Joy's Return

Unconventional #4

by Verna Clay

Joy Abigail Ryder has a dream to travel and paint the West, just as her father Jake Ryder did when he was her age. Being the year 1920, societal restrictions are not as cumbersome as they once were a decade or two ago, but still, is she ready to travel as an unchaperoned female for an extended period of time. Her sweet grandmother Abby is the one who finally convinces her to follow her heart. Dr. Walker Flemming's wife died in a horse accident a year earlier and his daughter hasn't spoken a word since. When he meets a young woman in the general store who says that his five-year-old talked to her...he is stunned! However, his aunt, having previously encountered the woman on a train, denigrates her character. Walker doesn't know who to believe. Should he take a chance and ask the young lady to give his daughter art lessons, hoping his little girl will speak again? That is, if she even did so in the first place.

Genres: Historical Romance

147 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 6, 2014

About the author

I love a book that makes me forget everything except what I'm reading. As a preteen, I devoured Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys' Mysteries. When I reached my teens, romance novels became my favorite genre. Many years later, I decided to try my hand at writing and I've been doing so with a passion ever since. I have released over twenty-five romance novels, including a contemporary western series titled "Romance on the Ranch." The initial story, "Dream Kisses," started out as a single novella, but turned into an ongoing saga when secondary characters cried out for their own stories. The series was completed with book 10 and its one of my proudest accomplishments. As for historical romance, I ventured into that genre with a four book series titled "Unconventional," and enjoyed it so much that I wrote another collection titled "Finding Home." After that I returned to contemporary romance with the unlikely setting of a trailer park in the Arizona Desert, and, believe it or not, romance abounds at Desert Princess Trailer and RV Park in the middle of nowhere. There are three books in the "Oasis" series. Of course, I couldn't overlook writing in the paranormal/fantasy genre and released "The Shapeling Trilogy" about shapeshifters. In that series, my shifters travel the world, solve mysteries, and fall in love.

Using the pen name of Colleen Clay, I published a YA novel titled, "Fragile Hearts."

Now that I've been writing for so many years, I can't imagine doing anything else.

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good wrap-up to the series however the romance between the two main characters, Joy and Walker, was practically nonexistent. I found friends Crusty and Cookie to be far more interesting. Overall, I give the series ***. 🦋

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is well worth the reader's time; the storylines are certainly unconventional. Joy, daughter of the last book's couple, Jake and Jenny Ryder, is also an artist. She dreams of having a great adventure. Finally, her grandmother Abby convinces her to go West and paint what she sees -- before it is gone (in the early 1920s, life is changing radically).

While in Oregon, she meets a widower who has a mute daughter. Misty became mute at the time her mother was thrown from a horse and died (a year before). Showing the compassion the reader knows is part-and-parcel of the Samson-Ryder families, Joy takes Misty under her wing. When Joy overhears something negative about herself, and Dr. Walker Flemming (her fiancee') seems to agree, Joy leaves town and has an adventure following her father's footsteps to Montana. Another delightful story.

Unconventional Series
1. Abby: Mail Order Bride (2012)
2. Broken Angel (2013)
3. Ryder's Salvation (2014)
** 4. Joy's Return (2014)

[Timothy Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book. This is another book that is an example of why I as a man like romance novels at least the ones I read. I like the stories that not only have a romantic love between a man and a woman; but includes the love that comes into being and grows for a child and the love that comes into being and grows for a child to an adult. It also includes the love that Joy has for her parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, for her heritage. It includes the love that develops and grows for friends. Also the love and affection we have for animals and how much they are apart of our lives. In this book we also have the love that Joy has for nature and wanting to preserve it in her art. This book is centered around Joy Abigail Ryder and Dr. Walker Flemming; but it is his daughter Misty that brings the two together.

[Steve Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from ebook Discovery in exchange for an honest review. It was a really good historical romance. I had a hard time putting it down and loved the characters in the story, not just the male and female protagonist. It gave an interesting glimpse into the world of the west in the 1920's. The story line was good also. Highly recommended.

[Mercedes Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fulfilling

Absolutely fulfilling..you had a closer with an opportunity with a door to open to another story (s)..I loved this final book..or the start of another series

[Debbie Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Romance

Thank you for an engaging story of two lost souls finding relief from their sorrow in each other. Danny Scott.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I hope this is not the end of the series it is a fitting story to conclude with. This book had me in heart wrenching sobs in the first chapter and again in the final chapters. This book was Joy's story (Jake and Jenny's daughter) and her striving for independence and finding love on the way. The story became somewhat whimsical when Joy reached the meadow where her father Jake had found his first true love but it fitted well with the tone of all of this series. I am not usually a fan of historical romance but have loved this series of books and the bittersweet stories of life, love and death.

[chelseaerinreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t my favourite but I’m so glad I read it for the final scene. It wrapped up the series beautifully. The ending brought me to tears. I love books with kids in them so I really loved reading them moments with Missy. I didn’t feel the biggest connection between the mc’s unfortunately.

- age gap