WEEK ONE DISCUSSION

[Debbie]

Well Lisa got us off to a running start in week one’s section, she’s introduced us to some eclectic characters and some troubling circumstances.
Remember Lisa will be around all month, there’s a thread for asking her questions but use this thread if you have a question relating to these discussion questions.
Later in the week I’ll be putting up a thread for those of you who couldn’t read on schedule and finished the book. ☺
Now let’s get on with the show!

First Thoughts

You’re first impression of:
Tess
Sadie
Riley

Let’s discuss Riley’s scene with her husband.
What does this scene tell you about her?

What do you think of Tess’s mini golf idea?

Did anything surprise you about the first section?

[Debbie]

I hear crickets chirping, anyone out there :)

[Lisa]

Chirp!

[April]

I got behind in my reading this weekend, but I'm on the last chapter in this section so I'll be posting later tonight or tomorrow morning.

[Ang from OZ]

I'm ready, just trying to find a spare minute, plus I hate going first!!! :) (chirp, chirp)

[[deleted user]]

I plan to find some time to post something later today.

[Debbie]

Fine I'll go first
My first impression was Happy to be back in Lisa's Pine Lake and wondering what tale she had in store for me.

I wasn't sure how I first felt about Tess so I'll save this impression for the end.
My heart went out to Sadie
And Riley was a puzzle, I loved how she took over her grandparents camp, but her personal life was more of a conundrum and she and Sadie both made me think outside of my comfort realm and try to imagine what I would feel like as an adoptee.

I'll wait until later to discuss the other two questions.

[April]

It was exciting being back in Pine Lake. I was glad to see the book open with Tess since we weren't sure what had happened to her after reading the last book.

Tess is a tough cookie, but I see another softer side to her. She has had to fend for herself for so long and isn't used to opening up to people. I feel like if she were to befriend Sadie, it might be just what Sadie needs. I'm surprised Tess has been following Sadie for so long and still hasn't revealed who she really is.

I really like Sadie's character. She's been through a lot at such a young age. Even though she ran away from home, a part of me felt like she had no other choice. There was no one else waiting in the wings to be her new guardian after her grandmother was put in the nursing home. Her search for her biological mother was a last resort at taking charge of her own future.

Riley is a kindhearted person, always trusting. She believes Sadie's story and befriends her, when most people would have their guard up. I feel like up until she inherited the camp she was a peoplepleaser, always doing things others thought she should do, never doing anything for herself. The camp was the final push she needed to do something she truly loved, no matter what anyone said.

I can see Riley's mixed emotions over her ex. I think she still loves him and a part of her even misses the life they shared. But, their different views over having children has torn them apart. I can see her maternal instinct kicking in with Sadie. She is so good at making Sadie feel comfortable with her, making her feel safe. Riley doesn't want any children and I wonder what really happened when she went to find her birth mother. It has been mentioned a few times in this section and I'm curious if this has anything to do with Riley not wanting to have any children.

I loved Tess' mini golf idea. It was a good way to memorialize Riley's grandparents and maybe bring in some extra income for the camp. Who knows, maybe once the project is finished, it will lead the women to fix more things around the camp.

I've been surprised so far that Tess has not confessed to being Sadie's mother. I'm not sure how she can be around the girl and not let the secret slip.

Looking forward to reading the second section! :)

[Lisa]

April -- great insight about Riley being a "people pleaser." I'd never thought of her in precisely those terms, but that fits perfectly!

[Debbie]

April wrote: "It was exciting being back in Pine Lake. I was glad to see the book open with Tess since we weren't sure what had happened to her after reading the last book.

Tess is a tough cookie, but I see ano..."

April I love your description of Tess, I'm curious. Did you like her in the first section. After Monday when part two questions go up I'll tell everyone what my feelings were about Tess. I was just curious. :)

Also about your feelings on Riley and her marriage. I felt that Riley was more at fault than Declan. Just wondering how you felt?

Thanks for your wonderful observations!!!

[Lisa]

Deb -- I'm looking forward to your first impressions about Tess! That girl is a tough cookie, and it was a challenge to make her sympathetic.

So I'll pull the curtain back a little and confess to you guys that I wrote the first scene of that novel *seven times!* And the version that went final--the one in the book--was written fresh (and completely different from all the other versions) just two days before the book was due.

I was sure my editor wasn't going to like it . .. but it was the one scene in the novel that she didn't touch!

