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Lists to Love By for Busy Wives: Simple Steps to the Marriage You Want
From Mark and Susan Merrill, the founders of Family First, comes a collection of lists created for the busy wife who wishes to strengthen her marriage and love her husband well.It's no secret that there is a wide emotional gap between men and women. Couples crave love and attention from one another, but they don't always know how to show it. LISTS TO LOVE BY FOR BUSY WIVES presents creative and practical ways for wives to bridge this gap and improve their relationship. These thirty lists will carry wives through an entire month of learning to love their husbands more deeply with advice they will come back to again and again. From lists addressing a wide range of topics, readers will learn to set better expectations for their marriage, to communicate more effectively with their husband, to build a deeper foundation of love in their marriage, and much more.
- GenresMarriageNonfiction
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2017
14 people are currently reading
452 people want to read
About the author
Mark Merrill
11 books17 followersMark Merrill is the founder and
president of Family First, a national nonprofit
organization dedicated to helping
people love their families well. He hosts The
Family Minute, a nationally syndicated daily
radio program that reaches over 5,000,000
listeners each day. He also delivers marriage
and parenting wisdom to over 100,000 people
each month through his blog and podcast on
MarkMerrill.com. Mark's new book, Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands and Lists to Love By for Busy Wives, lists out simple steps husbands and wives can follow to get the marriage they want. He is also the author of All Pro Dad—Seven Essentials to Be a Hero to Your Kids. Mark and his wife, Susan, live in Tampa, Florida, and have five children.
president of Family First, a national nonprofit
organization dedicated to helping
people love their families well. He hosts The
Family Minute, a nationally syndicated daily
radio program that reaches over 5,000,000
listeners each day. He also delivers marriage
and parenting wisdom to over 100,000 people
each month through his blog and podcast on
MarkMerrill.com. Mark's new book, Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands and Lists to Love By for Busy Wives, lists out simple steps husbands and wives can follow to get the marriage they want. He is also the author of All Pro Dad—Seven Essentials to Be a Hero to Your Kids. Mark and his wife, Susan, live in Tampa, Florida, and have five children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 13, 2017
Marriage advice for Christians of a certain stripe.
You know how sometimes you're eating an apple, and it's actually a very good apple, and then you take a bite and find -- oops -- half a worm? This was actually a solid 3-star book up to a point: a book of lists and advice for believing Christian women on how to improve their marriages (there is also a companion book for men by the same authors). And though it is rooted heavily in faith, there's a lot of good advice even non-believers can extract from it.
And then we get to list 19: "What to Do When You're Not in the Mood."
Number one on that list is "Have sex anyway."
Now, it's very true that, as the authors point out a page later, "Realistically we have to realize that not every time we have sex will be magical" (109). This is true. Sex is like pizza in that even when it's bad, it's still pretty good. However, the key here is consent. If you have sex when you really don't want to, it's not going to be fun for anybody because your partner will KNOW you're just phoning it in. That's the opposite of sexy!
The authors, however, suggest that if you truly love your husband you will have sex with him all the time regardless of whether you want to or not And you should TELL him that you're not in the mood but you're going to do it anyway. This falls firmly into the category of "not sexy," and upholds the idea that sex is not for pleasure, but for pro-creation and serving the Lord, two tenets to which you may or may not subscribe. In fact, some people would call that something else entirely.
[Now, to be fair, number two on that list is "Get in the mood," which is not necessarily bad advice. It's just that it should've been number one, and stressed consent. Give it the old college try, but if you're not feeling it, be honest. And to be even MORE fair, I did not get a chance to look at the men's companion book - for all I know it has good advice in there about not pressuring your wife and giving lots of foreplay. At least, I hope.]
This sort of thing is a sticky wicket for collection developers, which makes it absolutely crucial to know what flavor Christians make up your community. A great library has something in it to offend everyone, and if there's a branch of Christianity that truly believes this sort of thing, you should let them go about their business. Chances are good that if your community has a lot of evangelicals, this will be popular. Recommended under those circumstances, not recommended everywhere else.
You know how sometimes you're eating an apple, and it's actually a very good apple, and then you take a bite and find -- oops -- half a worm? This was actually a solid 3-star book up to a point: a book of lists and advice for believing Christian women on how to improve their marriages (there is also a companion book for men by the same authors). And though it is rooted heavily in faith, there's a lot of good advice even non-believers can extract from it.
And then we get to list 19: "What to Do When You're Not in the Mood."
Number one on that list is "Have sex anyway."
Now, it's very true that, as the authors point out a page later, "Realistically we have to realize that not every time we have sex will be magical" (109). This is true. Sex is like pizza in that even when it's bad, it's still pretty good. However, the key here is consent. If you have sex when you really don't want to, it's not going to be fun for anybody because your partner will KNOW you're just phoning it in. That's the opposite of sexy!
The authors, however, suggest that if you truly love your husband you will have sex with him all the time regardless of whether you want to or not And you should TELL him that you're not in the mood but you're going to do it anyway. This falls firmly into the category of "not sexy," and upholds the idea that sex is not for pleasure, but for pro-creation and serving the Lord, two tenets to which you may or may not subscribe. In fact, some people would call that something else entirely.
