I love Dance Restoration Series Book ebook
I highly recommend this novel for all Christian married couples. Jim is the control freak husband who thinks of only himself and doesn't realize the damage he's done to his wife and children. Marilyn, the perfect Christian wife, can't take it anymore. She leaves him. She doesn't tell him where she'll be or talk to him at all. She leaves him a note telling him he's lost her heart. The rest of the novel is how this clueless man humbles himself and learns the damage he's done. Then he goes about showing his wife love and trying to win her back. But it won't be easy. Marilyn is afraid to open herself up again to the pain he's caused.
This novel covers many techniques marriage counselors use to heal broken marriages, but it does it in a way that we can see it through the character's lives. I could relate to this novel because, at one time, my marriage had been broken because my husband was a lot like Jim in this story. My husband got saved, humbled himself, and won back my love. We've been married 34 years, and the last 18 years have been wonderful.
ReplyDeleteDan Walsh's writing has been compared to Nicholas Sparks, and when I got The Dance after recently re-reading The Wedding by Sparks, I thought they would be similar, but other than the basic theme of restoration The Dance had a whole new dimension.
ReplyDeleteBook number one of the aptly sub-titled Restoration Series wisely reveals the fallout of an unhealthy marriage relationship and surface Christianity on every member of the family. Decades of missed-signals (Jim) and repressed frustration (Marilyn) are addressed after Marilyn initiates a separation and gets a job to support herself.
The incident that signaled the beginning of a one-sided power-based marriage, is the same tool that eventually brings the beginning of healing to the parents, and to their children.
Superficial spirituality is also addressed in the church relationships that Jim allowed to control business and family decisions and dynamics. Interestingly one of the children leads in pointing the parents in the right direction.
Gary Smalley's voice is evident in the advice of a godly widow who sympathizes with the couples' situation and gently encourages steps of reconciliation and restoration.
The Dance is an encouragement to examine our marital dynamics, each expressing the love they'd like to receive, while placing a higher value on commitment to one's spouse than to any other person or group of people.
I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own
I have also been married 27 years, like the couple in the book. My husband and I have gone through rough times, including burying two children. I absolutely LOVED this book - could relate very much to both Marilyn and seeing some of my husband in Dan. I believe people reading this book can find a new reason for working on their marriage and that it is worth pursuing. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to friends and family. It's also a good book to donate to your local library and/or church library.
ReplyDeleteI was given a free copy of this book for review purposes only and could state my truthful review.
When a book makes me cry and I read it from cover to cover in less than 2 days -- I know it is a good one and a keeper.
ReplyDeleteWhen I opened The Dance to start reading, I was immediately drawn in. We meet Marilyn, a wife who has lost hope in her marriage, so she decided to leave. Thankfully all her children are almost completely grown and out of the house! My heart hurt for her as her story began to unfold during the first couple of chapters.
Right from the get go -- I was mesmerized by this story.
It's funny, because as soon as I saw that Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley co authored this book, I knew it was going to be about marriage -- before I ever read the story involved. This book really meant a lot to me, because -- you see -- Gary Smalley's marriage study is one of the catalysts that saved my marriage. If you have read my testimony, you will see where I talk about taking a class called Making Love Last Forever. Gary is good at what he does and as I read this book, I could see where his marriage counseling came in.
I think that is the thing that I love about this book. While it is still a novel, it's a marriage self help book as well. In the pages, while Marilyn is struggling with leaving her husband, God begins to work on both of them. Audrey -- an older lady who befriends Jim and helps him learn some hard truths about himself. She shares things with him -- and I could envision Gary sharing those things with a couple himself that was going through a tough time.
I just truly loved this book and I am definitely looking forward to the 2nd one in this series that is due out this fall. If you have a friend who is having a hard time in her marriage, or you just need a little romance restoration -- READ THIS BOOK!
During the ending, I found myself crying so hard that I could not read any further. I just had to put the book down and thank God for the amazing transformation he has made in my own marriage.
This book is a definite PLUS you need to add to your collection.
Thanks to Revell Books for supplying me a copy through Net Galley.
My favorite genre' of books to read is suspense/mystery. Dan Walsh's books do not fall into that category, but he has still quickly become one of my favorite authors. When I know he has a new book coming out, I cannot wait to read it and devour it in one sitting, just as I do with a great suspense book. This book was no exception. I did read it in one sitting.
