Alexis Blake has one chance to land her own show on the Home Project Network and nothing-not an uncooperative client, a job site without indoor plumbing, or a challenging videographer-is going to stand in her way. Elsie, at seventy-plus, is far from the ideal client, but she knows exactly what she wants her fieldstone house to look like, and no designer can tell her otherwise. Gabe Langley, the man with the camera, is caught in the middle and it is his wisdom and warmth that just may be the bridge that will bring these two women together. Can they restore more than just a house and bring about special, almost lost forever Christmas memories?

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Interior designer Alexis Blake, based in Algoma, Wisconsin, is challenged to do a complete home remodel in just eight weeks, a project that could potentially put her name on the map in the home design industry. One other challenge -- the process is to be televised!

Alexis goes to meet with George Langely, a seasoned videographer she's hired to film the project. The surprise and dismay she's hit with when she discovers George has suffered a back injury that will have him out of service for a minimum of several weeks! George sends a Plan B in his stead: his grown son Gabe, also an experienced cameraman.

That's only the start of the hangups & hiccups of this reno. Alexis goes on to battle weather delays, crew disputes, and a myriad of stress sandwiches centered around a money pit of a farmhouse (the one Alexis is expected to turn around) and its cranky, elderly owner, Elsie Raymond. But let's not let Alexis off lightly. Nope, let's also add in her having to camp at the Langely residence when her hotel in town is hit by a skunk attack and no other rooms appear to be available anywhere else in town for the next eight weeks she needs to complete this challenge.

This little novel has a limited amount of space to present and then solve all these issues, but somehow our MC Alexis pulls through. Not well, mind you, not IMO... but she at least gets the job done on some level.

So how can I love the first Christmas story so much but leave this book with a 2 rating? Believe me, I'm as surprised and disappointed as you are! Not that this story didn't have its merits... there were just a lot of things that didn't work for me this time around. Let me break it down:

* Truth be told, Alexis is one seriously irritating MC most of the time. Nearly everything seems to annoy her on some level. Girl has zero chill. As charming as Gabe is, he deserves a better female counterpart.

* It also strikes me that Alexis is not all that great a designer if she's ONLY interested in foisting her own design plans on her client without listening --- really listening --- to any of their ideas, concerns, likes / dislikes, etc. She deems these kinds of clients as "uncooperative" and only seems concerned with advancing her career, not honestly taking into consideration that someone has to actually LIVE in the place after she leaves. Might want to incorporate at least a few things THEY might like. Just sayin'.

* I had a hard eyeroll when I read that Gabe and Alexis were inspired by real-life flippers Chip and JoAnna Gaines from HGTV's Fixer Upper. I know they have their fanbase, and if you're in that group -- here you go, this book's for you. I personally find them a bit cringe.

I loved Elsie, the prickly, elderly homeowner. She likes what she likes and is unapologetic about it. Her way of being endearing in a rough-around-the-edges way was adorable (if you've known those kinds of people in your life and know how to love them). I loved her reveal of where she goes when she takes off for days on end!

The jokes and dialogue ran somewhat corny. The Christmas holiday IS mentioned throughout this storyline, but the overall cozy vibes of the season were not as noticeable as in The Endless Christmas. That was my main issue with Restoring Christmas -- while I loved Elsie and the Langely men, much of the story was just so SLOW and DRY. For such a short book, I was struggling to just finish it already.

I also think it was a bad move on Ruchti's part to force readers to go online to find out the full ending to this book. Way to isolate and cheat some of your readership.

FTC Disclaimer: Worthy Publishing kindly provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are entirely my own.

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.

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Note: I was originally asked to be part of the blog tour for this book, which ran Oct. 12th-17th. Due to health troubles running from the end of September on through October (and still being in recovery currently), I was unable to participate at that time. My apologies to Worthy Publishing, but I submit my review here now. Many thanks for the opportunity to check out this new holiday read. :-)

When I review Christmas fiction saying that I wish there was more Christmas involved, this sweet little story is the kind of tale I have in mind! This is chock full of everything to love about the season -- snow, family get-togethers full of traditions and home cooking, laughter, twinkle lights, the whole bit and it was a total warm fuzzy kind of read from start to finish. 

Here we meet the Binder family ( BTW: I believe it's meant to be pronounced Bin -- as in paper bin or "been there" -- Der, since there's a joke later on in the story about how someone pronounces it as in four-ring binder folder). The Binder family, headed by grandparents Wilson & Dodie, makes it a point to celebrate each family get together as if it's the last time everyone will see each other, because you just never know. As you can imagine, that makes each meet up lively and bursting with memory-making at every turn. Wilson & Dodie's grandson, Micah, decides to bring his girlfriend Katie into the mix this year, surprising her with an impromptu marriage proposal in front of everyone. In a state of shock, Katie says no ... then realizing the house is snowed in, so she's awkwardly stuck with the whole family through the holiday.

