A Place to Heal

Rubyville #3

by Deborah Ann Dykeman, Julia Ryan (Illustrations)

How do you live and learn when your pride is bigger than your heart…and your hurts are worn like medals? Helen Barton lives her life by her words, and they aren’t always carefully selected. Her bitterness is alive and well, flourishing wherever she goes. She meets her equal the summer of 1925. If possible, Malcolm Hanover may be more cynical than she is. Is this a match made in Heaven, or something more sinister? Often, lessons are learned the hard way. Is it better to light your path with a torch of revenge and bitterness…or accept the hurts you have and seek a place to heal? The answers are there for them, if they are willing to heed them.

213 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2016

About the author

Deborah Ann Dykeman has eleven published books available through major online retailers. Her Rubyville series has been loved by many. Deborah strives to get at the heart of a person’s walk with God. Through her stories, characters face many issues that are rarely discussed in Christian circles. Deborah’s nonfiction short stories, “Twice in a Lifetime” and “Joshua’s Story”, have both placed second at the Called to Write Conference. Deborah has been married for forty-one years. She and her husband have five children and eight grandchildren. She has been a homeschooling mom, Sunday school teacher, AWANA director and a pastor’s wife. She has worked as a CNA and an Activity Director. When not writing, designing covers, marketing or attending events, she is working on home renovation projects. She loves to meet with her readers and hear their stories. Deborah resides in the beautiful Flint Hills region of the state of Kansas.

Reviews

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful love story set in the 1920's , a type of hard to get and taking no for an answer, which ends up the man getting the woman he loves in the end, but sadness as well. The copy of the book I got has a Rose smell through out which I love, and to me was something that sort of "took" me to that time era? The only reason for 4 stars was it jumped around a bit too much for me, but other readers may not feel that way. None the less a great read !

[Aimee M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Helen's story more then I did her mom's. I was surprised and a little mad when I read about how Malcolm sometimes treated Helen. Then I was happy to read how Helen stood up to Malcolm and told him that if he really did love her that he needed to stop and get some help. Good job Helen!!

[Kerstin Anders · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was good , seeing another chapter in the life of the Barton women , How life is ever changing , yet stays the same. I want more of this series. Starting book 4 and I hate to see it end.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Goodreads Review of A Place to Heal

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A Place to Heal was such an emotional and absorbing read. One of the first things that struck me was how unsettling Malcolm was as a character. He was frightening, deeply unlikeable, and honestly hard to read at times—but in a way that made the story even more compelling. His presence created this tension that kept me invested because I genuinely wanted to see how everything would unfold.

What meant the most to me was the way the women in this story were portrayed. Their voices were strong, steady, and impossible to ignore. Even so, it was heartbreaking to see the reality of being caught between love and abuse. That sadness was very real, and the book didn’t sugarcoat it. Instead, it handled the topic with honesty and made it clear that harm disguised as love should never be accepted.

The bond between Helen and Laurel was one of the sweetest parts of the book. Their connection felt natural and comforting—two women finding strength in each other in a way that never felt forced. The characters overall were written so well that they almost felt like historical figures I was genuinely getting to know, not just fictional people on a page.

I also loved watching Evelyn grow throughout the story. Her development felt gentle and authentic, and it made her moments stand out in such a meaningful way. I’m really looking forward to seeing more through her eyes in the next book.

Overall, A Place to Heal is an easy five-star read for me. It’s heartfelt, heavy in the right places, and full of relationships that feel real and lasting. If you’re looking for a story about resilience, connection, and finding your voice even in the hardest moments, this one is absolutely worth reading.

[Kathy KS · Rating 2 out of 5]

This third volume of the series was my least favorite. The first volume gave me a feel good and discussed the forming of a small town in Kansas. The next expanded on the family, added locations, etc. This one also expands; actually, most of the book takes place in New York. The topics about relationships and dreams is valid, but wasn't the light reading I was looking for. I found myself getting pretty irritated with our main character, at times; but I do know her story represents that of many women, both now and in the past portrayed (1920s-40s).

I am interested enough to follow our next generation of Barton women and read the fourth volume. I believe the bulk of it will be in Kansas, again; but we'll see!

[PottWab Regional Library]

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