Friday, June 18, 2010

The Homecoming by Dan Walsh - REVIEWED

About the Book: (from the publisher)

A reluctant war hero returns home and encounters a new chance at love.

No sooner has Shawn Collins returned home from the fighting in Europe than he is called upon to serve his country in another way--as a speaker on the war bond tour. While other men might jump at the chance to travel around the country with attractive Hollywood starlets, Shawn just wants to stay home with his son Patrick and his aging father, and grieve the loss of his wife in private. When Shawn asks Katherine Townsend to be Patrick's nanny while he's on the road, he has no idea how this decision will impact his life. Could it be the key to his future happiness and the mending of his heart? Or will the war once again threaten his chances for a new start?
Dan Walsh does not disappoint in this tender story of family ties and the healing of a broken heart.

MY THOGUHTS:

“God cam make love grow through even the hardest places. Just give Him time.”(p. 305)


Dan Walsh knows the truth of these words. His stories contain warmth and a genuine picture of the human spirit that will ring true for readers of all ages! The Homecoming continues Shawn Collins’ story where readers left off in The Unfinished Gift. The miracle of his homecoming, as wondrous as it was, has opened the door of his heart and life to many new and challenging experiences. Still grieving the loss of his precious wife, newly reunited with his son, and getting reacquainted with a father with whom he has never been close to all combine to create a story destined to tug at your heart strings.


Folks, Dan Walsh writes stories that I consider “classic”. The timelessness of family conflict, of loss, love and Christ’s faithfulness are all present in a realistic way in his stories. The character of Shawn Collins is particularly appealing to me, because he truly faces challenges on every stage of his life. Yet he clings to his faith, to his belief that God has not abandoned him, that God listens despite his weakness and lack of understanding. I also enjoy the character of Shawn’s father, Ian. The old crusty man from the last novel is undergoing some radical changes, and the impact of his life will be felt for many years to come! I grew to love the man.


I really felt like I cared quite a bit about all of the characters in The Homecoming, and that, to me, says a lot about Dan Walsh’s ability to write a great story. You miss the characters when the story ends. You enjoy your time together. These two stories would make a great addition to any library, and am happy to recommend Dan Walsh to anyone who loves a great story! I look forward to his next novel!





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dan Walsh is the author of The Unfinished Gift and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. He is a pastor and lives with his family in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

2 comments:

Mocha with Linda said...

Great review. I loved both of these books.

Dan Walsh said...

Kim,

What a wonderful way to start the day. After my quiet time, checked my email, saw this from Google Alerts.

So glad you enjoyed the book, both of them. I loved writing them. It's funny now. It's like my memory has 2 tracks when I look back. My real family memories, and the Collins family memories.

My next 2 novels are both stand alone's, but we may revisit them down the road, maybe see what happened in the 1950's :)