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Kiss Me Like You Mean It: Solomon's Crazy in Love How-To Manual
Many couples find themselves at a point where they need a passion boost. How can husbands and wives break through the many obstacles and issues that have derailed their desire and get back on track to being the crazy-in-love couple they once were?
Solomon had a few secrets up his ancient sleeves, and marriage therapist Dr. David Clarke helps readers learn why the passionate exchanges and God-inspired, 3,000-year-old techniques of Solomon and Shulamith worked then--and still work today. Readers will learn how to troubleshoot problems and conflicts, put each other first, employ praise, have fun, flirt, be more playful and sensual, and rediscover the lost art of a great kiss.
Every married couple can experience exhilarating passion; Dr. Clarke and the Song of Solomon reveal how!
Solomon had a few secrets up his ancient sleeves, and marriage therapist Dr. David Clarke helps readers learn why the passionate exchanges and God-inspired, 3,000-year-old techniques of Solomon and Shulamith worked then--and still work today. Readers will learn how to troubleshoot problems and conflicts, put each other first, employ praise, have fun, flirt, be more playful and sensual, and rediscover the lost art of a great kiss.
Every married couple can experience exhilarating passion; Dr. Clarke and the Song of Solomon reveal how!
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2009
59 people are currently reading
564 people want to read
About the author
David E. Clarke
24 books37 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Dr. David Clarke is a Christian psychologist, speaker, and the author of seven books, including Kiss Me Like You Mean It. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, he has been in full-time private practice for over 20 years. He lives in Florida. William G. Clarke has been a marriage and family therapist for over 30 years. A former Campus Crusade for Christ director and founder of the Marriage and Family Enrichment Center, he lives in Florida.
Dr. David Clarke is a Christian psychologist, speaker, and the author of seven books, including Kiss Me Like You Mean It. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, he has been in full-time private practice for over 20 years. He lives in Florida. William G. Clarke has been a marriage and family therapist for over 30 years. A former Campus Crusade for Christ director and founder of the Marriage and Family Enrichment Center, he lives in Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 14, 2012
The genders are stereotyped way, way too much in this book, which is surprising since the author has been a counselor for so long. Surely he's met women who are the non-talkers in their relationship, and who don't like to shop.
Two other complaints: (1) I don't agree with some of his intepretations of the Song of Solomon. (2) The practical advice in this book was a little on the light side, meaning I had to skim a lot of text to get to it. But because there were some good tips, especially on spiritual intimacy and general communiciation issues, I would really give it more of a 2.5.
Two other complaints: (1) I don't agree with some of his intepretations of the Song of Solomon. (2) The practical advice in this book was a little on the light side, meaning I had to skim a lot of text to get to it. But because there were some good tips, especially on spiritual intimacy and general communiciation issues, I would really give it more of a 2.5.
January 9, 2013
I wouldn't say my marriage is in trouble, but I got this Kindle book for free awhile back and decided to read it since it fits in with my 'read more nonfiction in 2013' goal. It was an interesting (and fun) read and Dr. Clarke definitely gives some good advice, no matter the state of your marriage.
August 25, 2020
This is a quick read and is written on the ground level—pop style. The authors humor and style didn’t mesh well with me. I’d have given a 3.5 if I could have. It’s a good entry level book, but if you’ve read various marriage books, you’ll find little new here. I think this is a good book for husbands who hate reading. He interpreted the Song well overall. His illustrations were often stereotypical.
February 1, 2013
Awesome book for couples. Love the author's transparency and his use of wit and humor in writing about struggles that every couple face.
February 29, 2012
The book is decent. There are certainly good points. I think the author over stereotypes men and women and also stretches the Song of Solomon a bit at times. Overall it's worth reading but don't insist on applying every last detail to your own marriage.
November 14, 2021
Confession: I only read this book to fulfill a requirement of my 2021 reading challenge (a book that starts with the same letter as my first name). I don't know how I found this book, but it was on my Kindle, so I read it.
It was a fun, interesting read. I'd always been taught that the Song of Solomon was symbolic, so it was a stretch for me to read it as an actual account of a romantic relationship. There were times when I thought his interpretation might be a stretch of what's actually in Song, but I'll have to do some more studying.
Regardless of whether Song is the true story of Solomon and his wife--even if it is allegorical of Christ and the church--it still provides a pretty good example of how a Godly marriage can (and should) function. A lot of it does focus on the physical aspect of marriage, which I appreciated. I know so many Christians who ignore that side of marriage that it actually breaks my heart. I truly appreciate that Clarke gives it time and identifies it as an important aspect of a Godly marriage. I agree!
