Ruby Red::A Bookanista Review

I had the pleasure of reading Ruby Red, by Kerstin Gier, this week. If you are only going to read one book this May, this is the one you should pick (release date: May 10).

IT ROCKED!

Seriously. I could not put it down! I can see why it is already an international bestseller, and why it has been translated from its original German to English.

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

What I liked about this book: The entire story! From the beginning to the end, the pacing was perfect. There's humor. Mystery. Romance. Gorgeous costumes.

The main character: Gwyneth is awesome because she's an ordinary girl with an extraordinary, unwanted ability to time travel dropped unexpectedly into her lap. You like her from her first scene. And she's always being compared to her perfect, gorgeous cousin, so you have a lot of sympathy for her.

The other thing: The costumes! They are divine! Traveling back in time, the characters all have to dress the part. It was like I was the one stepping into a semi-comfortable corset, hoop skirt and eighteenth century gown.

And one more other thing: This book had content suitable for younger teens--no graphic sex and no graphic violence (there is violence, but handled very tastefully).

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