Mending Broken Branches by Elizabeth Oates (Book Review!)

Mending Broken Branches: When God Reclaims Your Dysfunctional Family Tree

by Elizabeth Oates

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Fiction / Christian Life / Women’s Issues

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2018

Number of pages- 226

Age Group- Adult (Women)

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $17.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4426-5

Elizabeth Oates has written a book, that guides those who are struggling with dysfunction, with lots of information and space for taking notes and journaling.  She adds her stories and others to help women accept the past, understand the present, and create a positive future.

About the Author-

Elizabeth Oates currently lives in Waco, Texas with her husband and children.  She is the vice president and cofounder of Project Restoration Ministry.  She mentors women and spends time blogging. 

My thoughts-

This book is well written and powerful.  It has a good mix of information, stories from other women, and plenty of room to take notes and journal.  There were many thought provoking questions that could be used to help the reader learn about themselves and grow to be the person they desire to be. 

This book has been divided into three sections to discuss the past, present, and future.  I made sure to read “How to Use This Book,” before I began reading the book.  (I have learned that it’s important to read all text in a book.)  It talked about how to decide if the book was right for me and how to use the book. 

I hope the price of the book at almost $18 doesn’t turn women away.  I think that it is worth the price, because it is a combination of a book and workbook.  It contains a lot of information that can begin to help women who have broken branches to mend.  I recomend this book to women everywhere.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Mending Broken Branches, by Elizabeth Oates, for free from Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Avoiding the Greener Grass Syndrome

Avoiding the Greener Grass Syndrome: How to Grow Affair-Proof Hedges Around Your Marriage

by Nancy C. Anderson

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Fiction / Christian Life / Love & Marriage

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2017

Number of pages- 152

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $12.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4496-8

This book was written after Nancy Anderson strayed from her marriage, then returned after reconciling with her husband.  She wrote this book to offer hope and pratical advice to help protect and grow your marriage.  In this book she will focus on putting six hedges (hearing, dating, and more) around your marriage to help keep it safe.

About the Author-

Nancy C. Anderson currently lives in California with her husband.  She has contributed to more than 30 books.  She has also been featured in media such as, World, Our Daily Bread, and FamilyLife Today. 

My thoughts-

Avoiding the Greener Grass Syndrome is one of the best nonfiction books that I have read in a long time.  This book had so much information, but was easy to read, understand, and implement.  Each chapter had a several different sections:

• “Things to Think About
• “Things to Do
• sometimes there is also recommended reading.

I liked those sections at the end of each chapter, because it helped tie each chapter together.  It was also a nice way to learn different ways to strengthen my own marriage.

The stories of others and of Anderson really helped me realize what can happen in a marriage and how to improve it.  This book would be really helpful for those who need help in strengthening their marriage, learning how to put up hedges, or some ways to help a troubled marriage.  It would also help those who are looking to get married.  It would help them have a good beginning to their marriage.  I recommend this book to all adults, single and married.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Avoiding the Greener Grass Syndrome, by Nancy C. Anderson, for free from Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Your Marriage God’s Mission by Clint and Penny A. Bragg (Book Review!)

Marriage on the Mend

by Clint and Penny A. Bragg

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Religion / Christian Life / Love & Marriage

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2017

Number of pages- 256

Age Group- Adult (Married Couples)

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $15.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4427-2

 Are you and your spouse looking for a way to serve God together?

The Braggs have written Your Marriage God’s Mission with step-by-step lessons to learn what your mission is and how to protect it.

This book is full of helpful information, links to videos, prayers and questions, to help discover the mission for your marriage.  They have also filled this book with their experiences and that of others.

About the Authors-

Clint and Penny A. Bragg work as marriage missionaries through their nonprofit organization, Inverse Ministries.  The website is www.inverseministries.org.  

My thoughts-

I thought this book was well written and the only one I’ve ever read about having a mission for your marriage.

I liked having the QR codes in the book, but I do not have a reader.  I really liked how the website was easy to find in the book.  The videos were labeled by chapter and easy to view.  I really liked that.  They were also well done.  If you aren’t able to watch the videos, they were just the icing on the the cake, everything important is covered in the book.

I really liked how this book was written for both men and women, many of the marriage books I have seen are either for the man or the woman.  I also have never read a book that focused on building a specific mission for a marriage. 

All parts of this book were important from the introduction that said how the book was set up to the questions at the end of each chapter.  I liked this book and what it can do to help marriages.

This is a book I recommend to all married couples who want to strengthen their marriage and have a goal with God in mind.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Your Marriage God’s Mission, by Clint and Penny A. Bragg, for free from Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Marriage on the Mend by Clint and Penny A. Bragg (Book Review!)

Marriage on the Mend

by Clint and Penny A. Bragg

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Christian Life / Love & Marriage

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2015

Number of pages- 248

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $15.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4234-6

 Does your marriage need saving?

Clint and Penny A. Bragg, who have gotten back together after a divorce, have written Marriage on the Mend, to help both of you.

This book is full of helpful information, links to videos, and questions, to help your marriage.  They have also filled this book with their experiences.

About the Authors-

Clint and Penny A. Bragg work as marriage missionaries through their nonprofit organization, Inverse Ministries.  The website is www.inverseministries.org.  

My thoughts-

I thought this book was well written and one of the best books I have read about mending marriages.

I liked having the QR codes in the book, but I do not have a reader.  I tried finding the videos on the internet, but it was a hassle to get to them.  I finally found them on YouTube, but every time I wanted to watch them I had to look through all of the videos.  They were not in the same order as they were in the book.  I did not want to download them on my computer from the internet either, from Inverse Ministries.  Though there was a lot of hassle with trying to get to the videos, I really enjoyed watching the videos I did watch.  All of that being said, if you can watch the videos, great, if not everything is covered in the book.

I really liked how this book was written for both men and women, many of the marriage books I have seen are either for the man or the woman. 

I liked the questions at the end of the chapters and all of the helpful bits of information for healing the relationship.  I think it was great that the Braggs wrote this book.  They have gone through all of these experiences and once they began to lean on God, their relationship grew stronger.

This is a book I can recommend to all married couples who need to heal after a crisis, separation, or divorce.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Marriage on the Mend, by Clint and Penny A. Bragg, for free from Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Volume 1: Starting Strong from Growing a Strong Marriage Study Guide and DVD (Review)

Volume 1: Starting Strong

Study Guide Written by Amy McGowan

(Review Product!)

Genre- Religion / Christian Life / Love & Marriage

Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers

Age Group: Adults

Description of book-

ISBN: 978-1-61970-588-3 (Study Guide & DVD) $29.95

ISBN: 978-1-61970-584-5 (Study Guide) $9.95

ISBN: 978-1-61970-586-9 (DVD)$21.95

In Starting Strong, you will learn about how important it is to have a solid foundation in the Bible.  You will learn some of the concepts from John and Staci Eldredge, Chip and Theresa Ingram, Gordon and Gail MacDonald, Les and Leslie Parrott, Art and Lysa TerKeurst, and Gary and Lisa Thomas.

About the Author:

Amy MacGowan, the author of the study guide, teaches marriage enrichment seminars with her husband.

My thoughts: 

I thought the Starting Strong Study Guide and DVD were well written.

I especially liked the DVD, because I was able to see and learn how the couple worked together to answer the questions about how they met, grew into oneness together, how their identity should be in Christ, and how Christ should be in their marriage.  There was a couple of times that the audio was bad, but it did not distract from the rest of the sessions.  I did not enjoy it when the important phrases from a person would suddenly appear on the screen.  I found it very distracting.  I do wish that each couple was in each session, because I feel that I would have learned a lot from each couple.

I thought the interviews were well done and the couples stories were memorable.  As I watched the DVD I would tell how important the couple were to each other.  The couple that was the most memorable to me was that of Chip and Theresa Ingram.  They just seemed to really mean a lot to each other and they knew how to tell their story. 

I liked how the study guide included sections from the video.  I think there were enough quotes that if a couple would like to do this study without the DVD it would be o.k.  I would have liked to see more study questions, perhaps there will be more in the following studies. I also hope there will be more Biblical references.

I thought this was a good volume for an introduction to this series, Growing a Stronger Marriage.  I recommend that people, who are planning on becoming married, and those, who are married view the DVD and use the study guide.

Informational and Purchasing Links:

Go to this link for purchasing.

Website: http://www.hendrickson.com/content/growing-strong-marriage/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hendricksonpub

Video from the Growing a Strong Marriage DVDs: http://www.hendrickson.com/content/growing-strong-marriage/  

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received a free copy of Volume 1: Starting Strong, from Hendrickson Publishers, to review.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.  I am part of The CWA Review Crew.  All links were current when posted.

Playing Hurt by Brian Goins

Genre- Love & Marriage / Men

Playing Hurt: A Guy’s Strategy for a Winning Marriage by Brian Goins

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 152

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $11.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-2673-5

Do you like reading books with a sports theme?  Do you want to know the best game plan for a successful marriage?  Then this is the book to read.

Brian Goins has combined scripture, his own experiences and that of others to give any man a playbook for a successful marriage.

Keeping in mind that a marriage is too important to end, this book will teach you how to play through the pain, like many pros do to finish the game and win.

Click here for Excerpt

About the Author- Brian Goins lives with his wife and three children in North Carolina where he is a lead pastor for Renaissance Bible Church.  He also speaks at Family Life’s Weekend to Remember conferences with his wife.

 My thoughts-

This was an awesome book.  Brian Goins was very wise to relate his book to sports.  Many men relate well to sports and to explain marriage in that context, was pure genius.

The questions at the end of each chapter help the reader become more involved with the information in each chapter.  “Paul’s Playbook for Playing Hurt,” which is also at the end of each chapter lists key tactics for a man to have a winning marriage.  One play is, “Every man needs the guts to love like Christ.”  A husband can take these plays and use them every day of his marriage.

I would highly recommend this book to all men who are thinking of getting married or are married.  I am planning on purchasing this for the single men I know.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Playing Hurt: A Guy’s Strategy for a Winning Marriage by Brian Goins for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour. All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.