Facing the Dawn

This book was so emotional, but also filled with hope! Cynthia Ruchti writes characters and crafts stories that you cannot help but be drawn completely into the middle of. My heart went out to Mara as she faced all these seemingly insurmountable losses, yet also was able to "face the dawn" and find redemption and the goodness of God, as well. Such a lovely, heartwrenching and yet, heartwarming book. I definitely enjoyed it and would recommend it! ***I received an ARC of this book thanks to the Author and Publisher. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.***

This book grabbed me on page one. It felt actually quite poignant to me as I read of the trials that Mara was facing. She has many struggles to deal with which can bring out the tears in anyone. You feel her pain. You know this is a Christian book as you find hope in Jesus who is always there, and even when we don't realize it. I enjoyed the Christian aspect of this book. You can feel how alone she feels and remember your own personal times of struggle. The book will move you and perhaps make you want to take a break from reading yet it is hard to do so. I often have a difficult time reading books like this but it is worth sticking with it. I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing. All thoughts are my own.

This is a story that made me plummet to the depths of despair along with the main character Mara. It also led me up the mountain of hope along with her and I stood on the top with her surveying all that she had overcome by the time I reached the end of the book. What an excellent character study with a well-developed plot! I really adored the character of Ashlee who was determined to help Mara be an overcomer. I also liked her neighbor Sol, a man who just quietly pitched in and helped where needed. The book was so well-written that I felt like I was in the scenes and the characters became real people to me. This is the first book that I have read by this author, but it will definitely not be the last. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a book that will ultimately make them feel more hopeful in the world. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell, but all opinions expressed are my own.