[Now, to be fair, number two on that list is "Get in the mood," which is not necessarily bad advice. It's just that it should've been number one, and stressed consent. Give it the old college try, but if you're not feeling it, be honest. And to be even MORE fair, I did not get a chance to look at the men's companion book - for all I know it has good advice in there about not pressuring your wife and giving lots of foreplay. At least, I hope.]
This sort of thing is a sticky wicket for collection developers, which makes it absolutely crucial to know what flavor Christians make up your community. A great library has something in it to offend everyone, and if there's a branch of Christianity that truly believes this sort of thing, you should let them go about their business. Chances are good that if your community has a lot of evangelicals, this will be popular. Recommended under those circumstances, not recommended everywhere else.
May 8, 2018
Helpful in parts. This is one of those books where you can pull out the parts that are useful to you, and forget the rest.
January 8, 2017
Lists to Love By for Busy Wives is a companion book of Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands. These two books don't take a lot of time to read and yet have some creative and practical ways for spouses to bridge the gap and improve their relationship.
Each Lists to Love By book contains thirty lists. I like the way these books have been designed. I like the idea of reading and applying a chapter a day for a month,
The text of both books are generally the same. I think there should be a special if you buy both of them. Each book is written from the viewpoint of the spouse so there is some content that is specific to each gender. For example there is a chapter on pornography for men and a chapter on hardening your heart for women.
Some of the topics I found the most useful were:
The texts to send your spouse.
What he really means when he says this...
How to affair proof your marriage.
They recommend knowing the love language of your spouse which I have found helpful.
It is a fast easy read. You can read it with your spouse to see what resonates with them even if they are not willing to read it. There are questions that you can ask each other to discuss further and learn more about each other, again even if your spouse doesn’t want to read the book they man participate in the questions and discussion.
I received this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
Each Lists to Love By book contains thirty lists. I like the way these books have been designed. I like the idea of reading and applying a chapter a day for a month,
The text of both books are generally the same. I think there should be a special if you buy both of them. Each book is written from the viewpoint of the spouse so there is some content that is specific to each gender. For example there is a chapter on pornography for men and a chapter on hardening your heart for women.
Some of the topics I found the most useful were:
The texts to send your spouse.
What he really means when he says this...
How to affair proof your marriage.
They recommend knowing the love language of your spouse which I have found helpful.
It is a fast easy read. You can read it with your spouse to see what resonates with them even if they are not willing to read it. There are questions that you can ask each other to discuss further and learn more about each other, again even if your spouse doesn’t want to read the book they man participate in the questions and discussion.
I received this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
November 9, 2016
Likes:
1. Lists. Just, in General, I like lists.
2. The emphasis on Communication and watching your words
Dislikes:
1. The 'lie back and think of England' approach to sex the author seems to have.
2. Really, this really got on my nerves. I hated it. He mentioned it like ten times.
Take these lists with a grain of salt. There was a lot I didn't agree with or didn't fit my particular beliefs or ideals. I will back up the author on the importance of asking your spouse questions, watching your words when talking to them, the importance of saying "thank you" and "I appreciate you", etc. Words are Power, but we all know that.
Overall: not a TOTAL waste of time, but still a bit disappointing.
1. Lists. Just, in General, I like lists.
2. The emphasis on Communication and watching your words
Dislikes:
1. The 'lie back and think of England' approach to sex the author seems to have.
2. Really, this really got on my nerves. I hated it. He mentioned it like ten times.
Take these lists with a grain of salt. There was a lot I didn't agree with or didn't fit my particular beliefs or ideals. I will back up the author on the importance of asking your spouse questions, watching your words when talking to them, the importance of saying "thank you" and "I appreciate you", etc. Words are Power, but we all know that.
Overall: not a TOTAL waste of time, but still a bit disappointing.
December 29, 2016
Having a successful marriage is hard. What fascinated us in our potential spouse often is found irritating after marriage. Choices are made everyday that lead to improvement or decline in a marriage. How do we know what to do?
The Merrills have been working for twenty years on making marriages better. They have taken their combined experience and an analysis of comments on their posts and created lists. They have developed the format of lists because they can be readily used in our fast paced and complicated lives.
The lists are designed to help us manage our expectations, evaluate how we are doing (using God's standards), and give ways to improve our marriage. The Merrills have found that these areas are ones where people want help.
There are thirty lists so one could be reviewed each day for a month. Readers could also just go to a specific list, wanting to work on a specific area. There are “Taking the Next Step” sections at the end of each chapter containing evaluation questions and action suggestions.
What are on these lists? The first one contains truths, such as, marriage is hard work. The next one contains things to remember, like our marriage vows. Other lists remind us of the power of words, actions to stop doing, unfair expectations we might have of our spouse, what we should expect of our spouse, what we want to hear from our spouse, forgiveness, respectful treatment in public, and much more.
There are two books, one with lists for husbands and the other with lists for wives. The text of both books are generally the same. Each book is written from the viewpoint of the spouse, however, and contains a few gender specific illustrations and issues. What wives would like to hear from their husbands is quite different from what husbands would like to hear from their wives. There is a chapter for husbands on pornography while the corresponding chapter for wives deals with hardening the heart. But the format of the books allow spouses to generally discuss each chapter together.
