flashpoint2008

Ah, summer is truly upon us!! Quick question though, where is Andrew in all this, wouldn't he also be back for the summer or is he, like Little Ricky taking classes over the break? It makes me excited that the medical center and the pharmacy are taking off, it is also great that you are bringing Jeff (and his mother) back into the fold, we didn't get much of him or his story the first time around so it will be great to have him as a more fleshed out character. Joshie is going to be a great older brother, once he learns to deal with diaper changes, he has so many good examples of brothers and his age is perfect for being an older brother, young enough to be interested, play and have time while old enough that he can be the hero older brother. I'll look forward to the summer vacation description in the upcoming chapters. Thanks for another great chapter!!

Despite only being referred to, the Little Ricky mention brought back memories of the first visit to that group home and Little Ricky looking up at Ricky with hero worship in his eyes, sigh. If I recall correctly, Little Ricky was about Elliots age now when he went to the farm, I wonder how the farm is doing, I wonder how the past generations that lived on the farm are doing. Weren't there little boys and girls at the girls farm who were a few years younger than Jesse? It was nice to see Ted again, it makes me happy that he has grown to be a well adjusted happily partnered person. Gavin sounds like a catch. Just a quick question, since Ted and Gavin are staying with the family though the next weekend, which movie did they see, or did they go elsewhere? Graham visions are a powerful story and I would have loved to get more details and perhaps even had Elliot interact a bit but I understand that this wasn't possible. I do hope as the family continues to grow, Graham will continue to visit and act as the family oracle. I apologize for all my wild speculation, I am enjoying the story and since I don't want to write "Great chapter, thanks" only, with each chapter, I've been thought vomiting to generate reviews. Basically wherever you take the story, I'll likely read it and enjoy. Thank!!

Nice chapter. Putting myself in Elliots shoes, I'm guessing that his hesitation, if it can be called that, is on 2 points, what to do with his name and when to do the adoption, not whether he wants to be formally adopted. Is it bad that I'm hoping that something happens to Haydens parents so that he can become a tenant at the hotel? Of course it is, but the kid has so many hangups, I know that he is actually a very normal kid, but relative to the previous and future generations of the hotel, he is a bit of a stick in the mud. Maybe his parents end up in the hospital for an extended period versus getting killed off like in my head . Of course there is always the Brandon solution of sending the parents off elsewhere . It isn't that I want him to start having sex with Elliot, frankly the detailed sex scenes tend to turn me off (I recognize that there is a point to the kids having sex with each other and I don't mid that fact or the acts, I just don't, personally need to read about it in great detail), it is just that I think it would be good for him to go skinny dipping or on a Currie family vacation to loosen him up a bit. The amazing invisible pop made an appearance, YEAH, and the baby is going to have his name, double YEAH!! Snack bar? Jesses mom works in the school cafeteria, right . BTW, where the heck is Dannys mom and didn't he also have biological siblings? Another hit-n-miss brain puke session by me, thanks for putting up with me. Regarding the lack of reviews, the system here makes it kinda hard to find, I only discovered it because I was wondering why your "reputation" score is so (relatively) low and what I could do to bump it. Looking at the hit count, I think you have plenty of readers, i also think you would get much more feedback if you were to post a notice to the forums each time you published a chapter like some of the other authors do. As always, thank you very much for all the hard work and I will look forward to the next chapter. I assume that this chapter was "early" because of turkey-day and that the next will be a few days from now, enjoy the holiday!!

Nice, everything takes a step forward + Elliot learns a lesson. I love babies but they aren't that interesting to read about, that said, I'm looking forward to Joshie being a big brother. In past books summers seem to have been the times when things happen, so I'm looking forward to that as well. I do hope that we hear more about Jake the amazing invisible Pop . He delivers packages, right, or was he booted to management when he had cancer, I don't remember, either way, after things get a bit settled, he might be a good administrator for the medical center, hrm. Till next chapter.

Wow, well written and packed, so much happened this chapter that I actually checked the word count to see if it is in fact an extra long chapter. Despite being basically an average length chapter so much happened that were I to write a true review, it would be even less coherent than my usual reviews. So, I'll just say that I really enjoyed the chapter and am especially excited about the prospect of a new baby at the hotel. Thanks for yet another great chapter and I'll look forward to the next.

