Customer Reviews

A Time to Gather (Safe Harbor Series #2)

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This book begins where "A time to Mend" ends. Once again poor Max is held responsible for putting his job first instead of his family. Thankfully his realitionship with his wife Claire is healed and they plan the wedding they never had. This story will focus on Erik the egomanic newscaster and his mousy sister Lexi. I imagine the other two adult children will be featured in the next book. Erik is the most damaged of the four children as he self distructs. His life begins to unravel and his parents must use tough love to get him back on his feet. Max asks for forgiveness from all of his beloved children. Erik and Lexi are the least receptive in this book to Max. This book is really about Erik and Lexi and their abandmonent issues from Max. The book wants the reader to know how much a father's presence is valued and putting work before the family will cause damage in adulthood such as Erik and Lexi experienced. Erik is abandoned by his g/friend for another man and Lexi by a man she loves but does not want her. She falls for an unvailable man (dad was unvailable.) God sends someone different for Erik and Lexi. Also a surprise event that I expected. BTW, Max was abandoned as a child by his parents for his Saintly brother as well as Claire abandoned by both parents for being in their way. The beat goes on with abandonment issues.

The Safe Harbor Series did not disappoint. Sally John is an excellent author. Her collaboration with Gary Smalley brought to the forefront real-life issues weaved into this novel series. I loved #1 and #2 and am ordering Books #3 and #4 this week!

I am a huge Karen Kingsbury fan. I have pretty much read all of her books and was looking for a new Christian series to get into. Most Christian fiction books are set back in the day and I'm not really into that. I was browsing around amazon and came across this book. I saw that Gary Smalley also co-wrote this book and I absolutely LOVED the redemptions series.

Anyway, I found this book to be a really great read. I fell in love with the Beaumonts and really enjoyed the second part of the series. I like the fact that the focus was on Lexi this time, because she was definitely the most mysterious one. I think a lot of people can relate to her character. I also liked how the Beaumont family faced real problems - addiction, loneliness, etc. It's not a typical "everything goes right" story. I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for a good Christian read.

A realistic, believable happy ending to some difficult--even life-threatening problems within this family. It was apparent the Spirit of God was working mightily in Max (dad), Erik (eldest son), and Lexi (youngest daughter). Max's fear of dealing with his emotions melted into tenderness, affection and a father I would be glad to call my own. Erik the alcoholic,who was always at the top of his game, hit bottom a few times before he had the courage to ask for help. But how beautiful a soul he turned out to be after entering rehab and calling on our mighty God for salvation and the ability to forgive his dad. Lexi, an artistic but bulemic emotional mess with no self-esteem (mostly due to absent dad) also went through trial after difficult trial before she cried out to God. The book was intense and the characters realistically flawed like so many of us. But the power of God to show up when we call, heal emotional pain, and change us into beautiful people on the inside, shined through this wonderful read.