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* ManlyTears: Chris has a brief scene with these when he tells Grace about [[spoiler: the school shooting that killed three of his students.]] Arguably more justified/dignified than usual because as Chris explains, it has been two years since the event happened and he hasn't allowed himself to show significant grief since then.
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** Chris' ex, Natalie, continues to insist they should get back together, although [[NoMeansNo Chris refuses several times.]]
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** Chris' ex, Natalie, continues to insist they should get back together, although [[NoMeansNo Chris refuses several times.]]
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[[PreAssKickingOneLiner PreButtKickingOneLiner]]: During the climax, Kyle pushes Susie, Chris' little niece, down, after threatening to [[spoiler: cut her repeatedly with a switchblade, as he's done to Grace.]] Chris, who has already gotten in several good punches at this point, says, "Nobody, but ''nobody,'' treats children like that around me and gets away with it." He then proceeds to hand Kyle's butt to him, culminating with [[spoiler: stabbing him with a handy fencing foil.]]
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* [[PreAssKickingOneLiner PreButtKickingOneLiner]]: During the climax, Kyle pushes Susie, Chris' little niece, down, after threatening to [[spoiler: cut her repeatedly with a switchblade, as he's done to Grace.]] Chris, who has already gotten in several good punches at this point, says, "Nobody, but ''nobody,'' treats children like that around me and gets away with it." He then proceeds to hand Kyle's butt to him, culminating with [[spoiler: stabbing him with a handy fencing foil.]]
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**Chris' ex, Natalie, continues to insist they should get back together, although [[NoMeansNo Chris refuses several times.]]
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* DirtyCoward: Chris thinks he is this because he [[spoiler: couldn't save his students from a pair of school shooters.]] Funnily enough, he spends the whole book proving just the opposite.
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[[PreAssKickingOneLiner PreButtKickingOneLiner]]: During the climax, Kyle pushes Susie, Chris' little niece, down, after threatening to [[spoiler: cut her repeatedly with a switchblade, as he's done to Grace.]] Chris, who has already gotten in several good punches at this point, says, "Nobody, but ''nobody,'' treats children like that around me and gets away with it." He then proceeds to hand Kyle's butt to him, culminating with [[spoiler: stabbing him with a handy fencing foil.]]
* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Chris pulls this a couple times when talking about Grace. No one buys it. Grace does the same thing with the same results.
* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Chris pulls this a couple times when talking about Grace. No one buys it. Grace does the same thing with the same results.
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**In a variant, Chris' dog, whose name is Cinnamon, is also [[AmplifiedAnimalAptitude able to tell when her master is having a panic attack or nightmare.]] She's not a formal service dog, but this trait may be in homage to dogs who respond similarly to their owners' seizures or other medical crises.
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* HeroesLoveDogs: Chris has an Irish setter named Cinnamon. During a crisis near the end, his first instinct after making sure the humans around him are okay is to protect her.
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* LeanAndMean: Chris, especially when paired against Kyle who is both taller and heavier, though not a fat villain. There are several references to his reliance on speed and agility rather than force to win athletic competitions or defend himself.
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* LeanAndMean: Chris, Chris is a rare heroic example, especially when paired against Kyle who is both taller and heavier, though not a fat villain. There are several references to his reliance on speed and agility rather than force to win athletic competitions or defend himself.
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* BabiesMakeEverythingBetter: Once Grace got pregnant, both she and Kyle harbored degrees of hope that the baby would get them back on track. Of course, this didn't happen.
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* LeanAndMean: Chris, especially when paired against Kyle who is both taller and heavier, though not a fat villain. There are several references to his reliance on speed and agility rather than force to win athletic competitions or defend himself.
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* TeachersOutOfSchool: Necessarily averted. Jacob not only knows Chris has a life outside of school, but is excited about the fact that it eventually includes dating Jacob's mother. Jacob also gets to see inside his teacher's house when Grace, who's in a bind, calls on him to baby-sit.
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**Chris also doubles as a [[BadAssBookworm Bad Butt Bookworm.]]
