Getting close and personal with the one you love

I know I do not talk a lot about your intimate relationship with your spouse, but this is still something that as a parent you do have to deal with. That being said, depending on who you are and the type of intimate relationship that you have, sometimes you want to spice it up a bit.

Recently I learned about a new product that is geared toward men, but it also has applicability for women too. I thought I would share it with you today.

Hot Octopuss , the brand name behind the invention of the world's first ever 'Guybrator' launched it's hero toy, PULSE back in 2014 with a slightly tongue in cheek, albeit insightful, video to explain The Evolution of Masturbation.

This year marked the launch of the brand's latest collection, featuring an upgraded version of the original 'Guybrator', PULSE III SOLO, along with a revolutionary couples' toy, PULSE III DUO and is the first toy of its kind on the market to feature independently controlled, dual motors. Cool, hey?

Want to learn some more tips for getting the best out of PULSE:

So, what lies beyond? Hot Octopuss has successfully led the way in bringing male masturbation in to the 21st century, and plans to continue it's innovative run with a few more buzz-tastic products in the pipeline for 2016.

I saw one of these and in person they are small and made of soft, pliable rubber, but as mentioned there are ways for both men and women to enjoy the experience of this product because of the overall design.

This is definitely an innovative product for men and in regards to the intimate relationship of both partners, it will bring in a new dimension of intimacy for everyone too.

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Book Review - The Top 10 Most Outrageous Couples of the Bible

About the Book
Improve your marriage—and have some fun along the way—with Christian psychologist David Clarke s latest book, The Top 10 Most Outrageous Couples of the Bible. Drawing on the stories of Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Rachel and Leah (yeah, one guy with two wives), and several others, Clarke provides both biblical teaching and real-life counseling expertise to help you see what will work—and not work—in your marriage today. Written with plenty of humor, The Top 10 Most Outrageous Couples of the Bible proves that “outrageous isn't a bad thing—as Clarke says, “It s not always pretty. But it s always powerful.




My Take on the Book
This was a truly interesting book. While I knew about some of these married couples from the bible, I definitely did not know all ow these. I also was grossly misinformed to many of the issues that these couples dealt with and what they had to teach me as a man and as a husband. The book was very informative and down to earth, You get a great mix of biblical teaching as well as counseling that you can put into practice immediately. This was a great book that was a quick read, but one that has really stayed with me since I read through it!


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Book Review - Loveology

About the Book
"Love, marriage, romance, singleness, sex – this is the thing that most young people are thinking about 24/7," says John Mark Comer. "It's all consuming for a lot of singles. And the Scriptures have so much to say about all of the above, but sadly the church has said so little. The church has done a great job of saying, "Don't have sex before you get married. Don't move in together. Don't, Don't, Don't...." And all that is true. But we haven't done a great job at giving young people a theology of love and marriage and sex and the rest."

Since the ultimate goal for Christian couples is marriage, Comer begins "Loveology" there, with a discussion about what marriage should and shouldn't be, based on the Genesis account of God's creation of marriage and sex. Then he works backward through all the steps along the way – relationships, love, sex, romance, singleness and masculinity and femininity. Comer helps readers understand how to successfully complete the journey from young adulthood – first embracing one's own sexuality and being content with singleness, to finding love that leads to the altar.



My Take on the Book
I loved how this book examined relationships from a biblical standpoint, but in saying this it does not chastise, nor look down on someone for the choices that they made. Instead they explore the biblical teachings and try and provide some context for what is shared in the bible and what it means as a Christian to be in a loving relationship with another.

The book was a great read, both engaging and enlightening and in the end I found that my eyes were opened and that there were a number of points that provided Ah-Ha moments for me in regards to finally putting together the pieces of why God wants us to live in certain ways.

The book is definitely one that will assist anyone going through a life transition, especially those younger in life, but even for those who may have been in committed relationships for years (there is something here for you too)!


