4. What did you think about Chet encouraging Hope to divorce John?
5. Verna encourages Hope to stay silent and listen for God to speak to her. Give an example where you’ve used this in your own life.
for A Brush with Love
1. Ginger suffered a tragedy that marked her inside and out. Everyone reacts differently to life events. Was there an event in your life that marked you in some way? Do you relate to how Ginger feels?
2. Tom’s family, while Christians, are flawed. He wants to make amends for his father’s mistake. But it’s not always possible to undo what’s been done. What’s the best way to show forgiveness for a wrong? Or to seek redemption?
3. Bridgett seems all about herself, doesn’t she? But in the end of the book, she’s at the wedding cheering Ginger on. How do you see this? Did Ginger misunderstand her friendship with Bridgett?
4. We often see ourselves through our own wounds. We think that’s how others see us. Does Ginger do this when she’s around the bold and the beautiful people? Around Bridgett?
5. Tom is influenced by Edward, a man responsible for bringing him back to town to start a church. Does he allow Edward too much influence? How do we walk in love with one another when we disagree?
6. Ginger’s mama, Shana, was looking for help in the church. But her trust was misplaced. How can we love people who confess secrets to us? How can we bring them to truth without making them feel condemned?
7. I loved when Ginger was bold enough to walk down the aisle in her dream dress even though it exposed her scars. I actually cried writing that scene. What happened to her that she could brave such a thing?
8. Be honest, do you really believe God can change your negative emotions? Because He can. We don’t have to be locked in darkness, despair, depression, and fears. How can you change your thinking to believe you are who He says you are? Ginger did it by confessing she was beautiful.
9. What aspects of Christ does Tom demonstrate to Ginger? How can you do the same toward your friends and family?
10. If you have scars, inside or out, list one thing you can do to overcome.
for Serving Up a Sweetheart
1. Meadow carried emotional scars into adulthood from having been bullied as a teen. Have you or someone you loved experienced bullying? How did you cope?
2. What was your favorite scene and why?
3. Colin gave up his life in Chicago to help his parents. Have you ever needed to make drastic life changes to help a friend or relative? Would you? Why or why not?
4. To which character could you most relate? Please discuss.
5. Meadow had a tough time believing in the goodness of people because of her childhood. People like her grandparents and Del helped shape her for the better. Who in your life has had the most positive impact on the person you are today? What did they do or say that made a difference?
6. Who was your favorite character and why?
7. Colin struggled with fear of making the same mistake twice romantically. Have you ever held back from a relationship because of poor choices or hurt in your past? Please discuss.
8. Have you been to a wedding lately? What was your favorite wedding-themed decoration, shower game, or recipe? Please share funny or inspiring stories.
for All Dressed Up in Love
1. Deciding what to do with your life at age 18 . . . or 21 . . . can be a daunting task. The law school statistics bear that out. Fifteen percent of graduates never practice law. Do you know people who bore the brunt of education and then changed their lives or careers abruptly? Is that crazy or wonderful?
2. Greg Elizondo thinks he’s like his father. Of course he is, in some ways, but as an adult his future lies strictly in his own hands. How often do we blame our pasts or our parents for choices we made on our own?
3. Tara’s eager-to-please personality is almost her undoing. She wants to help others, but the reality of what her small town lawyer career would be like doesn’t exactly jive with her mental image! Have you ever had a true wake-up call from the Holy Spirit? One of those “what were you thinking?” moments? How did it change or affect your life?
4. No one said the right person would come along at the most opportune time. Oops. Greg is faced with two dreams . . . the woman God planted before him and his long-awaited goal of a seat in the big house of corporate law in Lower Manhattan. His trip there seemed ill-timed, but it was actually perfect timing. Has that happened to you, where the worst timing ever turns out to be ideal? Oh . . . that God!