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The Intimate Connection: Secrets to a Lifelong Romance

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Creating a happy, lifelong marriage is about much more than physical compatibility. It's about a lifestyle of 24-7 intimacy that bonds couples in a mutually satisfying relationship. In The Intimate Connection, bestselling marriage expert Dr. Kevin Leman explores key secrets to the love life couples crave. He helps readers- understand each other's needs, backgrounds, and personalities (and how those factors influence every marital interaction)- talk so their spouse really listens- turn negative game-playing into positive behaviors that help couples grow closer- create deep, long-lasting intimacy that's divorce-proofWhether couples are new to marriage or have been married a long time, Dr. Leman's time-tested strategies will create the kind of exciting intimacy, mutual respect, and fulfilling communication that will keep husbands and wives in each other's arms for a lifetime.

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2019

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About the author

Kevin Leman

182 books346 followers
Dr. Kevin Leman, an internationally known psychologist, radio and television personality, and speaker, has taught and entertained audiences worldwide with his wit and commonsense psychology. The best-selling and award-winning author has made house calls for hundreds of radio and television programs, including The View with Barbara Walters, The Today Show, Oprah, CBS's The Early Show, Live with Regis Philbin, CNN's American Morning, and LIFE Today with James Robison, and he has served as a contributing family psychologist to Good Morning America. He is the founder and president of Couples of Promise, an organization designed and committed to helping couples remain happily married. Dr. Leman is also a charter faculty member of iQuestions.com. He has written over 30 best-selling books about marriage and family issues, including The Birth Order Book and Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage. Dr. Leman and his wife, Sande, live in Tucson. They have five children.

Connect with Dr. Leman on:
BirthOrderGuy.com
Facebook
Twitter

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Rachel DeVaughn.
1,002 reviews27 followers
May 27, 2019
I have read several books by Dr. Leman so I was really excited to get his latest book.

"Whether you are new to marriage or have been marries a long time, Dr. Leman's time-tested strategies will create the kind of exciting intimacy, mutual respect, and fulfilling communication that will keep you in each other's arms for a lifetime."

This book includes 13 chapters/"secrets" to lifelong romance, including some bonus sections. The chapters include things like, "Sex is important...but not for the reasons you might think", "Outside forces have shaped your relationship (without your permission), "For your spouse to truly hear you, you have to talk in a way that encourages them to listen" and "There's no reason to settle for blah, less-than, or a battlefield". Don't those chapters sound really good??!

The introduction from the author was good to read, and specifically spot on for me. "If you're reading this book, you picked it up because you crave a more satisfying marriage. You don't want to be just roommates who only intersect over the basic necessities of life..."

I really enjoyed reading the principles in this book and the examples and stories throughout as well. They were really helpful and I'm looking forward to re-reading this book slower so I can implement the marriage secrets in my own 10 year marriage. I highly recommend this book as well as others he has written!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Kristen.
163 reviews14 followers
July 16, 2019
My review:

While I still have about 1/4 left to read, I have some mixed feelings about this book. This book does have some very helpful advice and tips for improving a marriage. But some of the book tended towards putting men and women into categories and generalizations. Secrets 7-9 were very hard for me to get through. Secret 7 deals with birth order, secret 8 deals with personality types, and secret 9 deals with life mantras. I struggled with these chapters because I didn’t feel like myself or my husband fit very well into just one particular category. It was very hard for me to relate to those chapters when I didn’t see how those birth orders, personality types, or life mantras applied to each of us.

Secrets 1 to 6 and 10 had some very good information and things from which my marriage will benefit. They still had some generalizations and could get a little repetitive but overall, I enjoyed these chapters. I plan to have my husband read some parts of this book so we can both benefit from it and work to improve our marriage.

I received this book for free from Revell. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Jeff Bobin.
824 reviews13 followers
February 6, 2023
Most of us when we are dating develop an intimate relationship that we never want to end. Few are willing to do the hard work of maintaining that relationship and find that our level of intimacy is disappointing.

This is a great look at why we lose that intimacy, that at one time we dreamed that would continue to deepen, and how we can restore it to a healthy level.

