Friday, April 11, 2014

What Follows After by Dan Walsh - REVIEWED



About the Book:
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.

My Thoughts:
Can you spend time there without dredging up the past?  Can you replace all the fear and pain with something positive?  ‘Cause that’s what it’ll take.”  (Elaine to Colt)

Dan Walsh successfully takes readers back to the year 1962.  Actually, the story is a remembrance of one of the main characters, but the majority of the novel takes place in 1962.  Scott and Gina Harrison’s world had begun to implode months before the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred.  The fallout of their problems descended on their two sons, and the choices that were made on the Fall morning of October 22, 1962 literally exploded in the face of the entire family.  The brunt of the choices made fell squarely upon the hearts and minds of Colt and Timmy, but the end result of their choices transformed the entire family in ways they never imagined possible.

Walsh’s novel is not only nostalgic, but takes a timeless look into the heart of relationships at many different levels.  Scott and Gina’s relationship undergoes the most intense scrutiny, but the relationships between friends and family are also honestly examined.  The result of this honest scrutiny is transformational and solid.  Scott’s words to Colt  summarize the lessons learned:

No one fixes broken things better than God.”  (Scott speaking to Colt)


The lessons were not easy nor painless, but the evidence of God’s healing touch remained upon the family for generations.  Be encouraged……be entertained…pick up your copy of What Follows After today!

About the Author:
Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including The Unfinished GiftThe 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.

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