The Desire by Dan Walsh & Gary Smalley ~ A Contemporary Fiction Review

The Desire

The Restoration Series, Book 3

Dan Walsh & Gary Smalley

Contemporary Fiction

Back Of The Book:

CAN FAITH BUILD A BRIDGE

BETWEEN THEIR DREAMS?

For two years, Allan and Michele have been trying to have a baby. The emotional ride has been taking a toll on their hearts--and their relationship. Michele is obsessed with researching fertility treatments while Allan seems content to spend his time--and their money--on supporting displaced children in Africa. Something's got to give. But they both hope it's not their marriage.

Still, God has a plan for Allan and Michele that they could never have imagined. And all it takes to set it in motion is a change of heart . . .

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts:

In The Desire we return to River Oaks, Florida where the Anderson family lives. This time the story is focused on Allan and Michele. For a little over a year they have been trying to have a baby, but nothing is happening. As each month passes Michele becomes more and more despondent and resentful towards others that seem to neglect their children. She desperately needs her husband's support and attention but his heart and mind keep turning to the needy children in Africa. They desperately need to find a common ground in their marriage.

A new character is introduced in this book. Her name is Christina and she is a young pregnant single mother needing to make a choice about her baby. She is paired with Marilyn at the pregnancy care center where Marilyn is a mentor. Before long the whole Anderson family has taken Christina not only into their home, but into their hearts as well.

The Desire looks at adoption from several different angles. You get to see the struggles and the triumphs that surround the families involved in the adoption process. The premise of the story is beautiful.

I am a fan of Dan Walsh's writing and I love Gary Smalley's work, my marriage has benefited from it immensely. Having said that, I must also say that this book and this series are not my favorites. Is it a good read? I'd have to say yes. It's just not a great read. I got the same feeling as when a movie does a blatant product placement in the middle of an intense scene. It just doesn't work very smoothly. Again, I am a fan of both of these men and I will continue to read and learn from their work.

Book four in the series comes out next spring. Will I read the book? Yes, because the stories told in this series are worthy of being read even if they are not my favorites from these particular authors.