The Legacy ~ Review

The Legacy
The Restoration series 4
By Dan Walsh
     and Gary Smalley

The Legacy is the concluding book in the Restoration series.  This is one family's journey to rediscovering the lives that they should be living as not only a family but as believers.  The Legacy focuses on the youngest Anderson son Doug who is now on his own at college.

But Doug is living two lives - one that his family thinks he's living and the one he's living at college.
But living in two worlds isn't possible for long and Doug is about to discover this all to suddenly when an incident brings his two worlds into contact.  Will this be the catalyst that finally drives a wedge into the family that can't be breached?  Or will this be the dose of reality that will help Doug find his way home?

The Legacy is a powerful lesson in the pain in loving a child who is determined to do it their own way, no matter the cost.  As Jim and Marilyn struggle with dealing with Doug's situation they find themselves reaching out again for advice from Uncle Henry and Aunt Myra.

Still dealing from Jim's years of inattentive parenting, Doug seems to be the last unresolved situation and learning to deal with it in a way that doesn't drive him further away offers hope to other families going through a similar situation.  All to often we try to force those we care about to change - to become who we know they should be, but in the process we actually hinder them by further driving them away.  The prodigal son is an interesting theme that runs throughout this story in a couple of unique ways.

This is a powerful conclusion to a moving and thoughtfully written series.  Though I'm sure each could be read individually to get the full impact and powerful message the series should be read in order.

I was provided a copy of this book by Revell through their Revell Reads blogger program in exchange for my honest review.

One young man is about to discover the true cost of independence

For years, Doug Anderson has been drifting slowly but steadily away from both his family and his faith. His parents have been trying to reach him before he falls too far. His friend Christina hopes what she is seeing online isn't true. But sometimes you have to hit bottom before you're ready to grow up.

Just as things begin to settle down a bit, Doug's life takes a turn that requires every bit of faith and patience for both his family and Christina--whose growing feelings for Doug, a man who writes her off as not worth his time, keep her off balance. Will Doug's crisis finally clear his vision and help him focus on what he has right in front of him?


The emotionally gripping conclusion to the series critics are calling . . .

"Captivating."--RT Book Reviews

"Emotional."--Booklist

"Uplifting."--Library Journal

"Satisfying."--New York Journal of Books


Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of many books, including The Dance, The Promise, and The Desire with Gary Smalley. He has won three Carol Awards, and three of his novels were finalists for RT Book ReviewsInspirational Book of the Year. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best-known authors and speakers on family relationships and has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, and TODAY, as well as numerous national radio programs. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of many books, including the Baxter Family Redemption series with Karen Kingsbury. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 50 years and live in Missouri.