by Dan Walsh
(Revell, 2011)
Review By Jen Whitney
4 Stars ****
It is 1857 and John and Laura Foster are celebrating their honeymoon by traveling by sea from San Francisco to New York tovisit John’s family whom he has not talked to in years. Things have been going smooth until their ship runs into a hurricane and John and Laura are separated and Laura believes John has drowned.
Laura is not sure what she is going to do once she reaches New York and has to face her in-laws who do not even know she exists. In the end all she can hope for is a miracle that John is alive somewhere out there. Will Laura get her miracle? What does the future hold?
Dan Walsh weaves together a fantastic story fully of hope, suspense, unconditional love and miracles based loosely on true events. I fell in love with this story, even though at many times it was heart wrenching but others so joyful even when things were rough. I loved Laura’s character and admired her courage to keep going on and her faith for never giving up. She is a lady full of love,strong morals and faith which is combination you can’t go wrong with.
This story proves that men can write just as powerful romances as women, great job Dan Walsh!
Thanks Jen! Here is a link to her beautiful website: http://bookreviewsfromabooklover.blogspot.com/
Giveaway this week: One of Dan's books. Void where prohibited by law. International winners - ebook only.
Nice review, JEN, and thank you for being our guest reviewer this week! I like what you said about the fact that men CAN write as powerful romances as women. For many years, I wouldn't read a book written by a man, b/c of the romance, female POV thingy. But in the past couple of years, I have read a couple of male authors, whose books are among my favorites now. So as the old saying goes, "Try it, you might like it" definitely applies to me!
ReplyDeleteGreat review. Always like Dan's simple, elegant covers.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful book and great review...thanks JEN and DAN! I can't wait to read Dan's books. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting with us today, JEN!!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting review. The book sounds very interesting and Dan is another new author to me.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Jo
Thanks Jen for the great review! The Deepest Waters was a book that deeply affected me as I wrote it. I've gotten so many emails from people since it came out, not just people touched by the strong love story, but also by the character and wisdom of Micah, the old slave in the story that befriends Laura.
ReplyDeleteIn some ways, as I wrote it, it was as if I needed what he said to Laura even more than she did.
APRIL, so good to see you here! I normally read on Kindle or on audiobook so I don't get to see the pics except online or up here in our posts or others posts. Revell is known for having fab covers!
ReplyDeleteTERESA, Let me know if you want any of Dan's books. We can't get them through NetGalley but I can get on Kindle for you and I am sure DAN would appreciate the review.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very interesting! I liked your review Jen!
ReplyDeleteDan, I always like stories where old wise slaves befriend a character. I think I have to read this book someday. :)
Enjoyed reading the comments. QYour book sounds interesting. I am always looking for new authors to read.
ReplyDeleteJWIsley(at)aol(dot)com
"This story proves that men can write just as powerful romances as women, great job Dan Walsh!"
ReplyDeleteI am learning that the more books I read by male authors (like Murray Pura and Darren Nelson)! I don't know why I am surprised, but I find that I am. Maybe it's because most of the male-authored fiction I have read has been suspense, sci-fi, mystery. I don't know. I'm glad that myth has been debunked in my own mind. lol.
CARRIE, Revell really does have consistently great covers. When I get that special email where they're sending me the next cover for review and approval, I always get excited, like opening a present.
ReplyDeleteMARIAN, I think you'll love, Micah. I received one special encouragement at a book club last year from an African American woman in her 50's, who said the way I captured Micah's speech and character was spot on, made her constantly think of her great-grandfather as she read it.
LADETTE, I understand the apprehension. My wife has told me most of the time when she'd read books written by men, they'd handle the woman's POV pretty poorly (even in books that weren't love stories). I've won her over, and she actually helps me a great deal. I have her read every chapter after I write it, particularly looking for anything that doesn't ring true in the women's POV.
ReplyDeletePrior to the series I'm working on now with Dr Gary Smalley, he set his staff on a mission to find an author that impacted him the way Karen Kingsbury did (They did a 5-book series between 2000-2005). His exec secretary told me this story after they picked me. My publisher sent them a box of books at his request for review. All written by ladies except me. She deliberately picked mine last (because I was a guy). She told me later, once she picked up my books and started reading, she immediately forgot I was a guy and couldn't stop reading till she finished. Then she did the same with the next book. Then they called me.
It was fun hearing that, except the part about getting picked last. Made me realize a guy writing love stories starts off with something of a barrier to break through.
I see myself as something of an ambassador for other guys wanting to write love stories, pleading with the ladies, "Give us a chance." :)
Dan
Guys are one half of the love circle so why shouldn't they write love stories? Especially when the circle includes God at the center Who is the Author of love supreme? I find it totally appropriate and God honoring. God gifted people in so many different ways. I am thankful He has blessed us with these stories. I would be blessed to read The Deepest Waters.
ReplyDeleteThe cover is a gift itself. It portrays a ship, a treasure ship, carrying the story inside the book!
Diana,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet comments and its fun to be a guest reviewer over here. Though it feel weird seeing my review here at the same time.
I hear ya on avoiding books written by men at time, I have done that too but also find when I try them they end up being pretty good.