[Karen]

Oh boy, what a start to this wonderful book. This weas a mixed salad with a pickled wine vinaigrette dressing for a list of Characters. Between a tween-age girl who has been to hell and back and now has good reason to want to find SOMEONE to call family and love her. A woman with an interesting, but mysterious past who has never quite recovered or let go of it, nor does it look like she even appreciated the few who tried to help her along the way annnnnnd can't quite deal with the fact that HER daughter needs her help in many ways now. Then we have the young lady with the overpowering mother who adopted her (for I don't know why reasons) who is still trying to run her life while she is not handling the fact that she never quite made the "mark" or reached the "bar" set by the rest of the f
amily when she was growing up. Now she just wants to find
out who SHE is.., ,LISA!!!

[Karen]

Okay, mg y box decided to start typiing backwards...
LISA!!! You are writing about life. How readl can it be. But you do such a wonderful job of keeping an edge of humor there so we can laugh at ourselves, while we cry because we see a little of ourselves on occasion in a character or two. Or maybe our mother in a major character or two :-P
Even though the topic is delving into some hard stuff once again, you have the gift of lifting it above the morass an giving us the ability to look at it in a lighter vane and actually laugh at our vulnerabilities, or fallibilities as the case may be.
I am so sorry it took me all week to get here. We cam home from being gone for 12 days to find our electricity has been out for ??? Fred got things repaired. But then I discovered we had internet and computer issues and that took another two or three days to work through, including several hours online and on the phone with the computer techs (love them guys, they are wonderful). But all is finally good!!!!! Now if someone can solve my brain problem and write these excel formulas for me, I will be good to go. It has been 10 years since I wrote formulas like this..
Hugs to you all.

[Karen]

Oh, Deb and Lisa,
Tess is a tough cookie. I am not sure if I want to shake her till her teeth fall out and get some sense knocked into her or hug her tight till she loosens up and relaxes enough to get a good cry in. She seems like one that quit feeling about life a long time ago and just exists.

[Ang from OZ]

Well I finally found a minute... Gosh what a hectic week it had been.

My first impressions of Riley are mostly the same as what Ruth has said. Someone who wants to make everyone happy. And I felt that with her marriage, her and Declan seemed to have wanted very different things.

Now for Tess...
I didn't really like Tess all that much at first, I found her one tough cookie for sure. And stand offish. But after reading on and getting to know more about her life and her upbringing. Well you start to feel that sympathy for her character.

Sadie, well I want to just hug her. What guts she has for breaking out on her own and going off to find the answers she wants.

The mini golf idea, I think is Tess's way of giving back. And trying to do her part to save Riley's dream of keep the camp going for her Grandparents.

[April]

Debbie wrote: "April wrote: "It was exciting being back in Pine Lake. I was glad to see the book open with Tess since we weren't sure what had happened to her after reading the last book.

Tess is a tough cookie,..."

Deb, while I didn't agree with all of Tess's choices in the first section, overall I did like her. Her past with her own parents was still clearly affecting her and even though that is no excuse, I felt myself feeling more sympathetic toward her because of it. I did become extremely frustrated with Tess not admitting to Sadie who she really was, but I think based on her own experiences she felt she would have no idea what a mother really was. I truly believe she had Sadie's best intentions in mind, trying to get her to go back home, but watching her from afar she had no way of knowing Sadie's whole situation. Can't wait to hear your thoughts! I love getting another perspective.

As for Riley and Declan it was hard to see who was really at fault. There are so many missing pieces to the puzzle at this point. It seemed when it came to their disagreement over whether or not to have children, Riley was upfront with him saying she didn't want any, while Declan said she would change her mind later. Something happened with her birth mother, I'm just not sure what yet and I can't help feeling that is what really drove Riley and Declan apart. I did feel Declan was making an effort at bringing them back together, while Riley had just written him off. And I was completely confused if she was the one who left him as to why she still hadn't signed the divorce papers.

Lisa, what a great story of how the first scene came about. Talk about being under pressure! I'm glad your editor liked it so much, it was the perfect way to begin the book. Thanks for sharing!

[[deleted user]]

It sounds like everyone is enjoying this book as much as I did.

I really liked Riley and Sadie right from the start. I agree with Debbie about Tess, that initially I wasn't sure how I felt about her. With Tess, I kept asking "why this?" and "why that?" But of course, that kept me reading to discover more about her character.

As different as the three characters may be, I think the common thread is that each one is running from something. Sadie has been through so much to be so young. I just want to go get her and bring her home with me!

