Mocha with Linda: Tattered and Mended

Monday, July 20, 2015

Tattered and Mended

Tattered and Mended:
The Art of Healing the Wounded Soul
Cynthia Ruchti
(Abingdon Press)
ISBN: 978-1426787690
July 2015/208 pages/$15.99
A crumbling statue. A torn tapestry. A discolored painting.

Artisans can reclaim exquisite beauty from the broken, frayed, and hopelessly 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 www.cynthiaruchti.com.

MY THOUGHTS

"People are tattered. Some say, 'Then let's make tattered fashionable.' But God invites us to mend."
I love, love, love Cynthia Ruchti's writings, both fiction and non-fiction. Hemmed in hope perfectly captures the theme of all of her books, and Tattered and Mended could be considered the hallmark for this message. In a throwaway world where shabby chic dominates decorating magazines and crafters repurpose discarded junk into decorative and useful treasure, Ruchti shares how God is able to beautifully restore a life that some might think is beyond repair. Each chapter highlights a restorative art, some of which I had not encountered before, and then Ruchti draws parallels between that method and the work the Master Artist undertakes to mend a soul. This is a book for the heart, and one to savor, reflect on, and read again. The

first chapter prompted me to dig out the sock darning egg my mom used when I was a child and keep it out as a reminder that while socks with holes may get tossed in the trash today, God doesn't discard his tattered children. Real-life stories add a personal touch to this book, and Ruchti's gentle prose made me feel as though I were having coffee with a mentor as I read. Don't miss this wise and encouraging book. Grab one for yourself and for someone you know who is feeling a bit tattered.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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).