Facing the Dawn By Cynthia Ruchti is a Contemporary Women’s Fiction book. I have read a few other books by this author and have always been pleased with what I read. In this book you will go on an emotional journey. You will want to have tissues handy.
In this book, you will meet Liam and Mara. Mara is struggling while her husband is doing humanitarian work. She feels like she is swallowed up with work, kids, being apart from her husband and so much more. When the things that Mara has grown to resent takes her husband away - Mara continues to feel like she is drowning. She starts to lean on others. She finds strength in 3 children (Jeremy 12, Chelsea 18, and Dylan 19).She also finds strength in her friend Ashlee. Ashlee has navigated through grief and relied heavily on God to get her through. Through this support system - she is able to stand back up.
This book navigates through grief. It is emotional and raw. It has a great biblical message woven into it. The author has written some strong, real feeling characters. I love the tough subject that the author faces.
I received a book through the Celebrate Lit blogging Program - all thoughts are my own.

Cynthia Ruchti does it again. An interesting premise that is fresh and believable, a painful journey peopled with flawed but gracious friends, and a conclusion that needs to be read more than once. What a lovely novel!

This was well written, but such a hard read. So much sorrow, with an even greater amount of healing. But, oh, the sorrow. And yet, amidst the sorrow, the author did a phenomenal job of pointing the reader to the only true Healer.
"I can't know the end of my story, God. And I have to be okay with that, don't I? But I know your heart. Verse-verse-verse Redemption. Sorrow-sorrow-sorrow-Jesus."

Mara starts out as bitter as she believes her name implies, but just as the story of her biblical namesake, she finds love and healing in the people who still surround her and teach her that life is still worth living, and there is still hope to be found.

4 stars; the hope within was beautiful, but it was almost too hard for me to read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Wow this book was not a simple, easy read. It is quite a heavy story and you need to be ready for that when you pick it up (no, I was not!). There is loss, friendship, love, hurt, a HUGE range of emotions and issues to deal with, but there is also God. He is the one who can keep us together through anything.

I loved the trust and faith aspect of the book. Some of it was just so hard to read because the author is incredibly talented in painting the picture for us of Mara's grief. It really is a good and touching story that will make you think about life and how you would/do handle things. It just isn't one of those 'quick read, feel good' stories. It is deep and heavy. I really enjoyed it though.

4/5 for me.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via Celebrate Lit. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

This is the most emotional, heartfelt, beautifully written story I have ever read. Yes you will need tissues. There are such heart wrenching moments written in the pages of this book that it really took a lot out of me. And I mean that as a compliment. Ruchti doesn’t hold back on emotion, nor does she shy away from difficult topics. I, for one, love that. Life isn’t always bubbly. It isn’t always a happy ending. Sometimes really things happen the shake us to our core. Mara certainly experienced that in this novel. And while I would love to touch on the specifics, I don’t want to give anything away for those who haven’t read. Just grab the tissues and start reading.

Here’s what Ruchti is so great at – giving a reader hope. I think what touched me the most about this book is that Mara didn’t have hope right away. I know that probable sounds backwards, but honestly it made me connect with her character more. She wasn’t immediately “all is well in the world” after all the bad things happened. It took time. A lot of time. And that’s ok. That is real life. Ruchti brings real life to the novel, and that is something a reader can not only learn from, but understand and connect with. Knowing how emotional I was reading this story, I cannot even imagine what it was like for her to write it. It must have been draining – for real. You’ll understand once you read.

Guys this is not a light read my any stretch of the imagination. But it is a book that will touch your heart, take you on an emotional roller coaster, and show you the power of hope and forgiveness. I highly recommend this book to all readers. Just make sure you take your time, read it slow, and allow yourself time to feel the story. I think you’ll find yourself changed in the end.

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

I'm certain I won't add anything new by saying Facing the Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti is a deep, thought-provoking story that will have you reaching for the nearest tissue, lesser reading material, sleeve, or even furry friend on which to dry your eyes.

