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The Widower's Toolbox by Gerald J. Schaefer with Tom Bekkers. The book is about "repairing your life after losing a spouse," as the sub-title says. This toolbox is a valuable guide giving insights on how grieving widowers can identify and resolve those immediate, overwhelming issues following the death of a spouse. This book will help you move forward by suggesting planed acts of kindness as a way of reflecting on your wife. The author stresses that serving others can be a great healer.
The 41 chapters are divided into four sections: Picking Up the Pieces, Healing from Within, Giving Back to Others and Loving Again. Each chapter focuses on a different way you can be involved in making something good happen out of a sorrowful event. And each chapter concludes with some Instructions (like action steps) and a set of Journaling questions to prompt you to record your thoughts on certain issues.
Published in 2010 by New Horizon Press (Far Hills, NJ), this 254-page book sells for $14.95 (trade cover).

Widows Wear Stilettos by Carole Brody Fleet with Syd Harriet, Ph. D. As the subtitle says, this book is "A practical and emotional guide for the young widow." It deals with taking ownership of the healing timeline, helping your grieving children, coping with family/friends who are insensitive and unsupportive of your widowhood, as well as learning how to return to a life of joy and abundance. The book also "dares" to discuss subjects such as dating, love and intimacy as well as such topics as fashion, beauty, diet and exercise, plus practical issues such as filing for government and life insurance benefits and how to transition financially after the death of a spouse.
Some of the 15 chapter titles include: There's a Light at the End of the Tunnel, People Say the Dumbest Things, Thinking "Inside the Box," The "Business" of Widowhood, When Both Mommy and Daddy, First Love, Now You'll Have Closure, To Remarry or Not to Remarry, and Welcome to the Rest of Your Life. The book also includes insightful quizzes, journaling for thoughts and feelings, affirmations, "contracts," and other activities designed to help readers actually take the steps and see recovery in the process.
Published in 2009 by New Horizon Press (Far Hills, NJ), this 223-page book sells for $14.95 (trade cover).

   When Love Ends by Jackie M. Johnson. Break-ups happen...that's life. But what do you do when the relationship is over? The author wrote this book to help you heal following the break-up as you walk through the darkness to the light in a heart-healing journey to brighter and better days ahead. The book is practical and biblically based with each chapter guiding the reader to restoration.
    Some of the 16 chapter titles include: Dealing with Endings, Healing Emotional Pain, Experiencing God's Love, Learning to Wait Well, Awakening Hope, Healthier Choices Next Time, and Living in the Light. Each chapter concludes with Bible verses, a prayer and discussion questions for individual or group study.
    From Moody Publishers (Chicago) in 2010, this book of 226 pages sells for $13.99 (trade cover).

Then Comes Marriage? By Rebecca Price Janney, As the subtitle says, this book is "A Cultural History of the American Family." The author, a Ph.D. author-historian, shows how the structure of the American family has changed drastically since our early settlers. She traces the changing mores and practices surrounding marriage and family life from colonial times until today. In doing this, she examines the oft-overlooked communities such as Native Americans, slaves, immigrants and others who have contributed to our nation's ongoing family drama.
Some of the 18 chapter titles include: The English Colonies, For God and Gold, The Victorian Ideal, Extreme Makeovers, Of Bloomers and Revivalists, See the USA, Mutiny in the Bounty, What's Love Got to Do with It?, We Are Family and The Most Excellent Way.
Released in 2010 by Moody Publishers (Chicago), this 259-page book sells for $14.99 (trade cover).

The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage by Erwin W. Lutgzer. The author, pastor of Moody Church, writes with the passion of a prophet and the heart of a pastor as he deals in a straightforward yet compassionate manner with one of the most controversial issues of the day. His purpose is "to encourage and equip God's people to defend marriage, giving reasons why it's definition should not be broadened to include same-sex marriage." While stressing that Christians should show compassion for the gay community, Lutgzer says that same-sex marriage is "the most damaging social experiment to ever be attempted in this country." Not only does he cite numerous scripture passages to bolster his point but he also quotes from various surveys, studies and authories in the field.
The six chapter titles are The Church Must Speak, We Must Consult the Designer's Manual, We Must Remember the Children, We Must Resist the Pressure, We Must Act Now, and We Must Seek God.
From Moody Publishers (Chicago) in 2010, this 140-page book sells for $7.99 (trade cover).

Born-Again Virgin by Vilma Conner. As the subtitle says, this book is about, "How to Transform Your Life from Promiscuity Back into Purity." The premise of the book is that while you may no longer be a virgin scientifically, you can be emotionally and spiritually if you let God help you recapture a life of purity and self-dignity. To that end, the book will teach you the ABC's of dating, how to guard your thoughts and keep your imagination from running wild, how to deal with your past and how to bounce back from a dating disaster.
The 15 chapter titles include X-Ray Vision, Zealous Attitude, Sabbatical, Potential Prospect, Under God's Construction, the Point of "Know" Return, and Graduation. Each chapter is punctuated with scripture verses and "Time-Out" sections for you to take a moment and reflect upon the information in the chapter.
From Miracon Enterprises (Glendale, CA) in 2009, this 202-page book sells for $14.99 (trade cover).

Smart Parenting During and After Divorce by Peter J Favaro, Ph.D. Written by a psychologist who is often used as a court-appointed expert, custody evaluator and mediator, this book offers lots of helpful information, strategies, and resources on some 52 different topics such as visitation, communication, conflict resolution, anger management, scheduling of holidays and visitation, decision making, the effects of divorce on children at different ages, the influence of a parent's social life on children, negotiating under both good and bad circumstances, and much more. The book also includes over a hundred tips or "takeaways"of advice to help you and your child enjoy each other and the time you spend together a lot more.
Some of the 10 major divisions of the book are: Smart Parenting During and After Divorce, The Common Threads of Conflict, The Art of Avoiding War, Seek Neutral Input to Solve Problems, How to Negotiate with a Jerk, and How to Keep Your Cool.
From McGraw Hill (NY, NY) in 2009, this 229-page book sells for $16.95 (trade cover).

The Complete Divorce Handbook by Brette McWhorter Sember. This book, written by a divorce lawyer, is designed to help you think through the issues and concerns that may affect you as you as you walk the path of getting a divorce. Though not a substitute or a lawyer, this book is meant to offer guidance through the legal proceeding and help you to know what questions to ask and what to be prepared for. Throughout the book, the author has included lots of links to helpful websites.
The 13 chapters correspond to the issues you will be dealing with in the divorce: Do You Want or Need a Divorce?, Legal Separation, Family Court, First Steps in a Divorce, The Divorce Court Process, Divorce Mediation, Children and Divorce, Dividing Your Assets and Debts, Child Support, Spousal Support, Emotional and Practical Implications of Divorce and After the Divorce. The appendices contain sections of sample legal forms and frequently asked questions.
From Sterling Publishing (NY, NY) in 2009, this 280-page book sells for $14.95 (trade cover).