Miles from where we started was an amazing book. I got lost in it from the first page and am still thinking about it long after I closed it weeks ago. This book had so many different nuances to it – I could feel the emotions of Mallory and Connor so vividly and then add in the precocious 11-year-old as well as all the interesting people they met along the way and let’s just say – I wish I was on their adventure, micro camper and all.

This book was amazing – it was a funny, sweet story that kept me laughing and entertained; yet had such a depth to it that I can’t stop thinking about it, as I said, weeks after having read it. This is a book that will stay with me for years … and I can’t wait to read another Cynthia Ruchti book. She has become another favorite author for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit and was under no obligation to post a positive review.

Road trip! I love these types of stories. Close proximity means no place to hide and real feelings come to the forefront. For Mallory and Connor this brings all the things they've avoided into the light and forces them to face the idea of ending a marriage before it's truly begun.
Marriage is hard, as they have discovered, but it is also beautiful and worth fighting for. But it takes two willing participants, and Connor seemed to struggle.
I loved seeing these characters learn and grow with each other. Watching them overcome obstacles and begin to love again was a beautiful blessing.
Great story.

I like the vehicle of the journey for this novel but wasn't so sure about her portrayal of this generation. Would Mallory really have had all of that authority? And would they really have gotten married - if their faith wasn’t that strong? Wouldn’t they have just lived together, and then broken up? And would they have been that mature with the 11 year old kid?

I liked the story, and she’s a great author, but some of its components pushed believability just too much this time.

This is a sweet uplifting story from a Christian writer. Unfortunately, it was a little to sweet and perfect for my tastes (Hallmark movie worthy). But the premise is good. A newlywed couple finds themselves in a troubled marriage with a looming potential medical diagnosis that could change their lives. They journey for 3 weeks across the county in a micro-camper with a troubled 11 boy that they are temporarily fostering. In my opinion, the best parts are they people they meet along the way, but these folks too are unwaveringly wise, kind, and just what the couple needs (again, a little too perfect). Not a bad read and a good message, just one I felt needed a little shot of reality. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing an advanced reader copy

Once again, Cynthia Ruchti has reached deep into my soul and wrenched out the tears. Her books are always an emotional journey, but the God lessons she shares are inspirational and full of heartwarming reflections.

There are wonderful characters, husband, wife, and a quirky teenager who has been abandoned by his mother. The miles they travel together, the adventures they have, the people they meet, and the way God speaks to each of them in different ways takes you on a hope-filled expedition. Judah was a treat and I chuckled often at the words that came out of his mouth.

Pay attention to the waterfalls and their restorative powers. The author takes the most basic things...nature, humans, health, jobs...and uses them to teach us a spiritual lesson.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I can't wait for the next adventure with Cynthia Ruchti.

Everything Ruchti writes exquisitely takes readers through a range of perfectly-timed emotion, and her latest is no exception. With her dry humor and grace-filled insight, the author crafts another story that tickles the funny bone even as she speaks to the soul. The millennial couple on the verge of divorce after only a year of marriage, forced into a cross-country road trip with a tiny camper pod and a troubled tween (who steals the show), provide a compelling pair of protagonists and keep readers invested in the journey. A profoundly moving story, not to be missed.

appeared in launch issue of hope by the book magazine

Mallory and Connor are a couple who should be getting ready to celebrate their first anniversary, instead they are preparing for a divorce. When they are they are forced to go on a three week road trip with a foster child who is attention seeking in every way possible will the challenge be more than they can handle or will they see God’s will for their lives?

I LOVED this book. Cynthia Ruchti, the author did a wonderful job of making you see both Mallory and Connor’s point of view so that there was not really a bad guy like you would expect in a novel about a newlywed couple facing a divorce. I found my heart aching for Judah, Connor and Mallory. I loved the colorful cast of supporting characters, they added so much to the story and I would love to read more about all of them. My only complaint was not being given more information about Connor’s Father’s illness, and having to research it myself. Being from the south I had visited some of the locations mentioned in the novel which was a neat added attraction. I will also admit that I found myself wanting a micro camper and a road trip with my family.