If you and/or your spouse are looking for Godly encouragement in your marriage (especially regarding your physical intimacy), I recommend this book. (You might not completely agree with his interpretations, but the marital advice he gives agrees with other counselors I've read/talked with).
Rated PG.
It was a fun, interesting read. I'd always been taught that the Song of Solomon was symbolic, so it was a stretch for me to read it as an actual account of a romantic relationship. There were times when I thought his interpretation might be a stretch of what's actually in Song, but I'll have to do some more studying.
Regardless of whether Song is the true story of Solomon and his wife--even if it is allegorical of Christ and the church--it still provides a pretty good example of how a Godly marriage can (and should) function. A lot of it does focus on the physical aspect of marriage, which I appreciated. I know so many Christians who ignore that side of marriage that it actually breaks my heart. I truly appreciate that Clarke gives it time and identifies it as an important aspect of a Godly marriage. I agree!
If you and/or your spouse are looking for Godly encouragement in your marriage (especially regarding your physical intimacy), I recommend this book. (You might not completely agree with his interpretations, but the marital advice he gives agrees with other counselors I've read/talked with).
Rated PG.
April 6, 2022
I loved the unbiased, humorous, raw and practical approach to rekindling passion in marriage. I loved that the author used the Song of Solomon to give instruction on passion, emotional connection, spiritual connection, conflict resolution and sex. I loved the practical, easy-to-apply tips that are already taking things up a notch in my own marriage. I loved that a man was able to perfectly express my own emotions and needs. I will defintely be looking for more books by Dr. David Clarke.
October 20, 2020
Not my favourite book. The author may be funny, but he goes off tangent on many occasions and the reader struggles to follow his main point. There were occasions that he referenced the bible verses. But I felt it was taken a bit out of context and a lot of self-interpretation involved. I would not recommend this book.
August 22, 2025
A lot of stereotypes (which sadly exist for a reason), but also a lot of really helpful practical advice. Refreshing to hear an honest open exploration on the true nature of the Song. I wouldn’t recommend it as a “one stop shop” for couples struggling, but it could be a helpful addition to the palette.
December 21, 2017
Brilliant
Very insightful. No holding back. Some suggestions seem a bit out there or hard to achieve but its worth it for a great marriage.
Very insightful. No holding back. Some suggestions seem a bit out there or hard to achieve but its worth it for a great marriage.
July 21, 2019
He had some good points- It felt like he was arrogant though. Some parts were a little funny. The title and cover drew me to buy it, but it wasnt what I expected.
June 18, 2020
Loved and learned so much
Great perspective and ideas for marriage issues. It is very inspirational and an easy read. I even read some to my husband of 10 years!
Great perspective and ideas for marriage issues. It is very inspirational and an easy read. I even read some to my husband of 10 years!
January 24, 2025
Excellent read I've enjoyed so much, I read it again. Safe, funny and practical for those who strive for fun and love in marriage!
October 14, 2025
This is a great read for couples after they get married. Great wisdom and ideas. Definitely going to work on implementing these tips into our marriage!
May 12, 2012
After years of marriage, many couples find their relationship at a standstill. In the routine of everyday life, they begin to feel more like roommates than spouses. With jobs to work, errands to run, and kids to raise, who has the time or energy for passion and romance? And so, passion and romance dwindle, and in the process, emotional connections are severed. Is it any wonder then that there are so many divorces in today's society?
In his book, Kiss Me Like You Mean It: Solomon's Crazy in Love How-To Manual, Dr. David Clarke, an esteemed Christian marriage counselor, deals with passionless marriages in a very blunt, head-on fashion. To be honest, he stomps on a few toes, but I'm here to tell you that his counsel is wise and effective. My husband and I have read through many devotional books for couples. Most of them were okay, but they didn't really make a mark. We read the devotion, said a prayer and then went about our routines, vaguely aware of what we had read. Their messages, while pertinent, were rather shallow. Dr. Clarke's message is not. He digs down deep to uncover the hidden reasons for lack of passion and romance in a marriage. And while I don't agree with everything in the book, I have to admit that our marriage has improved greatly since reading it.
The thing I really liked about the book was that Dr. Clarke went beyond the philosophy of "men and women are different, so deal with it". He explained how we are different and how to better understand one another. He has several chapters dealing with communication and how to get to know each other on a deeper level, even if you've been married for years. One chapter presents a "passion test", that I'm sorry to say my husband and I failed. We were perpetuating our "roommate experience" without even realizing what we were doing.
After following Dr. Clarke's advice, we are now having devotions together daily, as well as communication times (no interruptions allowed). We have also committed to one date night each week, which can consist of staying in and watching a movie, playing putt-putt, window shopping, going to see dramas, etc. It doesn't matter what we do, but that we commit to the evening together. No phones. No computers. No cancellations. It's our night! We've also put into practice our new communication skills and passion principles. It's amazing the difference it has made in our relationship. We feel like newlyweds again!
