"Because God anointed the pen and redeemed the time, ['Heroes at Home'] was written in 30 days," she says. "It went from contract to shelf in six months – and it was where it needed to be when the war [in Iraq] broke out." The book that took 30 days to write, she says, "has been all over the place because God had a purpose and plan for it. It shows that the 'God factor' is really strong."

Family Finance Is 'Real-Life' Finance

Ellie Kay, who carries the trademark as "America's Family Financial  Expert," earned that moniker through the success of her first book, which among other things showed readers how to reduce their expenses by saving 50 to 85 percent on grocery bills.  The former broker says that the really amazing thing about developing a household budget is that most people think it will "just work out."

In her most recent book, "A Woman's Guide to Family Finance," Kay combines her professional experience with her real-world know-how as she talks to wives about how they can partner with their husbands in contributing significantly to their family's finances.

"I don't think women always understand that they can make the difference between sinking or floating in their [family] finances," she says.  "And it's not just the stereotype of going to the mall and shopping till you drop and that's how a woman can contribute either positively or negatively – by no means is it that."

Instead, she says, "A Woman's Guide" empowers women to understand "what an incredible contribution they have."

"There are no easy answers [to building a secure financial future]," she says.  "The only thing that really works is to spend less and save more."  But she acknowledges that many people get burned out with traditional budgeting techniques and give up on being better stewards of God's blessings.  "Life is too short for that," she says.