1. In what ways is Lexi’s love for Molly a compelling force in Lexi’s life? How far does that love go in protecting Molly from Ward? What opposing forces in Lexi’s heart limit the power of her love? Why?

2. What is the nature of the demands Ward makes of Lexi? Why does he choose those particular demands? How does his confrontation with Lexi play into his larger aim of destroying the Grüggen family?

3. Why is Grant compelled to return to his family? Why doesn’t he give up when he runs into opposition?

4. Why was it easier for Alice to support Grant’s efforts than for her to be with Barrett during his crisis?

5. How does each character acknowledge his or her sins and then seek to redeem them? Which attitudes and actions lead to the most desirable results? Why?

6. How does Lexi perceive her own sins in comparison to the way she perceives the sins of others? Why might there be a disparity between her viewpoints?

7. What are the obstacles that stand in the way of Lexi’s forgiveness of Grant? Of Norm? Of her mother? What does she have to do to push these obstacles out of the way?

8. How does Lexi’s relationship with her mother hamper Lexi’s life? In what ways is their relationship nurturing? Their “issues” remain unresolved at the end of the story. What might each woman need to do to bring more peace to their relationship?

9. Angelo tells Lexi on more than one occasion to “listen to love.” What does this advice mean to her at the beginning of her journey? How does it compare to her understanding of the wisdom at the end? How does Molly listen to love as a child, compared to how Lexi must listen to it as an adult?

10. Why doesn’t Angelo prevent Ward from entering Lexi’s life? What is Angelo’s goal? How does he accomplish it?

11. Ward has the ability to make people see what he wants them to see. How much of this ability is supernatural? How much of it is dependent upon his targets’ state of mind and heart? What might make them less susceptible to deception? Why couldn’t Ward deceive Molly as much as he wanted to?

12. Which character in this story has the most accurate perception of what is true? What makes such perception possible. Explain.