2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

Amy and Dallas had an immediate connection stemming from his rescue of her from Jolo Island. What did you think of their relationship overall?

At first it was Amy as the victim and Dallas as the rescuer. It was good that Amy left otherwise the relationship could have stayed like that. When she returns, she is a much changed person and they had a chance to build a more equal relationship.

Well put, Anita. Her going away allowed the both of them to have a better balanced relationship. I liked their dynamics and thought Gerard did a good job in developing those distinctions (rescuer/victim versus two damaged people seeing commonality in their experiences).

I enjoyed their reunion and connection. I thought it might have been a little fast (6 months) for Amy to start having sexual relationship considering she was a victim, but I think her trust in Dallas helped her overcome her fear.

Fast, yes, but she was determined not to live her life as a victim and to take back what those animals stole from her.

I think she was surprised and thrilled that she could respond sexually to Dallas. It was a critical part of her recovery. And he was smart enough to know that she would need to be in control the first time.

This wasn't my favorite relationship, but I was glad that Amy had healed (and redefined herself) to the degree that she initiated that intimacy. Dallas would not have done that, but he was very good at sensing she needed to dictate that facet of their new relationship then.