Andrew Q Gordon

SEE!!! Villiers isn't so top notch after all - Like I said, the fact he was nothing like Fitzwilliam and Clifton spoke poorly for his being a fine officer Ah yes, another youth for Granger to show the way it should be done, such a trooper. And this time he found himself with an Some guys have all the luck.

It seems so funny that no one in the Navy realizes that Granger is THE Biggest Sodomite in the fleet. They all send him midshipmen who've been abused sexually to heal. Too funny Granger's ranger is gonna get him in trouble sooner or later. He needs to keep the one eyed trouser snake safely tucked away. But we all know THAT won't happen anytime soon

Well tit for tat eh? Granger got Clifton from Jervis, Jervis got Darby from Granger. I love the diversity of your work Mark, the way you handle the various captains, admirals, etc. You don't need me to say this but you have great touch for not only story telling but character development. The example from this chapter is Nelson. You portray his as something of a child in a candy shop when he is given a task that involves action. His energy and zeal are so real I can almost see and hear him on deck telling Granger what he wants.

Mr. Roberts doesn't get enough attention. I suspect if he were more intimate with the Captain, the Captain's wife, fellow sodomites and senior officers would do their level best to see him promoted. But alas all he is is merely an outstanding first officer. It would also appear the Royal Bastard was quite skilled in his approach. Did he learn that from his father

Gracious me - the Belvidera is turning into the HMS Royal Bastard I wonder if Traver's letter will in fact salve his conscience? It is tough to lose a loved one. The revelation about Darby is interesting, but then all your twists are interesting. We shall have to see what becomes of this.

Killing John Travers was necessary I suppose - in war, good men die. Good men who someone or many someone's love. As I said before you are cruel to Geroge's lovers. Soon he will be like the plague - touch him and be maimed or wounded most cruelly. Still a very said chapter. Realistic but sad.

Gotta suck that every time he goes to sea he has to share his cabin with someone or another. If it's not wounded lovers, or tricks, it's important people and the what not. The reporter must really rankle him. One wonders how much the reporter is going to delve into. Then of course their is the Lady Jersey's son. really can't hurt to have the Prince personally ask you to take on a midshipman. But it was funny, I never considered that Albert might be wary of being mistreated because of the feud his mother and Granger's mom were having lol. God I'm a dunce!! Sorry for being so verbose today - but WInkler's comment that Albert would be a good officer, seems unsupported by his examples. Both FitzWilliam and Clifton have turned into excellent officers. Albert's conduct is nothing like theirs so where's the link?

Seems just as George - errr.... Sir George can settle down and enjoy a few accolades, whomp, no so But then again, lucky he is getting out of port, if he stayed much longer, there'd be no room on the ship with all the people the Prince and Lord Spencer keep heaping on him. Do they realize this is not a ship of the line Nice start Mark

Yeah now that we know exactly what happened Pfth. Sure we do. Nicely done, even if you are a big tease

Well there's the answers you promised us in chapter 2. For 'bad' guys' Ed and Jack don't seem all that bad - though it wouldn't take much to kill Mark I suppose. So now lets see what Chapter 4 brings shall we?

Last time I said something about no one commenting here, I got a bit of grief - of the good-natured variety to be sure - about expectations. That said, I might be wasting the energy it took to type this because so few will read it. But being the hopeful sort, I am going with - folks are reading but have no comments. So after that rambling preamble, on to the substance: As you who are faithful readers know, this is set in DC. Thus far we've see Clay Terrace, Minnesota Avenue Metro Station, MPD Headquarters, Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, and we are about to see a few more places in upcoming chapters. I got it in my head that it might be interesting to get photographs of some of the places I am talking about and insert them into the story. Though I will surely NOT wander into Clay Terrace or some of the other Neighborhoods Gar goes to for vengeance. I was going to do this with the later chapters of Second Shot, as in finding places that reminded me of Peter's Apartment complex or the school or the coffee shop etc. But never got around to it. But this one is still new enough that I possibly squeeze it in. Thoughts? Andy

Yeah, I can see that - though the issue of 'too much money' is not as unlikely as you think. I am going to try to explain my thinking here without getting defensive - a) Because I asked you to do it to help me out and b ) because I can see you point. Perhaps this is where reality hits fiction. Once, when I was young and reasonably cute - or so I was told - I met a very hot guy at a bar. We chatted, exchanged numbers etc. he called and asked if I was free for dinner - we'd hadn't had a date yet, not gone home, not even kissed. Anyway, I said sure, and turns out his was the scion of a VERY wealthy, old money family - think old robber baron type family wealth. Took me for a helicopter ride to go to dinner. I seriously never felt more awkward or uncomfortable in my life. Mind you, my family was not poor. My dad was CEO of a fair sized international company and did alright [my mom was also an officer in a smaller company so we were fine] But sitting there, next to him [i won't use names cause I don't want to give away anything] on the copter, it was daunting. He was in his element, thought nothing of doing this, felt totally comfortable with it. Nor did he flaunt it. But back then I was not in a position to pay the tip on dinner. I owed more in student loan debt than I made - [yeah my dad made us pay our own way through grad school. He paid for half his college, felt we needed to do something to learn what it was like] all of which made it hard. On some level I think he appreciated I didn't want his money and that we were dating because I liked him. Long story short, it was a huge issue for me. Not the one that kept us apart - I learned he had a coke habit and drank too much. So I can say that there was a nugget of real life to that 'theme' But clearly you were right, it was there for the purpose of the ending, so five points to for that

