Nothing happened, Annie.  I think Lisa had to go for awhile, that's all.  I know this was my idea, but I'm not really sure what to do now.  Should I ask questions about what y'all thought about the characters and the over-all theme, or should I wait and let you ask more questions? I'm stumped.  So, I'm just going to jump on in.

I know Jilly was hard to take at first, and she's really melodramatic.  Was it too much?  Over the top?  Or was it believable.  A lady from my RWA talked to a couple of grief counselors about Jilly after she read the first chapter, and they all said that Jilly's tendency to get stuck in her own head, and to try to control all the details of her life, were natural.  But being natural is nice to hear- but that doesn't mean Jilly can't be too much- and even a little unlikable.  What do y'all think?  And be honest.  I already know Barry wants to slap her around every once in a while. 

Annie wrote:

I've got a question for you Jen,

Why did Jilly feel it was necassary, once she was an adult to hide from her mother. I mean there are PFA's and court orders, if the tabloids found out about the abuse they could have effectivley stopped her mother right then. Was she just so used to hiding, that she felt it was the only way?

You must have missed this question I asked a little while ago.

Annie wrote:

As you said, I can understand Jilly wanting to control every aspect of her life as so much was out of her control in the begining. Yes it can make her, well I wouldn't say unlikable- maybe untouchable- but that was your point right.  she pushed everyone away so noone could hurt her ever again.  Only she count on Caleb not being that easy to push.  If I only knew like her employers- cool and distant than yes I would call her unlikable, But I know her as a reader. I know all her little secrets and the reasons for them- That creates sympathy for your character and allows us, as a reader to fell her frustration and THAT is why Barry wants to slap her- because WE know what she should do, but she can't see it because she is to close to herself.  Make sense?

Pshew.  That's awesome.  I was so worried that she was so aloof, and neurotic, that she was unlikable.

I'd thought he fell too fast, as well, but then I realized that Jilly needed someone who loves her, no questions asked, no doubt about it.  I think it pushed Jilly, in a way that no one's ever pushed her before.  What do you think?  If you really think it just didn't gel, I'll go back and try reworking it.  There are plenty of other places where he could fall in love with her.

Now, my question to you:

Would it be better, all around, if Jilly didn't own her bookstore, but worked in one, instead?  And maybe purchased it at the end?  Or would there be another career that she'd be better suited for?  Any ideas?  People?

Cool, cool.  That's what I thought, as well. 

Now.  Caleb and Jilly.  Would you put them together?  Do their personalities fit each other?

I'm thinking too that when Jilly has her very first Kincade family thing, she's going to want to run the other way but they won't let her- tough love Kincaid style - you know?

Sorry I came in late. Ending up working today and then the little ones had a doctor check-up. Just now getting settled! But then, we hadn't really set a starting point so I guess now's as good a time as any.

SHOULD JILLY OWN THE BOOKSTORE?

I *love* Jilly owning the book store. It fits her perfectly. Both the love of books AND the need to be in control. BUT if what you're after is a double-whammy at the end -- she gets Caleb AND the book store -- then you *could* consider having her put it on the market when she's freaking over her mother, only to have her take it off the market there at the end, so she will have it forever. OR have her sell it to pay her family's legal expenses and Caleb is the secret buyer and gives it to her as a wedding present. Muhahahahahahaha!

But I loved it all just the way it was. Only throwing that out because you asked about that issue.

WHY IS JILLY SO AFRAID OF HER MOTHER? (a reflection of Annie's question)

There were times I wondered this, too. And it kept the intrigue high. Got nearly to the end and the answers came.

Still, though, Annie does have a valid point. Jilly's maybe TOO afraid. And Daniel -- being the tough guy he is -- definitely shouldn't be afraid. Of course, he's not really scared for himself, but more for Jilly.

There are a couple ways that could be addressed. One would be by adding a little detail earlier in the story -- like when Jilly's hand is burning -- add one of Jilly's memories there to hint at what a wacko the mother truly is.

OR -- and this is again just thrown out because it came up in the discussion before I got here -- MAYBE there should have been a point sometime in the past, between when Jilly ran away and when she's found this time. A time when the mother DID take some action against her -- sent someone after her, to silence her or whatever. Then you could have Daniel save her, and she and Daniel maybe deciding they'd be less noticeable living apart from each other, all that could tie in. It could be done as a flashback. If Daniel did in the assassin, that could also be something else the mother could potentially hold over him.

OR the mother didn't send an assassin, but instead got Jilly's adress at some point in the past and started sending increasingly vile mail and maybe making threatening phone calls.

All that might have been enough to send Jilly running all over again, ending her up in Willow Creek.

Oh oh oh, another subplot. I want the mother to have written an autobiography (or maybe somebody else wrote it but it's her authorized biography) telling how heartbroken she was after her children were kidnapped. But then have her make a statement in the book that she just knows she'll see them again. You know... stuff that sounds all nice and sweet to anyone who isn't Jilly or Daniel, but scares them half to death????? Muhahahahaha!

DO JILLY AND CALEB WORK AS A COUPLE?

YES! Caleb does fall fast and hard, but he knows his own mind. And enough people comment on it that we know that's not his normal approach to relationships.

I did get frustrated with him at times, like I said in some of the feedback. Not because he cared so much about Jilly, but because he didn't seem to want to give her the time she needed to sort herself out. He took a big risk in pushing her, and it almost cost him everything. It might be cool to have him reflecting on that, kicking himself in the arse because he thinks he ruined the best thing he ever had.

Anyway, yes they REALLY work together. They're opposites in a lot of ways. But I think that's why they need each other.

IS THERE A BENEFIT TO BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION?

Yeah. This is an excellent way to approach a book, and I hope you're enjoying the comments, Jennifer.

It's funny how questions come up here that never really surface so coherently in the chapter-by-chapter review. But *please* don't take the comments as indicators that the book NEEDS to be changed. It was wonderful just as it was.

I think the main benefit of these discussions is that it will help you as the writer gauge whether we took from the book the things you'd hoped we would. If we did, fantastic! And if not, then you'll know where you might want to focus attention to ensure we get the story just the way you wanted us to.

Ivey, I'm having a BLAST!  I'm desperate for feedback on this, because I want it to be the absolute best that it can be, and your comments (ALL OF YOU!!) are really helping.  This is awesome.

Knew you were the right person to ask!

Okay, so the mother has money...

How about Daniel had set up a business and the old witch found out and orchestrated some kind of forced takeover? Muhahahaha.