The story goes on to unfold Katie's reasoning for turning Micah down. It's not from lack of loving him enough to marry him, but because she feels she loves him so much she can't harness him to her heavy family secrets / burdens. As the truth comes out, the Binders one by one reveal to Katie that even the most seemingly perfect families have their crosses to bear. The Binders come to teach Katie that a person shouldn't deny or be denied love simply because of past mistakes or the mistakes of others, and that obstacles can be overcome when people commit themselves to being loving towards one another, deciding to be brave enough to take on each challenge a little bit at a time. 

"Micah, sometimes those who are the most generous have an issue with letting others be generous with them. And, I mean, a heart issue." There. He'd said it. He watched Micah's expression for evidence that he'd pushed too hard.

 

"It's more blessed to give than receive, right Grandpa Wilson?" 

 

"But if we aren't willing to receive, aren't we keeping someone else from a blessing then? Seems kinda selfish, doesn't it? And I know that's not who you've ever been."

 

Micah scrunched his mouth, obviously chagrined. Score one for the old man.

To me, the Binders were the perfect Christmas family to read about because they felt real, or at least the kind of real you want to experience during the holidays. They genuinely loved being around each other and noted all the blessing around them. They sat around simply enjoying warm conversations and laughter but when someone seemed to be struggling with something, they didn't hesitate to band together and help out, even when it was Katie, technically the "outsider". The moments Ruchti puts together are so heartwarming, from the adorable Christmas pageant the youngest grandkids put together, to the way Wilson quietly sings a portion of "Amazing Grace" to Dodie each night before they go to bed. Just beautiful. 

So if you find yourself starting to feel a little jaded this holiday season, dreading the get-togethers for fear of fights, or if you are missing the nostalgia of Christmases past, I would highly recommend taking some time for yourself and indulging in this cozy little novella. 

FTC Disclaimer: Worthy Publishing kindly provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are entirely my own. 

By Cynthia Ruchti
ISBN: 9781426787270
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Publication Date: 5/5/2015
Format: Other
My Rating: 4 Stars

A special thank you to Abingdon Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cynthia Ruchti delivers an inspiring, and heartwarming tale,AS WATERS GONE BY with more than distance, between these characters. An emotional story of loss, sacrifice, faith, and peace and triumphant hope – finding your way back with second chances; through life’s tragedies and trials. "You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by." Job 11:16.

Emmalyn Ross recalls five years ago when receiving a voice mail message from her husband, Max. He was in trouble and wanted her to come and get him. She was three minutes late. She had not noticed the message until he had already pushed the accelerator toward their incomprehensible future. Now, with the loss of Mac’s income and her slow demise of her catering venture; what hadn’t she and Max messed up? Max had eight more months in prison. Three years of trying to conceive unsuccessfully and now five years in prison.

When she had received the news Max was to serve five years, Max urged her to get on with her life. How was she supposed to accomplish this? A freak accident, the court couldn’t prove Max intended to ram the fertility clinic with their SUV and there was an issue with the accelerator—massive recall weeks after the accident. The court assumed the homeless man leaning on the wall of the clinic that night was not a target but collateral damage from Max’s intoxication, although Max was not a typical drinker, but he was deemed responsible. They have had no contact, per her husband’s request.

She is trying to take control of her life, moving to Madeline Island, one of the islands of the Apostle Islands of Luke to be reached by ferry, she was taking Max’s small old hunting cottage (her mom calls a rattle-trap), and turn it into a home. If she were frugal she could survive on what the court costs and restitution hadn’t taken and the abysmal proceeds from the sale of the Lexington house.

However, it had seemed a much simpler idea before she crossed the ferry. She thought just a bucket of water and Lysol; however the renovation project needed much more work and she was beginning to think it had turned into a renovation project for an HGTV episode. She was choosing life here on this spot to be a charming cottage so she could have remote and solitary days with endless water and sun-drenched beach. Before all this she and Max spent hours toying with names for children they would have, and then later vitro attempts.

From trying to rebuild her life and decide if her marriage can be rebuilt, Emmalyn has the support of friends from The Wild Iris Cafe, especially Boozie, exhibiting both an eclectic style and a compassion heart. So loved the Wild Iris Café, with the delectable food, quaint area, good friends and the wonderful special miracles which will make you smile. A perfect example of how gloom things may seem, and can turn on a dime--you never know what is around the corner.

Love the front cover, drawing me in to the setting; a huge fan of small quaint cottages and cabins, surrounded by the calmness of water with symbolism abounding in this beautifully written Christian fiction story. Boozie was a great mentor for Emmalyn with her strength, friendship and warming heart as we see the change in her faith from the beginning compared to the end. Perfect name for the cottage, "As Waters Gone By," very fitting, a warm place with new memories.

Fans of Lisa Wingate, Deborah Raney, and Colleen Coble will appreciate her flawed characters and struggles—ultimately discovering, faith, love, healing, courage and God’s ultimate plan for renewal.

A sample of the author’s debut novel included, They Almost Always Come Home, for an added treat.