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Overview
After years of disagreeing about what true happiness, success, and love really are, Dave and Clarice Johnson finally face the breaking point of their marriage. When Clarice's leg is crushed in a car wreck, the obvious truth that more than just her injuries need immediate attention is finally exposed. Clarice and Dave struggle to find restoration as they learn the importance of promises made and kept - and the truth that help sometimes comes from unlikely places.Synopsis
After years of disagreeing about what true happiness, success, and love really are, Dave and Clarice Johnson finally face the breaking point of their marriage. When Clarice's leg is crushed in a car wreck, the obvious truth that more than just her injuries need immediate attention is finally exposed. Clarice and Dave struggle to find restoration as they learn the importance of promises made and kept - and the truth that help sometimes comes from unlikely places.
Publishers Weekly
How does a marriage fall apart, and how does one go about saving it? Bestselling author T.D. Jakes (Woman, Thou Art Loosed!) puts those questions at the heart of his novel, which follows Dave and Clarice Johnson as they struggle to recover from a devastating car accident, which shattered Clarice's leg. The physical recovery proves to be far simpler than healing their dissolving marriage: lack of communication and respect, along with divergent priorities, have slowly worn down their relationship. So when Julie, a physical therapist from their church, proves ready to admire and appreciate Dave, an innocent friendship turns into a serious temptation. Are both Dave and Clarice willing to fight for their marriage? And should they? For Jakes, the answer to the second question is clearly yes. He captures the rapidity with which relationships can fall apart, along with the rigorous and painful healing process, which requires honest communication, self-denial and humility. The story is far from a fairy tale and at times too true to life to be readily enjoyable, but readers will find themselves attached to the characters. Jakes's faith appears throughout the story in a gentle way, which should make this book appeal to both Christian and general market readers. (Oct. 11) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
How does a marriage fall apart, and how does one go about saving it? Bestselling author T.D. Jakes (Woman, Thou Art Loosed!) puts those questions at the heart of his novel, which follows Dave and Clarice Johnson as they struggle to recover from a devastating car accident, which shattered Clarice's leg. The physical recovery proves to be far simpler than healing their dissolving marriage: lack of communication and respect, along with divergent priorities, have slowly worn down their relationship. So when Julie, a physical therapist from their church, proves ready to admire and appreciate Dave, an innocent friendship turns into a serious temptation. Are both Dave and Clarice willing to fight for their marriage? And should they? For Jakes, the answer to the second question is clearly yes. He captures the rapidity with which relationships can fall apart, along with the rigorous and painful healing process, which requires honest communication, self-denial and humility. The story is far from a fairy tale and at times too true to life to be readily enjoyable, but readers will find themselves attached to the characters. Jakes's faith appears throughout the story in a gentle way, which should make this book appeal to both Christian and general market readers. (Oct. 11) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.Library Journal
This is the saga of a disparate couple struggling to save a marriage that seems doomed. Clarice's bitter, single mother raised her to believe that trusting another and relying on anyone for help and comfort demonstrated a weakness that would get her hurt. As a result, Clarice is busily climbing the ladder of success while being ashamed of her husband's "lack of drive." Dave, on the other hand, is committed to helping others. A former schoolteacher, he has started a janitorial service to provide jobs for individuals who don't have the skills for any other type of work. He also coaches a Little League baseball team in the inner city. Dave and Clarice's marriage is successful on the surface, though lack of communication and common goals have severely undermined its stability. An automobile accident exacerbates their problems, as Clarice, though severely injured, refuses help and comfort from Dave, who aches to show his love through caring for her. The question arises whether either Dave or Clarice still care enough for each other to save their marriage. Tracey Leigh is an excellent reader; she makes each character individual and easily identifiable by voice and accent, and her portrayal of Clarice's mother is priceless. Though this isn't a pleasant book, it is a gripping portrayal of a marriage in trouble. Recommended; especially suitable for Christian fiction collections.
—Nancy Reed