Wednesday, September 04, 2013

My Review - The Promise by Dan Walsh & Gary Smalley



THE PROMISE is the second installment in The Restoration Series by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley.  And though it was well written, I didn’t find the storyline as captivating as THE DANCE, the first book in the series.

THE PROMISE follows the lives of Tom and Jean Anderson, a dysfunctional couple, though they don’t even realize it.

Tom has lost his job and has spent the last five months lying to Jean.  He’s withheld the fact that he is unemployed and they are about to lose everything.  He never intended such an elaborate charade, but as time marched on, he got deeper and deeper into his deception.  

Jean on the other hand has just found out she’s pregnant, but since Tom has acted so odd of late, she hasn’t told him yet.  Everything comes to a head when Jean goes to the doctor’s to confirm her pregnancy and finds out they are without medical insurance.

What transpire between Tom and Jean is a reevaluation of themselves, as marriage partners, and their dysfunctional marriage.  

THE PROMISE was okay, but at times the heaviness made me feel depressed.  Since three-fourths of the book detailed Tom’s spiraling life, the redemptive story was tied up so quickly, I didn’t really feel uplifted.  I felt the revelation of Jean’s pregnancy never even impacted Tom.  It was handled in such a blasé way while I would’ve expected a little more emotion on both sides.  I did feel it was a good reminder for young parents on how you should be an encouragement to your kids and how negatively your words and actions can stunt the emotional growth of your children if you withhold positive reinforcement. Overall, an okay story.

Book provided for review purposes.

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

No comments: