Christian Fiction Devourers discussion

I'm pleased to be your guest host for April. This month's book is Carved in Stone by Elizabeth Camden.



Here's the Goodreads summary:

After years of tragedy, Gwen Kellerman now lives a quiet life as a botanist at an idyllic New York college. She largely ignores her status as heiress to the infamous Blackstone dynasty and hopes to keep her family's heartbreak and scandal behind her.

Patrick O'Neill survived a hardscrabble youth to become a lawyer for the downtrodden Irish immigrants in his community. He's proud of his work, even though he struggles to afford his ramshackle law office. All that changes when he accepts a case that is sure to emphasize the Blackstones' legacy of greed and corruption by resurrecting a thirty-year-old mystery.

Little does Patrick suspect that the Blackstones will launch their most sympathetic family member to derail him. Gwen is tasked with getting Patrick to drop the case, but the old mystery takes a shocking twist neither of them saw coming. Now, as they navigate a burgeoning attraction and growing danger, Patrick and Gwen will be forced to decide if the risk to the life they've always held dear is worth the reward.

Who's in? I look forward to reading this and discussing it starting mid-April.

I'm in.

I'm in! Hope my two week wait on libby for this book is shorter than expected, but will probably be reading later in the month of April.

Welcome Georgann & Katrina!

Katrina, I can relate. I've requested via ILL. Typically, they come in pretty quickly so hoping that will be the case. Best wishes on your libby wait being less than expected.

Our library had a copy, so I'm finished already! I enjoyed it. Hopefully, I'll be able to remember some details so I can enter into the discussion whenever y'all are ready!

Glad to hear you enjoyed it Georgann! We typically begin discussing including spoilers the 15th of the month.

I'm in! I'm in the middle of reading it and really liking it.

I followed up on my ILL request and a library fulfilled it on April 5 and it's on the way. Hopefully, it arrives soon!

My hold on the book on libby became available and I will start reading it this week!

Wonderful Katrina!

My ILL arrived this afternoon! Woohoo.

Staci wrote: "My ILL arrived this afternoon! Woohoo."

Yay! That is great, Staci!

Now that it's the 15th of the month, you are all welcome to openly discuss the novel. I am about a third of the way through so will avoid this thread until I finish. Hope you all enjoyed the book! Look forward to joining in on the discussion soon.

Just finished it - can't wait to discuss it!

Just finished! Here's our discussion questions. Answer as many as you'd like:

1. Gwen and Liam get off to a rocky start, but Patrick cautions, "The two of you are very different, but people of good character can disagree and still be admirable." What does he mean by that and do you agree?

2. What do you think of the way Gwen tried to win Jasper back from Vivian? Could it have ever worked? How would you have counseled her during this time?

3. Do you think Liam will ever be able to forgive his mother? Should he?

4. Gwen struggles to accept Liam upon his return because he does not fit her preconceived expectations of what an older brother should be like. Have you seen preconceived expectations cause difficulties among people in your own life?

5. Patrick prides himself on being "a man of the people", so what did Gwen mean when she accused him of being a snob? Is snobbery always a one-way street?

6. The extraordinary marble mansions of Gwen's family are quite different from the craftsman type home designed for herself. If money were no option, which would you choose?

7. Patrick says, "Sometimes the Lord sends us into the valley for a reason, even if we don't understand why." Can you see examples of this in the novel or in your own life?

8. Gwen's comfortable life at Blackstone College led her into complacency about pursuing her ambition to earn a doctorate in botany. What caused her to develop the strength to pursue it near the end?

9. Liam partners with Uncle Oscar at the end of the novel. How do you predict that alliance will play out?

10. Some of the Blackstones are admirable people, but some are not. Penelope-Arabella is only eight years old but already behaves in an entitled and rude fashion. What role, if any, should the extended family play in trying to correct such behavior?

11. When was the last the time you had a tetanus booster? they should happen every ten years. What are some of the dangers of living in an era where medical miracles have become commonplace?

Just finished it! What a ride! So many surprises and very interesting.

I have been thinking about Liam and the question about if he should forgive his mother. I do think he should forgive her. Forgiveness heals the one forgiving in a way that allows them to stay free from bitterness. And it can also help the other person heal if they are willing to change.

I like how Gwen treated Vivian at the end also, and how she was thinking about the happiness of the child.

Snobbery can go both ways and judging others without really getting to know them and trying to understand just leaves us with constant misunderstandings.

While it may be fun to live in a marble mansion for a time, the best home is a home with character and love, no matter the size. I really love my home, but if I had the money I would do a lot of renovating and upgrades, but keep the cozy feel.