Book Review - A Marriage Carol

Every Christmas season for me has some requirements to make it special.   Decorations must be up right after Thanksgiving so I can enjoy them for a month.  Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song album must be played and A Charlie Brown Christmas must be watched.   At least one version of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol must be seen.  I do not grow tired of watching Ebenezer Scrooge change from the meanest man in town to a kind and generous person.

What would this classic Christmas story look like if the “Scrooge” was a married couple? We get a chance to see the transformation of a marriage instead of a person in The Marriage Carol by Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman.   We are introduced to Marlee and Jacob who are on their way to get a divorce on Christmas Eve.  Ironically, they were also married on Christmas Eve.   The weather conditions are not great on their way to the lawyer and they become involved in a car crash.  Marlee tries to find her husband, Jacob after the crash.  While searching, she finds an older gentleman at home.     His home is actually a retreat for married couples to heal.   Marlee takes the older man’s offer of hospitality to get warm.   Being in his home is like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket.   The older man tells her about the three golden pots which gave her a glimpse of the past, present and future.   She takes a chance and is given the gift of insight for her life.   

This book made me think about how easy it is to forget what is important.  Marlee was reminded of how special and close she was to Jacob in the beginning of their marriage.   Lack of communication and misunderstandings led Marlee and Jacob to a present that could not have been imagined at the beginning.    She saw how her choices affected everyone around her.   A choice that seemed insignificant today had a great impact on her life and the lives of her children and grandchildren.

One misunderstanding that stands out for me is when Marlee and Jacob attended a marriage conference.   She thought she was the only one who cared about making things work because she was taking so many notes.   Jacob did not look interested and he did not even write anything or so she thought.  That scene alone confirmed for me that I only know so much and that I need to give a little more grace to my spouse.   Wrong assumptions can cause misunderstanding and damage to a marriage.

I enjoyed this book.  I was reminded that even though a marriage can appear to be dead, one spouse can hope and make changes to improve the relationship.  There is no guarantee that the other spouse will respond favorably to the changes you make.  The important part is to work on you and take small steps each day for a lasting marriage.

Netgalley provided this free ebook for me to review.  All opinions expressed are my own.   

I Miss My Local Christian Bookstore

I went to Barnes & Noble tonight looking for devotionals for a preteen boy and girl.  I had an idea what I wanted and hoped that Barnes & Noble had it.  I wanted to read a few pages before deciding.   Unfortunately, they did not have what I was looking for so I will have to order it online.   This trip to B&N made me realize how much I miss Christian bookstores.  The four Christian bookstores that I used are gone.  I just found out another store that I thought had survived is gone, too. I am so upset.


I always enjoy a trip to a bookstore.  Time in a library or a bookstore became a place of refuge for me.  My dad made these places special for me.  Going to a bookstore or library was special because my dad said it was and he was with me.


Although I have visited Barnes & Noble and Borders often in my lifetime, it was the atmosphere of the Christian bookstore that was most special to me.  The music, people and the products offered created an inviting and peaceful atmosphere.  That book I was looking for would have probably been there and I would have someone to discuss the best choice for a tween.


I should not have been surprised that these stores would close.  Times are difficult for everyone and the big book retailers has swallowed up the little stores.  I saw the signs of the downfall of the Christian retail market when I went into my favorite Christian bookstore and the magazines were gone.  My all-time favorite Christian magazines Pray and Marriage Partnership were discontinued.  Those magazines have been gone for a few years now and I am still sad about it.  You can still order back issues at NavPress, but I miss receiving my magazines in the mail.


I will still order online for books.  I will still shop at Barnes & Noble.  I will continue to use my nook and Sony book reader,  but none of these things can truly replace the special quality of a Christian bookstore. :(

Free Kindle Book List from the Doorkeeper Blog

I read other blogs for encouragement, information and blogging help.  I read the Doorkeeper by Renee Ann Smith.  She has been kind enough to keep an up-to-date list of free books for the Kindle.    This list is perfect if you read Christian living or Christian fiction books.  She also writes book reviews and devotionals for encouragement.   Read her blog and tell me what you think.


I have noticed that sometimes the same books that are free for the Kindle are also free for the nook.  The selection of free eBooks changes so check them out as soon as you can.

The Gift of Words

I read the book Silver Boxes by Florence Littauer a very long time ago.  It is book that is still in my library.  I will not give it away.  I would rather buy you your own copy.   I remember reading that my words should be like a gift with a bow on top.   She was trying to explain Ephesian 4:29 to children.  Her description helped me too because I never forgot it.  Ephesian 4:29 says "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers".


Everyone likes to receive a present.  A beautifully, wrapped gift is hard to resist and makes your heart glad.     Before those words come out of your mouth, ask yourself would I want to receive what I am giving out.   Encouragement is what we all need to keep moving forward.    Give the gift of encouragement to your spouse, children or neighbor.  Give the perfect gift this Christmas...your beautiful, wonderful words!

How Do You Use Prayer?

I am reading Parenting by Design Devotional at YouVersion.  Of course, there's an app for that so you can read it on your smartphone.


I am on day 230 and today mentions a quote from Corrie Ten Boom.  She said "Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"     Prayer as your steering wheel means I will let God lead me.  I will talk to Him first and see what He wants me to do today.   On the other hand, I have used prayer as a spare tire only at times.  The "spare tire approach" means that it is a tool in the trunk and I will use it in case of emergency.


My day is more frustrating when I use prayer as my spare tire.  The little things seem to bother me more.  When I use prayer as my steering wheel then my day has clarity and a sense of calm.  I trust God will be me throughout the day.  He will give me understanding and insight.

Book Review - Dry As Rain

Dry As Rain by Gina Holmes is about a marriage near its end.   Eric and Kyra Yoshida are the main characters in this relationship tragedy.  The whole story is from Eric's point of view so we do not get to see much of Kyra's thoughts.  In chapter 1, we learn he met the love of his life.   In chapter 2, we fast forward years later and now Eric is thinking "I woke up in bed with a woman who was not my wife".  He was separated from his wife, but he was STILL married.   Misunderstandings and lack of communication caused them to drift apart.

An ironic thing happened after he committed infidelity...he learned that his wife was in accident and a part of her memory was gone.   Her memory was so gone that she did not remember the separation or the bad feelings between her and Eric.  Did he tell her right away about their current situation?  Of course not.  He had moments where he thought that he should, but he wanted to hold on to her as long as possible.  Her loving attitude towards him made him realize how much he missed her.  

Others thought that he should tell her the truth right away instead of waiting.  Of course, Eric was hoping that maybe the bad part of their marriage would be forgotten permanently.    While her memory was gone, he became a better husband.  He was hoping that when her memory did return that his latest actions would work in his favor.  

This book is good.  I kept reading because I just had to know what would happen to Eric and Kyra.  I have started some books and could not finish because I did not care about the characters or I did not understand the plot.   I cared about Eric and his imperfect self.  I wanted to know how Kyra would deal with such a betrayal and whether their marriage would survive.  

When this book starts Eric is mad at Adam and Eve because he thought if they had not messed up that all of humanity would be in Paradise right now.  By the end of the book, he realizes he is just like them.   He was tempted and flawed, but forgiven.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Free eBook about Marriage - Let's Get Real

A free book about marriage for the nook. Click the link below.

BARNES & NOBLE | Let's Get Real: Bringing Authenticity and Wholeness to Your Marriage by Dale Forehand | NOOK Book (eBook):


Go to Amazon.com to get the same book free for the Kindle.