Divorce Books

This book is a must-have for anyone contemplating or in a second or subsequent marriage...especially if you or your partner have children from previous relationships. Jon Fitzpatrick takes some pretty dry information and makes it accessible to the average reader by writing this non-fiction work in the guise of a novel. You'll be drawn in to the lives of the characters, each working through their own financial and relationship issues as they try to do the right thing by their children, their partners, and themselves. You'll walk away with a lot of useful advice and a gameplan for making changes in your own life.

You might not think that a narrative guide to financial, estate, and retirement planning would be an exciting read. Yet, the author Jon Fitzpatrick has managed to make the complex issues surrounding these topics understandable to the average person, and he's done it in a way that is interesting and entertaining as well. He accomplished this by using sets of theoretical couples, each with specific marital and financial circumstances, to illustrate various retirement and financial planning strategies. Reading about the lives of these fictional couples was interesting in and of itself! But the main contribution of this book is the helpful and comprehensible guidance and advice that the average person can take away and implement easily in their own lives.

Because of its readability and helpful guidance, I'd rate this as by far and away the best of many financial planning books I've come across.

Jim Smoke has been teaching and writing about divorce for more than a decade: he's an expert in this field. Here he focuses on devotional thoughts that help anyone get through a divorce with a most positive outlook, finding hope in all the pain. A short book that makes great reading at bedtime --- maybe changing your focus for the better.

Barbara Sheldon, M.S.W.
I also highly recommend: Moving Forward After Divorce: Practical Steps to * Healing Your Hurts * Finding Fresh Perspective * Managing Your New Life

It had JUST happened (him leaving), my friend recommended this book and I found myself, while reading it, saying "YES!" & "AMEN" out loud! It's a wonderful source of support and understanding. I highly recommend it!

I am the mother of a rape victim. This book is a God sent. It gives you help in helping your loved one who is a victim of domestic violence. It comes with a CD with valuable forms to help protect the victims. I have never found any book so helpful as this one. In my daughters most dire time of need Susan has it all done for her. Very easy to navigate. A wonderful tool used to help victims of spousal rape and battery.
Do yourself and others a favor and buy this book. Susan shares her inside knowledge of the justice system.

Other good books by this author are:
Defending Our Lives: Getting Away From Domestic Violence & Staying Safe
Defending Ourselves -

Finally a book out there to help me with information on how to hire a lawyer, forms I need to protect my personal information like credit cards, insurance, banking and there is even a cd that comes with the book. It's easy to read and easy to follow.

A great starter for talking about divorce. Lends itself for the child to create their own book. Great for elementary age kids.

This is a fantastic books for kids. They can draw and write about their feelings in regards to the marriage, the divorce, and so much more. It has really helped my daughter so much. She has even told us how much it helps her and how much she enjoys it.

I am truly sorry this book wasn't available some 30 years ago when my parents went through an ugly divorce. Using the advice Ms. McWhorter Sember puts forth -- even if you end up not using mediation -- lays the foundation for about as friendly a divorce as one can have.

This method works in every aspect of the divorce situation and brings up "what if" situations one might not think of during the process -- and provides solutions.

Not only can this save a divorcing couple money, time and agony during the proceedings, it helps foster a healthy relationship after the divorce. That's a big plus, especially when children are involved.

An excellent resource for anyone contemplating, or going through a divorce.

I don't know how she did it! Author Brette McWhorter Sember, J.D. has given us the ultimate plan for surviving divorce with dignity -- in a book you won't want to hide from your spouse.

While "No-Fight Divorce: Spend Less Money, Save Time, and Avoid Conflict Using Mediation" covers every last detail of this typically overwhelming life challenge, reading the book itself is not the least bit overwhelming. From the pros and cons of mediation, to finding out if you're a good candidate, to locating the right mediator, the author anticipates every question and provides clear and simple answers, without animosity toward either sex. It thoroughly explains how to negotiate property, parenting, and money issues and how to deal with sticking points. The book addresses fears you haven't even thought of yet and answers questions like, "What if you have no idea what's reasonable," and "What if your spouse makes last minute changes or demands?"

