With Love, Ruthie: A Southern Christmas Novel

by Jenny Marie Bee

Southern Christmas NovelIt's November of 1965, and Ruthie's life in the tiny Appalachian Mountain town of Dry Falls, NC, is always challenging. Still, when Christmas rolls around, she's determined to make it memorable for her children and neighbors at Holiday Hill Travel Park.In desperation, Ruthie takes her best friend Leona's advice and writes a letter to Santa Claus, never expecting him to arrive at Jerry's Diner.Over the next twelve days, Ruthie faces moral dilemmas, takes desperate measures, and risks her future to make her idea of Christmas and Santa Claus a reality. But when the whirlwind of Christmas is over, Ruthie finds herself unprepared for the heartbreak that awaits her.You'll love seeing if Christmas comes to Holiday Hill Travel Park—a heartwarming story of the power of hope, love, and the strength of family and friendship.Will Ruthie’s wishes come true? Can she endure the inevitable heartache waiting for her? Will she have to?

Genres: Christmas, Historical

158 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2023

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Christmas read and it has you on edge. Single mom Ruth will do anything for her kids and honestly.. this story shows exactly that. Moms will do anything but it’s how far and what they do to get there that keeps you hooked.

I received this ARC for an honest review, all thoughts/opinions above are my own!

[Christy DuBois · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Goodreads giveaway winner-
I adore this story. It had all the feelings! The only issue I had ..and it could of just been my kindle version .. but the dialogue ran together and I'd have to go back and reread certain parts to see if they had started talking to someone or if they were still just their thoughts. But overall I really enjoyed the story and all the characters.

[Roberta Endelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE ❤❤❤❤❤ HAPPINESS

This is one of the BEST LOVE stories I have ever read...
So sad in the beginning and so HAPPY in the end.
Two lost and lonely people finding LOVE and HAPPINESS in the end

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely one of my favorites, from the moment I started reading I couldn’t put it down. As a young women you she her grow into a strong independent women married to a selfish, good for nothing husband who eventually she throws out. The people in her life in this small town look after her and her three daughters as they all know he spends all his money on himself with no regard for his family. This book gives encouragement to women stuck in these situations to see you can change the path your on.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart!

This is one of the most heart-wrenching, heart-warming quick read stories I have ever read.
I didn't have high hopes for this simple, southern story of bad choices, turns to bad circumstances, but this one stole my heart. There is something completely relateable in life throwing curve balls at you and I fell totally in love with these small town characters and found myself holding my breath and cheering for them. Well worth the read!

[Kope · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching story

This is story about a good woman who made some bad choices. I almost stopped reading part way through because I could see the pain coming. I wont type more for fear of spoiling the story for you.

[Vicki McNally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Done

I loved this book from the start, which is unusual for me. The story line was interesting from the beginning. Then I had to keep reading to find out what happened. I have to admit I was surprised, but also pleased by what happened next. Don't want to b give anything away, so just saying to read it yourself!

[Patricia L .Jex · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is good, and telling the story from various points of view was effective. I just didn’t like the message of the story, which amounts to keep making bad decisions and eventually everything will work out for you. I skipped sections that were inappropriate for my values. If nothing else this made me grateful for my life choices.

[Chantel Deeb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a book with Christmas in it! This book shows how deep a mother's love is, and was well written. Definitely recommend it!

This was an ARC read for my honest review.

[Angela Edney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book the author is fun and inspiring. I look forward to many more books by her

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book …

I started this book with low expectations and nearly did not read it. What a gift this story is and one that will stay with me for a long time. Rarely do I find a story that has a better ending than I could have imagined. It is 1:20am and I could not put it down until I got to the end. Jenny Marie Bee, thank you for writing this tender and hopeful book.

[KimMacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Love, Ruthie is a historical fiction closed door romance that will leave you glued to the pages until you get to the end. This book is told in multiple POVs which brings a deeper understanding of all its characters. The writing style is fitting for the time period, and I couldn't help but get swept up in this story, these characters, and the roller coaster of emotions. It had me hooked and on the edge of my seat wondering how this journey was going to end for everyone.

