The Saddlemaker's Wife

Ruby McGavin #1

by Earlene Fowler

After the death of her husband Cole, Ruby McGavin is shocked to learn that she's inherited part of a cattle ranch in Tokopah County, California. But she's even more surprised to find out that the family he claimed died years ago is very much alive.

Ruby arrives in town intent on simply selling her part of the ranch to the McGavins. But as she comes to know them-in particular the handsome saddlemaker Lucas McGavin-Ruby learns family secrets about her departed husband and his family that make her wonder if she ever really knew Cole.Driven to uncover the whole story, Ruby discovers a legacy of pain and denial.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Romance, Westerns, Christian Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Earlene Fowler was raised in La Puente, California, by a Southern mother and a Western father. She lives in Southern California with her husband, Allen, a purple pickup truck, and many pairs of cowboy boots. She is currently working on the next Benni Harper mystery.

Series:
* Benni Harper Mysteries
* Love Mercy Johnson Mystery

Reviews

[Lain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little reluctant to read this book, the first that Fowler's published outside her popular "Benni Harper" series. What if I didn't love it as much as the mysteries? What if I was sorely disappointed??

I need not have feared. "Saddlemaker's Wife" continues the wonderful tradition of making the people of the West come alive. The characters are real, different, compelling -- and there's even a mystery involved! I also love how Fowler incorporates her spirituality as a natural, organic part of the storyline, not as something she forced.

The other thing I have to mention about Fowler's writing, and this book in particular, is the way she uses the multiple-POV. I usually hate books that switch POV each chapter -- it seems like a way to get out of the hard work of writing. Not so with Fowler; I don't even notice the POV change, it works so well.

A must-read.

[Rebecca Heywood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was going to be a romance, but I am pleasantly surprised that it wasn't. It was more of a drama mystery. A little religion stuck in there. I am very happy it did not end out a romance, since I don't like romance novels. The mystery kept me going. I was really shaken when I found out the truth. There is some language, but I was actually shaking the book near the end because the suspense was killing me!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting: Northern CA in Sierra Nevada Mountains (arid / snow)
Touching story, slow moving .. but that fits the main character, Ruby, a recent widow who is doing a last duty for her beloved husband in a heretofore unknown town (and family) where he grew up.
I hope there is a second novel with Ruby.

[Tamara Tilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Branching out from my usual Christian fiction, I had the privilege of receiving an autographed copy of THE SADDLEMAKER'S WIFE (thank you Debbie). And as I’ve said before, being a sucker for a western, I couldn’t wait to read it. Though THE SADDLEMAKER'S WIFE does have a contemporary setting, its penchant for small town, ranch-living, allowed me to picture open plains and horses running wild. The story starts with Ruby McGavin returning to her husband’s hometown of Cardinal with the news of his death. Soon she learns how very little she knew about her husband. Dealing with her grief over her loss and her need to find out the truth, Ruby stays on in Cardinal to learn more about her husband and the family secret that could be responsible for his death. Cole’s brother Lucas helps Ruby deal with many of her struggles. Who could not appreciate a soft-spoken man in boots and a cowboy hat? Though I must say, I felt cheated not having the opportunity to get to know Cole McGavin first hand, I loved getting to know him through the admiration of the people he impacted in the town of Cardinal. Earlene’s description of some of the eccentric town folk along with the McGavin family made for great visualization. Except for the few instances of swearing and off-colored language, this secular book could have easily made its way into the Christian fiction market. Earlene allows her faith to appear softly in characters like Ely and in times when characters struggle with the grand scheme of life. At times the sadness was difficult to endure, but much of life’s travels have long roads of difficulty before there is calm. I can only pray for a sequel.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

2015: Since I'd forgotten the big secret and was just as surprised at the big reveal as the first time, it was a fun audio listen.

2013: I found as I read the Benni Harper series that her stories got better as she went along and this new non-mystery benefits from that experience. It tells the story of Ruby, whose husband dies in a car accident and she discovers that he has a family, owns part of a ranch, and had an earlier career making saddles that he never revealed to her. She goes to his hometown to return his ashes to his family and is drawn into the McGavin family and their terrible secret. The book explores family relationships and this is a town with nice people. It seems like a place I'd like to hang out.

[Emily Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the death of her husband Ruby McGavin arrives in Cardinal, CA where she has inherited Cole's portion of a cattle ranch. Cole had told Ruby that his family was killed and is dumbfounded when she finds them alive and dysfunctional. Cole also held some things back from her, making her wonder if she ever really knew him at all. I really enjoyed this Western story or mystery. It has a little romance it is nothing overpowering. The main character is feisty and likable and the supporting cast well thought out. If there is another in the series I will definitely be getting it!

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I need to "stream of consciousness" write about what I think of the book.

First and foremost, it was for me an unexpectedly depressing story. I liked the concept of the story but getting into it was sadness all the way.

Second of all, I scan-read a good deal of the book, wanting to see how things turned out but feeling like it was moving too slowly for my taste, so that is normally an automatic 2 stars. However, by the end of the book, I felt more like it had turned into a 3-star book or at least a 2.5,

The book had typos. Bugged me.

*Spoiler alert* I kept waiting for it to turn out that Derek and June had fixed Cole's brakes, making him go over the edge or somehow disproving the suicide angle. By the end, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion which suicide seemed inconsistent with the rest of Cole's life story.

I think I am going to go on and listen to book 2, something I usually do not do with a true 2-star book, hence the 2.5.