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* BookWorm: Chris was this as a kid, and it's implied he also had a few of the stereotypes that go along with that. As an adult, he still loves to read but is far less stereotypical than many bookworms in fiction. Jacob is this to an extent, but prefers math and science, and is also reasonably athletic.
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* [[Adorkable]]: Chris manages to be both this and a kick-butt masculine hero at the same time, owing to his academic prowess and introverted nature.
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* [[Adorkable]]: Adorkable: Chris manages to be both this and a kick-butt masculine hero at the same time, owing to his academic prowess and introverted nature.
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* AdorkAble: Chris manages to be both this and a kick-butt masculine hero at the same time, owing to his academic prowess and introverted nature.
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* AdorkAble: [[Adorkable]]: Chris manages to be both this and a kick-butt masculine hero at the same time, owing to his academic prowess and introverted nature.
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* Adorkable: Chris manages to be both this and a kick-butt masculine hero at the same time, owing to his academic prowess and introverted nature.
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* Adorkable: AdorkAble: Chris manages to be both this and a kick-butt masculine hero at the same time, owing to his academic prowess and introverted nature.
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* MeanBrit: Chris' favorite high school teacher Mr. Landry is a subversion. He's more the StuffyBrit, but wouldn't tolerate Chris hiding in his shell (i.e., not answering questions in class because he was afraid his accent was too thick). To that end, Landry would sometimes cross into GoodIsNotNice territory, such as when he wrote Chris' semester algebra grade as A/F (A for great classwork, but failure for nonparticipation).
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* SternTeacher: Chris had a couple of these. The first, Ms. Fisher, was his fourth grade teacher, a Midwesterner who mocked and belittled her Southern students' speech. The other was closer to a CoolTeacher--Chris' high school algebra teacher and fencing coach, who helped him craft an identity beyond that of an introvert with shades of MiddleChildSyndrome.
* StopBeingStereotypical: Chris sometimes berates himself when his accent gets out of control, believing that it makes him look like a hick. Grace helps him to see his Southern culture as a unique and desirable part of himself.
* StopBeingStereotypical: Chris sometimes berates himself when his accent gets out of control, believing that it makes him look like a hick. Grace helps him to see his Southern culture as a unique and desirable part of himself.
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* GetOut: During the last fourth of the book, Chris and Grace have a big fight because [[spoiler: [[CassandraTruth she doesn't believe Chris' attending physician caused his trauma drug addiction.]] Grace was at Chris' house at the time, prompting him to deliver one of these.
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* GetOut: During the last fourth of the book, Chris and Grace have a big fight because [[spoiler: [[CassandraTruth she doesn't believe Chris' attending physician caused his trauma drug addiction.]] ]]]] Grace was at Chris' house at the time, prompting him to deliver one of these.
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* GetOut: During the last fourth of the book, Chris and Grace have a big fight because [[spoiler: [[CassandraTruth she doesn't believe Chris' attending physician caused his trauma drug addiction.]] Grace was at Chris' house at the time, prompting him to deliver one of these.
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* AffectionateNickname: Chris' dad gave his boys these when they were little. Chris was the Owl, because of his love of learning. Youngest Josh was the Cub because he was babied, and also because he was the mischief-maker. Oldest Micah was the Buck, always athletic and determined to win any competition.
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* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Chris' dad has a brief discussion with him that shows the three Anderson sons and their father are this.
**Chris: Melancholic
**Micah: (oldest brother): Choleric
* Josh (youngest brother): Sanguine
* Dad: Leukine
**Chris: Melancholic
**Micah: (oldest brother): Choleric
* Josh (youngest brother): Sanguine
* Dad: Leukine
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**Some of Grace's patients call her "Dr. Grace."
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* BigBrotherInstinct: Chris' older brother Micah has this toward him. Initially, it comes across as BigBrotherBully behavior, because Micah believes berating Chris will help him "snap out of" his depression and withdrawal from others. Micah eventually comes around, revealing Chris wasn't the one with whom he was angry. In fact, his BigBrotherInstinct is so sharp that he says he wanted to kill [[spoiler: the doctor who got Chris addicted to a trauma drug]] and ''stuff his body parts in a freezer.'' He doesn't try to actually do it, though.
