Welcome to week three of the Masquerade Read Along!! Can you believe we are 3 weeks into this already?! It’s been a lot of fun and I can’t wait to read all of your answers this week!!!

This week’s Read Along is hosted by the wonderful Heidi over at Rainy Day Ramblings. To get all the details, Link Up and get next week’s questions just hop over there!

                                                                                              http://www.rainydayramblings.typepad.com

Read Along Schedule

April 5th – Chapters 1-8 – hosted by Stephanie at Five Alarm book Reviews http://www.fivealarmbookreviews.com

April 12th – Chapters 8-16 – hosted by Candace at Candace’s Book Blog  http://www.candacesbookblog.com

April 19th– Chapters 16-24 –hosted by Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings http://www.rainydayramblings.typepad.com

April 26th Chapters 24-31 – hosted by Veronica at Mostly Reviews http://www.mostlyreviews.blogspot.com  

May 3rd – Announcement of Giveaway Winners – hosted by the author – http://www.cambriahebert.com

This week’s questions and my answers:

 

Chapters 16-24

5 Discussion Questions

1. Heven’s mother has definite ideas about Heven and her scars – what they mean – and their relationship is strained. Do you think their relationship can be saved?

This is a tough question. This is something I thought a lot about when I was writing this book. I think the relationship between a parent and a child (or a mother and a daughter) is complicated. I think that as a child you look at your parent as someone to want to please, someone who sets examples on how to act and someone that you are supposed to have an unconditional relationship with. But sometimes, parents don’t act the way they should or maybe the way a child might want them too. When you get older and develop your own ideas you begin to look at a parent in a different light.

I think this is what happened to Heven. She grows up, matures and has something horrible happen to her. She does the best she can and then one day her mother kind of surprises her by saying hurtful things – things that Heven doesn’t want to believe but is torn because aren’t mother’s always right?? For self preservation I think that Heven cannot believe anything her mother says. She begins to realize that maybe her and her mother are completely different.

Does any of this make any sense or is it ramblings of a mad writer?? Lol.

Do I think their relationship can be saved? Well I know what happens…. But in general, I think it would take serious effort on both their parts. I don’t think Heven is going to be so forgiving of the things her mother says. I also think that because this is Heven’s mother – her only surviving parent – that Heven will do everything she can to save this relationship. This isn’t just a friendship (like with Kimber) so I think Heven will want to do what she can.

For the record, I think that Heven’s mom is Cukoo…. LOL.

 

 

 

 

                                                                           “Has anyone seen my bible???”

 

 

2. Sam tells Heven about how he came to be living on his own, how his parents kicked him out after he became what he is. He doesn’t seem angry though, he seems to accept it. Would you be angry? Do you think he should be?

Ahh, more parental problems. I think I would be angry. I think I would try not to be but I would feel betrayed and abandoned and that would royally make me mad… So I would be an angry person, even though I would like to say I would be like Sam.

I think that Sam has chosen not to dwell on his parents and what they did because if he did it would take over his life. I think he wants as normal of a life as possible and if he has to get that life by leaving his parents behind then that’s what he will do. I do think he probably wonders about them sometimes and how they did that to him, but I think he tries to brush it off.

I honestly think that his experiences have made him the strong guy that he is in the book.

One thing is for sure… no parents in this book will be getting the parent of the year award! (accept maybe Gran)

                                                                                                       NOT!!! —————–>

 

 

3. During these chapters, Heven and Sam visit the Inbetween and meet Airis (aka The Hope). Were you surprised by this series of events? Do you think a place like the InBetween really exists?

I was totally surprised!!! LOL! When I was writing this is how I looked:

 

 Okay, I knew what was coming.

I think that there is definitely a place like the InBetween. A place where your soul goes before it passes on to Heaven (or to Hell, yikes!). I imagine it a lot like in the book, devoid of anything really, kind of like a “holding” room a “pass” through onto something better.

 

4. When Heven’s scars are no longer a part of her and she says “she no longer recognizes herself” – do you think that the absence of her scar will change her once more?

Oh yeah, I think she will be changed again. I think she will miss those scars. I think that she changed so much when she got them and it was such a long journey to get to the point where she could hold her head up high and show them that their loss will somehow leave her with a feeling of “now what?”

