Romance Books

Learning to understand long term relationships is a tough one for many people. It seems like such a mystical thing and many relationships suffer from the lack of awareness.

John Gray clarifies and shows a couple how to apply simple skills to the relationship, no matter where you feel you are at.

Highly suggested!

Merna Throne
Pocket of Pearls: A 30-day pocket workbook to start hearing a softer voice inside of you!

I couldn't wait for this book to arrive at my local library for me to pick up. I never bought books but almost bought this one several times because the title really caught my interest. However, now that I have the book & I am glad I never impulsively purchased it I am left very dissapointed. It left me feeling depressed at times about marriage & family. I am married now but no kids yet. This book was making me think that married life sucks & I don't want children because I will be overwhelmed with responsibility. Joh Gray really harps way to much on the negatives on relationships, marriage, & family. If you focus only on the things that are wrong ofcourse your relationship is going to have problems. I prefer books that focus on the things in marriage that bring us joy & learning ways to increase the joy in our relationships. This book really is negative & stereotypical in every way. I do not recommend it. I found it in no way to be truthful, motivating, helpful, or inspiring. So to me there was no point to this book. It was a waiste of time & money!

"By understanding and honoring that men thrive on appreciation and women on communication, we gain the knowledge and the power to create mutually fulfilling relationships. ~ pg. 37

In most of John Gray's books he focuses his attention on women with a dominant feminine energy and males with a dominant masculine energy. In this book he also dedicates a chapter to women with a dominant masculine side and men with a dominant feminine side. In both cases he encourages men and women to adapt to the Mars and Venus stereotype to solve most problems. Men are encouraged to enhance their warrior skills (listening) while women are encouraged to enhance their nurturing skills.

John Gray does a good job in explaining why old relationship skills are not working in modern marriages. He believes relationship issues are inevitable. This means there is a need to develop new communications skills. In the first half of the book he mostly discusses how men need to learn to listen to women more and how women need to let men have their "cave/alone" time on a regular basis. For more information on this subject along with scientific proof read: Why Mars and Venus Collide: Improving Relationships by Understanding How Men and Women Cope Differently with Stress.

Since the stress of modern society (women having to take on all the responsibilities of home life along with working) is the real source of relationship problems, he explains how women can get what they need at home.

I liked the section on sexual polarity because it explains why some people don't fit into the typical stereotypes. There are also some interesting ideas on how to get a woman to talk if she is cold and evasive. It is also good to know that my husband is nurturing my feminine side by opening doors for me.

In this book in particular, John Gray shows us a little of his dark side or shadow self. He encourages men not to let this side dominate a conversation and explains more effective techniques for a more successful interaction. In fact he suggests that men should sleep on some issues before discussing them with their partner. So much for the "don't go to sleep angry" rule. To end the book, there is a section on "The Seven Secrets of Lasting Passion." In this chapter there is also a list of twenty things men can do to ignite passion in their partner.

After reading numerous John Gray books in the past few weeks I can say that this book in particular is more complex than the other books I had the pleasure to read. This may be the book that you will want to read twice because there is so much to absorb and learn.

~The Rebecca Review

Mars and Venus Together Forever is one of the most ridiculous, stupid books that I have ever had the gross misfortune to read. I probably should have expected what I got, considering that Mars and Venus on a Date left me cold, but I read this one anyway because the original Mars and Venus book had SOME interesting insights and I'm a sucker for a cheap book.

Anyone who buys into the stereotypes promoted by John Gray must be barmy. He exaggerates, overemphasises and blusters his way through the 200+ pages - probably with the best motives in his mind - but in the end the stuff he writes is uninspiring and insipid. According to him men and women are still ruled by `ancient' traditions which dictate that women are all do-gooder types who only desire to stay at home, chatting with other women and looking at flowers whilst men are all aggressive cavemen, grunting their way through their lives with zero finesse, a beer in one hand and the TV remote in the other.

I don't see how anyone, man or woman, could read this book without being annoyed. For women, the book is terribly unempowering. If you don't fit in with any of Gray's ideas about what a woman should be then you are labelled as masculine. I don't want to read a book which tells me that when I am at work I am moving towards my masculine side because being goal-oriented, competitive and efficient are male traits. It's all phooey! For men, the book is also offensive. John Gray says that men shouldn't express their feelings because it will cause a woman to lose her attraction for him. No, I don't believe that men and women are the same in all respects - there are gender differences - but in Mars and Venus these are distorted.