[Randi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like any fan of Fowler's Benni Harper mysteries, I was kind of relunctant to pick up a book that stood alone. After the first couple of chapters moved slowly, my interest waned a bit, but my mom had read the book and said that it improved once it got going. I persisted and found she was right.

While not as uproariously funny as the Harper mysteries can be at times, I always enjoy Fowler's command of language and she's got some great imagery in this book that keep it from being just another family story. While the pieces seem a bit contrived towards the conclusion, I enjoyed this enough that I'd read a sequel were Ms. Fowler to publish one.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, despite some of the darker aspects of the story. (Yes, I like very cheery reading.) However, the author did a great just of creating suspense to keep me reading throughout the story to find out what happened next. The characters have depth and tug at your heart. Ruby's story as revealed throughout the book is one of a real woman and her life's challenges. Some of the minor story points were resolved a bit too conveniently near the end but I do appreciate them being tied up. Overall, a great read and I would enjoy reading more stories with this cast of characters.

[Jacqui Ainsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one but it isn't one I would reread. I got pretty hooked and had a couple late nights because I couldn't put it down. I could have done without the word for word sermons and what I thought were excessive religious references in a non-religious genre. But the story was good. The character development for the main characters was excellent, Lincoln could have been fleshed out more but all in all I was pleased.

[Jena Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when I think I am done with Earlene Fowler, she does something interesting. As I tired of Benni Harper, she surprised me the "Sunshine and Shadow" and used multiple perspectives , which I am a huge sucker for. Now she changes pace entirely and I love this book, I like the characters and the complexity of the family dynamics. A nice change of pace from her usual mystery series. Glad I picked it up.

[Candy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was hard to get past the misspelled words, wrong pronouns, choppy writing style, and details told out of order. But I kept on because I had seen a sequel on the new books shelf at the library, and I love books in a series. But this story was just terrible! It seems that the mystery to be solved is why the husband died, but all of a sudden, we are hot on the trail of how the husband's FATHER died! I'm glad to be done with this and will not be tempted by the sequel!!!

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book by Earlene Fowler but the first that was not a Benni Harper mystery. It was about a woman that came from southern California when her husband died to the mountains of California to tell his family that he had been killed in an accident. She had never met and didn't know any of his family. Getting to know them enough to tell them was the problem of the book.

[Mary L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby is a wonderful person--I'm wondering if there are more books about her. This really is a sad tale about the harm one bad person can bring to those around them. It also tells of those who rise above what happens to them and help others with caring hearts. Tragedy can either turn you bitter or caring. Luke, Lincoln, Birch and perhaps many others show the caring side.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy the characters, the different points of view each of the chapters take, and the reveal at the end. I was glad that Ms Fowler ended the book on a positive note. The McGavin family has had so much heartache over the years and way too many lies. I was glad to see there was a lot of caring in the community and the acceptance of Ruby by the community.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow she managed to create a book that has life pretty well represented. The good the bad and the shitty. Complex and rich it reminds me of why I ate up all her other books and makes me regret that it took so long to get to this one.

[Missy Eldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters are well developed and intriguing. The story line has a twist of mystery with it's romance, which I always enjoy when done with a believable story line. This one delivers.

[Robbin Golden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good that I had a hard time putting it down. The story was so engrossing that you had to find out what happened and how it was going to end.

[Karen Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

Wow. Horses. Mystery. Romance. Religion. Beautiful scenery. A very unlikable mother in law. This novel has it all. And promise for more.

[Linda Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby McGavin has inherited part of a cattle ranch from her late husband, only to discover that his family is very much alive, in contrast to what he told her. Even as she is drawn to handsome saddlemaker Lucas McGavin, she learns more about her late husband's family-and wonders if she ever really knew him.

Piecing together the truth, Ruby uncovers a legacy of pain and denial that has pursued the McGavin family for too long.

[Anne Vandenbrink · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ruby McGavin has inherited part of a cattle ranch from her late husband, only to discover that his family is very much alive, in contrast to what he told her. Even as she is drawn to handsome saddlemaker Lucas McGavin, she learns more about her late husband’s family-and wonders if she ever really knew him.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

After her short marriage. Ruby heads to Cardinal, CA to learn more about her deceased husband's life. She finds that all is not what it seems and there is so much more to his early life. As she connects with dome of the townspeople she learns that there is even more to his story and not everyone was in on the truth~

[Cynthia Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby McGavin has lost everything - her husband, her job, her home. Now, just two months after her husband's death, she is going to the small town of Cardinal, to find out why the love of her life had told her his entire family was dead, when they are very much alive...and with secrets aplenty.

[Lewestover · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. I was pleasantly surprised that this book didn't turn into a syrupy romance story. Rather it deals with some real issues: dealing with loss, needing to belong, the pains of being/rearing a teenager, and the destructive power of secrets -- especially within a family.

[Sadie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a friend, but without any information about it. I didn't realize it was Christian fiction until a little ways in. The overall story is pretty soap opera-y. I liked it well enough but it wasn't as enjoyable as I was hoping it would be.

[Cyndy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really struggled with this one, a lot of heartache. Young widow and abandoned children and barren old women. The characters are heartfelt but I would like to see a little more humor.

[Toni Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

Earlene Fowler writes such warm personal characters. She also pays attention to the environment and it becomes another character. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Cindy Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a long time since a book made cry. This was a fun book with characters I wanted to enjoy.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many personal problems. Not all of them are resolved but people come to gripes.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the reader's digest shortened version of this book. It was on ok read.