9. What were Kayeleigh’s responses to seeing the romantic interlude between her dad and “Miss Valdez” in chapter 24? Do you think they were justified? Why or why not? Were you surprised that Doug was second-guessing his proposal to Mickey? Why or why not? Have you ever second-guessed yourself on an important decision? Explain.
10. Talk about Kayeleigh’s relationship with Seth. Do you think she, as a twelve-year-old girl, is experiencing normal feelings toward him? What other things might be controlling her emotions and affections?
11. How did you feel about the fact that Mickey got “stuck” with caring for Doug’s children while he worked two jobs? How did this differ from her expectations of being married to Doug? How do you think you would respond in a similar situation? What compromises might they have made?
12. In chapter 27, Mickey worries that Doug will compare her to Kaye. Have you ever compared yourself with someone else that you thought was “better” than you—and felt you couldn’t compete? Explain the situation. Were your fears real—or unfounded? What did you choose to do about them?
13. Do you think Mickey should have reorganized and redecorated the DeVore home? Talk about Doug’s and the children’s reactions. Were they justified? How might this have been handled differently to avoid the conflict that ensued?
14. Do you think it was fair of Doug to share his thoughts and feelings with Mickey in chapter 43? Why or why not? Has anyone ever been brutally honest with you? How did you respond? How did your relationship with that person change?
15. After almost giving up on ever recapturing the love they once felt for one another, what do you think was the turning point for Doug and Mickey to reconcile? Were their turning points different? Do you think one of them sacrificed more than the other toward reconciliation? If so, which one—and why? Have you ever been in a situation of conflict where you felt like you were giving more than the other person toward the restoration of your relationship? Explain.
16. In chapter 45, how does Mickey’s garden reflect, to her, the state of her love with Doug? If you were in Mickey’s place, would you have stayed with Doug? Why or why not?
17. What did you think of the assignment Pastor Phil gave to Doug in chapter 46? In what way this week could you carry out the same assignment in your own life? Do you think it could make as great a difference as it made to Doug? Explain.
18. What do you think changed Doug’s mind and heart in chapter 47? Did you expect this ending to the book? Why or why not?
About the Author
DEBORAH RANEY dreamed of writing a book since the summer she read Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books and discovered that a Kansas farm girl could, indeed, grow up to be a writer. After a happy twenty-year detour as a stay-at-home mom, Deb penned her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, which won a Silver Angel Award and inspired the acclaimed World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Since then, her books have won the RITA Award, HOLT Medallion, ACFW Carol Award, National Readers' Choice Award, as well as twice being finalists for the Christy Award. Deb teaches at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband, Ken Raney, recently traded small-town life in Kansas ––the setting of many of Deb's novels––for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita. They have four children and a growing brood of precious grandchildren who all live much too far away. Visit Deb on the Web at:
www.deborahraney.com
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