Overall this book is not worth your time. Underneath the waffle there may be some good points, but all of these are outweighed by the stereotypes.

JoAnne

In response to other reviewers, yes, this book does rely heavily on stereotypes of male and female behavior. If you find you don't fit the stereotypes (and of course not everyone does!), then you'll need to look for another book. But for many (most?) of us, the insights and advice in this book will be very helpful. As I read, I was constantly amazed by how much I could see myself and my husband in John Gray's descriptions. Last night I had my first opportunity to try out his techniques on how to prepare a man to listen...and it worked beautifully! A situation that would certainly have escalated into a hurtful argument was diffused into a calm, brief conversation that left both of us feeling warm and loving toward each other.

This was the final book in the Born In Trilogy and it lived up to the excellence of the first two books. As with the first two books in this series, this one kept me as involved with the characters. You feel like you know them and became involved with their lives; laughing and crying with them as the story unfolds.
I enjoyed the audio version of all three books and will share them with friends. As with the second book, I loved revisiting the first two sisters and taking a look at what was happening with their lives. A great series, do not miss them!

This is a very good story. It is the last of a trilogy, so you should listen to the first two before this one.

The Story is another good one by Nora Roberts. I bought this book in Audio Form and I did enjoy it. I just wish the Narator, Fiacre Douglas, would have spoken a little slower and taken his time. I loved his Irish Accent, but I felt that he was "raceing" through the book.

Shannon is a commercial artist in New York City. Her mother Amanda had a brief love affair with Tom, 28 years earlier. Tom lived in Ireland and was married at the time. He could not leave his wife and two daughters, Maggie and Brianna. Amanda returned to America, found out she was pregnant and met and married Colin. Shannon thought Colin was her father. Just before Amanda dies, she tells Shannon that Tom was her biological father. Brianna and Maggie also recently learned that Shannon existed when they found some old love letters. Brianna asks Shannon to come visit. Shannon does. While visiting Brianna and Maggie, Shannon meets Murphy, they fall in love.

The plot for Shannon and Murphy follows. Murphy owns the family farm in Ireland. There are some stones in a circle on his land that have a mystical quality. When Murphy was a boy, he had a dream of a knight and a woman meeting at the stones. The woman was Shannon. He continued to have dreams/visions of Shannon throughout his life. When Shannon arrives in Ireland, she begins having the same dreams. Murphy is the knight in the dream. Murphy knows immediately that she is the love of his life. He courts her and pursues her and wants to marry her. Most of the story is about her reluctance to give up her career in New York and be with him in Ireland.

The best part of this story was Murphy's love and total commitment to her. I kept wanting her to choose him. The main conflict in the story was her delay and hesitation. That was ok but not the best kind of plot for me. The group of characters were pleasant to read about.

Maggie's and Brianna's stories are told in books 1 and 2 in the series. I gave 5 stars to "Born in Fire" and 2 stars to "Born in Ice."

Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: six. Setting: current day Columbus, Ohio, the village of Kilmihil, County Clare, west coast of Ireland, and Dublin. Copyright: 1996. Genre: contemporary romance.

For a listing of my reviews of other Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb books, see my 4 star review of "Angels Fall" posted on 6/30/08.

Shannon Bodine lived a charmed life until she found out that her life was based on a lie. Her mother had an affair with a married man, and the man she had always loved as a father, wasn't her natural parent. Since her mothers last wish was for her to seek out the family she never knew, Shannon heads to Ireland.

When she meets Brianna and Maggie's neighbor Murphy Muldoon, they find an unexpected connection and immediate attraction. He had been dreaming of Shannon for as long as he could remember, and knew they were destined to be. Shannon was a painter, and Murphy loved his little piece of country life. He didn't know how they could intertwine their lives, but knew she was a part of him.

I wasn't impressed with the flashbacks and past life twists. Overall the characters lacked the development I expect.

I found this book very helpful in understanding Nice Guy syndrom in me, many excellent advices on self-growth, but I found "facing your fear" the most crucial and difficult to follow. Highly recommended if you think you are one of the Nice Guys.

I also found "M.Young "probonolaw"'s review on this title most objective and insightful.

After identifying concepts within myself that would be classified as `nice guy-itis' (be it having cancelled dates without explanation or apology often; be it those who put demands on my time and efforts without regard to my feelings and rarely reciprocated; or to hear stories of betrayal from female friends who dated or preferred jerks than to a nice guy (or me)); this book was for me.

