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.

What Readers Are Saying . . .

  • "In this edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense, all of the characters ring true."

    BOOKLIST on Borders of the Heart

  • "A fresh voice in Christian fiction . . . [Fabry] brings his trademark rich character development to this story, which delves into weighty issues like judgment, contentment, giftedness, and society's outcasts."

    EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION on Every Waking Moment

  • "Few authors can weave such unique stories with such perfect language. . . . Fabry is an artist with words. All I can say is: Read his novels."

    EXAMINER.COM on June Bug

  • "An involving novel with enough plot twists and dramatic tension to keep readers turning the pages."

    BOOKLIST on June Bug

  • "The rural South comes to life, with themes of forgiveness and second chances as highlights. The characters are both deeply flawed and immensely relatable, making this another hit for Fabry."

    LIBRARY JOURNAL on A Piece of the Moon

  • "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

  • "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

  • "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

  • "A conflicted, memorable main character. . . . While the mystery at its core is compelling, it's Wiley's inner conflict that's truly engrossing. Down to its final pages, [Not in the Heart] is a gripping read."

    CROSSWALK.COM

  • "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