Riley has finally decided it is time to stop trying to live her life just to please others and start doing things for herself for a change. It would have been easier if she had come to terms with this before her marriage and settling into a career, but life doesn't always work that way. Sometimes it can take a lifetime to figure out what we want out of life! As for Declan, I agree with Ang that they wanted different things. And what about her mother?!?! I know she cares about Riley, but I think she is overstepping her bounds.

I think fixing up the mini golf course is a great idea and it lets us see a softer side of Tess. Her hard work shows how deeply she cared for Riley's grandparents and for Riley as well.

[Karen]

I agree with you about Teas and the putt putt.

[Debbie]

Karen wrote: "Oh, Deb and Lisa,
Tess is a tough cookie. I am not sure if I want to shake her till her teeth fall out and get some sense knocked into her or hug her tight till she loosens up and relaxes enough ..."

Great thoughts Karen and as usual we're on the same wave length as you'll see when week two's discussion questions are posted because I've mention the humor.

Glad you're home safe and sound :)

[Debbie]

April wrote: "Debbie wrote: "April wrote: "It was exciting being back in Pine Lake. I was glad to see the book open with Tess since we weren't sure what had happened to her after reading the last book.

Tess is ..."

Ang, what a great comment about Tess and also you made me think hard about my feelings on Riley and Declan and you're right I think my decision might be based on the fact that I know the whole story. yikes! Sometimes it's hard to forget what you already know LOL ;)

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on week two!

[Debbie]

TarHeelGirl00 wrote: "It sounds like everyone is enjoying this book as much as I did.

I really liked Riley and Sadie right from the start. I agree with Debbie about Tess, that initially I wasn't sure how I felt about ..."

HI TarHeelGirl, wow what great insight about the running from something. I never looked at it that way before. See why I love all these beautiful minds thinking about the same set of questions and how we all see it a little differently :)
Thanks for the great thoughts!! And I'll tell you all how I thought about Tess next week

[Debbie]

I just want to take the time to thank you all for your participation especially those of you who've been having difficult weeks.
We'll be hearing from Susan soon she's had some Nook issues but it's finally up and running. Gah ain't technology great!!

Lisa thanks for hanging in there with us too, I love having you here and I know the group does too!

It really warms my heart that you all take the time and effort not just to participate in the special events but you're all here chatting and sharing everyday

I love you all!
xo

[Lisa]

Wow, such great insights from all of you! I see that Tess is stirring up mixed feelings -- she's a terribly wounded creature who has developed a thick & prickly shell. She was quite a difficult character to write about, too! I'm looking forward to seeing how/if your feelings about Tess will shift as you read deeper into the story.

[Lisa]

And Sadie . . . boy did I fall for her. Smart, clear-eyed, determined. She's an amalgam of several foster children that my family took in when I was young. (In many ways, so is Tess -- but a different mix.) Sadie came to me 'fully formed,' so-to-speak. She's still very much with me.

[Ang from OZ]

Lisa wrote: "And Sadie . . . boy did I fall for her. Smart, clear-eyed, determined. She's an amalgam of several foster children that my family took in when I was young. (In many ways, so is Tess -- but a dif..."

Thanks for joining in with us Lisa!! :)

[[deleted user]]

Susan wrote: "I lost some of the things on my nook what chapters are for week two?"

Week 2 is chapters 11-20.

Sorry you are having Nook problems. A few weeks ago a ton of files somehow appeared on mine and I wasn't able to delete them. The files would not even show up when we plugged it into the PC. I took it to our local B&N store and they were able to reset everything and the files disappeared.

[Debbie]

Susan wrote: "Hi guys well here goes first I agree with Deb when she said its hard when you read the hole book so I am going slow,
Tess I dont like right now she is a trouble maker and going about things wrong
R..."

Thanks Susan, I'm so sorry you're having Nook problems.
Great thoughts and I can't wait to share my thoughts about Tess tomorrow :) Better luck this week!

[Debbie]

Lisa wrote: "And Sadie . . . boy did I fall for her. Smart, clear-eyed, determined. She's an amalgam of several foster children that my family took in when I was young. (In many ways, so is Tess -- but a dif..."

Thanks Lisa for sharing some of your personal experiences with the characters. It always amazes me that authors tend to let characters have their own head.
I have some things about Sadie that I'll be posing tomorrow.

[Karen]

Oh Lisa....I can hardly wait for next week. :-) tink

[[deleted user]]

Lisa wrote: "And Sadie . . . boy did I fall for her. Smart, clear-eyed, determined. She's an amalgam of several foster children that my family took in when I was young. (In many ways, so is Tess -- but a dif..."

Interesting! Thanks for sharing that!