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Book Review - Love That Works

About the Book
“The best thing for a father to do for his children is to love their mother.” If your baby could talk, this is what s/he would say to you, for as you know, many parents discover how easy it is to focus much of their love and attention on their children to the detriment of their primary relationship. Sadly, it is often the most intimate connections in these relationships that are affected first… An unhealthy sex life is often cited as the reason that most couples leave each other and can turn what was once a passionate intimate life into co-existence in a heartbeat. Many times both parents, who are working as fast as they can to keep the family going, are often mystified by their partner’s growing discontent and have no idea how to make the changes that could make a difference for their relationship. I am sure your readers would be interested in learning the relationship skills that make maintaining a healthy long-term intimate life second nature. Wendy Strgar’s writing on love that works offers the tools and insights that can transform challenging relating into opportunities for growth and intimacy.

Wendy Strgar and her husband Franc have raised 4 children throughout the course of their 30- year marriage and enjoy a passionate and vital intimate life. Wendy’s book Love That Works: A Guide to Enduring Intimacy has the answers you’re looking for to any of your relationship and intimacy questions. Critically acclaimed as the “quintessential relationship guide,” the book debunks the social mythology of soul mates and perfect partnerships that distract from the real work of loving. With a combination of memoir, stories and practical love skills, Love That Works’ primary premise is that committed relationships work best when we approach them as a method of personal growth.

Love That Works is based on Wendy’s own personal work on her marriage, as well as her work with thousands of couples nationwide, while building her organic love product business: Good Clean Love. Founded in 2003 due to her sensitivities to mainstream intimacy products, Good Clean Love has blossomed into an award-winning business that sells organic intimacy products with no petrochemicals or parabens globally. Its sister site, The Good Clean Love Daily, also hosts award-winning educational resources, including Wendy’s critically acclaimed blogs like Making Love Sustainable.

My Take on the Book
As a man I have to say that reading relationship book is not something I do a lot, but in looking at this book I have to say that the author does a great job at getting both men and women to explore their relationships and what makes them strong and what can break them down. The book was an engaging one and it was like you were sitting listening to the author in the room as she shared her knowledge. The book was easy to understand and that author has done a great job at sharing practical experiences and ideas that all will be able to understand and implement. The book was a quick read and though I can see that you may want to read this again and again, the book itself lends itself to this too. All-in-all this was a great book that can only strengthen your relationship with your significant other!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Unlearn Vanilla Marriage

About the Book
If you’ve ever wondered why certain couples always seem like they’re sharing “sexy little secrets” while most others are trapped in habitually contentious Mars/Venus relationships, then “UnLearn Vanilla Marriage,” the second book from satirist and social commentator Rich Woods, will tell you things the self-help industry doesn’t want you to know.  “Unlearn Vanilla Marriage” is unlike all other self-help books of the genre, as it outlines many of the realities of a long-term, loving relationship couples often suppress in the interest of fitting into conventional notions of marriage and monogamy.


Rich Woods offers up concepts and solutions that help people create a loving partnership that endures for the *right* reasons, not for the external pressures and standards that one tries to live up to and may or may not be successful at despite how much they adore their spouse.  There's a refreshing honesty and frankness to “Unlearn Vanilla Marriage” that you won't find from those who, according to Rich Woods, “earn a living from the misery of others.”

“Unlearn Vanilla Marriage” presents innovative, unique and daring notions that eviscerates long-held, traditional conventions on marriage and many other societal niceties.  If you're in love, in it for the long haul, and looking for new ways to negotiate the rules of marriage to make the long haul exciting, rewarding, loving and enduring, “Unlearn Vanilla Marriage” will show you the way.

• Steve Harwood, Editor, Kasidie Magazine (http://magazine.kasidie.com), states, “Rich Woods is one of today’s most unapologetic and irreverent writers.  His unique commentary style puts social topics under both a microscope and a sledgehammer.”
• Brian Sapient, Founder, RationalResponse.com states, “Some of the greatest thinkers of all time were those who thought outside the box, but not many have Rich’s sense of humor.”
• David Harris, President, Harris Media Group Inc., states, “This is the definitive book for anyone who needs help repairing the damage that conventional ‘wisdom’ inflicts on marriage.”

