Lists to Love By for Busy Wives and Lists to Love by For Busy Husbands by Mark and Susan Merrill

Lists to Love By for Busy Wives and Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands are two books that would be great to read to start the new year out on the right foot for your marriage. The best part is that these little books don't take a lot of time and yet your marriage can reap the rewards of your efforts if you will read and apply them regularly.

Each Lists to Love By book contains thirty lists. A few of the lists included are: 7 truths about Marriage, Five Things Husbands (or wives) wish Husbands (or wives) knew, 5 ways to use body language to connect, 6 things to do when you're lonely in your marriage and 8 expectations for a great marriage. At the end of each list the authors have included a section entitled, Taking the Next Step. This section gives the reader a few questions to think about to apply the list they just read to their own marriage.

Ideally, for the best results, both the husband and wife would each read a Lists to Love By book and work together to improve the marriage, but it isn't necessary. In the front section, each book shares several ways to best use the book for getting the most out of it. Each book also shares how the authors came to write these books and why they feel they are qualified to do so. Briefly, Mark Merrill is the founder and president of Family First, a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping people love their families well and he hosts The Family Minute, a nationally syndicated daily radio program. Susan is also involved in these organizations.

Both my husband and I found these Lists to Love By to be useful in making our marriage even better. My husband especially liked that each chapter was short so he still had time to read them even with the busy schedule he has this time of year. It is indeed a book for busy people to use. I would recommend Lists to Love By for both husband and wives in all stages of life. I think we can all benefit from these short reminders and challenges, or "Simple steps to the marriage you want," as we seek to make our marriages the best they can be.

I received these books from Hachette Book Group. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for the book.