This book is great for all married women, and honestly, even women who hope to or are planning marriage. It's affirming of things you do know and besides presenting new ideas, is Biblical and tremendous for personal growth. Great for a study or book club and even get hubby involved!! Helped teach me new ways to take responsibility for myself and influence my marriage in a God-honoring way. Amazing to me that Erin took counsel from her FIL. Inspiring! Strongly recommend!!

The Whole Hearted Wife: 10 Keys To A More Loving Relationship, written by Erin, Greg & Gary Smalley, is a book that strives to encourage a more loving and inspirational marriage relationship.

Backed by scripture and filled with powerful messages, the Smalley's have been enhancing marriages for many years. Their timeless understanding of what it takes to grow in Christ and within the marriage unit have changed millions of marriages for the glory of God.

This current publication, written mostly by Erin Smalley, targets women who are interested in improving and enhancing their relationships with their spouses. Given the divorce rate within society today, this is a book that can surely make a difference.

To bring a point of realism to this book, Erin utilizes the personal struggles that festered within her own marriage and family relationships. Thus no one can state, as happens with many books, that what she provided is good advice from someone who does not clearly understand the topic.

Within each chapter, the topic discussed places its emphasis first on the wife and how she can change her life for the better, followed by how to approach the husband. The ending joins both the role of the man and wife in regard to God and how they can work together in unity for the sake of their relationship.

The ten keys involve honoring, nourishing, accepting differences, connecting spiritually, communicating, joining sexually, resolving conflict, defusing anger, forgiving, and transforming trials into blessings, reiterating in the conclusion that a more loving relationship begins individually.

This publication is a wonderful tool that will enhance any marriage relationship, thus it is a recommended purchase for a newly married couple, a couple struggling with their marriage, or an engaged couple getting ready to walk into the wonderful mystery that is marriage.

Dr. Jeff Krupinski

This book is so good. I have learned so much about how God is able to guide me and shape me into the wife he wants me to be. I have come across several things in the pages of this book and thought to myself "wow that's just how I feel" or "I've been there before." After reading just the introduction, I was getting up to grab a highlighter. I feel every wife would benefit extremely from reading this book. Please take the time...you will not be sorry! Just a better, revived and encouraged wife and daughter of God. I can't thank the Smalleys enough for writing this book!!

As a newlywed, 24 year old female, this book was like a breath of fresh air. Smalley lists 10 keys to a more loving relationship. Within those 10 keys she lists practical examples and applications. As a woman, I often time think that I love well. It is a part of my DNA, right? Wrong. Love well does not come easy and for some reason, it is hardest in our martial relationship. Why is it so hard to love your husband? Why is marriage hard? Why is my marriage not working? This book is different than other books I have read. Erin Smalley encourages us with wisdom she received from her father-in-law, Gary, which provides unique insight. Instead of writing a check list of I need to do this, this, this and this and then I will have a better marriage- Smalley looks at your heart, and gives practical, biblical examples for you to be a better wife. Being a Godly wife will naturally flow into your marriage, thus creating a Godly (better) marriage. The chapters explore a different aspect of Scripture principles to the marriage relationship with the focus on growing as a wholehearted wife. I have heard this information several times through several authors and each time (specifically, this time) it comes as a great reminder, a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed how many brief exercises are included for self-reflection and how the author gives us personal examples. Its great to know that we are not alone! At times, however, it was difficult to decipher who was the speaker. It made for a slightly confusing read. Although this book was a good read, it did not wow me. Most importantly, the content of the book is Biblical. In this day and age, biblical teach is of the utmost importance. I would definitely recommend it to any woman wanting to focus on her own attitude, sanctification and commitment to her husband.. Often times we think the problem is anyone and anything around us when really, the problem is you. This book will help you become a wholehearted wife.

I received a free copy of this book from Tyndale Publishing house in exchange for a fair and honest review.

That a book on improving your marriage would be written specifically and solely to women should have been a tip-off that its contents might be a little skewed, and indeed they are. (Why not "The Wholehearted Marriage," addressed to both?) Most of the counsel centers on encouraging wives to make their husbands happier (by being more understanding, acommodating, and agreeable), and promising that this will inspire a loving response. In the chapter on "connecting sexually," for example, the authors explain that regardless of her reason for not initiating or agreeing to sex, a wife needs to understand that it is hurtful to her husband, and he can't help but take it personally. A page and a half later, we are told that if a husband doesn't pursue his wife or express any interest in her sexually, "...don't take it personally." (What??). Besides its simplistic and sexist treatment of complex relational issues, the book offers nothing original and is agonizingly repetitive. Sadly, the greatest irony here is that following this kind of advice (lower your expectations, don't overwhelm your husband with your feelings, and serve him by making sure he's sexually fulfilled, among others) is more likely to produce a sense of loneliness and feeling used, than result in a more loving relationship.