I remember getting a bit teary every time Graham had one of his viewings in the previous books, this time was no different. Sammy / Andrews' dad apologizing is perhaps the only happy viewing that was more powerful. Medical center full charge ahead . I'm excited about the center primarily as a source of new hotel tenants. I get the impression that the tornadoes in Georgia might be the same except for all the anti-gay adoption legislation that I believe Georgia has in place. Another great chapter, I'll look forward to the next.

Nice!! I'm starting to get fidgety with excitement over the medical center. One thing that I think was missing from the architectural presentation, is administration. Grant management, accounting, nursing, billing, insurance, day-care, reception, IT and custodial will all need staffing whether it is outsourced or on-site, all of it will take at least some space. Thanks for the hard work and will eagerly look forward to the next chapter.

Right after I review the previous 2 chapters and insist that the nothing happening nature of those chapters make them, for some reason, my favorite chapters to date, you come out with this chapter. I do still love it when the story just focuses on kids being kids with other kids, still, wow, this chapter was amazingly fun to read (I will be going back to re-read as soon as I can get my primary machine fixed). I see where the medical center will prove to be an excellent story telling vehicle. Whether is is getting the first generation back together and pitching in to help bring the medical center to life. Maybe Jesse will become a physical therapist and the entire center can be Currie central. Also, a medical center working closely with social services, (hey little Ricky, I have a job for you) would also serve as a natural pipe for feeding new kids to the hotel. Ah, there I go again, spewing wild speculation in my brain fart, incoherent manner, please forgive me. I do get the impression that even with your superhuman posting speeds, I might get to be impatient for the next chapter. Great work, yet again and once again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all the work.

That was indeed the perfect gift. I really like the frequent juxtaposition of the immaturity and maturity that Elliot seems to frequently show, he is acting his age and being a happy well adjusted kid despite all he as been through in the last half year or so. Thanks as always!!

Great chapter, I'll enjoy reading the inevitable heights of major happenings that are to come but it is the "valley" chapters such as this that are, for me, the true gems. Like the last chapter, somehow, a chapter where virtually nothing (certainly nothing earth shattering) occurs seems to be one of the most fun to read. Kids being kids with other kids. Hayden, also seems to be a great kid and both he and Elliot are showing a surprising maturity by insuring that they include Jesse in their activities. It is a pleasure reading about Joshie, a child that has grown up KNOWING that he is loved by many and secure in his place in the world, who is in turn loving and caring to those around him. Thanks!!

Perfect chapter, kids being kids with other kids. Joshie is amazing, I'm looking forward to his antics with organized sports. Thanks for the work and I'll also keep in mind that other kids are coming, at some point . It'll be interesting to anticipate their arrival.

Glad you found it, I hate it when I lose track of a story. He posts semi-regularly but has 4, I think, stories going concurrently. FYI, his series A Light In The Darkness http://jaygordonstories.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=5&Itemid=66 is also in the same "universe", I think. as is Angel In Black http://mikeysmusings.weebly.com/angel-in-black1.html which is by another author.

Wow, I was expecting Elliot to plead that the men not be put to death and that despite the charges, specific acts should be reflected in the sentencing or something. Not go totally bat shit crazy in court. Remind me not to piss him off. Thanks for the chapter.

The Devil's Gambit - Jay Gordon? http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/sf-fantasy/devils-gambit/ http://jaygordonstories.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=36:the-devils-gambit&Itemid=66&layout=default

Good read, although part of me was wanting more on the Trevor / Rachael reunion fallout, in reality, Joel is probably my favorite character and reading about him is always a pleasure. Also, reading about how the Florida side of things is starting to get wrapped up is also enjoyable. I am really looking forward to and dreading the approach of the end of the story, how you handle the remaining threads will keep me guessing. Thanks for all the hard work.

I can't believe I forgot about the trial :slapface:. As usual, great chapter, from a purely literary point of view, I think you hit a high mark with this chapter. I also presume that Elliots statement at the sentencing hearing will also be a high point in your writing. As has become a custom, from my hit and miss mental checklist: When is Robert (?youngest bio-son?) coming out? When is the next tenant to the Hotel arriving . VACATION!! Despite not recalling all the details, canoeing through the national parks was another literary highlight. Thanks for all the hard work, I'll look forward to the next chapter.

