Healing Ruby, Volume 1

By: Jennifer H. Westall

Narrated by: Andi Arndt

Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen..."

Ruby Graves, a young girl in Depression-era Alabama, faces the hardships of poverty and loss with as much faith as she can muster. At only the age of 13, she's already lost a younger brother to illness and now faces losing both her father and the boy who's stealing her heart to illnesses as well. Armed with her beloved scriptures, she prays daily for their healing, only to have her tender faith shattered by her father's death.

Through her pain, she's able to connect with her long-lost Uncle Asa, whose mere presence at his brother's funeral brings murmurs of a scandalous past involving her parents and a prominent local pastor, Irwin Cass. When Ruby discovers that one of Asa's many secrets is an ability to heal, and that she may be next in line for the "gift", she vows to find the faith that has eluded her so far, a faith that could mean never losing loved ones again.

But faith and doubt can't reside in the same heart, not according to her father, and doubt is Ruby's constant companion. As she struggles to find the true meaning of faith, she's opposed at every turn by the pastor who would see her family destroyed and a community that can't see deeper than the color of one's skin. Through her search for a faith that could move mountains and a true understanding of her gift, can Ruby trust in a God that may require the ultimate sacrifice?

©2014 Jennifer Westall (P)2016 Jennifer Westall

Fantastic book about hope, faith and love!

Would you consider the audio edition of Healing Ruby, Volume 1 to be better than the print version?

I did not read the print version but plan to buy the second book in the series in print since it is not available on Audible.

What other book might you compare Healing Ruby, Volume 1 to and why?

I am not sure of a comparison

What about Andi Arndt’s performance did you like?

She does a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life. I have a few books that she has narrated and will definitely buy more books with her narration. One of the best!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed and cried with this book. It is a great story about overcoming extremely difficult times. Having faith when all seems hopeless. Very inspiring.

Any additional comments?

I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the narrator in exchange for an unbiased review. Appreciate the opportunity to have been able to listen to this book. Worth a listen or read. Again, I plan to buy the next book because the first was so good.

An Experience Like No Other

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ruby, although every character had depth and was rich with detail.

What about Andi Arndt’s performance did you like?

She made me enjoy southern accents! She is a talented actress, and breathed life into this book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

One Girl's Faith Would Change Everything

Any additional comments?

Wow. How to begin? To read Healing Ruby is an Experience with a capital E.

You don't just read this and go about life the same. Ruby is a one-of-a-kind character, and her story will shake you up so you'll never think the same about faith again.

I have been going through some soul-crushing health issues this year, and this book brought me to tears twice. Even if I'm not sure I agree doctrinally in "faith healing," the principles were sound. God loves me, has forgiven me, and we are called to have faith and believe Him wholeheartedly. I was convicted and moved and inspired.

As a sucker for sickbed love stories, I was enthralled with the first half of the book. It hit every happy nerve in my brain, and even though all the medical issues and blood were intense, I adored the story.

The second half of the book takes a very different turn, almost feeling like a separate story. We see Ruby go through some hero complex reactions to the hardships in her life, make some foolish independent decisions as well as start some scary, but valuable new ministries. As hard as it was to watch her push aside her family and friends in her passionate one-track mind, it was realistic too. She's a strong-willed, A-type teenager with an obsession to find her calling. Some of us have been there! Again, the book hit me personally in the feels. I've met Rubys. I've loved Rubys. We all know people like her - or we are her ourselves!

The audio version of this book was magical. Not only is Jennifer's writing like a full-immersion into history where you can practically touch, hear, smell, see, and taste the world around you, but the voice actress was so talented I was astonished. I don't care for southern accents, but the Andi Arndt's voice was so beautiful, I instantly loved it.

Jennifer is one of the most talented realistic-fiction writers I have ever had the pleasure to read, and I am so thankful I chose this book. I am committed to this story now, and have Breaking Matthew, the sequel, coming for me in the mail!

Be warned: I was surprised to find this recommended to me under a "clean" label, as it is very graphic at times due to its medical and "act-of-God" nature. In one scene, I was sure Ruby had been raped, and had to get the author's assurances that that was NOT the case. Definitely a book for mature adults. BUT I was glad it gave us the raw facts without sugar-coating them, as the book wouldn't have been half of what it was if it tried to spare us the gory details. I appreciate the brutal honesty, and am busy recommending this book to others.

