Discussion Questions

  1. The story opens with a mistaken-identity meeting straight out of one of Andrea’s favorite old movies. Both Andrea and James “stick to the script,” acting in expected ways because of the setting. Are there situations in which you behave according to others’ expectations? If so, why?
  2. James allows others to believe his playboy reputation is deserved, and Andrea plays along with the idea when confronted by jealous rivals. Is it wrong for them to allow other people to believe the worst? How much responsibility do we have for the way others perceive us?
  3. Andrea has been subjected to certain assumptions about her business sense because she is an attractive woman. Do you think that there is still a double standard for women in business? Do you think that women have to work harder to prove their capability than their male counterparts?
  4. James regrets the fact that he’s been a bad example of a Christian man. How do you reconcile living freely under grace with the need to act as a good witness?
  5. Andrea is expected to do whatever it takes to get the contract. Have you ever been in a situation where your personal beliefs conflicted with the requirements of your job or school? How did you resolve that conflict? In hindsight, do you believe you made the right choice?
  6. Compare Andrea’s relationship with her sister, Becky, and James’s relationship with his brother, Ian. Both sets of siblings have experienced broken or disrupted homes, but they have vastly different relationships. Why do you think that is?
  7. Andrea dismisses her feelings toward James as merely physical because she no longer trusts her own judgment. How do you regain confidence in your ability to make good choices after you’ve made a significant error in judgment?
  8. At the end of the book, Andrea realizes that not only does she need to ask God’s forgiveness for her past mistakes, she needs to truly accept that she can be free from the past. Why do you think this is so essential to her ability to love again and accept love in return? How do your feelings about your own past influence how you approach the future?