I like the way these books have been designed. I like the idea of doing a chapter a day for a month, then starting over again. The suggestions for evaluation and action at the end of each chapter are good. Some of the suggestions seem a little contrived, however. I'm not sure I'd appreciate a compliment I received from my spouse knowing it came verbatim from a book.
I recommend these books to couples wanting to tune up their marriage. The books would also make a good anniversary gift. While God is mentioned frequently in these books, there is no use of the Bible so these books would be good for all couples, not just Christians.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
The Merrills have been working for twenty years on making marriages better. They have taken their combined experience and an analysis of comments on their posts and created lists. They have developed the format of lists because they can be readily used in our fast paced and complicated lives.
The lists are designed to help us manage our expectations, evaluate how we are doing (using God's standards), and give ways to improve our marriage. The Merrills have found that these areas are ones where people want help.
There are thirty lists so one could be reviewed each day for a month. Readers could also just go to a specific list, wanting to work on a specific area. There are “Taking the Next Step” sections at the end of each chapter containing evaluation questions and action suggestions.
What are on these lists? The first one contains truths, such as, marriage is hard work. The next one contains things to remember, like our marriage vows. Other lists remind us of the power of words, actions to stop doing, unfair expectations we might have of our spouse, what we should expect of our spouse, what we want to hear from our spouse, forgiveness, respectful treatment in public, and much more.
There are two books, one with lists for husbands and the other with lists for wives. The text of both books are generally the same. Each book is written from the viewpoint of the spouse, however, and contains a few gender specific illustrations and issues. What wives would like to hear from their husbands is quite different from what husbands would like to hear from their wives. There is a chapter for husbands on pornography while the corresponding chapter for wives deals with hardening the heart. But the format of the books allow spouses to generally discuss each chapter together.
I like the way these books have been designed. I like the idea of doing a chapter a day for a month, then starting over again. The suggestions for evaluation and action at the end of each chapter are good. Some of the suggestions seem a little contrived, however. I'm not sure I'd appreciate a compliment I received from my spouse knowing it came verbatim from a book.
I recommend these books to couples wanting to tune up their marriage. The books would also make a good anniversary gift. While God is mentioned frequently in these books, there is no use of the Bible so these books would be good for all couples, not just Christians.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
January 8, 2017
Lists to Love By for Busy Wives is a companion book of Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands. These two books don't take a lot of time to read and yet have some creative and practical ways for spouses to bridge the gap and improve their relationship.
Each Lists to Love By book contains thirty lists. I like the way these books have been designed. I like the idea of reading and applying a chapter a day for a month,
The text of both books are generally the same. I think there should be a special if you buy both of them. Each book is written from the viewpoint of the spouse so there is some content that is specific to each gender. For example there is a chapter on pornography for men and a chapter on hardening your heart for women.
Some of the topics I found the most useful were:
The texts to send your spouse.
What he really means when he says this...
How to affair proof your marriage.
They recommend knowing the love language of your spouse which I have found helpful.
It is a fast easy read. You can read it with your spouse to see what resonates with them even if they are not willing to read it. There are questions that you can ask each other to discuss further and learn more about each other, again even if your spouse doesn’t want to read the book they man participate in the questions and discussion.
I received this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
Each Lists to Love By book contains thirty lists. I like the way these books have been designed. I like the idea of reading and applying a chapter a day for a month,
The text of both books are generally the same. I think there should be a special if you buy both of them. Each book is written from the viewpoint of the spouse so there is some content that is specific to each gender. For example there is a chapter on pornography for men and a chapter on hardening your heart for women.
Some of the topics I found the most useful were:
The texts to send your spouse.
What he really means when he says this...
How to affair proof your marriage.
They recommend knowing the love language of your spouse which I have found helpful.
It is a fast easy read. You can read it with your spouse to see what resonates with them even if they are not willing to read it. There are questions that you can ask each other to discuss further and learn more about each other, again even if your spouse doesn’t want to read the book they man participate in the questions and discussion.
I received this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
January 1, 2023
This is a very quick read. I believe it is great for anyone that is a girlfriend, fiancé or a wife. It has helpful hints to help build your relationship with your partner and to help improve weaknesses that you may have in your relationship. I wasn’t super super impressed by it but I believe it will be helpful. I felt like I don’t really remember a lot of what the book talked about and I will have to go back. But I believe it is going to help me work on my weaknesses and help me work on certain things that bother my significant other.
August 14, 2022
Good reflections and lists to get ideas on how to be a better wife. I liked the organization. Some things were repetitive in a good way, to get the info engrained and help me really soak up the wisdom. I liked it and I hope to remember the more important tips to love my husband more as he deserves.
As someone else writes,
"What are on these lists? The first one contains truths, such as, marriage is hard work. The next one contains things to remember, like our marriage vows. Other lists remind us of the power of words, actions to stop doing, unfair expectations we might have of our spouse, what we should expect of our spouse, what we want to hear from our spouse, forgiveness, respectful treatment in public, and much more."
