It is an unhappy phenomenon. A once loving husband turns cold and inaccessible. His attitude, behavior and choices-from self-focus and new female "friendships" to confusion and mixed messages, and even infidelity-create a divide between him and his wife, making her feel "shut out" of his life and locked out of her own marriage. In such instances, it is too easy and too common for a woman to get caught up in her husband's passing midlife episode, one that can end up costing both of them the happy security of their marriage in their later years.

Enter Debra Macleod's The Shut-Out Wife, a succinct book based on one of her popular online Marriage SOS programs. Drawing on her background as a marital mediator, relationship and intimacy author, "Fair, but Aware" approach, and twenty years' experience working with couples, Debra Macleod, B.A., J.D. offers the shut-out wife a plainspoken, powerful guide to help her master that balancing act-supporting her husband and winning back his affection without losing herself in the process.

But take note: this book begins by encouraging a wife to look at her own behavior and it does this for a strategic reason-to ensure she can confidently refute any attempts on her spouse's part to "blame" her for any marriage problems or his behavior. It is best suited for readers who are willing to consider the book in its entirety. The goal is to make the marriage happier and more stable for years to come.