jess30519

So far, this story is kind of "Werewolf Lite". I can handle this! Although I fully expect it to take a sudden turn into something else... I like Oli; he's a kindred spirit in many ways. Not sure about the wolf yet - anything could happen there and probably will. On to chapter 2!

I have to admit to finding this story just a teeny bit creepy, at first. I've been to Jasper, even encountered a bear there, in fact. And there was a Todd-like person kinda stalking me years ago, as well. But once Mato shifted into human form it all became good. (I should have known! But for some reason I assumed a completely different plot.) The scene at Kitimat was perfect: it could have been cowboys instead of bears - pickups, campfire... I hope one of them had a guitar! I seem to be reading stories in random order, but from the comments I guess I'd better read Summer Camp next. Doesn't really matter - everything Sasha writes is wonderful! Thanks again!

Aww. What a lovely ending! And will this story be appearing as a Harlequin Romance anytime soon? Whatever, now I want a HoverBike! Or better: a HoverTractor! A very clever plot - it is just a little scary that others like it are no doubt foating around inside Sasha's head; better for him (and for us!) that they all get written down ASAP! Plenty of hooks to hang a sequel on in this one, too. Thanks for writing and sharing it, Sasha, always a great pleasure to read your stuff.

So, Hani really IS a sex kitten! With real kitty ears and tail, too, not implants like Kial's. Sounds like cosplay is just as popular in that solar system as it is in ours. How is he ever going to find Phelps again, in the infinite universe? Is there a universal Facebook? I'm guessing that we find out! On to chapter 5.

Wait. Does this make Hani a sex kitten? I thought I knew where the story was heading, but this chapter took a sharp turn that wasn't on the map! Hani seems to have taken this new experience in stride, and the two others appear to be cool, despite the first impression they gave of ganging up, which unfortunately reminded me of my first year at boarding school. Sasha Effect is still operational and I'm liking this story a lot. On to chapter 4!

Hehe - despite all that genetic engineering, Hani just couldn't resist playing with the Roomba. I hope he never finds himself in a wool shop! He must have some dog or other social animal component to explain his not wanting to be left alone, because no cat I've ever been associated with, and there have been many, has cared one iota whether I'm around or not. I'm sure that Hani will quickly learn how to be in control of whatever situation he finds himself in. Can't wait to find out! On to chapter 3...

Having been lured out of my comfort zone by fish then dragged further by wolves, I now feel ready to tackle outer space. And so far the Sasha Effect is in full force. The space station seems like a nice place; if it turns out there's a tractor beam made by John Deere, I'm sold!

Whoa. Werewolves or, okay, those-who-might-be-werewolves, sure don't waste any time! Theo certainly went right after his prey once he had crossed Rick's scent. Well, Rick didn't hold back at all, either! Having just finished "Born Wolf" many of this story's details seemed to fall right into place. Theo likes Rick to scritch the back of his neck? Hmm. Theo's family all eat like wolves? Ha! I bet they do! But we'll never know for sure. Another brilliant story; I liked this one a lot. Thanks, Sasha!

It took much longer to read this story than it ought to have: I had to stop to Google Keane and their songs, for one thing. And that led to listening to more than a few tracks as I’d missed out on the band for a number of reasons. Also the story kept straying over and disturbing areas of my own coming out experience, and this provoked some pulling out and re-examining of things I had carefully avoided all these years. The imagery in this story is powerful: the wall between the boys - the real one as well as the illusory one - is overcome by degrees, first with the hole (brilliant!) or by pretending the wall is there between them when talking is difficult, then they begin to manage without the wall. I saw this as a metaphor for the painful attempts by not-yet-out boys to communicate, but unable to breach the gap even though they yearn to do so. In your own time/There’s no map to guide our way/So I say nothing, you say nothing/In your own way/ The tension rises in the early chapters, then suddenly relief and thinking all is well as it appears the two have finally made a breakthrough, only to have the tension ramp up again big time when Maxie and Jesse both have crises of guilt/shame/blame that they can’t cope with. Thought I could help you find your place/But I’m as lost as you are lost/It’s not the way. I wish there were Alec and Chaime, Paul and Guy, and Dr. Laydon around when I could have used them! (I did, however, have a dog who played Nuka’s role.) I think one of the lessons of this story is that there is no way to overestimate the importance of true friends. Almost any disaster, real or in one’s mind, can be overcome with the help of friends. A very intense story, one that is definitely worth reading. Thanks, Sasha, for writing it!

Nathan has pulled out, examined, de-gunked and reassembled so many parts of himself that it wouldn't surprise me if some bits will need a little realignment in years to come. But so far, with Taylor's gentle guidance, he seems to have made wonderful progress. Doesn't really matter if it doesn't work out with Clem and Ashlee right away, Nate has done the Right Thing and that will go a long way to ease his conscience. Another great story, Sasha. Once again I'm worrying about the future of these people because you have made them so real to me. Thank you for writing and sharing.

Cayman and Taylor should hang out a shingle and go into practice! Taylor is part psychologist; well, anyone who works in a recording studio has to be one. Nate has started opening the drawers where he has hidden away many aspects of his life; seems like he really wants to go through with the cleanup, and despite hating him for what he did to Clem, I now hope he can manage it.

So. Nate does have some Reedeming Social Value after all. But now that he has come to realize that his life is mired in the swamp it's going to take some serious effort to get it out. I have a feeling that Taylor is willing to help hook up the winch cable and give it a go, though. Nate's relationship with his father might be about to change as well, which would be a good thing, IMO. Time for Nate to be true to himself, not his father's idea of what he should be.