As someone else writes,
"What are on these lists? The first one contains truths, such as, marriage is hard work. The next one contains things to remember, like our marriage vows. Other lists remind us of the power of words, actions to stop doing, unfair expectations we might have of our spouse, what we should expect of our spouse, what we want to hear from our spouse, forgiveness, respectful treatment in public, and much more."
January 10, 2017
I rarely read books like this. I got it as a giveaway. Once in my hands, I've opened it at a random page and read this:
" 'You need to calm down.' Saying this to a man who may already be fired up is like adding gasoline to the fire."
I had to read the rest. The book is full of practical tips and surprisingly funny. I'll recommend it to anyone I know.
" 'You need to calm down.' Saying this to a man who may already be fired up is like adding gasoline to the fire."
I had to read the rest. The book is full of practical tips and surprisingly funny. I'll recommend it to anyone I know.
April 11, 2018
Great thoughts in this book!
I really enjoyed the topics this book discussed. I feel I benefitted much from its content and it has already made a difference in my marriage.
I really enjoyed the topics this book discussed. I feel I benefitted much from its content and it has already made a difference in my marriage.
February 28, 2017
I greatly enjoyed reading this book. It was a fairly quick and easy read, but it packed several punches. Mr. Merrill and his wife, Susan Merrill, both have blogs where they write posts meant to encourage and challenge folks to improve their marriages and their families. In developing these books, they took their most popular posts and, using modern internet analytics and user comments, further developed these lists into these handy books. These "listicles" are easy to read, take only about 10 minutes to read, and would be excellent to read together with one's spouse, prompting great discussions. Nothing terribly profound here, just lots of really good, practical Biblical wisdom. I appreciated the Scripture references, the brief self-evaluations, and the practical application steps. These books would be excellent presents for newlyweds or for those who have been married for decades. Truth never goes out of style, and it's always good to be reminded of the basics of excellent marriages. Thank you, Merrills, for writing these books!
I gratefully received these books as eARCs from the authors, publisher, and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.
I gratefully received these books as eARCs from the authors, publisher, and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.
December 27, 2016
He says -
Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands and Subtitled Simple Steps to the Marriage You Want, this is the Merrill’s companion book to the similarly titled Lists to Love By for Busy Wives.
Both books are intended to overcome the mate’s past experiences, communication difficulties, unreasonable expectations and fantasies about married life that I think some couples, will find difficult to overcome without structured assistance which a book like this provides.
My wife and I have been together for nearly 28 years and married for just over 27 of them. Obviously, people from different backgrounds and experiences will read a book like this with an eye to improve something else in their relationships than my wife and I would, but there is something very practical in this for both sexes.
From a spiritual standpoint, these books are written for Christians and intended to improve Christian marriages. Even if you are at a different place in your walk than a couple who has been a lifelong Christian, a church leader (as my wife and I are) or a new convert (one or both of you) Lists to Love By will give the reader a sound foundation based on prayer, Scripture reading and observations of life lessons from the culture.
The Merrill’s attention to those things that they focus on in their marriage, and that have made their life’s work so successful is a model for all of us and an inspirational source, even if only one-half of the couple reads their book. This is just my opinion, but if one partner focuses effort on improving the marriage and all that goes into it, the other one should eventually join in on the fun if they are paying enough attention.
She says -
Available on January 3, 2017, the Lists to Love By books from Mark and Susan Merrill were the compilation of their blog posts and organized into 30 lists. Each book can be used as a daily devotional or used as a reference when dealing with a particular subject.
While the wife is reading 7 Truths About Marriage her husband is reading a chapter on the same topic. The best thing is that it's not the same writing. The list itself is the same but the story for the women is from Susan and for the man it's from Mark.
Ideally, it would make sense after reading your chapters to come together and discuss what you've read. Then you could discuss the "Taking the next step" questions at the end of each chapter. The questions allow you to take what you've just read and put it into use every day.
Ultimately, when reading Lists to Love By it's about how the reader can change to be a better spouse. Reading the book so that you can change your spouse will never work. By changing yourself to be a better husband or wife you make your spouse want to be better as well.
If you click on the book covers below you can order your copies of Lists to Love By for Busy Wives and Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands by Mark and Susan Merrill. It's a great way to keep your marriage healthy, strong, and growing closer each day. It makes a great gift for an engaged couple or for a wedding gift. It also makes a great anniversary gift. But you don't need a special occasion to improve your own relationship.
Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands and Subtitled Simple Steps to the Marriage You Want, this is the Merrill’s companion book to the similarly titled Lists to Love By for Busy Wives.
Both books are intended to overcome the mate’s past experiences, communication difficulties, unreasonable expectations and fantasies about married life that I think some couples, will find difficult to overcome without structured assistance which a book like this provides.
My wife and I have been together for nearly 28 years and married for just over 27 of them. Obviously, people from different backgrounds and experiences will read a book like this with an eye to improve something else in their relationships than my wife and I would, but there is something very practical in this for both sexes.
From a spiritual standpoint, these books are written for Christians and intended to improve Christian marriages. Even if you are at a different place in your walk than a couple who has been a lifelong Christian, a church leader (as my wife and I are) or a new convert (one or both of you) Lists to Love By will give the reader a sound foundation based on prayer, Scripture reading and observations of life lessons from the culture.
