On the way to Christmas with his family, Micah asks Katie to marry him. She says no, but there is no getting out of Christmas now. The Binder family celebrates every Christmas as if it were their last. Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster. But sometimes too much is just enough. Especially when it’s Christmas.
Taking multi-tasking to new heights (or depths, depending on your perspective), Cynthia Ruchti is the award-winning author of recent releases All My Belongings (novel), When the Morning Glory Blooms (novel), and Ragged Hope: Surviving the Fallout of Other People’s Choices (nonfiction). She makes potato corn chowder for her husband of 42 years, loves on her three kids and five grandchildren, recently retired from 33 years of writing and producing a daily radio broadcast called THE HEARTBEAT OF THE HOME, is past president of the 2,700-member American Christian Fiction Writers and now serves as ACFW’s Professional Relations Liaison, all while working on more book projects in addition to the eight already on the shelves. Ruchti tells stories of Hope-that-glows-in-the-dark through writing and speaking, but she gave up knitting, counted cross-stitch, sewing her own clothes, naps, and dusting baseboards a long time ago. You can find her at http://www.cynthiaruchti.com, at http://www.facebook.com/cynthiaruchtireaderpage, or in the kitchen, brewing herself another cup of tea.
My Impressions:
Some people like to watch Hallmark Channel movies or listen to Christmas music to kickstart their Christmas spirit. I like to read Christmas-themed novellas. Cynthia Ruchti’s heartwarming book, An Endless Christmas, is perfect to get you into the holiday mood. The Binder family with their traditions, non-traditions and bottomless Christmas cheer and the oh-so-perfect rural setting is the way Christmas should be done. And this book is a great reminder of what Christmas means.
Katie Vale has long ago given up on family Christmases and on family in general. Angry words and indifference have colored her memories. And bad relationships seem to be a genetic foregone conclusion. But boyfriend Micah Binder’s family gathering is unavoidable this year. The perfect family seems to do Christmas perfectly as well. Within the chaos and confusion, a sense of belonging emerges, and Katie is drawn to a future of hope and love.
The Binder family seems a bit too good to be true, and that’s the charm of An Endless Christmas. The love and faith the family shares comes from intentional acts and hard lessons. How many of us, including long-time Christians, have wounds that continue to reopen, especially during the holidays. Main character, Katie, has a hard time of letting go of past hurts and letting the love of God make things new. Katie feels she can’t measure up, something we all may feel when looking in and out, instead of up. Towards the end of the book, Katie finds that perfect isn’t really what she thought:
The perfection she’d thought exquisite but unattainable wasn’t perfection at all. It was a family that dug in their heels and determined to love, to survive, to repair the damaged fabric of their legacy, with God’s help. (pp. 191-192)
Another plus of An Endless Christmas is the setting — Stillwater, Minnesota. I stopped reading to google this picturesque town north of the Twin Cities. If I ever visit Minnesota, I am going to make sure Stillwater is on the itinerary. Thanks Cynthia for bringing it to my attention!
An Endless Christmas is fun and funny and filled with poignant moments that remind the reader of the sacrifice of Christ. So grab a cup of tea, coffee or cocoa and settle into a great Christmas read!
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
To purchase this book, click HERE.
(Thanks to LitFuse for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
You express your thoughts so beautifully, Beckie! This book really struck a chord with me, making it one of my favorites. And looking for pictures of Stillwater was so much fun, a great way to visit a beautiful historic town that I’ll never physically see. I’m sure I over romanticize snow, but would love to go on a sleigh ride. That picture popped up in my search also and I’ll probably use it in a collage or with a quote somehow.
I was intrigued by the bridge too. But I couldn’t find a good enough image. Being a southern girl, I long for snow too. I just don’t want it to be cold! Thx for your kind words. Looking forward to your review.