Review of, Marrying A Widower: What You Need to Know Before Tying the Knot by Abel Keogh and Summer Giveaway on His Blog!

Product Details:

• Title: Marrying a Widower: What You Need to Know Before Tying the Know
• Author: Abel Keogh
• Paperback: 114 pages
• Publisher: Ben Lomond Press (April 19, 2012)
• Genre: Non-Fiction
• ISBN-10: 0615632602
• ISBN-13: 978-0615632605

Book Description:

Are you in a serious relationship with a widower? Are you considering tying the knot? Any lasting relationship takes a lot of work, but a successful marriage to a widower requires the ability for both of you to work through unique issues that most couples don’t face. Are you up to the challenge?
Drawing on a decade of experience as a remarried widower, Abel Keogh gives you unique insight into what it takes to make any long-term relationship with a widower successful, including:

• How to make sure your marriage is new, exciting, and fresh instead of a rehash of the widower’s previous relationship.
• Suggestions and tips for making sure both of you can talk about the late wife, his grief, and any other widower-related issues.
• What role, if any, the late wife’s family should play in your relationship.
• How to make the home feel like yours instead of theirs.
• A dozen real-life stories from women who are engaged or married to a widower.
Marrying a Widower will help you decide whether or not the widower you’re dating is


prepared to make the ultimate commitment. More importantly, the book will walk you through many of the challenging circumstances that come with tying the knot and help you decide if taking this step is right for you.

 My Review: 
Marrying a Widower: What You Need to Know Before Tying the Knot by Abel Keogh is a follow up and companion book to Dating A Widower. (Here is my review of the first book.) I was very interested in reading this new book after reading the first one. Before I had a chance to read it though, my friend, who was soon to wed a Widower wanted to read it first before her wedding. I was curious and wanted to know what she thought about the book. Here is what she had to say...


"What a timely book for me! I had just gotten engaged to a Widower when Sheila told me about this book. I thought I had worked through many things, but boy was I wrong. After reading this book I knew I still had a lot to work through before our wedding. I think the things that helped me most in this book were the chapters on Making a Home Together and Setting Expectations. Our biggest problem was where to live; my house or his house where he and his late wife raised their three kids. This had become a huge stumbling block in our engagement until I read the chapter from this book to him. The idea that we needed to start a new life together, in a new place won out. I am grateful for this author, Abel Keogh, for writing this book. I can say that this was an invaluable part of starting our new life."

After I read my friend's thoughts about this book I knew that there wasn't much else I would need to say. This book helped my friend and her new husband over a big hurdle in their relationship. A book like this is needed because it addresses so many concerns that may be there and you're not sure how to handle them. I was interested in reading how to Parent and Blend Families. I have two children, and if I ever marry again (I should say WHEN I marry again...being positive here people!) this will be one of my main concerns. In this chapter it talks about how to put each other first, being on the same page when parenting, being a parent first before a friend, and having each others back. 

Marrying a Widower: What You Need to Know Before Tying the Knot, is a must read book for those planning on marrying a Widower. You will find honest and thought provoking information that will help you make good decisions in your relationship. The true stories from real women, that share their own experiences, are also very helpful. This book I feel, is the last stop, in that final decision of whether or not that Widower you are dating will be your future husband.

  
Summer Book Giveaway on Abel's Blog
Here is an email I received from him..."Want to win a copy of Room for Two, The Third, Dating a Widower, or Marrying a Widower? Stop by my blog this week and guess where the various vacation photos were taken. If you’re one of the three winners, you can pick one of my aforementioned books and I'll mail you a signed copy. Details and photos can be found on my blog."

About the Author:

At the age of 26, Abel Keogh unexpectedly found himself a young widower. When he decided to starting dating again he looked in vain for resources that could help him guide him through the dating waters and open his heart to someone else. He found nothing. As he began blogging about his experiences, women dating widowers began emailing him asking for his thought on their situations. As the numbers of emails increased, Abel started writing a weekly dating a widower advice column called Widower Wednesday as well as the book Dating a Widower: Starting a Relationship with a Man Who’s Starting Over. Abel is also the author of the memoir Room for Two—the story of the year of his life following his late wife’s suicide—and the novel The Third. He and his wife Julianna are the parents of three boys and two girls. Learn more at www.abelkeogh.com. 

**I was given a review copy of this book. In no way did this influence the honest review given.**

Review of "Dating a Widower Starting a Relationship with a Man Who's Starting Over " by Abel Keogh

The Back Cover Blurb:

Are you thinking about dating a widower? Your new relationship will have unique challenges you won’t find when dating single or divorced men. For it to work, the widower will have to put his feelings for his late wife to the side and focus on you. But how do you know if he’s ready to take this step?
Drawing on his own experience as a widower who’s remarried, Abel Keogh gives you unique insight into the hearts and minds of widowers, including:

• How to tell if a widower’s ready to make room in his heart for you 
• Red flags that may indicate he’s not ready for commitment
• How to handle family and friends who aren’t supportive of the widower’s new relationship
• Tips for dealing with holidays and other special occasions

Dating a Widower is your 101 guide to having a relationship with a man who’s starting over.  It also contains over a dozen real life stories from women who have gone down the same road you’re traveling. It’s the perfect book to help you decide if the man you’re seeing is ready for a new relationship—and whether or not dating a widower is right for you.


