I was excited when this book was offered up for review on Booksneeze(Thomas Nelson Bloggers), I've heard so many people talk about this book, or recommend it! Heck I'd even bought a copy of the original book a couple years back but never did get around to reading it, despite all the rave reviews! I'll start by saying when i received my book i was in awe..this is a BEAUTIFUL book! It's a simple yet gorgeous embossed white vellum cover over a hardcover book that has a womans shadow walking up a hill in a flow-y outfit...it's LOVELY. The edition that i received was a newly revised and expanded edition of Captivating, by John & Stasi Eldredge, a runaway bestseller that originally came out in 2005. What 'Wild at Heart' does for men, 'Captivating' now does for women'. This book 'unveils the mystery to a woman's soul', and reveals our inner desires and what 'captivates' us. John and Stasi use their own personal stories to express a message of hope and grace, and using biblical examples, express why we're here, why we're made and why we do the things we do. In the epilogue, i LOVE how Stasi writes "Ask some friends to join you in a small group and go through Captivating together. So the guided journal the second time around. It's like getting two years of counselling for about thirteen dollars. What a deal!". I've been thinking a lot about this and think that this is something that i need to take up with my dear friend, who also happens to be the pastor's wife!..i think that this might just be the thing needed to bring the eclectic mix of women from my church together. Disclaimer: i received Captivating for free from Booksneeze in exchange for my unbiased review.

Finally a book that helped me understand a little more why i am the way i am. There are so many self help books out there, telling you what you should do or how you should act in order to find healing. But Stasi and John didn't do anything like that. They just opened my eyes to a few truths. The linked how we feel and what we go through back to the time when Eve first showed up. and They showed how everything gets carried down the line to us. All our self esteem issues, and heart problems. They then so you the truths that God so clearly lays out in his word. We see that there are longings and desires in our hearts that we shouldn't be ashamed of because God put them there on purpose! So HE could satisfy them. That is an amazing love! The book starts off kinda slow, and you almost wonder if there will be any meat to the book, but then it picks up speed and you then see yourself, and even your female family members differently. It really was an eye opener and a chance to grow closer to our heavenly father. Every woman at some point in her life needs to read this book!

I read this book at a difficult time in my life--I was the "Proverbs 31 woman", and like they describe early in the book, although I was doing all those things I thought I should do, I was mostly just TIRED! And I was lonely, even though I had a wonderful husband and a happy marriage. I did not feel valued for who I was, or all of the things I was doing. Every sentence in this book seemed to speak to me--I started to see not only myself, but ALL women, in a different light. I saw how beautiful God made every woman, whether they met the standards of "worldly beauty" or not. It made me tolerant of myself, and of those around me. Instead of being annoyed when another woman gave me bad attitude, instead I felt compassion and saw the beauty of God that was being revealed through her. The premises of the book are that all women have three needs that they try to answer in whatever way possible: 1. To be romanced. 2. To be part of an adventure. 3. To unveil beauty. When you start to realize that these are God-given desires, and they were meant to be met by him, as well as reveal him through you to those around you, you start to see yourself in a different light. I recommend this book to any woman who is still discovering her place and purpose in God's plan. It could change your life.

After reading Wild at Heart last year, I thought I would enjoy the companion book for women. Alas, not so. The premise of the book is that every woman has three common desires: to be romanced, to play a role in her own adventures, and to display beauty. Sadly, many women do not get these desires met and end up depressed, angry, isolated, and tired. The authors believe that if women see God as the ultimate lover, look to Eve as their model of ideal womanhood, and form close, intimate friendships with one another, they will better get their needs met. This is not new material, and not every woman will agree with the foundational concepts on which the authors build their argument. Not recommended. The writing style was challenging, and it took me about six weeks to plod through. You would spend your time more wisely with a book like Completely His: Loving Jesus without Limits by Shannon Ethridge.

It's sad that this book is being pushed as providing great knowledge and wisdom on what it is to be a woman. It provides a very limited scope of what it is to be a woman at best. It is a step backwards in the journey of gender equality.

What a wonderful journey for every woman to take. The views in this book are new and easy to grasp. This is a must read for all women, to understand who they are, where they have come from. Highly recommended read.

Every woman should read this book. It gives women hope and helps us realize that we are very precious to God. This book defines the "essence of a woman". I did a book study with a small group of women and we all agreed that this book is incredible. I will read this book over and over again.