There You'll Find Me (40 page)

Editor Natalie Hanemann for making this book better and giving me the time to start over. A few times.

Editor Becky Monds for your encouragement. You have a very kind way of saying “This stinks.” I appreciate your valuable input on the book. Though you are seriously misguided in your WWE loyalties.

Editor Jamie Chavez for . . . oh, where to start? I know this book cost you a lot in time, effort, and sleep, and I am forever grateful. Thank you for sticking with me and for all I’ve learned through our eight books. I also appreciate all your fab Irish connections and for talking me into going myself. (And yes, I’m so challenged I require three editors.)

Ashley Schneider because you funny, girl. You funny.

Kristen Vasgaard for creating one awesome cover. I adore it.

Straight-up legit Irishman Gerry Hampson for your input and critical eye.

Orla Hampson for patiently answering my many e-mails about your Irish life. If you ever have any questions about Arkansas, let me know. The answer will probably be Razorbacks and pork rinds, but one never knows . . .

Andrea Ramsey for your wonderful advice on music and composition. You are one of the most talented people God has created, and I’m so honored to know you.

Erin McFarland, a gifted photographer and blog friend, for your kind words and for being part of the blog family.

Christa Allan for your snark, listening ear, and for being my conference BFF. From one short, lippy teacher to another, I am very grateful for your friendship and laughs.

Natalie Lloyd, brilliant author and sassy friend, for making me laugh and for the God-inspired encouragement. I am so blessed to know you and call you friend.

Cara Putman, Kim Cash Tate, Nicole O’Dell, and Cindy Thomson for the many prayers you’ve sent up on my behalf. I appreciate you wearing out God’s ear for me.

The Southern Belle View gang, consisting of Rachel Hauck, Lisa Wingate, Marybeth Whalen, and Beth Webb Hart, for the prayers (apparently I recruited everyone in the human race to pray for me during the creation of this book) and for all the sweet tea and porch time we share at
www.southernbelleview.com
. Though I have to come clean—I don’t like sugar in my tea. I’m sweet enough already. (Okay, no, I’m not, but that stuff is just nasty.)

Kristin Billerbeck for showing us all humor and Christian fiction could coexist and for opening the door that led to my career. I will name my next cat after you. My current one is a barfer, and you’re more worthy than that.

Lizann Tollett for the encouragement and silent messages (I’m not saying prayer again) to the Lord Jesus you sent up for me and this novel.

My family for leaving food on my doorstep during deadline crunch time when you knew my condition inside the house was akin to rabies.

Erin Valentine, for being my friend and my unpaid editor. Thank you for reading all 500 versions of this book.

Carol Roberts for your bravery, courage, and warrior-mom heart. You totally blessed me with your story and time.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost for my career, another finished book without doing anyone bodily harm, and the ministry of fiction. You deliver me. Daily.

I had a lot of help from certified real Irish men and women. Any inconsistencies are my own fault in the name of fiction and sleep deprivation.

Reading Group Guide

         1. Finley has endured a lot and didn’t feel like God was in it with her. Have you ever felt distanced or abandoned from God? How do you explain this? What did Finley attribute it to?

         2. Beckett is an example of how things aren’t often what they seem. Describe a time either you made an incorrect assumption about someone or you were assumed to be something/ someone you’re not.

         3. Describe Beckett’s relationship with his father. What advice would you give Mr. Rush in being a more effective father?

         4. Sister Maria tells Finley that Mrs. Sweeney has wasted her life in her bitterness and regrets. Explain what she means.

         5. What is Finley’s verse that she clings to? Describe a time you’ve singled out a verse to use in a particular situation. If you’ve never tried that, what are some verses you could use when going through times of:

         • anger

         • stress

         • doubt

         6. Finley is someone who likes to be in control and likes everything to be neat and tidy. Describe where you saw this in the book. How can this be positive? How can this be negative?

         7. What would you do if you suspected a friend had an eating disorder?

         8. Describe the importance of music to Finley. Why was her audition piece so important? Do you have a talent or hobby in your life that means the world to you?

         9. Mean girls are a reality, especially during the teen years. Why do you think Beatrice acted the way she did?

         10.
If There You’ll Find Me
was made into a movie, who would you cast in the parts?

New York’s social darling just woke up in her nightmare:
Oklahoma.
Problem is, it’s right where God wants her.

The only thing scarier than living on the edge is stepping off it.

A Carol Award-winning novel

Alex Sinclair makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancée in return for the help she desperately needs.

Catch Finley in this spunky romance her brother fumbles into love.

About the Author

J
enny B. Jones writes Christian fiction with equal parts wit, sass, and untamed hilarity. When she’s not writing, she’s living it up as a high school teacher in Arkansas. Since she has very little free time, she believes in spending her spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuit such as watching E!, going to the movies and inhaling large buckets of popcorn, and writing her name in the dust on her furniture. She is the four-time Carol Award-winning author of
Just Between You and Me
and the Charmed Life series. You can find her at
jennybjones.com
and
southernbelleview.com