Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Most of us are accustomed to hearing the phrase "unconditional love," but the phrase "unconditional respect" is likely more foreign to our ears. In Emerson Eggerichs's national bestseller Love and Respect, Dr. Eggerichs explains that women's desire for unconditional love is paralleled by men's need for unconditional respect. When wives refuse to act respectfully toward their husbands because their husbands treat them lovingly or when husbands treat their wives without love in order to get respect, the crazy cycle emerges. On the crazy cycle, both husband and wife fail to have their needs met and unloving and disrespectful feelings merely increase. However, when a husband gives his wife unconditional love and a wife gives her husband unconditional respect, their marriage will enter the energizing cycle, making it easier for both husband and wife to give their spouse the respect or love that he or she needs.

Dr. Eggerichs's book is one of the best I have read at explaining what goes wrong in many marriages and what men and women should do in order to achieve the best marriage possible. Christians who are attempting to follow the Biblical model for marriage will have a difficult time arguing with the concepts taught in Love and Respect, which are taken directly from the Bible in addition to being supported by Dr. Eggerichs's experience as a marriage counselor. This book not only explains women's desire for love and men's need for respect, but also teaches men six tools for making their wives feel loved and, correspondingly, teaches women six ways to speak respect to their man. One drawback to Love and Respect is Dr. Eggerichs's long-winded writing style. Throughout it's 303 pages, many of the concepts are repeated unnecessarily, which may frustrate readers who are capable of getting the message the first time and would just like to move on. However, the concepts I learned while reading Love and Respect were well worth the time it took to read it, and impatient readers could easily skim sections that seem to be rehashing old material. This book is a great read for both men and women who desire a better marriage and want to know what they can do to achieve that goal.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Vigilante's Bride, by Yvonne Harris

The Vigilante's Bride has an intriguing plot including a feisty red-headed orphan, a young vigilante, and a rustler groom-to-be.  Unfortunately, the author seems to have found her plot insufficiently fascinating.  Instead of merely developing the interest she had already created, Yvonne Harris added a temporary element of a wound that "required" indecent exposure to heal.

I hate to give spoilers, but this paragraph contains some.  We all recognize that some wounds may require access to the air in order to heal, so it is possible that the character needed such treatment.  In that case, the story would have been just as romantic (and much less disturbing) if his mother figure had handled his care rather than a woman to whom he was not married.  Revealing clothing or the lack thereof does not make romance; loving and selfless care for another individual does.  The most unfortunate aspect of The Vigilante's Bride is that it could have been a great clean story, but it was ruined by an incident that has only a tenuous connection to the main plot line.

As a result of the book's focus in that particular section, I would not recommend the book to anyone despite its plot.  It is unfortunate when a good book is ruined by one specific element, especially when it is unnecessary to the plot.

I received this book free from Bethany House as part of their book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Love and Respect, by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

In Love and Respect, by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, he expands upon the simple concept that men should love their wives and women should respect their husbands  He explains the crazy cycle of unhappy marriages and then carefully explains how the energizing cycle that leads to the rewarded cycle that characterizes happy marriage.

Dr. Eggerichs used the acronym C-O-U-P-L-E to summarize the loving treatmenent of their wives.  The elements are closeness, openness, understanding, peacemaking, loyalty, and esteem.  Another acronym, C-H-A-I-R-S, is intended to show women how to respect their husbands.  Its letters stand for conquest, hierarchy, authority, insight, relationship, and sexuality.  Eggerichs found a way to make his suggestions memorable for those who newly understand them.

The amazing thing is that Emerson Eggerichs managed to be so even-handed in his dealings with men and women.  He clarified exactly what each of the terms he used meant and gave specific instances of the methods for their use.  In conclusion, Love and Respect is worth recommending to everyone.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge

In Captivating, John and Stasi Eldredge reveal that Eve (woman) was the culmination of God’s marvelous creation. They express the great love and appreciation that God has for each individual woman and speak of the important roles that only women can fulfill. John and Stasi reassure women that they don’t have to compete with or act like men. God has a specific purpose and plan in creating women, and He loves them just the way they are. Women can relax and enjoy their femininity and quit striving to be someone they are not. Most importantly, the Eldredges encourage women to sit at Christ’s feet and to let Christ woo them—to feel His love and to be complete in that love, as they listen and learn of His purpose for their lives.

