The Sun and the Sand and a Book in my Hand

Review: Facing the Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti

Review: Facing the Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti

If you have ever read one of Cynthia Ruchti’s books in the past, you will know that she embodies her tag line “Hemmed in Hope.” Although her tales explore some rather deep and faith-stretching content, her underlying message is always one of hope and love.

Her previous novels include many fiction, non-fiction, and novella choices, and each of her books is so lovingly written that readers will be able to relate to any of the tales.

Facing the Dawn is a March 2021 release by Revell Books

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, see disclosures for more detail.

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.

My Thoughts:

I gave this book 5 stars

Oh my, all of the tears for this one.
Such a gorgeously written, beautiful book, but everything I have come to expect from Cynthia Ruchti.
It is all at the same time a tale of love, loss, friendship, faith, family, and rebuilding. It evokes shades of the story of Job, the story of Ruth, and the laments of the Psalms.
God’s wonderful redemption in the midst of tragedy, small glimmers of hope when all seems bleak, and those who stand beside you holding you up when you can’t hold yourself up–these are all themes that resonate throughout this novel.

This is not an easy story to read, in fact it is a downright difficult story to read at times, but it is definitely worthwhile. Mara isn’t an immediately likable character, but there’s real life relatability in that. I think this is a book that is going to touch the reader deeply if they are in a place to open up to letting that happen. It challenged me spiritually and emotionally in some very meaningful ways, and I’m thankful for that.

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