Parázs a hó alatt

by Chris Fabry

Jacob és Marlee huszadik házassági évfordulójukon – egy viharos szentestén – elindulnak, hogy a válási papírok aláírásával örökre búcsút mondjanak egymásnak. Azonban egy rossz mozdulat a hóborította síkos aszfalton, és egész életük megváltozik. Vajon képes lesz-e Marlee egy különös lelki utazás hatására felszítani kapcsolatuk tüzét, és férjével összefogva megmenteni a házasságukat?
A Parázs a hó alatt egy Charles Dickens ihlette történet a reményről és az újrakezdés lehetőségéről.

Chris Fabry kilencgyermekes családapa, aki rádiós műsorvezetőként (Chris Fabry live!) és regényíróként egyaránt tevékenykedik. Több sikeres és díjnyertes regény szerzője.
Gary Chapman több mint harminc éve dolgozik családterapeutaként, az öt szeretetnyelvet bemutató könyvével (Egymásra hangolva) világhírnévre tett szert.

Genres: Christmas, Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Fiction, Contemporary, Marriage

124 pages, Paperback

First published August 19, 2011

About the author

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris' novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, Not in the Heart, Borders of the Heart, Every Waking Moment, The Promise of Jesse Woods, Looking into You, Under a Cloudless Sky, and A Piece of the Moon, have won five Christy Awards, an ECPA Christian Book Award, and two Christianity Today Book Awards of Merit, but it's his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more.

Chris has also published more than 70 other books, ranging from nonfiction and film novelizations, including the Kendrick brothers' War Room and Overcomer, to novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and The Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.

Visit Chris' website at www.chrisfabry.com.

Reviews

[Chantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad Christmas based story. It reads a lot like the real Christmas carol. Entertaining, but nothing more in my eyes. Has a deeper message, but....

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting little Christmas story. The main character is sure her marriage is over, when she has the unique experience of seeing her marriage from Christmas past, present, and future. The story was like a modern, short Focus on the Family retelling of A Christmas Carol. It took me a bit to get into the story, and I was feeling like it was pretty predictable, but I actually ended up really liking how heartwarming it was.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A creative and entertaining adaptation of the classic tale with a "can this marriage be saved" twist. A timely reminder that each choice you make takes you toward your spouse or away from them. The author does well narrating his own book. Jacob and Marlee Ebenezer are on the path to divorce, but a snowstorm causes an unplanned detour with revelations about their past, present and future. Recommended!

[Karin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jake and Marlee are driving to their lawyer's to sign divorce papers on Christmas eve exactly twenty years after they got married when they are in a car accident. The book summary says that there are ghosts of Christmas past, etc, who visit Marlee, but really it's golden pots with melted snow, and, to be frank, had I read the description more closely I might have passed on this, but it's hard to say since I have read one book by each of these authors in the past and they were both 4 star reads for me.

Two authors I like have come together to write something I didn't care much for at all, so lesson learned. I will avoid novels that are collaborations between a novelist and a marriage counsellor in the future.

[Janga]

A Marriage Carol is not a romance novel. It is a short (128 pages) story of a marriage that rises renewed from the ashes of hopelessness and resignation written by two writers well-known within the Christian community. Its message that God can restore broken marriages when both parties are committed to Him, to one another, and to their marriage will evoke hope in some and seem simplistic to others. The prose is sometimes lovely and lyrical (“There is no barren place on earth that love cannot grow a garden. Not even your heart.”) and sometimes over the top (“The phone was stillborn. As lifeless as my soul.”).

I have refrained from a ranking because I could not decide how to rate this book. I can imagine recommending it highly to a friend and fellow believer who is experiencing marital ennui or to a church group looking for something that speaks to their needs and to their faith. Even tagging it as an inspirational romance is inaccurate. Its purpose is didactic, and I use the term strictly and in no pejorative sense. It is effective for its purpose, but its purpose is different from that of a romance novel. I will also add that while it employs a Christmas setting, it is not really a Christmas book. Snow is essential to the plot, but the Christmas season isn’t.

See full review at Just Janga:

http://justjanga.blogspot.com/2011/12...

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacob and his wife Marlee married 20 years on Christmas Eve are on their way in a snowstorm to the lawyers office to end their marriage on Christmas Eve. An accident occurs and Marlee wakes up and Jacob is nowhere to be found. She walks until she finds help. Hope opens the door and comes in the form of a kindly old man whose words match that of his heart. She realizes she has choices to make but there are consequenses attached to them.
I was entranced by this magical story! A very creative "warm your heart" type of read that can be finished in a few hours. One that will touch your emotions and cause you to think "What if"? I found it quite impossible to put down and rate it every bit 5 stars. I loved the twist ending. Excellent character development, storyline and scenery make this a must read for the holiday season! I was highly entertained as there were no dull parts. The overall message was inspiring and I highly recommend this book to others! Very Well Written! Many thanks to Moody Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC for my review!

