Product Description
Ginger Kolbaba, editor of Marriage Partnership magazine, knows the realities of being a second wife. Because she understands the needs of remarried couples, Kolbaba shows them they are not alone in their everyday struggles. In a refreshing conversational tone, she discusses how to - show children and stepchildren they are not being forgotten or left behind - avoid communication crises - deal with unhealed relationships - overcome feelings of loneliness and misunderstanding - understand and accept unshared histories In her frank and humorous style, Kolbaba shows couples how to successfully maneuver these and other common pitfalls of the previously wed. Readers will find endless encouragement in Kolbaba's rich, spiritually steeped advice. This practical, inspirational guide offers couples all the tools necessary to ensure their remarriage will thrive, bless others, and be used by God in remarkable ways.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 7 reviews)

Excellent Book

Anyone who has ever been remarried will appreciate a book that finally focuses on second marriages and not simply second families. If the marriage isn't strong, then the family won't survive, so we need more books for second marriages within the christian community and in general. Thank you for this wonderful book.
September 10, 2008

Learning from Life Experience

Ginger is a magazine editor and gifted writer. She married a man with previous experience in marriage --- she is "Surprised by Remarriage." Her book is written with warmth, goodwill, humor, and a lot of encouragement. It is mostly about her own experience, but useful to others. Top writers in remarriage include Les and Leslie Parrott, David and Lisa Frisbie, and Ron Deal --- all are wonderful writers available here on Amazon. Ginger's book deserves your attention --- it is very well done.

Barbara Sheldon, M.S.W.
I also highly recommend: Happily Remarried: *Making Decisions Together *Blending Families Successfully* Building a Love That Will Last
April 12, 2007

Disappointed

While I agreed with the idea that a big problem in remarriages, is that people often blame the ex-spouse, and don't look at their own responsibility, I did not like the somewhat self-righteous attitude and several reminders that her husband's first marriage was ended by his spouse's infidelities and therefore, he was blameless in God's eyes and remarriage was OK because of his ex-wifes adultery. I understand that reasoning, but did not find it helpful for those of us not in the same situation.
When I started about the part regarding the need to forgive, and read how what helps is to think that "what goes around comes around," so forgiveness is easier realizing that the ex-spouse will surely suffer consequences and pay for their wrongdoings, I gave up. I don't think that is true foregiveness if the only reason you can let go is because you know they will get theirs. It doesn't seem like a very Christian attitude to me, and seems more like making a judgment. It may be a human response, but I don't think it should be touted as a Christian one.
July 30, 2006

A practical and heartwarming guide to making marriage work

Anyone knows that divorce is rampant and the odds are long for any marriage to survive. Those odds are even longer for a second marriage or remarriage. As author Ginger Kolbaba says, "Some statistics show that 76 percent of second marriages, 87 percent of third marriages and 93 percent of fourth marriages will fail within five years...If the divorce rate for remarriage is so high, we need to have our eyes wide open to be aware of what obstacles could doom our marriage and take every precaution to avoid them."

For several years, I've personally known Kolbaba because of her day job as the managing editor at Marriage Partnership magazine. Her passion to write a book on this topic came from recognizing a need, but I didn't know her personal experience with this subject. Kolbaba is married for the first time, but it's a second marriage for her husband, Scott. With revealing and personal stories, Ginger talks about the obstacles and the joys of remarriage.

The book includes three major sections. The first section includes an examination of the past and how you can make your remarriage work and beat the forces against it. It's important to recognize the death of your first marriage, grab hold of the God factor of grace, grieve the loss of the past, and deal with the societal stigma of divorce and remarriage. Each chapter mixes a balance of personal experience combined with truth from the Bible and stories of others.

The second section explores the minefield of relationships outside your spouse. The individual chapters explore key material such as how to set boundaries for your ex and how to handle the "bonus" children from a previous marriage. Another chapter explores the area of friends. Kolbaba explains what happens to those friendships and how to understand when they disappear and go with your ex.

The third and final section looks at the issues between you and your spouse. The major relational issues are examined with separate chapters on communication, sex, money and then everything else.

I'm sure you've heard of the happily ever after ending. Kolbaba takes a different twist on these words with the book's subtitle, "a guide to the happily even after." Yes, even after a divorce and remarriage, it is possible to be successful. The author freely admits that everyone has made mistakes, but God hasn't forgotten us and each reader has a vital role to play in God's plans. The final portion of each chapter includes a brief "even after" to give the reader a pointed nugget of truth.

Kolbaba reveals her vulnerability and hopes in the opening pages of this well-written book, "Some things you read in these pages may challenge, anger, or frustrate you. That's okay. I've struggled to process some of this information too! Just promise yourself you'll enter each chapter with an open mind and heart." Because I'm also on a journey of remarriage, I recognized the truth throughout these pages and found myself highlighting and nodding in agreement. While the content is practical, it touches the heart. I recommend this book to anyone in a remarriage, or to pastors and counselors who work with remarried couples.

--- Reviewed by W. Terry Whalin, writer and editor in Scottsdale, Arizona. His latest book is BOOK PROPOSALS THAT $ELL, 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS (Write Now Publications). [...].

June 01, 2006

Good for first-time wives

If you are new to remarriage and all the issues that can follow, this book could prove helpful. I can recommend this book.
April 02, 2006

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Saving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts
by Les and Leslie Parrott

Before You Remarry: A Guide to Successful Remarriage
by H. Norman Wright

Happily Remarried: Making Decisions Together * Blending Families Successfully * Building a Love That Will Last
by David Frisbie, Lisa Frisbie

Making Your Second Marriage a First-Class Success
by Doug Moseley, Naomi Moseley

Smart Stepfamily, The: Seven Steps to a Healthy Family
by Ron L., Deal