The Merrill’s attention to those things that they focus on in their marriage, and that have made their life’s work so successful is a model for all of us and an inspirational source, even if only one-half of the couple reads their book. This is just my opinion, but if one partner focuses effort on improving the marriage and all that goes into it, the other one should eventually join in on the fun if they are paying enough attention.
She says -
Available on January 3, 2017, the Lists to Love By books from Mark and Susan Merrill were the compilation of their blog posts and organized into 30 lists. Each book can be used as a daily devotional or used as a reference when dealing with a particular subject.
While the wife is reading 7 Truths About Marriage her husband is reading a chapter on the same topic. The best thing is that it's not the same writing. The list itself is the same but the story for the women is from Susan and for the man it's from Mark.
Ideally, it would make sense after reading your chapters to come together and discuss what you've read. Then you could discuss the "Taking the next step" questions at the end of each chapter. The questions allow you to take what you've just read and put it into use every day.
Ultimately, when reading Lists to Love By it's about how the reader can change to be a better spouse. Reading the book so that you can change your spouse will never work. By changing yourself to be a better husband or wife you make your spouse want to be better as well.
If you click on the book covers below you can order your copies of Lists to Love By for Busy Wives and Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands by Mark and Susan Merrill. It's a great way to keep your marriage healthy, strong, and growing closer each day. It makes a great gift for an engaged couple or for a wedding gift. It also makes a great anniversary gift. But you don't need a special occasion to improve your own relationship.
September 21, 2016
I really liked this book and it's companion book Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands! Each book focused on 30 chapters of the same headings and topic, but each book was directed and explained specifically toward their respective audience. For sone chapters the content was almost the same, for example in both books trust and ways three suggested ways to build trust are the same. On the contrast though while chapter 4 '7 Things husbands/wives should stop doing' were different based on gender. Really these books are so helpful and to the point! I loved that with the table of contents so organized you can skip to just the problem(s) you have and focus on those or read though all of them and benefit either way. This is so practical and helpful! It's easy to read and understand, so I think everyone can relate. Also at the end of each chapter are questions for the husband/wife to check for understanding, apply the chapter or things to ask their spouse to grow or improve the relationship. Great books!
February 13, 2017
Lists to Love By for Busy Wives and Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands are two books that would be great to read to start the new year out on the right foot for your marriage. The best part is that these little books don't take a lot of time and yet your marriage can reap the rewards of your efforts if you will read and apply them regularly.
Each Lists to Love By book contains thirty lists. A few of the lists included are: 7 truths about Marriage, Five Things Husbands (or wives) wish Husbands (or wives) knew, 5 ways to use body language to connect, 6 things to do when you're lonely in your marriage and 8 expectations for a great marriage. At the end of each list the authors have included a section entitled, Taking the Next Step. This section gives the reader a few questions to think about to apply the list they just read to their own marriage.
Ideally, for the best results, both the husband and wife would each read a Lists to Love By book and work together to improve the marriage, but it isn't necessary. In the front section, each book shares several ways to best use the book for getting the most out of it. Each book also shares how the authors came to write these books and why they feel they are qualified to do so. Briefly, Mark Merrill is the founder and president of Family First, a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping people love their families well and he hosts The Family Minute, a nationally syndicated daily radio program. Susan is also involved in these organizations.
Both my husband and I found these Lists to Love By to be useful in making our marriage even better. My husband especially liked that each chapter was short so he still had time to read them even with the busy schedule he has this time of year. I would recommend Lists to Love By for both husband and wives in all stages of life. I think we can all benefit from these short reminders and challenges, or "Simple steps to the marriage you want," as we seek to make our marriages the best they can be.
I received these books from Hachette Book Group. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for the book.
Each Lists to Love By book contains thirty lists. A few of the lists included are: 7 truths about Marriage, Five Things Husbands (or wives) wish Husbands (or wives) knew, 5 ways to use body language to connect, 6 things to do when you're lonely in your marriage and 8 expectations for a great marriage. At the end of each list the authors have included a section entitled, Taking the Next Step. This section gives the reader a few questions to think about to apply the list they just read to their own marriage.
Ideally, for the best results, both the husband and wife would each read a Lists to Love By book and work together to improve the marriage, but it isn't necessary. In the front section, each book shares several ways to best use the book for getting the most out of it. Each book also shares how the authors came to write these books and why they feel they are qualified to do so. Briefly, Mark Merrill is the founder and president of Family First, a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping people love their families well and he hosts The Family Minute, a nationally syndicated daily radio program. Susan is also involved in these organizations.
Both my husband and I found these Lists to Love By to be useful in making our marriage even better. My husband especially liked that each chapter was short so he still had time to read them even with the busy schedule he has this time of year. I would recommend Lists to Love By for both husband and wives in all stages of life. I think we can all benefit from these short reminders and challenges, or "Simple steps to the marriage you want," as we seek to make our marriages the best they can be.
I received these books from Hachette Book Group. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for the book.
