A Time to Surrender (Safe Harbor, 3)

With her Marine husband serving overseas, will Jenna trust God's plans for their marriage--or find comfort in another's arms?

Jenna Beaumont Mason had her marriage all planned out. But what she didn't plan was her husband, Kevin, unexpectedly reenlisting in the U.S. Marines--without her knowledge. When Kevin is assigned to serve in Iraq, Jenna struggles with loneliness and resentment at his lengthy absence. This is not the life she wanted.

With the support of other military wives and much prayer, Jenna tries to accept this new reality in her marriage. But when a caring, handsome--and very available--man offers Jenna the comfort she longs for, she struggles to stay faithful to far-away Kevin.

Things grow even more complicated for Jenna and her parents when a mysterious young woman named Skylar shows up at their home, the Hacienda Hideaway. When Skylar's past finally catches up with her, she puts the Beaumonts at risk not only of broken hearts, but of something even more dangerous.

As the Beaumonts grow in their love for God and each other, they learn that sometimes the best way to reconcile relationships is by surrendering control.

Claire and Max Beaumont have grown closer through trials of faith, but their adult children still have a long way to go toward achieving happiness. Erik and Rosie are becoming closer as he fights his alcohol addiction and she overcomes her guilt for shooting him. Lexi is slowly coming to terms with her anorexia, but Jenna, used to being royally treated, resents her husband Kevin’s decision to enlist and refuses to buy into the Marine credo of supporting the wives of her husband’s command. Danny, faithful as a child, has become confrontational and legalistic in his attitudes and loses no opportunity to interrogate the enigmatic new cook, Skylar Pierson, who arrived at their door in answer to Indio’s prayers. Sally and Smalley develop several themes from Ecclesiastes 3 in their Safe Harbor contemporary Christian inspirational series (A Time to Mend and A Time to Gather, both 2008) as Claire and Max gently but firmly encourage their children to venture forth from their comfort zone and reach out in faith. --Lynne Welch