Go Taylor! Good on ya. And is that something like remorse I see just starting to force its way out of the double-locked and strapped box where Nate keeps his feelings? Great writing, as always, Sasha. Your characters and the places they inhabit always are real, to me. On to chapter 3!

So, after 3 years Nathan is still a jerk and so is his father. I wonder if we'll get to meet his mother or any of the sisters. Surely they can't all be like these two or someone would have had the ranch declared a toxic waste site ages ago. Taylor seems like a nice guy who knows what he wants. It is a little surprising that he seems to want Nate, but there's no accounting for taste! On to chapter 2!

(I read the ePub version from Lulu, but this seems to be the only place to put a review.) “Finding Atlantis” has been the perfect antidote to the winter weather outside, -25 degrees Celsius with blowing snow, dealing with frozen machinery, frozen pipes, and frozen me. At the end of the day, to come inside and curl up by the wood stove with hot tea and the iPad is pleasant enough, but to then immerse myself in Krilla’s warm and simple world is heaven. And such a peaceful place it is! Sasha’s love for the area, the people and the sea comes through clearly in each and every detail. Some of the descriptions, especially while sailing, are almost poetry: ghosting into a bay on the failing evening breeze, “The boat ticked along, kept moving along the water with borrowed power.” Wonderful stuff. In all of Sasha’s stories, after one or two chapters I feel I know the characters well, and this one is no exception. A few carefully chosen adjectives and actions, effectively placed, manage to produce friends I feel I’ve known forever. I have always avoided reading fantasy stories, but having so enjoyed everything else I’ve read of Sasha’s I thought I’d give “Finding Atlantis” a try and I am very glad I did! Such a pleasure! Thank you Sasha, for writing and sharing it.

I'm not really a horse person; although I can ride, I've never had my own horse. But I do spend a lot of time with horse people - my cousins raise Morgans and rescue "retired" race horses. A niece has a wall covered with ribbons. I have 40 acres in hay that I sell to stables. And I have certainly met more than a few families like this one, where horses are the only important thing. I'm pretty sure the boy will find whatever it is he's looking for. He lives in horse country, apparently, so he won't have very far to go before encountering someone who has the matching jigsaw puzzle piece. I found this a very satisfying tale, not one of a dysfunctional family at all. I guess it all depends on the environment in which one is raised. Thanks for writing, Sasha!

Whoa. Hot! Another change of pace - Sasha, you shift gears as smoothly as a '59 Austin Healey. I hope Shane and Kai have hospital insurance, because one of 'em is gonna sprain something soon!

I like the song! And I loved the story, and not only because it made me feel very wistful: something about reading about warm summer evenings while curled up by my wood stove, the temperature outside sitting at -25c... I hope we meet Levi and Mack again, this seemed like the start of something long-term and very satisfying. Thanks, Sasha!

Had I relied on the brief description, I normally would have skipped this story because the pronouns were all wrong. However, since it was from Sasha, I knew I had to at least give it a chance and I'm very glad I did. I admit that my otherwise-oriented mind sometimes wondered what Noah and Reagan were up to over there, but then as the relationship between Banning and Kyle intensified and became so compelling, I found I was identifying first with one, then the other. And at the end I was so happy for both of them. Not surprising, really, as Sasha's stories can always be relied upon to deliver something new or different, and always in the most enjoyable way. Thanks, Sasha, for writing and sharing!

I couldn't write this review until I had wiped all the tears off the iPad. Yes, really! Such a lovely ending to a very beautiful story. Sasha, you are a very talented writer, and by far my favourite author right now. I hope you never stop writing! Thank you for all you have given us!

I don't want this story to end! Ash and Clem are so perfect together, and all their friends are so loving and easily accepting. Yay for Ashley getting the promotion; nothing about his abilities would surprise me. Now to find out where, exactly, it is that they're heading off to.

Huh. Nobody got decked at all. Better this way, I think - it showed Nathan's true colours. I hope he can work out his insecurities and find a way to be happy in his life. Meanwhile, when Ash and Clem finally emerge from his room in a couple of days, they can get on with Living Happily Ever After! Only I see that there are two epilogues, so anything could happen. :-)

Finally I get to finish reading this story! Big branch came down in a snowstorm, knocking my satellite dish askew so no internet for two whole days! Life is hard, in the sticks! :-) But I'm glad it didn't go out at the end of this chapter, with its cliffhanger ending. That would have been very frustrating. Now, lessee, who is going to get to deck Nathan? I have a feeling that Clem will have to wait in line behind Suki and Madison, backed up by Grayson, Tyson and the chorus of "The Guys", or else it will turn out that Ashlee has a black belt in something... Can't wait to find out - on to chapter 10!

Stockings! Ashlee is wearing stockings?? Oh, brave Ashlee! And brave Clem, too. OTOH, we are operating in Sasha's alternate universe where everyone is so accepting, so perhaps the rodeo will turn out to be a good idea. I'm pretty sure Madison is gonna help out, there. IIRC, It was mentioned that Nate rode in some events, so perhaps he will be safely stuck on the other side of the fence!

Ha! Malik didn't make the same mistake the waitress did! Wonder what he thought of Ashlee... Hrm, wonder what he thought of Nate, for that matter. Ash is just so comfortable in everything he does, but really, Clem seems to be getting the same way, only they live such different lives. They are both so lucky to have found each other! Still expecting Nate to crash the party, though...