Before I go further, I want to thank all of you who participated this week (even the handful of you who didn't care for the book...which I'll get to later). It's a busy season of life and I appreciate the time you invested in my work.
I haven't read all the reviews yet, and more will be coming in over the weekend, but I've read quite a few. Most have blown me away, far exceeding what any author could hope for from a review. I'll paste a sampling below. Just excerpts, though; space won't allow reprinting the entire review (I'll create a link with each blog name, so you can click on it and read the whole review if you want).
As I said, though most of the reviews have been extremely encouraging, there are a few that "go the other way." Admittedly, I'd like every one who reads the book to love it. That's not gonna happen, this I know. As of this post, for example, there are 37 reviews on Amazon. 27 are 5-Stars, another 4 have given the book 4-Stars. That's 31 out of 37 reviews that are very positive. But we've got a couple of 3's and even a couple of 2's in there. I imagine for the potential reader, it might be confusing to read some of the negative reviews compared to the rest.
At first, it confused me. It seemed almost like these folks were reading a different book. Some of the things that deeply and positively affected the majority, didn't move these people in the least. It goes to show that no one can write a book that makes everyone happy, and there are a variety of "taste buds" at play when someone picks up a book to read (or clicks a button on their E-reader).
But I wanted to speak to one thing I picked up as I read a couple of the more negative reviews. Some didn't like the main character, Rick. They felt like he was a selfish, self-absorbed young man who didn't treat his parents or those around him very well (this is true, Rick does start off that way). It didn't seem to matter that by the book's end, that all changes.
Well, enough analysis. Here are excerpts from the 4-5 Star reviews that came in this week (and thank you every one for reading the book, getting what I was aiming for, and taking the time to write about it).
Blog Tour Samples:
“Dan Walsh writes beautiful stories
full of tender moments, and just as each of his previous three books did, Remembering
Christmas touched my heart…Walsh does a masterful job of showing how hurts
and childhood perceptions can impact our lives as adults and the impact that
unconditional love makes in a life, even years after the seeds are sown. This
is a wonderful book to read for the holidays. It's definitely one for my keeper
shelf, and I suspect reading it may become an annual tradition.”
“Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh is the best Christmas book I’ve
read this year. In this book you really find out what Christmas is really
about…A very beautiful, tender story full of love, forgiveness and hope. I
highly recommend this for a fantastic book to add to your Christmas shelf. Five
stars for sure!”
“Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh is a
beautiful story about a man who remembers the Christmas that changed his life…I
very highly recommend this book! If you haven’t read a book by Dan Walsh
before, then you need to. He is a brilliant story teller, and his stories are
emotional and powerful. This story is deeply moving, and packs a powerful
message. It’s sure to get you into the Christmas spirit. Be sure to check out
his other books: The Unfinished Gift,
The Homecoming (which is a follow-up
to The Unfinished Gift), and The
Deepest Waters. He has become one of my favorite Christian fiction authors
and I have come to look forward to his Christmas stories.”
“Dan Walsh is easily one of my new
favorite authors, and I told him that last time I read one of his books. I have
compared him to Nicholas Sparks for the Christian book enthusiast. I have been
reading a lot of Nicholas Sparks' novels lately, and have to admit I prefer
Dan's books to his. I know when I read one of Dan's books that it will be kept
‘clean’ while still holding the mystery and romance that I enjoy in novels.”
-- Melinda Joy
“Fans of Nicholas Sparks will find
a new author to love in Dan Walsh...for me, he writes circles around any New
York Times best-selling author. His books are filled with engaging characters,
rich story, and deep faith in our unchanging God…Once again, Dan creates
memorable characters that pull up a chair in your imagination and settle in for
a good, long while. From J.D., the homeless man who looks forward to his daily
McMuffin to the sassy co-worker that keeps putting Rick in his place, you'll
love each and every person you meet. Be prepared for a surprise or two along
the way.”
"Remembering Christmas
by Dan Walsh is a good book to read this holiday season. Like
other novels written by Walsh, this book jumps right into the life of the main
characters… It’s the third book I’ve read by this author and Dan Walsh’s
writing style reminds me of Nicholas Sparks. My hope is someday his books will
be published into a movie for all to enjoy…If you need a good Christmas gift
idea for someone who enjoys reading, I’d recommend putting together these three
books - Remembering Christmas, The Unfinished Gift, The
Homecoming.”
What more could I add to this but...God bless us, everyone.
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