Ashley Savage grew up in a troubled home with a competitive, pampered sister and an abusive mother who played at being a Christian when she needed to...and led Ashley to more addictions than one child could handle. As an adult, Ashley tells herself she's put the extreme fears of the past behind her, but she spends most of her time repairing the crumbling wall holding back the horrors she's not willing to face ever again. The one man who has the annoying habit of getting through her defenses is Jay Samuels, a military chaplain and soon-to-be pastor. Much as Ashley wants to leave him behind, Jay is ambitious to a fault where she's concerned. He hears only what he wants to hear-and he doesn't want to hear that she doesn't love him as much as he loves her. But even Jay doesn't realize the extent of all she's buried...and what keeps her from giving herself willingly to the God she knows is drawing her inexorably to Himself, to the one place she can't run, where she can no longer hide...

The author recounts her experiences while living, working, and teaching in Alaska.

As a teenager, Justine MorrisOs escape from the pressures of caring for her dying father was stolen moments with Joshua Samuels. But their tender, desperate liaison found them facing teen pregnancy. Afraid of their Christian familiesO responses to the situation, they married quickly and built a life for their child. But now that their daughter is ready to fly the nest, Justine can no longer ignore the truth: She and Joshua havenOt had a real marriage for a long time. Maybe they never had one at all. Joshua is only too aware that his wife is an independent woman who never really needed him. After nearly two decades of marriage, heOs quit trying to get more than a piece of her at a time. Without their daughter holding them together, he knows the chasm between them will grow to epic proportions. Their empty nest looming, they face the hard questions. Had they married in loveEor out of a hasty sense of responsibility? Is it worth the effortEor better to simply let go?

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Dr. Marcus Samuels is a medical missionary in Japan, and his life has been God's work despite a severe anxiety disorder. After 12 years, he aches to start his own family life back in the States. Spurred into motion by his mother's sudden illness, he's caught off-guard when he realizes just how much he'll miss Keiko Oichi, a fellow pediatrician at the Children's Christian Mission Hospital. Keiko grew up in the United States as a foreign exchange student. Her conversion to Christ, as well as getting to know Marcus, have radically altered her emotionally-detached acceptance of her traditional Japanese future. When Marcus says he's leaving Japan for good, she feels lost at the prospect of losing him. When Keiko's parents learn of her conversion and feelings for a Christian man, the couple faces a crossroads in love and faith that will change both of their lives irrevocably.

All good things must come to an end, but bad things continue forever? Vashti Samuels, Rozlyn Gosnik, and Justice Adams grew up together as the children of lawyers in Peaceful, Wisconsin. The three were best friends all their lives. Never once did Vashti realize Roz felt only jealousy and animosity for her. When the truth came out their friendship fractured, and Vashti couldn't make things right no matter how hard she tried. Meanwhile, Justice and Roz began a stormy relationship that segued into a volatile marriage. Years later, Justice ends up in the hospital after Roz commits suicide and nearly extinguished his life in the process. He makes it clear Vashti is the last person he wants to hold his hand during his convalescence and grief. His life has always been spent in the middle between Roz and Vashti and, even with Roz's death, he's not free. Vashti insists she only wants to be friends again, but deep down she knows if she can't have his heart she'd rather have nothing at all.