Allow me to stress again that I don't agree with everything Dr. Clarke says. His book deals mostly with passion and leaves out vital information about building a strong friendship and marital bond. That being said, I still think it is a good book for any married couple to read, whether you've been married for six months or sixty years. There was a lot of valuable information, and unlike many other "spiritual" books, Kiss Me Like You Mean It is written in a comical, conversational tone that is sure to have you laughing while you learn.
In his book, Kiss Me Like You Mean It: Solomon's Crazy in Love How-To Manual, Dr. David Clarke, an esteemed Christian marriage counselor, deals with passionless marriages in a very blunt, head-on fashion. To be honest, he stomps on a few toes, but I'm here to tell you that his counsel is wise and effective. My husband and I have read through many devotional books for couples. Most of them were okay, but they didn't really make a mark. We read the devotion, said a prayer and then went about our routines, vaguely aware of what we had read. Their messages, while pertinent, were rather shallow. Dr. Clarke's message is not. He digs down deep to uncover the hidden reasons for lack of passion and romance in a marriage. And while I don't agree with everything in the book, I have to admit that our marriage has improved greatly since reading it.
The thing I really liked about the book was that Dr. Clarke went beyond the philosophy of "men and women are different, so deal with it". He explained how we are different and how to better understand one another. He has several chapters dealing with communication and how to get to know each other on a deeper level, even if you've been married for years. One chapter presents a "passion test", that I'm sorry to say my husband and I failed. We were perpetuating our "roommate experience" without even realizing what we were doing.
After following Dr. Clarke's advice, we are now having devotions together daily, as well as communication times (no interruptions allowed). We have also committed to one date night each week, which can consist of staying in and watching a movie, playing putt-putt, window shopping, going to see dramas, etc. It doesn't matter what we do, but that we commit to the evening together. No phones. No computers. No cancellations. It's our night! We've also put into practice our new communication skills and passion principles. It's amazing the difference it has made in our relationship. We feel like newlyweds again!
Allow me to stress again that I don't agree with everything Dr. Clarke says. His book deals mostly with passion and leaves out vital information about building a strong friendship and marital bond. That being said, I still think it is a good book for any married couple to read, whether you've been married for six months or sixty years. There was a lot of valuable information, and unlike many other "spiritual" books, Kiss Me Like You Mean It is written in a comical, conversational tone that is sure to have you laughing while you learn.
May 13, 2012
This book was terrific! It takes principles from the Song of Solomon and details a how-to have a passionate, God-centered marriage that works for both partners. The author is a licensed marriage counselor. He organizes each topic by first describing how typical couples goober a certain area, and then how Solomon and his wife went about the area and thus how we should approach the area as well. The book is both practical and entertaining with the author's tongue in cheek sense of humor. I only gave 4 stars because of the formatting of the Kindle version I read. The font size would change randomly and sometimes the spacing was off. I would definitely recommend this book to any Christian husband and wife, no matter the age, no matter how long or little they've been married. I've even gotten my husband reading it out of his own curiosity after my sharing bits and pieces with him as I read. He rarely reads what I read!
P.S.-- My husband has finished reading it now. He thanked me for suggesting he read it!
P.S.-- My husband has finished reading it now. He thanked me for suggesting he read it!
June 17, 2016
Although there is a lot of cookie-cutter type advice as well as some cliched examples of struggling marriages, this book is an inspiring look at The Song of Solomon and its real purpose. God did design sexual intimacy for marriage and intends for every marriage to be blessed by it. I love the author's push to not settle for "okay" and instead strive for true passion and intimacy that can only be found with God's help.
I do caution some readers, though, as there is a bit of worldly advice peppered in with the Biblical advice. Take these with a grain of salt, apply the tips that work for your marriage. Read the Song of Solomon for yourself, maybe even with your spouse, and just get busy working on growing your marriage in a spiritual and physical way.
I do caution some readers, though, as there is a bit of worldly advice peppered in with the Biblical advice. Take these with a grain of salt, apply the tips that work for your marriage. Read the Song of Solomon for yourself, maybe even with your spouse, and just get busy working on growing your marriage in a spiritual and physical way.
April 26, 2011
Want a little more passion in your marriage, ignite the flame again. The question is this something I can discuss with Jesus, ahha, he was the inventor. Once again, I read this with a view to hearing God's heart about marriage and sex in particular, what he says in His Word is quite plain, sex is good, sex was created by him to be enjoyed. My job is to seduce my husband and his job is to romance me, racy eh! Read Song of Songs and to then think that our bridegroom thinks about us this way. I do believe that if you check with my husband he will tell you that this book was helpful in our marriage.
