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Jan 12, 2012

Kate rated it:

I have mixed feelings about this one. It has a lot going for it. It's about a teenage girl struggling with tough circumstances in an everyody-knows-everybody small town, and what I like best about the story is how the main character manages to get so lost in such a tiny place. It's extremely readable, and the characters are vivid and convincing.

On the other hand, [umm, spoiler alert, I guess? Can it be a spoiler when I'm warning you that something doesn't happen, even though you ma More...

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Dec 06, 2011

Peg rated it:

Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea by Morgan Callan Rogers. This book was provided to me free-of-charge by GoodReads, FirstReads.

I enjoyed this novel because it was easy to read even though, at times, it was sad. The setting is the 1960s in a small coastal Maine town with only a few year-round residents. Eleven-year-old Florine's mother, Carlie, disappears on a weekend trip with a girlfriend and we soon learn that her disappearance affects not only her family but the entire communit More...

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Jan 27, 2012

Laura rated it:

Moving coming of age story set in 1960s Maine. Twelve year old Florine's mother disappears during her annual vacation with a friend, leaving Florine, her father, her grandmother and others to make sense of this tragedy as well as other uncertainties of life. Years pass and although Florine's mother remains missing, her influence is very much around whether the characters like it or not. I liked this as the people were so real, the feelings of the hormonal teen were true, and the trials all of th More...

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Dec 03, 2011

cheryl rated it:

I've entered many Goodreads contests and was excited to finally be among the winners! This is a coming-of-age story, set largely in the 60s in a small town in Maine where only a handful of families live year-round. Florine finds herself adrift when her beloved mother, Carlie, disappears while on a girls' weekend away. Florine is left with her father, who loves her but with whom she struggles a bit, and a grandmother who is an institution in the town and is known to all as Grand. We see Carli More...

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Dec 11, 2011

Sam rated it:

Ruby Red Heart in A Cold Blue Sea starts in the 1960's in a small coastal Maine town where everyone knows everyone elses business. When Florine's mother disappears during a weekend trip with a friend, Florines's childhood is turned upside down. With her mother gone, the heart goes out of Florine's life and she and her father struggle with their loss. The story starts when Florine is 12 and takes us through 6 years. Florine has three good friends, Dottie, Bud and Glen who are there for her. Flori More...

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Dec 18, 2011

Renee rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Jan 26, 2012

Jaime rated it:

I am reviewing the new novel Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea by Morgan Callan Rogers for the Mobile Press-Register. Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea is a heartfelt debut. Rogers gives us a coming-of-age tale set in 1960s Maine. Florine Gilham is an unforgettable character, and I laughed with her and cried with her. So will you. Florine reminded me so much of Fannie Flagg’s Daisy Fay Harper, the main character in her novel, Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man (also known as Coming Attractions). More...

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Feb 04, 2012

Lydia rated it:

Original review posted here

This book charmed the heck outta me. Right away, while reading a description of a time long past, a coast I’d never seen, and a girl and her mother making a spontaneous trip, I fell in love. Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea is the perfect coming-of-age story for an older generation of women, and for the younger generation as well so they can get a glimpse of what life was like.

Here’s what I love the most about this captivating little story. Ther More...

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Dec 19, 2011

Sally rated it:

I actually thumbed through this book as I was reading another and landed on a page in the middle of the book. The words "hot tuna" stuck out and drew me in.

This books is about a girl named Florine and the turbulent waters she faces in her teenage years. The story mainly begins when Florine's mom, Carlie, goes missing on a trip. The next 6yrs go by with Florine and her three friends: Bud, Glen, and Dottie growing up in The Point. It centers on Florine growing up and dealing More...

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Dec 09, 2011

Ann rated it:

This is a quick and enjoyable read. The book's beginning didn't grab my attention right away, but I stuck with it and was soon rewarded with an engaging story. Florine and Grand, in particular, are well-developed and appealing characters and the challenges they face are realistically presented. If you've spent any time in Maine, you'll enjoy the descriptions of coastal scenery and the "down-East" lifestyle, and will love the cover art. The book's ending was, however, a bit too predi More...

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Dec 25, 2011

Sandra rated it:

What a surprise this small novel was! A first time author with a superb book! That's why I love to read unknown authors and first time novels because you just never know. A story about a twelve year old girl who loses her mother. Her mother just simply disappears. She goes on a yearly vacation with her friend from work and she never comes back from shopping in the small island resort where they are staying. The daughter is devastated and never seems to get her life back on track. A sad novel but More...

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Nov 11, 2011

Elena rated it:

Maine, 1963: Die elfjährige Florine wächst wohlbehütet bei ihren Eltern in einen kleinen Fischerdorf namens The Point an der Küste auf. Ihr Vater fährt jeden Tag auf das Meer zum Fischen hinaus, während ihre lebenslustige Mutter Carlie kellnert. Es sind Ferien und Florine verlebt einen schönen Sommer an der Seite ihrer unkonventionellen Mutter, das Glück scheinbar vollkommen. Doch auf einer Reise mit ihrer besten Freundin verschwindet Carlie eines Tag spurlos. Sämtliche Ermittlungen scheitern un More...

