The Whole Hearted Wife – 10 keys to a more loving relationship by Smalley (Erin, Greg & Gary)

About the book: (back of book) – You might be like Erin Smalley, struggling in her marriage and desperately needing words of encouragement.  Ironically, she found new hope and direction in a conference led by … her husband’s father!  Applying Garry Smalley’s principles, she not only experienced positive change in her marriage, but also helped launch a thriving marriage ministry to others with her husband, Greg.

No matter where you are in your marriage journey – newly wed or celebrating your silver anniversary – the ten keys to a healthy marriage presented in The Wholehearted Wife can move you toward a more loving and vibrant relationship.  It begins where you have the most influence of all – in your own attitude and wholehearted commitment.

Review: The Whole hearted Wife has been one of the most enjoyable, informational, practical, and inspirational books that I have read in quite some time.  From the first point of “honoring” to the tenth point of “transforming life’s trials into blessings,” there was something in each chapter that was very helpful and applicable.  I have been married for 31 years and I found several “aha” moments throughout the book.  It is more than a self-help book.  It is a book full of scripture-based advice and truth that points us to the Lord as the ultimate help-giver in strong relationships and marriages.

The only thing that I did struggle with a little bit was the switching back and forth between the authors.  Sometimes this happened right in the middle of a chapter and for me, interrupted the flow of thoughts.  I found myself stopping and having to go back and re-read quite often in order to understand who was speaking.  However, this does not take away from the helpful content.

While “The Whole hearted Wife” may seem like just a book about marriage and how to make our relationship with our husbands stronger, the Smalleys write that ultimately our personal relationship with the Lord is absolutely foundational to a strong marriage – it is the cornerstone.  I highly recommend this book to the newly-wed and beyond.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided for this review by the Tyndale Blogger program. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer. No compensation was received for this review.

Win a KitchenAid Mixer in Susan May Warren’s Hawaiian Chef Showdown!

Susan May Warren's newest book in the Christiansen Family Collection, When I Fall In Love,  has won over readers' and critics' hearts alike. With critical reviews like, ". . . an exquisite romance. Profoundly touching on the topic of facing fears, this book is a true gem," and more than 60 five-star reviews at Amazon, When I Fall in Love is sure to please.

Susan has teamed up with some amazing food bloggers for a fun food challenge and a KitchenAid Mixer giveaway!

  One grand prize winner will receive:

• A KitchenAid Mixer
• The first three books in the Christiansen Family Collection.
• Melissa Ringstaff’s Kitchen Planner
• Jackie Brown's Freezer Inventory sheet

Grab your aprons and wire whisks and buzz on over to the When I Fall in Love website to learn more and enter the Hawaiian Chef Showdown! Susan is challenging you to make a Hawaiian-inspired dish using coconut, mango, or one of the other ingredients mentioned in the book. You’ll get extra points for creating your own recipe—plus she might share it on the When I Fall in Love site! Or if you're not up for an adventure in the kitchen just click one of the icons below for easy entry.

Hurry, the giveaway ends on August 10th. All winners will be announced August 13th at Susan's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Susan's blog on the 13th to see if you won!

The Imagination Station: Captured on the High Seas by Marianne Hering and Nancy Sanders

Review: I read The Imagination Station: Captured on the High Seas by Marianne Hering and Nancy Sanders. Focus on the Family does another great job with an adventure story in this book. We meet the two heroes as they are on their way back home, but suddenly get thrown into another adventure.

The story takes place at sea during the American Revolution where our two heroes are captured by the British and taken to a slave ship. Along the way, they try to frustrate the British Navy any way they can. One neat aspect to the story is our heroes meeting two other people who are real characters from American history. The book gives a clear picture of what life was like for the captured during this time.

This book is a quick read and part of a series that children will enjoy. My daughter read the book, and she really enjoyed it!(Reviewed by B.Lyles)

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher, Tyndale House,  in exchange for our honest review. No compensation was received for this review.