Book review: 10 Great Dates: Connecting Faith, Love & Marriage

This book was not what I expected it to be, but it is a good tool for couples who want to grow in their marriage.  I thought the book was going to describe 10 creative relationship-building dates.  It does give content for date discussions, but it does not give ideas for the outing itself.

The authors address 10 different topics for the dates:
Date 1: Connecting Faith and Love
Date 2: Appreciating Your Differences
Date 3: Experiencing God Together
Date 4: Getting Into the Word
Date 5: Loving Your Closest Neighbor
Date 6: Talking Together With God
Date 7: Building Your Marriage on a Strong Foundation
Date 8: Facing The Storms of Life Together
Date 9: Guarding Your Hearts Under God's Canopy
Date 10: Making Your Marriage a Lighthouse

For each topic, the authors give a 10-page reading for couples to read together before the date, a 2-page fill-in-the-blank worksheet for each spouse to complete independently, and a 2-3 page post-date discussion guide for couples to talk through that includes a scripture to read together.

There are many good stories and personal examples to paint clear pictures of the content areas.  There are really good questions for couples to ponder together and separately.  The topics offer great opportunities for couples to learn about themselves, their relationship, and their lifestyles.

If a couple is willing to authentically explore emotional and spiritual relational patterns and take time to talk together, they will profit from reading this book and taking their dates.  It will set couples on a track to grow more in the future.

I received this book as a gift from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.