Small Change

by Sheila Roberts

Overview

Take a trip to the charming little town of Heart Lake, and meet three best friends who you'll never forget…

Rachel, Jessica and Tiffany have money problems—major money problems. Tiffany's whipped out the plastic one too many times, and now a mountain of debt is about to come crashing down on her. Jessica's husband lost his job—thrusting this longtime stay-at-home mom out into the cold, cruel workforce. And Rachel's divorce has transformed her from an upper-middle-class mom to a strapped-for-cash divorcee. What are three best friends to do?

Get financially fit, that's what! Together, Rachel, Jessica and Tiffany start a financial support group called The Small Change Club—challenging each other to bring balance back to their checkbooks, and their lives. Even though frugality is a lot harder than they ever imagined, these women are about to learn some very important lessons: that small changes can make a big difference…and that some things in life, like good friends, are truly priceless.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780312594473
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/30/2010
Series:	Heart Lake , #4
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	525,930
Product dimensions:	5.58(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.99(d)

About the Author

Sheila Roberts is the author of On Strike for Christmas, The Snow Globe, Bikini Season, and other bestselling books. Before settling into her writing life, Roberts did lots of other things, including owning a singing telegram company and playing in a band. Now, when she's not speaking to women's groups or at conferences, she can be found writing about the things near and dear to women's hearts: family, friends, and chocolate. She lives on a lake in Washington.

Reading Group Guide

Rachel, Jessica and Tiffany all share a difficult secret: they're all struggling with major financial problems. A sudden divorce has turned Rachel from a stay-at-home mom to a strapped-for-cash divorcee about to enter the workforce for the first time. Tiffany's spending has been out of control for years, and her mounting credit card bills have put a major strain on her marriage. And Jessica just had the rug pulled out from under her. After struggling her entire life to make ends meet, she's just gotten engaged to a man with a big bank account...and now he's asked her to sign a pre-nup.

When the women share their problems at their weekly crafting group, they decide to ban together to take control of their finances. As they struggle to bring balance back to their checkbooks and their lives, they learn some important lessons: that making a series small changes in one's spending habits can make a big difference…and that some things in life, like good friends, are truly priceless.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SMALL CHANGE
1. Each of the characters in this book has a financial Achilles heel. With which woman did you most identify and why?

2. Have you ever rationalized making a purchase that, deep down, you suspected you shouldn't really make?

3. If you had an opportunity to make a comment on Rachel's money blog what would you say?

4. What was the biggest money mistake you ever made? How did you fix it?

5. Have you ever given your children money or expensive gifts out of guilt?

6. What is the most unusual job you've ever had?

7. Have you ever thought outside the box for holiday or birthday presents? If so, what was the best gift you ever gave?

8. Do you think Tiffany's husband was justified in leaving her?

9. Experts say we should have the equivalent of three to six months' salary saved up in case of job loss. Jess and her husband, obviously, hadn't prepared well for such a contingency. If the major bread-winner in your family were laid off today how would your family fare?

10. What is your best money-saving tip?

Editorial Reviews

The three friends in Roberts's (Angel Lane) light read are happily reminiscent of Sarah Strohmeyer's The Penny Pinchers Club. These Heart Lake, Wash., neighbors become divas living on a dime when harsh economic times hit. Still recovering from a miscarriage, Tiffany Turner is a shopaholic who becomes frantic when her out-of-control credit card spending prompts her husband, Brian, to leave her. Rachel Green is a struggling divorcée with two children who's just lost her teaching job and professes to not need a man until she meets Chad Alvarez. And stay at-home wife and former musician Jess, when informed by her banker husband that he might lose his job, wonders if she can be a rocker chick again. To cope, the “Small Change Club” members decide to simplify their lifestyles and take control of their future. Homing in on issues many readers can identify with, Roberts's women search for practical solutions to a common challenge with humor and froth. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

An absolutely wonderful holiday treat, full of warmth and charm and second chances. It's the perfect stocking stuffer.” —Kristin Hannah on the Novels of Sheila Roberts

“This lighthearted and charming read will appeal to fans of Kristin Hannah's magical, light romances and readers who enjoyed Roberts's previous holiday offerings.” —Library Journal (starred review) on the Novels of Sheila Roberts

“Roberts' witty and effervescently funny novel will warm hearts. Realistic characters populate the pages of this captivating story, which is a great escape from the hustle and bustle.” —RT Book Reviews (Top Pick) on the Novels of Sheila Roberts

“A fast, fresh, fun and funny story by a major new talent.” —Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author on the Novels of Sheila Roberts

“Roberts manages to avoid genre clichés and crafts a heartfelt novel with nuggets of life truths.” —The Press & Sun Bulletin on the Novels of Sheila Roberts

From the Publisher

A fast, fresh, fun and funny story by a major new talent.

New York Times bestselling author on the Novels of Susan Wiggs