Hope Restored
Restoring Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti is a beautiful contemporary Christian romance. Cynthia Ruchti writes the most delightful novels that draw me in from the very first page and keep me hooked to the end. Her novels are always honouring God and contain wonderful characters. Her words always warm my heart.
Restoring Christmas is about restoring the real meaning of Christmas. “Restoring what’s been damaged – the human-God connection.” It is about the gift of hope to a hurting world. “Hope isn’t always shiny.” Hope is what can bring a smile to our faces and a beat to our heart.
The novel is about a restoration project – both literally and figuratively. All three main characters – Elsie, Alexis, Gabe – have pasts and hurts from which they need healing and restoration. God is in the business of restoring lives and what could be more perfect than restoration at Christmas?
The real meaning of Christmas is not in the food, the tree, the presents. “Christmas is more of a launch pad than a destination.” The real meaning is wrapped up in a baby – Jesus who came to die for our sins. “Perfect conditions would have been nice but He came anyway.” Life is not always perfect but with Jesus by our side we can navigate our way through life.
Faith in God is important. “Trust the Trustworthy One” is the advice given. Sometimes all we can do in life is cling to God. “A person often feels the compulsion to pray at that very moment when they haven’t got a prayer.” When there are no words, God hears the cry of our hearts.
The novel deals with the tough topics of addiction and domestic abuse. The fall-out from both of these can be devastating for those around. The characters affected have overcome their pasts by sheer will power, strength of character and God. The victims have become survivors.
To have loved and lost is another theme within the story. Grief can be a difficult path to walk, especially during the first year. “Reminders and grief walk the same fence line.”
Circumstances do not define us. As Elsie says “I’m not ‘a widow’…I’m a woman who has been ‘widowed’.” We find out who we are in God not in our circumstances.
There is the difficult topic of senile dementia. Elsie’s father has the condition. When asked why she visits him she replies “I visit my father because I know who he is.” This just tugged at my heart strings.
Restoring Christmas is a wonderful warm novel with characters who feel more like friends. Elsie has lived and is now vulnerable. Beneath that hard crust beats a heart of gold. Alexis past has made her vulnerable but she presses on. Gabe has a vulnerable side but is full of humour and laughter. These three collide in the novel to create a perfect storyline.
Love permeates the novel. It is a deep, gentle love for one’s fellow human beings. It is a love that can turn a house into a home. It is “good memories bought home.”
Cynthia Ruchti always writes stories that just sink into my soul. I love her characters. I love her plotlines. I love her settings. Restoring Christmas is not just for Christmas. It is the perfect read all year round. It will restore your faith in humanity. It will strengthen your walk with God. It will speak to your soul.
As with all Cynthia Ruchti’s novels the end of Restoring Christmas has left me wanting more.
If you have never read a novel by Cynthia Ruchti you are definitely missing out. Buy Restoring Christmas today. It will bless your heart and soul.
Delightful and heart warming.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. No monetary compensation was received and all views expressed are my own.
JULIA WILSON