31 Days to Great Sex- Book Review and Giveaway
I’m going a little rogue today from my typical posts on marriage. I generally don’t do a whole lot of book reviews on my site because of the time factor involved since I actually do read the books I promote here!
(Some of you have even emailed me asking if I’d share your books with my readers but I’m just not able to share all of them for a few reasons. I either can’t commit my time to reading it, or I don’t feel it’s the best fit for those that I minister to here at The Alabaster Jar. I do wish though that I had an abundance of time because all of the authors that have contacted me are very much about having a Christ-centered message to their books! So I do apologize that I can’t get your message out. :()
So this brings me to today’s post. It’s a review on a book that I’m very excited about sharing with you. It’s written by Sheila Wray Gregoire and when I think about Sheila’s message to wives, it’s generally about sex (not all her posts, but a good chunk of them) and while I’m in full agreement to what she writes because her message is definitely needed, I feel like the message God has me bringing to the wives here at The Alabaster Jar is at the complete opposite side of the spectrum of what Sheila shares. I tackle issues of the heart and mind of a wife so the marriage could flourish, and so a wife will want to have sex with her husband like she once did!) I do this because having sex doesn’t always solve all the issues in one’s marriage. It definitely improves the marriage a great deal and it can alleviate, as well as, prevent issues, but it doesn’t always solve issues like bitterness, feeling unheard and/or unloved by your man, or the lack of respect you may feel towards him, etc.
But both messages need to be given and put in place in order to have a glorious marriage!
So the two sides of the spectrum are coming together today like peanut butter and jelly! Or maybe I should say a delicious brownie with milk! I’d prefer that combination over PB & J any day! 
I must say that I think Sheila’s book 31 Days to Great Sex for Married Couples, was absolutely fabulous! Really, I can not sing enough praises for this book and it’s not the first book I’ve ever read on sex from a Christian perspective.
Sheila addressed several topics that I believe many women can either relate to or they’re struggling with in their marriage….
- Overcoming prior sexual sins or abuse. I gotta tell you, I was so blessed that Sheila went there regarding this topic because it does play out in a woman’s mind and it can certainly wreak havoc in the marriage bed. I know many of you are waiting for me to write about how I got over my past sexual sins. I will get that post out at some point, but in the meantime, Sheila shared the exact verses that I clung to to help me overcome my guilt and shame so my marriage was not negatively impacted by my prior lifestyle before I came to Christ.
- When a woman is slow to respond sexually (and how to help her respond and actually enjoy the act of marriage). There’s all sorts of sub-topics within this one. Topics range from having a lower sex drive to how sex is a mental thing for women. Oh yes it is! I personally think sex for a wife is a 90% mental thing with the physical aspect being the other 10%.
- Hitting the reset button on your sex life. Perhaps yo
ur marital intimacy has become rather stale or lacking all together. Sheila addresses this issue and gives you some practical how-to’s to overcome this problem. - Parenthood and sex. Yep, parenthood, rather, motherhood could suck the sexy right out of your marriage! She’ll give you ways to combat this. Remember, you’re a wife first! It’s one of the reasons why I don’t address motherhood on my site as much as I do about being a wife! If you can get the wife thing down, motherhood will be much easier because you’ll be parenting with your man rather than feeling alone in the journey.
- Dealing with pornography/affairs and the lack of trust that comes with these two beasts.
- And more!
And she does all of this while giving you a daily challenge to put in place so your marriage can benefit from the advice being offered. (It’s one thing to read the advice and it’s another thing to put the advice into action.)
Chapters include….
- Days 1-8: Turning Sex into Something Positive
- Days 9-12: Laughter (Emotional Intimacy)
- Days 13-20: Making Sex Feel Wonderful (Physical Intimacy)
- Days 21-25: True Oneness in the Bedroom (Spiritual Intimacy)
- Days 26-31: Keep the Momentum Going!