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Christmas novella is a sweet, tender, well written story. It follows a similar storyline to Dicken's A Christmas Carol and has the tenderness of O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi. This is a thought provoking little book and a great read for any time of year for married couples. It definitely shows Dr. Gary Chapman's background in marriage counseling.

[Joanna Politano]

A sweet and unique take on the Christmas novella style. I especially loved the opening chapter--great writing!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. It was actually a well-told story. There are some somewhat mystical moments, much like A Christmas Carol, but I liked how they played out.
A good reminder on continuing to fight for a good marriage.

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Christmas Eve, and Jacob and Marlee Ebenezer have an appointment with a divorce lawyer to dissolve their 20-year marriage. Years of detachment and indifference in their marriage have led to a tragic end. As heavy snow drifts down the car skids along the highway toward their afternoon appointment in the city. Heavy traffic and treacherous driving conditions prompt Jacob to take the shortcut on County Line Road. Marlee recalls that same drive in similar weather conditions after their Christmas Eve wedding so many years ago. She fears they won't make it over the mountain through the heavily swirling snow. Nearing a curve the last things Marlee remembers are two headlights and the sound of an air horn. When she awakens the car is embedded in a snowbank and Jacob nowhere to be found. With no chance to survive the storm sitting in the car alone, Marlee seeks help at a nearby home where she is welcomed by an older gentleman who claims to have restored numerous marriages. He seats her by the fire and goes in search of Jacob. As Marlee's concerns for her three children and her missing husband mount the older gentleman returns alone and takes Marlee on a journey through the past, bringing about haunting memories. The present fills with concerns, and fears of the future nearly break her. How will divorce affect their children? Are they making a mistake? Where is Jacob?

This unforgettable story of a love that has grown stagnant through the years touches a tender place in the heart of the reader. Through the busyness of careers and raising children a husband and wife drift apart to a point where there appears to be no common ground. Our choices affect every detail in our lives. The authors have created a situation that is all too common in marriages, complacency and rancor. In this modern-day Dickensonian tale lessons in compassion and unconditional love warm the heart and invite us to examine our own lives and relationships. The descriptive elements in this story are vivid and memorable. Secrets in the snow play a magical role in this stirring novella. I began reading this book late one evening, and as I headed for bed I sensed a blizzard raging outside the house. I had to look out the window to confirm that it was a typical balmy October night! I awoke during the night to the sound of what I perceived to be a snow plow! Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman did a brilliant job of creating this realistic Christmas Eve!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from River North, Fiction From Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Description of 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?

My thoughts…
Ahhh…my first Christmas read of the season. I always look forward to this time of year when all the new Christmas books come out and this one was a wonderful way to start the season.

The storyline is derived from the great Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol so you already know the structure of the story. It is the eternal story of what could have been, what is and what may come all wrapped up in the lyrical storytelling voice of Chris Fabry.

I very much enjoyed this retelling of a favorite Christmas story. It is a wonderful reminder of how important our marriage commitments are, not only to each other, but to those closest to us. In this aspect Gary Chapman’s voice shines thru.

This little novella would make a wonderful stocking stuffer for your favorite bibliophile along with some Christmas cookies. Ahhh books, Christmas, and cookies now that my kind of day!


*I received an E-pub from NetGalley for my honest review. I was not compensated in any way and my thoughts may differ from others.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marlee and Jacob Ebenezer. I love it already! Marlee and Jacob are on their way on their twentieth wedding anniversary to sign the papers that will end their marriage when a car "accident" sends them careening off the road. And where oh where do they end up? When Marlee comes to, Jacob is no where to be seen. She starts off on a journey to find Jacob and comes across a cabin where she meets Jay and his wife. Now, this is no ordinary couple. You saw that coming, right?!

It seems Jay is the "ghost" that will take Marlee on her visits to the past, the present and the future by using a great plot device...magic snowfall!! And like the Dickens' inspiration, this snowfall allows Marlee to see things in a different light, how our decisions in life affect our present and our future. In some ways, I also was reminded of the spirit of "It's A Wonderful Life" in that we can make or break our own world and the world of the others around us.

Authors Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman have woven a magical tale, one that shows us that we can do great harm in our relationships with others and that we do have a "cause and effect" system in our lives, both for the good and the not-so-good. It shows us that in this cynical world, where we throw relationships away when they get difficult, that marriages are for ever, for better and for worse, and that God brings life into the marriage.

