The Unfinished Gift by Dan Walsh, and a giveaway

Let me start out by saying if you read my reviews, you know I am always honest, and don't just give a glowing review to make the author and publisher happy. That said, I have to say this was an awesome read, one of the best Christmas books I have read in a long time - and I love Christmas books, so I should know.
:-)

The story is set in 1943, during World War II. Seven year old Patrick Collins has just been dropped off to live with a grandfather he has never met, while he waits for his father to come home from the war to rescue him from this mean old man who doesn't seem to want him around.

To make things worse, Patrick finds an unfinished gift in the attic, that the very mention of, sends his grandfather into a rage.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters - the heartbroken little boy, longing for his dad, the crusty, grumpy grandfather, long separated from his only son by angry words and unforgiveness, and the two very different women who befriend the boy, and try to make his life a little more bearable. I not only found myself smiling throughout the book, but - do I dare admit it - found myself wiping my eyes on occasion. I am not in the habit of giving books "stars" on my blog, but if i did, and 5 stars was the highest, then 5 stars it would get.

I read the book in one sitting - a great gauge of how well I like a book. I settled into

the Lazy Boy recliner, and dove into the book, and was not disappointed. I highly recommend the book. Check out how to win a copy. Oh, and good news - there is a sequel planned for June.

Read a sample here: http://www.amazon.com/Unfinished-Gift-Novel-Dan-Walsh/dp/0800719247/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251167660&sr=1-1#reader

About the author:

Dan Walsh is the pastor of Sovreign Grace Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, a church he helped found 23 years ago. Walsh lives with his family in the Daytona Beach area. This is his first novel. Visit his website here: http://danwalshbooks.com/index.html

The giveaway:

Courtesy of the author, someone can win an autographed copy of this great book for your very own. I usually run giveaways for ten days or two weeks, but I am doing this one for one week, to give more time to get the book in time to read it before Christmas.

To enter, comment with a favorite gift you received for Christmas. One week from today on December 7th, I will pick a winner, and Dan Walsh will mail the winner a copy of his book.

Thanks to Dan for agreeing to help me out with a giveaway, and to Donna from Baker Books for sending me a review copy. If you don't win the book, buy yourself a copy, curl up, and enjoy a great Christmas story.

Available October 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.