Here’s what Sheila says about 31 Days to Great Sex:
Here’s why I’m passionate about sex:
God created sex to unite us on three levels–physical, spiritual, and emotional. When we feel truly intimate on those three levels, our marriages soar.
And that’s when we’re able to impact our churches and communities for Him.
But if we’re not connecting in our marriages, we lose out on a great strength that God gave us in this life. And we threaten our families and our children’s future.
The church doesn’t like to talk about sex, and so we leave it to our culture. And our culture has turned it into something perverse and disgusting.
I’m not willing to stand for that anymore. I think the church needs to step up and fight back and start redeeming sex.
And that’s what this ebook does. It takes couples through exercises about improving their communication, their friendship, their outlook on sex, and yes, even the mechanics of sex, so that their marriage can rock!
If you’ve got a great marriage and sex life…
You’ll still benefit from reading this book! Sheila gives some creative and fun ways to add a little sparkle to your marriage bed. 😉
If you feel your marriage and intimacy life is somewhat bland, routine or mediocre…
This book will help your marriage to flourish and move to a deeper level of intimacy. It’ll help you from viewing sex as obligatory to something you’ll want to actually do with your man. And that, my friend, is a great place for your marriage to be!
If your marital relationship has become somewhat platonic or you feel neglected (in other words, you’re not having sex or you avoid it at all costs)…
This book will give you some ways to overcome past hurts, mistakes, and simple ways to reconnect with your spouse.
If you’re willing to grow, no matter what state your marriage is in, the advice offered in this book could make your marital oneness blossom!
So, buy the book! In fact, you can buy the book as a Christmas present for your man. I’m sure it’ll bring a nice smile to his face, especially if you handed it to him while you’re dressed in some pretty lingerie. 😉
To win a copy of this book, just enter into the raffle below! Or you can buy it now here. If you win the raffle and you’ve already bought it, Sheila will send you a copy of The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex, which is a more expensive book.
Live a poured out life for Christ,
I think this is a great idea for married couples to read. My husband and I visited a church a few weeks ago that was doing a pretty intense series on Marriage and they dived into some very deep and at times uncomfortable details of producing Marriages as God intended. I remember sitting and nudging my husband many times because this just felt weird. After we left I got in the car with my husband and asked for his thoughts. I was amazed he loved it-and thought more discussions like this should take place in our churches. He helped me to understand what you have said in your blog that it’s healthy to discuss these things and that society has messed up our thoughts of this and produces an uneasyness of even talking about this with the one who should be in communication about this God and Our Spouses. I encourage you and all those called to “spread this word” of healthy marriage sex and how God uses this as a major communicator to draw that one’s to each other and ulitimately to Him. Thank you for being willing to open your thoughts, hearts and computer to share to all of us!
Nancy
Great review! I’ve seen this book here and there online but have held back from buying it. I’m in a different position here.
Growing up I actually realized my mom was saying “no” it caused huge problems. I told myself I would go that route and did every thing I could to mentally prepare myself for my husband.
Interestingly enough, in about 30% of relationships, the wife has a stronger drive than the husband. All my mental prep was for nothing, because our relationship falls in the 30%, and its not fun. So I’m wondering if this book addresses that issue. Or maybe you know of one that does. 🙂
This issue is addressed on Shelie’s blog. Happy Reading.
Hi Kendra,
Yes, Sheila does address the wife having a higher drive than her husband. This is becoming more common, or rather, more women are actually sharing about this situation in their marriage.
my husband and I just started counseling and I could sure use this book!
would love to win this book!
Need this book! 😀
I am so happy the Shelia isn’t afraid to address the subject of intimacy and sex so head on and honestly. It is such a vital part to making our marriages what they need to be and our role the Lord has laid out for us as the wife. Too many Christian ladies want to keep it “hush, hush” and it is ruining our marriages and our daughter’s marriages! Thanks for the book review! I can’t wait to read it. I love A Good Girls Guide to great Sex also by Shelia
Because it is one of the most wonderful things in a marriageyou can share with your spouse!
