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Nadine Dorries
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Ruby Flynn Kindle Edition

by Nadine Dorries (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 10,199 ratings
The darkest sins cast the longest shadows.
County Mayo, Ireland, 1947.

In the worst winter in living memory, Ruby Flynn is rescued from the tiny cottage on the Atlantic coast where her family has perished. She is one of the storm orphans, taken in by nuns to be educated for a life in service. Now she must find her own way in the outside world.

The FitzDeane family have a thriving shipping business in Liverpool and they also own beautiful Ballyford Castle in Mayo. When Ruby is appointed as their nursery maid, a dangerous attraction to the young Lord FitzDeane begins to grow. Soon the tragedies and secrets that link her family to his will threaten to overwhelm them.

The darkest sins cast the longest shadows.
What readers are saying about Nadine Dorries:
'A brilliant read, a wonderful story and I have already pre-ordered the next book'

'Great read! Nadine Dorries is a top author, love her books!'

'Did not want it to end!! Gripping, detailed... Really draws you in to the story'
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  1. Part of series
    Ruby Flynn
  2. Print length
    346 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Head of Zeus
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    1 Nov. 2015
  7. File size
    3.5 MB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

In this series (1 book)

Product description

Review

'A riveting tale packed full of history, love and deceit from the bestselling author of The Four Streets' ― OK! Magazine

'A dark, realistic, moving portrait of life back in the day' -- Kimberley Chambers

Truly engaging to read... a stunning family saga from the bestselling author of The Four Streets Trilogy... This is the kind of story that you get completely wrapped up in' ― Bookshelf Butterfly

About the Author

Nadine Dorries grew up in a working-class family in Liverpool and spent a great deal of time in Mayo with her Irish grandmother. She trained as a nurse and has been the MP for Mid-Bedfordshire since 2005. She has three daughters.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00UVK10FS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Head of Zeus
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 1 Nov. 2015
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.5 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 346 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1784082178
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Part of series ‏ : ‎ Ruby Flynn
  • Customer reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 10,199 ratings

About the author

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Nadine Dorries

Nadine Dorries

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
10,199 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book easy to put down and hold their interest on every page, with Nadine Dorries being a good storyteller. The Irish story set around Galway and Liverpool receives positive feedback for its background of rural Ireland, and customers appreciate the character development, with one review noting how it covers varying emotions from all characters. While customers find the book emotionally engaging, some mention that the ending feels rushed and the story lacks depth.

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674 customers mention ‘Readability’657 positive17 negative

Customers find the book readable and enjoyable, with one mentioning it keeps them wanting to continue reading.

"...This was very hard to put down and well written continually encouraging you to read on and desperately wanting to find out what happened next...." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book. Great storytelling as ever by Nadine Dorries with characters the reader can invest in and believe in...." Read more

"...mix of humour, tragedy, friendship, love and loss, the book is really rather lovely book, leading the reader through a roller coaster of thoughts..." Read more

"...But it was an enjoyable read and I enjoyed the characters introduced. All a bit 'just so' in parts." Read more

60 customers mention ‘Ease of reading’57 positive3 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and nicely written, with believable characters.

"...The story of little Ruby is one that can be easily read while commuting, because it engages the reader so much that you don't really pay attention..." Read more

"Nothing to really dislike about this. Nice easy to read book in great writing style of Nadine Dorries...." Read more

"...Overall, even though it was an easy book to read, it took me ages to finish because it didn't spark my interest very much...." Read more

"...I found the book to be nice easy reading with a good storyline." Read more

45 customers mention ‘Character development’41 positive4 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, with one review noting how they cover varying emotions throughout the story.

"...All the characters are very likeable and there is great mix of humour, tragedy, friendship, love and loss which makes this a really rather lovely..." Read more

"...Great storytelling as ever by Nadine Dorries with characters the reader can invest in and believe in...." Read more

"...Strong and full of courage and innocence as well,with "red hair, green eyes and charm" is a lovely heroine that kept me running through..." Read more

"...But it was an enjoyable read and I enjoyed the characters introduced. All a bit 'just so' in parts." Read more

44 customers mention ‘Pacing’44 positive0 negative

Customers praise the pacing of the book, noting it is compelling and well-told by Nadine Dorries, with one customer highlighting the stunning opening chapter.

