Loved Ruby’s story! I also loved the historical tie in to the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. This has to be one of my favorite China Bayles books to date. ( )

I am a huge China Bayles fan, but Widow's Tears is the best ever. The historical story is skillfully interwoven with the current story about Ruby until they are brought together in a colorful conclusion. I loved the personalization, even if it was fictional, of the famous 1900 Galveston storm. ( )

The author of Widow's Tears does a first rate job of weaving the historical facts, setting and characters from the devastation of the Galveston Hurricane into a modern setting, including a descendant of one of the original characters. Life in Galveston was just about perfect before the storm surge rolled across the island on September 8, 1900, leaving an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 dead behind and beneath a mountain of debris and mud.

The body of Rachel Blackstone's husband was recovered from beneath the rubble of a building, but nothing was every found of her five children, her house keeper and the maid. Her grief danced with madness as she tried to recreate the home and family setting miles from the Gulf waters which had laid waste to her life. ( )

This is the 21st book of the China Bayles series and it did a turn about. The plot was based on China's friend Ruby, added some ghostly story line, and involved the Galveston hurricane of 1900, and I believe the combination has turned me back to enjoying SWA all the more. ( )

Widow's Tears is the 21st book in the China Bayles series. And still loving the series.

One of the reasons that I like this series, is that Albert provides the reader with interesting little snippets about the herb that is featured in the title of her books. Quite often China will comment, too, within the story itself.

Widow's Tears is a two part book and China pretty much gets a little time off. Ruby owns the Crystal Cave, which is located in the same home that China's Thyme and Season is located and takes the spotlight in this book.

Alternating chapters take the reader back to 1900 in Galveston, TX as the storm that was to devastate Galveston so terribly, is approaching. The story center around a family as Rachel and Augustus Blackwood and their five children, nurse and housekeeper. They thought they would be safe from the storm.

Back to the present day, Ruby has received a call from a girlhood friend, Claire. Claire has inherited the Blackwood Mansion in Round top, TX, from her great Aunt. Claire is asking Ruby to come and help her to get rid of the ghosts that have taken up residence. Claire would like to get the house on the Historic Register and turn it into a B&B, but she needs to get rid of the ghosts first.

Ruby has some psychic abilities and has dabbled with them, but has never fined tune them. Once she arrives, she almost leaves as the groundskeeper is a bit creepy. Once Ruby meets his wife, she also finds out he has a violent nature. Add to this the fact that her car's battery becomes drained for no reason, no cell phone service, puddles of water turn up when they're in a drought, and other super natural occurences, Ruby is not so sure this beyond her capabilities.

China has a very important business matter to discuss with Ruby and what with not being able to get in touch with her, heads for Round Top. Once there she sees what Ruby is up against and ehlps Ruby get an understanding and provides her with the confidence to deal with the ghosts.

Looking forward to the next book in the series. ( )