Unfortunately, even the best of intentions can go awry. There are so many challenges on the journey to adult friendship that the reality is fraught with friction and frustration. But a harmonious relationship is possible.

Award-winning author Cheri Fuller and her daughter, Ali Plum, have been there and have discovered the keys to a healthy relationship. In Mother-Daughter Duet they share their story—each from her own perspective—in which they have experienced distance and tension, growth and challenge, and, ultimately, acceptance and harmony. Filled with personal anecdotes and based on several basic principles (letting go; listening; respect; setting boundaries; and more), Mother-Daughter Duet helps moms repair the breach so that daughters want to draw close.

The mother-daughter dynamic is intense, personal, complex, and unique. But mothers and daughters can achieve mutual respect and learn to celebrate their differences when they learn the two-part harmony of the mother-daughter duet.

You’re probably asking yourself the same question I asked when I initially saw the title of this book, “how do you pronounce this?” Just listen to our interview and you’ll find out!

If you like what you hear, post a comment to win a FREE copy of Glaen!

In a world where love is romanticized by vampires and far-off adventures of undying love-at-first-sight, audiences don’t always have the opportunity to read stories that reflect God’s design for love. Author Fred Lybrand takes an in-depth look into relationships and dating, plus a little common sense for the real day-to-day world, in his latest book, Glaen.

Lybrand has chosen a unique and effective way to present his knowledge of human relationships and romance by creating a storyline that allows readers to walk alongside believable characters as they discover and explore an exciting and more effective way to relate to those with whom they will share life’s most intimate relationships. Having spent more than twenty-four years as a pastor, Lybrand is deeply involved in caring for people, and he wants others to know the freedom that can be found in relating to others truthfully and without pretense.

Glean introduces the character of Annie Hughes just as she suffers the loss of one of life’s foundational relationships—her parents’ marriage. As a graduate student, Annie suddenly finds herself at a loss to understand how any relationship finds and maintains lifetime staying power, especially a relationship as intimate as marriage.

When Annie meets her professor new writing professor, a rather unconventional teacher named Glaen, her life is set upon a path of both self-discovery and the exploration of romantic relationships. She begins this class with the intention to help others but quickly learns that she must first develop a teachable spirit, and her own faith proves to be the pivotal starting point for her journey. Annie then begins to honestly explore how men and women relate to one another as God designed them to do.

Lybrand’s character development of Annie Hughes allows him to outline several foundational truths. Using Annie’s “research” and “journal” entries as the vehicle to present thought-provoking ideas to the reader, Lybrand first uncovers the lies of a secular world-view and then counters those lies with the truth of God’s design for the marriage relationship. These observations are made even clearer as the reader observes Annie’s interaction with other couples and friends who are in the process of dating and considering marriage. As she questions her friends’ choices, she also takes an honest look at the relationships she is developing within her own life.

Annie’s discoveries are both simple and profound, and truth itself proves to be the foundation upon which all relationships hinge. The discovery that truth can only operate effectively within a relationship when people relate to one another without pretense and unrealistic expectations proves to be life-changing for the characters in many ways.

The life changing principles found in Glaen are the gems Lybrand wants readers to take from the story and experience in their own lives and relationships. Thus, Glaen is a book that demands a second reading, as those who read its story will want to go through it again and highlight and examine the truths Annie uncovers throughout her journey. This book will serve as a great teaching tool for parents to use with their children as well as for church leaders guiding couples who are seeking a more satisfying marriage relationship.

Glaen by Fred R. Lybrand

The Barnabas Agency   February 2010

ISBN: 978-0-578-04652-5/softcover/171 pages/$14.99

Website: www.glaen.com ~ Blog: www.glaen.wordpress.com

Become a fan of Glaen on Facebook!

Are you bored with purity rings and catchy slogans that preach abstinence until marriage?

What happens when pressure to go the next step becomes unavoidable?

Take a little advice from someone who has been there and NOT done that.

In No Sex in the City, Lindsay N. Isham offers the brutally honest and often hilarious story of her quest for sexual purity in the face of an impure culture,  baffled peers, and…yes…sexual desire. Speaking from years of experience as an abstinence advocate, Lindsay talks to young women where they are in life, exploring their curiosities about sex while relating candid experiences and truths about purity.

A great tool for Bible studies, youth groups, and abstinence organizations, No Sex in the City is for every young woman who needs to hear someone say, “You are worth waiting for!”

Lindsey N. Isham has been working with singles for thirteen years and has traveled nationwide, speaking to audiences ranging from junior high girls to collegiate women. Find out more at www.LindseyIsham.com.

Sadly, many women today see their ongoing singleness as a weakness or lack of worth. In truth,our dreams go unfulfilled not because we do not deserve for them to come true, but often because of wrong assumptions–assumptions that can easily be corrected.

Drawing on both male and female perspectives, this book deals with the hard issues and questions you and other women ponder as you consider how to obtain lasting love. What Women Don’t Know(and men don’t tell you) will help you adjust your desires, redefine what you are attracted to, set your values in order, and determine your goals–freeing you at last to pursue the loving relationship you desire.

