1. The first-person perspective from four different points of view is not common in novels. Was it easy to follow? What did you like about it? What did you not like about it?

2. Miguel and Anita have been married for fifty years. In what ways was their relationship traditional, and in what ways was it genuine love and adoration?

3. Lucien Chastain was a complex character. Was his pain over his father’s suicide genuine? Did he truly care for Charlotte, the family servant girl, or was he always self-serving?

4. Arranged marriages have occurred in many different cultures and countries for thousands of years. It was common for families to align for status, name, power, and business. How could a woman find peace and strength in such a duty?

5. When Isabel inadvertently met Francisco’s mother on the ship, she gave Isabel some advice. She said, “You might not be able to command your world, but you can always own your response.” How can these same words impact you and the way you look at challenges in your own life?

6. Were there any particular twists in the story that surprised you, or did you guess them all along?

7.  Isabel was a spoiled young woman from a wealthy French home. What changes occurred in her while she recovered in Miguel and Anita’s home?

8. If you were in Isabel’s situation after the shipwreck, would you have done anything differently?

9. Who was your favorite character and why?