I am a huge fan of Dan Walsh. I have loved every book he has yet to pen. So, when I seen this for review I knew I had to snatch it up. The cover caught my eye with that little gingerbread cookie house that looks so inviting and warm.
Dan's writing is impeccable. He is a master story-teller. I liked the premise of this story. A husband making way to give his wife a Christmas to treasure. A husband doing all he can and giving all he can to his wife, a wife that isn't so much doing the same to him.
They are empty-nesters. This is the first time that none of their three children will be home for the holidays. Although Stan isn't so thrilled about the idea, he is quite content and happy to enjoy time with his wife, Judith. Stan seems so gentle and loving. Judith seems pretty caught up in her self. She isn't happy that her children will all be spending the holidays with their own family or friends. She simply wants them at home and nothing else will make her happy.
Stan is trying to help her as much as he can. He gets the decorations out and brings the tree in for holiday decorating. He brings in the box with their children's ornaments that are homemade and thinks this is going to bring joy to his wife. Nope. Not at all. It's just the opposite. Can I be really honest? I didn't like her character at all.
Christmas isn't Christmas until Stan gives up something he's been planning with a friend to give the biggest surprise gift to his wife. It seemed everyone gave in some way or another except Judith.
This was a quick read for me. Again, I always enjoy Dan's writing. His writing here is just as wonderful as always. I just couldn't really get into loving these characters or caring about their holidays, except for Stan. I found Stan admirable and very likable. He was a true blessing to a wife that couldn't see past herself.
Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including The Dance and The Promise with Gary Smalley, as well as The Unfinished Gift, The Discovery, and The Reunion. He has won three Carol Awards, and two of his novels were finalists for RT Book Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year for 2011 and 2012. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for twenty-five years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel. Visit www.danwalshbooks.com for more.
