ruth sims

Throwback read…Counterpoint: Dylan’s Story by Ruth Sims

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8489115Counterpoint: Dylan’s Story by Ruth Sims
4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 · rating details · 170 ratings · 58 reviews
Published 2010 by Dreamspinner Press
Blurb:
At eighteen Dylan Rutledge has one obsession: music. He believes his destiny is to be the greatest composer of the rapidly approaching twentieth century. Only Laurence Northcliff, a young history master at The Venerable Bede School for Young Gentlemen, believes in Dylan’s talent and encourages his dream, not realizing Dylan is in love with him. But Dylan’s passion and belief in his future come at a high price. They will alienate him from his family and lead him on a rocky path fraught with disappointment, rejection, and devastating loss that kills his dream. A forbidden love could bring the dream back to life and rescue Dylan from despair and bitterness, but does he have the courage to reach out and take it? Will he deny the music that rules his soul?

I can still remember how much I loved this story. Not so much the details per se but just reading the title made me think “god what a great book.” If you haven’t read this…you must! Sims is a phenomenal author.

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars Continue reading →

Review: The Legend of the Mountain Ash

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The Legend of the Mountain AshThe Legend of the Mountain Ash by Ruth Sims
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

The Legend of Mountain Ash is a wonderful story. I’ve read it before and remembered the story as soon as I read the first lines. It’s one that sticks with you, pulling emotion that you don’t want to fear and wonder at the magic offered. It’s not an easy story but Sims rarely offers that. Instead it’s sad, painful, uplifting, and offers happiness but not before the sacrifice. The writing is beautiful and perhaps some of the author’s best so if you haven’t read it, you should for that reason alone.

Ethan and Davy return to the America after World War II and eventually find themselves living in an isolated cabin in the woods after an aborted attempt to live in a small town. Together they build a life. It’s hard and marked by back breaking work but they’re happy and in love. They etch out a home, plant crops, raise animals, and love each other. Years later a stranger enters their life, heralding loss and pain but perhaps eventually magic and salvation but only at the end of the journey.

The story is deceptively simple. It’s a tale of magic, love, pain, sacrifice, and happiness. The language is beautiful and powerful with no words wasted. Each description brings the vivid colors and hardships to life while tears and laughter ring out and leap off the page. Sims’ prose is enchanting as it draws you in from the very beginning and never lets you go. There is a sense of wonder and bittersweet foreshadowing. The characters are accepting even as they ache for more.

The Legend of Mountain Ash is a fairytale and a love story wrapped together in a moving tribute to love and sacrifice. The depth of emotion this short story draws is a real testament to the author’s skill. It’s not an easy journey but one you’ll be glad to take. The ending of course will have you smiling through the tears.

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Song on the Sand by Ruth Sims

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http://threedollarbillreviews.com/2010/10/07/song-on-the-sand-by-ruth-sims/
http://threedollarbillreviews.com/?p=1555

Title: Song on the Sand
Author: Ruth Sims
Publisher: Untreed Reads Publishing
Length:: Short Story/11 pgs
Buy the book: Publisher , Kindle

Blurb:
Tony Dalby finds himself on the wrong end of his 80s, confined to a nursing home, with his days as a dancer a thing of the past. The appearance of Drew into his life brings a welcome distraction, […]

Top Ten List Part Three

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I hope everyone had a wonderful new years! As expected all the televised performances sucked because over half lip synched their way through it. J.LO wearing a fur rug and then whipping it off to a body suit as she was lifted, dragged, and humped around the stage was the highlight of ridiculous. But that’s over!

Since I always tend to cling, I’m still reminiscing over books I read in 2009 that were awesome. The new year will come soon enough so if you’re still looking for some great reads before the new barrage of books, check these out.

Top 10 books you should read: peek under the kilt…

The Phoenix By Ruth Sims

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The Phoenix By Ruth Sims

Blurb:

At fourteen, Kit St. Denys brought down his abusive father with a knife. At twenty-one his theatrical genius brought down the house. At thirty, his past—and his forbidden love—nearly brought down the curtain for good.

A compelling Victorian saga of two men whose love for each other transcends time and distance—and the society that considers it an abomination. Set in the last twenty years of the 19th century, The Phoenix is a multi-layered historical novel that illuminates poverty and child abuse, theatre history in America and England, betrayal, a crisis of conscience, violence and vengeance, and the treatment of insanity at a time when such treatment was in its infant stage. Most of all it is a tale of love on many levels, from carnal to devoted friendship to sacrifice.

 

 

does anyone dislike this book?