The Desire by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley

Can faith build a bridge between their dreams?
For two years, Allan and Michele have been trying to have a baby. The emotional ride has been taking a toll on their hearts--and their relationship. Michele is obsessed with researching fertility treatments while Allan seems content to spend his time--and their money--on supporting displaced children in Africa. Something's got to give. But they both hope it's not their marriage.

Still, God has a plan for Allan and Michele that they could never have imagined. And all it takes to set it in motion is a change of heart . . .

My review:
  My favorite genre' is Christian suspense, which Dan Walsh does not write, but he is still one of my very favorite authors. When I heard he was writing a series - his first series - I couldn't wait to read it, and each book has been worth the wait.

  This is the third in a series of four books, all revolving around one family, each book focusing on one or two members of the family. The first book centered on the parents, the second on the oldest son, and this one on the only daughter and her husband. The topics are infertility, missions, and adoption.

  With Gary Smalley as a co-author, these are more than fiction books, as they cover relationship issues and other issues. I can't relate to infertility issues in a marriage, but I thought the authors did a great job of portraying the anguish and the feelings that can arise when one spouse doesn't seem as concerned as the other. Since this focused on Michelle and Allan, I got to know those two characters more, and as with all of the characters in the book, they are very likable and real.

  There are some descriptive scenes in the book of how people and kids live in some parts of Africa, which are based on fact, and made me feel thankful for what we have here in America.

 The book was an excellent read. I was happy to step into the fictional lives of the Anderson family again and see how the rest of the family are getting along since the other books. And these books should be read in order.

  I would recommend this whole series for married couples just starting out, or couples who might be experiencing some relationship issues. I have always felt Christian fiction was a great medium to not just entertain, but deal with all sorts of issues, and Dan and Gary are doing a great job of that with these books. 

  My only complaint: it is so far away until the fourth and final book in the series.

About the authors:

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including The Dance and The Promisewith 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.

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best known authors and speakers on family relationships. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of 16 books, along with several popular films and videos. He has spent over 30 years learning, teaching, and counseling, speaking to over 2 million people in live conferences. Smalley has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, Extra, The Today Show, and The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, as well as numerous national radio programs. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 50 years and live in Branson, Missouri. They have three children and six grandchildren.

The Desire, book four in The Restoration Series, is available from Revell publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.