December 6, 2016
I heard about the Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands and Lists to Love By for Busy Wives from the company that was going to release these books. I couldn’t wait to read mine and see if my husband had time to read his. We’ve been married for 16 years now and do lead a busy life. He’s one that loves lists, and I thought these books would be perfect for us. Being a couple that truly cherishes marriage and knows that it was the Lord that made it all happen, makes us want to do all we can to make our marriage stronger and help each other know that we are always there.
In today’s world of failure and displeasure, it takes strong spouses to stand together and fight for their love to each other. Seeing stories on the television about so-and-so being married for 7 days (or whatever) and now having irreconcilable differences (yeah, whatever!) makes me just shake my head. Marriage is not perfect, and it’s not something that will never have trials. If you learn how to work together and build the relationship stronger through a foundation of Jesus, than nothing can make it crumble!
I said from a young age, after seeing many friends have parents that divorced, and seeing it become not so much of a problem in the world as it once was looked down on, really made me vow to only choose one man and stay with him as long as possible! Like a good friend once taught us, a marriage that repairs it’s problems and moves on has a stronger foundation than those that hide them! So true!
These books just give you a bit of information from people who have already been there to help you grow your relationship, as well as you as a person. Being strong in our own beliefs, helps us to be strong for others. They help you to have a conversation, which in today’s world of hurry and then hurry again, some of us rarely have time for. Being able to take a moment and remember why you love your spouse so much, can really help to build your relationship even stronger.
In today’s world of failure and displeasure, it takes strong spouses to stand together and fight for their love to each other. Seeing stories on the television about so-and-so being married for 7 days (or whatever) and now having irreconcilable differences (yeah, whatever!) makes me just shake my head. Marriage is not perfect, and it’s not something that will never have trials. If you learn how to work together and build the relationship stronger through a foundation of Jesus, than nothing can make it crumble!
I said from a young age, after seeing many friends have parents that divorced, and seeing it become not so much of a problem in the world as it once was looked down on, really made me vow to only choose one man and stay with him as long as possible! Like a good friend once taught us, a marriage that repairs it’s problems and moves on has a stronger foundation than those that hide them! So true!
These books just give you a bit of information from people who have already been there to help you grow your relationship, as well as you as a person. Being strong in our own beliefs, helps us to be strong for others. They help you to have a conversation, which in today’s world of hurry and then hurry again, some of us rarely have time for. Being able to take a moment and remember why you love your spouse so much, can really help to build your relationship even stronger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2016
Lists to Love By for Busy Wives is a great read. This informative book is written in an easy to read and apply one day at a time format. Whether you have been married one day or many years, I believe every reader can take away easy and practical tips to help in their own marriage. I particularly loved the Taking the Next Step Action at the end of each chapter. I would highly recommend this book!
January 6, 2017
Is one of your New Year's resolutions to improve your marriage? I recently got a chance to review two companion books that may help.
Mark and Susan Merrill understand that couples crave love, but don't always know how to express it to one another which can lead to miscommunication and emotional turmoil.
As the founders of the national non-profit Family First, Mark and Susan wanted to share the practical dos and don’ts along with step-by-step advice based on their own research and experience. Their books, LISTS TO LOVE BY FOR BUSY HUSBANDS and LISTS TO LOVE BY FOR BUSY WIVES, present a collection of lists created for those wanting a more intimate, fulfilling marriage.
The books are a series of concise lists, things like how to understand your spouse, how to show each other that you love each other, how to resolve conflict. Each list provides a brief explanation of each item on the list, and how it really affects a relationship. The books are relatively short, so they work well for a quick read, a reference point on a particular topic, or for couples to read together. Both books are very similar, with about 90% of the material the same. Each book has one chapter that is completely different, and the explanations are targeted slightly towards different genders, but for the most part, both the husband and wife will get about the same message. The only part of the book I wasn't in total agreement with was the opinion of the authors on physical intimacy; however, nearly all of the topics will be universally appropriate for all marriages.
Mark and Susan Merrill understand that couples crave love, but don't always know how to express it to one another which can lead to miscommunication and emotional turmoil.
As the founders of the national non-profit Family First, Mark and Susan wanted to share the practical dos and don’ts along with step-by-step advice based on their own research and experience. Their books, LISTS TO LOVE BY FOR BUSY HUSBANDS and LISTS TO LOVE BY FOR BUSY WIVES, present a collection of lists created for those wanting a more intimate, fulfilling marriage.
The books are a series of concise lists, things like how to understand your spouse, how to show each other that you love each other, how to resolve conflict. Each list provides a brief explanation of each item on the list, and how it really affects a relationship. The books are relatively short, so they work well for a quick read, a reference point on a particular topic, or for couples to read together. Both books are very similar, with about 90% of the material the same. Each book has one chapter that is completely different, and the explanations are targeted slightly towards different genders, but for the most part, both the husband and wife will get about the same message. The only part of the book I wasn't in total agreement with was the opinion of the authors on physical intimacy; however, nearly all of the topics will be universally appropriate for all marriages.
January 8, 2017
Lists to Love By for Busy Wives is a companion book of Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands. These two books don't take a lot of time to read and yet have some creative and practical ways for spouses to bridge the gap and improve their relationship.