About the Author
Rich Woods, author of “UnLearn! Because Life Can Make You Stupid,” released in 2006, is also the creator of “UnLearn TV®”, the controversial weekly treatise from where he bluntly shares his non-traditional thoughts on the self-help industry, marriage, monogamy, political correctness, and morality with over 2 million loyal fans.  “UnLearn TV®” broadcasts at 7 p.m. EST every Tuesday at http://www.unlearn.tv

My Take on the Book
This book was interesting. I have read many different self help books and this book was interesting. I am always looking for new ways to develop a loving relationship with my wife (not that we don't already have one, but every little bit helps). This book is written in such a way to promote complete honesty. The author has done a great job at writing a book that will truly make you think and consider your own relationship with your wife and things that you can do to take your relationship to the next level.  While marriage is never easy, and no book will give you all of the answers, this book is a step in the right direction.


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
 
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Book Review - The Case for Falling in Love

About the Book

Let’s face it, today’s “Relationship Advice Industry” is generally annoying, and for good reason.  Like new miracle diets, most of them don’t work.  Glutted by pop psychology and commercialized fads, the conventional wisdom in today’s books, movies and catch-phrases is over-simplified (“He’s just not that into you”), wrongly analyzed (“Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”), or just plain destructive.

According to Mari Ruti, PhD, that conventional wisdom implicitly convinces women that:

• …men and women are hopelessly different.
• …in order to attract a man, women must hide their strength, feelings and desires.
• …the only way to catch and keep a man is to manipulate him into new ways of thinking.

She says that these ideas have not only been proven wrong by reality (and history), they’ve proven to be destructive to women’s emotional makeup and psyche.

In her new book, the Case for Falling in Love, Mari Ruti urges women to ignore the noise, and redefine how they look for love; what they look for in love, and why they are looking.  By correctly analyzing the search for love—its pitfalls and triumphs—through the prism of Gender Issues, Ruti guides women toward emotionally healthy dating practices, non-combative (yet empowering) attitudes toward dating and the opposite sex, and the preservation of the beauty, mystery and nuance of classic Love and Romance.

Written in a funny, thought-provoking, and sharply intelligent style, Ruti’s Case for Falling Love engages and informs while dispelling today’s Top Misconceptions, such as:

• In order to make romance work, women need to learn to interpret the “male psyche” and develop a toolbox of luring techniques
• Women must resort to some variant of “Hard to Get” to win a man
• To succeed, women must “massage the male ego”
• Failures at Love are failures in Life
• …and More

More than just another self-help book, The Case for Falling in Love is a treatise on Love that refreshes and strengthens, while it enlightens and entertains.

About the Author

Mari Ruti was educated at Brown, Harvard and the University of Paris.  After finishing her Harvard doctorate, she spent four years as assistant director of the university’s program for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality.

She is currently associate professor of critical theory at the University of Toronto’s English Department, where she teaches contemporary theory, continental philosophy, psychoanalysis, gender studies and popular culture.  (Her lectures on love, sex and relationships are among the most popular on campus, often filling the classrooms and auditoriums to capacity).

Ruti is the author of two academic books:  Reinventing the Soul:  Posthumanist Theory and Psychic Life and A World of Fragile Things:  Psychoanalysis and The Art of Living.  She splits her time between Toronto, the East Coast, and Maui.

My Take on the Book

I have read a number of self-help books in the past and this one, though geared at women takes a common sense approach to the topic of relationships and falling in love and allows the reader to learn vast amounts of information in a fun and engaging way. I showed some of the parts to my wife and she mentioned that to her it was like the author was speaking directly to her, as if she was a close friend trying to listen and assist in any way she could.

This book has a little bit of everything for the person interested in dating, relationships or just romance. It is not a 100+ Ways type of book, but instead is a book that tries to spell out the truth and dispel many of the myths that exist out in the public eye in regards to relationships in general.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.  

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Book Review - The 9 Tenets of a Successful Relationship

About the BookThe 9 Tenets of a Successful Relationship (for Singles) (Pendium Publishing) by Jay Hurt provides practical relationship advice to singles just in time for Valentine's Day.  Hurt has developed 9 Tenets as the guide for relationship development, longevity, and prosperity.