This story follows a young mother, Ruthie, who lives in a small town near the Appalachian Mountains with her deadbeat husband and three young girls. As Christmas nears, she struggles to make it special for her children and just when she thinks everything is going to work out, she gets blindsided. In desperation, she writes a letter to Santa Claus asking for help. When Santa arrives, he isn't at all what she was expecting and once Christmas is over, she finds herself heartbroken, defeated, and struggling to put back the pieces of her fractured life.

For such a short book, this one definitely packs an unexpected punch. It is a gut wrenching story that pulls at your heartstrings and at times leaves you feeling hopeless for Ruthie. I wish I could tell you more, but you will have to read it yourself to find out if Ruthie can persevere in the end!

[kathi Driskell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthie grew up on a farm during the Baby Boomer era, where she became involved with a local no good guy. Her raising instilled the sense of devotion for her children and the man she chose to marry. While he played around and would not support his family, she herself, found work in the local diner in a small, rural town in NC. Loving Christmas as she did she never forgot her roots and upbringing where she wanted to believe the goodness in people. Feeling dismal with no money for her girls a Christmas present she writes to Santa herself! What a gift she received from that letter! She found she truly loved the local Santa in town who truly cared for her.
A sweet, inspirational Christmas story evolves as she finds her love of herself along with her babies.

[MICHAEL L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the tiny mountain town of Dry Falls, NC, life is not easy for Ruthie and her three daughters. Separated from her family, Ruthie faces her trials and troubles with the strength, stubbornness, and mountain values that she learned from them growing up. With Christmas looming and no help coming from her no-account husband, Ruthie sets out to prove the others wrong when they said that "Santa Claus doesn't come to trailer parks". Filled with vibrant characters ranging from heroines and harlots to scoundrels and saviors, this romantic roller coaster ride will draw you relentlessly forward. Can Ruthie gather enough Christmas magic to make her and her family's dreams come true? Will goodness, gumption, and grace win out? Read "With Love, Ruthie" and find out!

[Dara Sorah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this book, gave me all the feels. I am not sure I can convey everything in this book. It is set in 1965 - so the views of marriages and pregnancy come into play and with Ruthie it just is heartbreaking. She is such a strong FMC and mother. I loved her idea of what she wanted to give her girls and her friends for Christmas - a piece of magic. Her journey was emotional and hard fought. This is not my typical genre of reading but I am so glad that I read this book. Highly recommend.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

She fell in love with a guy who had a way with words.

There were times I wanted to hug her, but others I wanted to shake her

Things weren’t easy, every penny was hard. She could have done so so much better than what happened, but that’s life for you, often things just don’t work out that way.

A recommended read

This was a ARC, my review was freely given

[Blake Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has a unique way of endearing the characters to the reader without even knowing it. The story has a great flow, and makes reading so easy. I would definitely recommend this book, and any other books this author writes!

[Ruth Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

So familiar

This isn't my life story but so much of it could be. I am so glad that Ruthie and Curtis can get to their happy ever after. I wish it would have told outcome of Bobby and Meri they deserved each other.

[Rene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read. It’s filled with lots of real-life stories. I couldn’t put it down, definitely recommend it. Can’t wait to read more from Jenny Marie Bee!

[Heather Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pulled in halfway through the first chapter, and didn't want to put it down. It's a captivating story of love, betrayal, and a unsuspecting hero. If you're looking for a relatable, smart, and emotional read...this is it. Left me looking for more chapters.

[Michelle LaVigne Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading this book. It gave me all the feels. It made me happy , sad, mad, had me laughing and I even cried 😭 and honestly I NEED MORE RUTHIE.

[Chad Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I quickly connected with Ruthie when reading this book. Recognizing and relating to her struggles in a meaningful way. With Love, Ruthie is well written and certainly for me an enjoyable read.

[Vanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down. Must read!!

[Sheila McFall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously could not stop reading! The characters are so relatable, a great Christmas love story. Not at all the ending I was expecting. Jenny is an amazing author When can we expect another??

[Rachel G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! I couldn’t put it down. I laughed, I cried, I enjoyed every second of this book.

[Laurie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads giveaway winner…Quick read. Good story. I was definitely cheering for Ruthie! Some of the formatting was off…perhaps because of reading it on my Kindle.

[Blanca E. Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book!

I could not put the book down, it was such a bitter sweet story that I just needed to know what happened at the end.

[Gina Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel had a surprisingly adult twist to the Christmas season that I did not expect. I recommend this novel if you enjoy Southern hospitality and/or adult romance novels.