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Heaven / Dawn / Ruby
This volume features the first novels in three thrilling V.C. Andrews' series: "Heaven, Dawn, " and "Ruby"--an unprecedented hardcover collection--complete and unabridged--at an inviting price! Available.
960 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1997
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838 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
370 books9,116 followersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 5, 2014
one of the best, most loved series/authors of all time. V.C. Andrews books are something so easily recognizable and new books continue to evolve to go with the times and bring in a whole new generation of loving readers
Currently reading
June 10, 2012stopped reading it long ago
November 30, 2014
v.c. andrews books are all absolutely amazing and very easily distinguishable from any other authors. i love the darkeness, secrets, lies, very addicting, i have almost every single book!
January 10, 2016
V.C Andrews is truly a master at what she does. I hope that Lifetime stop messing up her books
February 17, 2014
This bonk was my favourite out of the series. Then it went down hill from here. :(
March 25, 2021
The first time I read this series, I was a freshman in high school in 1997. As a teenager, Ruby's story filled me with awe, empathy and helplessness. Awe because Ruby experienced a lot of heartache and real life drama that only makes her stronger and I empathized with her as a teenager herself in the first two books going through all the naive decision making, the raging hormones and the loss of innocence through it all. Helplessness because as a teenager I was used to listening to adults, constantly doubting myself and my decisions.
As a teenager, although I liked this series, it did scare me because the issues and situations Ruby experienced dealt with too much reality. Also, at the time I was reading this series, I was going through my own teenage drama and angst so it was hitting a bit too close to home and I wanted to read books where I could find a place to escape from my drama-filled reality.
As an adult, now in my 30's, reading this series, I found it a bit frustrating but also relief. Frustrating because I wanted to reach into the story and tell Ruby that she was more than capable on her own and she didn't need ANY man to define her or her art. (I had a huge crush on Beau when I was a teenager, but as an adult I found him annoying, immature and selfish). Relief that I already went through my teenage years and my 20's and those years, although filled with drama and a whole lot of learning, I am now in a place and time in my life that I am truly happy, content and wiser.
This series is truly a great ode to my childhood and V.C Andrews will forever remain one of my favorite writers of all time because her books were there for me during times in my life when I thought I was fighting this world by myself.
Happy reading!
As a teenager, although I liked this series, it did scare me because the issues and situations Ruby experienced dealt with too much reality. Also, at the time I was reading this series, I was going through my own teenage drama and angst so it was hitting a bit too close to home and I wanted to read books where I could find a place to escape from my drama-filled reality.
As an adult, now in my 30's, reading this series, I found it a bit frustrating but also relief. Frustrating because I wanted to reach into the story and tell Ruby that she was more than capable on her own and she didn't need ANY man to define her or her art. (I had a huge crush on Beau when I was a teenager, but as an adult I found him annoying, immature and selfish). Relief that I already went through my teenage years and my 20's and those years, although filled with drama and a whole lot of learning, I am now in a place and time in my life that I am truly happy, content and wiser.
This series is truly a great ode to my childhood and V.C Andrews will forever remain one of my favorite writers of all time because her books were there for me during times in my life when I thought I was fighting this world by myself.
Happy reading!
August 11, 2019
This novel was okay, not the best that I have read but definitely not the worst. I enjoyed this book for the majority of the storyline but towards the end I felt it was too drawn out. I wish they could have wrapped it up a little sooner, I feel like it would have worked out better.
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October 25, 2019interesting
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December 3, 2019a book you want to read on a rainy day at home
April 1, 2009
this book wa bloody awesome i loved it i couldnt help but stay uo until the sun rose just reading this book
July 12, 2016
I love Virginia Andrews Books and have read nearly all of her books. The Delia collection was very good. And Heavenstone.
November 5, 2022
Always a good read by this author
Would only recommend for mature adults only.
Would only recommend for mature adults only.
Read
November 11, 2011Some of the books were not as good as others but on the whole wonderful
Read
November 30, 2017This is one of my favorite. The tale of the girl from the Bayou who finds out she has a twin sister who was sold at birth. Lots of twists and turns. Nothing is what it seems.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews