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Ruby
When Ruby loses her job in Depression-era Norfolk, she boards a Greyhound for home. That bus will take her, not to her family, but to shame and degradation, to a life she never envisioned. Escape from that misery eventually comes, and she seeks to rebuild her life, while helping other women rebuild theirs. The road to peace and a new life will not be an easy one for her.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 26, 2020
"When your life, your world falls apart, How do you survive?" This quote from Karen D.McIntyre's book Ruby, sets the pace for a story that will touch you, move you and inspire you.
Like Elvis or Like Cher, Ruby is a story that is one of a kind. if ever I am asked about a woman's story Ruby will come to mind.
Ruby's story is a story of survival against insurmountable odds. A story of survival by sheer strength and conviction. It is also the story of a sense of responsibility towards others when you know you have something to offer, when you know you can help.
The story revolves around a young woman named Ruby, whom losing her job as a teacher during one of the most harrowing times (Depression Era America) in our history is forced into a nightmare existence. An existence that will test her will to survive and come away a better person or not at all.
Ruby is a heartbreaking story that will grab you from the start and will not let go till the last page. Beautifully paced, so well written i could not see what was coming next and never felt lost or confused as to what was happening.
Mrs McIntyre's skill at creating characters that belong where they are and a world that supports who they are is remarkable to say the least. This skill creates a story that feels so real it had me believing at some points that it was written from some real life experiences, experiences past on from family member to family member.
I would be remiss to not mention that Mrs McIntyre's description/visualization of a depression era America is as vivid and real as her characters. Forming a backdrop that can be felt and seen.
Despite not having read anything like Ruby before, I found myself having a hard time putting it down. A hard time not being emotionally invested in her story and her outcome.
Highly recommended, a must read for readers of any genre and almost any age.
Like Elvis or Like Cher, Ruby is a story that is one of a kind. if ever I am asked about a woman's story Ruby will come to mind.
Ruby's story is a story of survival against insurmountable odds. A story of survival by sheer strength and conviction. It is also the story of a sense of responsibility towards others when you know you have something to offer, when you know you can help.
The story revolves around a young woman named Ruby, whom losing her job as a teacher during one of the most harrowing times (Depression Era America) in our history is forced into a nightmare existence. An existence that will test her will to survive and come away a better person or not at all.
Ruby is a heartbreaking story that will grab you from the start and will not let go till the last page. Beautifully paced, so well written i could not see what was coming next and never felt lost or confused as to what was happening.
Mrs McIntyre's skill at creating characters that belong where they are and a world that supports who they are is remarkable to say the least. This skill creates a story that feels so real it had me believing at some points that it was written from some real life experiences, experiences past on from family member to family member.
I would be remiss to not mention that Mrs McIntyre's description/visualization of a depression era America is as vivid and real as her characters. Forming a backdrop that can be felt and seen.
Despite not having read anything like Ruby before, I found myself having a hard time putting it down. A hard time not being emotionally invested in her story and her outcome.
Highly recommended, a must read for readers of any genre and almost any age.
September 9, 2018
An exciting, uplifting, albeit heart-rending, novel — a page turner you can’t put down!! A truly enjoyable read!
August 11, 2024
A novel about a young woman’s resilience, but it didn’t land as well as I had hoped.
In 1930s rural Virginia, Ruby is a young teacher returning to her parents’ home after being laid off from her job. She befriends a charismatic man on the bus, and said man, Ray, offers to have his brother drive her home from where she’d be waiting for her folks at the sheriff’s office. Ruby accepts, and it’s only when it’s too late, after she’s downed a drugged drink, that she realizes she’s made a horrible mistake.
Ray and his brother, Joe, are sex traffickers. They pick up young women like Ruby, assault them and then sell them to the highest bidder. When we’re in the POVs of Ruby’s parents and their sheriff, there’s a nod to the fact that sometimes girls go missing, but it seems they lack the ability to track them down.
Ruby puts up a little bit of a fight, and her leg breaks then heals badly. Because she’s now a “gimp,” she’s essentially damaged goods, but Joe and Ray keep her around to do housework, and occasionally be assaulted.
More girls come and go during this time, and I think the strongest part of the story is Ruby’s resilience, and how she’s a beacon of hope for the other kidnapped victims. She’s able to run away once, though it fails, and it’s only through the pipeline of these other women who are sold to brothels that a savior figure of sorts comes to rescue her.
I found the story to be less compelling in the aftermath. Big events seemed to carry little emotional resonance with characters, even the final conflict/showdown with the antagonists. McIntyre’s attempts to create a little nuance for Ray and his corrupt officer friend fell completely flat. I also don’t really buy how any of the rescue went down, except that it had to happen for plot purposes.
The pacing felt off, and many chapters ended in a similar way of characters explicitly telling us “well, I imparted all the information I needed to; onto this more mundane part of my day.” Physical descriptions and character interiority were more or less brushed over. McIntyre put a lot of stock into her historical research, and it was impressive, though sometimes it read more like a random aside than part of a novel.
The ending was powerful in the peace Ruby found, though I think it was more told than shown. McIntyre introduced a lot of intriguing secondary characters, and I wish more of them were fleshed out. Though I admit, I was pleased that the perspective love story was a bit more unusual than it first appeared.
I met McIntyre at a Maryland Writers’ Association conference a couple of years ago, and I’m grateful to have given her book a go. It takes a lot of work to both write and self-publish a novel, and it seems her work has a better reputation than most work put out by indie authors. For my part, I wish the manuscript had more polish. But it’s a compelling idea.
In 1930s rural Virginia, Ruby is a young teacher returning to her parents’ home after being laid off from her job. She befriends a charismatic man on the bus, and said man, Ray, offers to have his brother drive her home from where she’d be waiting for her folks at the sheriff’s office. Ruby accepts, and it’s only when it’s too late, after she’s downed a drugged drink, that she realizes she’s made a horrible mistake.
Ray and his brother, Joe, are sex traffickers. They pick up young women like Ruby, assault them and then sell them to the highest bidder. When we’re in the POVs of Ruby’s parents and their sheriff, there’s a nod to the fact that sometimes girls go missing, but it seems they lack the ability to track them down.
Ruby puts up a little bit of a fight, and her leg breaks then heals badly. Because she’s now a “gimp,” she’s essentially damaged goods, but Joe and Ray keep her around to do housework, and occasionally be assaulted.
More girls come and go during this time, and I think the strongest part of the story is Ruby’s resilience, and how she’s a beacon of hope for the other kidnapped victims. She’s able to run away once, though it fails, and it’s only through the pipeline of these other women who are sold to brothels that a savior figure of sorts comes to rescue her.
I found the story to be less compelling in the aftermath. Big events seemed to carry little emotional resonance with characters, even the final conflict/showdown with the antagonists. McIntyre’s attempts to create a little nuance for Ray and his corrupt officer friend fell completely flat. I also don’t really buy how any of the rescue went down, except that it had to happen for plot purposes.
The pacing felt off, and many chapters ended in a similar way of characters explicitly telling us “well, I imparted all the information I needed to; onto this more mundane part of my day.” Physical descriptions and character interiority were more or less brushed over. McIntyre put a lot of stock into her historical research, and it was impressive, though sometimes it read more like a random aside than part of a novel.
The ending was powerful in the peace Ruby found, though I think it was more told than shown. McIntyre introduced a lot of intriguing secondary characters, and I wish more of them were fleshed out. Though I admit, I was pleased that the perspective love story was a bit more unusual than it first appeared.
I met McIntyre at a Maryland Writers’ Association conference a couple of years ago, and I’m grateful to have given her book a go. It takes a lot of work to both write and self-publish a novel, and it seems her work has a better reputation than most work put out by indie authors. For my part, I wish the manuscript had more polish. But it’s a compelling idea.
August 20, 2020
Ruby Malcolm is traveling home on a bus after having lost her teaching job in the midst of Virginia’s Great Depression of 1932. Having reached Roanoke, she is kidnapped there by two rogues who take her to their rural farmhouse and savagely rape and beat her, then drug her into a state of unconsciousness. After she is beaten into compliance, Ruby manages to survive amidst the growing awareness that the two men are also enslaving other girls who bunk with her in the henhouse which becomes her new home. Meanwhile, Tom and Lida, Ruby’s parents, search for her but no one has seen her. After witnessing unspeakable acts of horror perpetrated on the other girls, including young ones vanishing in the woods never to be seen again, Ruby experiences a numbness which will be her only salvation against a hopeless situation.
The author paints a strong picture of sex slavery within the historical context of the Great Depression. Ruby Malcolm is a great heroine that readers root for, and she encounters many twists and turns in her plight to gain freedom not only for herself but also for other girls caught in the sex ring and brothel. The novel illuminates the corruption of a sheriff who takes advantage of the girls, tearing apart the trust of a community and destroying the lives of innocent young women. Ruby’s story is a tale of times long past, but it resonates with such currency that readers know it could—and does—happen in today’s world. A story told with empathy and compassion. Definitely worth reading!
The author paints a strong picture of sex slavery within the historical context of the Great Depression. Ruby Malcolm is a great heroine that readers root for, and she encounters many twists and turns in her plight to gain freedom not only for herself but also for other girls caught in the sex ring and brothel. The novel illuminates the corruption of a sheriff who takes advantage of the girls, tearing apart the trust of a community and destroying the lives of innocent young women. Ruby’s story is a tale of times long past, but it resonates with such currency that readers know it could—and does—happen in today’s world. A story told with empathy and compassion. Definitely worth reading!