Yet another great chapter. So, back to school now, I'll enjoy reading the upcoming chapters. As always, thank you for all the hard work.

Thank god the Ricky issue is relatively minor, I mean it sucks but it is nice to know that something larger isn't happening, or maybe something is but he isn't ready to share yet. In any event, I'm glad that Ricky is at least starting to share with Josh. I'm further excited by this chapter because it focused more on the kid interactions as well as the parents. As much as I have enjoyed hearing 9 books from Joshs' point of view, I think hearing about Danny and Brandon as they embark on the second generation of the Hotel is where the hear of this and future (hint / grin) books of the Castaway Hotel are at. I'm really liking your hard work and that comment about being about 1/3 of the way in a few chapters back makes me even more excited, roughly 35 chapter to go in this book, YEAH!! Surely your posting schedule takes unbelievable amounts of work, please do let me know if there is anything I can do to help out. I have zero clue as to what that might be, but if you need something that I can provide, I would do so happily.

Yet another great chapter, I especially love that this chapter was basically about nothing other than family. I did wonder where Sammy and Andrews grandparents are and how they are doing. Also, I'm really starting to worry about Ricky, I loved that character since the first time he was brought to the hotel and his letter to Josh from Australia was a heart warming and heartfelt love letter to his dad, it worries me that something is going on in his life that he hasn't talked with his family about. Has he lost his job, his girlfriend or is he falling in love with a male colleague and confused. I'll look forward to future chapters so I can get my answers.

Well, as stated in the forums, I loved chapter 99, after the long break I took from reading it was a fulfilling chapter. However, I just have to wonder if you stretched out the Shark Bay meanderings for as many chapters as you did just to make Chapter 99 (with the prologue, chapter 100) the chapter of the big reveal. With most authors, I would write off such seemingly crazy speculation off as being the product of my own deranged mind, however, since we are talking about the King of Cliffhangers, I can't help but entertain the possibility of just such an evil one-person conspiracy.

Ricky seems a bit out of character, I wonder what else is going on in his life. I also have to point out that I respect that Elliot is getting even rather than sulking, he and Andrew should have much to talk about when Ricky concludes his investigation. Thanks as always for your work Bill.

So, after pausing my read at chapter 77, I caught up to chapter 98 a few days ago. My only regret is that I didn't wait a few extra days for my catch up. CJ, your writing is spectacular and I really enjoyed my 20+ chapter read, I've said it before, I'll say it again, your stories are great, but they are even better in "book" form. Specifically, this chapter was the chapter I was looking to read and was unable to get drip tortured in week to week dribbles to get to. In fact, despite guessing, even back at chapter 77 that either the Mrs. Fowler or Mrs. Blake was mommy and that the 17th was merely a statute of limitations issue, I had NOT guessed that the Ares was rechristened. I can see now that you laid out may a hint over the course of your writing that Ares was in fact the Kook, I mean, how else did mommy get to Oz. Sigh, hindsight. I'll need to re-read the story after the book is locked down but I will say, I'll endure the week to week dribble torture till then, I just don't have the restraint to pull off another multi-month (I hope) break from reading this amazing story. Thank you for all your hard work!!

Pft, and I thought you ended the previous chapter on a cliff hanger . It is nice to know that Elliots future is secure and am pleased that he seems almost completely settled with the family. Also, Joshie, you just gotta love kids, whether in person or in written, they are adorable. Thanks for yet another great chapter.

Interesting, how unlike you to leave off on a cliff hanger . Stories need peaks and valleys, otherwise they end up being exhausting to read, chapter 20 may have been a highlight for me but "slow" chapters such as this one are great as well. Thank you so much for all the work you are putting in, your efforts are appreciated.

Yes, that's the stuff!! When we first met Elliot, I always knew that his dads and grandparents as well as what is left of the clan would help make him comfortable but that ultimately it would be the gaggle of uncles that solidified his place in the household. I really enjoyed reading this chapter, I would perhaps even venture to say that chapter 20 is the standout at this point for book 10. Thanks for all the hard work!!