QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Annie has lived a hard life. Even as she attempts to escape it, her past follows her. Has there been an event or action in your past you have tried to hide or get away from or forgive? How did your faith help you?
During church Annie hears a scripture that changes her. What scriptures have been important in your life? How?
John’s faith has mostly been a matter of expectations: going to church was what a member of his family did. Have you ever felt this way? Do you know someone who has? How did your faith become deeper for you?
Because of his family background and his pride in his family’s history, John feels he must live his life in a certain way. Do you know people who allow their pride to divide them from God or from others? Would hearing the scripture that changes Annie help these people or would they still be likely to judge?
Because of her childhood, Annie finds it hard to trust people, to believe that people will accept her. Has there been an experience in your life that affected you in the same way? How did you overcome it or compensate for it?
During a time of sorrow, Annie’s father changed. What words from the Scriptures might help a person who allows traumatic events in life to turn them away from God and those who love them? What words of healing could you use?
Have you had a friend who has gone through a time when his or her faith was tested? Did you find a way to support this friend? How?
Annie has to decide either to tell the truth and lose everything or to continue with a life she loves. How would you decide which to do? Do you believe Annie’s choice was correct? Why?
Has there been a moment in your life when you had to take a stand for something you believed? Have you ever faced a time when this stand cost you what you wanted most? How did you handle that?
Annie learns that she can overcome her difficult past through hard work. Do you believe this is possible, or do you believe people are constantly judged by their choices, even though they may have repented? Does God allow us a second chance? Can you give an example in your life of a second chance?
If we see problems in our friends’ lives—broken personal relationships, addictions—how can we speak a word of healing?
How often should we forgive others? The title of the book suggests giving others a second chance, but in Matthew, Jesus tells us to forgive seventy times seven. What do you believe? Why? Could you have forgiven Annie for her lies and her past? Why and how?
John finally recognizes that he’s judgmental and controlling. Do you believe we can overcome these traits? Do you know people like this? How can they change? Can faith help? How?
ISBN: 9781408937938
Second Chance Bride
© Jane Myers Perrine 2009
First Published in Great Britain in 2009
Harlequin (UK) Limited
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, including without limitation xerography, photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This ebook is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated, without the prior consent of the publisher, in any form or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
All characters in this work have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l.
® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
www.eharlequinuk.co.uk
Second Chance Bride Page 22