But I think that she won’t do what she did when she was scarred and fold in on herself. I think she will take what confidence and strength she has found and use it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Gran is very accepting of Heven and of Sam. Do you think that she understands more – knows more than she lets on about Heven’s life or do you think her love is just unconditional?

I think she loves Heven unconditionally no matter what. As to everything else…. Read the rest of the series. 🙂

 

So that’s it for my answers this week!! I am totally looking forward to next week’s final round of discussion questions!!! Thanks so much to all of you who are participating!!! 😉

10 Comments

  1. I can imagine that writing a mother/daughter relationship would be challenging. We are all products of out past. Shaped for the better or worse by our experiences. My guess is that Heven’s mom has turned to religion out of desperation to escape something from her past and unfortunately since she doesn’t know the real God, as opposed to man’s religion, she has taken things to the extreme without the best part of what it has to offer. I think that there are a lot of people like that.
    I think that the relationship was a great element in the story and you handled it really well. I can clearly see the inner struggle of “Mom” as she tries to balance discipline and love. I almost feel sorry for her. She clearly has no idea what she is doing as a mother, and I think that she knows it.

  2. Dude you’re totally right (about #1) There comes a moment in every kid’s life when they realize that their parents don’t have all the answers and that they are people just like we are. They aren’t all knowing and they definitely make mistakes. Heven has a particularly horrible “relization” of this because her mom is so vindictive and…well…kind of evil in my opinion…when she accuses Heven of being an evil person..but yeah…definitly interesting!

  3. Yes I agree, parents are held up on such a high pedestal by their kids, well that is good parents at least, then you do realize one day that they are people who make mistakes, too. Well glad to know that the author thinks the mother is a bible thumping wack job. You know, part of me was a bit disappointed when Heven’s scars went away just because I was enjoying watching her grow and learn from them, I hope that this growth will continue to propel her to the strong lead we all so admire. what no hints as to what’s to come..holding out on us!?

  4. Way to keep the suspense building to find out more!! I totally agree on #1…It’s going to take a lot more effort to fix the relationship that was already strained to begin with.

  5. I was really proud of how Heven handled her mom. As hurtful as it was, she didn’t internalize it. She separated herself from the poison. I’m grateful that she had her grandmother.

  6. Fantastic answers for another week 🙂 Only one more week!! How exciting 🙂

  7. Hi, Cambria!

    Well, here I am, at home, and the weekend has just started!!! YAY!!! NOW I’ll be able to catch up with all those who have commented on my read-along post, as well as post comments on new posts!!

    Your answers are very, very interesting! Well, we’re getting insights & information straight from the horse’s mouth, after all!

    The type of thing you’re talking about in answer #1 is the emotional trauma felt particularly by children who are being abused, whatever form that abuse may take. They tend to blame themselves for the abuse, since children are wired to believe their parents are perfect. It’s very sad that Heven’s mother has decided her daughter is ‘evil’. She should be the first one to stand by her daughter and protect her!! Fortunately, not all Christians are looney tunes like this woman is. I’m wondering who was the inspiration for this unpleasant character.,.

    When you created Sam, you brought to life a wonderful person, one who is sweet, noble, self-sacrificing, and very, very cute, to top things off! It’s incredible that he’s been able to put his parents’ behavior behind him. I’m sure he’s still hurting inside, though…

    It would be fascinating if this ‘inbetween’ area really existed. I’d like to believe it does. I wasn’t really surprised when Sam and Heven ended up there, though. I’m used to reading all kinds of unusual things in paranormal romance, fantasy, and science fiction. I found this paat of the book totally absorbing, because I love to read about the afterlife!

    I do agree that Heven will change again, now that her scars are gone. She’ll grow into her true potential!

    You say that Gran’s love is unconditional, and I do concur. However, I think you’ve got something up your sleeve, and I intend to find out for sure by reading the rest of the series! Lol. As a reader, I really appreciate that you created someone like Gran. I LOVE her!! As FABR Steph says, Gran is one of the novel’s high points!

    Thanks for your wonderful answers!! : )

    Maria @ http://anightsdreamofbooks.blogspot.com/

  8. P.S. How could I forget?! Thank you so much for your great comments on my read-along post!! : )

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