Miles From Where We Started

About the Book Book Title: Miles from Where We Started Author: Cynthia Ruchti 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: MILES FROM WHERE WE STARTED was a slow read that packed a powerful punch. Newlyweds Connor and Mallory are weeks away from their one-year anniversary--to be celebrated with a permanent separation. Divorce. Because Connor believes he made a mistake since he might be a carrier, 0r a victim of, a fatal disease.  Then the worst case scenario happens. They have to take a trip. Together. In a teardrop camper (research this. Who knew.) With a smartmouth eleven-year-old boy in the foster system. And tour the backroads of America.  Okay, teardrop camper aside, I would love to be  on this trip and see all those waterfalls. Maybe not to the magnificence of Niagara Falls, but still charming all on their own. And the people they met along the way.  (I did have issues with the way she portrayed southerners as speaking, but it added another touch of comedy to a heavy story.)  I absolutely adored Slade, I laughed out loud when Judah threw his arms up and said "We found our people." And I loved, loved, loved, the character growth, development and the faith message. She did peg Millennials right. As the parent of three... all different, but all definitely Millennials I could relate. I could see some of my children.  This is women's fiction, a family facing together time, and I recommend it to readers who adore women's fiction.  I would've liked better closure at the end, but readers are left to their imagination.  Where did they go? What will they do? What will become of Judah? I received a copy free. All opinions are my own.  Click here to purchase your copy! 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 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 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 Proud to Be an Autism Mom, November 5 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 (memes used by permission of Susan Snodgrass and Susan May Warren)