1. From the beginning of Family Claims, it is apparent that Hannah Dain does not have a healthy relationship with her father and sister. Why did you initially think this was so? Do you think Hannah would be better off living on the East Coast?

2. The only thing that remains of Elizabeth is her portrait on the wall in Richard's office. What would life be for the Dain family, and their family practice, if Elizabeth were still alive?

3. It's a bit suspicious that as the deal closes, Eddie purchases a one-way ticket to Costa Rica. If you were in Hannah's shoes, would you have found him trustworthy? Is she correct to have her radar up? Does your impression of Eddie change by the end of the book? How?

4. Hannah observes on p. 51, "But as much as she liked to think of herself as an Eve who didn't need an Adam, there was a serpent in the garden she didn't want to face alone." Who/what are the serpents in Hannah's life?

5. Discuss the relationship that develops between Hannah and Tad. How would you describe it: mother/son, brother/sister, best buddies? Consider the budding chemistry and subtle flirtations in your answer.

6. On p. 185, the heat becomes too much for Hannah so she stops for a two-scoop cone. What flavor of ice cream do you think she is eating?

7. Twist tells us on p. 114, "[Hannah] really did not like the desert." What is it about desert life that Hannah dislikes? Or is it just her current living condition (family issues, work scandal, the memory of her deceased mother, etc.) that bothers her?

8. Hannah wonders how and why Shelby, "everyone's golden girl," developed a drinking problem. Why do you think the favored daughter became a promiscuous alcoholic?

9. Hannah dreams about being on the edge of a cliff, with intense gusts of wind threatening to push her over. [p. 168]. Why is Hannah having such frightening dreams? What do the cliff and the wind represent?

10. The density of the air becomes almost unbearable for Hannah. "The heat closed in on her, turning every movement into an effort." [p. 198-199] Is it the heat from the sun or the heat from her job?

11. What role does Cooper play in the lives of the Dain sisters? Is he just part of the sibling rivalry (and/or just a computer genius who looks good in tight jeans), or do they actually have feelings for him? How does Cooper feel about Hannah and Shelby?

12. Olivia is Hannah's main connection to her mother-the only one with whom she can have a real conversation about Elizabeth. Do you think Hannah sees Olivia as a mother figure? Do you think Olivia thinks of Hannah as a daughter?

13. What is the purpose of the cat in the plot of Family Claims? Considering the adage "curiosity killed the cat," whose curiosity gets the best of them?

14. In Family Claims, Hannah is consumed with cycling. What metaphoric role does cycling play in the life of Hannah Dain? Is her life, like a tire, going in circles, or is it taking her somewhere? If so, where?

15. What's next for Hannah? With the news that Richard is not her biological father, will Hannah go on a quest to find her real father? Will she make the big move to Boston? How will things change, if at all, with Richard and Shelby? Will Cooper come back into the picture, or are he and Hannah finished?