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Nov 11, 2011

Natalia rated it:

Als erstes muss ich sagen, dass der Titel und auch das Cover überhaupt nichts mit dem Buch zu tun haben und eher abschreckend für dieses wundervolle buch wirken..

ich hab mich trotz des furchbaren titel durchgerungen es zu kaufen, weil es bei so vielen tv-sendungen und bei radio eins so eine gute bewertung bekoemmen hat.. und es hat sie auch verdient..
Es ist ein Erslingswerk.. aber mit sehr viel Gefühl geschrieben.
Eine wirklich anrührende, sehr realistische Geschichte um ein J More...

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Jan 05, 2012

Sue rated it:

I won this novel, "Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Sea", by Morgan Callan Rogers, through Goodreads giveaway.This books is about a girl named Florine and the struggles she faces in her teenage years. The story mainly begins when Florine's mom, Carlie, goes missing on a trip. The next 6yrs go by with Florine and her three friends: Bud, Glen, and Dottie growing up in The Point. It centers on Florine growing up and dealing with losing her mother, her father "moving on", and her grandmo More...

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Jan 16, 2012

Kimy rated it:

I won Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea by Morgan Callan Rogers through a Good Reads First Reads giveaway. To start this book was very hard to read due to a printing error. Since it is not the final print, I would have to assume they will fix it before it is printed. My copy is upside down and backwards. Page one is upside down from the front cover and starts in the back. I had to read the right page and then the left page. Every page I started the wrong page.

Once I was able More...

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Dec 13, 2011

Joy rated it:

I received this book from the GoodReads FirstReads GiveAway. This book is tells the sad story of a young woman's adolescence, dealing with love, death, the fear of never knowing, learning to deal with the truth. The story begins when Florine and her group of local friends get in trouble for a childish prank, but the story is really about what happens after her mother disappears.

Not always a sympathetic heroine, Florine deals with things as many a teenager before her has, sh More...

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Dec 14, 2011

Alison rated it:

A very touching story. I spent the whole time either feeling bad for Florine, cheering her on, or wanting to slap her upside the head. The characters were very real and had real concerns for the age they were at in different parts of the story. This was a quick and easy read about a girl growing into a woman among a number of tragedies and conflicts. She learns how our decisions affect not only us, but those around us. She is able to make her own mistakes and learns and grows from them. Mo More...

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Dec 22, 2011

Agnes rated it:

I found this coming of age story, set in small town Maine in the 60s, to be quite touching. The characters, especially Florine and Grande, seem to come alive off the pages. The novel explores how Florine struggles to find herself through tragic loss but it doesn't get bogged down in sadness. Its full of love, hope, and how community, family and friendship help us find our way in life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel inspired to go and bake a loaf of bread!

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Feb 08, 2012

Gary rated it:

Rogers writes with a superb sense of place and period, delving deftly into true-to-life responses to unexplained loss. The novel's resolution is deeply moving, albeit one perhaps better served by an altered sequence of events.

A realistic and resonate coming-of-age novel, chronicling a journey from grief to acceptance.

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Jan 31, 2012

Sarah rated it:

I was given a free copy of this book through First Reads. Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea is the story of an american girl as she matures, set in the 1960's. She faces many hardships, including the death of her mother, betrayal by her friends, and just the usual "crazy" feelings we all experience while "growing up". While I enjoyed the true American flavor of this book, and feel that the author did a great job of portraying the life of a teen in the 60's, it did have a More...

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Jan 14, 2012

Susan rated it:

A beautifully written book about a young woman's coming of age and coming to terms with the loss of her mother in 1960's New England. It evoked memories of the time and of growing up and being in love. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to go back and revisit an earlier, seemingly simpler time.

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Jan 24, 2012

Book rated it:

Morgan Callan Rogers' debut novel Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea is a beautifully written coming of age story that is poignant and moving. To read my review in its entirety, please visit http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com...

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Feb 09, 2012

Deedee rated it:

This is an appealing coming-of-age novel about a young Maine girls whose mother disappears with no explanation. It follows her growing up years and the cast of small town characters who guide and sometimes misguide her. It held my interest but wasn't a book that I will remember long or ponder long after I finish it.

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Jan 03, 2012

Elisabeth rated it:

Received an Advance Reading Copy (in paperback) of this novel from the publisher.
Until about 50 pages in, I was having a hard time getting in to this story. I'm pleased to say it gets much better after that, and that I had an itch to finish the story and find out how everything turned out.

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Jan 24, 2012

Kathy rated it:

Morgan Callan Rogers' debut novel Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea is a beautifully written coming of age story that is poignant and moving. To read my review in its entirety, please visit http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com...

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Feb 03, 2012

Kim rated it:

After reading the first page, I knew I would love this book! The desciptions of the characters and setting are so rich, it was easy to imagine myself there with them. I look forward to following this author throughout her career.

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Feb 11, 2012

Courtney rated it:

*I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads*

Great coming of age story. This book had two things that I generally like: a female teen protagonist and it was set in Maine.

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Dec 19, 2011

Tracy rated it:

A great, easy read about a teenager in the 60's going threw some horrific life situations. She has to deal with loss after loss, plus hormones, her dad finding a new love, her own love life / or lack of, her friends dating. Very well written, easily read, made me think about my own teen years and how easy I had it!

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Nov 26, 2011

Lauren rated it:

Not my cup of tea and I hate the title.

However, I did like that the book was about what happens to Florine and her father after the mother disappears and not about solving the mystery ofthe disappearance.

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Feb 14, 2012

JoAnn/QuAppelle rated it:

Decent coming of age story .... A little uneven and somewhat unfinished. But it kept me interested

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