I found that Leman speaks truth, even when it is not popular or what we want to hear. There is a lot to be learned from his years of experience that has deepened his wisdom for todays marriages.
143 reviews
May 31, 2022
Some of the generalizations get a little annoying, for example I am a woman who uses way less words than my husband (and most people in general). But overall, full of good insights, practical tips, and enough humor to make it all palatable. A good book if you're newly married trying to figure it out, or if you've been married awhile and just want to do better.
62 reviews
October 26, 2020
One of the best marriage books I've read or that I remember reading. I've just worked on one thing suggested and it made almost an immediate improvement. It said we are not shooting for perfection but excellence in order to achieve a more deeply satisfying, intimate connection.
Profile Image for Sara Ensley.
8 reviews
April 14, 2021
I have always enjoyed Dr. Leman's take on intimacy. This book was more about the emotional intimacy each couple should enjoy with each other. He gave practical and meaningful advice, and I know my communications skills will reflect that soon!
Profile Image for Beth Virgil.
56 reviews1 follower
May 2, 2021
This book is so helpful and contains so much relevant information that it will be a book a read annually and reference often. I had a lot of light bulb moments and it is the best book I have read on marriage.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
4 reviews
January 1, 2021
Simple, yet effective strategies to improve your intimacy with your spouse.
1 review1 follower
January 23, 2021
Great book for couples.

This is a great book if you’ve been married a little while and want to keep fine tuning your relationship.
Profile Image for Megan.
34 reviews
April 11, 2022
Great book that touches on bids for connection, birth order, personality types, trauma, and love languages.
Profile Image for Amanda.
222 reviews7 followers
June 17, 2019
Marriage is a relationship in life that requires daily work. And when this relationship starts to slide, it's good to address the problems right away. Like anything else, the longer the issues are unaddressed, the more work it'll take to get things back in order. Dr. Kevin Leman's book The Intimate Connection: Secrets to a Lifelong Romance seeks to address many of the common issues that have the potential to derail a marriage.

I think that Dr. Kevin Leman's book is a great resource for couples that helps to identify the root of potential problems and also gives advice to improve their relationship. He gives 13 different secrets to help improve your marriage. They are:

1. Acts of Love Create an Unbreakable Bond
2. Outside Forces Have Shaped Your Relationship (without your permission)
3. Preconceived Notions Matter
4. There's No Reason to Settle for Blah, Less-Than, or a Battlefield
5. Yup, Men and Women are Different
6. Sex Is Important... but Not for the Reasons You Might Think
7. To Love Your Spouse, You Have to Know Who You Married
8. Clashes Feel Less Personal When You Understand Your Partner's Personality
9. To Truly Know Your Partner, You Have to Understand Their Life Mantra
10. Feelings Pull You Together; Judgements Push You Apart
11. Marriage Isn't a One-on-One Competition; It's a Team Sport
12. For Your Spouse to Truly Hear You, You Have to Talk in a Way That Encourages Them to Listen
13. You Can Have the Marriage You Deserve

I thought Dr. Leman's advice was good food for thought and made me question some of my reasoning behind the way I respond to certain situations. I found the birth order (secret #7), personality (secret #8) and life mantra (secret #9) sections very interesting. These aspects of a person do explain our propensity to respond the way we do. The author also includes 3 bonus sections that give some practical ways to implement the ideas he is sharing. This book is more about the psychology behind why we act the way we do and less about implementing biblical principles into your relationship. One other note is this book was previously published under the title Sex Begins in the Kitchen.
Overall, I think this book is a good resource for couples and provides good thoughts to help aid in strengthening the marriage relationship.


***I received this complimentary book from Revell Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Peggy.
43 reviews
June 3, 2019
Dr. Kevin Leman does not disappoint. In his relatable, no nonsense fashion, Kevin Leman presents his same message with a different angle in The Intimate Connection: Secrets to a Lifelong Romance. What does it look like to own your own junk and become a healthy individual mentally and emotionally so that you can relate on a better level with others, specifically your spouse in this one. In a very conversational and down to earth fashion that Kevin Leman is known for, he covers 13 Secrets to lifelong romance starting with changing ourselves first, then identifying what outside forces have shaped us and what kind of preconceived notions do we hold onto. He does a great job of helping the reader see how this is impacting them and their spouse.
He gives practical hope and help for those who are willing to be honest with themselves and their spouse and do the work that it takes to make a good marriage. As I read the first chapter I went online to check if this was a new book, or re-release of an older book of Kevin Leman's. It definitely has the feel and flow his other books. Some of it may not float as well with younger couples in the beginning because I think the issues initially addressed are seen differently by the younger generation. There seems to me that the stereotypical males and females from yesteryear are not quite the same today. As I continued on though, I felt like the content was something that every couple, no matter the generation, or years married could connect with and glean from.
I would recommend this book to others as a useful tool to grow in knowledge of self as a spouse and how to relate better to your spouse. It is definitely very readable and relatable. It is very practical and helpful as I have found any Kevin Leman book I have read. I have mostly read his parenting books, but I found his same down to earth, practical wisdom with marriage in this book.
*Disclaimers: This book was provided to me for review by Revell Reads #RevellReads
Profile Image for Jalynn Patterson.
2,173 reviews39 followers
June 12, 2019
**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of hcarge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.