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* DoNotCallMeSir: Because he's a private tutor rather than a teacher, Chris allows his students to call him by his first name, as long as they use the honorific "Mr." out of respect.
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* InsistentTerminology: Chris has a couple moments. Whenever someone refers to him as a teacher, he corrects them--it's ''tutor.''
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* CoolTeacher: Chris is this in his teaching days; he's also this in the book, when he functions as Jacob's tutor.
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* CoolTeacher: Chris is this in his teaching days; he's also this in the book, when he functions as Jacob's tutor. [[spoiler: Working with Jacob and falling for Grace eventually helps Chris face his demons. He takes a substitute teaching job in public school at the end, and the principal promises him a permanent job pending a successful semester.]]
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* CurseCutShort: During the last chapters, Grace goes to court for a final custody hearing about Jacob and invites Chris for moral support. In the course of this, Chris learns that Kyle [[spoiler: expected Jacob to keep his extramarital activities from Grace, on pain of punishment, and also implied Jacob enjoyed watching his dad's actions.]] Chris responds with, "That son of a..." but Grace cuts him short.
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* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Chris and Grace do this to each other, each believing that if the other knew his or her secrets, he or she would leave.
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* Adorkable: Chris manages to be both this and a kick-butt masculine hero at the same time, owing to his academic prowess and introverted nature.
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* CluelessChickMagnet: Discussed; Grace's nurse says Chris is one.
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* HospitalHottie: Grace, Grace, and Grace again. She mentions several male doctors have tried to hit on her since she moved to Tennessee. Because Chris comes to Grace's hospital to tutor ill children, he's a non-medical version of the trope; even the nurses think he's hot.
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* IllGirl: One of Chris' students is this. Eight-year-old Fiona has cancer and must be tutored at the hospital. [[spoiler: She dies mid-book, though it's a minor event.]]
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* EvilDetectingDog: The first thing Chris' dog sees upon hearing Kyle at the door is to bark frantically. Bear in mind she'd never met him to that point.
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* EvilDetectingDog: The first thing Chris' dog sees does upon hearing Kyle at the door is to bark frantically. Bear in mind she'd never met him to that point.
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* FreudianExcuse: Kyle is implied to have one of these; his dad ran off when he was eight and his mother had anger issues. In addition, Dad was an overbearing teacher, which led Kyle to hate teachers.
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* MamaDidn'tRaiseNoCriminal: Averted with Grace; her family wholly accepted that her [[spoiler: alcoholism]] was her fault, and helped her get through it. Subverted with Chris; his [[spoiler: prescription drug addiction]] was justly blamed on [[spoiler: the attending physician using him as a guinea pig.]] But the Andersons were willing to accept that the consequences were devastating, and went along with it when Chris voluntarily got help.
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* CannotSpitItOut: Grace and Chris both have these moments, as telling their respective "fiery secrets" is tough. [[spoiler: Later, Chris has one when he proposes to Grace.]]
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* MiddleChildSyndrome: Chris is a middle child; Micah is his older brother by three years while Josh is three years younger. However, he pretty much averts the trope.
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* OnlyChildSyndrome: Grace is an only child and carries some stereotypical characteristics, such as being bossy and a perfectionist.
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* BewareTheNiceOnes: Being Christians, and a respective pediatrician and teacher, Chris and Grace are nice people. Yet woe be unto you if you harm their families or friends.
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* BewareTheNiceOnes: Being Christians, and a respective pediatrician teacher and teacher, pediatrician, Chris and Grace are nice people. Yet woe be unto you if you harm their families or friends.
* KirkSummation: Chris gives one to Kyle and gets a ShutUpKirk for his trouble.
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* KirkSummation: Chris gives Kyle one when he [[spoiler:takes Kyle hostage along with Grace and Jacob]]. Kyle responds with a ShutUpKirk.
