Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs (Nashville, WA: Integrity Publishers, 2004), 324pp, hardback, $21.99 (ISBN 1-59145-187-6).

Is a healthy marriage possible? Yes! This book is the result of the author’s discovery that when God’s instructions to a husband and wife in Ephesians 5:33 are obeyed, then a good marriage can be made better and a marriage in crisis can be saved. When a husband unconditionally loves his wife and a wife unconditionally respects her husband then this is possible. However, the author believes that “the real purpose behind showing love and respect to one another is to glorify God and to obey what He teaches in His Word.”

This easy-to-read volume provides an excellent summary of each of three patterns or “circles” that couples engage in with each other. It is complete with Scripture, scientific data, and anecdotes so that a reader can readily identify, evaluate, and address areas of concern within their own marriage relationship.

Love & Respect is an excellent book for use by individuals, but it would be a helpful resource for anyone involved in church leadership who is called upon to come alongside those who are considering marriage, have marital questions, or wish to resolve marriage problems.

Appendices with helpful inventory and reminder lists along with chapter endnotes are included at the end of the book.

Reviewed by Deb Garland, www.spiritandtruth.org