There are no perfect marriages or perfect spouses, We know that having a good marriage requires effort and hard work. Yet we often don’t’ know how to continue to love when we are angry,hurt,scared,or just plain irritated. Nor are we sure what that kind of love is supposed to look like. Should we be patient? Forgive and forget? Do something else entirely?

In How to Act Right When you Spouse Acts Wrong, you’ll find the answers to these questions and more as Leslie Vernick reveals how God uses the imperfection, differences, and sins of your spouse to help you become more like Christ. Through the insights in this book, you will…

• Discover how to respond wisely when wronged.
• See yourself and your marriage through the lens of God’s eternal purposes.
• Learn how to love and to keep your promises when you don’t feel like it–or when your spouse isn’t keeping his of hers.
• Understand how to act when love must be tough.

• How can you encourage and support your husband?
• How can you protect and nurture your children?
• How can you relate to women in your church?
• How can you serve the Lord with joy?

These questions are common to many women, but are specially crucial for ministry wives, who live in the midst of a unique culture and calling from God. If you are one of these women, you may feel disconnected from many of those around you ad you struggle to understand how to more faithfully fulfill this calling.

Susie Hawkins has been there. As the wife of a minister who has served in small rural Churches, large mega-churches, and in denominational leadership, she invites you to join her in a frank and hope-filled conversation about what it means to be a ministry wife.

What happens when the Christian virtues of kindness, patience, and gentleness don’t work in your relationships?

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Do you often find yourself wondering why you just can’t get along  with one of the most important people in your life?

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Is there a parent, spouse, boss, friend, sibling, or child who is making you feel “crazy”?

The world is filled with difficult people. It is impossible to avoid them. (You may have one in your life right now.) In dealing with such people, we often try a number of coping strategies. Unfortunately, our best attempts at making peace often fail. This is because the difficult people in our lives are often what the Bible calls “fools.” And dealing with fools requires a special kind of biblical wisdom.

You’ve tried everything–from confrontation to passivity. You’ve found out what doesn’t work; now discover what does. Gain the tools you need to get along with others and conduct you relationships in a manner that honors God–and preserves you sanity!

(Harvest House Publishers)

This interview is one of the best interviews I’ve had especially as a duo team, husband and wife. Bill and Pam Farrel give us some valuable insight on not only marriage but also for the husband and wife individually.

Listen to our interview:

To learn more about Bill and Pam Farrel visit www.FarrelCommunications.com.

How is it that your spouse can be a source of joy and of frustration all on the same day?

Why is it that your marriage can move from being hard to being ease (and visa versa) in such a short time?

Why is it such a challenge to get in sync with your mate?

It’s possible to have a secure and successful marriage,  but you have to know the access code that keeps the heart-to-heart connection to your spouse alive and well. Knowing your mate’s code – the core needs he or she longs to have met – will give you a ready access into the other’s heart.

The Marriage Code is packed with ideas for breaking through barriers so couples can connect at a richer, deeper level. When that happens:

* You’ll learn to laugh and have fun together

* Problems will be solved faster and with greater empathy

* Small difference won’t escalate into all-out wars

* You’ll each go out of your way to meet the other’s needs

The Marriage Code is filled with practical advise, biblical insights,  warmth and with that will propel you toward greater intimacy in every area of your partnership together.

About the authors:

Bill and Pam Farell are the co-founders and c0-directors of Farrel Communications, an organization that provides practical insights for personal relationships. together they have writer a number of books on relationships, including Men Are Like Waffles – Women Are Like Spaghetti, The 10 Best Decisions Every Parent Can Make, The 10 Best Decisions a Couple Can Make, and Red-Hot Monogamy. The have been married nearly 30 years and have three son’s and one daughter-in-law.

(Random House)

I’ve got a few extra copies of Kiss Me Again by Barbara Wilson! If you’d like a chance to win a FREE copy, simply post a comment below!

Many married women genuinely want to feel more desire toward their husbands.  But while sex before marriage was hard to resist, now resisting seems like all they do. In her new book, Barbara Wilson shows how couples can suffer for years from the “invisible bonds” of previous relationships without even knowing it. Hidden emotions of distrust, shame, and resentment can sabotage even the most loving marriage.

In Kiss Me Again, Wilson:

·        Shares her own story of healing and renewed desire

·        Helps women forgive themselves and their husbands for past choices

·        Shows readers how to break free from “invisible bonds”

·        Explains God’s plan for helping a husband and wife to re-bond

·        Includes conversation helps for both wives and their husbands

·        Helps couples reignite the passion that they thought was lost

With assessment tools, write-in exercises, and gentle guidance, Kiss Me Again offers a biblical plan for rekindling the closeness and passion women long for in marriage. Because no past is beyond the reach of God’s healing touch.

Author Bio:
Barbara Wilson is the author of The Invisible Bond and former director of sexual health education for the Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center in Sacramento. She speaks nationwide to youth and adults with her message of sexual healing, and she teaches frequently in the women’s ministry at the multi-campus Bayside Church in Northern California. Barbara and her husband, Eric, have been married for twenty-eight years.