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The Livingston Legacy #2.1
The Black Knight's Tune: Ruby's Story
RUBY STEWART is a slave living under the false pretenses of a freed black women in New York in 1853. She abides in turmoil longing to know where she came from. This unrest has caused her to be plagued by dreams and visions of a man she calls the Black Knight and a woman with haunting green eyes. Ruby's only recollection of her past is the name Mag, until she receives a letter from friend Willow Hendricks in the South describing a slave girl that passed through her family’s plantation over twenty years ago. Does Ruby dare hope this slave child might be her?
Meanwhile her job as a journalist at the Manhattan Observer––a penny newspaper––has Ruby fighting feelings for boss and friend Kipling Reed. She struggles with the impossibility of a relationship between a woman of color and a white man. But her skin color isn’t the only hindrance standing in the way of this romance. The unavailable Willow Hendricks has won the eye of Kipling. Torn by her feelings of a love that can never be, will Ruby be able to put the questions of her past to rest?
Meanwhile her job as a journalist at the Manhattan Observer––a penny newspaper––has Ruby fighting feelings for boss and friend Kipling Reed. She struggles with the impossibility of a relationship between a woman of color and a white man. But her skin color isn’t the only hindrance standing in the way of this romance. The unavailable Willow Hendricks has won the eye of Kipling. Torn by her feelings of a love that can never be, will Ruby be able to put the questions of her past to rest?
114 pages, ebook
Published March 3, 2019
195 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Naomi Finley
14 books154 followersNaomi is an award-winning author living in Northern Alberta. She loves to travel and her suitcase is always on standby awaiting her next adventure. Naomi's affinity for the Deep South and its history was cultivated during her childhood living in a Tennessee plantation house with six sisters. Her fascination with history and the resiliency of the human spirit to overcome obstacles are major inspirations for her writing and she is passionately devoted to creativity. In addition to writing fiction, her interests include interior design, cooking new recipes, and hosting dinner parties. Naomi is married to her high school sweetheart and she has two teenage children and two dogs named Egypt and Persia.
From The Author:
When I decided to write my series A Slave of the Shadows, it started from my interest in the antebellum era because many aspects of it were reflected in my childhood.
Though I've studied the antebellum era of US history thoroughly, I certainly don't claim to know every detail and I strive to learn more each day. Over the years, I've visited many plantations and museums across America. I’ve found my visits to be informative and inspirational, but I derive most of the information for my stories from historical books, documents, and maps. Educating yourself by wading through a mass of records can be daunting, especially with so many gray areas and years where documents seem to contradict one another.
Before I started developing characters and plotting A Slave of the Shadows, I visited Charleston, South Carolina. It was at this point I began contemplating if my protagonist Willow would be a plausible main character against a background where the barbaric slave trade was a thriving business in the South. However, it was during this trip I learned of the valiant Grimké Sisters. These two white women were raised in Charleston during the height of the slave trade, and they openly protested cruelties they witnessed against blacks. As a result, they became advocates for abolition and women’s rights. Their bravery in taking a stand against injustice when females didn't have a voice or position of power, ultimately inspired me to pursue my character development of Willow. This courageous account of the Grimké sisters affirmed my dream of painting Willow as I first envisioned her.
My goal in writing this series was to shine a unique light on a period of history where Southerners are generally perceived as abusive slave owners. This simply wasn’t the case because plenty of Southerners were poor, illiterate, and couldn’t even afford slaves. In truth, some owners unleashed unthinkable cruelties, but others worked to keep their slaves content, feeling a better profit would result. In the minority were the Grimke sisters and my own character Willow, disagreeing with the system altogether, despite being raised in a climate supporting its values.
From our vantage point, there is a danger in looking at the negative exploits of the past and generalizing the actions of its participants. It is essential when painting the portrait of an era to shed truth on the dynamic nature of all people involved. My job as a historical fiction writer is to depict a time period with unbiased accuracy and authenticity as much as possible based on documents and records. So, I must find a balance in weaving historical data into a tale while still intriguing and connecting with my readers. I love history, but I don’t want my audience to feel like they're in a history class when they read one of my books or novellas. The beauty of being an author is the freedom to craft stories within a historical context that keeps people turning the pages. These are the stories I gravitate to myself, and I want to share the same experience with my audience.