I've read many self-help books on improving oneself. But many of them concentrated on what to do and how to do it while glossing over `why' to do it. This book addressed an aspect as to `why' by describing/discussing it through `nice guys' and associated behaviors, problems and consequences. By addressing an aspect of `why,' it helped me understand many aspects of what I dealt with amongst others (especially what I was doing wrong).

First, I am basing my review from the unabridged audiobook. But after hearing (or reading) the descriptions that the author makes of those nice guys (and or his clients/patients), I felt that the author wrote this book on my experiences alone. His explanations to the nice guy phenomena (be it lack of fathers-father figures, reversal of gender roles, social/cultural norms) are sound (but, questionable for debate as a/the cause).

Also, re-evaluating the motives of a nice guy does make a person wonder if there is genuineness in what a nice guy does. I admit that some of the described circumstances/situations which questions the motives of a `nice guy' aren't (or shouldn't) meant to be suspect (i.e. hidden contract) because then it would imply that almost everything done for others is based on hidden motive. So being nice (or giving) is not inherently wrong. However, when those we desire `favor' from (be it lover, girlfriend/boyfriend, person who owes money, etc.) take advantage of being nice with little or no return of effort (and the `nice' person continues with rewarding that behavior), then it's important to understand the logic (and flaws) of that behavior and make changes for the betterment of oneself.

This book is a good read if you've ever had questions regarding being a nice guy or dealing with the consequences of being a nice guy.

Good concepts and explanations with thoughts and questions to consider but a little on the "New Age" and self-actualization side of life and how to live life.

long and boring.... Hold on to your NUTS is the best relationship book out there.

This book is everything the other reviews say and more. This book is the blue print for us men to reclaim ourselves from society and families that have restrained and "tamed" who we really are. This book provided a road map for the maze of finding myself. I wish I had found this book 10 years ago. For example the book gave me perspective and some answers regarding: confidence, relationships with my fiancee, friends and family. His insight is deep and genuine and can be applied to ALL stages of life. This is a must read for every nice guy.

This book is a great read. The middle of the story becomes a tad bit sluggish but it picks up again very quickly. I agree with the other reviews that the ending was a little to "tidy" but as one of them stated "this is fiction." I am pleased that I accidently came across this author by chance at my local library.

This was my first book of Diane Chamberlain's and I can't wait to read the rest. I'm so happy I've found my new Jodi Picoult!! She reminds me so much of her but is 10X better!! I read this book in 1 day and couldn't put it down. My poor kids watched more tv than they ever have and I ignored my husband all night :)

Thanks for a great book Diane and I am excited to read more!

This book was interesting and quick to read but it was not very suspenseful. From the very first chapter of the book, you know how the story will turn out. I think it was okay, but definitely not one of the best books I've ever read. And it would have been much better without the first chapter.

I just happened to pick this book up at Target and am SO happy I did! It was a quick read, but with substance. I couldn't put it down and stayed up way too late many nights reading it. I can't wait to read more books by this author...I LOVED it!!

This was an incredible read!!! I could not put this book down - it engrossed me from the first page and when I was done I felt sad because such a great read was over. Ms. Chamberlain made me feel sympathetic to every single character and I felt like I could really put myself into all of their shoes, so to speak. The writing was so fluent that I was able to fully absorb myself into every scene. I am recommending this book to every one of my friends who is a "reader."

Great purchase, came extremely fast. Would buy from seller again. Wonderful condition and transaction.

Dear to Me is another wonderful book by Wanda Brunstetter. This book is the story of Melinda who is trying to decide whether or not to leave the Amish faith to become a vet. She has a hard time deciding because her boyfriend Gabe doesn't want to leave the faith. Their relationship becomes tense as they struggle with the decisions that must be made.

Dear to Me was a very easy book to read. As with all of Ms. Brunstetter's works the characters seem real and easy to believe. There is none of the woman meets man, they despise each other, and then fall madly in love storylines. This book is about two people who care about each other but want different things. How often is this true in real relationships?

I love the fact when I pick up a Wanda Brunstetter book I can leave my fast-paced life behind and enjoy a few hours in the more laid back Amish community. Amish life, while it has it's ups and downs, seems much more peaceful than our English lives. This book is worth the few hours it will take to read. Grab a cool drink and head to a sunny spot to enjoy the wonderful Dear to Me!

Such a good book and excellent reading. Lots or meaning. Enjoy reading about the Amish.

