Castles in the Sand

Title: CASTLES IN THE SAND
Author: Sally John
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
2006
ISBN: 0-7369-1317-3
Genre: Inspirational/women’s fiction

Susan Starr doesn’t know how to react when her nineteen year old daughter, Kenzie, announces that she’s pregnant—and has no intentions of getting married. Susan’s husband, Drake, has no qualms. After all, he is the senior pastor of his huge San Diego church, and he has a reputation to uphold. He tells his daughter to get out and don’t come back. That she is no longer their child.

Taught not to talk back to or disagree with her husband, Susan sits silent while her daughter is forced out into the rain with only the clothes on her back. But Susan is plunged into despair. Drakes reaction is so harsh, and Susan doesn’t want to give up relations with her only child. Desperate for a hideaway, Susan seeks refuge at a beach house that her sister-in-law rented. And she attempts to reach out to her daughter. But reaching out to Kenzie is causing marital problems with Drake.

Will Susan learn to stand up to her husband when it matters, save the marriage, and still salvage her relationship with Kenzie?

CASTLES IN THE SAND is an older book that I picked up to read after I read Trish Perry’s novel following up on this series. I really enjoyed getting to know Susan, her circle of friends and family, and her daugher’s not-exactly-in-laws. This is a wonderful book, and even though it is second in The Beach House series (The Beach House is first in the series) it easily stands alone.

I could relate to Susan’s dilemma aobut how to respond to her husband and yet be true to herself and her own heart, and I had to applaud her for getting away to think things through. I couldn’t help but wish that maybe Drake would see the light as well—and even Kenzie who had several issues to work through. Don’t miss CASTLES IN THE SAND. It is a great summer read when you are thinking about beach houses and getting away. Discussion questions are included at the back of the book. :$12.99. 333 pages.