Second Chance At Love

Whether your marriage was blissful or challenging, lengthy or short, it didn’t end as you imagined. Now, you’re ready to share your life with a spouse again. Shirley and Jim Mozena provide real examples of their path to remarriage with practicality, humor, and vulnerability. Questionnaires on crucial discussion topics will help potential mates identify and address important issues before rushing into remarriage.

“I loved this book! I also loved Shirley’s two previous books on a similar subject. This book was written so well it just drew me in right from the first page. I am finding it helpful for strengthening your marriage, even if you have not lost a spouse. The practical guidance for healing your heart after the loss of your love, and then finding love again, is amazingly valuable!”

Polly, Counselor, Social Worker.

“This book is assured to warm the heart, strengthen the soul, and provide much needed practical suggestions for remarriage. Shirley and Jim masterfully mix the truth of God with the longings of the human heart.”

Rich Blum, Senior Pastor, Bethel Community Church.

“Reading Second Chance at Love is like sitting down over a cup of tea with old friends.”                                       

Ann Yorty, Author.

“Credible, thorough treatment by those who have made wise choices and have the right to speak.”

Jon Drury, Former Pastor, Author.

“As someone who has both provided and gone through my own premarital counseling, I found this book to not only be useful, but enjoyable to read.”

Diana Erickson, Former Pastor/Attorney.

“The authors share about the difficult topic of remarriage after the loss of a spouse through death or divorce. As they share their stories through difficult circumstances, [I appreciate]their openness about the wise and not-so-wise choices that they each made through the years.”

Ronda Glasgow, Bible teacher

Beyond Second Chances

CAN A GRIEVING HEART FIND LOVE AGAIN?
This is the true story of a twice-widowed woman who finds fulfilling love again. After grappling with loneliness, Shirley enters a hasty courtship and is crushed by a broken engagement just before the wedding. Once again, Shirley’s dreams have been destroyed. In her grief, she fully surrenders to God, faces her challenges, and learns to trust Him more deeply.

CAN GOD TURN HER UNTHINKABLE LOSSES INTO JOY?
Beyond Second Chances: Heartbreak to Joy continues the chronicle of God’s faithfulness in Shirley’s life, beginning in her book, Second Chances, at Life and Love, With Hope. Her life adventures beyond loss are also shared, including early marriage struggles, the heartbreak of a stillborn child, the challenges of extreme outdoor adventures, and surviving a near-death experience in a sports car. Through these traumatic experiences, Shirley learned to recognize God’s ever-present nearness and open her heart to a new love story. She says, “We can trust in the God who loves us more than we love each other or ourselves.”

“Beyond Second Chances is a beautiful story of a woman who overcame unimaginable loss and tragedy, and the healing God brought and continues to bring to her heart and life. She shares what God was able to do through her testimony, including family members won to Christ. She shares the lessons she learned through her marriages both through regret and counsel. The tales of hiking Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens fascinated me.” Gina

“We each go through difficult times and while reading this book I thanked God for always being there for me. The author is an inspiration to me as she shared her struggles and past. This would be an excellent book for a grief group or bible study to show how God is there with us during our darkest moments and rejoices with us in our triumphs.” Deana

“This is not a book that I would normally pick up, but even as someone who is not particularly fond of romance stories, I can honestly say that I enjoyed it. I would recommend it to those who have experienced loss, particularly the loss of a spouse, and more broadly to those looking for a short but inspiring story of moving from sorrow to joy.”

“This book contains all the best features of a memoir and does an excellent job examining how relying on God can provide strength.”

“This story of two true loves, related with honesty and telling detail, chronicles the writer’s journey through the highs and lows of normal family relationships (thankfully there are none of the ubiquitous stories of abuse in this memoir) in the loss of those loves, always with her sense of God’s loving presence. The old phrase, grace abounding, describes what she learned through her ordeal.”

– Joyce Q. Erickson, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita of English, Seattle Pacific University

Second Chances

When Shirley and Bill set out on a dream trip in the beautiful northwest wilderness to celebrate their 40th anniversary, what develops is a nightmare that has no end. Mysterious pangs turn into a vicious virus that makes its way into Bill’s body. Shirley finds comfort through her Savior during the six months of Bill’s illness, which eventually takes his life.

After a time, Shirley’s heart aches for companionship. Little does she know that living a few miles from her home, a widower mourns the loss of his wife of 32 years. They meet and fall hopelessly in love, and their love takes them on a two-year journey of joy and adventure until, once again, overwhelming heartbreak rocks Shirley’s world. This is a story of faith and courage to strengthen your soul.

“To keep an open heart and learn to love again after going through some difficult health situations with a spouse would be hard to do, and to do it with hope! I thought that this book was easy to pick up and get engrossed in. Shirley is a delight as she shares her experiences and encourages others. This is an excellent book for those who have loved and lost.”

“This story has definitely shown me that we need to cherish every moment with our loved ones and to show love whenever we get a chance because life is really short and we never know when the chance to love someone is going to be our lasts.”

“What I liked most about this book was how much faith was shared throughout the story. The book  is emotional and I have to say I cried through some of it. Her first husband was a gem. They shared many years together and I enjoyed reading about their marriage. When he became ill, I was heartbroken. I know first hand how difficult it is to take care of someone who is ill.”

“I felt like I was glimpsing a deeply part of her personal life because she writes so transparently.  The style is very inviting and caused me to become engaged immediately.”

“I recommend it for readers who are interested in book’s title, Second Chances, how to overcoming grief and loss, and learning to move on from heart break. I, also, highly recommend for readers to keep that tissue box close by. They are going to need it.”

“Shirley has written a sad story of loss, not once but twice, a life experience that none of want to ever have to endure! The underlying theme of this whole book was the very clear message that there can be joy and hope in the future if one walks the path outlined by God.”

“Be ready for an “all-nighter” once you open this book. Shirley shares her times of love, sorrow, joy, peace and renewal.” Judi, Author.