Letters to My Daughters: The Art of Being a Wife Hardcover – February 16, 2016

Such a beautifully written book!!The way it compares different aspects of marriage to different arts is such a fun perspective!! I love the message and also the look of this book! Definitely recommend it!

Although I do not have any daughters of my own, my son is engaged and I gave one to my future daughter in law. So much wonderful information for young (and not so young!) ladies!

First impression-- What an absolutely gorgeous book! I just love beautiful books. The cover work was very simple and feminine and that carried through to the inside of the book too. You will find beautiful salmon pink watercolor and hints of gold throughout and the font for titles and strategically placed quotes of each chapter are beautifully done. I really loved the illustrations as well. There is something to be said for books that just are so beautiful to look at that make you WANT to read what is in/on the pages. At least for me. I definitely judge books by their cover.The book starts with An Open Letter to Daughters Everywhere from the author in which we learn about what lies inside. In this preface we read,"Dear Daughters,Across the landscape of time, women have depended on other women for answers to the questions we all face. We've bravely asked one another about husbands and children, about work and worth, about cooking and cleaning, about friendships, finances, fears and failures. And if we found ourselves in a time and place without anyone we could ask, we found that we were a bit lonely, a bit lost."The author, who has been married herself for over 40 years, goes on to share that in 2001 she began this book as a series of emails to help with advice on marriage. She included all of her married daughters with the goal to encourage them as they began their new role as a wife.I thought the titles of each section really stood out to me, especially as they help guide each section and the letters within.In each chapter, you will read many letters starting with Dear Mom-question and followed by a Dear daughters/Love, Mom response/advice. The titles of each section really stood out to me, especially as they help guide each section.1. Marriage Is a Masterpiece2. Marriage Is Like Fine Cuisine3. Marriage Is Like Grand Architecture4. Marriage Is Like Elegant Music5. Marriage Is Like Beautiful Dancing6. Marriage Is Like a Secret Garden7. Marriage Is Like Masterful Photography8. Marriage Is Like Watercolor Painting9. Marriage Is for Ever AfterWhat I am taking from this book overall is that GOD wants us to have a marriage that reflects his image. With Him, all things are possible. Sometimes we find ourselves wishing that our husbands and our own wife duties and responsibilities came with a manual. So through the help of our peers, and sometimes from those who have far more experience than us, written advice from others is a true treasure to have.This is a fantastic book to own. Hopefully one day my daughters will sit down and read it and appreciate it as well.*FTC DISCLAIMER: I received this book complimentary from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my review.*

I have listened to this book in audio format twice already, and wanted a hard copy to keep for the future. I feel in love with Barbara Rainey's calm and graceful approach towards communication in marriage, and found it very encouraging. I tend to default more to the "I need to lay everything on the table right here, right now" approach, and I can get overly sensitive pretty quick when I allow myself to fall into that cycle. I know that isn't always the best way to handle issues within a marriage. I'm engaged, so I'm reading up on Christian marriage advice now. She answers all sorts of questions and it's not the fluffy 'Leave it to Beaver' type issues. Real, hard scenarios are brought up in the book and she answers with patience, grace and love. It's really encourages women to approach their husbands with love first, and not take offense to everything as if what husbands do/don't do is intentionally done/not done to hurt us. A++

I was truly amazed at all the ways in which Barbara described the different familiar themes in which God created marriage in the different forms so familiar to all of us. Everyone who delights in the Lord and seeks a life of godly relationships needs to read this book to strengthen their faith.

This book is saturated with analogies that can be distracting if you're a very concrete thinker like myself. She compares marriage to a recipe, baking a cake, building a cathedral, a dance, etc. But if you like that then you'll love this book.Otherwise, it has very Godly wisdom that God has used to give me freedom in a lot of areas of my marriage. Highly recommend!

Thank you, This is my 1st book about marriage, and I realized many of them could be more serious. this book is perfect for anyone like me!

This is a beautiful book - Both in its design and in its content. Barbara Rainey and her husband Dennis have led Cru's (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ's) family ministry for years. Here, she lovingly presents her insights in a series of letters to her grown daughters, helping them in their adjustments to marriage. There are times when she obviously knows just what her daughters (and any wife) is experiencing in a marriage relationship, and provides well reasoned expertise in how to best respond to a situation. Any wife can benefit from reading this and the letter format makes it easy to read one letter and not feel pressure to work through the book on a set timetable. I highly recommend it.

A wonderful, well thought out book. The author skillfully brings in the every day situations that married couples encounter and then weaves a beautiful, non-condemning response on how to work things out. I have ordered more of these books. They are an excellent tool. I believe in anything that can improve today's marriages. What we're doing now, doesn't appear to be working, judging by the many sad divorces....We need as much help as we can get. Thank you to the authors for painstakingly putting this book together. Heirloom quality.....

What a lovely honest book. I love the creative arts and this book is just full of helpful illustrations about marriage with all its highs and lows. I have read this book and given it as a present to those who are married for a while finding marriage tough going and newly weds who are enjoying the adjustment time. The wide margins give plenty of space for writing notes.

So far my wife love's the book! She reads it every day and she has learned so much already! :)