Facing the Dawn centers around Mara Jacobs, a struggling mom of three, trying to navigate a busy, stressful life without the help of her "hero" husband, Liam. While Liam is on an extended mission in Africa to bring remote villages safe drinking water, Mara is tasked with keeping her wayward, often rebellious, kids in line. Not to mention juggling all of the bills, house upkeep, and making ends meet with a thankless job. The absence of her husband, her refusal to let anyone in and know how she's struggling, and the mounting "to-do" list have added up to her embodying her name's meaning--"bitter". But when tragedy deals her family blow after relentless blow, she must live out her name's other interpretation--"strength". As she learns to lower her walls, let in the support of friends, strengthen the bonds with her children, and lean into the Lord's unwavering love in the face of her regrets and pain, Mara finds peace after her profound losses.

I hardly know where to start with this book because there is truly so much to unpack. Book reviews tend to gush and, trust me, there's plenty to "ooh" and "ah" about here. Can we just talk about the absolute mastery Cynthia Ruchti has over the English language for a second?! I've been reading her work for a while now and something I've always said about her writing is that there's never a wasted word. If she mentions a light or a shadow or a picture or a water bottle, etc. in the room, there's a reason. It will come back around. It will drive the plot forward in some way. Clever turns phrases, precise language, engaging characters, and a literary smorgasbord to feast upon will have you saying, "Just one more page," much later into the night than is responsible.

But like the gentle yet raw tone of this story, I'm going to be 100% honest with you. This is a hard book to read in the beginning. There was a point at which I may have clutched a tissue to my chest and said (as nicely as possible), "Okay, Cynthia, it can't get any worse for Mara, right?"--continued reading--"Oh, no. Wait. Yup. It did."

I didn't know if I could go on. BUT, I'm so glad I did and I encourage you to stay with it too. Please don't stop reading there. Give yourself time. Grieve with the characters and move forward like Mara does.

Cynthia never disappoints in shining God's light in the darkest of places. Her tagline, "I can't unravel. I'm hemmed in Hope," carries through all of her writing. Facing the Dawn, despite so much grief on the page, is no exception. Her writing never shies from difficult issues. No skipping over or making light of hardship here. But, rather, the story--like Mara's true and honest friend, Ashlee--sits with grief, looks it in the eye, and offers a loving shoulder to lean on (along with a little tough love when necessary).

Speaking of Ashlee, I loved the friendship dynamic between Mara and Ashlee. They are so brutally honest with each other! In the best way. The bond between these "forever friends" as well as the growth that happens between Mara and her children were my favorite parts of the story. While there were times I was jarred by the emotional abrasions of Mara's snarkiness, I also understood she used it as a coping mechanism. It made her oh-so-real and relatable. All in all, this is a book to savor. I will reflect on Mara's path to forgiveness, hope, and learning to "face the dawn" for years to come.

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

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.

This book was good, perhaps great, but it wasn’t a good fit for me.

The first half was so stuffed with sarcasm that I really struggled to feel connected with it at all. I had difficulty feeling bad for Mara when things went completely sideways on her, simply because she wasn’t a very likable or relatable character to me through the entire first half. (I did learn to like her better as things progressed into the second half, thankfully.)

Then, here trots the second half, and I’m completely blown away.

That’s what I expect from a Ruchti novel: to be emotionally moved and completely blown away. She succeeded once again, in the second half of the story.

Ashlee and Sol were amazing from beginning to end, and they were the ones who kept me interested when the Jacobs family didn’t. I did like the growth each of the Jacobses showed in the second half of the story. That was really well done and gave me great hope for their next chapter after the finale of this particular glimpse into their lives.

My hopes were up high for discovering what was inside a certain missive. Even though there was lots of lead-up to discovery, the actual revelation never happened, so that thread was left completely unfinished for me.

Yet, the climax and finale were stunning and beautiful and exactly the way they should have been. The finale line, which I will not share here, was so exactly Sol… It really took my breath away and made me grin. I cannot fully express the satisfaction and amazement I experienced in those final chapters, despite a couple of unfinished tidbits.

Mara’s grief journey was superb. I wish I could have “enjoyed” it from the beginning, but that overly-sarcastic first half hampered my emotions from getting properly engaged until about the halfway point. Once I got invested, though, I held nothing back. Tears were shed, folks. A couple of times, actually. Mara really grew on me quickly in the back half of the story. Her grief and sorrow were exquisitely expressed. I liked that she reacted poorly at times, because that made her so realistic. We don’t always think clearly in the midst of grief, and that was fantastically shown here.