ReplyDeleteThe Dance is the first book in the Restoration Series, a set of four books that will revolve around one fictional family and their relationships. This one dealt with the marriage of a couple who has been married for twenty-seven years. I'm not married, but I still loved the story and found it to be very moving. Dancing has a big part in the book, and I thought it was very neat how the authors compared a marriage relationship to dancing in quite an ingenious way. I really liked the characters and situations/plot they have come up with for this book series.
With Gary Smalley's relationship expertise, this is more than a love story. Any married couple would benefit from reading this book, but especially those who are in a rut and one or both of them feel neglected or unloved by the author. I am firm in the belief that a story can often help and do good where a sermon or "help" book would not. And Jesus proved that with parables.
Dan Walsh has hit another home run with this story. If it is an indication of what the whole series is going to be like, this series will be up there with the popular Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury. And might I add, Dan Walsh is giving her a run for her money. If you have never read his books, you definitely should, and this one would be a great one to start with. Awesome book, and a great message.
A year ago this month, I started a book review with a question about whether a man could write a good love story. My conclusion then was, "Yes, he can." The book I was reviewing was The Discovery, by none other than Dan Walsh. Well, Dan and co-author Gary Smalley have done nothing to change my mind about that answer!
ReplyDeleteThe Dance is a heart-tugging and heart-warming story of the struggles and romance that are present in many marriages. The little things missing in her marriage add up to big things for Marilyn, and she takes desperate measures to get Jim's attention. The "chance" encounters Marilyn and Jim both have with the same person lead to lessons neither of them expected to learn.
As the story neared its conclusion, it was pretty evident where things were headed. The tender, emotional details, though, kept me tied to the pages as I read the conclusion through my tears.
Besides providing an extremely engaging story, The Dance challenges readers to make the most of their marriages and other family relationships. The authors' combination of skill in writing and insight about family relationships provides an excellent read. I look forward to more visits with the Anderson family in this Restoration series.
Available April 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Thanks to Revell for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I highly recommend this novel for all Christian married couples. Jim is the control freak husband who thinks of only himself and doesn't realize the damage he's done to his wife and children. Marilyn, the perfect Christian wife, can't take it anymore. She leaves him. She doesn't tell him where she'll be or talk to him at all. She leaves him a note telling him he's lost her heart. The rest of the novel is how this clueless man humbles himself and learns the damage he's done. Then he goes about showing his wife love and trying to win her back. But it won't be easy. Marilyn is afraid to open herself up again to the pain he's caused.
ReplyDeleteThis novel covers many techniques marriage counselors use to heal broken marriages, but it does it in a way that we can see it through the character's lives. I could relate to this novel because, at one time, my marriage had been broken because my husband was a lot like Jim in this story. My husband got saved, humbled himself, and won back my love. We've been married 34 years, and the last 18 years have been wonderful.
Let me tell you blog readers something, This is a MUST read book.
ReplyDeleteThis book is full of emotion and oh what a story, who knew two men could write such a powerful love story.
This book tugged at this old girls heartstrings, I cried at the end I was so happy!
I was so touched by this very moving story that I am giving it to every couple who is going though something big in their relationship. I believe this is a book that will change things for couples for the better.
When Jim started looking for tangible ways to care and serve his wife, I said to myself I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not being changed for the better.
This a 5 star must read. I highly recommend this book.
I was given a copy to review by the publisher
Good for both marriage genders. Reading "The DANCE" is like finding a double-yolk egg--double sunny-side-up. Both Gary Smalley and Dan Walsh contribute best-selling writer qualities to this first-of-4 in "The Restoration Series." There's depth in this equally-yoked novel.
ReplyDeleteThe Anderson marriage is upscale Florida life, but less than sunny. Marilyn's had enough. Jim's blindsided when she walks away from a 27 year marriage. "We're both believers, for heaven's sake!" he reminds his collegiate-soon-to-be-wed daughter.
Marilyn takes a marriage furlough to regroup and consider events as far back as Jim's refusal to dance with his bride at their wedding. Way more hurt than The Dance; way more.
A great joint-read for married couples in their second decade and beyond. Christian, alternate faith, or none--marriage takes work times 2, like the double-yolk egg. This look at contemporary marriage survival teaches and entertains. I was stunned by the power of "The DANCE," a relationship textbook done in a novel format. A double-yolker: forgiveness/redemption; Walsh/Smalley.
Reading "The DANCE" encourages, nay, demands one to express their love to their spouse. A convicting relationship grabber.