Ruby Dorn by Paul Wychor tells the story of young Ruby Dorn and her sister, Morain. The two sisters are completely different in character, Morain being rough and ready and tough and confrontational, and Ruby meek and mild, a lover of books, and perhaps the finer things in life, if she ever had a chance to enjoy them. Told in the first person, Ruby finds herself fleeing with her sister across the plains of Dakota where they encounter a wild bunch of men in a wilder town. Morain, as always, has a plan and rescues Ruby after Ruby is accused of murder and sentenced to death, despite the fact that the victim had tried to rape her. A slaughter ensues which results in the two sisters being the subject of a price on their heads. Their lives consist of running and surviving. But elsewhere, the girls have become famous, and little Ruby finds herself the subject of admiration and inspiration by one group of women, yet despised and hunted by infuriated men.

This is an action-packed story that proceeds at a great pace. The writing is perfect for the era of the 1870s and gives the story added credibility. The author, Paul Wychor, has crafted an excellent story and developed realistic characters that give the whole work a feeling of authenticity. The ‘voice’ throughout is perfect. A really enjoyable, breathtaking story that is impossible to put down and leaves the reader gasping at the end and wanting more. Fortunately, there is a sequel.

Ruby Dorn by Paul Wychor is the first  book in a historical action adventure series set in 1875. After her father is wrongfully sent to prison, 15-year-old Ruby must flee with her older sister, Morain, into the Dakota Territory wilderness. But when they reach so called safety in a Black Hills mining town, they discover that their new neighbors are less than ideal. After Ruby defends herself against a violent assault, she is saved from a hanging by her sister and they are forced to flee again. But now they've gotten a taste of justice outside of the law and vow to protect every woman they can from violence. Traveling by horse and train, the teenage sisters are unable to trust anyone, even their closest allies, as catastrophe strikes against them at every turn. They're hardly able to rest as mobs follow them, hell bent on vengeance.

Giving the reader a sense of late 1800s life, Ruby Dorn highlights the plight of women during this time period. While the characters, both good and villainous, sometimes feel a bit cartoonish, Ruby Dorn by Paul Wychor manages to tell a suspenseful and action filled story as Ruby and her sister right the wrongs perpetrated in the Old West. With a gripping narrative, Ruby Dorn starts in the midst of action and ends similarly as well, leaving readers with an abrupt cliffhanger that will have them clamoring for book two. A fast paced read sure to grip any fan of historical action and intrigue.

Ruby Dorn by Paul Wychor is a gritty historical adventure set in 1875 in the wilds of Dakota. The reader is introduced to two teenage sisters, Ruby Dorn and her elder sister, Morain. The reader follows these two sisters as they undertake a perilous journey that brings them to a mining town, Black Hill, but where they expected to find solace is the very place that things take a turn for the worse. Ruby is sentenced to hanging for daring to defend herself and only gets saved by her sister. Now hunted, the two sisters must rely on their wits and cunning to stay alive. Follow their clandestine journey to Boston as they seek out Winnifred Schoonover, an influential woman who may have answers. Or will she?

Paul Wychor weaves a tale with characters that are very believable and that readers can relate to. The author introduces a powerful element in the development of the conflict — the harshness of the terrain, an element that the key characters have to deal with. I enjoyed the setting in a time when people travelled on horseback, when communication wasn’t easy, and when women were still treated like second-class citizens. The author makes great use of these elements to create the empathy that punctuates this narrative. The writing is great and highly descriptive, filled with images that will delight readers. The narrative is characterized by an unusual emotional intensity and readers will quickly relate to the characters. Ruby Dorn is a page-turning journey that will plunge the reader into an exciting adventure.