Ridley Speaks

By: Kirk Ward Robinson
Publisher: Highland Home Publishing
Publication Date: May 15, 2024
ISBN: 979-8-9886815-1-9
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: January 1, 2025

Ridley Speaks is the third book in author Kirk Ward Robinson’s The Speaks Saga. A phenomenal journey of peril and triumph is penned through the eyes and life of the main character, Ridley Speaks.

The story begins with young Ridley reflecting on early childhood memories. She recalls the time when she and her brother Tommy were living in the ‘Blue Place’ and describes it as such because "…That’s the only name we ever had for it, and we were young enough when we left it that neither of us has any notion where it was…" It wasn’t that Ridley was a loner; rather, she was a survivor. It seemed her momma kept adding to the litter of siblings and they were each from different daddies. Of course, Ridley would often fantasize that she and Tommy were from the same daddy, but that was a story she would address later in her life. One thing that resonated always in Ridley’s mind was the insistence from her momma that none of them should ever talk to strangers and never give up any information about who you were and where you were from.

It became clear to Ridley not long after her brother Tommy left home, that her time to go would soon follow. Living close to the Appalachian trail was like living near a freedom highway that led to hope and certainly more opportunity. Ridley packed her sparse belongings and her precious guitar along with her God-given talents and ear for music and pointed herself west. California was holding her hopes and dreams and she was determined to go there to collect them. However, Ridley was unprepared for the series of hard knocks and unfortunate events she would encounter when her first stop deposited her in Nashville, Tennessee.

I have not had the pleasure to read the first two books in The Speaks Saga (Timewell Speaks and Blaize Speaks). However, Kirk Ward Robinson knows how to anchor his voice and spin a tale; making Ridley Speaks a fantastic read that owns its spotlight to stand on its own. I was so intrigued with the storyline and adept writing skills Robinson portrays, that I plan to go back to the beginning of the series and read the first two books. The content is rich and raw. The subject matter in Ridley Speaks ranges from abject poverty to the disgusting reality of human trafficking. Robinson is visionary with word placement that is so descriptive it puts his audience in the moment. He has the enviable ability to describe a character that breathes life onto the page, "…He was a sickly-looking man who had more gray hair on his face than on his mottled scalp, and teeth that no smile could make pretty. And he had a smell, like something from a bottle under the kitchen sink…" The cadence and pace of this book is outstanding in that once his audience picks up this book, it will be most difficult to put down until the last page has been read. Bravo, Mr. Robinson. I look forward to your next book.

Quill says: Ridley Speaks is the essence of a memorable story of hope, true grit, and perseverance and Kirk Ward Robinson’s ability to write a great book resonates throughout.

For more information about Ridley Speaks, please visit the author’s website at: kirkwardrobinson.com.