Waterfall Wednesdays Discussion #3

Welcome to Waterfall Wednesdays. A book talk event inspired by Lisa Bergrens Waterfall. For the month of September each week a host will provide discussion questions and we will chat, discuss, swoon-what have you!! There is still time join and linking up today enters you in for the Trilogy. Commenting enters you in for the Tuscan Earrings!!

This weeks discussion is being hosted by Joy and Serena at Edgy Inspirational Romance

Discussion #3 Chapters 12-17 Q's provided by Edgy Inspy Romance

In Siena, on her way to the ball at Palazzo Pubblico, Gabi likened her experience to being on the red carpet at the Academy Awards, the goal being "to see and be seen." If you were a peasant, watching from the crowd, what would you be thinking as this procession passed by?

Id be thinking DANG...who are all those hot men in tights????? And then I would be scratching my lice, sniffing my armpit and wishing I could smack Gabi down, steal her dress and run away with Marcello.......

Though quite nervous about dancing at the ball, Gabi discovers a strange feeling of connection to the time, the people, and the society through the unified beauty of the dance. Have you ever been in a position where you felt out of your element, but, in one, pinpointed moment, became a part of or connected to something bigger than your fear?

Id say my biggest wow I really belong here moment was when I was volunteering at a crisis hotline and got my first suicide call, I was terrified of not being able to handle the intensity like all the other people who had been there for awhile but I was calm and made it through the entire phone call before I burst into tears......

I guess the other profound moment was becoming a mom, I think some of you know my former I-was-a-teen-mom-story, but I was absolutely terrified of being a parent at 18. Once my daughter was born though its like motherhood just came natural, while I would never encourage young gals to have babies before marriage, I did beat the odds with my man and my family and have been mighty blessed by God.

The kiss. Oh, the kiss. When Marcello finally kisses Gabi, he believes the experience to be proof that they are meant to be together. What did you think about his assumption? Were you surprised at Gabi's reaction to it? Have you ever experienced a kiss that seemed to be prophetic in a similar (or opposite!) way?

Prophetic kisses??? Um no, but maybe a prophetic Krispy Kreme telling me the size of my future bootie if  I keep eating them.....!?

LOL- anyways, I actually married my highschool sweetheart we had one of those fall in love in a couple weeks relationships, but the real love- nothing can break us- came much later.... 

I think the act of falling in love is so romantic (one of the reasons why I love Ya and romance novels) and full of feelings and excitement, that its fun and powerul. I think mature love comes later, after years together, after struggles, ups and downs, children, finances.......If my husband can see me go through three pregnancies, pant sizes, hairy legs, bed head and morning breath...well I think Ive got myself a keeper!!!!

BUT this is fiction...I think Marcello hit the nail on the head, don't let her go Marcey...!!!!

Many go through their teen years with a subdued sense of immortality. Do you think Gabi has a sense of this teen feeling? And did you think Gabi's converse observation, "Sometimes death came hunting and there was no way to cut it off at the pass." was informed more by the experience of losing her father, her self-admitted closet hypochondria, or the forced maturation of being transported to a different time? How does this observation show Gabi's growth as a character?

Ok- wow, Serena and Joy- you guys are killing me with these questions...LOL...

I think Gabi had a sense of maturity and adult thinking because she had just lost her father and her parents were world travelers. She was fluent in Italian and skilled with the history and weapons, so to say Gabi was your everyday teen would be wrong. I also think the whole time era brought her down to a different level as well, war tends to change people, I think we are products of our environments and Gabi certainly even if she hadn't lost her dad would of had to grow up quickly.

In the span of a few moments, Gabi goes from sword-wielding teen beauty to man-killing warrior. Did you think her realization of the finality of death -- and her justification for its necessity -- was realistic? And, in her slippers, could you have done the same?

Yes- I think in order for her mind and heart to handle things she had to develop that mental process to the violence around her. I don't want to spoil anything for readers who haven't yet read Cascade or Torrent, but the war, violence and entire situation comes full circle for Gabi with a few spaz outs later in the novel, for a young woman, I think shes doing amazingly well.

For myself...in slippers...wielding a sword.....Id say things probably wouldn't work out for me, Id have to be one of those dainty "Eke Im wearing Slippers" damsels in distress while Gabi protects me and Marcello carried me off to safety.......

LOL.....I think Id rather be a wench....a personal wench to my big strong viking...I shall be the bringer of beer and the braider of beards.......they will call me Tina the Viking Vixen.....!!

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Link up your answers at Edgy Inspirational Romance today to discuss with us and be entered in for the Trilogy giveaway. Also head over to Jenny's at Supernatural Snark for next weeks questions!!