A Novel to Be Shared ~ A Marriage Carol by Chris Fabry and Dr. Gary Chapman ~ Review

It’s a quaint novella, even for this reader, being a bit “thick” in catching onto the similarities to Dicken’s infamous Christmas carol (I know, pathetic). But never fear, most readers will not have this problem and it didn’t make me enjoy the story any less.

            Some of the similarities between that old tale and this new one in “A Marriage Carol” are pretty funny: “Jacob and Marlee Ebeneezer”, but thankfully the dog was not named Scrooge. (wink)

            All joking aside, I found this novella a quick read, but completely charming. It’s a real world story in a couple on their way to sign the divorce papers, but what happens on the road to the lawyer completely sidelines any plans they had.

            I loved the little twist in the end, something I didn’t see coming and made me smile. It makes you think about how every choice we make effects our lives, no matter how small. In the book “Marlee” had the chance to see into her future, something that will never happen to the normal person in a normal world, but it certainly begs the question, would we make the same choices if we knew what the future’s outcome would be? Probably not.

            It’s a good story that gets its point across, but in a way that is enjoyable, sweet and worthy of sharing with any struggling (or not struggling) couple.

            This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through Netgalley for my copy to review.     

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More about the novel...

This book was supposed to take part in the CFBA tour, but I never received my print copy. Sooo, I requested one from Netgalley and thought I post the required CFBA posting for you. :-)

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Marriage Carol Moody Publishers (September 1, 2011) by Chris Fabry and Gary ChapmanABOUT THE AUTHORS:

CHRIS FABRY is a graduate of W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and Moody bible Institute's Advanced Studies Program. Chris can be heard daily on Love Worth Finding, featuring the teaching of the late Dr. Adrian Rogers. He received the 2008 "Talk Personality of the Year" Award from the National Religious Broadcasters. He has published more than 60 books since 1995, many of them fiction for younger readers. Chris collaborated with Jerry B. Jenkins and Dr. Tim LaHaye on the children's series Left Behind: The Kids. His two novels for adults, Dogwood and June Bug, are published by Tyndale House Publishers. Chris is married to his wife Andrea and they have five daughters and four sons.

GARY CHAPMAN is the author of the bestselling Five Love Languages series and the director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, Inc. Gary travels the world presenting seminars, and his radio program airs on more than 400 stations.







ABOUT THE BOOK

On Christmas Eve twenty years earlier, Marlee and Jacob were married in a snowstorm. This Christmas Eve, they are ready to quit, divorce is imminent. Their relationship is as icy as the road they’re traveling and as blocked with troubles as the piling snow. They take a shortcut to get to the lawyer’s office, on a slippery, no-fault path. She thinks they need to stay on the main road. He disagrees. They fight. Story of their lives and they slam into a bank of snow , spinning, drifting, falling, out of control. Just like their lives. Reluctantly, freezing cold, hungry, scared, she trudges up the hill. Paul is nowhere to be found. Her ears frozen, fingers and hands red, she comes to a house on the hillside, built like a Bed and Breakfast, a green wreath on the red door and the door-knocker is in the shape of a wedding ring.


The red door opens and the first thing she notices is the fire in the room, blazing hot, a warm, inviting, friendly place and the voice of an old man welcomes her in. There are three golden pots on the hearth, shining, glimmering things. The old man claims that they are used to restore marriages. She laughs—and begins a journey through her past, present, and future that will test how she views her lifelong love. There are two futures available. Which will she choose?

If you would like to read the first chapter excerpt of A Marriage Carol, go HERE.

Friday's Note:

The winner of Death in Dahlonega by Deborah Malone is...

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