Title: When the
Morning Glory Blooms
Author: Cynthia Ruchti
Pages: 352
Year: 2013
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Collins
English Dictionary 2009 defines discovery as “the act, process, or an instance
of discovering”. Here is a word that
describes discovery as something that entails participation on our part. Simply not moving might cause the act or
process to be missed even in the smallest details of everyday living. As a reader, discovering is part of every
book I am privileged to be able to open up.
The real joy comes in discovering what is between the covers as well as
what picture the words paint in my mind as I read. Sometimes in the daily grind of life or the
rush from one appointment to another, we miss the pure pleasure of discovering.
As
I started to read When the Morning Glory Blooms, I wasn’t sure what to
expect. While I appreciate the beauty of
God’s creation, I don’t plant a lot of flowers at all mostly because I am
allergic to them or to the bees they tend to draw. After enjoying this novel however, Morning
Glories will probably be grabbing my attention a lot more! Why? I
will remember the hope they bring each spring and the novel about them.
In
using flashback and current dating, the tale unfolds to speak of hearts
redeemed, hope restored, and grace found.
The women in the story are reflections in one way or another of women
all over the world. The themes are
wrapped around the lives of unwed teenagers, and a woman who dares to believe
the Lord, resulting in lives changed forever.
Just so you know it isn’t all happy endings, which is also a reflection
of real life because of choices made and their repercussions felt for
years. Friends who were close at one
time, can have a life-changing event affect their friendship. One unwed teen longs to know if the man she
loves also loves her, but he is fighting in a war. Will she ever know whether he loves her or
not?
Another
aspect to the tale is unemployment and the changes it brings to another generation,
as well as the loss of a son to the Iraq War.
Parents are sometimes blindsided by the choice their children make, and
wait to see if their daughters will respond to wisdom given. Teenage pregnancy is a hard topic to write
about in a novel, at least it would be for me.
However, Cynthia Ruchti does a masterful job pointing out the choices
before all parties and possible outcomes when the decisions are made.
I
read the novel in its entirety in one day; I simply was enthralled with the
truths of God’s love, grace and redemption woven in the characters. It was interesting to see how the author
showed that sometimes the right choice isn’t always the easiest whether the
character raises her child or gives it up for adoption. Just like flowers in the winter, which appear
dead at that time, have new life come from the seeds planted as the weather
changes. Hope springs eternal because
God gives us eternal hope!
My
rating is 5 stars.
Note: I received a
complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely
my responsibility. Other reviews can be
read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/. Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988,
FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457