Brilliantly written, this little book (under 130 pages) has more warmth and heart than others twice is length. I just can't tell you how much I enjoyed this magical story.

This book will find its way under the Christmas trees and into the stockings of a lot of my friends this Christmas, and I think it will become my new favorite gift for friends about to be married.

God bless us, everyone!

5 out of 5 stars!

This e-galley was provided to me at my request, by the publishers through NetGalley.

[Trinity Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Christmas book this year and it was so worth reading. A Marriage Carol is such a incredible, little book and I love it. I read it in only a few hours, it wouldn‘t have taken that long if I didn‘t have to interrupt my reading to get things done.
A Marriage Carol takes a few sentences and has some of the same plots as the famous book A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
They are on their way to town to get a divorce and end up in a ditch. The next things they go through causes Marlee and Jacob to really think about what their life really is about and how they need, want to look at all parts of it.
This book gives a person hope that everything isn’t lost and you always can try again. How we need to really put our spouses ahead of us and think of what they are feeling. How God made marriage and he wants us to keep working at it.
I love the way the book brought about the feelings and heartaches of this couple. How one choice changes a life. How everything can work out if we just have hope and work very hard.
This little book is really worth buying and keeping to read many times over. I know this book will be a winner of many awards. Highly recommending A Marriage Carol for one and all. Deserves much over five stars. Buy this book for yourself as a Christmas present. It'll be the best present you have ever bought.


Thank you to Moody Publishers for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Anniversary of their marriage, 20 years ago, Jacob and Marlee Ebenezer [Love the twist on names] are heading out to a Divorce Lawyer. Marlee mentions what she thinks about a lawyer being open on Christmas Eve..."must be divorced?" Jacob decides to head down a faster road, and Marlee states the obvious...I "told you so" as they go slipping and sliding.
When Marlee awakes she can't find Jacob and goes toward a house with a light. How appropriate that the house is a former "Funeral Home" and now a "Marriage Retreat"! Excellent!!!
There is a strong message of following God and not going blindly into the World. That grass always looks greener on the other side. Oh how very true!!
What a delightful twist on Dickens Christmas Carol!! You won't be able to put this one down until it is finished! It is a very fast, but excellent read. Don't let the size of this one put you off, you won't regret it!

I received this book from Netgalley and Moody Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fiction book, I would not rate this so high. But because it really made me think and because of its deeper message that marriage definitely is something worth fighting for, I gave it a 5.

It is their 20th wedding anniversary, and Marlee and Jacob are about to get divorced. They get into an accident in a snowstorm. Marlee can't find Jacob, but does find a house with a light on. She makes her way to the house, and ends up meeting the older man that lives there. The house ends up being a marriage retreat run by the older man and his wife.

Marlee is able to see Christmas past (all the reasons she fell in love with Jacob in the first place), Christmas present (all the mistakes she is making, even though she has been placing the blame entirely on Jacob) and Christmas future -- the two futures that await her. She realizes the importance of the choices she makes now and how deeply they will affect her future and the future of her entire family.

Marriage is worth fighting for...

[Carole Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Marriage Carol by Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman is an entertaining, poignant novella filled with some pretty important life lessons. In the hands of these two gifted writers, the narrative is smooth and strong, with vivid images.

A car accident in the snow leads a couple to rethink their plans to divorce, by looking at their past, present and possible future. This is a story that makes you think. About turning your heart toward another imperfect person just like yourself. About the importance of one single choice. About placing your marriage at God's feet and letting Him do what only He can do.

These words in the closing paragraph speak to my heart...

Outside the snow fell harder. Choices descending like grace. The scene felt like a beginning. Imperfect people unwrapping the perfect gift. It was here I learned there is no barren place on earth that love cannot grow a garden.

[Diane Holm · Rating 5 out of 5]

What will the music hold?

The snow, falling so thickly, they can barely see the road. The husband, worried that they won’t reach the divorce attorney’s before closing, decides to take a short cut. It’s Christmas Eve, their anniversary and the children are at home. Hope, lost in an ocean of despair, is long forgotten. Numbness is already settling in.

What happens could easily be someone’s reality. Is the future certain or is there yet time to change. A devastating accident or was it? Time shifts and perhaps another chance. Despair, hope, devastation they all surface in one unexplainable night.

This story, vividly written and emotionally engaging, will reach the tender places in your heart. It will linger in your thoughts, influence your choices, and offers valuable lessons for each of us.