Boy, do I wish this book had been around during my divorce. After our first mediation session my ex exploded and I gave up, out of fear and lack of knowledge. Sure, we read other books, but they either missed the point entirely or contained that conversation-busting chapter that should be titled, "How to rip off your soon-to-be ex." "No-Fight Divorce" is sure to bring much better short and long-term results for all. In fact, I plan to pass my copy along to friends who are considering mediation. I have no doubt it will be well-received on both fronts.

Filled with biblical references for the abused spouse who has exhausted all reasonable efforts to save the marriage, NOT UNDER BONDAGE, offers hope and freedom to Christians who find themselves victims of domestic abuse and/or violence.

Throughout the book, the author, Barbara Roberts, demonstrates a high regard for marriage, and in no way advocates frivolous divorce for just any reason, but she does show that the scriptures very clearly offer the alternative of separation and/or divorce and even remarriage in cases of abuse and desertion as well as in cases of adultery.

Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence

After 35 years of teaching on marriage, training at two women's shelters, and looking back at what happened to many of my students, I highly recommend Not Under Bondage. Barbara's insights and teaching is badly needed by Christians who often neglect God's righteous solution of disciplinary divorce for certain problems that fail to respond to implimenting God's word into the relationship.

If more people exercised God's way of escape by divorcing for impenitent sin in their homes, I believe Christians would exert tremendous peer pressure on wayward spouses as they acknowledge that God does not tolerate ungodly conduct among family members. Sin thrives on secrecy and a mate falsely thinking, "It's my fault," instead of demanding accountability.

As Christians, we often focus so strongly on saving the marriage that we turn a blind eye to the other person's free will in choosing to be abusive rather than loving. Love is a choice as is demonstrated by the commands in the Bible to love others. We don't earn another person's love. And often the justifications for refusing to love are utterly ridiculous and selfish.

Every person who feels trapped by God in a loveless or abusive marriage needs to study this book. It may not have been God, but man's ignorance that ensnared them. The irony is that when God's people believe they are trapped and then work hard "to just survive," they are actually creating an environment that allows the mate's sin to flourish.

Barbara will stretch your mind as she explores word meanings, the context, and the consistency of how words are used in other passages. She skillfully proves that our slogan, "God hates divorce," ignores both the meanings of words and the grammar in Mal. 2:16. After you read this chapter, you may want to correct the way you quote that catchphrase.

The eye opening chapter, "What is abuse?" makes the whole book worth reading whether you agree with anything else.

An abused woman herself, Barbara clearly answers the question I've asked abused women for nearly 20 years, "Why do you stay?" Most victims do not know why they continue to "spend all their energies walking on eggshells and trying to `fix' the relationship."

Basically, they stay because in the "dynamic cycle of abuse" tension builds until an episode of sin occurs, then the abuser offers just enough "buy backs" of affection that the victim is happy and hopeful for her marriage without core problems being addressed. The victim believes the buy backs and her fantasy of happily ever after. No doubt, Barbara's words will wake up many victims to their codependence with sin.

I highly recommend Not Under Bondage to help you examine the scriptures from a fresh perspective and to look anew at one of God's ways for waging a spiritual battle against sin in the home.

I pray God's blessings on Barbara and her efforts as she deals with "Biblical Divorce for Abuse, Adultery & Desertion;" and ultimately, our own better treatment of those who falsely assume they are trapped in marriage to an abuser.

Oscar the Car Wash Dog is a wonderful true story of a funny yellow Lab who works at a car wash. The story tells how Oscar overcame seperation anxiety. The lesson is applicable to children and is delivered with humor and spunk. Kids all over the world are falling in love with Oscar! To email him directly...oscar@oscarthecarwashdog.com. he always returns emails!

WONDERFUL, I am in love with Oscar. The illustrations make you fall in love with him.

If you want a great book for your child and want him or her to learn a bit about history and the triumph of good over evil, get this book!

This story is a beautifully crafted, multi-dimensional epic saga about a little girl named Emmy. Emmy is the daughter of an eccentric aristocrat living between 1958 Havana and the Colorado Rockies.