I received a copy of this novel from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this story. It had a lot of depth and substance. The 2 main characters, Mallory and Connor are dealing with some heavy issues and find themselves on a cross country road trip with a troubled pre-teen as their marriage is on the brink of dissolving.

I appreciated the honesty in the story...neither of the characters had a deep relationship with the Lord at first and their growth came very naturally. They also struggled realistically with having a troubled youth tagging along on their trip while dealing with relationship issues.

The story progressed naturally and along the way the characters met many interesting people and saw many sights. I love a good road trip story and this one was very well done...atmospheric and definitely worth a read. I highly recommend it!

I received this book to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Miles from Where We Started by Cynthia Ruchti is a heart-wrenching book full of heartbreak and hope. Ms Ruchti takes you on a journey, both a physical journey and a journey through a broken marriage. Things couldn’t be worse for the couple in this book. They’re ready to start separate lives when plans change and they begin a road trip together. The trip is not smooth yet they learn much about themselves and each other. I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s a fantastic read because of its great emotional depth. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

"They were that good at acting, at preserving appearances."

Sometimes you read a book, a story that does something to you. Author Cynthia Ruchti have always had that ability for me. Each of her stories that I've read stirred something, be it in my mind or my heart, it made me ponder. Her latest release, Miles from Where We Started does just that.

"Words matter. . ."

It's refreshing when a story is not about finding love, but what comes after. Many Hallmark movies will portray a couple towards marriage and that would make it a happy ever after ending. Yet, in reality, we all know that's not where it ends, but rather where life begins in a whole new adventure and journey.

After one year, still considered newlyweds, our main characters Connor and Mallory is in the midst of a breakdown of their marriage. Then, when life and circumstances throws them together on a literal journey, camping and roadtrip-ing with an "at-risk" youth, what God plans may just let them see the hope and faith in "togetherness" to travel through life's bumps on the road.

"But it might be very, very hard . . . I know. And it doesn't matter. Because . . . love."

What really have me thinking how love can bind people together, but to keep it strong, the strength of that bind needs to be mixed in with faith, trust, hope and yes, communication. What the author accomplished is for readers to experience that with our characters, but also their journey of uncertainty, for their personal lives as well as the literal sense of not knowing their destination until it was given to them. There are details to be had, and our God is a God of details, despite what we may think at times.


". . . ready to take another step up in adulting? And in a God who cares about details. . ."


In all, Miles from Where We Started has such a poetic flavor to it, from beginning to end, it gives value to the miles travel, leading to a sense of hope for what to come. It may not be for every reader, but definitely one that I know will be cherished and remembered.
"This is not how our story ends."



Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

Another beautifully moving story from Cynthia Ruchti, Miles From Where We Started takes readers on quite the road—don’t miss this one!

Nearly to their one-year anniversary of a crumbling marriage, Mallory and Connor Duncan wind up on a cross-country road trip—with a spirited eleven-year-old boy. Nothing has been as the couple anticipated when their marriage began, and this trip certainly does not alleviate the challenges. But this adventure, full of twists, turns, and surprises, gives them the opportunity they need for a hope-filled second chance.

Emotional, realistic, and so, so heartwarming, Miles From Where We Started is a great read for lovers of contemporary fiction, especially if you love road trips! I highly recommend reading it—I’m sure it won’t disappoint.

In marriage we must choose to celebrate the good to tolerate the bad. It is not about what we deserve but whom we choose. It is called commitment.

Mallory and Conner have just started their marriage and now they are in the brink of ending the marriage. A breakdown of communication, an overwhelming emotion of fear, Conner is determined to end his marriage to the one he committed himself to for life.

The narration begins with the emotional breakdown of where do I go from here, what can I do, and the biggest why. As the emotions are raw they also unravel as you begin to know Mallory and Conner. What their desires were for marriage and also their fears.