I was very interested when I first heard of this book. As a single, divorced woman I have a good chance of someday dating a Widower. I felt like this book is an excellent resource for woman. Abel gives clear and straight forward information. There is no beating around the bush as he gives his advice, coming from his own experiences as a former Widower. Abel also gives wonderful advice for anyone just dating. I felt like this was a study guide for me, as I haven't jumped into the dating world since my divorce.

One of the main messages I really appreciated from this book, were the "Red Flag" warning signs women should be aware of. These are things to look for to see if a man is not ready to commit to you or anyone else yet. I also liked the advice of knowing when to let go and move on to someone else. I can see how this would truly save a lot of heartache for both individuals.

Also included in this book is a section near the end for the Widowers called, "Ten Dating Tips for the Widower". This book is ideal for men as well as women.

I highly recommend this book for women and men who find themselves back in the dating world, especially after a death of a spouse. I know that I will be keeping, Dating a Widower: Starting a Relationship with a Man Who's Starting Over, close by. Abel Keogh is an fantastic author, who has poured a lot of heart and soul into sharing his experiences. As a woman who someday may be living through this experience, I am grateful for him choosing to help others by writing this book.

Read Chapter 1

Purchase Dating a Widower
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About this author

: Visit Abel's website here.
Abel is the author of the novel The Third and the memoir Room for Two and numerous short stories and poems. For nearly a decade he has worked as a professional copywriter and composed hundreds of print and online pieces of marketing collateral for technology, real estate, health care, and education organiza¬tions—including several Fortune 500 companies. Abel and his wife, Julianna, are the parents of three boys and a girl.

***I received a review copy of this book from the author. In no way did this influence the review that was given.

My Review of "The Third" by Abel Keogh

Synopsis:

When Ransom Lawe, a recycler in the Pacific Northwest, finds out his wife is pregnant with their third—and therefore illegal—child, he’s forced to choose between the government who proclaims a desire to save the planet and his hope for a place where his family can live in freedom. But with the Census Bureau Sentinels closing in on his wife and unborn child, Ransom’s choice will either save his family or tear them apart forever.

Abel Keogh offers a stark and haunting look at a not-so-distant future in this chilling new novel. Crossing lines between good and evil, freedom and oppression, and political and environmental responsibility, The Third is a gut-wrenching tale of intense loyalty and unconditional love.

The Third is a book about choices. These choices deal with being loyal to your country or your family or yourself. It is also a story about courage and pure love for your family. The main character will sacrifice everything in order to keep his wife and children safe. Abel has a way in this story, of bringing out so many emotions for the reader.You are anxious for the main character and his family, you are appalled that our country allows certain things to happen, and you want desperately for the unborn child to be safe.

One thing that crossed my mind, is that this is a fiction story that could someday be fact. This is not a fantasy story, but more a dystopian style novel. The story takes place in Washington state in 2065. It was fascinating and scary to read about what life MAY be like 54 years from now.

I felt so hopeless as I read The Third. I just couldn't figure out how Ransom was going to save his family, including his unborn child. As you can see, you literally are on the edge of your seats as you read this book. When you read this book make sure that you have plenty of time to finish it. I would have finished it in one sitting if I hadn't started it late at night. I did finish it the next day.

Am I impressed with Abel's writing? Oh yes, he is a great writer! He knows how to write an intense thriller, mixed in with strong characters, good and bad guys, and unique story ideas. This novel also has a great first chapter that will draw you in. Sorry folks, once it does, it will not let you go. I also wanted to let you know, that I gave this book 5 stars on goodreads.com. I don't give out 5 stars very often, but when I do, that book truly deserves it.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Third, follow this link.

I recommend this book to all readers. Regardless of your favorite genre of book, this novel has a little of everything that will appeal to the masses. I think that there will be a sequel coming out. There has to be, just from the way things ended, and the bad guy is still out there looking for Ransom and his family.

You can buy a personalized copy of The Third here at Abel's site.

You can also order The Third at Amazon.com

About Abel Keogh

Abel is the author of the novel The Third and the memoir Room for Two and numerous short stories and poems. For nearly a decade he has worked as a professional copywriter and composed hundreds of print and online pieces of marketing collateral for technology, real estate, health care, and education organiza¬tions—including several Fortune 500 companies. Abel and his wife, Julianna, are the parents of three boys and a girl.

To learn more about Abel and his writing, please visit his website.