I have really begun to dislike books by this author because they have become trite and predictable. The same conflicts are spoken about over and over and over again until it is very tiresome. Then, of course, in the last chapter everything turns out rosy. I really don't recommend this book or others by this author to anyone.

What beautiful stories from the Amish country. You can put yourself right in the area.

This is my first Nora Roberts novel. It doesn't disappointed. MacGregors Grooms is charming and engaging. I enjoyed this novel very much looking forward to the next one.

Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authers, her Macgregor series is one of the best. I think I own all and I can't seem to give them away. I've read them over and over and it still feels like the first time. I especially love Daniel, he get in every bodys business, but he means well.

I have greatly enjoyed the whole series even though this was unavailable at all the book stores, thank you for having it....

I've read most of Nora Roberts' books and enjoyed a fare share of them. I tried to read all of the MacGregor series, but by the time I got to the Grooms, I got bored with the predictability of the story. I'd just finished the second part (Duncan), quite disappointed, and wasn't looking forward all that much to the next set of perfect, confident, brilliant, strong characters. Then comes Naomi. For the very first time Nora Roberts introduced me to a female character that I could truly identify with - completely down to earth, worried about her diet and her weight, trying to be good at what she does but not overly confident, searching for her inner beauty and her identity, shy..., she's actually blushing and stuttering and mumbling. I was charmed, and intrigued. For the life of me, I could not suppress the giggles or the tears. Here's to a diamond in the rough.

The MacGregor heroes in the 3 tales herein are all young, healthy, extremely handsome, well-situated financially, and successful at their occupations. Their female counterparts are all gorgeous, vibrant, sexy, young, talented, and successful. The men meet the women, sparks fly for a short time, a bedroom scene ensues, and marriage results. That's pretty much it for the plots. It's the standard for Ms. Roberts.

What I find fascinating is the insistance upon what Thorstein Veblen called "conspicuous consumption, i.e., the owning, acquiring or doing things to show others that you are financially well situated and/or do not have to do useful physical labor. Ms. Roberts insists upon telling us about the expensive wines, furniture, carpeting, rare books, clothing, education, food, restaurants, jewelry, vehicles, etc. that the men have. The characters have amassed these things with apparent ease and take them as a matter of course. Ojala, as they say in Spain. All this may make for a good story to some readers, but it is unrealistic.

The entire proposition becomes cloying after a bit. One knows exactly what to expect and when to expect it. Nonetheless, the stories are somewhat redeemed by the atmosphere--the art studio, the gambling riverboat, the bookstore. Still, I wish there were more to these stories. They could have been so much better with a little sand in the machinery.

In 1823 Alastair Cole owes Viscount Griffin Wright-Jones 1000 pounds due tomorrow; he does not have the money to make remittance in less than twelve hours so he pleads for four days. As quid pro quo collateral the Viscount claims the family emerald ring Cole wears; to be returned with a prompt payment.

Two men, Mr. Fairley and Mr. Varah come to collect Mrs. Cole; unaware that Olivia is his sister not his wife. They deliver her to Griffin who tells them they paid their debt in full. Griffin realizes she is either Alistair's cousin or sister when he offered her in remittance of his debt. Even now the idiot is back at the gaming hells having learned nothing. He is a bit surprised as to how calm the very tall willowy woman is when he presents the facts to her. Her bravery is obvious and soon she demands to deal in his gambling hell. As they fall in love, they become entangled in a dangerous game in which the bet is your life.

The lead pairing make for an enjoyable Regency romance as their banter is delightful fun to follow. Readers will admire the unsinkable Olivia as she displays strong conviction and courage throughout. Griffin is somewhat mysterious and on the surface seems hard yet Olivia sees inside to his soul especially when he does not force her into his bed as the payment allows him. Much of the rest of the Ton are hedonistic losers who will leave readers wondering how the sun failed to set on the British Empire prior to Victoria's ascendancy.

Harriet Klausner

There is not another author who can portray the "tortured heroine" so well. Olivia's story is revealed very slowly, bit by bit, leaving the reader anticipating the horror that you know is coming. The hero, Griffin, is excellent in his subtle ability to "love" our heroine into trusting him with her secrets. I so wanted the "villain" to get his come-uppance at the end, but I suppose the way Ms. Goodman achieved this was pretty good, if not what I was hoping for. I have read almost all of Goodman's books and have a hard time deciding which series I like best. This story reminded me most of her "Compass Club" series, one of my favorites. I highly recommend this book for all who enjoy "meaty" stories, not the light fluff that a lot of romantic authors are spinning out these days.

