Who says that women of a certain age are boring? Not Ruby!!!! An entertaining story of two of those women of a certain age who prove that boring is the last thing they are.

I have just finished reading this book and I am still not sure what I really think about it. This is the story of Ruby Hewson, later to become Ruby Rain as she fights her way from nothing to the top in a salubrious world and sinks back down again.
This is the first book that I have read by Sandy W, Robson and I now realise that perhaps I should have read Bone Park and Snowbirds first.
Having said that, I do think that the book is really well written and the author writes in a beautiful descriptive manner.
Ruby is brought up by her older sister, they have little money and do what they can to survive. Ruby is growing up to be a beauty and a terrifying incident as a young teenager changes the course of her life, and this book follows that life, life as a burlesque dancer, life as a prostitute, life as a porn actress, life as a drug addict, ruby's beauty would be her weapon, it encompasses all the people who helped her along the way, the people she learned her trade from enabling her to become the most famous porn star of the age.
The author shows Ruby's strengths as well as her weaknesses, her principles, her determination to show that women didn't need to be dominated by men, she also show's the tender side of this complex character.
I did enjoy the book although at times I thought that it dragged a little.
Thank you Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is entirely voluntary.

This was a strong prequel in the Grand Mafia series, it had that charm that I was looking for and thought it was a great taste of the world and what the main series would show. Sandy W Robson has a strong writing style and thought the characters were everything that I was looking for.

I went into this one without reading anything else from this author, and I was pleasantly surprised. This was such a good book, and I enjoyed it so much. I haven't read the series, but this one does well as a stand alone. I loved the characters, and the plot was well planned. I think overall this was a good book, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Book Whisperer

Girl power in action - from rags to riches, overcoming male dominance and manipulations, finding betrayals everywhere - but always true to herself and owning her female power and intellect. Powerful stuff

Real Rating: 3.5* of five

Raunchy, saucy origin story for some terribly fun old-people sleuths' senior sex kitten.

I like this series because I need some fun that requires very little beyond crude decoding skills that, heaven knows, I possess. You do, too, or you wouldn't be here. You should know that Ruby's struggles are bona fide struggles with unkind unpleasant consequences for her...and the gory details are not stinted by Author Robson.

You are warned. It's not all funny-funny chucklefest. I think you'd do well to read this one first, the move on to the two books I've reviewed before. All three are on KU so make great escape-the-family-togetherness reads.

I had no idea about Ruby and Robson's stories. What an entertaining character! Thanks to NetGalley for the copy for this review. I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the other ones. Thank you.

Well, that was unexpected. Reading the description of this story, I was not prepared for what was to come. This is a story of a woman who is determined to escape her current life, but who ends up following a path that includes burlesque shows, prostitution, the adult film industry, and lots and lots of drugs. This is not my typical read, but it was an interesting delve into this world. Ruby makes her way into success and money, but there is certainly a cost.

3.5 stars

I rooted for Ruby through all her hardships and successes but found some of her hardships a bit hard to read. I wish there had been a content warning to prepare me.

What a good book. I went in blind and really enjoyed it. Ruby is something. I didn't read the Grand Mafia series first but now I have to go back and read it. Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc!

Hot on the heels of Bone Park and Snow Bird, Sandy dives deep into one of the fan favorites. The Grand Mafia's siren...RUBY!
From naughty to notorious...homeless to home wrecker, harlet to household name. Ruby Hewton (one half of the infamous Buffalo Girls from the Grand-Mafia Series) has a history even more risque than her retirement. The path to fortune and fame is a very crooked one.


Loved it. Will recommend to others.