About the Book:

Creating a happy, lifelong marriage is about much more than physical compatibility. It's about a lifestyle of 24-7 intimacy that bonds couples in a mutually satisfying relationship. In The Intimate Connection, bestselling marriage expert Dr. Kevin Leman explores key secrets to the love life couples crave. He helps readers

- understand each other's needs, backgrounds, and personalities (and how those factors influence every marital interaction)
- talk so their spouse really listens
- turn negative game-playing into positive behaviors that help couples grow closer
- create deep, long-lasting intimacy that's divorce-proof

Whether couples are new to marriage or have been married a long time, Dr. Leman's time-tested strategies will create the kind of exciting intimacy, mutual respect, and fulfilling communication that will keep husbands and wives in each other's arms for a lifetime.


My Review:

Marriage is not easy or a piece of cake. So when the subject comes up to my children, I'll tell them the unbearable truth--it is hard work. Probably, the hardest job I have ever had is to have a successful marriage. Dr Leman, knows how hard it can be and longs to be able to show us how to be "good' at it.

The trick to this whole thing according to the author is that many times God has a lot of work to do on us before He can mend whats broken or what the marriage stronger. so the author sets out to help us to allow God to do what He needs to do to fix "it".


With 13 marriage secrets and a challenge to give it your all. This is a sure fire good start to helping any marriage no matter the reasons. Intimacy in your marriage is just a few pages away from becoming a reality.
Profile Image for Aurelia Mast-glick.
367 reviews10 followers
January 2, 2020
There are 13 secrets that Dr. Leman exposes in this book, 13 tips that can lead you to that intimate connection you crave with your spouse. Secrets like: "For your spouse to truly hear you, you have to talk in a way that encourages them to listen" or "Feelings pull you together, judgments push you apart." or "Acts of love create an unbreakable bond. If you want to change your spouse, try changing yourself first."

Basically, I will read anything Dr. Kevin Leman writes. I've read a couple of his books over the past couple of years and have one more on my shelf to read and I enjoy every one of them. He has a way of writing that drives the point home clearly. Add to that the stories and humor he throws in and the books will hold your attention and make you want to read more.

This book was no exception. I enjoyed reading it. I had started it early summer and got sidetracked by business and came back to read it all through the last couple weeks and thoroughly enjoyed it and was convicted to try harder to make my marriage even better.

One of the things he said in the book is this: "When somebody wins, you both lose." Marriage is not a competition, it's not trying to one-up the other person. Marriage is a team, working together to reach the goal. I like that idea. I like to be competitive, but that's very harmful in a marriage. So I want to work on being more of a team player and doing life together.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Dr. Leman. If you like fiction, check out his fiction series called "The Worthington Destiny" co-authored with Jeff Nesbit. I only read one of these books, the third one, but I would like to read all of them. They were good.

I received this book from Revell Publishing and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Deborah Flora.
72 reviews3 followers
June 3, 2019
Here are several of the things I like about this book:

The Intimate Connection has thirteen chapters and they’re each categorized and titled as a secret.

A few of them are………

Secret #1 Acts of Love Create an Unbreakable Bond

Secret #3 Preconceived Notions Matter

Secret #7 To Love Your Spouse, You Have to Know Who You Married

Secret #10 Feelings Pull You Together; Judgments Push You Apart

Throughout the book there are small sections titled Man to Man or For Women Only that throw out tips and creative ideas and the needs and wants of men and women. I enjoyed these thoughts and the format.

There are also two bonus sections with thought-provoking material and questions to ponder and answer.

This book is easy to read with conversational chapters and stories. It assesses a lot of daily living, our personalities, and what we need to invest into a working, healthy marriage relationship. Dr. Kevin Lehman shares different scenarios from different lifestyles and different paired personality types. It's very interesting to realize a big part of marriage and relationships is seeing and knowing the other person and what makes them tick. It's also realizing who we are and why we do what we do.

I received a copy of this book to review and all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Laura.
Author 36 books644 followers
June 8, 2019
INTIMATE CONNECTION is a marriage book by a marriage expert, Dr. Kevin Leman. I learned a lot from Dr. Leman from the first book of his I read. Such as most couples only spend 2 minutes a day talking. I made it a point to connect with my spouse and ask about his day... He knows I care and he gets to vent or share blessings as needed. Also, he may not do a household chore the way I would, but thank him and don't criticize. Random love notes....We've been married over 30 years and are still close.



