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The Old Fashioned Way: Reclaiming the Lost Art of Romance

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Contrary to popular opinion, being "old fashioned" doesn't mean you're dull or unromantic. In fact, a true old-fashioned relationship can be more exciting and romantic than anything you've ever experienced! So what does it mean to do things The Old Fashioned Way? Sure, it means opening doors, holding out chairs, and taking things slow. But a true old-fashioned romance goes much deeper than that. Inspired by the motion picture Old Fashioned, this book will show you how to reclaim the lost art of romance by introducing you to romantic love as God intended it—for all of us. Regardless of your past experiences, where you've been, or where you are now, you can find and create a love that will last a lifetime.

As you work your way through this 40-day journey of inspiring readings and questions for reflection, you'll discover all the unique and amazing benefits of doing things the old-fashioned way and be well on your way to creating a love story for the ages.

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2013

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About the author

Ginger Kolbaba

23 books17 followers
Ginger Kolbaba is on a journey to embrace joy in every moment. She doesn't always succeed (she's a recovering cynic, after all), but she loves to learn from the adventure of the pursuit. She loves a good laugh, a ready smile, a dog's smooch, great food (vegetarian, thanks), growing faith, and remembering that love is all-powerful. She also claims one of her greatest gifts is ranting (good-naturedly, of course).

An accomplished author, Ginger has written, ghostwritten, collaborated, or contributed to 30 books, including Your Best Happily Ever After.

Ginger also teaches and speaks across the country. She's appeared on national venues such as HLN's Nancy Grace, as well as Family Life Radio and Moody Radio's Midday Connection. A former professional editor of several award-winning national magazines, including Today's Christian Woman and Marriage Partnership, she continues editing for both individuals and major publishing houses.

When she isn't chained to her computer, Ginger enjoys spending time with her husband motorcycling through the countryside, visiting Yellowstone National Park, walking her Doberman, reading good books, and contemplating the deep meaning of life--as well as trying to figure out how to get her husband to give her a donkey or a duck for Christmas. She believes one of her greatest accomplishments would be dusting off her piano and treadmill and using them both--at least once this year.

Visit her at www.GingerKolbaba.com.

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5 stars
32 (54%)
4 stars
15 (25%)
3 stars
7 (11%)
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3 (5%)
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2 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Kathleen (Kat) Smith.
1,613 reviews97 followers
June 28, 2015
The devotional, The Old Fashioned Way, reclaiming the lost art of romance by Ginger Kolbaba is perfect in allowing readers to gain an idea of what it means to court others in lieu of dating them and opens up different perspectives I have never considered because often times we only look at our own wants and needs and remain indifferent to those of someone we might be interested in. Each chapter takes into consideration very different ideas explored both from the movie, Old Fashioned, but other world views as well and gives you some amazing biblical insight that is guaranteed to spark some very different conversations in your own relationships and that of raising morally conscience children.

I believe more than ever, this is practical advice that provides the proper perspective both men and women need in regards to the alternatives to dating and relationships, and that is understanding the ideals and principles from both the Bible and from old fashioned courtships that keep purity and boundaries in place until marriage happens. It is something I feel women are searching for as they strive to find romance in often times the wrong places, wrong people and wrong relationships, because they are willing to give up and compromise on their personal beliefs for love.

I received The Old Fashioned Way devotional by Ginger Kolbaba compliments of Propeller LLC and Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review of these wonderful book. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review outside of a free copy of the book for my honest opinion. This is a must have for anyone considering dating, parenting and relationships from a Christian and biblical perspective. It offers an alternative to what the world would view offers society today and in keeping with the biblical and moral standards found in the Bible. For me, this is well worth all 5 out of 5 stars especially when parents are looking for an alternative way to keeping purity before marriage and a biblical view on relationships and courtship! Chivalry is definitely not dead!!
Profile Image for Melanie.
2,230 reviews609 followers
June 27, 2015
The Old Fashioned Way was really good. I liked how the chapters were short and easy to get through, but also thought-provoking. I can see myself rereading parts someday since I had to read this quickly and wasn't able to soak it in.



