As Waters Gone By by Cynthia Ruchti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fabulous! As Waters Gone By will remain with me for a long time. Cynthia Ruchti’s descriptive words draw you onto each page waiting to see the penetrating realness of her story. Her characters live clearly in my mind. Such vivid pictures of a woman facing decisions about her imprisoned husband, their cottage on Madeline Island, and her lonely future without children kept me intrigued. Emmalyn Ross finds their cottage, unseen for 10 years in dire need of repair before she can inhabit it. New, unexpected and unusual friends pop into her life when she most wants to remain isolated. Each day opens with fresh fulfillment like the beautiful view of Lake Superior just out her door.
I couldn’t stop reading but then I didn’t want it to end. I do hope Cynthia Ruchti follows up As Waters Gone By with a sequel. Profound spiritual and life lessons permeate this book. She writes as though she has experienced each hard place Emmalyn faces. Infertility, step-parenting, deployment, incarceration, lack of faith, and acceptance of help from others are all issues wonderfully woven throughout the pages. Finding oneself where one never expects to be rings loud and clear. A must read for sure. Your heart will agonize for all of the characters included.
I highly recommend As Waters Gone By! The welcoming cover itself will draw you in. Take the time to read this one. You will not regret it. I immediately read her first book They Almost Always Come Home, another riveting read.
I received a copy of this book from the author as part of her book launch. I have provided my honest review.