Character Spotlight ~ Cynthia Ruchti's Libby Holden

Libby Holden

Cynthia Ruchti's debut novel has garnered some great endorsements as well as 5 star reviews on popular book sites. Even the notoriously tough Publishers Weekly states, "Ruchti shows imagination and promise."

Enjoy this look behind Libby Holden, a women who has lost so much....


Brief physical description

Libby Holden can't take a shower without mourning her spider veins and cellulite. She wishes her hair, teeth, and eyes had more sparkle and can't imagine what her husband sees--or saw--in her. She smiles, but can't sustain it, the weight of her grief tugging at the corners of her mouth and curving her shoulders forward.

Libby doesn't know it, but she actually looks a lot like the actress Diane Lane.

Strengths and weaknesses

Libby's a world-class worrier and worst-case-scenario imaginer. And for good reason. Worst cases happen in her life. She lost her grip on hope when her daughter died, and she forgot how to lean on her husband or the Lord. She thought toughening up would help her survive. But she's stronger than she realizes, more courageous than she dreamed. If she can turn her determination in the right direction, she might find where hope is hiding.

Quirk (if any)

With the exception of anything related to her daughter, Libby finds humor in humorless situations, a trait all but her best friend Jenika see as disconcerting.

Your inspiration for the character

Libby represents women whose hearts have been devastated and don't know what to do with their pain. It doesn't take much time to discover women like that around us. Libby is their spokesperson.

Background to the story

When Libby's husband Greg fails to return from a solo canoe trip to the Canadian wilderness, the authorities write off his disappearance as an unhappy husband's escape from an oatmeal marriage and unrewarding career. Libby would leave him…if she could find him.

With the help of her father-in-law and her best friend, Libby plunges into the wilderness to search for her husband and the remnants of her flagging faith. He was supposed to be fishing. He was supposed to come home. And she was supposed to care.

Cynthia ~ thanks for sharing about Libby. I'm so looking forward to reading her story :)


On Monday, the spotlight shines on Linda Lee Chaikin's Eden Derrington & Rafe Easton from her long awaited new series starting with the just released first novel, The Spoils of Eden.

Relz Reviewz Extras

Visit Cynthia's website and blog
View the trailer
Buy Cynthia's book at Amazon or CBD