Sample Book Review
Two Are Better: Midlife Newlyweds Bicycle Coast to Coast
By Tim and Debbie Bishop
Published in 2013 by Open Road Press
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to marry for the first time after some of your peers had already become grandparents? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to bicycle across America? As if each weren’t adventure enough, what if you combined the two? Some might consider this a recipe for disaster, but for Tim and Debbie Bishop, it proved exhilarating and rejuvenating. At age 52, each took the plunge into their first marriage. The two were soon on their way to parts unknown and to their new life together. Tim had just retired from a 26-year career in corporate and was about to depart familiar surroundings. Meanwhile, Debbie couldn’t wait to get their married life underway. Years of working two jobs launched her headlong into what she hoped would be a fantastic escape. What ensues is a delightful and deeply introspective memoir of not only their deliverance, but also their trip of a lifetime. 
Full-color photos supplement vivid descriptions of their beautiful, newfound surroundings, treating the reader to an enjoyable, vicarious adventure. When the honeymoon hits a few speed bumps, these mid-lifers must learn to adapt. Patience and a healthy sense of humor help ease them into married life. In the end, the Bishops urge their readers to pursue their own dreams and to find their own release from the humdrum that life at any age can bring.
While encouraging its readers to embrace change and to “go for it,” Two Are Better demonstrates that God answers prayers. By example, the book prods its readers to discover life anew—and more of it. Two Are Better is unique in its genre. Don’t let its travel and adventure setting fool you—deeper themes of midlife change, marriage, and faith emerge. While Tim is the predominant narrator, Debbie’s timely comments sizzle with impact. The seamless transition between the newlywed voices is a refreshing and powerful approach to telling their engaging story. Their alluring color photography enlivens the narrative, providing the reader with a deeper appreciation of the view of crossing America on a bicycle seat. If you enjoy vicarious adventures, and if you enjoy inspirational stories that summon deeper truths, Two Are Better is one book you won’t want to miss.
Two Are Better: Midlife Newlyweds Bicycle Coast to Coast, published by Open Road Press, is a 208-page 6” x 9” paperback with 125 color photos. You can order the book, which retails for $19.95 US, online at www.openroadpress.com.