I also feel it is my duty as a writer to honor and protect the truth of atrocities inflicted on enslaved people during the antebellum era. Many were stripped of their power in dehumanizing way
From The Author:
When I decided to write my series A Slave of the Shadows, it started from my interest in the antebellum era because many aspects of it were reflected in my childhood.
Though I've studied the antebellum era of US history thoroughly, I certainly don't claim to know every detail and I strive to learn more each day. Over the years, I've visited many plantations and museums across America. I’ve found my visits to be informative and inspirational, but I derive most of the information for my stories from historical books, documents, and maps. Educating yourself by wading through a mass of records can be daunting, especially with so many gray areas and years where documents seem to contradict one another.
Before I started developing characters and plotting A Slave of the Shadows, I visited Charleston, South Carolina. It was at this point I began contemplating if my protagonist Willow would be a plausible main character against a background where the barbaric slave trade was a thriving business in the South. However, it was during this trip I learned of the valiant Grimké Sisters. These two white women were raised in Charleston during the height of the slave trade, and they openly protested cruelties they witnessed against blacks. As a result, they became advocates for abolition and women’s rights. Their bravery in taking a stand against injustice when females didn't have a voice or position of power, ultimately inspired me to pursue my character development of Willow. This courageous account of the Grimké sisters affirmed my dream of painting Willow as I first envisioned her.
My goal in writing this series was to shine a unique light on a period of history where Southerners are generally perceived as abusive slave owners. This simply wasn’t the case because plenty of Southerners were poor, illiterate, and couldn’t even afford slaves. In truth, some owners unleashed unthinkable cruelties, but others worked to keep their slaves content, feeling a better profit would result. In the minority were the Grimke sisters and my own character Willow, disagreeing with the system altogether, despite being raised in a climate supporting its values.
From our vantage point, there is a danger in looking at the negative exploits of the past and generalizing the actions of its participants. It is essential when painting the portrait of an era to shed truth on the dynamic nature of all people involved. My job as a historical fiction writer is to depict a time period with unbiased accuracy and authenticity as much as possible based on documents and records. So, I must find a balance in weaving historical data into a tale while still intriguing and connecting with my readers. I love history, but I don’t want my audience to feel like they're in a history class when they read one of my books or novellas. The beauty of being an author is the freedom to craft stories within a historical context that keeps people turning the pages. These are the stories I gravitate to myself, and I want to share the same experience with my audience.
I also feel it is my duty as a writer to honor and protect the truth of atrocities inflicted on enslaved people during the antebellum era. Many were stripped of their power in dehumanizing way
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 23, 2019
Magnolia
If you've had the pleasure of reading Finley's first two books in A SHADOW OF THE SLAVES series, you will certainly enjoy the short novellas that dig deeper into characters that steal your heart. I recently finished both books and I remember thinking to myself I'd really like to know more about her/him. Finley must have read my mind and just in time, too. As I approached the last page of A GUARDIAN OF THE SLAVES, I was sad to say goodbye to Livingston Plantation, Willow, Whitney, Mammy, and especially Jimmy. Book Three, A WHISPER OF WAR, isn't due to release until next year or so. That's a long time to suffer without characters that feel more like friends. Until then...
Each novella provides the reader with a deeper understanding of individual roles in an outstanding series. Taking place in pre-Civil War South Carolina, slavery is a way of life in the south. However, there are those that know deep in their soul that slavery is cruel and must be abolished. Finley gives each character an important role and in doing so, gives voice to slaves and the injustices placed upon them. Ruby's story may be a fictional account but it speaks volumes about family life as a slave. Ruth's journey to freedom is once by boat and, at long last, through love.
If you've had the pleasure of reading Finley's first two books in A SHADOW OF THE SLAVES series, you will certainly enjoy the short novellas that dig deeper into characters that steal your heart. I recently finished both books and I remember thinking to myself I'd really like to know more about her/him. Finley must have read my mind and just in time, too. As I approached the last page of A GUARDIAN OF THE SLAVES, I was sad to say goodbye to Livingston Plantation, Willow, Whitney, Mammy, and especially Jimmy. Book Three, A WHISPER OF WAR, isn't due to release until next year or so. That's a long time to suffer without characters that feel more like friends. Until then...
Each novella provides the reader with a deeper understanding of individual roles in an outstanding series. Taking place in pre-Civil War South Carolina, slavery is a way of life in the south. However, there are those that know deep in their soul that slavery is cruel and must be abolished. Finley gives each character an important role and in doing so, gives voice to slaves and the injustices placed upon them. Ruby's story may be a fictional account but it speaks volumes about family life as a slave. Ruth's journey to freedom is once by boat and, at long last, through love.
