At Home in Last Chance – Discussion Questions

AT HOME IN LAST CHANCEA Place to Call Home Book 3By Cathleen Armstrong

Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden have always had a similar philosophy of life: when the going gets tough, they get going—out of town and away from the problem. Now they are both back in Last Chance, New Mexico, and trying to start over.Kaitlyn is working to reestablish a relationship with the seven-year-old daughter she left behind six months earlier. Steven is trying to prove to his family that he is not the irresponsible charmer they have always known him to be. As Kaitlyn and Steven find themselves drawn to one another, one big question keeps getting in the way: How will they learn to trust each other when they don’t even trust themselves?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. We met Kaitlyn and Steven in the two earlier books in the series. If you read those books, what were your first thoughts on encountering them in At Home in Last Chance? Do you know someone like either one?
2. Kaitlyn feels judged by everyone she meets in Last Chance, and in many cases she has good reason to feel that way. If you lived in Last Chance, how do you think you would have reacted to the run-away mother?
3. At the beginning of the book, it is clear that Kaitlyn is miserable and feels trapped in Last Chance. Why does she feel this way? Have you ever felt trapped somewhere? How did you get there? What made you feel trapped?
4. Elizabeth tells Kaitlyn that much of the judgment she feels comes only from herself. Do you think that this is the case in most instances like this? Where does this self-judgment come from?
5. When we first meet Steven, he is completely full of himself and Kaitlyn is totally unimpressed. Why do you think it is so important to Steven that his image as a “player” remains intact? Who is he trying to convince?
6. Steven begins this book never having much need for family. They are always in his way and always “trying to get him to do something he didn’t want to do, or to stop doing something he did.” At what point does this being to change? Or does it?
7. Kaitlyn and Steven have always played the role everyone expected them to play. Why did they do that? Was there a place in the book where you noticed their willingness to let their guard down a bit around the other? Did the town ever acknowledged the change?
8. Although both Kaitlyn and Steven originally saw Last Chance as a brief stopping place before moving on, they decided to stay. What contributed to the decision? Who was most instrumental in making each want to stay? Who most made them want to leave?
9. When did it become clear that Kaitlyn sincerely regretted causing so much pain? Did she convince you that her grief was sincere? How? What about Steven? Do you think he was really sorry for his self-centeredness? How did he show it? Or did he?
10. Both Steven and Kailyn apologized to the one most hurt by their actions. How necessary to you think a verbal apology was, especially when it was clear they had already been forgiven?
11. At Home in Last Chance is a story of forgiveness and restoration. Did you encounter anyone other than Steven and Kaitlyn in the book who needed to be forgiven? Any other relationship that needed to be restored? What needs to be done, in your opinion?
12. Do you think Kaitlyn an Steven can ever be really at home in Last Chance? Why or why not?