Books

Book Store
(from The Marriage Bed)

The following are books that Lori and I recommend. To make these books available to you, we’re a part of the Amazon.com Associates Program. As an associate, we choose the books, write the reviews, and then link you to their processing and service system (most books are shipped within 2-3 days!). We also offer some books directly from certain ministries, either because of availability or to get a better price. Please feel free to contact us with books you think we might like to make available. A small part of your purchase goes to help cover TMB’s operating costs.

BOOK CATEGORIES (click to jump down)

Sexual Intimacy
Growing Your Marriage
Prayer and Study
A Little Romance
Engaged / Newlywed
For Men
For Women
Dealing With Marriage Difficulties
Recovery From Abuse
Sexual Problems / Addictions
Scientific Materials
Other

SEXUAL INTIMACY

 

Married Sex: A Christian Couple’s Guide to Reimagining Your Love Life
 by Gary Thomas and Debra K. Fileta
 
An outstanding book that looks at sex from both Scriptures and science. The authors boldly proclaim that sex is for men AND WOMEN and then look at the various things that keep us from having the sex life God wants us to have.
 
Hardcover 
Kindle 
Sheet Music
Dr. Kevin Leman

 
Sheet Music is subtitled “Uncovering the Secrets of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage.” This book is a frank discussion of the many things that can build a wonderful sex life.

A Celebration of Sex
Dr. Douglas E. Rosenau

 
A Celebration of Sex is an excellent book that addresses a number of difficult issues with fresh biblical insight and compassion.
Also available
A Celebration of Sex for Newlyweds

Intimacy Ignited
Dr. Joseph & Linda Dillow & Dr. Peter & Lorraine Pintus
Intimacy Ignited is a verse-by-verse exploration of the book Song of Solomon designed to help couples build a passionate marriage. Eight week Bible study included.
Sex In Marriage is Not OK – It’s Amazing!
Phyllis & Glenn Hill
Sex in Marriage is Not OK is a frank, passionate, and often humorous book about married sexuality. Includes practical sexual advice, suggestions for teaching your children about sexuality, and more.

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GROWING YOUR MARRIAGE

The Five Love Languages
Gary Chapman

This book shares good insight into communicating and receiving love. Study guide included in book.

 
Cracking the Communication Code
Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Continues the Love and Respect theme with this new book about communication skills. Would make an excellent study book for couples.

The 5 Love Needs of Men and Women
Dr. Gary & Barbara Rosberg
The 5 Love Needs of Men & Women is an unusual book. The listed needs will surprise you and the sound wisdom of this book will benefit your marriage.
Staying Close: Stopping the Natural Drift Toward Isolation in Marriage
Dennis Rainey

 
Staying Close is a wonderful book dealing with building healthy and intimate marriages. This book is designed for personal or group study.


 
Building Your Mate’s Self-esteem
Dennis & Barbara Rainey

 
This book offers practical and sound advice for strengthening and building up your spouse. There are end-of-chapter projects that give you a chance to make the book’s content real to your marriage in a practical way.

Personality Plus for Couples: Understanding Yourself and the One You Love
Florence Littauer

 
Personality Plus for Couples explains the various personality types, helps you to identify your type and your spouse’s type, and gives suggestions for dealing with marital “personality clashes.”

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PRAYER AND STUDY

Loving Your Spouse Through Prayer
Cheri Fuller

 
This book is a nice resource for learning to pray for your marriage using the Word of God as a guideline.


 
The Power of a Praying® Husband
Stormie Omartian

 
This is a wonderful tool for men who want to learn how to pray effectively for their wives.

The Power of a Praying® Wife
Stormie Omartian

 
This is a very useful tool for those who want to learn to pray effectively over key areas of their husband’s life.

The Song of Songs: A New Translation
Ariel Bloch & Chana Boch)

 
The Song of Songs is a new translation of Song of Solomon with an insightful commentary.

Moments Together for Couples
Dennis and Barbara Rainey

 
This is an great devotional for couples.


 

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A LITTLE ROMANCE

Simply Romantic Nights
collected by Dennis & Barbara Rainey

 
This book is a collection of romantic ideas by a number of respected writers. The book also has lots of fun extras – cards, stickers, etc.

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ENGAGED / NEWLYWED

Getting Ready for Marriage Workbook
Jerry D. Hardin & Dianne C. Sloan

 

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FOR MEN

Wild at heart book coverWild at Heart Expanded Edition: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul
John Elderedge

 

Wild at Heart is a work designed to help men recapture their masculinity. It deals with the wounds that keep a man from being everything God wants him to be. This is not really a marriage book, but it can have a profound effect on a man’s marriage.

 

This is also a must-read book for any woman who wants to better understand her husband or sons.

Gentlemen Start Her Engine
Steven Andrew Guerrero

 
This book is a unique tool for customizing your efforts to understand and romance your wife, a “must read” for any man who wants to win his woman’s heart.
[Click on link to purchase from the author.]

The Sexual Man
Archibald D. Hart

 
The Sexual Man is based on groundbreaking nationwide research. It refutes the current myths surrounding male sexuality, providing a psychologically sound, biblically respectful view of what men secretly think and feel about important sexual issues.

For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women
Shaunti Feldhahn

 
This is a wonderful resource for helping men understand their wives.

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FOR WOMEN

The Sexually Confident Wife
Shannon Ethridge

 
An insightful book about married sexuality. I was deeply impressed with Shannon’s personal transparency and ability to discuss frankly, yet graciously, some of the more challenging bedroom issues. Beyond that, I was sincerely encouraged by her wisdom, humor and grace. This book is an invaluable tool for wives in search of sexual wholeness and marital intimacy.

