The Reunion: Christian Fiction book review

    Dan Walsh knew he wanted to become a writer in his high school years, but he became a Christian, married his wife, became a pastor, and then became a father.  Twenty-five years later, after retiring from the ministry, he was ready to write. 

    Dan began writing full time in 2010. He now has six novels published with Revell as of September 2012.

The Reunion Book Review (written by guest reviewer, Kelsi, age 14)

    “The Reunion”.

    The title of the little book sitting on the kitchen counter gave me plenty to be about which to be skeptical. The moment I saw its name, I could see a totally generic and wonderfully boring plot unravel in my mind: a man and a woman who used to be in a relationship and have been separated for years after a terribly messy breakup meet a long time later and rediscover their love for each other.

    Blech. Heart-wrenching painful backstories, unrealistic reunions, and sloppy emotions wrapped up into a not-so-neat package labeled “Romance” are not my cup of tea. I’m not a chick flick girl. I’d rather take The Dark Knight or War Horse over Confessions of a Shopaholic or While You Were Sleeping any day. Not to say that I abhor romance; I just don’t like a movie or book dedicated to the study of that subject.

    But, even with my preconceived notions that I would hate The Reunion, I picked it up and turned it over to read the summary on the back. Whoa - I was totally wrong!

    And so I eagerly flicked the book cover open and proceeded to ravenously tear through its pages in a couple of hours.

    What did I like about it? Well…

    Pretty much everything.

    This book covers everything from sweet romance to gritty war scenes, shattered families to new friendships. The main focus of the book is on Aaron Miller, a Vietnam vet who has been living in a little old mobile home park, finishing out his life in obscurity. Although he was bestowed a high honor in the military when he came home many years ago, he couldn’t stop drinking, and his wife left him and took their children with him. So now Aaron is something of a handyman, fixing broken decks and walkways and taking down or putting up decorations in the park to match the holidays.

    Other main characters are Dave Russo, a journalist interviewing Vietnam vets for a book to honor his father’s memory as well as being given an exceedingly unusual task by a group of well-to-do veterans, and Karen Miller, a real estate agent who has never met her real father.

    This book is a beautiful, wonderfully-crafted story of forgiveness, redemption, honor, and family. Dan Walsh, author of The Reunion, carefully reveals little details about the characters through their actions and thoughts, creating a captivating tale you won’t be able to resist. I could barely put this book down once I started it!

    If you are interested in military or U.S. history; if you enjoy romance that’s appropriate; if you like reading about humble heroes; if reunions of family and friends are your cup of tea; if you like to read books where there are believable happy endings…

    ...then this is the book for you.

It's time for a giveaway!

    For the next week, starting today and running till next Monday, September 17th, Dan Walsh is celebrating the release of his new novel, The Reunion, with a 10-book giveaway contest! Five winners will each receive a signed copy of The Reunion, as well as his third novel, The Deepest Waters. (He’s  including this book because it was named a finalist for an ACFW Carol Award for book-of-the-year). Click on the link below to see how easily you can enter the contest!

http://danwalshbooks.com/the-reunion-book-giveaway-contest/

Julieanne

Joy In Our Journey.com

    The Reunion is available beginning September 2012 at your favorite bookseller - from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

    I received one paperback copy of The Reunion in exchange for Joy In Our Journey's honest review.  No other compensation was provided.

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