June 10, 2019
This takes place during the Depression Era. Ruby had lost her job in Virginia but so had other families across America. She was headed home getting ready to catch a bus when the most terrifying thing happened to her. She woke up not knowing where she was or how she got there but she soon learned. This is the story of Ruby's next several years.
This was a hard story to read and to think about the human body going through such torment and surviving each day. The story had a surprising ending. As I read I never knew what was going to happen in the next page. A well written book with many twist and turns until the very end of the book. Ruby was strong and had a strongwill to keep fighting everyday. All The characters were well defined. I couldn't put the book down. The author kept on track with the plot and it held my interest throughout the story.
This was a hard story to read and to think about the human body going through such torment and surviving each day. The story had a surprising ending. As I read I never knew what was going to happen in the next page. A well written book with many twist and turns until the very end of the book. Ruby was strong and had a strongwill to keep fighting everyday. All The characters were well defined. I couldn't put the book down. The author kept on track with the plot and it held my interest throughout the story.
September 28, 2018
A harrowing tale of a young innocent caught up in human trafficking, this historical novel is set in the Roanoke, Virginia area in the 1930s. It opens with a cautionary tale for all parents - to teach their children about public transportation, and to never leave arrangements open-ended. Ruby's courage, determination, and inventiveness demonstrate how never giving up helped to resolve her problems, and also set up a future that can positively influence the decisions of young women of every generation.
March 31, 2020
What an excellent book. Seems that trafficking problems of today existed way back.
This was a great story of resilience, courage and fortitude on the part of the main character of this book. It is really sad that abduction and luring young girls into prostitution still goes on today. Now they are rendered helpless with drugs instead of beatings.
I guess things have not changed that much from the 30's to today as far as kidnapping and selling girls for profit.
An eye opening book.
Michele Zito
This was a great story of resilience, courage and fortitude on the part of the main character of this book. It is really sad that abduction and luring young girls into prostitution still goes on today. Now they are rendered helpless with drugs instead of beatings.
I guess things have not changed that much from the 30's to today as far as kidnapping and selling girls for profit.
An eye opening book.
Michele Zito
April 6, 2020
Loved this book. Love Ruby
Just hard to put down. Just kept you wondering what was going to happen next. Ruby is a survivor & such a mentor to many girls to came into her life. Such a great book & totally different than what I read normally. Wish there were more books like this. Would love to see a sequel, or series. Ruby & Jake, all kinds of possibilities. I do audio books due to lack of time but when I saw this advertised I had to have it. I made time for it & enjoyed it so much.
Just hard to put down. Just kept you wondering what was going to happen next. Ruby is a survivor & such a mentor to many girls to came into her life. Such a great book & totally different than what I read normally. Wish there were more books like this. Would love to see a sequel, or series. Ruby & Jake, all kinds of possibilities. I do audio books due to lack of time but when I saw this advertised I had to have it. I made time for it & enjoyed it so much.
July 22, 2019
Good Read
I was surprised to realize that women were abducted and forced into prostitution...then sold off like livestock around the time of the Depres-sion.
The characters showcase a variety of people...the good, the bad, a d the ugly.
It was an interesting read...and a different take on things
I was surprised to realize that women were abducted and forced into prostitution...then sold off like livestock around the time of the Depres-sion.
The characters showcase a variety of people...the good, the bad, a d the ugly.
It was an interesting read...and a different take on things
July 15, 2020
Great read. Courageous characters in the midst of the depression era in brothels and farms , located in Virginia and North Carolina.
Loved this book and the heroine Ruby. She pulled herself out of deplorable circumstances, healing herself and finding peace and closure for her friends too.
Loved this book and the heroine Ruby. She pulled herself out of deplorable circumstances, healing herself and finding peace and closure for her friends too.
January 10, 2020
It’s been a while since I read a book I had a hard time putting down but this is one. This was a Christmas gift & I had no idea who the author was, even though she lives in a neighboring county. I’ll definitely be reading everything she publishes.
November 12, 2020
The author did an excellent job of building the strengths of the characters and their unique personalities, especially Ruby as a caring and strong young lady that kept the story flowing along nicely. I had a difficult time putting the book down when I needed to.
September 16, 2019
Makes you think
This book brings to light the issue of sex trafficking. I never really thought about it being an issue for so long. Really enjoyed this book.
This book brings to light the issue of sex trafficking. I never really thought about it being an issue for so long. Really enjoyed this book.
October 13, 2019
Excellent read.
Ms. McIntyre is a good story teller. There are rough parts, but bad guys, but in the end strong women won.
Ms. McIntyre is a good story teller. There are rough parts, but bad guys, but in the end strong women won.
March 21, 2024
What an amazing girl that Ruby is enjoyed reading about her amazing life..
January 21, 2026
Parts of the book were difficult to read. Not for the writing. But for the subject matter. I enjoyed the aspects of finding peace and moving forward.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews