Song of Silence

GIVEAWAY

RUCHTI, CYNTHIA
SONG OF SILENCE

Music taught Lucy love and beauty. Could silence teach her hope?

Lucy and Charlie Tuttle agree on one thing: they're committed to each other for life. Trouble is, neither of them expected life to look like this. Charlie retired early, but Lucy is devoted to a long-term career...until the day she has no choice.

Forced to retire from her position as music educator in a small Midwestern K-8 school, Lucy can only watch helplessly as the program her father started years ago disintegrates before her eyes. As the music fades and a chasm separates her from the passion of her heart, Lucy wonders if her faith's song has gone silent too. The musical score of her life seems to be missing all the notes.

When a simple misstep threatens her silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees -- and hears -- everything.

My Review:

Oh. Mercy. If ever there's a book that should be made into a movie, this is it! Profound. Stirring. A real slice of life with all the accompanying grit and absurdity that goes with it. I laughed, I cried...and cried...and cried. Lucy's story really spoke to my heart. I felt it deeply, partly I think, because I could relate so completely to all the unexpected upheavals in a carefully planned life. Been there. Done that. Still there.

Lucy is living through a Jonah season that tests her faith, her relationships and even her belief in herself. Song of Silence is told entirely from her perspective. Flashes of droll humour and sarcastic wit mesh with the kind of raw grief that cuts all the way to the bone. I could see myself in her at the strangest times. Like this unassuming shower scene: "How many prayers had God heard over the years? How many of them came from shower stalls? And how many were wordless like hers?" p. 58 That sense of loss, of emotions that overwhelm a body into a complete stupor. Haven't we all been there a time or two in our lives?

But Ruchti isn't cruel enough to leave Lucy floundering along this bumpy road alone. There is a wonderful cast of strong women who walk along side of her, holding her up when necessary but holding her accountable as well. A celebration of sisterhood that brought me to tears on more than one occasion.

And then there's poor Charlie. Why do I visualize him as an over eager puppy, so desperate to please but rarely getting it right? There were times I wanted to hug the stuffing out of him and even more times when I wanted to give him a slap up the back of his head Gibbs style. Bless his heart, he can't help it. It's a husband thing. And, on my goodness, Lucy's inner thoughts during those scenes brought about side-splitting laughter thanks to the subtle nuances of a very dry wit.

One of the most intriguing things about this novel is that I never knew where it would take me. I was blindsided often. Unexpected highs and lows and all the in-between stuff. The author kept me off-kilter which made those sharp jabs of emotion all the more powerful. Honestly, I lived inside Lucy's skin for the duration of this read. Such a powerful story of healing and hope and the sovereignty of God.

My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group and Abingdon Press for providing me with a copy of this book.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/cruchti

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Song of Silence please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 1 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

The author is also doing a Music Themed Giveaway. To enter it follow the link below.



One grand prize winner will receive:
A copy of Song of Silence
A $150 Visa cash card

One second place winner will receive:
A copy of Song of Silence
A music-themed prize pack filled with goodies hand-picked by Cynthia
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on May 9th. The winners will be announced May 10th on Cynthia's blog.