Throughout The 9 Tenets of a Successful Relationship (for Singles), Hurt draws upon his experiences and the experiences of others that taught him not to repeatedly make the same mistakes.  Instead of walking blindly through the process of a relationship, Hurt claims that taking the time to search for these 9 Tenets greatly simplifies the process.  He was driven to share his wealth of knowledge on relationships by his many friends and acquaintances.  Their appreciation for his advice, his numerous personal accounts, and a liberation through faith have brought Hurt to a place where he can relate his pitfalls to help others be fulfilled and blessed in their relationships.

Jay Hurt works as a sales professional selling to the Federal Government as a primary customer.  Hurt learned early in his career that fostering good relationships was as important, if not more important, than any product he could ever sell. Now he has repositioned some of the relationship building techniques that he has applied in the business world--such as clear communication, appreciation, and respect--with important elements that are crucial to successful relationships--such as constant work, growth, love and honor--in our personal lives.

The 9 Tenets of a Successful Relationship (for Singles) is available in bookstores everywhere and online.  Also visit the writer's blog at www.9tenets.blogspot.com.

My Take on the Book
I read a lot of self-help books, and while I don't read a ton of books geared for singles, this book was a great, easy ready that provides a ton of resources and ideas about successful relationships and what someone should do to develop these types of relationships. 

I liked the practical concepts in this book and the fact that the book uses common scenarios that the reader can relate to and learn from. I can definitely see how this book would be a great book for singles in realationships as it provides great insights as well as clear ideas for what one can do to set them apart from others. 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions. 

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Book Review - The College Roommate from Hell — Skills and Strategies for Surviving With a Problem Roommate

About the Book
All across the country, incoming college freshman are getting ready to move away from home for the first time. For many of these new college students, moving away from home means living with a roommate for the first time as well. Some students choose to live on-campus, while others choose off-campus housing. With either scenario, living with a roommate is a big adjustment.

Of course, every incoming freshman hopes to find a friend as his or her roommate, but not every situation will be ideal. A lot of problems may occur because both roommates simply need to take the time to understand one another. Moving away from home for the first time is exciting but is also a big change. Taking the time to resolves issues between you and your roommate can positively affect your transition to college.

If you find yourself not getting along with a roommate or you want to learn more about coping with a roommate before moving away, at Atlantic Publishing Company, we have a book for that.

The College Roommate From Hell — Skills and Strategies for Surviving With a Problem Roommate covers everything you need to know about how to understand and fix any problems with a troublesome roommate. This comprehensive guide will teach you what to expect before moving, how to approach your roommate once you move in, roommate survival skills, cultural and social differences, how to deal with a serious problem, and how to understand a spectrum of personalities.

This book includes interviews with students that had roommate problems and discusses how they were solved. Before giving up on your roommate and spending a semester or more in an undesirable situation, read The College Roommate From Hell. After doing so, you will know you are not alone, have viable strategies for dealing with problems, and feel more comfortable approaching any issue you may have with a roommate.

My Take on the Book
As a person who has worked in residence life on a college campus this book covers many of the common problems that students who have roommates face while in college and beyond. What was nice about the book though was that it provided the reader with practical tips to work on turning around roommate relationships toward positive outcomes. The reason I like this is that every housing staff member is taught to help roommates to work through their conflicts and not to just move roommate assignments, so it is to the benefit of all who are going to be having a roommate to read this and learn some of the things that might drive you nuts and how to deal with them.

I could tell by reading through this book that it would have helped many past college students that had to deal with challenging roommate situations. Full of great resources and appendices, the book was an easy, instructional read that would be a great gift for the new college student (but they need to read it!).

If this book sounds like something you would like on your own bookshelf, you can find it on Amazon!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Break Up, Don't Break Down

About the Book

Like most of us who have had to break up with some one, Derek Ivan Young understands the pain you are feeling and going through.  His new book BREAK UP, DON’T BREAK DOWN has heartfelt words of advice for both men and women. But he isn’t going to mince words or hold back anything. This is not about warm fuzzies.

Derek knows that lots of people going through a break up would know exactly what to do with a nuclear bomb if they had one with just a itsy bitsy tiny localized yield. 

But unfortunately all they really have is the lingering pain of a bad experience with someone, a lot of confused feelings, time on their hands and a cell phone. They’ve got the memories of the past and the shattered hopes and false expectations built on habits that feel like an itch that you just can’t reach anymore.