Each Lists to Love By book contains thirty lists. I like the way these books have been designed. I like the idea of reading and applying a chapter a day for a month,
The text of both books are generally the same. I think there should be a special if you buy both of them. Each book is written from the viewpoint of the spouse so there is some content that is specific to each gender. For example there is a chapter on pornography for men and a chapter on hardening your heart for women.
Some of the topics I found the most useful were:
The texts to send your spouse.
What he really means when he says this...
How to affair proof your marriage.
They recommend knowing the love language of your spouse which I have found helpful.
It is a fast easy read. You can read it with your spouse to see what resonates with them even if they are not willing to read it. There are questions that you can ask each other to discuss further and learn more about each other, again even if your spouse doesn’t want to read the book they man participate in the questions and discussion.
I received this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
Each Lists to Love By book contains thirty lists. I like the way these books have been designed. I like the idea of reading and applying a chapter a day for a month,
The text of both books are generally the same. I think there should be a special if you buy both of them. Each book is written from the viewpoint of the spouse so there is some content that is specific to each gender. For example there is a chapter on pornography for men and a chapter on hardening your heart for women.
Some of the topics I found the most useful were:
The texts to send your spouse.
What he really means when he says this...
How to affair proof your marriage.
They recommend knowing the love language of your spouse which I have found helpful.
It is a fast easy read. You can read it with your spouse to see what resonates with them even if they are not willing to read it. There are questions that you can ask each other to discuss further and learn more about each other, again even if your spouse doesn’t want to read the book they man participate in the questions and discussion.
I received this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
January 4, 2017
Lists to Love By for Busy Wives: Simple Steps to the Marriage You Want is a book with practical marriage advice by Mark and Susan Merrill. The author covers topics such as the importance of marriage, using encouraging words, having fair expectations, (not) hardening your heart, forgiving, and understanding yourself. The chapters are written in paragraph format, but they include helpful lists. For example, Chapter 16 (or List 16) is called “8 Expectations for a Great Marriage” and includes eight things to expect during your marriage, such as expecting to disagree and expecting to be annoyed – with each of these expectations explained with a paragraph.
Some of the chapters are more serious than others, such as “6 Things to Do When You’re Lonely in Marriage,” while others have more of a fun feel, such as “10 Texts to Send to Your Husband in the Next Ten Days.” Though everyone is bound to find some advice they do not like in a marriage book, the authors do deliver sound, sensible advice. The end of each chapter offers relevant discussion questions.
The title says that the book is geared for busy wives – and the good thing about the book is that it really is geared for busy people! If you’re having a busy day, this is the kind of marriage book that you could easily pick up for a few minutes and reflect on.
*I received this book for review*
Some of the chapters are more serious than others, such as “6 Things to Do When You’re Lonely in Marriage,” while others have more of a fun feel, such as “10 Texts to Send to Your Husband in the Next Ten Days.” Though everyone is bound to find some advice they do not like in a marriage book, the authors do deliver sound, sensible advice. The end of each chapter offers relevant discussion questions.
The title says that the book is geared for busy wives – and the good thing about the book is that it really is geared for busy people! If you’re having a busy day, this is the kind of marriage book that you could easily pick up for a few minutes and reflect on.
*I received this book for review*
December 31, 2016
As a wife, mother, entrepreneur, and eternal optimist, I am always seeking wisdom and advice about the many facets of my life. Lists to Love by for Busy Wives by Mark and Susan Merrill is a insightful book set to be released in January 2017.
It's an easy read with fabulous advice on what wives want from their husbands and how to effectively communicate that to them. But it also guides wives on how husbands interpret that communication--mentally and physically. Married authors Mark and Susan Merrill understand that couples crave love, but don't always know how to express it which often leads to miscommunication and emotional turmoil.
Now, you can't have one without the other. So, the Merrills have also written Lists to Love by for Busy Husbands. I read both and found their advice, based on personal experiences and research, to be eye-opening. Both books provide thirty lists that are practical and thought-provoking. Be sure to obtain both copies set for a January 2017 release to enrich your marriage and bridge the emotional gap that many wives and husbands encounter. Pre-orders are now available.
It's an easy read with fabulous advice on what wives want from their husbands and how to effectively communicate that to them. But it also guides wives on how husbands interpret that communication--mentally and physically. Married authors Mark and Susan Merrill understand that couples crave love, but don't always know how to express it which often leads to miscommunication and emotional turmoil.
Now, you can't have one without the other. So, the Merrills have also written Lists to Love by for Busy Husbands. I read both and found their advice, based on personal experiences and research, to be eye-opening. Both books provide thirty lists that are practical and thought-provoking. Be sure to obtain both copies set for a January 2017 release to enrich your marriage and bridge the emotional gap that many wives and husbands encounter. Pre-orders are now available.