But before the marriage ends for good. Conner must ask Mallory one favor to save his career. Will she go on a roadtrip with him and 11 year old foster kid to film a youtube RoadRave. Adventures in Road Trips with a twist. You don't know where you are going from day to day and whom you will meet. On this trip, they begin to see marriage, their lives and faith in a different light. Judah the 11 year old foster boy, adds so much to this story of redemption. A boy that has suffered loss and abandonment is finding his own redemption thru Conner's and Mallory's redemption. It reaches for the heart and pulls. It begs the question what it means to be cherished, loved and respected. That we all have a story and we don't know the whole story.


Faith plays an important role for Mallory as she desires to see how she fits in with God's redemptive plan. Many times in novels like this, it becomes the other way around. How does God fit into my despair. I think that is why Ruchti is one of my favorite Christian authors.

A Special Thank you to Gilead Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

I love this authors writing style. She makes characters so human, incorporates humor perfectly, and tells a beautiful moving story. That being said, I did dislike Connor, the main character, so it was hard for me cheer this couple on all the time. But the journey and the little camper, the mini-houses, and the people they met along the way made this book so much fun. I loved how even through the fun, there were several deep issues and meaningful lessons. It wasn’t written as a love story, but more of a journey. I think most could relate even if not married, and still enjoy this story. Since I didn’t like Connor, that did keep me from fully enjoying everything about this book, but it was still a wonderful book that I recommend.

Cynthia is a talented author who always grabs the reader's attention on the first page of her book and keeps one totally engrossed throughout the story. She deals with subjects that are realistic and yes, sometimes, heartbreaking.
The characters were so vividly described that I immediately saw into their hurting hearts and their struggles to keep afloat. A short marriage that is in danger of being ended is never an easy decision. I loved both of the main characters and easily identified with them, as they each examined their hearts to deal with a life changing decision. Each of them had sincere reasons for believing as they did. To complicate matters, a foster child is thrown into the mix as well as a road trip in a very small camper. Wow! What more could happen?? LOTS! The plot is full of twists and turns that keep one glued to the page, wondering what on earth could next be thrown in their difficult journey !

The question is, "Can they weather this stormy season together to come to a decision that is right for both of them?" This is clearly a time to let God take over completely and trust him to plan their future. Faith is the underlying theme throughout the book. If one doesn't have that, what hope is there??

This is a book that makes one examine one's own life. What is really important? The need to communicate and keep one's eyes above is the key. God and He alone, can heal the breaking hearts and deal with difficult situations.

This is definitely a five star book! Don't miss this fantastic read!

This book was a gift from the author and CelebrateLit. The opinions and thoughts expressed are honest and my own.

I have never read anything by Cynthia Ruchti before, but now I want to read all her books. Miles from where we started is about a soon to be divorced couple and an 11 year old at-risk foster child who embark on a 3000 mile journey together. It turns out to be more of a journey in the minds and hearts of Conner and Mallory. There are a lot of bumps along the road and the boy provides a fair amount of comic relief. But over all, it is shows how amazing for all of us that when we are taken out of our everyday lives, our perspective changes and if we are wise, our lives change accordingly.
There is a lot of self-reflection for all three which results in new directions for their lives and above all – hope.
I truly enjoyed this book and recommend it highly.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gilead Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was another story I simply couldn’t lay aside. There’s so much here, along with a very good spiritual lesson as well.

Judah felt so authentic for an out-of-control eleven-year-old. His attitude and words were just spot-on to how some kids around me act.

Mallory and Connor, though....my!! So much angst there as we peel backs the layer of what happened between the two of them. Wow. One year only and the in-love couple has ended up on two different planets. Road tripping when poles apart sure isn’t going to be easy.

I especially appreciated that Ruchti unveiled a story rather than throwing melodrama onto the page for the sake of sensation. The result is a well-crafted, believable story that feels like someone actually lived all those events. I enjoyed it immensely.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy. A positive review was not required.

