What Follows After

What Follows After
Dan Walsh
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800721206
March 2014/320 pages/$14.99

In 1962, life was simple, the world made sense, and all families were happy.
And when they weren't, everyone knew you were supposed to pretend.

For the past year, Scott and Gina Harrison have been living a lie. While they show up at family get-togethers in the same car, they've actually been separated for over a year. To keep up the charade, they've even instructed their sons, Colt and Timmy, to lie--to their grandparents, their teachers, and their friends.

Colt, for one, has had enough, so he hatches a plan. He and his little brother will run away from their Florida home, head for their aunt's house in Georgia, and refuse to come home until their parents get back together. But when things go terribly, terribly wrong, Scott and Gina must come to grips with years of neglect and mistrust in order to recover their beloved sons, their love for one another, and their marriage.

In this emotional story, bestselling author Dan Walsh takes you on a journey to rediscover the things that matter most in life--love, truth, and family. With profound insight into the heart of a hurting child, he reminds us that a time will come to look back on hard times and smile, because we'll know that what follows after . . . is not what we expected at all.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including The Unfinished Gift, The Discovery, and The Reunion, as well as The Dance and The Promise 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 (2011-2013). Dan 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.

MY THOUGHTS

Dan Walsh is a master storyteller, and when I open one of his books, I know that What Follows After will resonate with my heart and soul. This novel certainly met my expectations and more. Walsh peels back the facade from the seemingly idyllic days of the early 1960's, when Camelot described a presidency, everyone went to church, and social expectations were clear--while the reality was that a missile crisis sparked fears of world nuclear annihilation, religion didn't equate with living like Christ would, and racial inequalities and tensions simmered to a boil. Simultaneously terrible and tender, this story will grab your heart and won't let go as you peek into the lives of this broken family and see the impact of their parents' choices on Colt and Timmy. Walsh paces the story perfectly, befitting both the time and the plot, though several agonizing moments made me turn the pages faster, eagerly seeking the hoped-for resolution. Although no longer pastoring a church, Dan Walsh continues to minister through his stories, and I expect this one to be instrumental in saving families from destruction. Keep a tissue nearby but don't miss this thoroughly satisfying tale of love, family, and forgiveness. Highly recommended!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell Books as part of their blogger review program. 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.”