Would love to win this book! Intimacy is important in relationships.
Currently reading, The Good Wife’s Guide,” and I like it so far!
Sex makes my husband and me more affectionate towards each other outside of the bedroom.
I would LOVE to win a copy of this book! Intimacy in marriage is both commanded by God and very important to bring a husband and wife closer to one another and build a stronger bond together! We are more affectionate and loving towards one another and God designed marriage for intimacy together!
I think intimacy is so important because it’s what holds a husband and wife together! It brings God back into the marriage the way He intended! I would love to win this book!!
Intimacy is important because of the connection.
I would love to win a copy of this- that’s an area that I would love to work on, for the pleasure of my hubby. I also want to say that I downloaded the ebook of yours “Child’s Faith @ Christmas” (not complete title 🙁 ) and I wanted you to know that my children and I are putting those activities to use! My husband and I just won custody of the children (from his ex wife), and they’ve been very excited to learn about Jesus, as well as begin new family traditions. Thank you for writing that book!!
Praise the Lord, Amy! May the words that I shared draw your family closer to our Savior!
Okay, I was talking to my husband when I was posting this before and I just want to say that I think this book would be wonderful for us. We have gone through many things in the past, but are ready to look at things in a whole new way. Like you talked about, we had the porn issue touch our marriage, and an affair. It’s not a pretty picture like God intended us to paint – but now that we’re real with each other and open and honest, I’m ready to take these steps to be the best wife and have the best intimacy possible – based on God. I don’t want anymore of this world touching our marriage. I’d love to get this book! Even if I don’t get it through the giveaway, I’ll probably be buying it anyway.
What a blessing to hear that you’re fighting for your marriage as well as your intimacy, Jessica! Glad to hear that you’ll be intentional about making a change to honor the Lord! 🙂
My husband is attending college to become a Christian counselor with an emphasis in marriage and family. This would be a great book to add to his shelves once he is finished.
I love this review and am so glad you shared it! If you are interested at all I think this would be a great addition to my Cozy Book Hop, which you can link up with any time you want (https://forfunreadinglist.blogspot.com/p/cozy-book-hop-thursdays.html)
And after reading your little remark about not wanting to do reviews of books you feel don’t fit with your blog theme, I’d like to extend the invite to do a guest post on my blog if you come across a book you want to share a review on – any time – just shoot me an email!
Marissa
https://forfunreadinglist.blogspot.com
Thanks Marissa!
I would love to win this book- and even if I don’t I will make it a priority to put aside money to purchase it- I am in nursing school, and my husband is a police officer- not only are our schedules completely opposite (he works nights), but I am always studying, tired, etc… I NEED to read this and get back with it!! Thank you for the encouragement and discussing it…
Amanda
I am so thankful for Sheila. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon her blog that I realized that this aspect of my marriage had taken a hit. I’m married to an unbeliever and it is so hard to connect spiritually, but it can be done. Her blog has really helped the way I view sex and intimacy.
Intimacy is important because you need time to be together away from the everyday just to connect and this is part of the connection as a couple.
Thanks for your blog & book review Jolene! And thanks Sheila for writing such an intriguing book. I look forward to reading it!
Intimacy is important to me because I love the marriage we share. Without intimacy on so many levels I do not believe we would have the relationship we have.
Intimacy makes me feel more connected to my husband.
Thabj you for giving me a chance to win a copy of this book! Would really love to read it
Intimacy is very important to have a deeper connection and hold a couple together.
Intimacy is,so important in marriage. Not only does it help strengthen one’s marriage, it protects against sexual temptations to a large degree.
Thanks for visiting me at FLT! We obviously share a passion for marriages under God’s design and are mutual fans for Shelia’s! Intimacy is important in marriage because it is the means that bring about the oneness that God so desperate wants us to experience with each other, and the vulnerable & barrier-less relationship He also wants to have with us.