Cynthia Ruchti has been on my radar for a while. She’s a well-loved and respected speaker at writers’ conferences and a prolific author of stories “hemmed in Hope,” so I hear her name a lot in my writer/reader circles. Two years ago, her new release Facing the Dawn generated plenty of buzz, so I added it to my to-be-read list, where it joined the multitudes to patiently wait its turn.
I attended a virtual writers’ conference this past weekend, where Ms. Ruchti served as keynote speaker. After listening to her excellent talk likening a writing career to the reason David wrote the Psalms, I knew I had to move Facing the Dawn to the very top of my TBR.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
While her humanitarian husband Liam has been digging wells in Africa, Mara Jacobs has been struggling. She knows she’s supposed to feel a warm glow that her husband is nine time zones away, caring for widows and orphans. But the reality is that she is exhausted, working a demanding yet unrewarding job, trying to manage their three detention-prone kids, failing at her to-repair list, and fading like a garment left too long in the sun.
Then Liam’s three-year absence turns into something more, changing everything and plunging her into a sunless grief. As Mara struggles to find her footing, she discovers that even when hope is tenuous, faith is fragile, and the future is unknown, we can be sure we are not forgotten…or unloved.
With emotionally evocative prose that tackles tough topics with tenderness and hope, award-winning author Cynthia Ruchti invites you on a journey of the heart you won’t soon forget.
MY THOUGHTS:
To be honest, it’s a little difficult to write about this poignant story. I’m still thinking about it, about the characters and the trials they walked through. Facing the Dawn is one of those stories that stays with you. The novel is a heart-wrenching, yet heart-warming reminder of just how brutal and messy life can be, and yet we can have hope.
The protagonist, Mara, was an interesting character. At the start of the novel, she’s full of snarky sarcasm (her default defense mechanism), stubbornness, and resentment. She was relatable in the way that we see things in others we don’t like, partially because we can see the same flaws in ourselves. Mara carried the “I don’t need any help and can do it all myself” cross like a feisty toddler battling for independence. But as life as she knew it continued to unravel and her friends encouraged her to be open to receiving help—and hope—Mara slowly matured into a vulnerable woman relying on the Lord, her friends, and family to walk through the valley with her. At times, it felt as if I was on a Job-like journey with Mara, but with Ruchti’s skillful portrayal, it never felt over-the-top.
Ruchti is a fantastic writer, and I’m looking forward to reading many more of her novels. She crafts beautiful prose that paints vivid pictures, and her words are powerful. I truly enjoyed every character, each felt so real and added depth to the story. The growth of Mara’s children in particular was moving and inspiring. I loved the way Mara learned her name means not only “bitter” but also “strong” and how it symbolized her journey perfectly. Facing the Dawn was equal parts sorrow, grief, fear, love, forgiveness, and healing. If you’ve not read it yet, add it to your TBR immediately! Just make sure to have tissues handy when you pick it up.
Trigger warning: suicide
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in Hope through her novels, novellas, devotions, and nonfiction, and through speaking for women’s events/retreats and writers’ conferences/workshops. She draws from 33 years of experience writing and producing the 15-minute daily radio broadcast, “The Heartbeat of the Home.” Her books have received recognition from RT Reviewers’ Choice Book of the Year, PW Starred Reviews, Selah Awards, Christian Retailing’s BEST Awards, Golden Scroll Awards and Novel of the Year, Readers’ Choice Awards, The Carol Award, two Christy finalists, and more. She serves as Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers, and is part of the worship team at her church. She’s also a Senior Literary Agent with Books & Such Literary Management. She and her husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and six grandchildren.