Set against the backdrop of the Cuban revolution, like Gone With the Wind, she and her family live through political upheaval and change, and the reader learns the difference between a society that is free and one that is not.

Some of the story follows along the lines of Don Quixote of La Mancha, with Emmy's father, Mr. Agostini being obsessed with Don Quixote, their valiant pet rooster, Don Quixote, and a subplot involving their Boston Terrier, Frito, and his own quest for freedom.

Emmy's mother, Jona Lee is a selfish spoiled Southern Belle who becomes more wicked as the story progresses. However, it is Emmy's close relationship with her loving Cuban nanny that sustains she and her siblings throughout the story.

The story is told through the eyes of Emmy, who, like her father, is often caught up in her own daydreams.

According to the back cover, the unproduced screenplay version won a Gold Award at the WorldFest International Film Festival. It should be made into a movie.

As it winds its way from the mansions of Havana to the windmills of La Mancha, it paints clear and searing portraits of wickedness, cruelty, unconditional love, sacrifice, chivalry, and those ephemeral characteristics of hope and optimism in the face of difficulties.

I first heard the author in a weekend divorce seminar on which the book is based. I liked the book so much I used to keep a case of them to give away to people I met who were going through recent divorce or separation. EVERYONE that I know of who has read it has found something in it that they felt was written JUST for them it hits so close to home. Christian based, but doesn't beat you over the head with the Bible. Practical advice that covers almost everything that you will go through in the divorce process (no legal advice though).

This is the best book on divorce for Christians I have read. I am a minister who teaches divorce and grief recovery classes in my church. I recommend this book to anyone trying to get his or her life back together following a breakup. The author, Clyde Besson, is a divorced former pastor who has been there and knows what it's like. When I went through my divorce nine years ago, a friend shared this book with me, and the ideas in it helped me so much.

Every once in awhile, a story is written which must be read; a story which pulls on a human chord deep within the hearts of each one of us. "Please don't let me go, Papa!" by Ricaardoe Di Done is a book which contains one such story. It is a book which will appeal to anyone who has ever known the love of a child. This book is an essential guide and must-read for everyone, especially for those with children, as well as for all those working in fields involving children, such as educators, lawyers, judges, social workers and psychologists.

This book, through its honest and understandable approach, helps revolutionize society's too common perception that a father is an undeserving and uninterested party in his child's life; it helps dispel the perpetuatued myth that a father prefers to remain uninvolved and disconnected from decisions involving a child as his/her life unfolds.

"Please don't let me go, Papa!" does not pit one parent against another, nor does it purport to preach as to which parent is best suited to raise a child; instead, it places primary importance on a child's best interest, especially during a difficult time such as a divorce or separation. Reading through these inspirational and often heart-wrenching pages, many will find consolation and solace in this one parent's unshakeable courage and dedication to his child despite seemingly intolerable obstacles.

Gianna Karamitos (family lawyer & high school teacher), Montreal, Quebec

Every once in awhile, a story is written which must be read; a story which pulls on a human chord deep within the hearts of each one of us. "Please don't let me go, Papa!" by Ricaardoe Di Done is a book which contains one such story. It is a book which will appeal to anyone who has ever known the love of a child.

This book is an essential guide and must-read for everyone, especially for those whith children, as well as for all those working in fields involving children, such as educators, lawyers, judges, social workers and psychologists.

This book, through its honest and understandable approach, helps revolutionize society's too common perception that a father is an undeserving and uninterested party in his child's life; it helps dispel the perpetuated myth that a father prefers to remain uninvolved and disconnected from decisions involving a child as his/her life unfolds.

"Please don't let me go, Papa!" does not pit one parent against another, nor does it purport to preach as to which parent is best suited to raise a child; instead, it places primary importance on a child's best interest, especially during a difficult time such as a divorce or separation. Reading through these inspirational and often heart-wrenching pages, many will find consolation and solace in this one parent's unshakeable courage and dedication to his child despite seemingly intolerable obstacles.