Lovin' with Grit & Grace: Straight-Talk about Romance, Sex, Fun, and the Tough Stuff Too, (Paperback)

Jess and Ryan blended their families after losing their spouses to cancer in 2010.

In Lovin' with Grit and Grace, they offer a his-and-hers perspective on this unexpected marital journey with their eight children, seven of whom have lost a parent, including their eighteen-year-old son Lucas who is profoundly disabled. They address many tough topics, like grief, addictions, and intimacy, with a vulnerable honesty that is a breath of fresh air in an age when most would rather avoid these difficult issues, with the topics following the acronym HIS/HERS:

- Health - Intimacy - Sex

- Household tasks - Excitement - Romance - Spirituality

Many of their personal stories offer a lesson learned, a tried-and-true recipe that applies to the situation, and questions or takeaways for the reader to consider; but above all else, they explain why a love like theirs is worth celebrating and fighting for.