 
Intimate Issues
Linda Dillow & Lorraine Pintus

 
Intimate Issues is a remarkable book for women about married sexuality. Comes with a twelve-week Bible study.

Secrets of Eve
Hart, Hart Weber, and Taylor

 
The Secrets of Eve is an interesting read on female sexuality (though fairly technical in places) based on interviews from over two thousand Christian women. Highly recommend for general reading, and especially for women with sexual struggles.

Pillow Talk
Karen Scalf Linamen)

 
Pillow Talk is a delightful humorous book full of profound wisdom. It is subtitled “The Intimate Marriage from A to Z.” You can learn your ABCs the fun way and gain practical insights from her twenty-six chapters about married sexuality.

Making Sense Of The Men In Your Life What Makes Them Tick, What Ticks You Off, And How To Live In Harmony
Dr. Kevin Leman

 
This book shares lots of great insight into the inner workings of your man. The title says it all. :)

For Women Only: What You Need to Know about the Inner Lives of Men
Shaunti Feldham

 
This is a wonderful resource for helping wives understand their husbands.

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DEALING WITH MARRIAGE DIFFICULTIES

Boundaries in Marriage
Henry Cloud & John Townsend

Boundaries are the “property lines” that define and protect husbands and wives as individuals. Once they are in place, a good marriage can become better, and a less-than-satisfying one can even be saved.

Loving Solutions
Gary Chapman

Loving Solutions shares practical insight into dealing with a difficult spouse (the irresponsible, workaholic, controlling, uncommunicative, verbally abusive, physically abusive, sexually abused, unfaithful, alcoholic, drug abusing, or depressed spouse).


 
Hope For the Separated: Wounded Marriages Can Be Healed
Gary Chapman

 
Hope for the Separated offers real hope to those in search of reconciliation with their spouse. It is full of practical wisdom.


 
Avoiding the Greener Grass Syndrome
Nancy C. Anderson

 
The author shares her from-infidelity-to-fulfilling-marriage story and offers practical insights on safeguarding and building your marriage.


 
Surviving an Affair
Dr. Willard F. Harley, Jr. and Dr. Jennifer Harley Chalmer

 
Surviving An Affair offers insight into the different aspects of infidelity and offers hope and direction for the restoration of an infidelity-shattered marriage.


 
Love Busters
Dr.Willard F. Harley, Jr.

 
Love Busters teaches you how to identify and defeat those habits that destroy romantic love.


 
The Total Money Makeover
Dave Ramsey

 
The Total Money Makeover can help you design a sure-fire plan for paying off debt, dealing with emergencies, planning for retirement, and more. A real help in learning how to get and keep your finances in order.
The Total Money Makeover Workbook also available.


 

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RECOVERY FROM ABUSE

Understanding Shame
Jonathan Daugherty

 
This is a workbook designed to help individuals overcome the emotionally crippling effects of shame in their lives.
[Click on link to purchase from BeBroken or download for $1.58.]

Shattered Innocence
Kelly Vates

 
Shattered Innocence is a poignant story of sexual abuse, its aftermath and recovery.

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SEXUAL PROBLEMS / ADDICTIONS

False Intimacy: Understanding the Struggle of Sexual Addiction
Dr. Harry Schaumburg

 
False Intimacy examines the roots of sexual addiction and offers realistic direction to who are struggling. Includes info on cybersex, homosexuality, recovering your marriage, and women and false intimacy.

Every Man’s Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time
Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, and Mike Yorkey

 
While we do not agree with some of what the authors say about masturbation, this is an excellent book for those struggling with lust, pornography, and habitual masturbation.


 
40 Days of Purity
 
– What the Bible says about sexual purity
– Keys to breaking temptations
– Daily habits of purity and growth
[Click on link to purchase from BeBroken.]

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SCIENTIFIC MATERIALS

The Female Brain
Louann Brizendine
 
 A very readable book about women, hormones and behavior in a woman’s life. Non-christian.
 
The G Spot: And Other Discoveries about Human Sexuality
Alice Ladas, Beverly Whipple, and John Perry

 
The G Spot contains interesting information on the G spot and other recent discoveries about human sexuality. Non-Christian.

The Alchemy of Love and Lust
Theresa Crenshaw, M.D.

 
This book describes the influence that hormones play in our relationships. Very technical. Non-Christian.

Love Cycles: The Science Of Intimacy
Winnifred B. Cutler, Ph.D.

Love Cycles focuses on the biology, psychology, and physiology underlying the outward show of love. Technical. Non-Christian.


 
Other Good Books:

The Hormone of Desire: The Truth About Testosterone, Sexuality, and Menopause
Male Body: A Physician’s Guide to What Every Man Should Know About His Sexual Health

 

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OTHER

New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional
by Paul David Tripp

A very nice daily devotional.
Kindle 
Hardback

Live in Grace, Walk in Love: A 365-Day Journey
by Bob Goff

Fun and insightful.
Kindle 
Hardback 

When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People
by Gary L. Thomas 
Your life’s calling is too important to let toxic people take it away. In When to Walk Away, Gary Thomas draws from biblical and modern stories to equip you with practical insights to handle toxic people in your life and live true to your God-given purpose.
Hardback
Kindle
 
The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing
Bronnie Ware

A palliative care nurse shares what she learned from the dying. Non-christian.

 
The Queen’s Code
Alison A. Armstrong

A work of fiction that teaches a great deal about the differences in men and women. This is NOT a Christian book, and we know some characters engage in non-married sex, without giving details. 
Hardback 
Kindle 

 
Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals
Michael Hyatt
A research-based plan for setting goals you can manage and then accomplishing them.