Carrie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for having me over today :)
JANICE AND JEN, I do get that some men, maybe fair to say most men, aren't all that interested in romance and love stories. Most are far more into sports and, if they want fictional entertainment, it's action movies and thrillers. Think I read somewhere that only 20% even read fiction. So I'm sympathetic about why the stereotype exists.
ReplyDeleteBut there's a bunch of us guys who LOVE romantic comedies, Jane Austen, Hallmark and Masterpiece Theater movies. And books that take us to the same place. I enjoy any story that moves me, inspires me or gets me to care about the things that matter most.
Dan
By the way, JANICE, loved what you said about the cover portraying a 'treasure ship.'
ReplyDeleteJEN!!!! So glad u got over!!! We r so glad to have u!!!
ReplyDeleteJEN!!!! So glad u got over!!! We r so glad to have u!!!
ReplyDeleteDan,
ReplyDeleteThat is so sad that only 20% of guys read fiction. They are missing out on so much. My husband is definitly in the 20% that reads (or listens to) fiction and its awesome. Though he much more into the adventure, sci-fi and fantasy genres :)
My husband also reads fiction. He likes to read Young Adult adventures. :)) He also likes to see some romance scenes in the stories, as long as there's more adventure.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't have any books by Dan yet & I liked the review so here I am, voila!
ReplyDeleteJEN & MARIAN, tell your husbands to hold their heads high. To me, reading is a great thing to do for men or women. God chose it as the primary means of communicating His heart and thoughts to us. And the Word is FILLED with stories.
ReplyDeleteGod is also the author of romance. It's one of His great gifts. Like laughter, it's great medicine. My wife has made my life better than it ever could have been. And when I'm loving on her and cherishing her, Paul says that, in a way, I'm actually loving myself (Eph 5).
I really enjoyed reading The Deepest Waters. It was a great love story with plenty of angst and action. I want to read more of his books.
ReplyDeletepmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
MURRAY, welcome! How come you are MUR on there? Anyway, glad you came by. JEN did an awesome job on her review! We are so blessed to know some wonderful bloggers and reviewers out there. JEN is a sweetie!
ReplyDeleteI loved the books I have read so far by Dan!!
ReplyDelete(The Unfinished Gift and The Homecoming) I am very anxious to read all of his books!
Thanks for the chance to read this one!
jackie.smith[at]dishmail[dot]net
Here I thought I'd read most of Dan's books. There are several others I need to read. Love his smooth style of writing with his depth of insight! One of my favorite authors.
ReplyDeletedesertrose5173 at gmail dot com
While I'm ineligible to enter all the way from Australia, I'm really glad to have read that review and will look out for Dan's book. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteCARRIE, I noticed the MURR, too. I think he is in his sunglasses trying to comment incognito.:)
ReplyDeleteDOROTHY can win an ebook version, can she not, CARRIE? If has has an ereader... I just won a book on her wonderful blog!
PAM, we always love having you visit here and at CQ! you are a faithful friend!
ReplyDeleteDIANA - yeah, incognito :) !!! Murray is funny!
ReplyDeleteDOROTHY - international winners receive ebook only not paperback.
Uh oh, JACKIE--it sounds like you are on your way to becoming a diehard DAN fan! I am sure he'll love to hear that!
ReplyDeleteLINDA, I think DAN does have that smooth, easier style of writing that is quite soothing. And I can see that it would be very appealing to so many people. Maybe his author's voice is one that could be said to be commercially appealing or something like that. I bet his agent has a term for it but my caffeine hasn't kicked in yet!
ReplyDeletePAM & JACKIE, so glad you enjoyed the books. You two should get together and compare notes. One read the first 2, the other my 3rd. Though a similar style, they are set in two totally different time periods. The Deepest Waters, so far, has been my only excursion into the 1800's. Would love to return someday.
ReplyDeleteDOROTHY, that's certainly one of the great things about the rise of Ebooks. Don't have to wait for the printed copies to reach other countries (if they ever do). The other, I think, is the ability to increase the font size. Now those of us getting old don't have to wait and see if a large print version is coming.
CARRIE, it's funny to hear you try and describe my writing style. Not sure what to call it, either. Some reviewers say I make them feel quickly like old friends. Whatever it is, I'm glad God is using it to bless and encourage others.
Carrie, thank you for your kind words :) It was fun being here.
ReplyDeleteJEN, Come back any time, ya hear?!!! Thanks so much for being such a great guest!!!
ReplyDeleteExactly, DAN, the bottom line is reaching others as God sees fit and blessing them through your writing. Since you dk what it is in your voice, that I will attribute to a God thing. My own writing voice, imho, is a tired old cowboy's voice yet others have called it elegant. Go figure!
ReplyDeleteCARRIE, that's quite a range...tired old cowboy to elegant. Although, when I've listened to old southern voices narrating things, I get sucked right in. Remember the old Disney nature shows on Sunday nights, that guy who used to narrate them? He was definitely an elegant old cowboy :). Another great example is that actor Sam Elliot. I could listen to him read just about anything. Maybe when your novel gets published, he could be your narrator:)
ReplyDeleteVery nice review, Jen! I'd love to win on of Dan's books. He's on my to read list! Thanks for offering this giveaway!
ReplyDeleteNancee
quiltcat26[at]sbcglobal[net]