I had to post a review, so people could know that this book was very hard to get through-it was dark and heavy at times and delved into the world of incest and child rape. I LOVE to read-I read every new historical romance that comes out and probably have over 500 books in my collection, this one will stick in my mind for years to come.

I read because I love the escape aspect of it-I love to delve into the characters lives and lose myself for a few hours.....by the time I was done with this book I felt like I had watched 4 hours of horrific news covering 2 very horrific topics.

This book is not for the faint of heart-if you are looking for lighthearted enjoyment-steer clear of this one.

This is my all time favorite romance novel to date. I fell in love with both of the characters and laughed throughout the entire book. The characters are well developed and Quinn also develops their relationship extremely well. As their relationship grew, they both grew as individuals as well. I have read this book multiple times and I devour it each time.

Of all the Bridgerton books, I feel this is her best story. Kate is not only smart but funny, sensitive and somehow more relatable with her fear of storms (I also have a fear of storms).

I so enjoyed that Anthony didn't just "get over" his fear of bees, or his belief that he would die early (as did his father, uncle, etc.), just because the story was coming to an end.

The story moved along at a good pace and the character development wasn't so over the top that it wasn't believable.

A truly enjoyable story!

I loved the first book in the series, but this one is as good or better. Funny characters, a story beside the usual chest-heaving soft porn in many romance novels, the hero & heroine actually like each other, the secondary characters are great and the story is interesting & fun. Read it!

The hero and heroine of the VISCOUNT WHO LOVED ME could be boring archetypes. Kate Sheffield is a plain virgin and the eponymous Viscount Anthony Bridgerton is a reformed rake. Quinn fleshes her characters out and makes their motives clear (and understandable to a rational person). Kate seems like nothing special because her half-sister Edwina is something special. She does not envy her sister and become bitter, but instead loves her and wishes to protect her, though she knows Eloise must marry for money rather than love. Fear rules Anthony.

Anthony's beloved father died young of a bee sting. Now Anthony fears both bees and dying the same age as his father. While he needs to produce an heir, he does not wish to marry for love because he knows how losing his father hurt his mother. He decides to marry this Season's Incomparable: Edwina. Kate, of course, wants better than a rake for her sister - no matter how rich.

Instead, a bee causes Kate and Anthony to be caught in a compromising position by a known gossip. They marry immediately, unsatisfied with the match. Quinn allows love to bloom between the two without resorting to deus ex machina. Not only does Kate and Anthony's relationship shine, but so do the familial relations and Edwina's own quieter romance.

The Bridgerton siblings are obvious fodder for a series. Yet their appearance in THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVED ME makes you want to read each of their individual tales. They seem like a real family, very competitive and teasing, instead of like characters to be rendered in three dimensions at a later date. When Kate sends Anthony's ball flying during a game of croquet, you know she is going to be comfortable with the family. Throughout the novel you can also see that Anthony's going to be a terrific father.

It could grate that he only wants a wife for her womb. (A common situation, especially in those days, but not one from which romances are made.) However, you see how much he loved his own father and how well he has served as a surrogate father for his younger siblings. The reader knows he will live a long life with Kate and their children, overcoming his fear of an early death.

Quinn also begins each chapter with a passage from the gossip column of Lady Whistledown. Witty and surprisingly kind, her observations create an excellent frame for the story. Readers can enjoy guessing the woman's identity.

It was fun seeing a relationship develop between Kate and Anthony. Kate disliked him from the start because he was a notorious rake. I enjoyed the clever bantering going on between the two of them. Eventually she learned Anthony's true nature and admirable qualities.

Because Anthony's father died early at age 38, Anthony feared that he too would die by age 38. In the Author's Note at the end of the book, the author explained that this fear is more common among men than it is among women. Therefore, readers might not be able to relate to it because it is more of a "guy thing." I can accept that, but I did not like Anthony's further interpretation that he must never fall in love because loving someone would "make him fear his own mortality" (page 323). Since he already feared he would die young, this reason for not loving was not logical. His decision to not fall in love was the basis for his actions, which did not work for me. See spoilers below.

Story brief: Anthony is 29 and thinks he has at most 9 years to live. He wants to marry someone to provide an heir, but he does not want to fall in love with her. He asks his brothers about available women who are pretty and intelligent. Even though he has never met her, he decides that he will marry Edwina who fits his requirements. Edwina trusts her older sister Kate and will only marry someone Kate approves of. Kate dislikes Anthony because of his reputation.

