Review for Rubies and Other Gems by Joyce DeBacco

     I literally traveled back in time while reading this book. Lillian Manning is a 40 year old housewife. Her two children are at the age where they think they have all the answers, as my grandmother used to say, "They're smelling themselves."
      Her husband does not realize how frustrated and neglected she feels, or does he simply not care?       Lily wonders if she would be happier in a simpler era. One where kids did what was expected of them, go to school, obey your parents and do your chores. Boys were required to achieve higher education then find a respectable job. Girls needed to snag a husband and raise a family of her own.       Technology was non-existent.
      The only thing a woman expected out of the bedroom was conception, she wouldn't dare think of, much less, ask for carnal gratification.
      The phrase, "Be careful what you ask for," comes to mind when Lillian falls asleep one day and wakes up to discover that she is still in the home that her grandmother left her, only time has been turned back, way back.
     When she walks into the kitchen it is occupied by a woman and a young girl. She soon comes to realize that this young girl who is complaining about the chores that she has to complete before she can do anything fun, was actually her namesake and grandmother.
     No one can see Lily because this is a dream.
     Being the history buff that she is, Lily is impressed with how accurate the details of her dream arm. The kitchen reflected a period in time when they had water pumps outside the back door instead of running water and plumbing.
    She had always been curious as to how people made out without all the creature comforts that we take for granted. How did people manage without refrigerators, cell phones, the internet and electric can openers? Did they really use outhouses?
     Lily steps out the back door and the paved streets are now dirt roads without automobile traffic. In touring the town she can stand next to someone and observe them all she wanted without their knowledge, after all this was a dream.
     She is taken aback when an attractive man comments on her attire, (or lack thereof). Her shorts are totally inappropriate during this day and age, when women didn't even show their ankles.
    "You can see me?" she asked.
     The town smithy Daniel assures her that he can most definitely see her, and he likes what he is looking at. To his thinking, any woman that dressed like that, wanted to be seen.
    Why could no one else see her? Yet this muscular, handsome man was engaging her in conversation. Who cared he was fine as wine, and she was going to have some fun and flirt. 
    Daniel invites Lily to take a ride on his horse. What harm could come of it? After all this is a dream.

I loved this book, it was full of historical tidbits and spoke on the deterioration that can come along with development. It made me laugh, was suspenseful and made me want to keep reading as Lily kept getting herself into difficult situations.
I cried right along with her. The writing was on point and makes me want to polish my own craft. I will be putting Joyce DeBacco's novels on automatic buy at  Amazon and recommend you do the same.

http://www.amazon.com/Rubies-Other-Gems-Joyce-DeBacco-ebook/dp/B003Y5H7BI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390903637&sr=8-1&keywords=Rubies+and+other+Gems