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Katie's Keepers
March 2003 :: Mercy by Julie Garwood
What happens when a so-called fishing trip leads to love, an offer to coach football, and the discovery of an embezzlement scheme in the Louisiana bayou?
Garwood's second venture into contemporary-set novels is a richly told story of romantic suspense and mistaken identity. Surgeon Michelle Renard returns to her hometown of Bowen, LA, after removing the appendix of Justice Department attorney Theo Buchanan. While in recovery, Michelle's father, Jake, stops by Theo's room and invites Theo to try his hand at the local fishing spots. Theo returns to Boston to wrap up the case he is working on, and when finished, decides to take up Jake's offer as there a few death threats hanging over his head. When he's put up at Michelle's house, Theo must decide whether or not he really came for the fishing, and Michelle must choose between the commitment to the past or a commitment to the future.
I found this story to be intense, funny, suspenseful, and an absolutely wonderful read. It is the second of a series that I sincerely hope is not done yet. Other books currently in the series are Heartbreaker and Killjoy.
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Discussion Questions:
1. How does Michelle's family experiences in her childhood affect the woman she becomes?
2. Why do you think Theo takes Jake up on the offer of fishing?
3. How important is Jake's character to the overall story?
4. Is there a significance between life inside and outside of Bowen? How is this shown?
5. Did the suspense element of The Sowing Club make sense to you?
6. Through the story, Theo is constantly fighting the belief that he is to become the new football coach. Is this representative of anything for you?
7. What did you think of the character of Michelle?
8. What did you think of the character of Theo?
9. Was Bowen its own character?
10. Did you like Mercy? Why or why not?