2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

What was your initial impression of Alexandrie (Alexi)? How did it change, if at all, by the end of the story? Did you ever suspect her?

I think I trusted her more than Sebastian did, for reasons I can't explain, even to myself! Her advice to Hero about how to get the baby to "turn" was great. I wonder whether such advice would have been accurate for that time period.

I didn't know what to make of her at first but liked her connection to Paul. I trusted her solely based on their burgeoning relationship.

I'm the opposite of you on this one, Jonetta. I didn't initially warm to Alexi and the developments between her and Gibson didn't change that. I felt that him starting to fall for her while she still pretty much unconscious (and he knew absolutely nothing about her) made no sense other than that it had more to do with him not having had a woman for several years. And even by the end of the story I still didn't feel that she was really attracted to Gibson; it feels more like she pities him. That said, I am glad that she was there to help Hero through the birth and if Hero befriends her then that will go a long way towards altering my coolness towards her. I don't trust men's opinions on judging women. They are too often led around by body parts other than their heads. I do want to see Gibson happy in the end. He does deserve that.

Though I do think that a lot of time and maybe some lives could've been saved if she had just come clean with Sebastian earlier.

I didn't see their connection first being one of romance. It felt like they most related as doctors, not so much the technical skill but their underlying passion about medicine and healing. The romance evolved from those feelings, IMO. She's first attracted to his mind; he's happy for the physical romance but also likes their shared interests.

I trusted her at first, then I became suspicious of her. I thought maybe she was a spy for France. Maybe a secret assassin for them. I could see her helping Hero just to make Sebastian less leery of her. Her cozying up to Gibson to keep better tabs on Sebastian. I'm still not sure I trust her.

Charlene wrote: "I think I trusted her more than Sebastian did, for reasons I can't explain, even to myself! Her advice to Hero about how to get the baby to "turn" was great. I wonder whether such advice would have..."

Me too!

Sebastian's perceptions were colored by his experiences with her during the war and it made him distrustful. As a more objective (modern) reader, I was able to see the logic in her advice.

Jonetta wrote: "I didn't know what to make of her at first but liked her connection to Paul. I trusted her solely based on their burgeoning relationship."

While I trusted the medical advice she gave, I was concerned about her relationship with Paul and thought she might be manipulating him. Glad it didn't work out that way because he deserves to have someone in his life.

I trusted her pretty much from the get go because she never hid her hostility to Sebastian. I think untrustworthy people tend to be more sneaky and more superficially agreeable than that. I also feel that I trust Hero's assessment of her--not so much in a men vs. women kind of way, but in that I think Hero is better trained than either Sebastian or Gibson at seeing through espionage type plots.

I felt the lack of trust between her and Sebastian going on a bit too long, but maybe I was anxious both about the fate of the pregnancy and the progress of the investigation.

Love your insights about Hero, Jasmine.

I didn't trust Alexi in the beginning mainly because she was holding back information. She didn't trust Sebastian and vice versa.

Although I did believe that she wouldn't hurt Hero and her unborn baby. I'm not sure why my mind is conflicted about her.

I like that Hero talked to Sebastian and trusted him and his instincts about Alexi, even though they aren't correct. It is important that Hero went to apologize when her baby turned.

Sharon wrote: "It is important that Hero went to apologize when her baby turned."

Agreed! I like that Hero is willing to admit when she's wrong and offer a sincere apology.