A Fragile Hope

"Alone. It's a feeling. Not a destination or condition. God is especially near to those who think they're alone." ~ Seedlings and Sentiments from the "Faith" collection.

Too bad pieces of wisdom like this one came to Josiah Chamberlain a bit too late. One would hardly believe that the writer of such valued books on marriage, would fail to recognize that his own marriage was in trouble. But life can be like that sometimes, passing us by without us realizing it and we wonder why did all the time go. But now, Josiah will have to come to terms with an unknown future and the endless questions that have no answers. The only people who could answer them are either dead or in a coma. Was his wife really having an affair and leaving him?

Now faced with an uncertain future, not knowing if his wife, Karin would ever gain consciousness, he can only stare at her hopeless and wonder about the few clues left behind. A note left to her business partner Leah apologizing for leaving her and the mess that would come with it. A packed suitcase. Leah's husband Wade, driving her so far from her business and then subsequently losing control of her car and hitting a tree, killing him. What didn't he see? Why would she leave him after all these years?

Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, Josiah learns that Karin is pregnant and that the child has managed to survive the accident. The one thing Josiah knows is that the child isn't his. For many years Karin and him had tried unsuccessfully to have children and after all the tests came back, it appears that he is the one to blame. Even after learning of this and still wanting children, Karin was willing to adopt by Josiah was adamant that this wouldn't be an option. If God had wanted them to have children, they would be able. He now was comfortable with them living out their remaining years as a couple. Just how long had this affair with Wade been going on? Where did he go wrong in meeting her needs that she had to look someplace else? Then again, if she has to ask, then I'm doing it wrong.

I received A Fragile Hope from Cynthia Ruchti compliments of Abingdon Press and Net Galley. The one thing I notice about Cynthia Ruchti's novels is that they take you to those uncomfortable places in life that no one wants to go. In fact people are relieved when it happens to someone else and not them. In this case the issue of infidelity is tossed in the face of a man who is considered an expert in marriage and finds that while he was busy giving his advice to everyone else, he failed to listen to any of it himself. Now face with the uncertainty of a future without his wife and a baby that isn't his, all he can do is struggle with the silence facing him. The only one who can explain things is in a coma that doesn't look like a great outcome and how will he deal with it if those answers remain unknown forever? For me this one was worth 5 out of 5 stars and includes discussion questions that make this perfect for book clubs.

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A Fragile Hope by Cynthia Ruchti

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To read more reviews on A Fragile Hope, please visit Abingdon Press' website.