If sarcasm (in heavy doses) wasn’t a huge pet peeve for me, I probably would have adored this book. I know many other readers will love it.

Side note: I'm not sure why there was such a heavy emphasis on calling cranberry sauce "gel." Every can of cranberry sauce I've ever seen (in person [in various states, not just my own of Texas, because this is one of my favorite foods], online, and on television) has been labeled as "cranberry sauce" (some are labeled "jellied cranberry sauce"), so I'm not sure where this non-plot issue (no one was even shown eating the "gel" after it got to the event) came from. It was very distracting and took me out of the story for a good half hour so I could do some research on the subject. Even after that amount of time, I still came up empty on any references online to cranberry "gel."

Trigger: suicide (child and adult)

Content: teen smoking, teen drug use, child drug use, suicide (child and adult), teen pregnancy (mentioned), gambling (mentioned)

This one is more on the difficult side for me to review. This was a deep emotional story about the stages of grief and overcome challenges, and also about redemption and growth. I enjoyed the story and was interested to see what will happen to the characters.

The difficult side for me was the writing style. I felt more like an outsider, looking in, only seeing Mara's side of everything. This type of style is a bit of a struggle for me to connect to the characters. I prefer feeling part of the story.

This was a new to me author. I enjoyed this story and to see how the main character received healing. However, I will probably not read more by this author solely due to the writing style.

Facing the Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti was an emotional and captivating read. As a mother with a teenager, I was drawn immediately into Mara's pressured world of frustration, schedule juggling, and fatigue. That she chose to face these challenges without a husband beside her for almost four years was staggering. Her circumstances quickly plummet, and her family faces unbelievable tragedy.

This story explores the themes of loss, grief, faith, friendship, and family. Mara and Ashlee's deep bond was particularly remarkable, as was the enduring faithful friendship that Sol provided to Mara's family. These were significant examples of Christ-like agape love.

Deep personal suffering refines Mara's faith as she learns that God guarded her life. He was her safe place. It warmed my heart how after such a devastating loss, Mara's family rallied together and started on a road to healing and wholeness.

I am grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC for this, my honest review.

Cynthia Ruchti has been a favorite author of mine for years, and I was eagerly awaiting this newest novel. Oh my, I believe it’s now my favorite of hers! I found myself so engrossed from page 1 that I just could not put it down. It’s packed with emotion, so have the tissues ready. It’s both heart-warming and heart-wrenching.

I especially loved the strong friendship between Mara and Ashlee; without Ashlee, I’m not sure Mara could have survived all the grief she had to endure. Like all really great friends, she knew when to show up, just when Mara needed her. She taught her the great lesson of “handholds and footholds”, anchors and rocks.

Some books just stay with you long after the last page and this is definitely one to savor. Guard the dawn……..

I received a copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group through NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I haven't read a book like Facing The Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti in a long time.
Tissues are required for this one.
This is so realistic, the characters could be your neighbors or even yourself.
This book touched my heart and the author has written it just right showing compassion where it was needed but giving a pep talk and true encouragement when needed as well.
Mara Jacobs is the families strength at least she feels like she should be but it's so hard to hold it together as she promised her husband she could. She is crumbling but can't let it show . Her husband has been gone to do missionary work in Africa, digging wells as a humanitarian helping widows and children . She's proud of him but she's so lonely in her marriage and her children are floundering without their father's direction.
Then the unthinkable happens and the sunshine goes out in her life as the news of his death reaches her.
Her faith is fragile , she has the support of her best friend but friends can only do so much as renewal has to come from within through God strengthening us.
When she receives the devastating news of another tragedy will she be able to find the resilience to continue on?
Beautifully worded and encouraging book through tragedy as she seeks redemption and the healing waters.
Highly recommended!

Published March 02,2021.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I liked this book after I was past the first few chapters. I had a hard time getting into it because the attitude of the main character was so snarky. It was like she was trying too hard to be funny, but it just felt bitter, and unsuccessful. And it left me feeling more annoyed by her than pity for her.

But as I moved through the book, I gained a greater appreciation for Mara's struggles. She seemed to even out her sarcasm with tenderness for her children, and her honest struggle to respect and love her husband who chose to spend four years away from them with a well-digging company overseas.

