The Legacy Book Review

The Restoration Series

Book Four

SUMMARY:  One young man is about to discover the true cost of independence.

     For years, Doug Anderson has been drifting slowly but steadily away from both his family and his faith.  His parents have been trying to reach him before he falls too far.  His friend Christina hopes what she is seeing online isn't true.  But sometimes you have to hit bottom before you're ready to grow up. 

     Just as things begin to settle down a bit, Doug's life begins to take a turn that requires every bit of faith and patience for both his family and Christina - whose growing feelings for Doug, a man who writes her off as not worth his time, keep her off balance.  Will Doug's crisis finally clear his vision and help him focus on what he has right in front of him?

REVIEW:  Dan Walsh is one of my favorite authors.  The series he has written with Gary Smalley has been a good one with some interesting story lines that, unfortunately, are common place in today's society.  That said, I had some difficulties with the last book in this series.  It was a good book and a nice finish to the series but just didn't grab my attention like the first ones.  The whole story was anti-climatic.  To me, it felt like Doug's problems at school (drinking, sleeping with his girlfriend) were minor compared to his best friend Jason's (drugs, alcohol, fighting, skipping class, low grades).  I did find it admirable that Doug still has a conscience that he sometimes listens to in regards to the choices Jason makes. He also puts everything aside to finish a project (not school related) AND studies for his finals.  But, he does put the cart before the horse in regards to cutting ties off with his family and not having an income readily available.  The route Jason takes to get back to his family is difficult and heart wrenching but makes the story more realistic.

     While it wasn't completely my cup of tea, this novel is a good book and a sound read.  The series is excellent and very enjoyable.

    

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

 

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of many books, including The Dance, The Promise, and The Desire with Gary Smalley.  He has won three Carol Awards, and three of his novels were finalists for RT Book Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year.  He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best-known authors and speakers on family relationships and has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, and TODAY, as well as numerous national radio programs.  He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of many books, including the Baxter Family Redemption series with Karen Kingsbury.  Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 50 years and live in Missouri.

The Desire Book Review

The Restoration Series

Book Three

SUMMARY:  CAN FAITH BUILD A BRIDGE BETWEEN THEIR DREAMS?

     For two years, Allan and Michele have been trying to have a baby.  The emotional ride has been taking a toll on their hearts - and their relationship.  Michele is obsessed with researching fertility treatments while Allan seems content to spend his time - and their money - on supporting displaced children in Africa.  Something's got to give.  But they both hope it's not their marriage.

     Still, God has a plan for Allan and Michele that they could never have imagined. And all it takes to set it in motion is a change of heart.

REVIEW:  I had a little harder time relating to this book than the others in this series due to Michele's obsession with getting pregnant.  Never having this problem, I don't fully understand why it has to consume her thoughts and actions all the time.  Since the majority of the book shows how this affects Michele's everyday life, I found myself getting distracted easily and, to be honest, wishing she would just get over it and move on.  Now, I did like the sections on Allan's mission trip to Ethiopia and Marilyn and Christina, a young pregnant woman who Marilyn is counseling.  The descriptions of the sights, smells and sounds where the children were forced to find food outside Addis Ababa made my heart ache.  I wanted to grab all the children up and take them away from there.  I liked how Marilyn took Christina under her wing, found her a safe place to stay and supported her as Christina decided if she wanted to raise the baby on her own or give her up for adoption.  All in all, this is a good book.  I look forward to reading the final one about Doug.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

 

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of many books, including The Dance and The Promise with Gary Smalley, The Discovery and What Follows After.  He has won three Carol Awards, and three of his novels were finalists for RT Book Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year.  A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan serves as a pastor for 25 years.  He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best-known authors and speakers on family relationships and has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live and TODAY, as well as numerous national radio programs.   He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of many books, including the Baxter Family Redemption series with Karen Kingsbury and The Dance and The Promise with Dan Walsh.  Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 50 years and live in Missouri.

