Real-Life Romance: Inspiring Stories to Help You Believe in True Love

by Rhonda Stoppe

Do You Believe in True Love? In a world of broken relationships and hurting people, it can seem like all we ever see is heartache—that marriages are doomed from the start and romance isn't worth the risk.

But heart-fluttering, long-lasting love is all around us...we just have to look for it!

This collection of beautiful, real-life accounts will bring laughter and tears as you enjoy each story of ordinary people who found extraordinary love. Page after page, you will find inspiration to Don't let the world define romance for you! See how God is at work in the hearts of His people—knitting together hearts in a love that forever endures.

Genres: Marriage, Nonfiction, Romance, Christian Living

240 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2018

About the author

Rhonda Stoppe is an accomplished and enthusiastic Christian speaker who has spent more than 20 years in ministry to youth and women. Also a pastor's wife, she and her husband, Steve, minister in Northern California and have four grown children--two sons and two daughters.

Reviews

[Lydia Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I Choose This Book:

Romance is a good thing, but only in the proper place and proper time. I get so annoyed in books when they focus on the wrong aspects of “romance” or at the wrong time or wrong place. This book sounded like a pretty great concept, so I wanted to read it for myself and see how well it lived up to the expectations I had for it.

What I Thought:

This book made me happy and did meet my expectations with how realistic it was. Sure, it included some of the heart-squeezing and sighing-in-delight parts of romance, but then it also talked about the soul-crushing hardships when you find out that the person who married isn’t who you thought he was. It talked about cute, sweet parts of life, as well as exploring what happens when you lose that. Some of the stories made me go “awww” and want to share them with others, but then it didn’t leave me imagining that life was perfect for them – it also gave a glimpse of the realistic-ness of how hard love can be.

There were a few stories that were sweet but I wasn’t incredibly sure why they were in the book because they didn’t have any lessons to learn or spiritual value written into it (that I could see). And, of course, that isn’t an issue, it’s just they didn’t follow the trend of the rest of the stories in the book.

Overall, there were quite a few things in the book that I didn’t agree with, but that didn’t take away my enjoyment and the value of the stories. I enjoy getting to learn from others – no matter if I agree with everything they say or not.

It was pretty cool because I ended up knowing who a few of the couples were that were spotlighted. I’m not sure if the author knows them personally, but if so, that’s neat.

The last story was my favorite. It was exactly the kind of story that would have made me roll my eyes in a fiction book and snort about how those types of things don’t really happen in real life. And yet, it did. And that’s pretty cool and obviously makes a great story.

Conclusion:

Although the book talks about some of the issues the couples found themselves having to work through, the author does it in a very balanced way where she doesn’t go into too much detail. I really appreciate that. (With that being said, I would say I wouldn’t recommend this book for anyone under upper teens. But, that’s just how I view books focused on romance.)

Rating:

I’m giving Real Life Romance 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ladies who like sweet stories, or are struggling with knowing what real romance is.

*This book was given to me to review

[Shantelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Quite a thoughtful, fun, and inspiring read! There were a couple things I wasn't sure what to think about, so that's why this book didn't quite reach five stars. But overall, Real-Life Romance by Rhonda Stoppe is an amazing, lovely book that I hope to share with others!

"And you'll discover how God's plan is for couples to love each other so deeply with His love that their marriages become a light He can use to draw others to know Him." (Real-Life Romance pg. 9)

So basically, this book is a collaboration of twenty-five unique love stories. Each story is a little different, which is so neat to see. Real-Life Romance is about sweet romances as well as faith, friendship, redemption, loss, secret sin, and forgiveness. It was so awesome to see how God worked in these couple's lives! It was also fun hearing about the author's own love story, and those of her children! Breaking the Bro Code: Estevan & Kayla (pgs. 177-188) was especially heartfelt. I was deeply touched by how they used personal loss to keep an eternal perspective and press closer to Jesus Christ.

Some of my very favorite stories were Waiting on God's Timing: Keven & Suzanne (pgs. 33-38); The Heart's True Desire: Jason & Noelle (pgs. 39-45); Addicted to Each Other: Jeff & Jennifer (pgs. 105-113); and Connected at the Heart: Bill & Pam (pgs. 131-139). These four were particularly beautiful and powerful to me. I so loved them!
Oh, and the brief bit about Apostle Peter and his wife. Ah! Incredibly tender and soul-stirring. I'm so glad Rhonda Stoppe included that account in Real-Life Romance! It was a perfect way to conclude the book.

I have strong, personal convictions about dating and marriage, so some of the stories didn't resound with me as much as others. Particularly when couples seemed to rush ahead instead of seeking the Lord and waiting for His leading. One story it appeared that a man was a Christian when he married a woman who was an unbeliever. (She came to know the Lord and has a beautiful testimony, but I question whether his decision was Biblical. {2 Corinthians 6:14-18}) Also, there were at least four stories about divorce and remarriage. From reading the Bible, I firmly believe that God is against divorce and it's not His heart for His people! (Matthew 5:31-32; Mark 10:2-12; 1 Corinthians 7:39; Romans 7:2-3; Malachi 2:16; 1 Corinthians 7:11-13; Hebrews 13:4). So I'm always a little at loss of what to think when reading about divorce and remarriage. I don't know the whole stories - background and reason for divorce. And some (all?) of the stories were about people who married/divorced before becoming believers. Anyway, I just thought I would mention that.

Even when one of the stories didn't settle with me as much, I felt Rhonda Stoppe herself was pretty spot-on throughout the whole book! After each story, she has sections called Ponder This and Ask Yourself, and I felt she spoke a lot of Biblical truths and raised important questions through those! Even with the concerns I mentioned above, I believe Rhonda Stoppe and I have quite similar thoughts, convictions, ideas, and cautions.

"How might you adjust your life to take your focus off looking for a husband and learn to find contentment in loving and serving Jesus?" (Real-Life Romance pg. 38)

All in all, I think the themes of Real-Life Romance: Inspiring Stories to Help You Believe in True Love were of finding your hope and joy in the Lord and believing that He does and will write beautiful love stories and strengthen marriages to be a light and a testimony! I was encouraged. ^_^ Besides a few things that raised questions for me, I recommend this book. Planning to have my mom and sister read at least my favorite stories! *smiles*

"When looking for a mate, it's tempting to take your eyes off the prize of Christ and focus on who might be 'the one'. But let's follow the example of the woman in Tony's unit. If you run this race of life with your focus on the One who calls you to run, and one day you look over and see a man whose eyes are fixed on Jesus and he places his hand in the small of your back to help you run your race - marry him!" (Real-Life Romance pg. 226)

I received a copy of Real-Life Romance from Litfuse Publicity Blogger Program in exchange for my honest review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real-Life Romance was a book that was unique, heartwarming, and lovely. This book contains several true life stories of couples finding each other and the various trials and tribulations they had to go through to get to that true love. I liked the shortness of the chapters. We get a very well rounded glimpse of each couple as they tell their stories and an application at the end which includes Ponder This topics and Ask Yourself applicable questions.

All of these stories show what it really means to love through sacrifices, good and bad times, and obedience to God. Some are bittersweet and had me crying others seemed like fairy-tales, as much of one a person can get in this life. It also had me thinking and pondering my own romance story with my husband. This was a nice pick me up read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

https://pausefortales.blogspot.com/20...

[Lauren DuPrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to reading Real Life Romance, I had never heard of Rhonda Stoppe so I decided to perform a quick Google search to learn a bit about her. One of the first resources I stumbled across was a podcast interview in which Rhonda was discussing how to raise Godly children.

Hearing about Rhonda’s love for Christ, grew in me a great excitement to read Real Life Romance. I initially thought the book focused on looking at marriage from a Biblical perspective and while it does, indeed, do so, it does so in a manner that is not traditional to Christian books on marriage. In Real Life Romance, Stoppe has recorded the love stories of 25 Christian couples to show the world how marriage should look according to Scripture. Even as Christians, we often take some ideas from the world and attempt to apply them in our marriages and are left disappointed. Only when we follow God’s plan from Scripture, are we able to have marriages that are sweet examples of Christ’s love for His bride, the church (see Ephesians 5).

Stoppe is faithful to communicate the goodness of Christ in each of these love stories and they were so encouraging for my heart because they allowed me to learn about ways other Christian couples have remained faithful to Christ even in the midst of difficult seasons in their marriages.

This book was fun too because some of the couples interviewed are famous – you might recognize Bill and Pam Farrel and Nick and Kanae Vujicic – and there are elements unique to this book including pictures of each couple in their corresponding chapters and videos featuring the couples on Stoppe’s website.

In addition to the real life romances provided in the book, Rhonda also asks compelling and encouraging questions at the end of each chapter. I found myself being sharpened and challenged by many of the questions and I’m thankful for her heart to encourage others to grow in their love for Christ and their spouse.

Some of my favorite questions from the book are:

Do you know God’s character so well that you will trust Him if you find yourself without work?
If you’re not married, are you willing to honor Christ in your relationships as you seek His will for your future?
Would you say your marriage honors God?
How have you prepared yourself for the war against the flesh?
How might you adjust your life to take your focus off looking for a husband and learn to find contentment in loving and serving Jesus?
Overall, Real Life Romance is very solid theologically, but there were a few instances in which the author reported that she heard God speak to her and recorded stories in which God spoke to those she interviewed. In the first chapter, while describing a time in which Rhonda was experiencing a break up and was considering pursuing valuable opportunities with her career, she stated, “. . . yet a still, small voice often whispered, This is not who you are. This not what I created you for.” The idea of a still, small voice is taken from 1 Kings 19:11-13 in which God speaks to Elijah. There is no command in Scripture to listen for a still, small voice. In fact, God’s very own word tells us that if we want to hear God, and know what He wants for us and from us, we simply need to read the word (see Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 12:32, Proverbs 30:6, Hebrews 1:1-2, Revelation 22:18). The concept of God speaking appears in a few other chapters (Chapters 11, 18) so be aware of this as you read and be careful how much weight you give to the concept.

Aside from this caution, I really enjoyed Real Life Romance, so much so that I finished it in three days. Rhonda’s faithfulness to share truths from Scripture with each love story made it so hard to put the book down. I appreciated that these weren’t just ordinary, Christian couples – there was a wide variety who have been through different hardships but all prevailed because their marriages were Christ centered. When it comes to love stories, more of these real life romances are needed to show us what relationships really look like in a world marred by sin. Toward the end of the book, Rhonda wrote, “As a Christian, anything you do in your life should be filtered through this missional statement: To know Christ and make Him know,” (Chapter 25). I couldn’t agree more and highly recommend Real Life Romance.

I received Real Life Romance compliments of LitFuse in exchange for my honest review.

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of treasured stories that encourage, bring a smile and give insight into relationships that made it through good times and bad times. I’m sure we each have our own story of how we met our mate. I know when I first met my husband we didn’t like each other at all. We seemed to clash every time we saw each other. What I really liked about this book was the transparency that the couples shared as they took us on their journey to find the right one. Each story is unique but has one thing in common. They each drew on their faith and strength as they pursued their relationships.

I loved how the book includes a section called “Ponder This” and “Ask Yourself.” These are great tools to use as you soak up each story. As I read each story I began to understand more of the blemishes I still had in my life. Did I really forgive when I said I did? Do I still have insecurity issues? The good news is that I am still a work in progress. This book just reinforces for me how thankful I am that I persevered and continue to be thankful for God’s grace and mercy.

