LOVE & WAR: 

New Book by Bestselling Authors John & Stasi Eldredge  Offers Couples a Fighting Chance to Restore Their Marriages

John Eldredge, whose books have sold more than 8 million copies, and whose men’s spirituality classic Wild at Heart launched a grassroots men’s movement, is known for pushing readers out of their comfort zones. He joins his wife, Stasi, his coauthor on the bestseller Captivating, to challenge married couples who may feel discouraged by how difficult marriage really is. Their new book, Love & War: Finding the Marriage You’ve Dreamed Of (Doubleday Religion, 12/15/09), is a revealing and hope-filled exploration of a “fabulously hard” endeavor. 

The good news is: It can be done. And it is worth it. Of all the things a man or woman need to hear about marriage, this is the most important. 

As Christian leaders, the Eldredges recognize the added pressure on their fellow believers to have a model marriage. And at a time when divorce rates among Christians are as high as or higher than national norms, according to various polls, it may seem an impossible task. As a recent Newsweek story put it, “No one denies that…Christians have a marriage problem, a dizzying gap between their articulated ideals and their success in achieving them.”  

The Eldredges, who have been married for more than twenty-six years, nearly gave up on their marriage a few times. They share the story of how they fought back from the brink of divorce to a richer, deeper relationship.

The Eldredges take readers through the thickets of married life with candid discussions of topics such as:

1. Sex: The sexual component of marriage is a fraught one for many couples, but the Eldredges’ message is simple: married couples need to do it often in a way they both enjoy, and if that’s not the case they need to deal with why it isn’t.
2. Taboo Topics: Every couple has them—unaddressed issues that are left to fester and lead to hiding and resentment.
3. Companionship: This is the bedrock of a marriage. True friendship with your mate, taking real delight in his or her company, is essential to the health of a marriage.  
4. Mission: Contrary to popular belief, the goal of marriage is not a happy little home. Husbands and wives need to share a sense of “we are in this together,” beyond the raising of children. Marriage needs this experience as much as sexual intimacy. 

Once the Eldredges found a fresh vision for their life together, it lifted them out of the quagmire of an aimless, naive marriage. 

The Eldredges did not relish the thought of sharing the intimate details of their own marriage for this book, but they have a story to tell that will help a lot of people. “John and I have been married over twenty-six years now and I can honestly tell you that it just gets better and better,” Stasi says. “It has cost me. It has cost John. It continues to. But so does every great, priceless, beautiful treasure that is worth having.”

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JOHN ELDREDGE is the founder and director of Ransomed Heart Ministries in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a fellowship devoted to helping people discover the heart of God. John is the author of numerous books, including Epic, Waking the Dead, Wild at Heart, and Desire, and coauthor of Captivating and The Sacred Romance.

STASI ELDREDGE, who is passionate about mentoring women in finding their true identity as the beloved of Christ, has been leading women’s Bible studies for years. With a bachelor of arts degree in sociology and formerly on staff with Youth for Christ, Stasi now leads the women’s ministry of Ransomed Heart. She has been married to John for over twenty-six years and together, they have three sons.

Love & War: Finding the Marriage You’ve Dreamed Of

by John & Stasi Eldredge

Doubleday Religion/$22.99 hardcover/ISBN: 978-0-385-52980-8

On-Sale Date: December 15, 2009

For an interview with John & Stasi Eldredge, please contact Kelly Hughes, 312-280-8126 or kelly@dechanthughes.com