December 8, 2016
This book is articulate and original when it comes to helping couples to strengthen their marriages. It has so much information but it isn't information overload like so many self help books. It talks to you on your level not over your head. It first gives you instructions the ways to do the book and then the book begins. You first learn the 7 truths about marriage and then at the end of that they ask you some serious questions. Those questions are very poignant to your marriage - and boy do you start thinking about it. Then the second chapter you are given more lists with explanations for each steps etc, then again the questions after and by the end of the book you feel like you have truly touched so deep into your marriage and that you have grown together in GOD, and love and respect and oh so much more for each other. This is such a wonderful growing book and so worth the read. I received a copy of this book from Hachette to read in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2016
This is a quick read, something you can pick up read the list for the day and get to work.
The authors touch on many important topics that I think we need to be reminded of, such as the way we talk about our husbands in public, what to do when you don’t feel like being intimate, texts to send your husband.
The authors suggest reading a chapter a day and then doing something from the list for the day and then once you have gotten through all of the chapters go back and so something new from the list.
I will be honest and say that for me there wasn’t any earth shattering. When I read a book about marriage I always hope to get something new and just feel like I got some good reminders of things I do know. But with that said I do think there is a lot of value in this book for someone who is looking to make changes in an easy and not overwhelming way.
A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.
The authors touch on many important topics that I think we need to be reminded of, such as the way we talk about our husbands in public, what to do when you don’t feel like being intimate, texts to send your husband.
The authors suggest reading a chapter a day and then doing something from the list for the day and then once you have gotten through all of the chapters go back and so something new from the list.
I will be honest and say that for me there wasn’t any earth shattering. When I read a book about marriage I always hope to get something new and just feel like I got some good reminders of things I do know. But with that said I do think there is a lot of value in this book for someone who is looking to make changes in an easy and not overwhelming way.
A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.
January 21, 2017
What a neat little book! This set of books came out earlier this month, and I'm glad to tell you about them.
There are 30 lists here about a variety of marriage topics. For example there is "10 things husbands want to hear from their wives," "4 decisions that define forgiveness," "6 things to do when you're lonely in marriage," and "7 things you should stop doing to your husband in public."
I found this book to be very helpful as a wife. It is one that is good to go back and reread the lists. We all need the reminders, and I think this will help me improve as a wife.
Since there are 30 lists, this is a good size book to read in a month and read a different list each day. Or you may just find the lists that seem applicable to your current situation and read them in that order. Either way you will surely find useful ideas and help for your marriage.
I enjoyed the lists and recommend this to you.
I received this book from Hachette group for my honest review.
There are 30 lists here about a variety of marriage topics. For example there is "10 things husbands want to hear from their wives," "4 decisions that define forgiveness," "6 things to do when you're lonely in marriage," and "7 things you should stop doing to your husband in public."
I found this book to be very helpful as a wife. It is one that is good to go back and reread the lists. We all need the reminders, and I think this will help me improve as a wife.
Since there are 30 lists, this is a good size book to read in a month and read a different list each day. Or you may just find the lists that seem applicable to your current situation and read them in that order. Either way you will surely find useful ideas and help for your marriage.
I enjoyed the lists and recommend this to you.
I received this book from Hachette group for my honest review.
February 5, 2017
This book was wonderful! I recommend this book for every Christian married woman. Sometimes we lose sight of the purpose of marriage and the meaning of our role as wife but Lists to Love By provides a great refresher on what it means to have a great, Christ-filled marriage. Each passage was short and impactful and every list was thought-provoking. This book has transformed the way that I think about things in my marriage and the way that I handle even simple issues. Check out my full review here:
http://farmorepreciousthanrubies.com/...
http://farmorepreciousthanrubies.com/...
November 29, 2016
Lists to Love By for Busy Wives does an excellent job of providing helpful and easy to follow lists that can improve any marriage. They are really thought out and you can totally see that the authors struggled through many of the same problems that are common to most couples. Their experience and expertise will definitely make navigating through marriage easier. I won't have to learn through my own mistakes.
December 5, 2016
I really liked this book! Being a list person, I found the 30 lists practical and not overwhelming. I would recommend this book to any couple hoping to improve their marriage a day at a time. Mark and Susan really hone in on how to make realistic improvements to the most important relationship in your life. As I read, I could easily picture their everyday issues, and it gave me hope for overcoming my marriage problems in the future.
December 9, 2016
Lists to Love By for Busy Wives is a GREAT read! Susan and Mark Merrill cover material that is extremely applicable to relationships, specifically between husband and wife. I appreciate the real, concise and easy to read material and format. The Lists to Love by For Busy Husbands and Lists to Love by for Busy Wives are must reads for all married couples, no matter how long they have been together!!
December 31, 2016
You really get a feel that Susan is talking to you throughout the book. Susan really connects with the women out there to help strengthen their relationships. Just like the counter book geared towards the husbands, they book goes through lists that really help wives. It encourages through the 30 lists in the book that range in different topics but help open the door to communication and a better understanding to get to the relationship you want.
December 22, 2016
This is a very enjoyable practical wisdom book for improving your marriage. The 30 list format with application exercises after each list provides simple steps you can put into practice each day to enhance your relationship. Now that I've read each list, I am going back to the beginning to do one exercise a day. This will be my resolution for the new year!
December 2, 2016
Lists to Love By for Busy Wives and its companion book Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands are very concise and easy-reads. They have helped improve my communication with my husband immensely.
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