had remembered" is where I laughed and shut the book and gave up.
crystalmbookshelf83's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
yehoshualover's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.75
Part of a series to be read in order. This book is more of a to be confined rather than an ending in itself. Too slow paced for me, will not continue the next in the series.
bookworm356's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
danicapage's review against another edition
3.0
Ruby Torvald recieves a letter from her father begging her to come west and see him before he dies. Unable to refuse his request she obeys his request and comes west with her sister Opal.
But when she arrives she discovers that nothing is what she expected it to be. Her father ran a questionalbe buisness called the Dove House with "spoiled doves."
She promised to take care of the girls before her father's death, but it's turning out to be nearly impossible.
Rand is not happy with Ruby's plan of changing the Dove House into a respectable hotel and breakfast and thinks she's a prude who's stifling Opal's independence.
This book was a good read and I will definitely continue to read the next book in the series.
But when she arrives she discovers that nothing is what she expected it to be. Her father ran a questionalbe buisness called the Dove House with "spoiled doves."
She promised to take care of the girls before her father's death, but it's turning out to be nearly impossible.
Rand is not happy with Ruby's plan of changing the Dove House into a respectable hotel and breakfast and thinks she's a prude who's stifling Opal's independence.
This book was a good read and I will definitely continue to read the next book in the series.
camiba's review against another edition
1.0
This book was boring. The way the author wrote of Ruth's naiveness came off a bit unrealistic, even for the 19th century. Ruby is the first book in a series of novels; a series in which I have no desire to continue reading.
mmichellemoore's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the pacing, it moved slowly without feeling as though it was bogged down. The cliff hanger ending means I'm going to be picking up Pearl from the library. It's a nice vacation read.
luliriisi's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the book in general, but there were bits that bothered me.
- The plot was too predictable.
- The pacing was fine in most places, but some bits I felt just dragged on and on. I think it's because some parts were very repetitive and it slowed the narrative down. Yes, I already got it that Rand Harrison is thinking of getting married. No need to tell me five more times. Same goes for Ruby wondering when the last time was when she read the Bible.
- Some of the characters were a bit two-dimensional. I would've liked to see more growth in Daisy and Cimarron and Belle.
- The ending was too abrupt. I knew this was part of a series, but even so, I feel the ending needs to work to make this actually feel like a novel by itself, not just the intro to another story.
- The plot was too predictable.
- The pacing was fine in most places, but some bits I felt just dragged on and on. I think it's because some parts were very repetitive and it slowed the narrative down. Yes, I already got it that Rand Harrison is thinking of getting married. No need to tell me five more times. Same goes for Ruby wondering when the last time was when she read the Bible.
- Some of the characters were a bit two-dimensional. I would've liked to see more growth in Daisy and Cimarron and Belle.
- The ending was too abrupt. I knew this was part of a series, but even so, I feel the ending needs to work to make this actually feel like a novel by itself, not just the intro to another story.
tiffkin's review against another edition
2.0
I ordered this series of four books after finding them on a list of "Best American Historical Fiction" I didn't realize at the time they were Christian novels. I love reading about this time period in American history so I may finish the other three books in the series but they aren't that well written and the religious aspect gets pretty heavy handed toward the end of the first book.
chelz286's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this first book in the series. Ruby receives a letter from her father who she has heartland heard from in the last decade. He is on his death bed and her and her sister need to go west to claim their inheritance for when he passes. Ruby and younger sister Opal get on a train and head west. Getting quite the shock of their lives coming from New York, to the open West - they find that they’ve inherited a hotel her father has built up. It’s not just any hotel though, Ruby quite embarrassed once she learns the truth about the hotel having night activities and that’s why the townsfolk did not seem too happy when she introduced herself as new owner. She quickly turns it around to a true hotel and dinner, but has to overcome various struggles and trust amongst the locals to survive. Meanwhile, still being mother to her younger sister.