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In the course of the book, readers meet Chris and Grace's families as well, giving the work a "Hallmark with an edge" tone, especially when Grace's ex invades her life again, threatening to take Jacob. Themes include religious faith, depression, divorce, addiction, and family dynamics.
* CoolUncle: Chris is this to his older brother Micah's kids, a ten-year-old nephew and six-year-old niece, though he briefly lost the label while [[spoiler: experiencing depression and addiction.]]
* DeclarationOfProtection: Chris to Grace and by extension, to Jacob. Grace also gives a mild one to Chris once she learns what he's been through.
* DefrostingIceQueen: Chris to Grace. It doesn't take much, though.
* DeclarationOfProtection: Chris to Grace and by extension, to Jacob. Grace also gives a mild one to Chris once she learns what he's been through.
* DefrostingIceQueen: Chris to Grace. It doesn't take much, though.
* EvilDetectingDog: The first thing Chris' dog sees upon hearing Kyle at the door is to bark frantically. Bear in mind she'd never met him to that point.
* ForcedToWatch: Kyle threatens Chris with this when he [[spoiler: takes the adults hostage. He also threatens to make Chris watch him hurt Jacob.]]
* FriendToAllChildren: Grace and Chris are both this, owing to their occupations, though Grace has to be a bit more objective than Chris since she's treating sick kids.
* ForcedToWatch: Kyle threatens Chris with this when he [[spoiler: takes the adults hostage. He also threatens to make Chris watch him hurt Jacob.]]
* FriendToAllChildren: Grace and Chris are both this, owing to their occupations, though Grace has to be a bit more objective than Chris since she's treating sick kids.
* IncurableCoughOfDeath: One of Chris' quirks is that he coughs when stressed. It's from [[spoiler: smoke inhalation from the fire set to lure him and his students from the school during the shooting]], but Grace fears it's one of these. He eventually loses the quirk.
*IfICan'tHaveYou: Grace's ex Kyle has this attitude. To a lesser degree, so does Chris' ex-fiancée Natalie Crenshaw.
* IntertwinedFingers: Chris and Grace do this on a date.
*IfICan'tHaveYou: Grace's ex Kyle has this attitude. To a lesser degree, so does Chris' ex-fiancée Natalie Crenshaw.
* IntertwinedFingers: Chris and Grace do this on a date.
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* MamaBear: Grace where Jacob is concerned.
* JockDadNerdSon: Kyle and Jacob are this. It doesn't bode well for Jacob.
* JockDadNerdSon: Kyle and Jacob are this. It doesn't bode well for Jacob.
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* LeaveTheTwoLovebirdsAlone: Chris' family pulls this on our couple once. Grace's mom also does it a couple times.
* LegendOfChekhov: One of the book's major plot points is a legend that says the ghost of a Union-sympathizing Confederate soldier/Underground Railroad conductor haunts Chris' house.
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* MamaBear: Grace where Jacob is concerned; Grandma where Grace is concerned.
* NailedToTheWagon: A subversion; [[spoiler: Chris checks himself into prescription drug treatment without prompting from anyone.]]
* NailedToTheWagon: A subversion; [[spoiler: Chris checks himself into prescription drug treatment without prompting from anyone.]]
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* PleaseDumpMe: Chris and Grace pull this on each other. Neither one buys it.
* ShellShockedVeteran: [[spoiler: Chris]] exhibits enough symptoms of PTSD to qualify.
* SouthernFriedGenius: Chris is from Tennessee, but fits none of the redneck stereotypes. In fact, he has advanced teaching degrees and prides himself on using correct grammar, unless he gets upset, which causes his accent to thicken and his grammar to cross into DeepSouth speech.
* SouthernGentleman: Chris is not only one, but comes from a family of them--his dad and two brothers. None of them have the race-based nostalgia sometimes associated with this trope, however.
* SugarAndIcePersonality: Grace is like this at first.
* ThatOldTimePrescription: One of the secondary conflicts between Chris and Grace is that he prefers herbal remedies over modern medicine. Over time, they get each other to try each other's ways of curing illnesses.
