01 November 2018

A Road Trip & Second Chances | Miles From Where We Started by Cynthia Ruchti

ABOUT THE BOOK

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?

Publisher: October 16, 2018
Release Date: Gilead Publishing


MY REVIEW

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.

★★★★★

Thanks to Celebrate Lit, I received a complimentary copy of Miles From Where We Started and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are 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 THE AUTHOR

I have a confession to make. I 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

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!!

Enter below, and be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

TOUR SCHEDULE

October 25:

October 26:

October 27:

October 28:
cherylbbookblog | Simple Harvest Reads (Guest Post from Mindy Houng) | Remembrancy

October 29:

October 30:

October 31:

November 1:

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2 comments:

  1. This sounds like a nice book

    ReplyDelete
  2. I enjoy Cynthia's books! I'm excited to read this one!

    ReplyDelete