I have to say, when you posted this you said you were interested in the new direction Cooper was taking. What new direction? Same old Cooper to me. It seems there is an easy solution to the Cooper/Kyle issue. It involves Kyle figuring it out. Cooper made a valid point - he was willing to be with Kyle, he just couldn't say it would always be forever - and frankly what 18 year old can/could? Well if they were honest. When Cooper asked what he wanted and Kyle said you, Cooper told him in no uncertain terms he wanted to be with him but yet - Kyle refused to budge. Even he has to see that his ultimatum isn't productive. Some how I don't see you as being the happily ever after type. Cooper and Kyle are not going to get back. At least that is my take.

No need to unlike it, I'm done! They only let you review a story once. I think you're safe for a time, at least until someone else comes along and plasters the place with reviews.

A) Kyle wasn't on a rebound, he was trying to talk to Rusty about something and not about sex - Cooper is in a pickle, does he tell Spencer and keep true to the 'List' or does he honor Chase's request? Or does he tell Spencer to go for it? C) How could you end it like that? You're a bad man J.

Haha, that got complicated in a hurry. The only one in that bunch that I felt sorry for was Patrick. Clearly Spencer has decided to take the expurgated version where Kyle leaves out that he wanted Cooper to commit to him and only him again. Then again Spencer might have the same reaction, because he was friends with Kyle. Hmm just where oh where are you taking this young master Jwolf?

Wow that was a rather disturbing ending. While I feel for Kyle he sort of set this on himself. He asked Cooper to be honest. Kyle didn't want to get hurt again so he asked if Cooper would end it sooner than later if he couldn't commit. Dylan's advise was spot on. He was too young for that. BUT then again, isn't that what being young and in love is about? I think I was wrong about Kyle being more mature emotionally. Cooper figured it out sooner than Kyle. Hard as it is for Kyle, well - Riley is a different story. I don't feel Cooper did him wrong. He tried to be honest. Riley kept trying to be more. What else was there? Anyway the end seems like it would be a wake up call but some how I don't think it will be.

TO be honest, I don't think Cooper was wrong. Kyle can say he was totally in love with Cooper but what he did - basically pimping him out without telling him he was being pimped out wasn't exactly the sign of being in love. Kyle on the other hand is clearly a bit more mature emotionally. He understands himself and the their relationship better. I have to say as much as I didn't feel sorry for him before, I do now. He clearly has it bad for Cooper and he is totally unsure Cooper will ever return it. Now onto to more than my take on things. This might come off as bad but it isn't meant to be so take it as me thinking you are good The best writing you do is when you give us their emotions, especially how well you show us Kyle and his fears. Yeah yeah you do write a mean sex scene but honestly, you really 'nail' the interaction between the two of them quite well.

Cooper sure does find ways to keep himself in trouble. Spencer has certainly changed some - at first - his whole - List Idea showed him to be a lets have sex as much as we can - now he seems to the one who is trying to cool Cooper's heels. Kyle can't be stupid and can't not know what Cooper is up to can he? I mean there are just too many men for it not to get back to him. Right?

Well I see you've mastered the art of the cliff I usually look at first chapters to see I want to keep reading. Are they sluggish, does the pacing seem off etc. This was quite good - You're characters - in just a few short scenes - have a life of their own. Dad is wilier then we suspected at first, James is a bit of a rake but also just a user and has his own dark side, Adam is a lonely boy with no clue about the real world being thrust off god knows where. And now you have James who is going to be lusting after his ward - hmmm sounds almost Batman and Robin like

I did wonder when you were going to post something. Okay so this is trifling because it was a very good start - but "The room is lit by torches blazing on the walls, but no heat comes from them, no light, the same with the large log fire" How can the torches light the room but give off no light? Five years of research?? Holy crap ** Quickly goes to read chapter 1**

So I haven't started reading this one - part of me would like to wait for you to finish it but let's be realistic, I probably read all the chapters before the day is over. Anyway, while reading the last book, I - being the closet nerd I am - began to research a bit. Sir John Jervis, First Earl of St. Vincent. After the less than crucial or decisive battle of St. Vincent in which Nelson was the real hero - received the Title First Earl of St. Vincent for his leading the fleet to a minor victory at a time when England was starved for a good news in the war. I always liked how you portrayed Jervis in the other books, but part of me thought you might be fibbing. But if history is any guide, you seem to have him down well. Now I am interested to see where this one goes. Damn you Mark Arbour, as if I don't have enough things to look forward to Andy

Chapter 7 of Purpose is up. In this we find out a bit about Will Morgan, his life and what happened that led him to become Gar. It is my favorite chapter to date - woo freakin hoo right? But there it is.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC!!! Have some fun and do something you'll regret the next 25 years

Jim, Thanks for letting me know. Are you back with us? I haven't seen you around much. Glad you enjoyed it. Now if only I could get motivated to finish something else LOL Andy