So he’s going to give it to you straight. He’s going to tell you exactly what you need to do to get the real healing started, go through with it, and get over it.  It’s going to allow you to not only get on with your life but create a whole new and better life.

"It was not until I realized that things that I thought were

sent to break me are the same tools that make me."

~ D. Ivan Young

So get ready and get set, for here’s what you need to do:

Establish the End Date and Declare it to be Officially Reached

Breaking up is an event. Set a date and stick to it.  Get out your calendar.  Mark the Date with a Giant Black Marking Pen.  Cross Out the Date on Every Calendar in Your possession. 

Erase, Delete, Remove, Wash, Give Away, Sell Throw Away Everything

You must stop your senses from feeling, seeing, smelling, touching, or hearing anything and everything that has any direct association with the object of your former relationship. You must create distance and place physical barriers between things that bring you back to what can no longer be. Get rid of photographs.  Delete files, email, letters, gifts large and small. Get rid of the things you received from this person. Even sell the valuable items and turn them into cash you can use for another important purpose – yourself or someone else in need.

Do Not Communicate With This Person

Do not talk.  Do not write. Do not email or send text messages. Do not ask friends where they are or how they are doing.  Do not visit his or her social marketing sites.  Do not stalk. You must stop all unnecessary communication. Do not go to the same places the two of you visited. Declare these locations to be prohibited from use.

Do Not Think About Them Any More. No More Looking Back.

Do not think you can just be friends. Say to yourself: “I am not going back.” Say to yourself out loud: “They are not coming back.” Stop second guessing. Say again and again “It’s over.” Stop rehashing conversations, and when you find yourself thinking about them, stand up and walk ten feet away and look at something that forces your attention in a new direction. Practice this technique until you can do it sitting down and being comfortable with your \new powers of concentration.

Face Forward.  Make a List of the Things You Like

What do you like to do? If you like to read, buy a bunch of new books.  If you like to take pictures, by a new camera. If you like yoga, sign up for a new class. If you like to exercise, then head to the health club.  Make a conscious decision to be selfish and focus on satisfying your desires to get what you want and do what you want to do. Carry these things you like with you so that you can always play with your preferred toys no matter what comes into your mind from the past. Choose the present and choose you first. 

Get a Life

Start with a clean fresh piece of paper. Get a new notebook or diary. Start a new book about yourself. Create a new plan.  Write down a new set of goals. Add to it with smaller clear objectives and write down new dates of execution. Carry this plan with you and refer to it constantly. Build on this plan wherever you go.

Do New Things

Change the sheets. Go to new places where you will be forced to be with new people that you do not know. Buy new clothes.  Wear new jewelry or makeup. Get a new hairdo. Get new music. Even buy a different car or move to a different apartment or house if you want to. Do things that bring new sounds, smells, feelings and experiences into your body, and into your life. Enjoy and savor these new sensations.

Finally Meet New People

Talk with someone you don’t know. Take a class and be with whole class of strangers. Get used to it.  Relax and begin to enjoy new people in new places.  Some day you may be ready to strike up a conversation with someone who appeals to you.

The sweetest revenge you will ever experience will come if you create a happy new life for yourself.  But it can only happen if you decide to make it happen.

My Take on the Book

For those of us that have ever gone through a breakup, you know that at times it can feel like your world is falling apart. With this in mind, this book does a great job at supporting those who are going through the stages of loss and grief that one does experience in this process and allows for people to feel lifted up during this process.

The author does a good job at allowing the reader to understand the stages they are going through and what they can do to help themselves through this so that they do not break down as the book implies.

The book takes a sequential approach to thinking about the break up itself. From the initial stages of separation to dating once again, the book takes the reader step-by-step on a journey that will allow them to move at their pace back into the relationship world.


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Book Review & Giveaway - The Power of Acknowledgment

About the Book
Picture this: you are sitting at your desk, disgruntled, frustrated, tired, perhaps you were yelled at during the staff meeting. Let’s face it, today is just not your day. Suddenly, an email pops up, brightening and uplifting your mood. It is a love letter from your partner – the person you thought was the least likely to write such a note. How would you react?