The Promise Book Review

The Restoration Series

Book Two

SUMMARY:  One home, two hearts, and the power of a promise kept . . .

     For the last five months, Tom Anderson has been without a job, a fact he's been hiding from his wife Jean  - and everyone else.  He leaves each morning, pretending nothing has changed, and spends his disheartening day rotating through coffee shops and the library, using their WiFi to search job listings online.  The stress of keeping this secret is beginning to put serious strain on his marriage.

     But Tom's not the only one hiding something.  Jean Anderson has a secret of her own - one that will seriously complicate their situation.  Will the promises they made on their wedding day hold firm?

REVIEW:  This book shows what can happen when pride comes before family and how lies can destroy everything you hold dear.  Only when the truth finally comes out can healing take place. 
     This is the second book of The Restoration Series.  While reading the first book, The Dance, is helpful to completely understand everything going on, this book does a good job briefly explaining what has happened beforehand.  I like how the changes made in Marilyn and Jim's marriage are continued throughout this book as a beacon to Tom and Jean during their turmoil.  While Jean struggles with the lies Tom told and the changes in their life because of them, she is willing to forgive and work on repairing their marriage and life together. 
      This is a good book, reminding readers that marriage takes work from both husband and wife but that the rewards are endless. 

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including The Dance with Gary Smalley, The Discovery, and The Reunion.  He has won three Carol Awards, and two of his novels were finalists for RT Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year for 2011 and 2012.  A member of American Christian Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years.  He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best-known authors and speakers on family relationships and has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah,  Larry King Live and TODAY, as well as numerous national radio programs.  He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of many books, including the Baxter Family Redemption series with Karen Kingsbury and The Dance with Dan Walsh.  Gary and his wife Norma have been married for 49 years and live in Missouri.

The Dance Book Review

The Restoration Series

Book One

SUMMARY:  Love's recovery starts with a single step ...

     After 27 years of marriage, Marilyn Anderson is tired of playing the role of perfect wife.  Her husband Jim is a successful businessman who gives her everything she needs - a beautiful home in an upscale neighborhood, the financial freedom to be a stay-at-home mom, an enviable collection of stuff.  Everything that is, except what really matters: love.
     After years of trying to connect with Jim, Marilyn has had enough.  She longs to experience some measure of happiness before she's too old to enjoy it.  Needing some time to herself to sort things out, Marilyn leaves to start a new job and take dancing lessons - something she has wanted to do for as long as she can remember.

     Shocked to find his wife gone, Jim Anderson must sort through the past to save his marriage.  With a little help from an unexpected ally, he begins a campaign to win Marilyn back.  What he doesn't anticipate is how his actions will affect everyone around him - starting with himself.

REVIEW:  I was excited to hear Dan Walsh had a new book out that he had written with Gary Smalley.  Dan has become on of my favorite authors.  This book is the first in a four-book series on relationships and learning to be dependent on God.  Jim and Marilyn look like they have a perfect marriage (even Jim thinks so).  But, in reality, their marriage is falling apart from the inside out affecting every part of their lives.  Marilyn's courage to step-out and to make changes makes Jim finally realize he has a part in the break-up and, hopefully, their reconciliation.  Jim steps WAY OUT of his comfort zone by taking dance lessons and, in the process, draws closer to God and starts proving it to his wife. 

    This is a book all married couples should read. We all need to evaluate what we want out of our marriage but we must not be afraid to voice our concerns and to step out and make any necessary changes.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

 Available April 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including The Discovery and The Reunion.  he has won three Carol Awards, and two of his novels were finalists for RT Reviews inspirational Book of the Year for 2011 and 2012.  A member of American Christian Fiction Writers.  Dan served as a pastor for 25 years.  He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.  

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best-known authors and speakers of family relationships and has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, and TODAY, as well as numerous national radio programs.  He is the bestselling and award-winning author or co-author of many books, including the Baxter Family Redemption series with Karen Kingsbury.  Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 40 years and live in Missouri.