January 9, 2020
Captivating
This was such a greatly written novella! It speaks to the unjust of the South during this time period, but also enriches our knowledge that there were so many willing to help each other at such a high cost. My favorite line in the book... ““I pray de Lard never allows you to see folkses in colors.”” As true then as it is today!! Can’t wait to read your other writings!
This was such a greatly written novella! It speaks to the unjust of the South during this time period, but also enriches our knowledge that there were so many willing to help each other at such a high cost. My favorite line in the book... ““I pray de Lard never allows you to see folkses in colors.”” As true then as it is today!! Can’t wait to read your other writings!
June 11, 2019
Loved reading Ruby's story
This book should be read after you read the first book in the series. This book concentrated on Ruby who was introduced in the book series and is about her life in the North with adoptive white parents and tells how she came to find out about her father and ended up meeting him. A very good short read novella.
This book should be read after you read the first book in the series. This book concentrated on Ruby who was introduced in the book series and is about her life in the North with adoptive white parents and tells how she came to find out about her father and ended up meeting him. A very good short read novella.
February 24, 2024
excellent story
I enjoyed reading the second of Ms Finley’s books. I would suggest she learn the difference between she and her. Just finish by reading she was, she did etc as opposed to her was, her did. When using these adverbs it will become clear which to use if you add the verb which could be used next.
I enjoyed reading the second of Ms Finley’s books. I would suggest she learn the difference between she and her. Just finish by reading she was, she did etc as opposed to her was, her did. When using these adverbs it will become clear which to use if you add the verb which could be used next.
June 23, 2019
Excellent
Of you like reading of the antebellum South you'll love this one. Be sure to read A Slave of the Shadows and Guardian of Slaves, the full length novels that precede this novella. You'll love them too!
Of you like reading of the antebellum South you'll love this one. Be sure to read A Slave of the Shadows and Guardian of Slaves, the full length novels that precede this novella. You'll love them too!
April 10, 2020
Short and Sweet
This story ties up loose ends for Ruby, if you ever wondered about her life. It flows quite nicely and can be read on a Saturday morning. I found the overall story to be absolutely sweet and precious in the end.
This story ties up loose ends for Ruby, if you ever wondered about her life. It flows quite nicely and can be read on a Saturday morning. I found the overall story to be absolutely sweet and precious in the end.
May 29, 2020
Hard earned "freedom", still...
Ruby is a delight and a restoration of a family history that seemed dead to one and alive, only in vague dreams and visions, to the other. But the dead can be resurrected and visions made clear. Love abounds all over the place!
Ruby is a delight and a restoration of a family history that seemed dead to one and alive, only in vague dreams and visions, to the other. But the dead can be resurrected and visions made clear. Love abounds all over the place!
March 5, 2019
Family's Reunion
This book was refreshing . Despite their separation father and daughters Years later thousands of miles a part celebratory loved exist
This book was refreshing . Despite their separation father and daughters Years later thousands of miles a part celebratory loved exist
June 9, 2019
Beautiful heartwrenching story
5 stars and AAA+ for such a well written story thru the eyes of a freewoman. Just beautiful! LOVED IT!!
5 stars and AAA+ for such a well written story thru the eyes of a freewoman. Just beautiful! LOVED IT!!
September 11, 2019
Great read
Wonderfully told story from the heart, the importance of family, whether by blood or not, everyone needs someone to share their life with
Wonderfully told story from the heart, the importance of family, whether by blood or not, everyone needs someone to share their life with
November 2, 2019
Quick, short story. I look forward to reading other books by this author
October 31, 2024
Enjoyable Book
Nice story, easy reading, you can feel the life the enslaved felt prior to the Civil War. This series is excellent!
Nice story, easy reading, you can feel the life the enslaved felt prior to the Civil War. This series is excellent!
January 22, 2025
Read the novellas first
Excellent novella to the beginning of the series. This one gives a more in depth background to Ruby's life. Well worth the read before the series.
Excellent novella to the beginning of the series. This one gives a more in depth background to Ruby's life. Well worth the read before the series.
February 13, 2020
A great read !
I like the tone of the novel. I will highly recommend this book especially if you like historical fiction.
The ending was a good surprise.
I like the tone of the novel. I will highly recommend this book especially if you like historical fiction.
The ending was a good surprise.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews