My husband and I divorced after a long marriage filled with frustration and unmet emotional needs. This book was like a mirror into my soul. I read it in one day, and gave it to my ex-husband and he read it in two days. We have been called to reconcile our relationship, but are taking it slow. We are in the infancy of this process, but without this book and their program on Bott radio, we would not be pursuing this new chapter of renewing our families. Thank you for such a great book!!

I Do Again is a very unusual book. Not so much in that it is written by a husband and wife writing team (this is something that I see with increasing frequency) but in that it is written by a married couple that has married, divorced, and remarried. I strongly believe that the church is suffering from weak teaching on marriage and even worse church disciple and follow-through as couples professing Christ divorce as often as those who do not. That is why I Do Again is such a vitally important book. Whether you are single and planning to marry, are currently married, or are divorced, I highly recommend reading it.

The Scruggs married, pursued an active life as young professionals, and basically enjoyed themselves. When their daughters entered the picture however, things changed. The added stress of children on the marriage drove Cheryl into the arms of another man through her search to satisfy herself. After ten years of marriage, theirs ended in divorce. God however, had a plan to redeem their marriage, and after drawing both Cheryl and Jeff to Himself, he faithfully led them back towards each other over an extended period of time. Seven years later they remarried and dedicated their new union to the one who had saved not only them, but their marriage as well.

Written in alternating, chronological points of view, I Do Again is nothing if not raw. It is a very honest account of the emotional journey both Cheryl and Jeff took throughout their life together and apart from each other. If you are in a struggling marriage, reading through the pain of their divorce will definitely make you think twice before making the decision to split asunder what God has joined together. It is particularly valuable reading for women who tend to feel unhappy, emotionally unfulfilled, and discontent (don't we all feel this way from time to time) and who struggle with the temptation the world offers to 'just be happy'. Divorce is not a happy thing.

This is an amazing joint memoir; it will serve as a stark reminder for the rest of my life that divorce is not God's will. I cried. Often. Don't be surprised if you do too. For those who have divorced I Do Again offers the hope that what is broken can be restored, and that with God all things are possible, even what is entirely impossible for man.

I received a print copy of this book to review. All opinions are genuine and my own.

Words don't do justice to the amazing vulnerability that comes through on every page of I Do Again.

Reading I Do Again is like reading a romance novel, but in this case the story is absolutely true, and it is riveting. I just could not put the book down. After I read it, I gave it to my husband, and even as a man he had the same response.

The book is beautifully and effectively written, interspersing the story of Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs with later counseling sessions and different time periods to gain maximum effect and keep the reader totally engaged. Since my husband and I have a ministry to those in troubled marriages, I frequently refer the book to those whose marriages are breaking down. They too are amazed at the honesty they find and are spellbound by the way the story is so intricately and superbly woven together.

In the telling of their story, the Scruggs allow the reader inside their hearts and minds while their marriage disintegrates. It is an incredibly accurate picture of the collapse of a marriage. By reading this book, people in marital crisis can get a clear picture of what may be happening in their own marriage, particularly as it pertains to one spouse's declaration that, "I don't love you anymore . . . in fact, I'm not sure I ever did." By following the Scrugg's story, one clearly sees the way a disenchanted spouse can drift into another relationship and then find themselves totally ensnared and completely blind to the pain they are causing their children and their abandoned spouse.

But, happily, the book doesn't leave the reader in that dismal place. As we continue to read the story of Cheryl and Jeff, we live in Cheryl's mind as she struggles to restore the marriage she herself ended by divorcing her husband. It is a clear picture of renewal, and as we travel with her on this journey we come to understand how positive transformation and spiritual renewal takes place in both an individual and a marriage.

I know God will use this book to open people's eyes and heal many marriages. If your marriage is in trouble, read this book. If you have a friend whose marriage is spiraling out of control, refer I Do Again to them. The book is about the pain of a marriage that falls apart, but it ends with a marriage being restored. Hopefully, the honest sharing of the story of this marriage can help other marriages find healing as well. Linda Rooks, Author of Broken Heart on Hold, Surviving Separation

I'm grateful for the wisdom the Scruggs were willing to share through their story. God wants us to wait on Him as He works in our hearts...even when it seems impossible. Cheryl completely put her trust in God's leading, no matter what. As she said, "I truly, wholeheartedly desire God's will instead of my own ~ and I never, never, want to disappoint my God again." For me, it's been 15 years, but I still believe God has a plan. I follow the same God as Abraham, Moses, and Joseph...and they waited, trusting in the God of Redemption.

I wish I had read this book sooner! I'm not sure where my journey will take me but after reading this book, I'm willing to try again with my ex-husband.