I am so thankful that this is not another book for women written by some woman who has obviously not served in the trenches. Stasi is very real and admits to some of her own failings as a woman. This is not another book that will make women feel guilty if they are not Martha Stewart, Mother Teresa, and Marilyn Monroe wrapped into one.

I highly recommend this book with my only reservation being their unbiblical view of spiritual warfare and their failure to mention baptism as God’s plan for putting us into Christ.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

In Outlive Your Life, Max Lucado encourages Christians to make an impact—an impact of compassion—that will outlast their lifetimes. Just as Christ used ordinary men like Peter, Andrew, and James during His earthly ministry, He continues to use ordinary men and women today. God is waiting to use us if we will only open ourselves up to His will. Lucado addresses important issues related to serving others, including “Calling Mr. Pot Roast” (God’s use of ordinary people), “Don’t Forget the Bread” (sharing Christ while sharing compassion), “Remember Who Holds You” (giving God the credit), “Blast a Few Walls” (overcoming what we see on the outside), “That’s Jesus Playing That Fiddle” (the biblical reason for giving), and many others.

To be honest, this call to compassion is nothing new. Christians talk about giving all of the time. “Support this ministry. Support that ministry. Support our ministry.” I realize that God calls us to give of our means, but sometimes it seems as if we are being pressured into giving. Sometimes we may give because it makes us feel good or because we will feel like we are bad Christians if we do not give. If that is our reason for giving, if we feel pressured to give to others, we have missed the point. God blesses a giving heart, not a pocketbook emptied by homeless people we see on the street corner. I wish Max Lucado’s book had addressed this topic more thoroughly. One of the Bible’s most important verses on giving is 2 Corinthians 9:7: “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” If an individual is barely able to pay his bills and is not in a position where he can give “not grudgingly, or of necessity,” he should work to improve his financial position so that he can give cheerfully. [For this, I recommend The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.] Regardless of our financial position, every one of us has something that we can give; however, the most joyful giving will occur when we can give without being afraid we just donated our grocery money. Outlive Your Life includes many good points, but I recommend reading Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris instead. Rather than being devoted entirely to the topic of giving, Do Hard Things (along with Alex and Brett Harris’s second book, Start Here) encourages Christians to excel wherever God has placed them, whether that involves raising money to dig wells in Africa, running a political campaign, or giving honor to parents. [Reviewer’s note: Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations is intended for teenagers but is a great read for adults as well.] If you choose to read Outlive Your Life, let it be a call to love and compassion, not a mandate to give.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge

The female companion to Wild at Heart, Captivating “unveils the mystery of a woman’s soul.” According to the authors, not even women are as tame as we once thought. Instead, women have an inner desire to be involved in an adventure, something that will test their strength as women. Captivating is a revolutionary book on Christian femininity. Rather than focusing on the almost infamous example of a good Christian woman found in Proverbs 31, this book focuses on the godliness and courage of women like Rahab and Tamar. The basic message is that women are deeper than clothes, makeup, and a seemingly submissive spirit. Woman’s soul is a treasure chest filled with wealth to be discovered and enjoyed.

Similar to Wild at Heart, Captivating contains an important, but rather depressing, section on “her wound.” Although this section was not particularly uplifting, I endured it because I considered it useful for my own growth. The rest of the book, however, was much more enjoyable. I believe the most important concept taught in the book is that neither Christian women nor any other woman should expect men to give them the love and affirmation they need. This affirmation can come only from God. Although this book contains a lot of great material, I did not enjoy it quite as much as I enjoyed Wild at Heart, partly just because the transition between the two authors was slightly distracting at times. Despite this minor drawback, I recommend this book to women of any age but especially to young girls 16+. [Reviewer’s note: Since I am not and have never been a man, I am not qualified to say whether men would appreciate this book.]

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

Right along with the women’s liberation movement and the masculinization of women came the demasculinization of men. Few people (including me until I read this book) realize what society has been doing to men. It has been trying to tame men and to make them . . . well . . . more like women. Wild at Heart encourages men to discover who they were designed to be—not tame, but wild.

