Introduction

From the bestselling author of HERE, HOME, HOPE, comes a novel of suspense and choices, with a nod to the best of Susan Isaacs's tales of suburban murder. Once again, everything isn't what it seems in the suburb of Grandville. ALL THE DIFFERENCE is the story of three Grandville women whose lives become entangled by the choices they make and how, ultimately, one of them turns to murder to achieve her goals. Roommates Laura and Angie couldn't be more different. Laura is a local celebrity, the television anchor who is motivated to move out of small-time media markets and on to the big time, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, Angie, a luckless waitress, spends her time waiting for Mr. Right to save her from temporary jobs and a life spent making bad choices. On the other side of town, Ellen abandons her life as a successful fundraiser for that of an isolated housewife in the country estate she shares with her husband, whose affairs become increasingly hard to ignore. When the city's gossip columnist, Maddie, and restaurant reviewer, Dixon, become involved in the story, the unlikely duo stir up more than they intended. With her signature mix of compassion and wit, Kaira Rouda once again takes readers on an entertaining journey into the heart of women's lives in suburbia, this time with a dose of suspense.

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Excerpt

CHAPTER 1
Friday, May 23
Tossing the script onto her desk, Dave told Laura, “Here, read this,” as he sped past. “The teleprompter is set, Sunshine. We go live in two.”
“Thanks, Dave,” Laura said, not adding “you jerk,” although she wanted to. She hated Dave Robinson, producer for WCOL-TV5, and didn’t care that the feeling was mutual. Laura Mercer didn’t care about much except ratings, beating the local competition to a story, and looking like big-city-market material. Laura knew she was the latter. She looked like the girl next door and sexy at the same time. That’s what her adoring fans kept writing since she had leapt onto the screen in Columbus four years earlier. She was promoted from reporter to anchor of the noon and early evening news two years later. Already her name was a household word. Especially in households with male viewers. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

1. Each of the female characters in ALL THE DIFFERENCE is striving for what she believes will be a more fulfilling life. Laura’s goal is to become a TV anchor in a major metropolitan market. Ellen’s dream is motherhood. Angie wants to find her knight in shining armor, complete with shiny shoes and a large net worth. Whose struggles or problems do you see as the most severe? Most worthy?
2. How do the supporting female characters – particularly Maddie, Janet and Francis - illustrate what happens when dreams come true?
3. In ALL THE DIFFERENCE, an unknown narrator shares her experiences of a very troubling childhood. As you read the story, did you think the mystery woman was one of the characters in the story or another, distinct character? Why or why not? Did the ending of the story surprise you or had you guessed the truth?
4. We’ve all made choices we regret. That’s the nature of life. In ALL THE DIFFERENCE, there are many shades of gray. The line between good and evil isn’t always clear. Who are the villains in the novel?
5. Have you or anyone you know been a victim of sexual harassment or gender discrimination in the workplace? Do you think places like Drummand Industries exist?
6. Maddie is a society columnist and Dixon is a restaurant reviewer. How do these types of journalists help build community and why are they important to the suburb of Grandville? Is Laura’s reach as a television anchor more powerful? Why or why not?
7. Do you feel sorry for Angie? Why or why not?
8. Do you think Janet was brave to start over, or do you think she overreacted to Chuck’s affair? What would you do if faced with a similar situation?
9. Which character’s choices, in the end, made ALL THE DIFFERENCE?

Weblinks

»	Visit author Kaira Rouda's web site

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