Best book I've read in ages!

This book is appropriate for the whole family. It's a beautiful story that can open your mind and heart to what true faith is.

Excellent

Would you listen to Healing Ruby, Volume 1 again? Why?

Yes, reminds me of the faith I should have.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ruby, young girl, growing up in the 19030's. And it was her mission to help others. Even after bad stuff happened in her own life she was there to help others out.

What does Andi Arndt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The southern talk... love it! Andi Arndt voice was the perfect voice for this book.

loved it

kept me going, didn't want to put it down
narrator good as well. would have wished for different ending but I will continue series!

Healing Ruby

A great novel Icannot was to read part two. This is a story that shows real faith. The book kept me spellbound.

On my "Best of the Year" list already

The setting is Depression-era Alabama and Andi Arndt, the narrator, does an excellent job with the southern accent for Ruby and the other characters. The vocals are just the right balance, don’t imply the characters are uneducated, nor do they inhibit you from understanding what’s being said. Even when the narrator is voicing Ruby’s brothers, which you might think would be hard to follow which one was speaking since they are both young men, she manages them well by passing the authors different personalities for the brothers to you.
I read that this story is inspired by events in the life of the author’s grandmother. If so, she’s a woman I wouldn’t mind meeting someday. In respect to the story, don’t let the idea that this work is labelled as religious make you hesitate. Everyone asks themselves why do bad things happen to good people. How much hardship can land on a family? Ruby questions how to navigate her life, her faith and how to help those around her. I don’t mind saying there were many places in this work that brought tears to my eyes. There’s some real heartache included, but hope also.
There are times when a character may quote a Bible passage and I thought it helpful that the book, chapter and verse were sometimes mentioned. That way if you wanted to delve into that passage a little more you could.
This is not my regular genre for reading. I usually have my nose in a mystery, sci-fi or a how- to book. The storyline, the heart and the quality of writing wouldn’t let me put this book down. I took my tablet to work and listened to it while doing data entry. Others listen to music, I wanted to know what was going to happen next in Ruby’s world. I can’t recommend this book enough. It is one of my ‘best’ reads this year.
I was provided a free copy of this audiobook in order to listen and write my honest review of the work.

Hanceville, Alabama in the '30s

Ruby, a teenage, gifted girl with the faith to move mountains, faced not only the hardships of the depression, after already having lost a younger brother, but now her daddy, was suffering from diabetes, and had a foot amputated . . . unable to work, her daddy who owned the local cotton gin, mortgaged the family home to try to keep afloat . . .his previous kindheartedness to their neighbors and customers at the gin, already having left the business in a precarious position . . . while her brothers worked in the cotton fields and at the gin and her mother cared for her daddy, Ruby, felt depressed and useless at home . . . she lied to her parents and went each day after school to take care of a friend, Matthew Doyle . . . Matthew had collapsed on the high school basketball court a few weeks earlier, diagnosed with tuberculosis . . . spewing blood every time he coughed; nobody wanted to clean up after him . . . nobody, but Ruby, that is . . . until one day, her daddy died . . . grieving Ruby deeply, knowing she had been lying to him . . . when, at the funeral, Ruby believes she sees her daddy standing at the treeline, she is astonished to learn that it's her daddy's brother, her Uncle Asa . . . and a deeply hidden secret is finally exposed . . . this is a beautiful, painful and wonderful story . . . I got so very angry at Brother Cass . . . a bitter and prejudiced man, a preacher, no less, who took the Word of God and perverted it, because of his own pain . . . and I was so blessed that the author, Jennifer Westall did not shy away from writing about the gift of healing, because it is biblical . . . the issue of pride and misuse of one's gifts was very appropriate, as well . . . can't wait to listen to the next book in the series . . .

Well read historical fiction

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the reader of this book very much. I am quite picky when it comes to readers, but Andi Arndt went beyond my expectations. She was more than capable of giving this story and its protagonist a personality that complimented the words of the author. She also read the male characters well enough that it did not take away from the story.

Fantastic Christian book!!

I can't wait to find the next one and download it. For anyone who enjoys Christian literature, this is a must read. The characters were so real I felt like I could see them. I can't wait to find out what happens to Ruby. This is a great young adult book too. Ruby, the main character is 14. Enjoy!