In Miles From Where We Started, Ruchti provides a story that will resonate with readers in a way that no other book has. This is not your run of the mill romance novel, in fact it might be the opposite, and thankfully so. How many couples do we see today that have hopes and dreams on their wedding day, only a year later to struggle in simple everyday conversation with their spouse? Ruchti gets right to the heart of the matter in the very beginning by showing us a marriage that is on the brink of disaster. Yes, this does happen to Christians people, as much as the world may think that it doesn't. We're only human, we make mistakes, and we grow apart from our spouses from time to time. But what this book so importantly points out is the need to work through these times. Marriage takes work, it is as simple as that. Ruchti has brilliantly put this story together, and I feel it could serve as a book of encouragement for couples out there today.

Somehow Ruchti has managed to give us several stories in one. Yes, there is the obvious journey Mallory and Connor take on the road with young Judah. There is even the obvious journey of Mallory and Connor as a couple, and what they need to go through to get back on the right track. What you might miss, however, is their personal journey as well as their spiritual journey. Connor's especially. At one point young Judah asks him about his beliefs, and while it takes a bit of time for him to answer, I found his answer to be interesting. Then, little by little, you see his answer start to alter just a bit, until he reaches the realization of where his faith needed to be all along. Connor was easy to relate to, because he experienced things in this book (doubt, worry, fear, medical fears and more) that we have all faced a time or two. The truth is that he reacts similar to how we would as well, which makes him so likable.

Fairy tales and the Hallmark channel are quick to promote the happyily ever after stories. The reality is that doesn't always happen, in fact on a day to day basis I think it's pretty rare. Cynthia Ruchti has given us a story that is not only realistic, it could be exactly where we are right now in our own lives. I encourage you to read this for hope, inspiration, or for nothing else the knowledge that you are not alone. This is a book that will stay in my heart and mind for years to come. In fact, it's probably a book that I will pick up whenever there's a bump in my own life, to remind me of the importance of working on a marriage, and trusting the the One who created marriage to begin with.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was the first book I have read by author Cynthia Ruchti. I found her writing style nice and easy to follow. She sprinkles humor in the midst of an emotionally charged book and provides relief. Her story was believable from quirky characters to the adventure taken.

This is the tale of the Duncans. Married couple Connor and Mallory Duncan are basically newlyweds, but not so happily wed. In fact, Conner is ready for a divorce. Mallory is still trying. The author did an excellent job in her writing. At times I had to just put the book down for a bit. My heart broke for them. Yes, I was invested in the story and characters.

There is a fabulous little guy, 11 year old Judah, that steals the show in this book. He is a foster kid and has many trust issues. The Duncans take a trip that will promote the joys of micro-camping for Connor’s job, and Judah is their sidekick. Like a reality show, social medial follows this trio on their trip, and we get to see their journey as they cross America and grow spiritually.

Life lessons are abundant in this lengthy book. Faith, hope, love, family, redemption, and trust are just some. The characters learn to trust God and His plans for their lives. Readers should take note. The book is not preachy but gets its inspirational message across.

I recommend this book. It would be great for a book club or reading group. There are discussion questions in the back to assist with deeper reflection. I rated it a 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Gilead Publishing and Celebrate Lit for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own honest ones.

Books like Miles from Where We Started are few and far between. Stories that capture the emotion and complex feelings that are built within other stories are some of the best I think a reader can read. This book was everything and then some. It was hard to say goodbye in the end, but I can always start over, like Connor and Mallory, I can make another go at the book and at love.

Mallory and Connor are at a crossroads in their marriage. An opportunity provides the couple plus a foster child, Judah to travel videotaping a promotional tour for Connor's company. Judah is a typical eleven year old with many wise cracks that adds humor to the trip. He will touch the reader's heart. Will three weeks in a micro camper save the couple's marriage? Readers will enjoy this endearing novel. Recommended!