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.

Chris Fabry and marriage expert Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages, team up to present a Christmas novella offering hope for struggling marriages. The book released in the fall of 2011 and was named a finalist for Christian Retailing magazine's 2012 Retailers Choice Award in the Fiction: Contemporary Romance category.

"Two of my favorites dish up a holiday feast of magic and hope."
— Jerry B. Jenkins, bestselling author, owner of the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild

"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 of 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

"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."
— Publishers Weekly

"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 and 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, Genre Go Round Reviews

Chris talks about the Moody Radio audio adaptation of A Marriage Carol.

The audio drama of A Marriage Carol is available seasonally at Moody Radio's website.

What Readers Are Saying . . .

  • "Fabry has built a rewarding story; it's hard to imagine inspirational fiction done better than this."

    — WORLD MAGAZINE on Not in the Heart

  • "An evocative novel . . . Fabry weaves the events of the past and present into a finely layered story exploring the relationships of faith, forgiveness and family in the midst of healing from pain buried deep in the past."

    — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY on Under a Cloudless Sky

  • "Fabry is a talented writer with a lilting flow to his words."

    — CROSSWALK.COM on Almost Heaven

  • "There is so much to love about The Song . . . Heart-wrenching and emotional scenes abound in this tale of fame, fortune, loss, and redemption."

    — ROMANTIC TIMES, 4½-Star Top Pick Review

  • "This riveting, no-punches-pulled coming-of-age tale is reminiscent of Richard Bachman's (Stephen King) short story 'The Body,' which was made into the movie Stand by Me."

    — BOOKLIST on The Promise of Jesse Woods

  • "Solidly literary fiction with deep, flawed characters and beautiful prose, Dogwood also contains a mystery within the story that adds tension and a deepening plot."

    — NOVEL REVIEWS

  • "Great Christian novels are more than a story, they leave the reader pondering the state of his or her own heart. Not in the Heart demonstrates God's power to transform the seemingly untransformable."

    — TITLETRAKK.COM

  • "Not in the Heart is the best book I have read in a long time. The plot is unique and creative, containing both ethical and moral dilemmas. . . . It challenges not only the readers' emotions but also their minds."

    — READERVIEWS.COM

  • "This absorbing novel should further boost Fabry's reputation as one of the most talented authors in Christian fiction."

    — CBA RETAILERS + RESOURCES on Not in the Heart

  • "[In this] soul-searching novel of faith, friendship, and promises, Chris Fabry invigorates the small-town lives of three teens in 1970s West Virginia with his exquisite, lyrical writing. . . . A literary delight . . . this novel is worthy of a standing ovation."

    — SHELF AWARENESS on The Promise of Jesse Woods

  • "Under a Cloudless Sky captivated me from page one. I cared immediately what happened to Ruby and Bean, and the stakes kept rising as tidbits of history were revealed, unraveling the mystery that held Ruby captive. A terrific reading experience!"

    — Francine Rivers, New York Times bestselling author