From the author of "Toxic Friends"--a groundbreaking look at how to understand your marriage and create a more satisfying relationship

Every marriage goes through nine phases. It is only by understanding the course our marriages run that we can truly begin to craft the perfect relationship. In "The Nine Phases of Marriage, " Susan Shapiro Barash breaks down and analyzes these phases, which are:

• Phase One: Passion and Longing
• Phase Two: Conforming: The Perfect Wife
• Phase Three: Real Life: Child Centricity
• Phase Four: Tension: One Bed: Two Dreams
• Phase Five: Distance: Two Beds: Two Rooms
• Phase Six: Fracturing: Midlife Divorce
• Phase Seven: Second Chances: Remarriage and Renegotiating
• Phase Eight: Balance: Concessions
• Phase Nine: Successful Coupling

With this essential knowledge, spouses can successfully navigate the natural pitfalls and perils of their marriages and embark on a true partnership.

Susan Shapiro Barash's provocative new book examines the most difficult challenges any woman faces when raising daughters: Are we spoiling them or being too rigid? Are we trying to be their friend or are we setting ourselves up as adversaries? Are we setting a good example, or are we a cautionary tale? In short, are we creating our own monsters? This book explores:

* "What color would you like that Prada bag in?" (Material indulgence)

* "Do you need to be eating that?" (Fixations on food and weight)

* "Of course you can drink when you're home with me." (Lacking boundaries and rules)

* "Your closest friends are your biggest rivals." (Underestimating female friendships)

* "I'll just say you aren't feeling well." (Making excuses)

* And much more

A woman can always count on her friends - right? But what if those friendships are hurtful, harmful, even toxic? Susan Shapiro Barash explores the various types of female friends and shows you why and how women get stuck with the worst kinds, the ways to get unstuck, and how to recognize a true friend. For example: The Leader of the Pack - it's all on her terms; The Doormat - and why you're the one paying the price; The Misery Lover - she wants to feel your pain; The User - and why you seldom see her coming; The Frenemy - and the things she's really after; The Trophy Friend - and what you gain from each other; and, The Authentic Friend - the Real Deal, and how to keep her. Provocative and fascinating, Susan Shapiro Barash looks at the bonds (and bondage) of female friendships in a new and intimate light.

From the bestselling author of "Tripping the Prom Queen" comes a fascinating and provocative look at the reasons behind female deception. "Little White Lies, Deep Dark Secrets" reveals how society doles out mixed messages to women, fostering the lies they tell. Among the liars are:

-A woman who shoplifts, and has it "down to a science"

-A woman who tells her husband she is working late in order to be with her lover

-A woman who lies about her children's achievements to her friends

-A woman who pretends her husband is doing well when they are going broke

-A woman who has covered up her husband's emotional abuse for years

-A woman whose secret is her misery in being a stay-at-home mom in suburbia

-A woman who lies about loving her partner, deciding it's better to stay than be alone

-And many other secrets and deceptions

Honest and even outrageous, Susan Shapiro Barash is fast becoming the author who explores issues that are important to women--issues that they are loath to talk about . . . until now.

Heavy Hitting Praise for "Tripping the Prom Queen":
""Tripping the Prom Queen"" is a must read for women who want to reach their full individual potential and form strong relationships with friends, family, and work colleagues. Although it pulls no punches in the ways women can be their own worst enemies, it also shows a way out for any woman wanting to improve her sense of self and her experiences with others."
-Rosalind Wiseman, author of "Queen Bees And Wannabees"
""Tripping The Prom Queen "provides a dramatic, up-close look at the dark world of female envy and competition. Susan Shapiro Barash compellingly dissects the myths and delusions of female friendship, and offers much-needed insights on how we might work to achieve true solidarity among women."
-Judith Warner, author of "Perfect Madness: Motherhood in an Age of Anxiety"
""Tripping the Prom Queen" is a lively, thoughtful reflection on the "Odd Girl Out" all grown up. Barash gracefully interweaves incisive analysis and everyday lessons we could all stand to learn, deepening the conversation about female aggression with an honest voice women will recognize."
-Rachel Simmons, author of "Odd Girl Out"

Authors Susan Shapiro Barash and Michele Kasson, Ph.D, identify ten male personality types that make it easy for women to determine exactly who they are dealing with from the very first date. Although men come in all sizes, ages, and attitudes, the authors find there are recurrent styles of male behavior and have broken it into specific categories. With THE MEN OUT THERE/ A Woman's Little Black Book, women will learn what characteristics are associated with each personality type, what attracts them to it, and how they can succeed with such a partner. Armed with this invaluable knowledge, women can make an educated decision about any relationship they may be entering, foresee potential problems, and determine whether to stay or not. THE MEN OUT THERE is a practical guide for women, encouraging them to ask key questions before beginning a relationship, and to understand their past mistakes in order to sustain a loving relationship with the right partner.

Authors Susan Shapiro Barash and Michele Kasson, Ph.D, identify ten male personality types that make it easy for women to determine exactly who they are dealing with from the very first date. Although men come in all sizes, ages, and attitudes, the authors find there are recurrent styles of male behavior and have broken it into specific categories. With THE MEN OUT THERE/ A Woman's Little Black Book, women will learn what characteristics are associated with each personality type, what attracts them to it, and how they can succeed with such a partner. Armed with this invaluable knowledge, women can make an educated decision about any relationship they may be entering, foresee potential problems, and determine whether to stay or not. THE MEN OUT THERE is a practical guide for women, encouraging them to ask key questions before beginning a relationship, and to understand their past mistakes in order to sustain a loving relationship with the right partner.

When a savvy Atlanta public defender takes on a client up for first degree murder charges, she not only uncovers a corrupt DA office with connections to an internet child pornography ring, but also the truth about her hidden past.