The Legacy by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley

I always like it when two of my top authors join forces to write an unforgettable novel. I was sold on Gary Smalley's writing in fiction when he joined forces with Karen Kingsbury. Dan Walsh has been a favorite from his first book I've read by him a few years ago. The Restoration Series that Walsh and Smalley have written is a collection of unforgettable stories. They each deal with real life issues and tough issues. Some issues are marriage issues, all are relationship issues in one way or another, and all issues have lead to restoration within those relationships. However, they each did have a cost to pay for their choices.

Book 4 continues to follow the Anderson family. Jim Anderson is still restoring the problems that his children have faced because of his choices as a father in the previous years. However, since he has begun to change, he is seeking to reach out to each one in his family and restore those relationships. This book focuses on his son, Doug.

Doug has made decisions that many today make. He's living a double life and has to hit rock bottom in order for his life to turn around. It's painful for his family to watch, but he doesn't want to listen to anyone. Even his friendship with Christina has stalled.

I like this series for another reason: because I always learn something new about interacting with my children. In this book, I learned how treating your child like the prodigal son looks like. It's not easy and I can imagine my heart would be broken. However, I also saw how it can also give them room to be reached by God. It leads to a relationship where the child knows their parent loves them and is a safe place, even if they don't agree with the decisions.

I sincerely hope that there are more stories in this series. This has become like the Baxter series by Karen Kingsbury. I don't want to say goodbye to the Anderson family!

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Desire by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley

Dan Walsh has become one of my favorite authors. He reminds me so much of Nicholas Sparks. I love it because I feel like I've read a wholesome story without having to censor anything. Gary Smalley won me over when he wrote with Karen Kingsbury. He brought her first Baxter series to life and I loved the issues that they dealt with.

The story itself is a little predictable, but that doesn't matter to me. There was so much depth in the characters and their issues. That's where the real story lies.... with the real life problems that each character faces.

So many people can relate very easily to the journey that Allan and Michelle are on. And Korah is a place that understandably weighs heavy on Allan's heart. I was glad that Michelle got to go along on the trip with him. I liked watching God work in their heats and relationship. I know it's fiction, but I know this is a real life situation that raises many questions that those in this situation deal with.

I also liked Christina. I can't imagine the decision she has to make, but I loved the love that Marilyn and Jim poured out on her. What a way to spend their empty nesting years. I want to be that!

I am looking forward to Doug's story. I'm secretly hoping that Christina and Doug will be together.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

What Follows After by Dan Walsh

I enjoy reading any book by Dan Walsh. He always reminds me of Nicholas Sparks and I'm so glad to have a Christian novel that reads so much like his books.  This was a book that I was not expecting because of the deep topic.  I was impressed that Walsh as able to get inside the mind of a little child so easily and make it read interestingly to an adult.

I absolutely cannot imagine what life was like for the Harrison's as they longed for their little Timmy to be returned.  It was so sad to read, but I was thankful for the ending.  I was a little surprised about how some marriages were back then.  I knew that June Cleaver and other women were depictions of that time and was a little shocked that many would lie about their marriage because of the stigma of divorce.  Divorce is so common now that many barely give it a second thought.  I liked watching Scott fight for his marriage.

I found the historical time frame quite fascinating. It was scary to think of how close we came to having WWIII and on our own soil.  1962 was a time when the world was changing and no one knew the direction it was headed.

Dan Walsh adds his own note to the book and I think it shed extra light onto this book and why he chose 1962.  It was interesting that many chose to be Christians in the pew but not let Jesus be reflected in their daily lives.  I know that still happens but it's hard to imagine at times when I think of how many preachers are preaching the Gospel lived out to bring glory to God through every moment in our lives and to live with eternity in mind. 

I liked how all of these things weaved themselves seamlessly through the pages of this book.  The changes never felt abrupt but transitioned well between the many different characters.

Oh, and I love this cover.  Beautifully done!

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I received this book free from Revel Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Promise by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley

Two of my favorite authors in one book....yes, please!  I've always compared Dan Walsh to Nicholas Sparks and Gary Smalley has a fondness in my heart because of the Karen Kingsbury Redemption series.