* [[TookALevelinBadAss Took a Level in BadButt]] Chris. He was always a masculine guy, but it's hinted he was skinny and only a so-so athlete as a kid. His trials inspired him to do this.
* Tsundere: Chris' ex Natalie is this, almost to the point of PsychoExGirlFriend.
* WorkingWithTheEx: Chris must briefly undergo this, as he and his ex are both tutors at the same learning center. He's able to resist her advances.
* YourCheatingHeart: This is the stated reason Grace filed for divorce, because in the Christian circle McCall writes for, adultery is considered one of the only Scriptural grounds for this action. Abuse is the other.
* ShellShockedVeteran: [[spoiler: Chris]] exhibits enough symptoms of PTSD to qualify.
* SouthernFriedGenius: Chris is from Tennessee, but fits none of the redneck stereotypes. In fact, he has advanced teaching degrees and prides himself on using correct grammar, unless he gets upset, which causes his accent to thicken and his grammar to cross into DeepSouth speech.
* SouthernGentleman: Chris is not only one, but comes from a family of them--his dad and two brothers. None of them have the race-based nostalgia sometimes associated with this trope, however.
* SugarAndIcePersonality: Grace is like this at first.
* ThatOldTimePrescription: One of the secondary conflicts between Chris and Grace is that he prefers herbal remedies over modern medicine. Over time, they get each other to try each other's ways of curing illnesses.
* [[TookALevelinBadAss Took a Level in BadButt]] Chris. He was always a masculine guy, but it's hinted he was skinny and only a so-so athlete as a kid. His trials inspired him to do this.
* Tsundere: Chris' ex Natalie is this, almost to the point of PsychoExGirlFriend.
* WorkingWithTheEx: Chris must briefly undergo this, as he and his ex are both tutors at the same learning center. He's able to resist her advances.
* YourCheatingHeart: This is the stated reason Grace filed for divorce, because in the Christian circle McCall writes for, adultery is considered one of the only Scriptural grounds for this action. Abuse is the other.
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''Fiery Secrets'' is a romantic suspense novel by American author Stephanie [=McCall=]. It concerns the inspirational romance between Grace Taylor, a divorced pediatrician and single mom, and Christopher (Chris) Anderson, an elementary teacher with a dark past. They meet when Grace moves from Boston to Chris' fictional Tennessee hometown after her divorce from a cheating husband. Both are convinced they are undeserving of either divine or human love because of past mistakes, but help each other find the truth inside each other.
Associated tropes include:
* AbusiveParents: Grace Taylor's ex-husband, Kyle, is both emotionally and physically abusive toward their 9-year-old son Jacob, a major character in the book.
* AddictionDisplacement: Grace displaces [[spoiler:a former alcohol addiction]] with chewing gum and grinding her teeth.
* AdultFear: Grace fears she will lose custody of Jacob to her abusive ex. Also, Chris has experienced this Imagine being an elementary teacher and [[spoiler: having three of your students gunned down in a school shooting.]]
* [[BadAssTeacher Bad Butt Teacher]]: Chris is definitely this. He knows both fencing and mixed martial arts, and ''will'' kick your butt if you mess with any kid in his guardianship. However, this being a Christian work, he would be referred to as a Bad Butt.
* [[spoiler:BattleCouple: Chris and Grace become this when Kyle takes them and Jacob hostage at the end.]]
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Being Christians, and a respective pediatrician and teacher, Chris and Grace are nice people. Yet woe be unto you if you harm their families or friends.
* TheBible: Read in church; verses are quoted at pertinent points during the novel.
* [[BigDamnKiss Big Darn Kiss]] Chris and Grace, twice. Once when they declare their love, and once after the climax.
* CharacterTics: [=McCall=] likes to use these to make her characters relatable. Grace chews gum and grinds her teeth. Jacob bites his thumbnail when nervous. When he's nervous or upset, Chris' normally light Southern accent crosses into DeepSouth territory.
* Chekhov'sSkill: Chris' fencing talent and MMA moves.