Judith W. Umlas experienced the mood altering power of acknowledgment first hand when she was having a down day at work. After hearing about her day, Judith’s husband, Bob Umlas, a Microsoft Excel “geek” and guru emailed his wife a heartfelt love letter, detailing and acknowledging every positive aspect of her personality, actions, and looks. When asked where these acknowledgments had come from, as she had never heard most of them before, he confessed rather sheepishly that he has always thought these kinds of things but just did not bother to “get them from his brain to his mouth.” Once convinced of the authenticity of these acknowledgments, Judith was so thrilled with them that almost as a joke, she suggested that he write these kinds of communications about twice a week, since he obviously needed the practice! The result? For the past four years, Judith has been receiving love letters from Bob every Monday and Thursday via email. Both husband and wife are clear that these acknowledgments have positively transformed their relationship.

Bob’s loving acknowledgments encouraged Judith W. Umlas to write The Power of Acknowledgment (IIL Publishing, New York), a compact book that illustrates the tremendous power everyone has to dramatically improve relationships - the simple act of acknowledgment.

When asked why she wrote this powerful little book, Judith said “To repair the world by improving relationships in every aspect of living. I have seen ‘the power of acknowledgment’ at work and throughout all parts of my life, because it is something that comes easily to me. I have also witnessed how many people can’t, don’t, or won’t do it – or don’t do it enough. Once they grasp the positive results it can produce, they can’t help but try it out and then immediately see the benefits: enhanced work productivity, better relationships and even improved health.”

About the Author

Umlas has been a senior executive at International Institute for Learning (IIL) for the past 19 years, and was a producer/writer for CBS before that. As Senior Vice President, Learning Innovations at IIL, former Publisher of a newsletter for 50,000 project managers around the globe, and trainer of more than 10,000 people worldwide on the power of acknowledgment, she is seen as a master communicator. Her skills and poignant powers of observation led her to develop the seven clear, concise principles for acknowledging others in all walks of life. These skills, when exercised are guaranteed to make immediate and profound changes in the way readers interact with others. Reports of the instant effects on readers and those around them have poured in professionally and personally. To see such stories, visit Judith’s blog, http://www.thepowerofacknowledgment.com. For reader praise and positive results log onto: http://www.iil.com/publishing/acknowledgment.asp

My Take On The Book
Reading this book, I am reminded about the importance of recognizing those around me for the things that they do to make the world or the workplace a better place to be within

The book itself is a very quick read, and one can get through it in a few hours (or less depending on how fast you read). I found myself thinking over and over about the times where I might have acknowledged someone and instead kept it inside. The author encourages all of us to look within ourselves to vocalize our appreciation to others and I hope that I can start to do this more frequently.


This book is one that you definitely will want to read more than once, and each time you do, I am sure you will gain more from the reading. It will give you resources to help you improve your personal and business relationships.

If this book sounds like something that you are interested in, you can find it over at www.iil.com/poa

Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of this book? I will be giving away 3 copies to lucky readers! All you need to do is let me know why you would have an interest in this book to be considered. The contest will run for one week and will end on March 2, 2010.

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This contest will run until March 2, 2010 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

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Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.






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Book Review & Giveaway - Beyond Seduction: Loving Without Limits

About The Book

Lisa Pankau, knows that marriage may be hard but a good marriage is by far the most satisfying experience that anyone can have.

In her book Beyond Seduction, Loving Without Limits she shares what it takes to create and achieve personal growth and a deeper and more profound bond between couples that can last a lifetime and make everything in life worthwhile..

She’s been married twice.  Her second husband Ed Pankau. was a well known investigator and author of the New York Times best-seller, Hide Your Assets and Disappear! He had never been in a monogamous marriage and she was his fourth wife at his age of 51. They had a good marriage (not without their own issues though) but he died unexpectedly. The loss of her marriage without her being ready for it to end was a huge factor for the reason why she wrote this book.

“It often happens that once you get married, you begin to take the other person for granted. But it doesn’t have to be that way.  It is not that difficult to maintain the honeymoon over that lifetime.”

Lisa Pankau explains how to recognize the needs and desires of your partner and set aside your own personal issues to be accommodating to his or her needs:

1. Marriage does take work-it just doesn’t have to be “dirty” work
   
2. Your communication styles may be different but the heart of the matter is “how are you best heard?” You must know your love language and the language that your spouse speaks for solid communication to work.
    
