Christmas Cheer, Day 18, a book review of Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh

I have read and enjoyed all of Dan Walsh's other books, so I wasn't surprised to find that Remembering Christmas is now one of my all-time favorite Christmas books, which is saying something since I write and collect Christmas books! And since my husband and I just listened to a Nicholas Sparks book on a long trip, I was struck by how similar their writing is.
All of the characters seem so real, flaws and all. The main male lead, Rick Denton, is the most unlikeable at the beginning, which makes his later transformation seem like the miracle all true transformations are. His mom and step-dad are very giving, people-loving individuals, well-loved by all who know them. His step-dad's aneurysm compels Rick to show up to help out in the imaginary town of Seabreeze, Florida.

Rick notices Andrea, a good-looking brunette, as soon as he walks in his parents' bookstore, but they are miles apart in many ways, plus she has a young daughter. The daughter and Andrea soon win Rick's attention, then his heart. But could it ever work?

I don't want to tell too many details, but there is romance, drama, and a big surprise near the end that I didn't see coming, but which helped tie many of the pieces together. I know this book will become a Christmas classic, so be sure to add it to your shelf and/or buy a copy for someone on your list who loves to read Christmas stories. You/they won't be disappointed!

I highly recommend this book to all Nicholas Sparks fans! And for those who haven't read Dan Walsh's books before, I suggest you buy all 4 because after you read one, you will want to read the others!

I did receive this book from the publisher (Revell) for review purposes, but this review is entirely my own opinion, not based on the gift.

Book Review of The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh The Deepest Waters is a very moving book of historical fiction based on a real event--the sinking of a steamship in the Atlantic Ocean. Dan Walsh describes it this way in the Author's Notes: " 'Inspired by a true story'...means a true story inspired the work of fiction, but the book likely contains more fiction than fact." He then gives us readers a list of events in the book that really happened and tells how some could have happened the way he wrote it. The book takes us from a dreamy courtship and marriage in San Francisco to a nightmarish call to abandon ship leading to the separation of most of the men from the women and children. The author is very adept at telling us the story from various points of view, giving each scene an intimate feel like you are privy to that character's thoughts and feelings in person. We ride their roller coaster journey of heights of happiness to lows of fear and despair. The book also chronicles the spiritual journey of several characters learning to trust and lean on God even when they can't feel Him. Dan Walsh, a former pastor, handles this very realistically, too. I highly recommend this book, and if you haven't read his first two novels, The Unfinished Gift and The Homecoming, then I recommend you also purchase copies of them. Those first two novels are a series, so I suggest you read them in order, but The Deepest Waters is a stand-alone book, so hurry to your brick or online bookstore and purchase it and the other two. You'll be glad to make the acquaintance of this author and his very true-to-life characters. After reading them, you'll be like me waiting for his newest book scheduled to be out this fall!