My Review - The Dance

 4 out of 5 stars

THE DANCE, by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley was a very thought provoking read.  And though I knew when I was asked to review it that it wasn’t really in my wheelhouse (romance/suspense), romance indeed filled the pages.  Not in the physical sense, but definitely in the psychological sense.

Marilyn Anderson has a very affluent lifestyle provided to her by her husband.  But after twenty-seven years of marriage, her beautiful home, stylish dinner parties, and upscale social status has left her feeling less than empty inside.  Her husband barely acknowledges her existence let alone her needs.  After numerous attempts trying to get her husband’s attention, she decides she can’t wait around for happiness to find her.  She must find it for herself.  She leaves everything she knows, moves into a small apartment with a friend, and for the first time since her children were born she gets a job.  Then, she does something she has always wanted to do-she takes dance lessons.  Not knowing if her marriage can be saved, she rediscovers who she is, and decides she likes what she has found.

Jim Anderson is shocked to come home from work and find his wife has left him.  Feeling totally blindsided, he feels she is overreacting and embarrassing him.  With his life caving in around him, he tries to juggle a failing business deal while he waits out his wife’s impulsive disappearing act.  When a newly acquired friend helps him see his own self-centeredness and narcissistic ways, he begins to see how unhappy his wife has been and is devastated when he comes to realize he is the one that has inflicted so much of her pain.  Realizing Marilyn is not coming home anytime soon, he stops blaming her for his troubles and decides he will do whatever it takes to win her back.  

THE DANCE really captivated me.  I found myself reading it like I would any page-turning suspense book.  I hurt for Marilyn and the emptiness she had experienced for most of her marriage, and I rooted for Jim as he slowly transformed from a married man into a caring husband.  I would’ve loved to see more interaction between Marilyn, Jim, and their kids.  But the reality is most kids who are married and college-age become more involved in their own lives and without knowing it, leave their parents in the fray.  It doesn’t mean they love them any less, but they no longer interact with their parents on a daily basis.  Growing up times becomes synonymous with growing away.

Thought provoking, introspective, and telling.  A great read for anyone struggling in a one-sided relationship.  Of course the challenge will always be to get the other party to acknowledge their short-comings and commit to change.

Book provided for review purposes.

Available April 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.