The quotes from the movie were fun and I thought that the author made some great points. I liked how she pointed out the positive in both today's dating scene and yesteryear's dating scene.



Overall, The Old Fashioned Way was a great read. I really liked reading it.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
246 reviews10 followers
June 29, 2016
I loved this book! I read it after I had watched the movie "Old Fashioned". It contains 40 short devotions and questions to journal about relationships, your expectations in a relationship, courting, dealing with your past and much more.

Ginger's style of writing is easily accessible and very engaging. Reading the book feels like chatting with a friend or mentor. But this doesn't mean that she doesn't talk about tough issues. Ginger has no problem whatsoever to adress problematic attitudes and behaviour in relationships, but she never gets offensive or legalistic. The questions are always thought-provoking and encourage self-reflection. I really enjoyed journaling my thoughts and reading through the short chapters.

So what's my overall conclusion? I love this book. I highly recommend it to anyone. Even if you're not Christian or totally determined to start a courtship, you can learn a lot from this book.

You can find a more detailed review on my blog: http://chasing-after-butterflies.blog...
Profile Image for Becky.
639 reviews31 followers
January 20, 2015
See all of this review plus more on my blog: http://bookreadingtic.com/2015/01/20/...

What's Love Got To Do With It?

How's your dating life?

This is a great book about dating in modern times, along with incorporating some idea's from yesterday, too. The author is very frank about what people, both Christian and non-Christians are doing in today's dating world, what the culture condones, and how difficult it can be for singles.

Want some dating advice?

Think of this book as a forty day guide to relationships since it is divided into forty sections, each one dealing with a different topic. Some examples include: "Waiting for My Real Life to Begin," or "Avoiding Extremes" or "Chastity. Really?"

Although each day can be quickly read, they contain golden nuggets of advice for single adults. There is information about on-line dating to why dating ideas from the past benefit us. The end of each section gives the reader something good to mull over, and even journal about if desired.

The author's Ten Commandments for dating are definitely worth checking out, as are the conversation starters she offers at the end of the volume. This 5-star book gives a lot of good information about dating, having a more fulfilling life, and improving relationships with others--both friends and people you date. It is done from a Christian viewpoint, and I highly recommend it.

Watch a movie about the topic!

This book was inspired by the new PG-13 rated movie, Old Fashioned, that opens Valentine's Day Weekend.

"When did treating women with respect become the joke?" asks Clay, the main character.

"Chivalry makes a comeback," is one of the taglines for Old Fashioned along with "Love is patient...Love is kind...Love is Old Fashioned."

As they say, see it at a theater near you.

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment.



Author's Website: GingerKolbaba.com

Author's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ginger.kolbaba

Author's Twitter: https://twitter.com/gingerkolbaba

Faith-Based Movie Releases Video Comparing Itself to 'Fifty Shades of Grey' http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news...

Link to the movie: http://www.oldfashionedmovie.com/
Profile Image for (Jen) The Artist Librarian.
356 reviews37 followers
January 4, 2016
The Old Fashioned Way: Reclaiming the Lost Art of Romance is a 40 day devotional book based on the 2015 Christian/faith-based film, Old Fashioned. Author Ginger Kolbaba invites readers to re-evaluate what they think about God, love, and romantic relationships in topical daily devotionals. Each devotional is about 4-6 pages long and opens with a quote (often an excerpt of the Old Fashioned screenplay), a devotion focused on a specific idea or topic, a passage or excerpt of relevant Scripture, and either journaling prompts or questions to consider. Many of the devotionals also feature a short prayer based on the topic of that day.

I don’t normally use devotional books for personal devotions, but I did enjoy working my way through this book. Despite the title, Kolbaba didn’t say “all Christians must court” or anything like that, but emphasized the importance of seeking God when coming up with your personal standards regarding romantic relationships, that it was something between you and God, something that can vary depending on the individual. One of the things that I felt I got out of this was focusing on being the person God wants me to be, doing what He has for me, no matter what the state of my love life is … and to try not to worry and to trust His timing. However, in a world where casual dating and "hookup culture" is becoming more common, I think getting people to think about intentional dating or personal standards, like this book does, is something to encourage.

Finishing this book has only left me more eager to finally watch the Old Fashioned film!

