Mocha with Linda: The Dance

Monday, April 1, 2013

The Dance

The Dance
(The Restoration Series)
Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800721480
March 2013/352 pages/$14.99
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.

Read an excerpt here.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Photo Credit:
© Dan Davis Photography

Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of several books, including The Discovery and The Reunion. 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 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 40 years and live in Branson, Missouri. They have three children and six grandchildren.

MY THOUGHTS

I've been intrigued by this series as I've heard Dan Walsh talk about it at conferences, on his blog, etc. over the past year or so. What a great idea to team up one of the premier Christian storytellers with a marriage and relationship expert to co-write a novel! Important concepts on how to strengthen and repair a marriage were beautifully woven throughout the story. I love the analogy about marriage that Jim learns from an elderly woman who takes him under her wing! (I will say that even though I am female, the novel did initially frustrate me just a bit because it was tilted so heavily in the direction of "clueless husband" and "neglected wife." Since the authors are male, though, I guess it's good that they dealt with their own gender's issue first!) I look forward to more in this series and am curious as to the relational journeys Walsh and Smalley create for the other members of the Anderson family.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell Books as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”