A crumbling statue. A torn tapestry. A faded painting…

Tattered and Mended: The Art of Healing the Wounded Soul by Cynthia Ruchti

About this book: (from the publisher) Artisans can reclaim exquisite beauty from the broken, frayed, and hopefully shattered—perhaps once thought beyond repair. But what about us? What of the wounds that keep us from living the life we want to live?

In Tattered and Mended, readers walk through a gallery of reclaimed and restored art as well as broken and restored lives of those who have gone before us. With a gentle touch and personable wisdom, Cynthia Ruchti shows how even the most threadbare soul can once again find healing and hope.

About the author: Cynthia Ruchti tells stories “hemmed in hope.” She’s the award-winning author of sixteen books and a frequent speaker for women’s ministry events. She serves as the Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers, where she helps retailers, libraries, and book clubs connect with the authors and books they love. She lives with her husband in Central Wisconsin.

Find out more about Cynthia at CynthiaRuchti.com.

Genre: Non-fiction/Religion/Christian Life/Personal Growth

Why I read this book: As a Litfuse Publicity reviewer. To see what other reviewers are saying, click here.

This story matters because…it tells us that God doesn’t just heal wounded souls, He heals them artfully.

My take: Cynthia Ruchti is all about hope. She refers to the note she has tacked up in her work space: I can’t unravel, I’m hemmed in hope. I’ve found that Hope and its companion, Redemption, are significant themes in every book she writes.

Which is certainly the case here, in the stories she tells and the conclusions she draws. The pages are filled with Cynthia’s trademark, warm-hearted wisdom, her claims are supported at every turn by well-chosen Scripture. Even so, this particular book didn’t touch me in the way some of her others have (most notably, Ragged Hope). If I had to name a reason, I’d say it was the stories. I wanted more. Storytelling is Cynthia’s gift,and this book to me felt like something else–more a reflection on a theme than a collection of stories. Which is fine, of course, nothing wrong with that–except that, because of my own preconceived ideas, I expected something different. So it didn’t speak to my heart in the same way some of her other books have done. It was the difference between being told rather than being shown through story.

However, as she says in her introduction, Cynthia writes for those whose souls have been shredded by life’s circumstances. It could very well be that Ruchti’s wise ruminations are exactly what some of those tattered souls need.

[Tweet “On reclaiming beauty from the broken–the latest from @CynthiaRuchti @LitFuse”]

Thanks to Litfuse Publicity and Abingdon Press for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.

After words: Have you read any of Cynthia’s other books? (She writes fiction too.) If so, do you have a fave?

How can the wounds that keep us from living the life we want to live be mended and healed? In Tattered and Mended, Cynthia Ruchti walks readers through a gallery of reclaimed and restored art as well as broken and restored lives of those who have gone before us. With a gentle touch and personable wisdom, Cynthia shows how even the most threadbare soul can once again find healing and hope.

Celebrate the release of Tattered and Mended with Cynthia by entering to win her Reclaimed Treasures giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Tattered and Mended
• A vintage flatware key ring
• A handcrafted “broken china” charm bracelet
• A recycled guitar string bracelet

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 27th. The winner will be announced July 28th on Cynthia’s blog.

Plus, now through mid-July, sign up for Cynthia’s mailing list for a five-day virtual tour around Madeline Island for the chance to win a Hemmed in Hope prize pack. Each day begins with an email from Cynthia that introduces where you’ll be “visiting” that day (all key places from As Waters Gone By) with various interactive elements, including“I wish you were here” postcards, trivia quizzes, and an ongoing Island scavenger hunt. The person who interacts the most will win a Hemmed in Hope prize pack (valued at more than $200).

That includes:

• The letterpress block Hope sign from DaySpring
• A set of 6 Hemmed in Hope notecards showing a hope-themed Bible verse
• A leather “I can’t unravel, I’m hemmed in hope” journal
• Signed copies of each of Cynthia’s books, fiction and non-fiction