I can see where the book would be useful to people who may be struggling to blend families. There's a lot of useful information in it, and if I had a friend who'd remarried and they were having some tough times, I'd definitely pass it along. However, as our home is pretty harmonious, my husband and I didn't get a lot of practical use from the book. We seem to have done a lot of what Mr. Deal suggested already!

I guess this book would be a helpful resource for anyone without common sense. But really, I already had this junk figured out before I married my wife.

A very well organized approach to an increasingly frequent issue in real lives. My counseling practice has grown significantly with the pains of blending families with successful respect. Thank you for a tool that is right on topic and filled with insightful guidance. ( )

Excellent counseling on stepfamilying. I will be recommended this to our church bookstore and our pastors for use. Mr. Deal gives very practical helps is making this unhappy family situation work, and to become honoring to God. A must reading for all who find themselves with the possibility of marrying when already having kids, or with friends going there. I've only read the prerelease edition and look forward to seeing what changes were made since there appears to be an added 50 pages in that.

This is an excellent book for men who find themselves in the new position of being a father figure to children who aren't biologically theirs. The author goes into great detail explaining what these men should and shouldn't do, and includes quite a few true stories to support his evidence. Even though I'm a woman and certainly not a stepfather, I think that the author's suggestions could be applied to several different situations, not just for a new stepdad. ( )