Although I did not agree with everything John Eldredge said in Wild at Heart, I did find most of the book fascinating. It really opened my eyes to what men are, or were intended to be, like. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for some light reading because it is rather intense. Much of the book is devoted to the important, but rather depressing, topic of “his wound.” This section of the book deals with the debilitating wounds that have been inflicted upon men, usually by their fathers. I do not think this is a book just for guys, although I do think every guy should read it and have already recommended it to a few. As a young girl, I believe girls and women can benefit from Wild at Heart as well. I would recommend Wild at Heart to guys and gals who are 16+.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The King’s Christmas List by Eldon Johnson, Illustrated by Bonnie Leick

The King’s Christmas List tells of a little girl named Emma and her dog, Shu-Shu, who are invited to a royal Christmas celebration—the king’s birthday party! After Emma and Shu-Shu receive the royal invitation to the party, they encounter a problem: What can they take to give the king as a birthday present? Emma and her dog finally decide to take the cake Emma had baked and are soon off to the party in the King’s royal carriage. On the way, however, these royal partygoers meet some travelers who will test their spirit of generosity and change the way they view Christmas. 

For me, this book was a pleasant surprise. I half expected it to point out self-righteously that, since Christmas is “Christ’s birthday,” we should be giving gifts to Him instead of to each other. In fact, it did point that out, although it managed to avoid sounding self-righteous. I was surprised, however, when the book went on to show us how we can give gifts to Christ. As it says in Matthew 25:37-40, we give gifts to Christ when we serve others. Obviously, this book has a Christian message, which is not likely to be appreciated by people who want to “de-Christianize” Christmas. For Christians, however, this book would make an excellent tool for teaching children the biblical reason for giving. Both the story and the illustrations have a slightly whimsical, fairy tale-ish feel to them. For instance, Shu-Shu is a talking dog. I would recommend this book to parents of 4-8 year olds.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expresses are my own.

Where Hearts Are Free, by Golden Keyes Parsons

The third novel in the series "A Darkness to Light" resulted from inspiration found in the author's genealogy. That background was intriguing, as well as its setting in the 1600s. Bridget Barrington fell in love with her family's indentured servant, Philippe Clavell. As soon as she reached marriageable age, her parents arranged for her to meet and marry a rake named Edward Moorehead. Only then did Bridget inform them of her longtime love for Philippe. Prospects were very bleak, in view of the fact that his term of indenture did not end for a few weeks yet. The evening after Bridget told Philippe of her love for him, Mr. Barrington ended the term of his service in exchange for his never again contacting his daughter. Philippe Clavell returned to his family in the Schuylkill Valley. He did not even open the one letter he received from Bridget. Meanwhile, his younger brother Charles remained behind and helped to rescue Bridget just in time.

Even though the main characters were Christian, Where Hearts Are Free contains multiple accounts of violent actions committed by others. The descriptions given were entirely unnecessary to the storyline and ruined an otherwise harmless book. For this reason, I would not recommend Where Hearts Are Free or any other book by Golden Keyes Parsons to careful, Christian readers.

Outlive Your Life, by Max Lucado

The message that "you were made to make a difference" is one of utmost importance in today's culture. Christians must recognize the opportunities that come to ordinary people and act upon them. Max Lucado presents a passionate appeal for action through his modern interpretations of Biblical stories and the lives of Christian workers.

Outlive Your Life presents suggestions for living better lives everyday, but it does not seem to live up to its title. Real-life stories are not backed up with practical suggestions and action plans for the Christian who wants to know how to make a difference. Even though Lucado mentioned several opportunities related to his own interests, he did not make it clear how others should seek for opportunities related to their interests. Young adults reading this book are left with the plaguing question, "How can I make a difference without previous experience or extensive funds?" The book is written in language that appeals to an inexperienced audience, but it does not give them the solutions necessary to make a difference. Outlive Your Life would appeal to a wider group of Christian adults if it addressed such questions or were written in a higher style. I would recommend this book to young adults who tend to miss opportunities for doing good for those closest to them every day.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Love's First Bloom, by Delia Parr

Ruth Livingstone is sent away from her home and her father after he is falsely accused of murder. Taking the name of Widow Malloy and the young child belonging to the murdered woman, Ruth moved to live with Elias and Phanaby Garner. Her time in the village is far from peaceful due to its division among three difficulties: taking care of a young child, avoiding reporters, and anxiously awaiting news of her father's trial. Losing her father and finding a new relation turns Miss Livingstone's life upside down. Depite the difficulties and tragedies, Ruth finds love in the unexpected person of an undercover newspaper spy.

