What Follows After by Dan Walsh

In 1962, life was simple, the world made sense, and all families were happy.
And when they weren't, everyone knew you were supposed to pretend.

For the past year, Scott and Gina Harrison have been living a lie. While they show up at family get-togethers in the same car, they've actually been separated for over a year. To keep up the charade, they've even instructed their sons, Colt and Timmy, to lie--to their grandparents, their teachers, and their friends.

Colt, for one, has had enough, so he hatches a plan. He and his little brother will run away from their Florida home, head for their aunt's house in Georgia, and refuse to come home until their parents get back together. But when things go terribly, terribly wrong, Scott and Gina must come to grips with years of neglect and mistrust in order to recover their beloved sons, their love for one another, and their marriage.

In this emotional story, bestselling author Dan Walsh takes you on a journey to rediscover the things that matter most in life--love, truth, and family. With profound insight into the heart of a hurting child, he reminds us that a time will come to look back on hard times and smile, because we'll know that what follows after . . . is not what we expected at all.

My Review:
I didn't get much sleep last night; I stayed up and finished reading this magnetic book. What a compelling story! Because of a horrific tragedy, a family rediscovers their priorities. The story even contains secrets of a happy marriage!

Set in 1962, when divorce was an ugly word, a husband and wife separate but continue to put up a front so society won't learn of their broken marriage. Their two boys feeling unloved and neglected decide to run away from home with the hope that their parents will somehow get back together. Things don't work out as planned, and . . . Well, I can't say any more without ruining your reading experience.

I lived in Florida during this time period, and I clearly remember the events depicted, the bomb shelters, President Kennedy's blockade of Cuba, and the sure knowledge that World War III was upon us. The author did a good job setting the scene, writing believable characters, and telling a story that will have readers choose to read over sleep. This is a book I heartily recommend!

Thank you to Revell and Baker Publishing Group for my copy.