"Miles From Where We Started"
By Cynthia Ruchti
About the Book:
Genre: Christian Romance/Family life
Release date: October 16, 2018
These no-longer-newlyweds want out of this road trip—and their marriage. Too bad they can’t find the off ramp.
Weeks away from their one-year wedding anniversary, Mallory and Connor Duncan can’t even agree on how to end their marriage. But when a last-minute crisis lands them on a three-thousand-mile road trip together, Mallory wonders if their story may not be over after all.
The trip begins to unravel before the key is even in the ignition, and an at-risk, trouble-seeking missile of an eleven-year-old is unexpectedly launched into their travel plans. Close quarters get even tighter, and the couple believes this whole experience will spell disaster.
Their first year of marriage hasn’t been the arm-in-arm togetherness they expected. How can they find a new beginning when the road ends?
My Thoughts:
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.
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.
About the Author:
Cynthia Ruchti tells stories of hope through novels, nonfiction, devotionals, and speaking events. She serves as the professional relations liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers and is a frequent speaker at writers’ conferences across the country. She married her grade school sweetheart, and the two live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren.
Guest Post from Cynthia:
Guest Post from Cynthia:
I have a confession to make. I 
heart millennials.
heart millennials.
My other novels have had a few millennial characters. Some even played starring roles. But I knew there was more to the heart of millennials than I could gain from listening to the often unfair sighing or comedy routines about that generation. As a person, I wanted to know them better—what are they really like? What challenges do they face with which previous generations saddled them? What strengths to they offer our culture?
Until now, I hadn’t written a story about a millennial couple whose marriage was in crisis. Like, serious crisis. I-don’t-want-to-be-married-to-you-anymore. That kind of crisis.
As any good novelist knows, part of what we do to our characters is make the situation worse. So, millennial couple, approaching their one-year anniversary, ready to call it quits because “This marriage thing is really hard. Is it supposed to be so much work?” But what if…? What if they were forced to be together for three weeks…in a micro-camper…on America’s backroads…with an 11-year-old foster boy troublemaker…and both the husband’s AND the wife’s jobs depended on the trip’s success?
Plot idea in hand, I set off to write Miles from Where We Started, not entirely sure when I began the journey where they would end up or how they’d get there. It was an education for me in so many ways. The impact of the turning point of the story? In the words of my millennial friends, “That’s lit!”
Side note: I’m a big fan of a young teen musician at our church. The boy has mad skills as a keyboard artist. He approaches life as if it’s an endless game of Ninja Warrior. Why walk when you can vault into the room? Why walk up a flight of stairs when you can hop four at a time? He also sports a perpetual smile and is famous for his kindness, but his eyes give away that a little mischief may be hiding behind that smile. I asked Judah’s permission to use his name (and a little bit of his personality) as the foster child character in Miles from Where We Started. I can’t wait for him to read the part he inspired.
Can’t wait for you to read it, too.
Hemmed in Hope,
Cynthia
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 25
Reading Is My SuperPower, October 25
The Power of Words, October 25
All-of-a-kind Mom, October 26
Lighthouse Academy, October 26
Real World Bible Study, October 26
Quiet Quilter, October 27
Kristin’s Book Reviews, October 27
Christian Bookaholic, October 27
cherylbbookblog, October 28
Simple Harvest Reads, October 28 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)
Remembrancy, October 28
Godly Book Reviews, October 29
Captive Dreams Window, October 29
By The Book, October 29
Maureen’s Musings, October 30
Spoken from the Heart , October 30
SusanLovesBooks, October 30
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, October 31
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 31
Locks, Hooks and Books, October 31
Mary Hake, November 1
Book by Book, November 1
amandainpa , November 1
Pause for Tales, November 2
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 2
Just Commonly, November 2
Southern Gal Loves to Read, November 3
Baker Kella, November 3
Two Points of Interest, November 3
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, November 4
Inklings and Notions, November 4
Bibliophile Reviews, November 4
Texas Book-aholic, November 5
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 5
Janice’s Book Reviews, November 6
Carpe Diem, November 6
A Baker’s Perspective, November 6
A Diva’s Heart, November 7
Reader’s Cozy Corner, November 7
Bigreadersite, November 7
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Cynthia is giving away a grand prize of the Adventure begins” large tote bag, “This way to adventure” travel notebook, “Home is Where We Park It” metal wall hanging, a teardrop camper birdhouse, PLUS a $50 gift Visa gift card…to start your adventure fund!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d4ea/miles-from-where-we-started-celebration-tour-giveaway
