On the porch Liliana paused and faced Cody. The soft expression in his eyes, totally focused on her, nearly undid her. She couldn’t remember a man ever looking at her like that—as though she were his world. She cupped his face to memorize every inch of the—love—yes, that was it. Love in his eyes. Her own swelled to the surface.
“I thought Juan had shot you earlier. I never want to experience that again.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed him.
He smiled against her lips. “If I have anything to say about it, you won’t.”
Discussion Questions
The theme of Shattered Silence is bullying (in various forms in the story). What are some examples of bullying in the book? Have you ever been bullied? If so, how did you handle it? Would you have done anything different in hindsight? What?
The hero’s son, Kyle Jackson, became the object of bullying at the new school he attended. At his old school in Houston, he was a bully. Seeing aggression from a victim’s point view makes him realize the harm he has done before. He refused to let his dad handle the problem by pressing charges against the boys who beat him up. Instead, he took care of the problem. Do you agree with how Kyle dealt with the situation? Would you have done something different? What?
Elena, the heroine’s sister, was being abused by her husband. She thought if she did everything perfectly that he wouldn’t belittle her or hit her. Have you been in an abusive situation? If so, why did you think you were being abused? Some people in an abusive situation think they are the cause of the abuse. How can a family member or friend help change the self-blame of the person who is being abused?
Why do people feel they can bully others? As observers, what can we do to stop this? As victims, is there anything we can do? What?
Who is your favorite character? Why?
Kyle said some unflattering things about people who are different from him. He learned this prejudice from his stepfather and the people he hung out with in Houston. Have you ever faced a person who was prejudiced against you because of race, gender, or some other reason? How did you deal with it?
What causes a person to be prejudiced against another? How can we change this as a society?
Liliana was angry about how her father abused her mother, her sister, and her. She had a hard time forgiving him for what he did—even though he was dead. She couldn’t move on in her life because of her feelings. Do you have trouble forgiving someone, and it affects your life? How can you change that?
What is your favorite scene? Why?
Cody Jackson wasn’t sure how to relate to his son. He usually only saw him every other weekend, and after Kyle’s mother died, Cody had full custody of Kyle. He was a full-time father and struggling to do the right thing. What advice would you give Cody about being a parent?
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What They’re Saying About...
The Glory of Green, by Judy Christie “Once again, Christie draws her readers into the town, the life, the humor and the drama in Green. The Glory of Green is a wonderful narrative of small-town America, pulling together in tragedy. A great read!”
—Ane Mulligan, editor of Novel Journey
Always the Baker, Never the Bride, by Sandra Bricker “[It] had just the right touch of humor, and I loved the characters. Emma Rae is a character who will stay with me. Highly recommended!”
—Colleen Coble, author of The Lightkeeper’s Daughter and the Rock Harbor series
Diagnosis Death, by Richard Mabry
“Realistic medical flavor graces a story rich with characters I loved and with enough twists and turns to keep the sleuth in me off-center. Keep ‘em coming!”—Dr. Harry Krauss, author of Salty Like Blood and The Six-Liter Club
Sweet Baklava, by Debby Mayne
“A sweet romance, a feel-good ending, and a surprise cache of yummy Greek recipes at the book’s end? I’m sold!”—Trish Perry, author of Unforgettable and Tea for Two
The Dead Saint, by Marilyn Brown Oden
“An intriguing story of international espionage with just the right amount of inspirational seasoning.”—Fresh Fiction
Shrouded in Silence, by Robert L. Wise “It’s a story fraught with death, danger, and deception—of never knowing whom to trust, and with a twist of an ending I didn’t see coming. Great read!”—Sharon Sala, author of The Searcher’s Trilogy: Blood Stains, Blood Ties, and Blood Trails.
Delivered with Love, by Sherry Kyle
“Sherry Kyle has created an engaging story of forgiveness, sweet romance, and faith reawakened—and I looked forward to every page. A fun and charming debut!”—Julie Carobini, author of A Shore Thing and Fade to Blue.
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Shattered Silence: Men of the Texas Rangers Series #2 Page 29