Love's First Bloom is an intriguing story of the courage that honest love requires. Ruth Livingstone and Jake Spencer discover that true love is always honest, and that truthfulness breaks down the barriers between people. The unfortunate relationship between Reverend Livingstone and fallen angel Rosalie Peale adds an elemest of suspense to the romance of Parr's book, while the mysterious Captain Grant takes an unaccounted for interest in everything surrounding their case. I would recommend Love's First Bloom, by Delia Parr, to anyone who is looking for a clean and entertaining Christian novel that validates moral truths.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

You Were Made to Make a Difference, by Max Lucado and Jenna Lucado Bishop

You Were Made to Make a Difference, by Max Lucado and Jenna Lucado Bishop, is an inspiring book for preteens or teens. It urges teens to use their God-given talents in the world around them. Each chapter includes the story of a young person who has made a difference and gives tips on how the reader can become the next one to make a difference. I would recommend the teen version especially to Christians who are striving to make a difference in their public schools because they might have the opportunity to share this book with one of their friends after reading it themselves.

You Were Made to Made a Difference is not recommended for adults because it uses only the vocabulary of today's teen culture. In fact, teens who are striving to have high expectations for themselves may also want to read the adult version, Outlive Your Life.

One Hand, Two Hands by Max Lucado, Illustrated by Gaby Hansen

Join a fun-loving little girl and her animated stuffed animals as they learn about the hands God gave them and the ways He wants them to use their hands.  This lively group explores the many things our hands have been designed to do, finally realizing that we make the best use of our hands when we serve others.

This is a cute, little story told in fun rhyme and illustrated by cheerful watercolors.  It does not have much of a plot, and its main character is not even named; but children ages 2-6 are sure to detect the valuable lesson this story teaches.  As I read this book, I imagined hand motions going along with it.  Creative parents could easily come up with their own hand motions to get their child really involved in the story.  In addition, activities involving the use of “helping hands,” “kind hands,” and “loving hands” are listed in the back of the book along with a suggestion to “Think of ways your hands can be helping hands!”

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Somewhere to Belong by Judith Miller

Berta Schumacher is a flighty, young girl who loves to wear hot pink.  How will she ever manage to survive in the Plain village of Amana?!  But survive she must.  Her parents have made their decision, and they are not backing down; but Berta refuses to conform herself to this radically different culture.  In the meantime, Johanna Ilg, who has always lived in Amana, is struggling with her desire to get away and see the world.  Will these girls become friends in spite of their extreme differences?  And will they ever resolve their inner conflict?

This book was slow to catch my interest and failed to capture it completely.  I was looking forward to a story about a Christian community resembling those of the Amish or the Mennonites, but I was disappointed to find that Amana more closely resembles a full-fledged commune.  This point outweighed the good points for me, but I realize many others will love this book in spite of this possible drawback.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson

The lives of sixteen widows and one young boy looking for adventure are forever changed as they are brought together by their search for a new life out West.  However, all is not what it seems, and the widows soon find out that they have been tricked into becoming mail-order brides.  Have they failed in their quest or will they succeed in establishing a new life, maybe even a better one, on the Nebraskan prairie.

