Prepare for tears: My review of "The Promise" by Dan Walsh & Gary Smalley

about the book....

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?

my review....

Dan Walsh & Gary Smalley combine their efforts once again with the satisfying read, "The Promise", the second addition to The Restoration Series. Readers will be pleased to see the return of Marilyn and Jim, as we are treated to a view of their marriage after they've survived the turbulent waters as seen in the first book of the series, "The Dance". Though their marriage is by no means now perfect, it provides a wonderful portrayal of how a marriage built on Christ should look! I also really enjoyed the focus of this book on their son Tom and his wife, as they battle financial struggles, the impact of secrecy, and the danger of a marriage between two people who have grown distant. What I most appreciate about this book is the realness of the characters, people who struggle with things all of us will or have faced at one time in our life. The story moves along at a good clip, and I absolutely love the character of Uncle Henry and his focus on hearing the voice of Jesus and acting in obedience. We all would be blessed by having an Uncle Henry speak truth into our own lives! The scenes of reconciliation between father and son brought tears to my eyes and were very moving indeed. I do caution readers that this series, including "The Promise", are written with a definite purpose in mind, so although the authors tell an excellent story, some readers may feel they are getting preached at. I myself enjoy learning through fiction even more so than reading a non-fiction book, but others may not feel the same. However, readers who like contemporary fiction reads that celebrate faith and family will love this book!

"The Promise" is an excellent addition to the series, and I greatly look forward to reading more about the Anderson family in the future. I award this book a solid recommendation and award it 4 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

 about the authors....

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

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best known authors and speakers on family relationships. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of 16 books, along with several popular films and videos. He has spent over 30 years learning, teaching, and counseling, speaking to over 2 million people in live conferences. Smalley has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, Extra, The Today Show, and The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, as well as numerous national radio programs. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 49 years and live in Branson, Missouri. They have three children and six grandchildren.