A Fragile Hope - eBook

Wow! What a book. To tell you the truth, when I first started A Fragile Hope I was wondering why I even said Id review it. But, I kept reading and boy was I in for some soul searching myself. Josiah Chamberlain has a long road ahead of him. His wife has distanced herself from him and before she can explain shes in a horrible car accident. Now, everything that Josiah holds dear is under attack. His faith is sorely tested right along with his marriage vows of for better or worse. When looking for answers he comes across the phrase On the night He was betrayed . That started him thinking and praying. When the lines of communication are severed all kinds of problems arise. He learns that there is always Hope; even though sometimes its fragile; But if you plant seeds they can grow even in mud. I started looking at myself and wondering am I doing enough? Have I been neglectful by not listening? And that phrase On the night He was betrayed; have I really been grateful enough for what He went through that night for ME?

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

For much of this book, I read through tear filled eyes. This is not an easy book to read, but it is filled with thought-provoking wisdom and such beautiful writing. Josiah struggles to learn what it means to really love his wife after she is in a catastrophic car accident. In the eyes of some of his wife's friends, and even in his self-talk, he is a jerk, an oblivious self-centered man so caught up in his own greatness as a marriage counselor, author, and speaker he has lost touch with his wife's needs. As Josiah worked through all this, and reacquainted himself with Jesus, I had compassion for him. It touched me deeply to see his progress. Even when he was still operating under wrong assumptions, he managed to make the right choices to love. His father-in-law, Stan, and Nancy, the mother of a long-term care son, as well as feisty Dr. Moore, were catalysts along his journey of hope. This is a book that needs to be savored and the wisdom pondered. Much of what Josiah learned can help us too.

"Some storms pass and leave the earth refreshed. Others leave devastation in their path. Either way, you will go on."

Dr. Josiah Chamberlain is devastated. "It hadn't taken long for despair to become his 'new normal'." When his wife is critically injured in an automobile accident that raises more questions than answers, Josiah is forced to listen to the still, small voice within. It's not very pleasant to view your life as others must have seen it; selfish, self-absorbed, stingy with appreciation for the woman who obviously loved him deeply, but had arrived at a crossroads; as the hours, days, weeks and months begin to pile up, while Karin's deep brain injury leaves her incapacitated, and her body responsible for another's life and breath.

Karin and Josiah both need the miraculous touch of the Master Healer, for not all injuries lie on the surface, and Josiah too, is brittle and broken.

"When you slide to the edge of 'I can't do this anymore,' open your eyes. A handhold of hope is waiting in front of you." Exquisite!

A Fragile Hope is an emotionally gripping story of a man who is so wrapped up in his successful career that he doesnt realize his own failure in his marriage. It takes his wifes serious car accident for him to wake up to what is happening. Through trauma and lifes difficulties, lessons are learned regarding faith, hope, and love. This is another excellent story by Cynthia Ruchti, woven with life application for every reader.

I was first introduced to Cynthia Ruchti a few years ago and I have eagerly looked for her new releases ever since. Each story I read leaves me wanting to read more and more of her books. As always, I was instantly swept away into the story from the first pages. One of the biggest reasons I love the books by Ruchti is because she writes raw and honest stories. She's not afraid to open up the emotions of her readers and take them on a journey they never really expected to take.

A Fragile Hope tells the story of a marriage that is facing a disaster. Josiah doesn't think his marriage could possibly be in jeopardy. He was a fixer of other marriages. His own marriage was okay. Except it wasn't. His wife was not happy and found many reasons as to why her marriage needed help. It isn't until his wife is in an accident that he is forced to take a hard look at his own marriage and his own wife, and even his own life.

I found Josiah really hard to like in the beginning. He was annoying and it bugged me that he just couldn't truly see his wife and acknowledge her feelings and thoughts. As the story kept unfolding, though, I began to grow a soft spot for Josiah. I think if readers are honest with themselves, they may see a little bit of Josiah in them, too. I appreciate fiction books that make me think about living a godly life and shows me some sin in my heart that I need to deal with.

_____________

I received this book from Litfuse Publicity Group.