I was a little worried about this book at first, fearing that sixteen simultaneous romances would get tangled up in my mind.  My fears were soon put to rest, however, when several of the women agreed to arranged marriages, allowing me to become fully involved in the lives of the others.  I really enjoyed the plot of this book and even found myself learning a few interesting facts about life in the 1800s.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Lies the Government Told You, by Andrew Napolitano

Lies the Government Told You: Myth, Power, and Deception in American History, by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano, most likely disappointed many conservatives. Even though Napolitano does share a few valuable insights, they are mostly overshadowed by his liberal ideas. The most disconcerting concept is how he views truth. "Truth," Judge Napolitano says, "is identity between intellect and reality." This nondescript view, which implies that truth is not absolute, casts doubt on the truthfulness of his remaining arguments. He also attempts to smear several respected Americans in history and at times neglects pertinent details, causing nearly imperceptible historical inaccuracies. I was also surprised to find several cases of offensive language. In conclusion, even though it does contain some truth, I would not recommend this book.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Love on a Dime by Cara Lynn James

In a time when working women are considered scandalous, Lilly Westbrook spends all of her time writing dime novels under the name of Fanny Cole.  As fans grow eager to meet the famous Miss Cole and as the 19^th century tabloids threaten to reveal her cover, Lilly becomes anxious about being found out and scorned by her family and friends.  While deciding whether to tell her family about her secret, she must also decide between her wealthy beau Harlan and her first love Jackson Grail.

From beginning to end, this book held my interest as I read about Lilly’s unique adventures.  Ms. James designed an excellent plot, keeping me in suspense until the very end and weaving her faith seamlessly into the story.  This book is not at all preachy, and the references to Christianity seem completely natural, making Love on a Dime one of the best Christian fiction books I have read so far.  I was thoroughly entertained by this novel, and I definitely recommend it.  In fact, I am eagerly awaiting the sequel Love on Assignment available in January 2011.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Millionaire Next Door, by Stanley and Danko

The Millionaire Next Door, by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, is an informative and useful book. There are several interesting points mentioned that should pique one's interest in reading this book.

• The wealthy are not necessarily the elite. They are ordinary people who live well below their means because they do not need to put their wealth on display. You would never know if you lived by "the millionaire next door."
• This book uses a simple formula to determine if you are a PAW (prodigious accumulator of wealth) or a UAW (under accumulator of wealth). Your age times your realized pretax annual income (except inheritance) divided by 10, minus any inheritance, is your target net worth.
• Budgeting is an integral part of building net worth. If one is aiming to become wealthy, he must minimize his taxable income as he gains untaxed capital.
• Buying too expensive of a home could easily hinder you from reaching your goal. In America, it is easier to make a lot than to become wealthy; but that does not mean that the ladder is impossible to climb.
• Economic outpatient care (gifts to adult children) often invites the children to be irresponsible with money. It is better to set up investments for them that will pay out gradually.
• The occupation most likely to make money is one that targets the low-consumption lifestyle of America's millionaires.

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John Maxwell

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John Maxwell is an excellent resource for those attempting to improve their “connection” skills. Using his extensive research on successful communicators, John Maxwell examines what makes them able to connect with audiences, small groups, or individuals.


This book was fascinating! Although everyone may communicate as the title says, few people communicate effectively, and even fewer people connect with those to whom they are speaking. This book addresses these issues in an easy-to-read format. From the importance to connecting to a type sketch of connectors, the topics contained in this book held my interest. Whether he is a prominent public speaker or merely an individual attempting to reconnect with his spouse, no doubt everyone could benefit from this book. Pick it up and see if there is an area in your life in which your “connection” skills could be improved. You will be happy that you did.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman

In Plain Paradise, by Beth Wiseman, Josephine Dronberger is attempting to reconnect with her daughter, Linda. Seventeen years ago, Josie had been forced to put her baby up for adoption; and, ever since, Linda had been raised by a loving Amish couple. Plain Paradise focuses on the struggles encountered by Linda and Josie. Shortly after being reunited with her birth mother, Linda faces fears of being separated from her newfound friend. As the story progresses, the characters’ doubts slowly turn to faith in an omnipotent God.

Although Beth Wiseman seems familiar with the ways of the Amish and portrays the Plain lifestyle accurately, the characters’ dialect is not extremely natural or convincing. In addition, the book portrays the rumschpringe as a harmless tradition and fails to openly condemn the rebellious “running-around period.” Everything considered, Plain Paradise is an endearing tale full of realistic characters and encouraging messages.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.