Mel’s Mini Review: Facing the Dawn

Starting in August 2021, I’m changing up my book review format just a bit. In the past, I would write fairly lengthy reviews, but I’ve come to realize in this busy world of ours, that people just don’t have the time any more – or the desire – to read such long reviews. Hence – “Mel’s Mini Reviews” will now be the name of the game on this blog! I’ll still provide a book summary like before, but the “My Thoughts” section of each review will be no more than 200 words.

My reviews will always be about a book I rated with either 4 or 5 stars on Goodreads and/or BookBub and/or Amazon. There are soooo many books available for readers to choose from—and to choose to buy—that I want to save you readers both selection time and hard-earned money. I want to give you “the best bang for your buck.” So, even though there are some 3-star books that are still “good,” I’ll only post reviews about the “better” and “best” books I’ve read.

**** 4 Stars ****

Book Summary

While her humanitarian husband Liam has been digging wells in Africa, Mara Jacobs has been struggling. She knows she’s supposed to feel a warm glow that her husband is nine time zones away, caring for widows and orphans. But the reality is that she is exhausted, working a demanding yet unrewarding job, trying to manage their three detention-prone kids, failing at her to-repair list, and fading like a garment left too long in the sun.

Then Liam’s three-year absence turns into something more, changing everything and plunging her into a sunless grief. As Mara struggles to find her footing, she discovers that even when hope is tenuous, faith is fragile, and the future is unknown, we can be sure we are not forgotten . . . or unloved.

My Thoughts

This novel made my heart hurt so much – yet in the end, it also filled my heart with hope. All the characters faced unhappiness in one way or another, but the main character, Mara, was hit with pain from all sides: from dealing with difficulties with her husband, children, and job.

Then, Mara’s anguish is intensified a thousand-fold when she experiences the worst event that could happen to a woman – at least in my mind, it is the worst thing I could imagine happening to me. Author Ruchti’s skillful descriptions make Mara’s sorrow palpable, and I guarantee every reader will be grabbing a box of tissues several times throughout this book! The author though is also a master wordsmith in that she so well conveys hope in the end, and she also is able to show such strength in Mara and the other characters, that the reader surely will realize even when the most terrible things happen, they can get though it – especially with the help of God.

Note: I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) of this novel for being a part of Revell Read’s Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.