Set in rural Tennessee amidst the hardships of the Great Depression and the rumblings of World War II, one woman’s journey from despair to redemption unfolds, showing her grit and determination in tumultuous times. Based on the true story of the author’s grandmother, this biographical historical fiction novel shows us the enduring power of a mother’s love, personal sacrifice, and ultimate redemption.

 

Meet Ruby, who refuses to wither beneath the weight of her troubles. She has no money, not a single friend, and a horrid criminal past. She embarks on a path fraught with uncertainty as she perseveres daily while preparing herself to re-enter her children’s lives.

 

Though she encounters betrayal, she embarks on a journey that will test the core of her being until obstacles chip away everything but her resilient spirit. Threads of life in Tennessee during the 1930s and 1940s—WWII, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Manhattan Project—add to her odyssey. Her mother’s heartache, enduring love, and determination to rise above her mistakes resonate with anyone who has yearned for a second chance.

Life is hard for Ruby growing up in poverty on the wrong side of the mountain on her grandfather’s farm where literally the sun didn’t shine. The Appalachian setting isn’t her friend as she searches for an easy life at the “tippy-top” with contentment and security. Two different men come into her life, one virtuous and the other rebellious. Ruby makes a series of bad decisions, causing her life to tumble into an unexpected outcome. Based on a real-life tale of the author’s grandmother, the reader gets immersed in Ruby’s choices as she searches for worthiness and belonging. Was the adventure worth the risk of losing her family? Will Ruby ever find what she is looking for?