One of the keys points of the book for me was to not have secrets from your mate. One of the stories touched on that and it really hit home. For years I guarded a secret that I didn’t realize was affecting our relationship. As the Bible says, “The truth will set you free,”is such a powerful passage that made me feel like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. Even though the secret was something from my childhood, I was still fearful of what my husband would think. I am encouraged by this book and the stories that range from sadness to happiness. I loved each story and gathered wisdom from them. My hope is that when you pick up this book to read you “will be better prepared to not only survive life’s storms, but to thrive in times of trouble.”

I received a copy of this book from Lit Fuse. The review is my own opinion.Landing page:

[Heather Delgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

February is the month of love, so what better book to read than a book full of romance stories? I must admit, this isn't just any romance book. It's about real-life couples, how they met, and how they have worked on their marriages to stay together with God's help.

I have enjoyed reading the brief snippets into other couples lives-mainly because it makes me realize that we are all in this crazy-big world together and that no relationship, no matter how rosy it looks on social media or in person, is without its struggles and hardships. We are all dependent upon God, whether we realize it or not, and it is with His grace and mercy that we are able to walk together and do this thing called life.

Reading about how God influenced relationships even when some of these couples were younger and met briefly, to reconnecting much later in their lives as adults gives me hope for those out there looking for their "other half." It also made me appreciate my own relationship struggles because I know that the ups and downs are how we grow closer together as a couple-especially when we have God connecting us.

If you are single and wondering if your true love is out there, this book will give you hope to trust in God's timing for your own romance to be written, or even rewritten. If you're in a relationship, this book will spark inspiration for your own relationship and let you relive your own romance!

I did receive this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my personal opinion and an honest review.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE hearing real-life couple’s stories about how they met, fell in love, got married, and weathered the storms and sweet times of marriage. So when I had the opportunity to review Real-Life Romance, I jumped at the opportunity.
What undergirds each real-life story in this book is that at some point, Christ became the middle of their marriage, their glue. Each started in different points of life. Some knew each other growing up, some met in high school, others later on. Some were believers, some were not. But God graciously drew each one to trust in Jesus Christ.
One of my favorite stories was Don and Barb’s. God brought them together, but they each struggled with trusting Him. Then they suffered a tragic loss. Reading how they struggled through that, and came out with a faith, and a marriage, refined, was so beautiful and encouraging.
And then Curt and Vi’s marriage. *Sigh* The two compared their marriage to a waltz. At the end of Curt’s life, after a long marriage together, he said these words in answer to Vi’s question of what he would want to say to Jesus when he first saw Him, “I am going to thank Him for giving me you.” Isn’t that the sweetest thing?
The stories in this book, all true, all heart-achingly life-like, are pictures of God’s grace. And they encourage me to always seek Jesus first in life, above all and anyone else.
If you enjoy romance, there’s nothing like the real-life kind, and you’ll love this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

The divorce rate is rising. The statistics for broken relationships, blended families, and single parenting is heartbreaking. But there is hope. This book highlights different types of romance and love that occurred when they allowed God to bless and direct their lives. Each chapter tells the story of a couple, how they met, and what made their romance so wonderful. The chapters end with some thoughts to ponder and some questions each reader can ask pertaining to relationships and marriage.

I really enjoyed this book. The author's writing style was fun and felt like listening to a friend talk about how she met her husband. Each story was unique and showcased the individuality of the people involved. I liked the questions and thoughts at the end of each chapter. I think this book would compliment a marriage study or seminar. This book would also make an excellent book for that single or newly engaged person that you might know. But as an "old" married person, I enjoyed it just as much and it was encouraging to hear so many wonderful stories of Christians who followed God's will for their lives when falling in love.

I received a copy of this book from. All thoughts expressed are my own.

[Rachel DeVaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author begins with an introduction and explains that each chapter is a different love story and that as readers we will "discover how God's plan is for couples to love each other so deeply with His love that their marriage becomes a light He can use to draw others to Him."

There are 26 different chapters of love stories included in this book along with pictures and additional resources on the author's website "No Regrets Woman" which I found really interesting and fun!