As a former missionary, I can understand the draw of humanitarian (and Gospel) work. But when things are too hard at home, especially when one of your children is repeatedly in trouble with the law, you go home. Period. Regardless if your spouse tells you "everything is fine". I felt so bad for Mara and the things she was navigating alone. It was certainly an unfair position to be put in. Even if she had assured her husband all was well, he should have come home.

The author does a fantastic job of getting you to care for each of the characters in this story, and really experience their anguish with every new trial they face. Walking with them through grief, and seeing them come out the other side stronger was uplifting. I was very happy that Ashlee was there for Mara- even when Mara was not there for her in the past.

This is a story of redemption, reconciliation, forgiveness, and faith. I would recommend it to anyone who is struggling with grief, guilt, prodigal children, or having a crisis of faith. It has a lot of truth packed in it, and was a very enjoyable read. I would definitely read another book by this author, and hope this is the first in a series. I really want to know what happens with Mara and Sol.

I'm not one to judge a book by it's cover, unless you include the author's name. But I have to admit the cover and story synopsis on the back of the book did nothing to peak my interest. I'm glad I decided to go with my instinct about the author.

Cynthia Ruchti has written a story that captured me from the beginning. The main character is Mara and let me tell you her life went from bad to worse all in the course of a few chapters. Mara experienced tragedy after tragedy. Some less earth shattering but others life altering. So why did I keep reading?

Mara has a friend named Ashlee. Would that we all had a friend like her. Ashlee has experienced her fair share of grief but she continues to look to Christ and gently (sometimes not so gently) pulls Mara down the same path.

There are other characters like Mara's children and family friend Solomon who contribute to the hopefulness of this tale. But the beautiful part is that of the enduring friendship between Mara and Ashlee.

Facing the Dawn has jumped to my favorite read so far in 2021. I hope you'll give it a look. If you're in a hard spot it may bring a bit of sunshine into your life. If you're in a comfortable spot you'll be able to appreciate the journey of the two friends. I highly recommend this book.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

Facing the Dawn is filled with beautiful words, overwhelming emotions, and characters that could be you and me. Mara Jacob's feelings are vividly portrayed as she journeys into the world of overwhelming grief. It appears that she will drown in a sea of sorrow as she copes with her husband's unexpected death, and shortly after, another tragic loss. Thankfully, she has people who love her, and they become her lifelines in her efforts to find solid footing.

This book has exceptional characters, and realistic situations but faith and hope are the keys to Facing the Dawn. Author Cynthia Ruchti has created a tale that is heart-tugging and heartbreaking, but ultimately, an encouraging and gratifying story! Ruchti shares many references to God and his Word, but she also offers meaningful and eye-opening observations.

Sacred and scared have the same letters.

"When life falls apart, God's Plan hasn't. It's still active but adds a soul-healing component."

Facing the Dawn is a hard book to read because it has all of the emotions we associate with death. It may make you cry, but it also shares a message of love and hope. It is a stunning book that will stay with me for a long time, and I highly recommend it to all who enjoy contemporary Christian fiction.

This book was provided courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews. There was no obligation for a favorable review and I am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts.

Facing the Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti
Mara Jacobs is “every woman.” She doesn’t need any help, thankyouverymuch. But life seems to be caving in on her, beginning with a call from her youngest son’s principal.
Her husband is overseas on a humanitarian mission for another year. Her oldest son is on house arrest, her middle daughter has had a miscarriage, her youngest son sorely misses his father. And her life only goes downhill from there.
Cynthia Ruchti seems to have her finger on the pulse of today’s wives and mothers. Mara is overwhelmed, stressed, and struggling. But life and God are stepping in to help her to grow. Despite the disasters in her life, she learns to trust God and others and to admit that she occasionally needs help from her friends. It is a tedious process, with plenty of help from the people in her life, especially forever friend Ashlee.
This book really spoke to me and Mara was so relatable. I think that the author has a valid message for today’s women, but she communicates it in a very palatable form. She touches on living with grief, overcoming life’s challenges, parenting, and the value of friendships.
I really hope that there will be a sequel because I want to know what becomes of Mara and her children. This book is well- written, the characters are so real, and the message is amazingly pertinent. I received a free copy from the publisher and am happy to give my whole-hearted recommendation.