[Kate Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

Free Kindle book from Amazon. This is a "save your marriage" short story based loosely on The Christmas Carol. Didn't care so much for the story, it's predictable and stale. I wouldn't recommend this book because:
1. Your marriage is good because you've already realized the lifelong commitment needed to keep it that way and the trite storyline will not make a difference in your life.
2. Your marriage sucks and the trite storyline can not begin to help you.
3. You're not married and the trite story line is too contrived to enjoy.

[Kimberly Westrope · Rating 2 out of 5]

A loose re-telling of A Christmas Carol, this is a story of healing and renewing of love and hope within a failing marriage. It is told in an interesting way, but I didn't really connect to the characters emotionally. Perhaps because there was not a lot of back story, and it is a short story, so there's not a lot of time to get to know the characters.

It is a nice, short holiday story, though.

[Aneta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard this as a free download from Moody Radio, and really enjoyed it. The story was 'real' (I could relate to some of it) and a great reminder that marriages are worth fighting for. A GREAT listen!

[Connie N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little confusing, a little preachy, but overall a quick and easy read about what makes a marriage last. Fabry uses the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future to help a woman really see her marriage and what it may be if she goes through with the divorce they've planned, signing the papers on their wedding anniversary, of all days. When they get into an accident on Christmas Eve, the wife finds herself rescued by a kindly older gentleman at a nearby house. He suggests that she might find the answers she's seeking by looking at the melting snow in some magic golden pans held over the fire. The message I liked: "...who you want them [your spouse] to be may not be the person you really want. But when you choose to change the way you interact with your spouse, it automatically changes the chemistry of the relationship." And, also importantly "...there is great power in small choices." Each tiny snowflake has an impact, changes the result.

[Kelsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - both the premise and the nuances of the implementation. But I think it could have been more powerful with its message if it had gone into greater detail about the characters. For a book about a failing marriage, I feel like I have very few concrete examples of why the marriage was failing... I'm guessing the authors wanted to relate to more readers by keeping possibilities open. For me, the brevity had the opposite effect. I struggled with rooting for or emphasizing with the characters because I knew so little about them. But the message was great, and I loved the twist near the end!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up a few years ago when it was free mostly because of the Christmasy cover. I thought it would be a bit lighter. I'm confused as to why the description doesn't match the plot. The story tries to be rather mystical but cheesily names the main characters Jacob and Marley. The memories in the snow thing made me roll my eyes, and while some parts were well-written and held my interest, other parts felt more like someone trying to rush out a story to meet a deadline. It was a fairly short and quick read anyway. Not bad, just forgettable.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not only disappointing, but also frustrating. For the record, I am a Chris Fabry fan.
This is the story of a marriage in trouble. The wife has a "vision" of the marriage from point of view of past, present and future. (As if SHE is the only one involved in said marriage!!!) Then , presto...all better. IF the story had included both the husband and wife as responsible parties, THEN maybe it would have been more tolerable. It bothered me greatly that this was so one-sided.

[Kim Paulus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by one of the authors that writes all the love language books(Gary Chapman). A Marriage Carol is a story that takes place around (surprise)Christmas. Marlee and Jacob, on the verge of divorce have a car accident. Marlee see the past, present and future after the accident. Will Marlee and Jacob continue down the road to divorce or will they find a way to make their marriage work? This was a fun, fast read.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

she was driving with her husband on a snowy night to get divorced. on the way they got in a accident. she found herself at a house with a man who showed her how to fill 3 bowls of snow and as they melted in the fireplace she could see past present and future.

when she woke up in the hospital she told her husband she wanted to try again to save their marriage.

[Erin Lasky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A message all married couples need to rehear now and again. Remember the good times, recognize the grass is not truly greener elsewhere, and take time to look for what you love in each other. All that woven in a quick read and easy to digest story that keeps you savoring the message after the final page.

[Suzette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a joy to read! I loved this twist on A Christmas Carol but with marriage. So engaging and beautiful. The “happy” ending wasn’t a false “and they lived happily ever after” type of ending. Instead it was an “and together they fought for their marriage and to have the life they dreamed of one day having” ending. Beautiful!

[Tara | Mercyandgracereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short novella that discusses the topic of a couple seeking a divorce in this twist on A Christmas Carol. Jacob and Marlee Ebenezer are on their way to sign the divorce papers on a snowy Christmas Eve when their car is sideswiped and run off the road. After seeking refuge at a nearby farmhouse, Marlee finds herself taking a journey through her life and the decisions that led her to where she is now in her marriage. This is a quick read that approached a difficult subject with grace.

[Lisha Beraldi-Schnoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reflective story

This book is great for looking at marriage as a long term commitment. So many times people want to throw in the towel and find happiness elsewhere. This book recognizes that and also how to look at making grass greener where you stand. Lovely story.