Author Rhonda Stoppe begins chapter 1 with her personal love story with her husband Steve. Readers will be encouraged with the variety of christian love stories in this book. They are real, raw, and heart warming. They are the real deal-not fake fairy tale romances. They will make you cry and give you hope.

I like that there are "ponder this" and "ask yourself" sections at the end of every chapter.

This collection of love stories was put together nicely and I really enjoyed reading this book. It gave me hope in my own marriage to continue to seek God's love in my own life and to be more patient and kind.

I received a copy of this e-book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book with such inspiring true stories! They were about people from all walks of life, from teenagers to people past middle age. She even has the story of Nick, a man somewhat well-known, born without arms or legs, has a wonderful speaking ministry, has written books and is now married with two children. They weren't perfect romances, as pretty much everyone had to go through some trial, either before they met, during their courtship or after they were married. It was amazing to see how God worked to bring the couples together. Some broke up only to get back together later in God's timing. There were pictures of each couple at the beginning of their chapter and you can even go on Rhonda's website to hear their stories in their own words! This almost felt like a devotional as each chapter had a section called "Ponder This" and "Ask Yourself," where you think about your relationship with God and how to apply the thoughts to your life. She had wonderful advice both for singles and married couples. I highly recommend this book for anyone, from true romantics to those needing some hope that true love is really out there!

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

[LeAnne Klopfenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be honest; I expected this book to be a "good-feel" Christian read that I would enjoy, and I assumed I already knew how it would go. But the book delivered in a way I did not anticipate nor expect. And that is a fantastic thing, because Rhonda Stoppe has managed to put together a page turner that is complex yet easy to understand. Honestly, I don't know exactly how to best describe the book. It gives authentic stories of marriages but manages to avoid the "same old, same old" feel that so many books on marriage hold--while those other books are great resources, Stoppe has added a personal element that just makes her book unique. Strength. Determination. Redemption. Fortitude. Tragedy. Patience. Renewal.Family. Loss. Gain. Joy. Salvation. Hope. The book shares the complexities of marriage & relationships in a way that lets you appreciate so very much how God truly DOES make beauty from ashes, carries us through every trial and tribulation, and continually gives us chances to have a solid, joyous marriages regardless of our situations and circumstances.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but was under no obligation to write a review. My honest opinion has been provided without any requirement to write a positive review.

[Mazzou B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued from the first moment I heard of this newly-published book by Rhonda Stoppe. An entire book of not only true, real-life but also faith-filled romance stories? Definitely yes! Like I just said, the quality of this book doesn't just lie in the stories but in the reoccurring theme of God's grace and purpose weaving each story together. The author of this book has skillfully told each couple's love story with the point of pointing it back to God. As I read each account, I was encouraged in many ways. Every story is different, and not all are tidy and perfect. As a matter of fact, just as in real life, many of the stories were messy and unexpected. But it is fascinating to read how God made things work together for His glory. There is something in this book for everyone in every season of life, whether married or single. I also loved reading many conversion stories included in the biographical portions of each tale. The writing style is not phenomenal however I was grateful for the content and am glad I read this book!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
Do You Believe in True Love?

[Margaret Tidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Real-Life Romance by Rhonda Stoppe was a sweet book. I did enjoy all of the stories in this book, and almost all of them left me with a smile on my face. I also loved that the author gives you points to ponder and things that you should ask yourself and think about. I love that the author doesn’t quote tons of scriptures while telling the story but she does give you some of the points that you should ponder. If you are looking for ways to grow as a couple, I think this book could help you. Since I am single, I just enjoyed the stories, and that is all. I am one hundred percent, okay being single, so I just pick up these kinds of books to break up some of the other types of books that I read. If you are looking for something sweet to read I think that this book would be an excellent fit for you.

[Rosalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an inspirational read, a nonfiction book, true love!
The author, Rhonda Stoppe, shares her own love story in the first chapter. The remainder of the book is about other couples who have found real life romance. Rhonda has written out their love stories, one chapter per couple. Toward the end of each chapter, some inspirational thoughts are thrown in for good measure. I also found it neat that there is a picture (small, but there, nonetheless) included of each couple. It gives a bit more of a real feel to it, when you can actually picture what they look like, while you are reading their story.
I do love reading about how God brings people together. Granted, it's not like I used to think...you meet the guy, you fall in love, and then you have a happily ever after.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources. This includes publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions shared here are my own entirely.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Rhonda Stoppe gives us a glimpse into real romances by sharing about 2 dozens stories that are nothing like the fairy tales. The good the bad and the ugly. I love that she focused on more than just the cookie-cutter, perfectly scripted, christian romances. There were gritty stories, hard-won stories, stories you wish you could call your own, stories you can't believe are real yet they are.
Stoppe begins with her own story of meeting her husband as a teenager. There are stories of couples that weren't christian at the beginning. Stories of second chances. Stoppe also shared the romances of her four children, which I really appreciated.
There were a few that left me questioning the romance factor but otherwise this book is a lovely collection of real life romances that are encouraging and gives this single girl hope. There is an "Ask Yourself" section are the end of every chapter as well as a "Ponder This" after some the engage the reader whether single or married. The last chapter or last romance is ours, the readers, I won't spoil it for you though. I received this book free from Netgalley and Harvest House Publishers for my honest opinion

[Becky Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhonda Stoppe’s Real-Life Romance is filled with page after page of real-life romance. There’s no glossed over Hollywood fairy tales, just the true stories of everyday people.

For anyone desiring a happy marriage, these stories provide hope that real love still exists. For anyone with a broken marriage, these stories provide hope for reconciliation. For anyone who has loved and lost, these stories provide hope to find love again.

At first, the book seems like it may only be about those “perfect” love affairs with happy endings, but keep reading. There are stories of triumph, stories of heartache and stories of completely relatable people enduring real hardships and yet enduring and overcoming.

The book is sure to inspire and is definitely one to be shared with anyone considering marriage, ever.

***In exchange for this review, the publisher provided a complimentary copy of the book.

[Sherry Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that just might make you believe in love and
romance again.
This book is filled with 25 different true stories. Stories from Love at First Sight to 2nd Chance Love Stories and many in between.
From the 'Maybe we should try church' couple.
To the 'Surprise by Love' couple.
And there was the couple who divorced and then found Jesus
'And each other again'.
And many many more stories in between.
Each couples story may seem direct but each couples story in a way is the same. The all at some point in the relationship decided
to invite God into their marriages.

Each story ends with thoughts to ponder and questions to ask yourself.

The book is written for the believer and non-believer and ends with the plan of Salvation inviting the reader into a personal relationship with Jesus.

Real Romance is and uplifting and inspiring; a great read for everyone.

I enjoyed it.

I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse

[Wendy Andrus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit, I enjoy reading Christian romance. It's also nice to read real-life stories. This collection of real-life romances is inspiring. Included at the end of each chapter is a Ponder This section, as well as Ask Yourself.

To be honest, I found this book hard to read at times, since I have experience three failed marriages. It makes me feel as if there is something wrong with me, that a relationship with me is not worth fighting for. That makes my heart weep. But I hope and pray my children learn from my mistakes, and that God will grant them happy, life-long marriages of their own someday.

If you enjoy reading/hearing Godly, Christian romance stories, you will enjoy reading Real-Life Romance.

[Lisa Rupertus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book totally surprised me. Not only are the stories truthful they are relatable. The stories shared are heartwarming and transparent. It is not all kids who met in high school and knew they would get married right then and there, and definitely not all roses. Some of the romances took time to develop. Each of these couples started out with strong faith or found it along the way.

I really enjoyed reading this book and getting a glimpse into each romance. While this book shares short stories about each couple it also has a devotional aspect taken from each stories theme. I liked that duplicity of the book.

I received a copy of this book for review purposes, as always all opinions are my own.

