"Only when you drink from the river of silence 
shall you indeed sing." (303) 
- Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet 

Author: Cynthia Ruchti
Publisher:  Abingdon

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 form 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 to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees---and hears---everything.

Cynthia Ruchti is a master of extracting emotions when it comes to her writing. How she can relate to each of her readers, well at least to me, just amazes me. Song of Silence, her latest release is beautiful to say the least. As the music of her life's passion abruptly and premeditatively taken from her, Lucy Tuttle must find peace without letting her faith fade as well.  The message of hope and faith amidst trials and changes in life just resonated with me on a very personal level - as a wife and a fellow Christian.

Cynthia's choice to write about and focus on a different maturity level of love gave readers a different take on life and expectations.  A little of marriage advice as bonus, you can say. Lucy and Charlie, her husband are happily married with grown children, not typical romantic couples in their twenties to late thirties.  I find it refreshing and all the more authentic. It's not about romance, even though it is, but something deeper in your soul. It's the heart. I can't express how Song of Silence hit me to my core, and so profoundly raised in me a song that is silent yet loud.


As I was reading this, I couldn't help but remember times of body worship of praise songs that didn't required us to sing, but using a combination of sign language and dance to express our worship. And throughout Song of Silence, I couldn't stop the melody of this one song on a repeat mode in my head.


I'm sure many of you have heard of or even sung this in the past. There are renditions from many popular Christian artists.  Song of Silence reminded me the meaning in the Heart of Worship, as well as a musical piece that brings to the forefront love in relationships, from marriage to friendship to parentage, and all this includes love in God.  All the characters round out the notes perfectly, and as a romantic at heart, might I add, Charlie's wit, simplicity and support of Lucy reinforces his "good man" status. The multiple arcs that play on in this musical score makes it interesting, and as the composer, Cynthia Ruchti gave us a masterpiece. 

Celebrate the release of Song of Silence with a blog tour and giveaway. Two winners will be chosen!


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.