My Bookshelf: When the Morning Glory Blooms by Cynthia Ruchti

1890s—Morning glories climb the wall of the home where Anna nurtures unwed mothers and their babies.

1951—Ivy works at a nursing home caring for an aging Anna, whose wild tales are not just idle ramblings but memories of a remarkable life that must be shared.

2013—Becky rocks a grandbaby who has rocked her world, unaware of the significance of the house across the street.

Three eras. Three women desperate for hope. Three reasons to believe it won’t come in time. Can Ivy preserve Anna’s emotion-packed, grace-hemmed memories? Will Becky’s prayers for the child of her unwed daughter be answered? And how will one child bring together the intertwining stories of women across generations? As each fights a tangled vine of deception, each uncovers possibilities for hope—and the blossoming simplicity of truth.

 

When the Morning Glory Blooms by Cynthia Ruchti is a stand-alone novel, but isn’t the first book I have ever read by her. Actually, I have read quite a few of her novels over the last few years, and every time I crack open one of the covers, I know I am in for a wonderful, heart-touching story that I will enjoy every second of. This novel was no exception. When I first purchased this book, I wasn’t even sure which novel I was going to buy, I just had a coupon for a used book website, and I knew I wanted to read more of Cynthia’s books. But the synopsis of When the Morning Glory Blooms really stood out to me, so I decided to get it. I am so, so glad that I did.

The way that these three different stories tied together to make one touching novel blew me away. Each story tied into the other stories in at least two or three ways, which showed the reason behind them being told all together, and the way that they came full circle in the end just blew me away. When I first read the synopsis, I had no idea how the stories would tie together other than the obvious, but I was so surprised when I found out, and I have to say, that was the perfect way to end the story.

The biggest thing that stood out to me about this book was Anna’s part in the story. Every aspect of her journey touched my heart, and I loved reading about how she did so much for all of the young mothers who came through her doors. I can’t tell you how much I admired her for everything that she did, and the way she loved those women and their children as if they were her own, and I honestly want to learn from her example in my own life. Although I may not come into contact with unwed mothers in such large proportions like that in my own life, I do want to learn to just love anyone the way that she loved those women: unconditionally and without judgement.

This story was the perfect combination of truth, reality, love, and unexpected events, and I was completely captivated by every second of it. The transitions and surprises Becky went through, the pain and heartache of Ivy, and Anna’s works of compassion all tied together to make this one of the sweetest stories I have ever read, and I cannot imagine giving it anything other than all five bookshelves. This story touched my heart in ways that no other novel ever has, and I highly recommend it as one that is definitely worth reading.

Happy reading!

To see where I’m linking up, check out my Where I Party page.

All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Cynthia Ruchti and Abingdon Press.