To Kerry Donovan and the rest of the team at New American Library – you’ve all been a joy to work with, and you’ve helped make one of my dreams come true. Every time I see my book in a book store, I know I didn’t do that alone, and it makes me feel on top of the world. Thank you for helping me be the best I can be and for believing in me.

To Jane Dystel, my agent at Dystel and Goderich Literary Management – there is absolutely no way I could ever give you up, so you’re stuck with me. I mean, I would literally wrap my body around your leg and chain myself to your hip. I hope you like the way I smell, because I’m with you to stay.

To the House of Pendragon – you’re my happy place. Well, you and Pinterest. Thanks for being the support system I need and always being positive.

To Vibeke Courtney, who is always in my acknowledgments – thank you for teaching me how to write and laying it down straight.

To Lisa Pantano Kane – you challenge me with the hard questions.

To Ing Cruz at As the Pages Turn Book Blog – you support out of the goodness of your heart, and I can’t repay you enough. Thank you for the release blitzes and blog tours.

To all of the bloggers – plain and simple, oh, my goodness! You spend your free time reading, reviewing, and promoting, and you do it for free. You are the life’s blood of the book world, and who knows what we would do without you. Thank you for your tireless efforts. You do it out of passion, which makes it all the more incredible.

To Abbi Glines, Jay Crownover, Tabatha Vargo, Tijan, N. Michaels, Eden Butler, Natasha Preston, Kirsty Moseley, and Penelope Ward for their encouragement and support over the years. It’s validating to be recognized by your peers, and authors supporting authors cultivates mutual respect. Positivity is contagious, so thank you for spreading the love.

To every author and aspiring author – thank you for the stories you’ve shared, many of which have made me a happy reader in search of a wonderful escape and a better writer, trying to live up to your standard. Write and create, and don’t ever stop. Your voice is important, and as long as it comes from your heart, it is right and good.

READERS GUIDE

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.

There is a twelve-year age difference between the protagonists of Misconduct. Do you believe the age gap made a difference as far as life experiences and maturity? How much of an age gap would be too much for you?

2.

Easton fantasizes about standing in the middle of a burning room in chapter 1, but then she blows out the candle as she leaves the masquerade ball. Is there a significance in this action?

3.

Tyler is stubborn about many things: social media, accepting campaign donations, taking on more responsibilities than he can handle. Why do you think Tyler is initially so inflexible? Is he naturally resistant or did he have good reasons for the fights he picks?

4.

Why did Tyler question Easton’s teaching methods? Do you believe he had a genuine fatherly concern?

5.

Easton avoids intimacy, choosing to keep her distance from forming any real attachment to men. What’s different about Tyler? Did she let him into her life, or did he force his way in?

6.

So much of the city of New Orleans plays a part in this book. Have you ever visited the city, and, if so, what was your most memorable experience?

7.

Had Easton’s parents and her sister not died, would Easton have stayed with tennis, or would she have discovered her gift for teaching?

8.

If Easton’s parents had gone to the police about Chase Stiles, how do you think Easton’s life would have been different?

9.

Easton uses social media tools to teach her students. If you were a parent, would you embrace this practice in your child’s school? What would be some of the advantages and/or disadvantages of using social media for instruction?

10.

Tyler has a difficult relationship with his son, which he tries, throughout the novel, to fix. Given the demands in Tyler’s life, do you believe his actions to improve that relationship were commendable, or would you have tried something different?

11.

Easton has some fun at Tyler’s house during the rainstorm, such as organizing his books in his study. Do you have any urges to organize something in other people’s homes when you visit? If so, what do you find yourself needing to organize?

12.

Tyler is ashamed of his role – or lack thereof – in his son’s life when he was younger. Is what he said true, that it’s never too late? Or do you believe what Brynne said on the phone call, that there comes a time when we’ve been disappointed too much to ever repair the bonds?

13.

How do you think Christian felt when he would hear his mom and stepfather talking badly about Tyler?

14.

Keeping in mind that Tyler promised he wouldn’t hook up with anyone else, why did he entertain the idea when Easton presented him with Kristen?

15.

In the end Easton and Tyler agree that Jack needs help. Knowing the amount of pain and stress Easton has suffered in her life, do you believe she’ll be able to reconcile with her brother?

16.

Based on the relationship that Tyler and Easton share, who is more dominant?

17.

Were Tyler’s reasons for ending the relationship in chapter 21 justified? Why or why not?

18.

What do you think made Tyler finally see the light about what was truly important and helped him get his priorities straight?

19.

As Tyler is running for office, and with politics filtered daily into our lives through the news and social media, do you believe Easton’s statement of “the most popular wins” to be a true statement? Do you research a candidate on your own without the influence of media before you vote?

20.

Christian speaks his mind a lot in Misconduct, even showing up the adults in his life from time to time. Do you feel that he was right to hold Easton more accountable for her affair with his father? Why do you think her actions hurt him more than his own father’s?

21.

Why did Christian keep his knowledge of the affair secret?

22.

Do you feel that we place too much pressure on our children to excel at too many activities such as sports? Do you feel that the pressure Easton felt with her tennis career exacerbated her OCD tendencies, not just the counting but the need for perfection, or did the trauma of her parents’ and sister’s deaths contribute more?

23.

Easton did not know Tyler’s political affiliation in his senate run. Which party do you believe she supports? Which party do you believe he supports?

24.

Easton states to Tyler throughout their relationship not to be careful with her. What do you believe she means?

FALLING AWAY

Don’t miss Penelope Douglas’s

FALLING AWAY

Available now.

Continue reading for a preview.

Three whole years.

I’d had a boyfriend for three whole years, and I still had more orgasms when I was by myself.

“Damn, baby, you feel good.” His sleepy whisper felt wet on my neck as he dragged his lazy lips over my skin.

Packing. That was what I’d forgotten to add to my to-do list for tomorrow. It wasn’t likely I’d forget to pack for college, but everything needed to go on the list so it could be checked off.

“You’re so hot.” Liam’s fish lips tickled my neck in short, slow pecks. It once made me giggle, but now it kind of made me want to bite him.

And a pharmacy run, I remembered. I wanted to stock up on my pill so I wouldn’t have to worry about it for a while. Packing and the pharmacy. Packing and the pharmacy. Packing and the pharmacy. Don’t forget, K.C.

Liam thrust his hips between my legs, and I rolled my eyes.