Excerpt

Melinda Hollister's sister and Nick Bryson's brother tragically die in a train wreck, leaving behind three-year-old daughter Nell. Much to Melinda's surprise, she and Nick become co-guardians of the child. The three of them spend July and August at Summerhill, a seaside mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, where they try to get better acquainted and work out a solution to their dilemma with the help of missionary friends.

Though neither loves the other, Melinda and Nick marry to provide a stable home for Nell. But when Nell is kidnapped, they put aside their differences to search for her. Their emerging feelings for each other soon strengthen as they focus their attention on the rescued child they mutually adore.
     

 Love By the Book Discussion Questions: by Cara James

1. When Melinda was a teenager her father lost his fortune. Even though he regained it, she was deeply affected by the experience. How do you think that traumatic event influenced her future? Do you think that justifies her plan to marry for reasons other than love?

2. Should Melinda have confessed her financial situation to Nick before they married? Or do you think it was none of Nick’s concern? Unlike Melinda, would you be willing to take the chance of losing your fiancé?

3. Should Melinda have been more understanding of Nick’s workaholic tendencies or should she have understood he was under a lot of pressure from his father? Why didn’t Nick automatically put Melinda and Nell first in his life?

4. If Glynna hadn’t influenced Melinda to curb her materialism, do you think she would’ve done so on her own? In what ways did following ‘the Book’ make a difference in Melinda’s attitude?

5. Melinda and Nick had different ways of expressing love. Do you think men and women often tend to show their love for each other differently or do you think it just depends on the individual?

6. Why was it so hard for Melinda to sacrifice her possessions for the greater good of someone else? How did Glynna convince her to become a more selfless person?

7. Do you think Melinda and Nick should have married for Nell’s sake even though they weren’t in love? Do you think people ever marry or stay together for the children’s welfare in the twenty-first century? Is it a good idea?

8. Why did Nick find it so difficult to tell Melinda he loved her?

9. With society exerting such powerful pressure on all the characters, do you think Melinda and Jasper could have solved their problems without resorting to such extreme measures? How?

10. In what ways did money or the lack of it influence the behavior of both the servants and the cottagers?

11. Do you think Nick should have confronted his father earlier? Why didn’t he?

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