A Marriage Carol
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. Jacob 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?
From the Back Cover
JUST ONE SNOWFLAKE CHANGES
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DRIFT
JUST ONE
choice
changes a life
On a snowy Christmas Eve, their anniversary, Marlee and Jacob take a treacherous drive to sign papers signaling the end. Tired of fighting, tired of the pain, and no passion left , they have chosen to end their marriage. But a shortcut over an icy mountain pass brings Marlee on a collision with her life. Visions of the past haunt; images of the present and future make her wonder if they have chosen the best course.
With a nod toward Dickens and a heaping helping of truth from bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman, this surprising tale will take you through twists and turns and lead you on a journey into the power of snow. If your heart needs rekindling, if you long for unconditional love, this story will bring warmth and hope..
(right hand flap with author photos)
CHRIS FABRY can be heard daily on Moody Radio’s Chris Fabry Live, where he “talks over the back fence” with listeners across the country. Chris is married to Andrea and they have five daughters and four sons.
GARY CHAPMAN, PhD, is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling The 5 Love Languages ®.With over 30 years of counseling experience, he has the uncanny ability to hold a mirror up to human behavior, showing readers not just where they go wrong, but also how to grow and move forward.
(Left hand flap with endorsements)
"Two of my favorites dish up a holiday feast of magic and hope." --Jerry B. Jenkins, bestselling author & owner, Christian Writers Guild
“Sometimes it takes a hard skid and crash before people stop long enough to realize we can’t receive the kind of love we crave unless we’re willing to live it. In A Marriage Carol, Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman illustrate that taking the leap of faith to work through difficulties can result in unexpected blessings and the promise of great reward for those who refuse to give up. A joyous, passionate honeymoon of a story perfectly fit for the Christmas season.” -- Francine Rivers, bestselling author of Redeeming Love
FRONT COVER ENDORSEMENT – in reverse type on wreath
Two of my favorites dish up a holiday feast of magic and hope. – Jerry B. Jenkins, bestselling author & owner, Christian Writers Guild
Publishers Weekly
A Marriage Carol-Chris Fabry & Gary Chapman. Moody/River North
Christmas Eve marks Jacob and Marlee Ebenezer’s wedding anniversary and, 20 years later, the official dissolution of their marriage. Their journey to sign the divorce papers, however, turns into much more when a blizzard and an accident threaten lives. Marlee finds safety in a farmhouse where “Jay” helps her see her past, present, and future and offers a new way of seeing herself, husband, and marriage. The authors seamlessly blend the cleansing qualities of snow (“Melting snow exposes. Each flake is like a choice we make”) with transparent reference to Dickens’s A Christmas Carol to create a challenging yet heartwarming tale that will touch readers long beyond the holiday season. This novella—combining the storytelling prowess of Fabry (Almost Heaven) and the marriage expertise of Chapman (The Five Love Languages series)—will change lives with its message “that there is great power in small choices.” Chapman’s afterword and discussion questions deepen the impact. This is a tiny book with a huge message. (Sept.)
GENRE GO ROUND REVIEWS BY HARRIET KLAUSNER
August 9, 2011
Two decades of marriage that began on Christmas Eve is ironically ending on Christmas Eve. The relationship between Marlee and Jacob Ebenezer is colder than the wintry weather outside the car they share on their way to see the divorce lawyer to sign the final papers. Both worry about telling their three kids though they agree to say nothing until after the holidays. Driving on the road to the attorney leads to a fight as Marlee feels with the snow and ice they should remain on the main road while Jacob chooses a shortcut. On a curve with headlines bearing down on them, Jacob loses control.
Marlee awakes alone and frozen; Jacob is nowhere in sight; her cellphone fails to work. She leaves the car looking for Jacob but sees lights so heads there. An elderly man Jay opens the door allowing the shivering Marlee to warm up, but he insists no other visitor has arrived. He searches for Jacob but fails to find him. Marlee and the couples’ retreat center owner chat while his wife rests upstairs thinking about God and marriage. As her host goes to check on his wife, Marlee sees her past and present through her loving family members, and a future path with two choices.
Paying obvious homage to Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Chris Fabry & Gary Chapman provide an engaging family fantasy that starts off with an emotional question of “When do we tell the kids?” An entertaining parable, the story line focuses on the importance of honesty communicating as the key fuels to maintain loving relationships. Although the cast is never deeply developed beyond relational roles, readers will appreciate this fun contemporary version of the classic.
Harriet Klausner
"Nothing hits our hearts like a story. Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman have written a fictional parable that expresses the true pain in and hope available for so many marriages. It’s an easy read that can make big changes in your marriage!" -- Dr. Juli Slattery, co-host on the Focus on the Family daily broadcast
“Sometimes it takes a hard skid and crash before people stop long enough to realize we can’t receive the kind of love we crave unless we’re willing to live it. In A Marriage Carol, Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman illustrate that taking the leap of faith to work through difficulties can result in unexpected blessings and the promise of great reward for those who refuse to give up. A joyous, passionate honeymoon of a story perfectly fit for the Christmas season.” -- Francine Rivers, bestselling author of Redeeming Love
"Two of my favorites dish up a holiday feast of magic and hope." --Jerry B. Jenkins, bestselling author & owner, Christian Writers Guild
Product Details
- Title : A Marriage Carol
- Authors:
- Fabry, Chris
- Chapman, Gary D.
- Publisher: River North
- Publication Date: 2011
- ISBN: 9780802478375
GARY CHAPMAN--author, speaker, counselor--has a passion for people and for helping them form lasting relationships. He is the #1 bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages series and director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, Inc. Gary travels the world presenting seminars, and his radio programs air on more than 400 stations. For more information, visit his website at www.5lovelanguages.com.