"I don't rewrite the story of a book in a review. The opening chapter is stunning. The West coast of Ireland...." Read more

"What a sad sad tale with an uplifting ending. Easy to read and very imaginative...." Read more

"...It starts off well and captures your imagination straight away, but there are too many inuendoes and "but how wrong they were"s...." Read more

"...Loved all the characters, it has you hooked from the start. Fantastic description, you can really imagine how it was growing up in rural Ireland...." Read more

43 customers mention ‘Interest’37 positive6 negative

Customers find the book engaging, holding their interest on every page and finding it fascinating to learn about how people lived in the past.

"'Ruby Flynn' is definitely one of the most intriguing books I read recently...." Read more

"...of Ballyford Castle, and the story includes ghosts, evil deeds and mysteries against a background of lilt and charm so characteristic of the Irish..." Read more

"...Love the history contained in her books" Read more

"...Loved the characters & the mystery that was waiting to unravel." Read more

18 customers mention ‘Difficulty to put down’18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book difficult to put down, describing it as easy to pick up and read.

"...This was very hard to put down and well written continually encouraging you to read on and desperately wanting to find out what happened next...." Read more

"An easy, enjoyable read from the author of the fantastic Four Streets trilogy..." Read more

"I did enjoy this book, it was easy to read and hard to put down...." Read more

"...It is an easy, enjoyable, engaging read. The characters are likeable with a good mix of humour, love, tragedy, friendship, love and loss...." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Irish content’12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the Irish content of the book, particularly its setting around Galway and Liverpool, and enjoy the background of rural Ireland.

"...Lovely that it was mostly set in Ireland too, and different from The Four Streets trilogy which I also enjoyed...." Read more

"I enjoyed the background of rural Ireland but found it a little bit difficult until the latter part of the book to keep reminding myself what era it..." Read more

"An enjoyable read. The vivid backdrop of Ireland as much a character as the people...." Read more

"...Nothing too taxing, the story is set in Ireland as are most of the authors books." Read more

95 customers mention ‘Emotional content’53 positive42 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the emotional content of the book, with some appreciating its emotional depth while others find the ending rushed and abrupt.

"...All the characters are very likeable and there is great mix of humour, tragedy, friendship, love and loss which makes this a really rather lovely..." Read more

"As others have commented, the ending was far too neatly tied up with hardly a breath in between desolation to massive success...." Read more

"...the book is really rather lovely book, leading the reader through a roller coaster of thoughts and emotions, focusing on a lovely feminine character...." Read more

"...The ending was disappointing as i would have liked the author to continue the story telling how the main characters went from being on the beach to..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • David Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable & Beautifully Written
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 January 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Ireland 1947 and a twelve year old girl is the only survivor of a terrible snow storm that kills her family. She tells her rescuers that her name is Ruby Flynn.

    Ruby Flynn by Nadine Dorries is a gripping and beautifully told family saga. This was very hard to put down and well written continually encouraging you to read on and desperately wanting to find out what happened next. Ruby with her red hair, green eyes and charm is a most delightful and lovable heroine. After her convent education and training she is placed at Ballyford Castle. Ruby is hired by Lord Charles and Lady Isobel at eighteen to be a nursery maid, but there are no children. She soon strangely feels at home in the castle and is happy with her role and mixing with the other house staff. But rumours, family curses and tales of the past come back to haunt Ruby’s story and then events take a shocking turn.

    This is a thoroughly enjoyable, easy and engaging read. All the characters are very likeable and there is great mix of humour, tragedy, friendship, love and loss which makes this a really rather lovely book. It’s definitely one that I can happily recommend to you and I look forward to reading more from Nadine Dorries.
    27 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A lovely read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 May 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book. Great storytelling as ever by Nadine Dorries with characters the reader can invest in and believe in. Lovely that it was mostly set in Ireland too, and different from The Four Streets trilogy which I also enjoyed. I look forward to reading more of this author's books. The only (minor) issue I do have is that the Kindle edition finished at 87% with a preview of the next book. I am not a fan of this approach and no matter how much I enjoy a book I am never compelled to read a preview of the next one!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Larisa
    5.0 out of 5 stars 'Ruby Flynn' is definitely one of the most intriguing books I read recently
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    'Ruby Flynn' is definitely one of the most intriguing books I read recently.

    With an North-England environment, the story depicts a girl left alone by her family in Ireland - a land which fed a wide range of mystical stories during the time.

    Consisting of a great mix of humour, tragedy, friendship, love and loss, the book is really rather lovely book, leading the reader through a roller coaster of thoughts and emotions, focusing on a lovely feminine character. Strong and full of courage and innocence as well,with "red hair, green eyes and charm" is a lovely heroine that kept me running through the pages of the book, in order to find out faster what exactly is happening next in the life of the little Ruby Flynn.

    The story of little Ruby is one that can be easily read while commuting, because it engages the reader so much that you don't really pay attention to anything around.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mrs grey
    3.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic opening - bleak beyond words
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    As others have commented, the ending was far too neatly tied up with hardly a breath in between desolation to massive success. Probably because the rest of the book was a third longer than it need be??

    Fantastic opening - bleak beyond words. And yet having enjoyed it in the main, I didn't actually get the gist of just what was real and what was fantasy!!! The story, whilst hinted at very early on, was never really told accurately. I even wondred if there wasn't some incest somewhere!!

    Was the horrible father, really the father of Iona's child? Which was the reason for her instant banishing once her protector had died?
    And therefore Ruby was the sister of the current Lord.

    But it was an enjoyable read and I enjoyed the characters introduced. All a bit 'just so' in parts.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • eighty
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eighty
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 February 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed this book following the life of Ruby Flynn. The story flowed well and the characters blended in fine with one another. The ending was disappointing as i would have liked the author to continue the story telling how the main characters went from being on the beach to how they eventually finished up. It was too big a jump and missed out on telling what could have been a good way to end what was otherwise a fine read. I would still recommend this book as I was so in to the story I could not put it down and read it in record time.

    I enjoy reading books by this author and would recommend her trilogy starting with 'The Four Streets'. I look forward to reading her next book.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Barbara M. Webb
    4.0 out of 5 stars An Intriguing Saga
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 February 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I don't rewrite the story of a book in a review. The opening chapter is stunning. The West coast of Ireland. Winter 1947 when everything living or not is frozen. The saga introduces the reader to the vagaries of convent education, the history (and curse) of Ballyford Castle, and the story includes ghosts, evil deeds and mysteries against a background of lilt and charm so characteristic of the Irish way of life.

    I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Don't expect to read it a chapter at a time. You won't be able to put it down.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars had me gripped
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 December 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This story had me gripped from the start. Well written and fast paced. I felt I was there. Good descriptive narrative. I loved the characters.
    One person found this helpful
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  • afmwalsh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Nothing to really dislike about this. Nice easy to read book in great writing style of Nadine Dorries. Have enjoyed all books by this writer as have heart warming storyline and not too heavy.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Sheila Blundell
    5.0 out of 5 stars good
    Reviewed in Canada on 19 June 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Lovely story even though there was lots of sorrowful parts is was lovely in the end but I hope there are more episodes to followe
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  • Susanne Bodenstein
    2.0 out of 5 stars Eugenie and Daphne could do it much better
    Reviewed in Germany on 13 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This story is not only UTTERLY predictable, it's told in bad grammar too - another one in the horror series 'the decline and fall of continuous tenses'. Save your time and money for one of the many books that are actually worth reading
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mema8448
    Reviewed in the United States on 22 October 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It is wound throughout with mystery, the full sadness of tragic loss, and romantic love. The characters are down to earth and realistic. Readers will find great pleasure in this novel,as I have. Nadine Dorries is a wonderful author and storyteller.
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  • Gorgeousgran
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wanted to read non-stop!
    Reviewed in Australia on 26 November 2015
    Verified Purchase
    An enthralling story very beautifully and descriptively written. A movie going on in the head. Also educational about the devastation and famine in Ireland. I loved the story and will read more of Nadine Dorries books. In fact have already done so, she is one of my favourite authors these days.
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  • DI
    5.0 out of 5 stars A surprising book
    Reviewed in France on 13 April 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I expected this to be a bit soppy but in fact it had a lot more to it and turned out to be very entertaining
    Report

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