When Two Become One: Enhancing Sexual Intimacy in Marriage

by Christopher McCluskey, Rachel McCluskey

Ignite the intimate, passionate love God created you to enjoy with your mate. That's what this book is all about.
Now in paper, When Two Become One shows couples how to make their love life the fulfilling experience it was meant to be. Christian counselor and certified sex therapist Christopher McCluskey and his wife, Rachel, introduce The Lovemaking Cycle(c), an innovative model that helps readers see the difference between sex and making love. Much more than a how-to book, this practical, detailed resource offers a vision of lovemaking that facilitates a deeper experience of intimacy on all planes of marriage. Discussion questions and honest advice make this a must-read for all married couples, counselors, and anyone considering marriage.

Genres: Marriage, Sexuality, Counselling, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

Reviews

[Stefani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be honest: I was worried when I started reading this book. As part of my intimacy book study to help sort out the wheat from the chaff in Christian intimacy literature, I’ve seen books overspiritualize sexuality to the point that it became weird. I feared that this book would do the same. However, I was greatly impressed by this book. Not only did it reflect an accurate Biblical sexual theology, it promoted a very warm and positive view of sex. (Honestly, it’s what Sheila Gregoire was trying to do—but failed—with The Great Sex Rescue.) It doesn’t cover sex mechanics or physiology or physical techniques, but it does share how a couple can improve their sexual relationship through their Lovemaking Cycle—a more relational approach to complement the 4 phases of lovemaking in every other book (from Masters and Johnson). Plus, it promotes self-care for women. Laura Doyle would be proud.

[Emily Jeanne Arze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another read for school - absolutely slayed though

[Alyssa Hancock · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must admit that the authors ideas and words struck me as strange quite often throughout the book. There were a few great ideas such as “making love” throughout the day with your spouse through word, action and service and how that love shown throughout the day will lead to a deeper connection in the bedroom. A majority of the time reading, however, I felt as though McCluskey was just trying to show how fabulous of a sex therapist he was; with the accounts of his clients saying how he’s changed their life rather than focusing on HOW and what they specifically changed that strengthened their relationship. I’ve not read other ‘Christian intimacy’ books but I would say to maybe skip this one and find another.

[Adam Shields · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short review: I have been reading a lot on sex in marriage because my wife and I are leading a small group for newly married couples and we have been going through an 8 week discussion on sex. This book was the center of our discussion. It is not a perfect book but has a very good section on the different stages of sex which is better than most other books. When it is focused on either clinical aspects of sex or some aspects of couples working through sexual disfunction, it is a good book. It weakness was the overview of the role of sex in marriage at the beginning and the questions that men and women ask at the end.

Long review on my blog at http://bookwi.se/two-become-one-mcclu...

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

My parents gave us this book when we first married. I finally read it and I liked it. It's a good book I don't agree with some of the theology. The idea of God doing a happy dance while he's watching us have sex is a little weird but to each there own.
He does have a lot of good advice and it was an enjoyable and educational read.

[Rena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book. It made me think. I like how it focuses more on intimacy and healing rather than the physical aspect of sex. Marty and I read this aloud to each other for a week or two. I would have been better off reading it by myself and processing the questions before we talked about it.

[April]

suggested in Human Sexuality (J '10)