May 23, 2013
Clark's writing style is engaging; I sat down to "try out" this book and suddenly found myself three chapters in. He doesn't pull his punches, but his wit and sense of humor take the sting out of the sometimes hard truths he delivers. If I had to say something negative, I sometimes felt his interpretation of the Song of Solomon was a little over the top. I also felt he sometimes assumed he was speaking to people with school-age children or older, perhaps assuming people who had younger children hadn't yet lost their passion? Overall, though, I enjoyed this book and learned a lot from it about myself, my husband and our marriage. Highly recommend it.
September 9, 2009
This was an easy, fast read. The author is entertaining and has good relationship advice. His purpose is to help couples rekindle their intimate relationships after the "passion" is gone. He tries to tie his advice into the Song of Solomon from the Bible, claiming it is a God-preserved how-to manual for couples. His interpretations of the book seemed a little loose and weak to me. I'll have to pull out my Old Testament seminary manual and do a little research I guess. Wasn't there some general authority who referred to the Song of Solomon as "Biblical trash?"
September 3, 2013
Sooo good! My wife and I really enjoyed and benefitted from this book. The author has terrific voice in his writing, and includes a lot of down-to-earth, humorous points about a marriage. He is a counselor and meets with many different couples, so he's seen the gamut of issues in marriages, ranging from the small, easily fixable problems, down to the horrible, seemingly irreparable damages. He draws extensively from the Song of Solomon as the prime example of beautiful intimacy in marriage, whether you're newlyweds or you've been married 50+ years. I highly recommend this book!
July 18, 2014
This is an easy read to help improve your marriage or the marriage you are preparing for. It will challenge you to think about the needs of your spouse and help you see what your relationship needs to be all God designed it to be.
While it uses the Song of Solomon it is not a commentary on the book and was a disappointment for me that way. It picks the parts it wanted to use and discarded the rest.
Good for those that need a foundation to start or renew their marriage.
While it uses the Song of Solomon it is not a commentary on the book and was a disappointment for me that way. It picks the parts it wanted to use and discarded the rest.
Good for those that need a foundation to start or renew their marriage.
December 3, 2014
Dr. Clarke presents ideas on how to get back the passion, or rather develop even deeper passion, between husband and wife. His engaging, and often funny, style of writing drew me in to the stories and ideas he presented. But underneath that is a wealth of counseling experience and biblical truths that can help a couple navigate back into a place of burning desire for one another.
For me, this was a quick and great read! And I'd recommend it to wives and couples.
For me, this was a quick and great read! And I'd recommend it to wives and couples.
July 21, 2010
Funny and insightful. Marriage counsel drawn from Song of Solomon. The chapters alternate from principal to application.
Clarke relies heavily on Song of Solomon and, in my opinion, ends up reading a lot into the text. The principals are good on their own, but he reads his thoughts into the Bible.
This could have been much shorter.
Clarke relies heavily on Song of Solomon and, in my opinion, ends up reading a lot into the text. The principals are good on their own, but he reads his thoughts into the Bible.
This could have been much shorter.
June 16, 2015
Humorous and insightful, I think the second half of this book was much better than the first. What I mean is that if you're going into this book looking for information applicable to your marriage, I think the second half is where you will find it. I certainly appreciate this author's unbiased view and advice, and have recommended this book.
September 13, 2016
A study of Song of Solomon, this book is an excellent read for newly-married couples or couples who have been married awhile and need a rekindling in the bedroom. Utilizing frank discussion, the author explains the book of Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs) in such a way that couples are reminded what a gift sex is and how thrilling it can be!
August 29, 2011
Awesome book! I would recommed, and have to married friends. This book gives some great biblical lessons about love and keeping the romance in your marriage and how that is very biblical based Solmomn's love story.
May 25, 2012
This book takes a practical and humorous look at marriage through the filter of Song of Solomon. Some of his ideas are a little conservative for me, but for the most part he's got great ideas and advice for keeping a marriage strong.
May 28, 2012
Tim & I read this book together. Written by a Christian marriage therapist/conference speaker and about the
Song of Solomon (Songs) from the Bible. It was very well written, and added a lot of humor. We laughed a lot in this book and thought most of his points were very good.
Song of Solomon (Songs) from the Bible. It was very well written, and added a lot of humor. We laughed a lot in this book and thought most of his points were very good.
November 2, 2012
Warmed over psychological relationship details imprinted on an uncomfortable substructure of the Song of Songs. A free e-book with some encouraging words (not patriarchal, though gender stereotypes are strong), but also some cringe inducing moments.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews