Beyond Ordinary

Beyond Ordinary

by Justin & Trisha Davis

About the book (from the publisher): 

How safe is your marriage? The answer may surprise you. The biggest threat to any marriage isn't infidelity or miscommunication. The greatest enemy is ordinary. Ordinary marriages lose hope. Ordinary marriages lack vision. Ordinary marriages give in to compromise. Ordinary is the belief that this is as good as it will ever get. And when we begin to settle for ordinary, it's easy to move from "I do" to "I'm done." Justin and Trisha Davis know just how dangerous ordinary can be. In this beautifully written book, Justin and Trisha take us inside the slow fade that occurred in their own marriage - each telling the story from their own perspective. Together, they reveal the mistakes they made, the work they avoided, the thoughts and feelings that led to an affair and near divorce, and finally, the heart-change that had to occur in both of them before they could experience the hope, healing, and restoration of a truly extraordinary marriage.

My take:

I am single, but I decided to read this book anyway because I am all for learning as much about marriage and relationships before I get there. Before I discuss the book any further, I want to say how amazing it was to read about a marriage that almost ended, but survived victoriously due to God's powerful grace in this couples' lives. I am always so happy to read about marriages that came back from the brink of disaster, because so many times the opposite ends up happening.

Concerning the overall message of the book, I really liked what the Davises had to say about making your marriage extraordinary. I also appreciated their gut-wrenching honesty in relating the causes of the breakdown of their marriage. It was really interesting to hear the story from both of their perspectives. What I struggled with a little bit was the lack of details leading up to the affair, and Justin's revelations that seemed to come out of "nowhere." On the other hand, the lack of details could be to protect the other party involved, since no names were mentioned, and it seemed as if restoration had not happened between the other party yet. This was not an easy book to read, considering the subject matter, but I did find myself compelled with the Davises' story.

I rate this book a "4" and would recommend it to anyone who wants to strengthen their marriage - whether they are already married or waiting to get married.


Watch the book trailer here:

watch on tyndale.com

Read the first chapter here.


About the authors:

Justin and Trisha Davis met at Lincoln Christian University in Lincoln, Illinois. Justin received his BA in Christian Education, and Trisha later earned her BA degree from Indiana University. The Davises' return to ministry is the result of a victorious battle for their marriage and family. After successfully planting their first church, their marriage was devastated by an affair. What followed was a four-year journey of pain, grief, and ultimately, by the grace of God, the restoration of their relationship. In 2009 they founded RefineUs Ministries, Inc., to ignite a movement in the church and among pastors and church planters to build healthy marriages and families. They consider the resurrection of their marriage to be a great gift and feel it a privilege to use RefineUs to help others find that same healing. Today Justin and Trisha are bloggers, authors, and teachers in Nashville, Tennessee, where they reside with their three boys. Justin is currently campus and teaching pastor of Cross Point Community Church, Bellevue Campus.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers  through NetGalley. 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

The Shadow of Your Smile

The Shadow of Your Smile

by  Susan May Warren

Description from the publisher:

A beautiful blanket of snow may cover the quaint town of Deep Haven each winter, but it can't quite hide the wreckage of Noelle and Eli Hueston's marriage. After twenty-five years, they're contemplating divorce...just as soon as their youngest son graduates from high school. But then an accident erases Noelle's memory. Though her other injuries are minor, she doesn't remember Eli, their children, or the tragedy that has ripped their family apart. What's more, Noelle is shocked that her life has turned out nothing like she dreamed it would. As she tries to regain her memory and slowly slips into her role as a wife and mother, Eli helps her readjust to daily life with sometimes-hilarious, sometimes-heartwarming results. But can she fall in love again with a man she can't remember? Will their secrets destroy them...or has erasing the past given them a chance for a future?

I absolutely loved this book. Having read two other Susan May Warren books that I thoroughly enjoyed, I had high expectations for The Shadow of Your Smile. Let me tell you that this book didn't disappoint me in the least. In fact, it made me love Susan May Warren even more! Her ability to tell a compelling story with memorable characters and scenes is evident in this book. I highly recommend The Shadow of Your Smile. On a side note, I can't even type the book's title without hearing the song..."The Shadow of your smile/When you are gone/Will color all my dreams and light the dawn..." It is one of my favorite songs, and this book has also become one of my favorites. I enthusiastically give it a 5!

Come Back to Deep Haven and Win a $200 Visa Card from @SusanMayWarren!

Sometimes love requires a little forgetting ... Come back to Deep Haven and find out what's been happening in your favorite quaint hamlet. If you're new to the Deep Haven series - this is the perfect book to start with - each book in the series is a stand alone story.


Susan is celebrating the release of The Shadow of Your Smile by giving away a prize pack worth over $200 from 1/9-1/28.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Gift Card (Use that to rekindle a little romance, treat yourself to a spa day, snap up those shoes you’ve been eyeing, or purchase a few great books!)

• The entire set of Deep Haven Books 

The winner will be announced on 1/30/12 on Susan’s blog, Scribbles! Just click one of the icons below to enter and tell your friends about Susan's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

About the author:

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder ofwww.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from LitFuse Publicity Group. 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Ring Makes All the Difference

The Ring Makes All the Difference (The Hidden Consequences of Cohabitation and the Strong Benefits of Marriage)

by Glenn T. Stanton

Cohabitation. Many couples go this route to "test drive" their partner for marriage. What they don't know is how detrimental it is to their future relationship. Using current statistics, Glenn Stanton presents the case that couples who live together before marriage have a higher rate of divorce than those who don't. 