[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.]
263 reviews1 follower
December 1, 2014
"The Old Fashioned Way: Reclaiming the Lost Art of Romance" is by Ginger Kolbaba, and based off of the screenplay of the movie "Old Fashioned" (set to release on Valentine's Day 2015) by Rik Swartzwelder.

This book is a nonfiction, devotional type companion to the novel "Old Fashioned". Intended to drive the messages of "old fashioned" techniques of romancing home from the fictional story, this book lays out the movie's/novel's moral in a 40 day devotion. Each day has a quote, various insights on inner healing and romance, and points to ponder or journal about.

I did enjoy this devotional, as it is a great follow-up to the book, and assumedly the movie, which, at the time of this post, has not yet been released. Each entry is short and thought-provoking, averaging around 3-7 pages or so per day. It pries deep into those who read it, promoting fresh perspectives on life and love (as cliché as that sounds). I would recommend reading this book in conjunction with the novel or movie (or both), instead of by itself, as it frequently references characters and scenes in the movie.

Thank you so much to Tyndale House publishers for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own; I was not required to post a positive review, just an honest one, which I have done.

Profile Image for Morgan Farr.
68 reviews8 followers
July 2, 2017
What with all the junk in the news today after the "50 Shades" release, I appreciate Kolbaba's frank approach of holding to God's standard for sexual purity in dating relationships. She also explains how to rededicate yourself to purity if you stumble, without coming across as condemning the reader. As I was going through this devotional I was encouraged and challenged to be more intentional in what I allow myself to see, hear, and think about.

Overall I give The Old Fashioned Way an A+ review and while I greatly enjoyed this devotional I really believe that it is geared more towards singles than married people. This could be a great book for accountability groups to go through together. If you have a teenager or college age child I highly recommend this book to encourage them in their battle for sexual purity.
6 reviews2 followers
December 17, 2014
I consider myself a very old-fashioned person, so I was intrigued by the book The Old-Fashioned Way: Reclaiming the Lost Art of Romance, and elected to a sponsored post.


I have to say, I found this book a little confusing at times: from the title, I figured it was like a self-help kind of book, but it was also inspired by a film called Old Fashioned and is also in part a forty day journal.


When the writing was good, it was really great. However, sometimes I found the book to go in different directions and draw on extreme examples of human interactions.


I am afraid this wasn't my favorite book I have ever read, but please feel free to use your own judgment.
Profile Image for Heather Hart.
Author 71 books89 followers
July 1, 2015
This would be a great devotional for single young adults! I'm not the target audience for this book, but I will highly recommend it to kids when they get a little older and my single friends.

I was given a free review copy from Propeller FlyBy Promotions. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Glenda.
263 reviews
February 16, 2015
A 40-day insights of romance in God's way. A great read (even though it took me more than 40 days to complete the book!).
Profile Image for Zelma.
216 reviews11 followers
February 21, 2015
Great book for the single person looking for their match, and in the dating scene. Lots of great information, but not for those already married. Love that there is a prayer after each chapter.
Profile Image for Jade (beauty.andherbooks).
624 reviews56 followers
October 8, 2021
-Upon hearing this title, you may think, "ew who would want to be old-fashioned? Isn't today's dating great?" Well, if you've been let down by today's dating and want to try a different approach, this book is for you.
"The spirit of the law says the law is first and foremost about getting our hearts in the right place. It's about character and our relationship with God. Once we get our hearts in the right place, we will live according to the law not because we have to or out of fear that God will punish us, but rather because we want to please God and honor ourselves and others." (13)

-It's packed with knowledge and very easy to read. The chapter length is approximately 4 pages. This would also be a great book to do with your significant other while dating/courting. I think it could really help strengthen your relationship.
-If you haven't yet entered into a relationship but want to find lasting love, this book is for you. The book isn't just about romance, it's about your character and having virtue.
-I think more people need to read this book, it truly is a hidden gem. It would also be a good book to have a small group discussion with since there are questions at the end of each chapter.
Profile Image for Wilmi.
47 reviews21 followers
December 3, 2016
I don't agree with everything, but it is a very good book to read. I learned a lot.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews