#BlogBlitz! #Review – Rosie and Ruby by Patricia Dixon (@pbadixon) @bombshellpub

Many thanks to Heather for the blog blitz invite and ARC, here is my review of ‘Rosie and Ruby’ by Patricia Dixon.

Is their family bond unbreakable?

Ruby lives one-step away from poverty on a rundown, crime-infested estate in Manchester, with Stella, her feckless, self-centered a mother.

In the quiet suburbs of Cheshire Rosie, Ruby’s cousin leads a charmed, middle-class existence but feels suffocated by her domineering mother Doreen.

Although Stella and Doreen have little in common, they share the inability to show the love and loyalty that their daughters deserve.

Meanwhile, Olivia, a member of the elite Cheshire set, is aloof and distant, rattling around in her sprawling mansion, attending charity functions and hosting infamous bridge nights.

Her errant son Marcus lives his life in the fast lane, maximising the perks of the family firm whilst enjoying his jet setting bachelor existence, well away from the watchful eyes of his disapproving mother.

But when Ruby meets Marcus her life begins to crumble and one by one the secrets she has kept are exposed.

Can Rosie and Ruby’s bond survive? And in Ruby’s hour of need, will her cousin keep her promise, and come to her rescue?

What does TWG think?

I will hold up my hands here and say that I am on the fence with this one. For me, the premise of the book was brilliant and the differences between how other people live, regardless of whether are family or not, was such a poignant addition to the storyline. The fractured, family relationships were both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and unfortunately I was able to relate to a certain character and the situations they were thrown into.

However, whilst I 100% appreciated the power this storyline held, I found it exceptionally difficult to get into, and at times I thought that there wasn’t overly much for me to sink my teeth into, family dynamics aside. I know that Rosie and Ruby’s relationship was the heart of the book, but I did feel as though it was unnecessarily dragged out at times.

There is an air of suspense and secretive notions within the book, which did have me intrigued.

Overall, Rosie and Ruby is a story which has been written from the heart, with such soul and poignancy, highlighting just how heartbreaking society and relationships can be, regardless of what stage in life you are at.

Buy now.