Ariel–thanks for the wonderful questions. I sure hope you do stay on as our discussion leader

1. Yes I have had several times when my mom & I saw certain events very differently. Of course, my view was as a child and her's was as the mom. In fact recently she became rather livid with me about something from my past and it got quite heated between us. Interesting how things are viewed through our own lenses.

I'm not sure about Tag.  Maybe his attitude was all a front because he was feeling pressure to provide financially for everyone. I still think he was self-obsessed!

2. I don't think Deirdre would've seen her own potential if she hadn't run away. She would've always been under the shadow of Tag and the rest of her family. I liked this part of the story when she realizes  the knoweldge and skills that she does have that could be used for her own business.

3. I don't think Deirdre would've been as healthy. The unbroken relationships would've eaten away at her. I know for myself I either have to reconcile or really break things off and be OK without having that relationship. If a relationship is toxic it needs to be removed. But if it can be reconciled and be healthy, then it is worth it to work on it.

4. I'm with you on this one, Ariel. I wanted to know how she did also. For me, I don't think she won. Since there would probably have been better dancers on the show, ones who had a little experience. I think the book's premise was more about her growing into herself and finding herself with DWTS as a vehicle. Those are my thoughts on why Claire didn't tie it up in a neat little bow for us. Though I really wanted to know if Steve and Deirdre got their "happily ever after."

Thanks for posting these questions a little early for me! I'll probably be able to get on tomorrow for the sneak peak and if it's available as an e-book, I can download it before I leave

The book was good. I had a little trouble getting into it. Maybe Dierdre's insecurities reminded me too much of me. LOL

I think that Tag was self-centered because that was how he was raised, but he was under a lot of pressure, too, to keep the family afloat. I am not sure if this was self-inflicted or always expected. Both he and Dierdre were at fault here as they had neither one gotten to really know one another, and at the end of the book, they did.

I think the healing was important for Dierdre to continue her self-discovery and healing.

I would say that I doubt she won the mira ball, but she could have. I think, like Teresa, that she likely did not. She won, though, because she came away from the whole thing a new person. Do you suppose she got some more goldfish? I guess Tag got her a fish. I think the pointwas that all of this experience grew her, and maybe grew the whole family. They were quirky, but they were also very close. I was more interested in the happy ever after between Dierdre anhd Steve.

My daughter and I have been seeing something from a different perspective. She says as a punishment I took TV away from her for a year. I doubt that, though it might have been a long time. I asked her when this was and for the rest of the details, and the rest of the details add up, but the year seems unlikely. In any case, if that's true, I would do things differently today.

Ariel, thanks for leading the discussion. It has been fun the very short time I've been involved in it. I have recommended it to a friend who may come on here soon.

1. I don't think we have had Tag wrong all this time.  Now we just have a wider view of him.  He may feel like he has to support his extended family but I still think he is full of himself.  I'm sure he doesn't think anyone in his family could survive without him.  

As for seeing a shared experience differently, yes, with four siblings we often remember things about growing up differently. 

2. No, I don't think she would have grown into that businesswoman without running away from Tag and her family.  They would have continued to overshadow her and kept her from seeing her potential. 

3. This was a hard question.  There are some really quirky families out there and in some cases there is no reconciliation and I agree with Teresa if the relationship is toxic it needs to end.  But in Deirdre's case I think for her to be emotionally healthy she needed to reconcile with her family.

4. I don't think she won on DWTS, but I would like to think she wasn't in the first couple of cuts either.  I also agree with Teresa that the premise was about her growing into herself and finding herself.  DWTS was just the vehicle. 

This was a great book!!  Thanks Ariel for leading this discussion.