[Janice Sisemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real-Life Romance

A collection of real-life stories of couples that were already Christians or one of the other was not. How some overcame addiction and some overcome physical challenges. The stories were all very interesting and inspirational. I would recommend reading a little at a time especially if you mainly read fiction, it is a devotional book with actual stories from real people. I received an complementary copy of the book from NetGalley through Lit Fuse.

[Eugenia Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book of testimonials of how God brought couples together. Wonderful faith building book for married couples as well as singles. It gives hope to those who are still longing to be married. Motivation to married couples who may be struggling. Marriage isn’t perfect everyday, but it is worth doing the work and fighting for a blessed union in Christ.

[Joy Mukami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

I have this book a 5 🌟 because,it deserves it..Rhonda has written about couples who fought together,cried together,etc,but still made it to have incredible marriages..So much inspiration...

[DeeDee Scarberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun to celebrate love and marriage! With so much sadness and heartache in the world I’ve always loved happier books and movies, and this was such a sweet idea. I appreciated Rhonda Stoppe’s Christ-centered insight throughout.

[Nella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!
I found it very uplifting and encouraging. As a women of faith myself I can relate to some of the experiences, and hope that God will bless me in a similar way!

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just needed to know true love is out there. So happy for these couples and others like them.

[Gordon Weatherby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing deep in this book but a series of inspiring love stories of Christian couples, their courtship, and marriage when they put Christ first place in their relationship with each other.

[Kathy Gossen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a good book to include in a marriage book collection to give to a person beginning to date or thinking about marriage. It's a realistic look at love stories.

[Lilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhonda Stoppe attempts to re-ignite our hope in the "happy ever after" with real-life accounts that she has collected over the course of her ministry as a pastor's wife as well as in her own right as an author and speaker. She does also include her own and her children's stories.

She advocates for intentional relationships by asking the important questions and not simply floating through "situation-ships". It will take a lot of leaning on God's ways above over our own immediate desires will be our lifeline that leads you down the path He has planned for you. Her main message for the singles she says: "... Let God write your love story. Ask Him to grant you this wisdom to discern the heart of a man who catches your attention".

This variety of heartwarming stories that will tug at your heartstrings from experiences from all shades. She does not neglect to share the trials they faced in committing to making their relationships work. Contrary to what some might believe, Rhonda strives to pass the message that being a Christian believer does not exempt one from everyday humanly problems such as addiction, co-dependency, terminal illness, grief and loss, age differences and family dysfunction. She offers hope and encourages both singles and couples to continue building their faith and themselves when romance is plenty and when it's scarce.

My only issue with the book was that there was a lot more tell than show. This could be explained by the fact that the stories seem to have been collected interview style. All in all, this would be a great title to pick closer to Valentine's Day when everybody will be seeing red. Hopefully, it will remind the reader that real-life romance is not only experienced during courtship and on their wedding day. It should be couple's life commitment despite the curve balls that life throws at them.


Review originally published on Kerry's Blog and on Netgalley

[Ylva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love inspiring romances and even more when they're real!
That's why I jumped at the chance to get a review copy. And Real-Life Romance did not disappoint me. The short and sweet stories were easy to read. And those stories showed that having a great marriage is always possible, even when you feel like all hope is lost. The couples in there were not picture-perfect Christians. Instead, the book for example included stories of people that are divorced or that only became Christians after they had been married for a while. Because of these different stories, this book can not only give encouragement for young adults that are just starting to date or court, but also for those that are starting to date again (for whatever reason) or that are married and struggeling.

I also liked the questions and ideas for personal reflection at the end of each chapter. That presents a perfect opportunity to read and discuss this book with your spouse or in a group.

So no matter what stage of life and marriage you're in, I'm sure you'll find some encouragement and helpful ideas in this book.

Disclaimer: Thank you very much to Netgalley for providing a free review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Haney Hayes Promotions · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a good fit for readers who are seeking a heartwarming and uplifting collection of true stories about ordinary people who found extraordinary love, and are looking for inspiration to rekindle the romance in their own love story and believe in the possibility of a lifelong, God-ordained partnership.