CAUTION SPOILERS:
Anthony's fear of loving was solved toward the end of the story, when Anthony had a rational realization, page 326. "He was going to be haunted by the premonition of his own death whether or not Kate knew of his love for her. Wouldn't he be happier during these last few years if he spent them loving her openly and honestly? He was going to die. Everyone died, he reminded himself. He was just going to have to do it sooner rather than later. But by God, he was going to enjoy his last years with every breath of his being." This realization was too convenient as a way to end his conflict. He could have and should have had this realization much earlier.

I also did not like the event that caused a separation after Kate and Anthony fell in love. Page 314, when in bed, Kate said "I hope we'll be like this always. Always and forever." "Anthony froze. Forever was a word that had no meaning. He had to get out of there." He left her.

I also agree with Avid Reader's review about Kate overhearing Anthony telling his former mistress that he intends to keep having mistresses after he is married. Anthony also kisses Kate. Kate never tells Edwina about either of these events, but she should have. Edwina was considering marriage to Anthony and needed to know. Edwina trusted Kate.

Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: three. Setting: 1814 London. Copyright: 2000. Genre: regency romance.

For a listing of my reviews of other Julia Quinn books, see my 3 star review of "The Duke and I" posted on 6/28/08.

Another great novel by Nancy Turner, thoughtfully written. Poignant narrative with just the right amount of humor and insight into turn-of-the-century life in the territories. Bound to be a classic series.

Sarah has so many things to go wrong but she knows how to resolve the problem and keep it all together. Way to go Sarah. Mr. Hanna needs to get it together. He needs to concentrate on Sarah and not on Frances.

Let's see what happens as I get further into the book.

I have loved the two previous "Sarah" books. Sarah Prine is one of my favorite heroines, full of courage and spunk. Even when she doesn't know what to do, she does her honest best, which is a quality I admire greatly. However, (don't read any further unless you have read the book) I think Sarah "sold out" for lack of a better word. Her relations with Udell Hanna were a big disappointment to me. I know she was lonely, but that part of the book didn't feel like the true Sarah to me. She's human, as we all are, but I wish she had stayed true to herself. Still, a good story. I would like for Nancy Turner to put a picture of all the characters on her website, if she has any. Especially Jack. He must have been the Tom Selleck of his day!!

really enjoyed this book, I read the first two and this one was as good

This last book of the series was SO GOOD. Not as good as the first, better than the second. If you have read These is my Words then definitely keep reading the rest of the series! I wasn't going to read Star Garden because I didn't get that into Sarah's Quilt. I'm so glad I did!

My fiance and I are going through this book before we get married, and its been alot of help. We're learning a few new things about each other, but mostly it is getting us talking about our views and what we want for the future.

This book is really great. It asks questions that we wouldn't normally think of and gave us alot of insight to one another and they are serious questions that every couple should ask one another. It has really helped us communicate about some serious subjects. Thanks!

This book of 1001 questions steps you through the inquiries all couples should discuss before walking down the aisle. Whether it is asking questions relating to the past, significant others (which many couples do not care to banter about), personal perspectives, or daily routines - author Monica Mendez Leahy understands the foundational essence of talking through these subjects.

You and your spouse-to-be have probably discussed a few of the run-of-the-mill questions contained in this book (e.g., Do you want children?). However, many of the chapters pinpoint pet-peeves, how often you like to dine out, what your stance is on separate vacations, and your reaction to tough times. Many chapters end by offering thoughts on the answers each of you gave and urges reconciliation where differences were unearthed.

This book should not be purchased with dread, but should be viewed as an opportunity to enrich your relationship and learn more about the person you love. It is a must-read for any couple even throwing around the idea of marriage and it also is terrific for pastors and pre-marital counselors who are looking to toss in a few a-typical questions for couples.

I really hope that if you are getting married, you have discussed most of the topics in this book before. If not, then the book should be helpful...but you might also reconsider getting married if these things haven't been discussed. There are a few topics that aren't obvious to discuss and if the book prompts that discussion, then it has done its job.

If I'd read this book before my first marriage I wouldn't have said "I do"! It covers everything that can come up at some point in a relationship. It is very time consuming. But be patient it is worth the time. I am also happy to report that the love of my life has been so great at working thru this book. And it has really confirmed for us that we are truly meant for each other!