"Beyond the Ashes" by Karen Barnett

About this book:

  “Young widow Ruby Marshall is certain she’ll discover new purpose assisting her brother, Robert, with his cancer research. And where better to rebuild than in 1906 San Francisco, a city rising from the ashes? Ruby arrives in the city with great hope and determination for a new beginning.

  But she doesn’t anticipate finding new love.

  Dr. Gerald Larkspur had dreamed of filling his empty home, but he’d always hoped it would be with a wife and children. In the aftermath of the great earthquake, the rooms are overflowing with family and friends left homeless by the disaster. As he attends to every need of his patients and friends, Gerald doubts he will ever find true love, especially when he develops symptoms of the very disease he’s striving to cure.

  She’s had her love and lost it. He is still missing his heart’s desire.”


Series: Book #2 in the “Golden Gate Chronicles” series. (Book #1’s (old!) review Here! *This review is on the old rating system, so not as detailed as this review.)

Spiritual Content- Jeremiah 29:11 & Isaiah 61:3b at the beginning; Scriptures are quoted & mentioned; Prayers & Blessings over food; Many Talks about God, His plans & trusting Him; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of those in the Bible; Ruby is very mad at God for taking her husband and says many times that she’s in control of her life (*Spoiler* Her view changes near the end and starts trying to trust God *End of Spoiler*); Witnessing to Ruby.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blamed’, a ‘blasted’, a ‘drat’, a ‘idiot’, a ‘sissy’; Blood, Illnesses, Shots, Cancer & Doctor stuff (semi-detailed to detailed); Mentions of drugs and opium; Mentions of brawls, drinkers & cigar smoke.

Sexual Content- four not-detailed kisses, four barely-above-not-detailed kisses, three semi-detailed kisses and a detailed kiss; Two hand kisses; Remembering kisses (up to semi-detailed); Ruby remembers when Charlie would kiss her (barely-above-not-detailed); Engaged couples kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss & touch; Noticing (semi-detailed); Touches & Nearness (semi-detailed); Mentions of flirting; A few mentions of working women and girls working in brothels (including a 14yo girl); A few mentions & talks of being pure and desires; A mention of a midnight rendezvous & a mention of rewarding someone’s hospitality; A mention of a married woman having many affairs; Love, falling in love, trying not to fall in love, & the emotions. 

-Ruby Marshall, age 27

-(Dr.) Gerald Larkspur, age 31
                                         P.O.V. switches between them.

                                              Set in 1906
                                                        315 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens-

(and a half)

My personal Rating-

{Caution for girls who: have cancer, are close with someone who does, or recently lost someone due to cancer.}

Okay, I’m *so* not a medical person—blood, needles, doctors—making this a not-so-fun read. Pretty serious stuff! I cringed at the radiation as I knew what was going to happen. I can’t say I really liked Ruby or Gerald at all, both of them got on my nerves with all their kissing, but Karen Barnett is a great author. She has a very unique writing style that’s very informative; I do remember liking Book #1 in this series much more. :)  

See y’all on Friday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Abingdon) for this review.