3. If you are willing to give 150% to making your partner happy and they are willing to do the same for you, your marriage will flourish and grow to the deeper levels of love that most people never experience. The fact is that most people do not even realize that something deeper and more profound can exist!
    
4. Sexual appetites, attitudes and fantasies are interrelated and can lead to a deeper and more profound bond. Sex is not a dirty word and should be openly discussed with a loving heart. Sex is a normal and integral part of healthy and enduring relationships as long as boundaries are respected.
    
5. Trust, communication, being best friends, respect, and acceptance/unconditional love are the keys that create a successful marriage.
    
6. Vulnerability is something that most people are afraid of and (unfortunately) never expose that tenderness to their partners. Only through vulnerability can your grow your love to deeper levels and strengthen your love bond.
    
7. Unconditional love sounds very daunting, if not impossible; however, it is the glue that will hold your relationship together. Unconditional love does not mean tolerance of bad behavior, it means acceptance of your spouse as a human with the knowing that those things that may be upsetting can also be the things that bring you closer.
    
8. Bedroom “Essensuals” are critical to the health and growth of any marriage. There are particular items that every couple should have in their bedroom to stimulate the health and growth of their relationship over the years.
    
9. Date nights may sound silly but a weekly date night is preferred (no less than one date per month) and is critical to the growth of your marriage. If he is not “wooing” his woman and if she not “swooning” over her man, someone else will! The need and desire for love and affection never changes! Date nights are the best way for couples to “play” and enjoy each other.
    
10. Love does not mean sex; although it can! Men are visually stimulated and women are more “emotional”.  Neither is right or wrong, it is just a fact of what our chemical composition reveals about our own humanity. Love is something that you do, not something that you have. They key is to accept and delight in the differences and explore and allow the balancing of needs to take place.
     
11. Couples must treat each other better than they treat the people they work with, not worse. While your home should be your safe haven, your attitudes and demeanor toward your partner/spouse may be misdirected toward the one you love the most.
     
12. There are times when there is hurt and pain. A successful marriage does not mean being “stuck” or unhappy. On the contrary, there are ways to enhance the love bond between two people even if there has been trauma in the relationship. If both people are committed to making the relationship work, it will work.
     
13. The most significant aspect of life is love. Marriage is a precious gift that we are so graciously given. Some of us are blessed with longer marriages than others and some of us never have the opportunity to experience such a beautiful expression of love. There is no time like now to enjoy the one you love on the deepest levels of love possible as you continue to grow to new and deeper depths of love.

Relationships are wonderful and beautiful. They last when we take the time to cultivate them. 

About Lisa Pankau

Lisa Pankau grew up in Texas and Oklahoma, the middle child in a family consisting of three daughters. As a divorcee and a widow, she has experienced life at both ends of the spectrum – from the depths of dread and despair to the untold bliss of true love. A few years after her husband’s death, Lisa retreated to an island home off the coast of Honduras to heal and to reflect on the more important issues of life. She currently works as a developer on the island, simultaneously creating her own dream and helping others make their dreams a reality.

My Take On The Book

This book looks at relationships beyond lust and stability and tries to help the reader identify how they can stimulate a deep love and understanding of their partner. The book was an easy read and the author bears much of her own soul to the reader. It helps when talking about these issues to understand what the author brings to the table per se and Ms. Pankau does this, and does it well. The book provides specific ideas on how couples can increase the intimacy that they may share with their partner and how to help your relationship grow. I found that the book itself made many references to what a woman can do, but it somewhat failed to reciprocate for what a man can do to assist in the relationship. This is something of a generalization, as there were many parts of the book that in fact were connected to both men and women, but others, specifically in parts that were more practical referred to how she should do something instead of how he can help her. If this book sounds like one that you would like to add to your own little library, you can find it on Amazon!

Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of this book? I will be giving away 1 copy to a lucky reader! All you need to do is let me know why you would have an interest in this book to be considered. The contest will run for one week and will end on February 21, 2010.

Bonus Entries:

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This contest will run until February 21, 2010 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.


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