* CoolOldLady: Grace's mother/Jacob's grandma, who lives with them. She plays table hockey, rides bikes with her grandson, loves pizza, and isn't afraid to say what she thinks.
* CoolTeacher: Chris is this in his teaching days; he's also this in the book, when he functions as Jacob's tutor.
* DestructiveRomance: Kyle and Grace. [[spoiler:Chris is revealed to have had one with his ex-fiancée, a woman who dumped him because she couldn't handle his depression after the school shooting and was emotionally abusive before that.]]
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Grace and Chris' family and friends know they're in love before they do.
* [[GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion Good Girls Avoid Divorce]]: Grace believes that the Bible Belt Christians she encounters in her new home will ostracize her based on this belief. A few do, but most don't.
* JadeColoredGlasses: Chris and Grace both have these. They break each other's glasses.
* MamaBear: Grace where Jacob is concerned.
* JockDadNerdSon: Kyle and Jacob are this. It doesn't bode well for Jacob.
* KirkSummation: Chris gives Kyle one when he [[spoiler:takes Kyle hostage along with Grace and Jacob]]. Kyle responds with a ShutUpKirk.
* PapaWolf: Chris' dad is this to Chris and his two other sons. Chris becomes this to Jacob as he falls in love with Grace.
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Associated tropes include:
* AbusiveParents: Grace Taylor's ex-husband, Kyle, is both emotionally and physically abusive toward their 9-year-old son Jacob, a major character in the book.
* AddictionDisplacement: Grace displaces [[spoiler:a former alcohol addiction]] with chewing gum and grinding her teeth.
* AdultFear: Grace fears she will lose custody of Jacob to her abusive ex. Also, Chris has experienced this Imagine being an elementary teacher and [[spoiler: having three of your students gunned down in a school shooting.]]
* [[BadAssTeacher Bad Butt Teacher]]: Chris is definitely this. He knows both fencing and mixed martial arts, and ''will'' kick your butt if you mess with any kid in his guardianship. However, this being a Christian work, he would be referred to as a Bad Butt.
* [[spoiler:BattleCouple: Chris and Grace become this when Kyle takes them and Jacob hostage at the end.]]
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Being Christians, and a respective pediatrician and teacher, Chris and Grace are nice people. Yet woe be unto you if you harm their families or friends.
* TheBible: Read in church; verses are quoted at pertinent points during the novel.
* [[BigDamnKiss Big Darn Kiss]] Chris and Grace, twice. Once when they declare their love, and once after the climax.
* CharacterTics: [=McCall=] likes to use these to make her characters relatable. Grace chews gum and grinds her teeth. Jacob bites his thumbnail when nervous. When he's nervous or upset, Chris' normally light Southern accent crosses into DeepSouth territory.
* Chekhov'sSkill: Chris' fencing talent and MMA moves.
* CoolOldLady: Grace's mother/Jacob's grandma, who lives with them. She plays table hockey, rides bikes with her grandson, loves pizza, and isn't afraid to say what she thinks.
* CoolTeacher: Chris is this in his teaching days; he's also this in the book, when he functions as Jacob's tutor.
* DestructiveRomance: Kyle and Grace. [[spoiler:Chris is revealed to have had one with his ex-fiancée, a woman who dumped him because she couldn't handle his depression after the school shooting and was emotionally abusive before that.]]
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Grace and Chris' family and friends know they're in love before they do.
* [[GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion Good Girls Avoid Divorce]]: Grace believes that the Bible Belt Christians she encounters in her new home will ostracize her based on this belief. A few do, but most don't.
* JadeColoredGlasses: Chris and Grace both have these. They break each other's glasses.
* MamaBear: Grace where Jacob is concerned.
* JockDadNerdSon: Kyle and Jacob are this. It doesn't bode well for Jacob.
* KirkSummation: Chris gives Kyle one when he [[spoiler:takes Kyle hostage along with Grace and Jacob]]. Kyle responds with a ShutUpKirk.
* PapaWolf: Chris' dad is this to Chris and his two other sons. Chris becomes this to Jacob as he falls in love with Grace.
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