I had often heard that cohabitation was bad for a relationship, but I hadn't heard the statistics and reasoning behind it, beyond the church circles that say it's wrong. Stanton does an excellent job of presenting the fact in an unbiased manner. In fact, if I didn't know that Stanton comes from a Christian viewpoint, beyond the first and last couple chapters, I would think I was reading a secular sociological study. What is interesting to me is Stanton's conclusion that God knew what He was doing when He commanded against fornication. All of the statistics point to God's perfect plan.

This is the second book I've read and reviewed by Glenn Stanton (see my first review here). I have also read a lot of his material on Boundless.org (see an example of a great article of his here), and am impressed with his research skills and interesting take on today's issues. 

This is a great book - one I think would be great for anyone who counsels or works with youth or singles, or married couples. 

About the author, Glenn T. Stanton:

Glenn T. Stanton is the author of the book, The Ring Makes All the Difference: The Hidden Consequences of Cohabitation and the Strong Benefits of Marriage (Moody, 2011). He is a leading family researcher as the Director for Family Formation Studies at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs and debates and lectures extensively on the issues of gender, sexuality, marriage and parenting at universities and churches around the country. He served the George W. Bush administration for many years as a consultant on increasing fatherhood involvement in the Head Start program and is a regular columnist at National Review Online and Boundless. He and his wife have five endlessly growing children and they live in the shadow of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Moody Publishers, through NetGalley. 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Desert Gift

Desert Gift

by Sally John

Jillian Galloway, a marriage expert with her own radio show, is about to go on her book signing tour in California when Jack, her husband of 24 years, announces he wants out of their marriage. The news leaves Jillian spinning - for not only is her marriage crumbling apart, but it leaves her profession in question. How in the world does a marriage expert's marriage fall apart? Jill goes back to her childhood home and reconnects with her parents, her sister, and some old friends. She also meets some new friends who challenge her in her faith. 

I really liked this book. I'm not married, but it was nice to read a Christian fiction book that brought in principles for a godly marriage - food for thought for the future! I found myself swept up in Jillian and Jack's story, and I really empathized with them. I also really appreciated the way the author had the couple honestly deal with marital problems, and not just "neatly wrap things up" the way fiction sometimes can. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's married, or would like to be someday. 

Praying for Your Future Husband

I grew up on Robin Jones Gunn's "Christy Miller" series, and later read her "Sierra Jensen" series. I dreamed of having the same adventures as Christy Miller, and of one day finding my own Todd (Christy's wonderful Christian boyfriend). I always admired the way Robin uplifted the character qualities of godliness, patience, and steadfastness throughout her books. 

Reading Praying for Your Future Husband brought the themes in Robin's books full circle for me. Robin writes about her own love story. Co-author Tricia Goyer writes about her own as well. Both women prayed for their future husbands before meeting them, and both loved and lost several boyfriends. I found myself relating to both women's stories. Robin related how her fiance broke up with her 6 months into their engagement - her wedding dress in the closet, church paid for, invitations about to go out. I too had this happen to me. I could relate to her depression, bitterness, and distrust in the months following her broken engagement. I had been there. I could also relate to Tricia's stories of wanting to be accepted and loved by someone. 

This book is not a manual on how to get a husband. It is not a guide for how to pray in the right way so God will "finally" hear your prayers. I feel the subtitle of the book says it all: "Preparing Your Heart for His." Not just the heart of your future husband, but the heart of Christ. Robin and Tricia talk about how praying for another person not only affects the person being prayed for, but the person praying. For when you pray for the qualities of patience, steadfastness, and godliness in your future mate, you realize how much you also need those traits. Praying also brings you closer to God's heart - the most important trait to have, whether you get married or not.

I felt this book was primarily geared for high school girls, but that doesn't mean a 30-something can't get something out of it too. I highly recommend this book to any single woman who wonders why God hasn't brought the right one into her life yet. As the last line of the book says, "What exactly will happen once you start praying for your future husband? There's only one way to find out…PRAY!"

Please click here to rank my review.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah. 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Love At Last Sight: Book Review

Love at Last Sight: 30 Days to Grow and Deepen Your Closest Relationships

By Kerry & Chris Shook

The title of this book intrigued me. I had heard of the term "love at first sight," but certainly not "love at last sight." I decided it would be interesting to read what the authors thought this was.

First off, I really like the way the book is divided into 30 short and easy to read chapters with 3 challenges/questions at the end of each to encourage your work on your relationships. I also thought it was helpful that they created a topic to focus on for each week: Week One is "The Art of Being All There"; Week Two is "The Art of Acting Intentionally"; Week Three is "The Art of Risking Awkwardness"; and Week Four is "The Art of Letting Go."

Now for the things I didn't particularly care for. When I read the sentence, "Everything you've been told about relationships is upside down and wrong," I cringed and thought to myself, "What a horrible generalization," but decided to give the book a chance. Then the authors (a husband and wife team) stated that they would be writing the book as "one," so when one tells a story, it is impossible to know which one is talking. Though the concept of writing as one is a nice thought, I think it took a lot away from what could have been more valuable lessons.

Overall, I did enjoy reading this book. I found out that the idea of "love at last sight" is about living every day as if it would be your last with an important person in your life, whether it is a parent, spouse, or friend. I believe I can take away some valuable ideas in order to work on m y own relationships.

Please click here to rank my review.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah. 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: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."