Castles in the Sand

The Beach House #2

by Sally John

In Castles in the Sand, the follow up to the first book in The Beach House series, author Sally John explores themes of forgiveness and redemption. When Susan and Drake Starr discover that their 20-year-old daughter Kenzie is pregnant, their lives are turned upside down. The news sends Drake, a pastor of a huge San Diego church, reeling--and he sends Kenzie packing. Susan finds herself caught in the middle. Does loving Drake mean cutting ties with her only child? What will this path mean for her daughter? For herself? When Susan seeks the refuge of a beach house, a secret from her past resurfaces. This is a captivating story of how God's mercy is evident when our foundations crumble.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Christian

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2006

About the author

Sally John is the best-selling author of twenty novels, including the Side Roads series, the Safe Harbor series (coauthored with Gary Smalley), The Other Way Home series, The Beach House series, and In a Heartbeat series. A three-time finalist for the Christy Award, Sally writes contemporary stories that offer hope to readers in their own relational and faith journeys. She enjoys teaching writing workshops and spending time with her husband, adult children, and grandchildren. An Illinois native, Sally and her husband, Tim, live in southern California. Visit her Web site at www.sally-john.com.

Reviews

[Ricki-leigh Nadon]

I picked up this book merely based on the sale price on the front and judging the book my its cover. I didn't really know what it was about, but I am very happy I picked up the book. Had I known the book was so largely based around religion I might have hesitated. However, I am happy that I did not. This book has affected me in ways I never thought possible. I was taken along a journey with the families in this book that has made me reconsider some choices I have made in life and will likely affect me going forward. I have never really been a religious person, with minimal exposure to religion in grade school. This book has made me see some of the good in religion - along with some of the bad - and made me think if I need more of God in my life. I am not saying this book has converted me in any way, but has made me think.
I am very happy with how the book ended, because who doesn't love happily ever after.

[Lyndi]

I found this to be a little better than the first, as some of the characters were unrelatable, some I could understand. Susan started out as boring, flat and as bland as vanilla. She ended up ok in my book. Kenzie was at times what one would expect out of a teenager, moody and distant. Pepper and Natalie were my favorites. I didn't remember the whole story of Faith and who really owns the beach house, so I guess that was the only thing I wish that either could have been retold or my brain to remember. You don't need to read this first book to follow along at all. Other Sally John books are better, but I liked it and would probably tell others to read, just don't expect it to be fabulous.

[Laura]

I thought since this was the second in a series we'd have the same women come back, but we didn't. It was a whole new group and dealt with a pastor and his family and an unplanned teenage pregnancy. I was drawn into the book and the characters and encouraged by how they sought the Lord through it all, well, once they got past their own pride and forgave eachother. I did feel like the book dragged on and the same could have been accomplished in about 80 less pages.

The book spoke a lot about the idea of a sabatical. That is something I'm just now learning about and understanding the merits of.

[Marilyn]

Interesting characters, made me feel good

[Kate]

I really appreciated the way this book looked at the idea of grace and forgiveness. I liked that the characters were multifaceted, and it was intriguing to see the story play out through the eyes of Susan, Natalie, Kenzie, and Pepper . . . to see where each of them were trying to make the best of a difficult situation, but who were also humble enough to (eventually) see where they needed God to help them be better. I loved the Martha Mavens too, especially the Prayer Warrior. The Good Friday service scene was my favourite, I think.
4.5 stars

[Abigail Sands]

An enjoyable read but more important is the redemptive message. Real life issues. Enjoyed this story very much. Worth reading.

[Cindy]

Very real, inspiring and believable!

[Sherri Meeks Ebbeskotte]

Very well written, and I'm sure many people can relate.

[Gaylen Matlock]

I really enjoyed how

[Jewett]

You p retty much know how this will end, but there are a lot of interesting happenings along the way. Good characters, some you love and some you don't love.

[Sheri]

Second in the series of people who meet at the same beach house. I thought it would be the same women as the first book, but no, just the same beach house.
This is the story of a Christian young woman who gets pregnant and her pastor father throws her out of the house. The wife goes along with it because she's a "good" submissive Christian wife. It was good and I was anxious to keep reading to see wqhere the story would go. Certainly reminded me alot of my own father who no doubt would have done the very same thing.

[Candice]

I seriously get tired of writers thinking all women are the same.... Shallow. There are those of us out there who enjoy a bit of depth to our read. This book lacked so much. I abandoned the book altogether and I am Not proud of that. I usually finish the book hoping that with each page turn it gets better. Well. I lost hope with this one. Moving on...

[April Suter]

Susan runs away to the cute beach house to find her faith and voice, define her marriage with the paster and repair her relationship with her pregnant daughter. The Martha Mavenss show up to Pray with a capital P--they are her friends and are prayer warriors! She joins the group with her daughter's boyfriend's mom. A great book of prayer and forgiveness and romance.

334 pages

[Erin]

I was disappointed to find the sequel to "The Beach House" did not revolve around the same characters. I did not enjoy it as much, but could less relate to the characters and that probably had a lot to do with it.

[Laura]

Even God would admit that not all books about Him should be considered literature....

The characters are flat, the dialogue is contrived and cutesy, so annoying. I only read it because I downloaded by mistake and passed the point of no return on my Kindle.

[Sheryl]

This is about restoring the relationship between a pastor, his wife, and his pregnant, unwed, teenage daughter. I found myself rooting for them to work it all out.

[Lisa]

Beach House series / book two

[Diane]

Several women with problems move towards solutions and healing at a Beach House. Standard for the genre, but sufficiently diverting.

[Diana]

I didn't finish the book it was to typical, of the Christian people throwing their daughter out for being pregnant and not married..I just couldn't hack it...

[Vicki Lanzendorf]

Great summer read!

[Tammy]

A very good book!

[Martha]

Liked this book very much. Rich characters and John captures the perfect emotions for each situation.

[Jocelyn Montalvo Cullum]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11868421

[April]

I liked it. I'm not much for christian reading, but there wasn't enough in it to bother me. I'm glad how everything turned out at the end.

[Jenny]

Love it!

I so enjoyed this book! The characters are so real. I had a hard time putting the book down, and couldn't wait to pic it up again. Hope there is a book 3!

[Nicole]

This book was a quick read and a lot better than I thought it would be.

[Lauri Carr]

Lit N Lattes, January 2010. Good discussion.

[Stephanie]

IT WAS ALSO A GOOD BOOK. I READ IN THE WINTER WHEN I WANTED TO BE AT A BEACH HOUSE.

[Lisa Sikkema]

Moving book about gods power to work in any situation.

[Heidi Strybos]

loved it!