 

I was hooked on this new series, The Restoration Series, from the very first book.  The Dance didn't dance around tough issues.  I like that about this series.  In The Promise, job loss and marriage reconciliation are some of the tough issues discussed.  I like how you learn more about relationships in general just by reading these books.  Sometimes its easier to read about relationships and their problems when it happens to someone else.  It's also a lot easier to take when its found in a fiction book, too.  I think that's why these books are such great reads.

 

Tom has lost his job, but has such a huge cloud of shame over his life.  He's carrying a burden alone that he feels he can't even share with his wife or his father.  How can he possibly explain that he lost it and that he was betrayed?  Would anyone really believe that it wasn't his fault?  Can his father repair his relationship with his son and with his wife? 

 

Tom has to tell the truth to his wife at some point.  The lies are starting to pile up and it's taking its toll on him.  However, you can imagine how well his wife took this news after over 7 months of his lying and thinking that he was still at his job.  Not only that, but his child is involved, which makes this ordeal even harder.

 

I can't wait to read the next book in this series.  I love that real hard topics are discussed.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Dance by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley

I am already hooked on this new series by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley.  I am a big Dan Walsh fan and Gary Smalley seems to be one of my favorite co-authors.  I am looking forward to book 2 already!  This book reminded me some of Karen Kingsbury's series with the Baxters, which I loved!  I'm anxious to see if book 2 keeps the same characters or uses all new ones. I hope the same characters are used!  Each member of this family has a story to tell!

I really liked how this book didn't just hop into divorce and focused on separation.  Marilyn hasn't felt loved in her 27 years of marriage because all her husband, Jim, seems to think about is himself.  When Marilyn leaves, 2 of her children are not surprised and 1 of them is.  Apparently her children saw her loneliness when her husband never noticed.  

Jim is now tasked with earning his wife's love...if he can even manage to do that.  Marilyn loves Jim but Jim has to work through many things in order for reconciliation and restoration to be possible with Marilyn.  It's all about the dance.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Reunion by Dan Walsh

I have just closed the book for the final time and how I wish it never had to end.  Dan Walsh has written another book that left me in happy tears and itching to read another book by Walsh.  I'm pretty sure he needs to start coming out with books quarterly! 

In my last review of his previous book, which was my first one to read by him,  I compared him to Nicholas Sparks.  Now, in my own opinion, I think he's better!  He has a way of making his characters so personal to his readers.  I felt like I was in the trailer park with Aaron and then I had been transferred to the Vietnam War and was living through what 3 men thought would be the end of their lives.  I felt as if I was peeking in on Karen and Dave's relationship and how Karen really felt about a dad that abandoned her after the war and then never made contact with her or her brother Steve again. 

This book had a lot of history written into it and I found it fascinating.  I know alot of the vets from Vietnam did not get the thanks they deserved from Americans.  However, I think Dan's book is a wonderful fiction book that praises the vets and honors them.  It's a book that has some true examples in it and is patterned after the lives of 2 vets.  Above all, Walsh reminds us that we don't know every one's past.  How often do we walk past the unknown heroes or brush them aside? 

So....his next book comes out next when?!  I can't wait much longer!

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Discovery by Dan Walsh

Are there any Nicholas Sparks lovers reading this blog?  If so, then you need to pick up this book by Dan Walsh and see for yourself how much his writing compares to Nicholas Sparks.  I absolutely LOVED this book.  It kept me turning page after page because I couldn't wait to discover the mystery of Gerard Warner.
Dan did a wonderful job putting a story within a story.  I was hooked on this book from the first page and had difficulty putting it down to go to sleep.  The "book" by Gerard had so many interesting twists and turns that I was amazed and had difficulty predicting what would happen next.  I absolutely loved the ending to this book.  Dan tied it up nicely and left you with the feeling that you just journeyed through history with an amazing man, Gerard.  I actually felt like he was a real character and I had discovered his story for myself! 

I can't wait to get his other books and read those.  I think that after you read this book, you'll decide that you want to do the same.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.