I requested this book for review for my newlywed son and his bride. I think it would be a wonderful gift for them--for any newlywed couple. For any married couple (period). It could save a flagging marriage from divorce. It could revitalize a stagnant marriage. It could save your marriage.



INTIMATE CONNECTION is a must have for any pastor's or marriage counselor's library. It is an excellent wedding gift for newlyweds. It is necessary reading for those in a floundering marriage. Grab a copy for you or a friend, a grown child or your church library today and save a marriage. Revitalize a marriage. Connect intimately.



Recommended.



I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.









Profile Image for Janelle Cole.
283 reviews1 follower
June 10, 2019
When we allow movies, books or tv shows to define what a normal family looks like we can get off track. We can start to think that things should work out, they should be intuitive, and easy. We can get confused and end up in a place we never envisioned being.


Dr. Kevin Leman takes a deeper look into long lasting relationships in The Intimate Connection. Dr. Leman helps the reader see that a relationship takes hard work, time and commitment.

In his book, Dr. Leman reveals 13 secrets to create a long lasting relationship. He addresses how outside influences have been allowed inside and how they are affecting your marriage. He helps you understand your personality and your spouses, so that you can deal with conflicts better and less emotionally.

I enjoyed getting into this book and hearing the sage wisdom from Dr. Leman. He takes a direct approach, but writes in a way that you feel encouraged and equipped and not corrected or rebuked.

If you are looking for a book to help you take a closer look at making some better choices for your marriage this is a fantastic tool!

NOTE : I received a copy of The Intimate Connection from Revell Publishers, in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Lindsey.
47 reviews2 followers
September 16, 2019
I have been a fan of Dr. Kevin Leman's for many years. I first read his book "The Birth Order Book" when I was in high school and as a high schooler enjoyed it tremendously! Since then I have read a couple of his other books and was excited to get to read this one! His writing style is easy to read and he is very knowledgeable about the topic of marriage. I liked how he discussed how differing personalities play a role in marriage and how important it is to not only see and know about the other person's personality, but to also know our own personality and what makes us do what we do. I enjoyed how he shared practical things we can begin to implement on a daily basis to help to invest in creating a healthy marriage relationship. This book is a must-read for married couples and would make a great gift for any newlywed couple just beginning on their marriage journey. I am looking forward to talking with my husband about different ideas/thoughts I found in this book and hopefully start to implement in our marriage going forward!

Paperback – I received a free copy of this book from Revell Reads for the purpose of an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Bridget.
199 reviews22 followers
June 11, 2021
This is a book about marriage, but more than that, this book is about the work that must be put into a marriage to cultivate love for a lifetime together. A lot of this book focuses on understanding your spouse's background, how their family life and experiences have shaped the way they look at life and they way they interact with others in relationships. The author touches on personality, birth order, communication styles, etc. He also spends time talking about healthy conflict and conflict resolution in marriage, as well as understanding your spouse's unique needs.

As someone recently married, I found this book to be helpful in a lot of practical ways. I learned a lot about understanding my husband and where he's come from, which I appreciated. There were a lot of tips I could immediately put into action- another plus. Sometimes I feel that "marriage self-help books" are a little repetitive, as you start to hear the same advice over and over again. But I suppose the reason that the information is talked about so much is because it really works!

I received a copy of The Intimate Connection from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
1,069 reviews
May 20, 2019
The Intimate Connection, by Dr. Kevin Leman, covers many topics to help create a happy marriage. Using examples of his own life and those of couples he counseled, Dr. Leman explains ways to help create a life long relationship with your spouse that is filled with respect, communication and love. The author touches on topics such as a person's early life, past experiences, personalities and birth order to show how they may respond in their marriage. The author gives suggestion for understanding your spouse and gives tips to avoid trigger points or help them grow.

This is an interesting book that should be read by both partners to get the most benefit from it, whether they be engaged or married for many years. The author brings out many good points on how to built a better relationship. I liked that he also included the importance of faith and Biblical teachings in a relationship.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads Blog Program, this is my honest review.
Profile Image for victoria.
347 reviews2 followers
May 27, 2019
This book was incredible writing and compelling to read with that also will going you more satisfying marriage or you are in relationship and you don’t want to feel like just a best friend. This book will giving you a sweet touches of a long connection, for stimulating flow of conversation, and show you the kind of life partner you’ve always looking of or the kind of marriage that you deserve of. I highly recommend to everyone must to read this book. “ I received complimentary a copy of this book from Revell Reads for this review”.
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