Right off the bat, I don't like how whiney Cheyenne is. She comes off very self-serving in her job. She's a 911 operator and I agree that truly deserves a lot more respect. But the way she goes about it, it's almost as if she expects personal recognition for what she does and is bitter that she doesn't get praise for it. I can sympathize for feeling under appreciated by your family as if your job isn't good enough. What I don't understand is how you expect to be PERSONALLY sought out and thanked for your help and what you do. There are tons of other people who do the same thing and are fine knowing they help people when they have no one else to turn to without expecting anything back in return. That is their job, it's part of the job that you help how you can and hope for the best, you don't get attached because then you keep wondering all these questions which takes your focus off the next person that needs your help. It's almost the same as a doctor. It's not for everyone, you need a tough shell, and if you can't deal, time for a new job. In no way am I trying to bring her down but she's making work personal and it's making her seem selfish when she lets it get to her that only one person has ever tracked her down to thank her or she gets irritated when her mom tells her "I don't know why you get so worked up over people you don't know." As harsh as that sounds and she definitely could have worded it a different way...her mom's right. She's not handling it the way she's supposed to. She knew going in it's tough and she can't expect everyone to go out of their way for her when that's what she signed up for. Sorry, but it's true.
The ongoing trope, an annoying heroine with absolutely no self-esteem, no friends, no family or this one no family that she reaches out to because of her issues. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's your responsibility to put yourself out there. You can't expect everyone else to do the work in friendship and family. If you don't reach out to someone, they're gonna assume you want to be alone and leave you alone. Simple as that. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and do something about why you have no one you can depend on. Being alone is a choice not a result of no one else caring enough for you. Ugh, I'm sick of all these girls that it takes getting a man to give them all the things they could easily have without him. Girl, get a life!!!
The best thing about this book is that Cheyenne is the only to call another girl out on her sh*t, specifically Caroline. These girls don't seem to understand the meaning of respecting boundaries and people in general. It was the only verbal smackdown so far in the series and although I applauded Cheyenne for defending herself, I was disappointed that Faulkner chose to leave and didn't reprimand Caroline himself giving the impression for future reference that she had no right to try to judge another girl he brought around. He did say he was pissed to Cheyenne when they left but also liked that it brought out her feelings for him. I still think she should have been called out though.
I think the writer went too far in making her mom and sister villainous characters. It was too much, I get that families aren't perfect but I don't find it believable at all that her own mom and sister would tell her they felt sorry for the gunmen killed because they had families unless they hated her, in which case they wouldn't make time for her and would avoid her at all costs if they truly resented her for some reason. It just seems too fake and more of a plot device for us to feel even more sorry for her. Sorry, I don't buy it. Then after this terrible day she's had, she finally shows some realistic behavior in not wanting to talk about it but rather just time on her own to think. When she finally does decide to pick up the phone, her first person in mind to call is...Caroline. CAROLINE???!!! The girl who implicated you as a slut and made you feel uncomfortable and unwelcome in her home? THAT'S who you call for advice? Because you're such great friends, right? The other two new villains in the story were laughable and I just couldn't take it seriously. It was just bad and over the top that these two people would also be two more crazies in their family and randomly open up to a stranger and decide to take revenge together. All I could do was sigh and shake my head in disbelief.
As for the romance, I didn't care for it. Everything went by fast, way too fast. He took her to meet his friends after knowing her a day. Her mentality is that of a teenager the way she obeys and follows him around like a lost puppy. His need for control is for no reason and creepy. He has to have things a certain way and no one of that nature is naturally like that, there is always a reason for it. Everything about this couple is so wrong and awkward to read. There was nothing but him dominating her through sex and dirty talk before, during, and after he claimed her as his girl. Sex is their strongest connection and in no way should that be mistaken as love. I respect their way of life but don't call it what it clearly isn't. Lust is not Love. They're completely different. Another pass and wasted effort on this one.