Rubine River

"Rubine River" captures the troubled journey of Clay Maddau, a present-day vet and intertwines it with the struggles of Nehemiah (Neemy), a young, pre-Civil War slave. Set against the fictional backdrop of the beautiful Rubine River, both characters—affected by war— wrestle with their respective inner struggles. And yet, they both seek peace on the banks of the ever-flowing river, albeit a century-and-a-half apart. Rubine River is the strong thread that binds the two together. As the story progresses, readers are introduced to vignettes of forgotten (and obscure) history blended into the fictional story. Readers will also meet a cast of characters—from both settings—as their various journeys intersect in unexpected ways, tying together Neemy's rise from slavery and the horrors of the American Civil War with Clay's trauma as a vet with PTSD and alcohol dependence. The unfolding story provides moments of hope and redemption in the most unlikely of places and settings. The author's moving writing takes readers on a path of self-discovery and redemption in "Rubine River." It's more than just a story; it's a tribute to the lasting power of grace, faith, and the resilience of the human spirit—it's a testament to how hope can flourish amid the darkest of times. Author Merle Temple commented: "There are times as a writer when you read a book that inspires you to dig deeper. 'Rubine River' is one of those books. It is so descriptive and rich in dialogue and dialects. It ties the present and future to the past in an unbroken line of family tragedies and legacies that crowd up against each other across generations of characters that are forever bound together by both large and small moments. Set against the backdrop of the history we think we know, it proved that the ordinary people who might seem footnotes to the headlines were, in fact, the heart and soul of the times. It stirred memories of my family members in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and reminded me of loved ones gone but not forgotten. Mr. Skinner wrote about the faith of his characters in a way that wrung tears from my eyes and showed the shared trials of those who got up when they wanted to give up, people who looked up when they wanted to look away. The author wrote one of those stories that reminds us that our stories are never finished. Periods become commas and yesterday brushes up against us as if it all was only...yesterday." In "Rubine River," Skinner gives readers a unique look into the constant of human life, reminding us of the power of connection and the importance of persevering. With its richly-drawn characters and evocative storytelling, this book is sure to intrigue and surprise readers from start to finish.