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You Are Captivating: Celebrating a Mother's Heart

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Best-selling author Stasi Eldredge celebrates the glorious design and beauty of a mother released to be all she was meant to be. Perfect for gift-giving, this compact booklet will encourage and inspire every mother with the knowledge that she is truly captivating.

98 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2007

17 people are currently reading
143 people want to read

About the author

Stasi Eldredge

56 books290 followers
Stasi Eldredge loves writing and speaking to women about the goodness of God. She spent her childhood years in Prairie Village, Kansas, for which she is truly grateful. Her family moved to southern California back in the really bad smog days when she was ten. She loved theater and acting and took a partiality to her now-husband, John, when they were friends in high school. Stasi earned her bachelor's degree in Sociology from San Diego State University, which she attended primarily because it was close to the beach. She became a Christian her junior year in college and dove into the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. After graduating, Stasi joined Youth for Christ, heading up a ministry to pregnant teenagers and teen mothers. She has been active in ministry ever since, including theater ministry, crisis pregnancy center ministry, women’s ministry, and children’s ministry. The Eldredge family moved to Colorado in 1991.

Stasi loves the joy and freedom that comes from knowing the passionate, stunning love of Jesus Christ and lives to see others come to know him more deeply. She loves worship music, time to bake, celebrating life, getting lost in a good novel, baths, walking in the woods, hearing her sons' laughter, the sound of wind in the trees, a good cup of coffee, the smell of the earth after it rains, a powerful turn of phrase, animals in the wild, gardens, freshly mowed grass, family traditions, cherished friendships, the Tetons, rivers, mountain lakes, the grace and beauty of horses, the affection of her dog, and most of all, her family and her God.

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5 stars
64 (39%)
4 stars
49 (29%)
3 stars
34 (20%)
2 stars
8 (4%)
1 star
9 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Sandra.
1,140 reviews45 followers
December 2, 2015
I really found this a very concise and well put together book summarizing the heart of a mother with lots of advice to warm a mother's heart. It's an easy read with short chapters and can be read in one or two sittings or as a daily devotional type book.

I have not read the full size book called Captivating, but I do know how hard it is to take something which is a full size novel and shrink it down and so I can imagine how difficult it was for this author, Stasi Eldredge to put together this very motivating paperback in such a concise way.
Profile Image for Jen.
9 reviews
February 22, 2012
I read the original Captivating book, this is basically a quick paraphrase and application specifically to motherhood, and exactly what I needed to read at the moment! A great simple reminder that women are beautiful and valued and the struggles of motherhood are validated.
Profile Image for Anne.
31 reviews1 follower
September 30, 2012
If I could have given this book no stars, I would have.
Profile Image for Candy Shepard.
332 reviews6 followers
March 10, 2017
A nice reminder that ALL WOMEN have a mother's heart, branched off of the great Vine.
Profile Image for Ashlee Gonzalez.
6 reviews2 followers
June 2, 2020
Quick read to encourage and affirm me in my role as a mom.
Profile Image for Priscilla Chau Davey.
154 reviews
February 18, 2023
Excellent reminder! Soul-filling and a short read for moments I can breathe amidst the chaos of parenting littles
Author 3 books25 followers
July 26, 2025
I was given this book and felt I needed to read it for that very reason so I did so right away. I started out slow in absorbing and engaging in it. My children are young adults. It pains me greatly to read all that I should have been doing, could have done, things I had no control over because of a spouse and all the harm I have caused.

I was not far into the book before I began to let go and read it without self condemnation, highlighting and adding many side notes. I have been for some time taking one step at a time to let go of the guilt and shame and latch on to healing and repair.

I would suggest this read for any potential or new parents. Do I suggest it for those that have grown children...yes, though not as strongly. Seeing how quick a read it is and to the point, is why I will suggest it for all females to read.
condemnation.
I did find the part about what a female is created to be and how that plays out in life to be valuable and insightful information. I loved that it named all females as playing an important role in life to others, not just those that are birth mothers. I also gained some understanding to why I am the way I have been, that it may not be as personalized as I believed, but more so to the core of who a females is and who and why God created us to be.
Profile Image for Edie.
291 reviews
March 12, 2022
A nice little read to encourage any mother, especially those with littles at home. I read this years ago at that stage in my life. Still good reminders as my "littles" have grown and are leaving the house. "A Mother's Prayer" at the end is an eternal prayer for all mothers. "Help me be the mother...my children need me to be."
Profile Image for Sabrina.
1,341 reviews2 followers
December 30, 2023
I didn't like this because for such a short book, I didn't get anything out of it except it was contradictory.... the author says as mothers we need to be selfless and devote all of our time and effort to our kids, even giving up jobs and hobbies, then later she days you need to do self care.

Also, there is no mention of the partner interaction in this.
Profile Image for Jeanette Garcia.
11 reviews4 followers
December 17, 2008
I really enjoyed this book!!! I'm planning on reading it again! I've been thru many changes since I read the first time; which was less than 6 mths ago, so I'm pretty sure I'll see it differently this time.
Profile Image for Crystal.
305 reviews23 followers
April 27, 2009
Found this 99 cent little paperback and thought it would be a lovely Mother's Day gift. I should have bought several to give because it is sooo encouraging and such a quick read to keep it in our purse to re-read when feeling unappreciated or mediocre.
55 reviews
Read
July 3, 2011
Fast read. Very touching book about the mother inside all of us whether we have children or not.
Profile Image for Kellie.
69 reviews2 followers
March 21, 2012
Cute book, with inspiring thoughts. Not really a life changer.
Profile Image for Jessie.
4 reviews
May 16, 2012
Every mother should read this short read. It hits the spot!
Profile Image for Colleen Shea.
10 reviews
December 31, 2014
Nice but a bit cliche

I enjoyed Wild at Heart, so I thought I'd give this book a try. It's nice and affirming, but not interesting or thought provoking.
Profile Image for LJ.
148 reviews
January 20, 2017
Fantastic encouragement in a nutshell!

Short, sweet and to the point AND oh so encouraging! I highly recommend this book, even if you are not yet a mother!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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