Fifteen Minutes of Shame by Lisa Daily Reading Guide-Book Club Discussion Questions-Reviews and Ratings from Book Clubs-BookMovement

Introduction

Darby Vaughn is a small-town girl turned TV dating guru, who has finally snagged the life she’s always dreamed of: a handsome, charming husband she’s crazy about, a fabulous home in an exclusive neighborhood, a bestselling dating book, and tax-deductible pedicures. Thousands of women have followed her man-snagging advice to the letter, in hopes that their lives will turn out just like hers. But when she finds out her husband is cheating, her publicity-perfect world spins out of control. Not only is the most humiliating moment in her life splashed across every supermarket tabloid and celebrity gossip show, but her reputation as America’s favorite love expert is shot. Her book sales tank, her publisher cancels her tour, and her love life is fodder for late-night TV. If Darby takes her philandering husband back, she'll be breaking her own most cardinal law of relationships (Never stay with a cheater!), and her career will be over. If she sticks to her own rules, she’ll lose the only man she has ever truly loved.

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

Chapter 1
“I'm utterly humiliated.”
I hiss this to my best friend Jules, as I squat behind the smelly dumpster of a Gas-N-Go, trying to sneak a glimpse of my husband without getting caught.
“Damn.”
He glances in the general direction of the dumpster and I panic. I nearly fall over backwards and accidentally drop my cell phone into a murky puddle. It hasn't rained in weeks, and I fear toxic waste, or worse, old convenience store hot-dog water as I fish out my phone and wipe it off on my sweatpants. It leaves a sort of greenish smear, and I don't even want to imagine what it could be. ...

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Discussion Questions

1) Do you identify with Darby and her public breakup, or did secretly think she got what she deserved after presenting herself so perfectly all these years?

2) Darby has a firm policy against cheating, but reconsiders in her own life. Should someone ever stay with someone who’s cheated on them?

3) Is Will a good guy who loves his kids and wants to save his family? Or is he a scumbag cheater who lets women boss him around?

4) Do you think that Holt’s behavior was gallant or unethical?

5) Many notable relationships experts have faced their own romantic challenges. Do you think they’re frauds? Or can someone who screws things up in their own relationships still give good advice?

6) In literature, stepmothers are traditionally portrayed as evil. How did Darby’s stepmother relationship make you feel? Do you think step-mothers are real mothers? Or are they just fill-ins for the real thing?

7) How did Fifteen Minutes of Shame make you feel about the rights of stepparents. Should stepparents get visitation or custody?

8) What do you think the future holds for Darby, Will, Gigi and Holt?

9) What do you think is best for the children, and what will they be telling their therapist in twenty years?

10) Darby’s made a life and a career of protecting herself from hurt. Why do you think it’s so hard for so many people to open themselves up to the vulnerability of love? What has protecting herself cost Darby? What has trying to protect yourself from hurt ever cost you?

Weblinks

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Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

Dear Reader,

I'm Lisa Daily, a TV relationships expert.

My debut novel, Fifteen Minutes of Shame, is a romantic comedy about a TV dating expert who gets dumped on national television. (Fiction, I swear!)

Not only is the most humiliating moment of Darby Vaughn’s life splashed across every supermarket tabloid and celebrity gossip show, but her reputation as America’s love guru is shot. If she takes her husband back, her career is toast. If she sticks to her own rules, she’ll lose the only man she’s ever loved.

I know so many women who have had to make heart-wrenching choice of whether or not to stay with someone who has betrayed them. I'll bet you do too.

I’m excited to report that Fifteen Minutes of Shame is getting fantastic reviews, and has just been optioned by Hollywood to be made into a movie. (Okay, I'm more than excited. I’m trying to act cool. I’m over-the-moon delirious.)

And I love (I mean LOVE) book clubs. So not only will one club win free signed copies of FIFTEEN MINUTES OF SHAME for their entire club, but any club who emails me ([email protected]) will receive a book club swag bag of goodies for their club as well.

Darby Vaughn is a small-town girl turned TV dating guru, who has finally snagged the life she’s always dreamed of: a handsome, charming husband she’s crazy about, a fabulous home in an exclusive neighborhood, a bestselling dating book, and tax-deductible pedicures. Thousands of women have followed her man-snagging advice to the letter, in hopes that their lives will turn out just like hers. But when she finds out her husband is cheating, her publicity-perfect world spins out of control. Not only is the most humiliating moment in her life splashed across every supermarket tabloid and celebrity gossip show, but her reputation as America’s favorite love expert is shot. Her book sales tank, her publisher cancels her tour, and her love life is fodder for late-night TV. If Darby takes her philandering husband back, she'll be breaking her own most cardinal law of relationships (Never stay with a cheater!), and her career will be over. If she sticks to her own rules, she’ll lose the only man she has ever truly loved.

FIFTEEN MINUTES OF SHAME is a hilarious, heartfelt book your book club will love, and be talking about for months afterward.

Happy reading!

Best,

Lisa

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 2 of 2 members.

Member Reviews

Overall rating:

"Fifteen Minutes of Shame"by Carole C. (see profile) 08/12/09

The book explores the roles of women as step mothers,career women and wives,dealing with very contemporary subject matter of divorce and custody matters in an entertaining story. It is a light,fun read... (read more)

"15 Minutes of Shame"by Brenda S. (see profile) 08/11/09

"Too Predictable and reminded me too much of a romance novel."by Mary S. (see profile) 12/05/08

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