Claire Knows Best
by Tracey Bateman
List Price: $12.99
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 0446696064
Publisher: Warner Faith
Claire Everett's life is finally on the right track. She is connecting with her four kids and getting along with her ex-husband and his pregnant wife. She's even attending church regularly. Now that she's dating Greg, the cute widower two doors down, her world should be in order. So how come life has suddenly become such a juggling act?
A tornado rips through her roof, forcing Claire and the kids to move. Greg has suddenly decided on a new career, and Claire's not one bit happy with his choice. And adding confusion to the chaos: Van, the local contractor, begins paying Claire too much attention; her teenage daughter's rebellion is creating big challenges; and her writing career is cooling off instead of heating up. When panic attacks threaten to make her a prisoner in her own home, Claire finally breaks down and hires a life coach to help her sort it all out. But is a life coach truly the answer?
Can Claire finally let go and admit that it is God directing her steps, or will she try to create her own destiny and insist that CLAIRE KNOWS BEST?
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1. Claire has worked hard to forgive her ex-husband for his adultery. But clearly she still struggles. Do you have an issue in your life for which you feel you must continually repent? By faith, can you trust that God is delivering you from this, even though your feelings don't always back it up?
2. Claire struggles with the various input on how she should punish Ari, which has disasterous consequences. Has there ever been a time when you've taken someone else's advice against what you knew in your heart to be true?
3. Claire battles insecurity. Do you? How do you push through those times and forge ahead to do what you feel like God has told you to do, regardless of your feelings or your fear?
4. At first, Claire has misgivings about Shawn being coached by an atheist. Why do you think she changes her mind? If you have children, do you feel it's your job as a parent to guard your child from someone who might influence them in a negative way? How did Claire balance the need to protect Shawn with the knowledge that his faith would grow by being challenged?
5. Claire has decided that it may be time for her to end her relationship with her agent. Her mom talks to her about "seasons." Have you ever had a season that you knew was over, yet you clung to it, refusing to move forward? Is there a way to prepare yourself to face change?
6. Claire breaks it off with Greg because she "knows" she can't be a pastor's wife. Is there something that's holding you back from living your dream? Some failing or inadequacy you see in yourself? Do you truly believe God covers our inadequacies with his grace?
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"Whether you're eighteen or eighty, you will find something to love about Claire! She is every girl, and I loved sharing in her life and can't wait to see her again. Tracey Bateman is a wonderful, snappy voice in women's fiction."
Kristin Billerbeck, author of What a Girl Wants and She's All That
"Through Claire, Tracey Bateman leads us in and out of the corners of real life where children misbehave (and triumph), trees fall in unfortunate places and a romantic kiss can still be a doozy of a good one. What I love about the Claire Everett series is that through it all, Claire knows best, even when she doesn't-which is so relatable."
Charlene Ann Baumbich, author of the Dearest Dorothy Series
"I love Claire Everett! With poignancy and humor, Claire confronts life, romance, and mothering with an authenticity and nerve that grabs my heart. I just wanted to climb inside the book and hang out with her. A delightful read that charmed me and made me believe that, indeed, CLAIRE KNOWS BEST!"
Susan May Warren, award-winning author of Everything's Coming up Josey