Facing the Dawn started off full of grief and sadness. Quite honestly, I was wondering if I was going to be able to withstand the heartache. Mara is an overworked and overwhelmed mom, trying to hold down the fort while her husband is out saving Uganda. She was very relatable, and I could see myself in a lot of her comments and frustrations. So when disaster strikes, it was that much harder to read because I felt as if I had connected with Mara from the beginning.

Walking alongside Mara during her healing and grieving period was hard. I wanted a quick recovery as I cheered her on, but there is no quick recovery in grief. It was beautiful to see how she resisted help from others but they kept coming back with exactly what she needed in her life.

I felt the story was beautifully written. There were raw emotions and things that people normally want to avoid talking about but definitely experience. It made the reader dive into the journey and take a different look at grief through Mara’s eyes with color, people, experiences, and even every day necessary things. The book was a heartwarming experience with close experiences with God.

I would highly recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.

This book is so raw – surely the author must have drawn on personal experience., to be familiar with so many minute details...? I wasn’t all that ‘taken’ with the beginning of the story, but it drew me in as Mara’s life unfolded. (How much can one person be expected to be able to take?) Not having been a mother myself, this was a real ‘eye-opener’ as to raising children – I don’t think I would have been up to the job at all! Mara’s name has two meanings, & she has to choose which she will fulfil. Also to learn that it is not weakness to ask/accept help from others. And maybe that always declaring oneself capable may be depriving someone else of their role in life. Much food for thought here, & certainly worth reading. (Oh, and the last line is perfect...)

This was my first Ruchti book and I am very impressed. I definitely did not think my emotions would run amuck while reading this book but alas they did. The characters are very believable. Mara is alone although she is married, she is playing the role of single parent, as her husband is "saving the world" in Uganda as a Humanitarian. I felt for her as she is trying to keep everything together especially when tragedy strikes. I did love the friend Ashlee, we definitely all need someone in our lives like her.

I love how the author has Mara turn to her faith to help heal. God is always in the forefront. Overall I thought this book was a great read and I recommend it if you are looking for a book to really tug at your heartstrings and make you reflect on life and grief.

I received this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

From the opening scenes that seemed over the top when we meet Mara and her troubled teens to the heartrending losses her family experiences, readers will find multiple ways to connect with these true-to-life characters, even in their pain. This powerful story evokes deep emotion. The tears fell as I read about the tragedies Mara Jacobs endured. Since I recently lost my sister, I sometimes struggled to continue reading because the author skillfully portrayed the situations so authentically along with the depths of grief they faced. But the story also offers hope. It pulls you along with Mara as she goes through the ups and downs and growth necessary to survive and even overcome her suffering. As the author promises, her writing is hemmed in hope. This novel would be a great one for a book club discussion or possibly a grief group—after it’s not so recent and people are ready to work through things. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

This is a modern day version of Job with a female protagonist. The challenges and tragedies that befall Mara Jacobs bring her to her knees metaphorically and physically. The storyline describes in vivid emotional detail the grieving and healing process in the first seven months of recovering from catastrophic loss.

I confess I almost abandoned this book after the first few chapters. The sarcasm and snarky comments (mostly in her thoughts) were too much for me. (The author credits her daughter as her mentor in this regard.) This attribute did remind me of how sarcasm serves as a poor defense mechanism in masking deeper feelings of frustration, anger, resentment and helplessness. Fortunately, Mara mellows over the course of the story.

Mara notes over and over through the book how her name translates in English to “bitter.” This quality is certainly reflected in her outlook and yet much of it is of her own making. I’m not denying the significance of her pain, however, her fierce independence, her need to control and her refusal and/or inability to ask for help contributes to her deep sense of victimhood. She has created an emotional wall that may feel protective, but the resultant isolation leaves her extremely vulnerable.

The saving grace for Mara and the book is the redemption she finds through friendship, faith and love. The book is heavy on Bible verses, which I did not expect. I chose this book under the category of general adult fiction and did not realize it had a Christian-based theme. The shift in the family dynamics due to their church involvement seemed a little too ideal, but it does make for a satisfying conclusion.

My thanks to the author, Revell, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing a digital ARC in exchange for an independent, honest review.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads and Amazon accounts.