The Marriage of Your Dreams by Rick Johnson

What wife doesn't want to know more about their husband and what he's really like?  My favorite part of this book were when women asked Rick Johnson questions and he answered them.  Some of them made me laugh because they were a simple one word answer when I'm sure the women really wanted more of an explanation....because that's how we are!  His answers were so much like my husbands, which made me realize that perhaps my husband isn't that odd after all.  Maybe more guys really do think like that. 

Johnson talks about the relationship with the husband's mother and your husband (which was very enlightening and kinda scary!), his relationship with his father and his relationships with others and how they affect his marriage and his family.  He then goes on to discuss their communication styles, their work, sexuality, and their need for respect and admiration. 

I did find it funny when Johnson gave an example about breaking an unspoken "girl rule" when he commented to his wife, while on a date, that the girl behind him (whom he couldn't see) had a pretty laugh.  His wife got mad and he couldn't figure out why that would bother her.  He then went on to warn women to tell their husbands of any unspoken rules because they don't need any more help to get into trouble!  Poor men...they really aren't blessed with the communication skills for the most part.  He shed light on how their communication is so different and how they need time to process what they just heard.  It's not that they're insensitive or uncaring...they just don't know how to express their thoughts on the matter, yet.  His examples on that issue showed me how many times my husband and I had experienced that misunderstanding in communication.

Continuing on, Johnson speaks on his odds of meeting your expectations, his emotions, his desires in a wife, his cheating heart, and his needs of his woman.  I always hate reading the cheating sections because it scares me a bit, but I do like to know what I can do to keep his eyes from straying and his heart from yielding to temptation.

Overall, this book touched on some different topics that I hadn't read in other marriage books.  It was also nice to get one's opinion who wasn't a therapist or a counselor.  He had polled men and got some responses back, which I thought made the book for enlightening and the men were probably more honest.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

That's My Girl by Rick Johnson

When this book came up for review, I  debated it and skipped it the first time I saw it.  It wasn't until the last possible day that I had to get it did I decide I would review it.  I was very hesitant 1) because it was tailored for fathers and 2) I figured it was just another typical book by someone who was going to write the same things as everyone else.  With that said, you can imagine my suprise when I found myself turning page after page and actually enjoying this book!  After finishing it, I told my husband that he needed to read this book and I'm keeping it on the bookshelf for when our daughter gets a little older and we hit some of these issues that we need to address.

This book hit more on adolescent girls and preteenagers.  However, as a mom of 1-year-old girl, I'm glad I wrote it.  I had honestly forgotten all of the things that I went through as a teen and the feelings I had.  It already has me thinking of what I need to start preparing our conversations to be and what things can be addressed while she's little. 

I love that this book introduces the father to his major role in the life of a daughter.  God intended for the man to be a heavy influence in the home and I believe that is why he is held accountable for the things that happen inside him home.  Rick Johnson doesn't shy away from the major role given to him by God.  He holds fathers accountable for what they need to know and talk about with their daughters and how to have that close relationship that girls so need.  Dads are responsible for their daughters!

He uses some examples of him and his daughter throughout the book, as well as letters written from other women.  He begins by walking the dad through what happens at puberty (and acknowledges that these things are things that dads would rather not know about), the importance of knowing these things, what happens when a father isn't a major part of a daughter's life, what happens when a father is a major part of a daughter's life, and the life-long implications of a present father that loves, cares for, and nurtures his "sweet baby girl."

After reading different paragraphs to my husband, we both agreed that he has a tall order in front of him.  If you really think about all the work that will go into building that relationship with your daughter, it's a lot.  But it's well worth it. 

Reading though the book, I saw my own father.  I saw the love, nurture, and stability that I had and could easily compare it with how I am different because of my loving father.  I know that's not the norm these days, but I'm so thankful that God gave me a father that took his job seriously, just like Rick has taken his job as a father seriously.  Every father of girls needs to read this book.  I, myself, am going to be buying his book on mothers/sons, called That's My Son.

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Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

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I received this book free from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.