Timothy M.

Thanks, dughlas, as always your comments are very perceptive. The two men who removed Frankie from the tollbooth are focused on the goal they want to achieve. They intend to keep Frankie alive and functional, but I'm not sure they realize the trauma they have caused by their actions. Or at least not yet. But they're not bad guys, so I think they'll be upset if he freaks out at some point. Yeah, Frank Sr. did his best for his son, and created a comfortable cocoon. But it's still a lonely life, so as you say we can hope this will end with a return to a better life. As for your praise of my skill... thank you so much.

Thanks, Lyssa, I love the way you see the story. It was my ambition to gradually ease the reader into an understanding of Frankie, and I'm delighted he fascinated you.

Yeah, I'm glad I took the leap too. Frankie would never have developed without the tollbooth setting and the need to figure out why he was hiding in that motel. Your prediction of readers wanting to know more came true very quickly. But I'm still glad I resisted the temptation to wrap the story up in a tidy package with a cute bow. Frankie is unhappy and unsure about his future and we should share his feelings, right?

LOL, Adi, my editor did warn me about readers being upset or demanding to know more. I was hoping this open-ended finish would leave you in a state of mind similar to Frankie's, so you'd feel the uncertainty and what now? even better. Glad you liked it enough to leave a comment.

Thanks, Bucket. I 'm glad you found it and liked the strange story which grew out of the Grid&Dice prompt Cia made for me.

Thanks, Val.They're all uploaded in amended versions.

I think the friendship is a great idea, because the real test comes when Alek's parents happen to run into Alek and Liam together. I'm sure they'll assume all sorts of things (which would have been correct a year earlier) and Alek's reaction will make or break his chance of winning Liam back - or the chance of friendship with Liam, Corey and Jason. Liam needs to experience for himself that he's moved up on Alek's priority list to range alongside his family. Ideally, Alek should tell his parents that pleasing them cost him his best chance of happiness with the man he loves, and he's not going to let them destroy the friendship with the only people who truly accepts him. In fact, Liam needs to see Alek chose him again and again, before he can let go of the anger and hurt, and perhaps contemplate choosing Alek back.

It was interesting to see all the speculations being dealt with. Alek did find alternate financing and a way to keep his business going without the support of his father and his cronies. It was interesting how casually he relates how furious his dad was at the news. The relationship with Nata was a mutual beard deal, and she even knew about Liam and thought Alek should try to win him back. Alek stood firm in the face of his mother's tears and his father's anger and refused to go to the dinner. He even admits to regretting not getting this done in time to keep Liam, and he understands how much he's hurt the guy. I wonder if Liam is doing the what if game. What if he had stayed, would Alek still have come out when his business was secure. No, I don't think so. It took the double whammy of Liam breaking up and the accident to finally set priorities right in Alek's head. But will all of this make up for the hurt and the doubts in Liam's heart?

If you’ve never read any of Palantir’s stories Trouble is a good place to start. Palantir has a style all of his own, easily recognizable by the bantering dialogue, the casual approach to nudity and friendly sex, the disdain for bullies, and the way he makes you laugh at the absurd images forming in your mind as you read. Peter is a serious, introvert bookworm with no siblings or close friends. Being teased (or ‘stirred’ as Palantir calls it) isn’t something he’s used to or understands. But then Andy and his friends enter Peter’s life and change it completely. They spend a lot of time ‘stirring’ each other, and while it made me cringe at first, just as Peter does, I gradually got used to it and even appreciated the fun and the good intentions. Almost every single character in the story is portrayed in a realistic manner, so we forget the author is creating an ideal world, where good triumphs over evil, jocks can do ‘gay stuff’ playfully, and friendship and love are driving forces in our lives. This review is a shorter version of a Featured Story blog review.

You won’t find lots of dramatic events or wild outbursts of emotions in this story, which begins on a lonely drive home where a song playing on the radio takes Mark back in time and into profound sadness. To the time when he was young and met Carl and fell in love. But Carl is not only in the closet, he’s also in denial, yet the attraction between the two men leads to the inevitable moment of passion. That’s when Mark’s life becomes all about Carl and starts going downhill. Due to the lack of acceptance from society and the expectations of family and friends, indeed of Carl himself, their love is doomed. The story takes us on the journey toward the present, and we suffer and cry along with Mark. Diogenes’ well-written story clearly shows the hurt caused by the lack of acceptance from our surroundings, which keeps gay men in the closet and destroys the happiness of so many young people. About Carl should be mandatory reading for those heartless idiots who discriminate LGBT people and refuse to accept same-sex marriage. This review is a shorter version of a Featured Story blog review.

Blond hunks with blue eyes are my favorites, and even better if they’re upright and silent men in uniform. Naturally, I was hooked immediately when I started reading Thaw which is set in the northern part of Sweden and features a strong, tall, lonely policeman named Joel. The second chapter introduces chatty, charming Lucas, a lawyer from the US, who ends up in Kiruna after a string of unlucky circumstances. I liked the contrast in character in the two men, although they both have the same core of ‘lawful good’ inside. They are out and accepted by family, friends and colleagues, but still manage to fumble around when it comes to flirting and relationships. The writing is good, sensible and without unnecessary angsty drama – in spite a couple of cliff hangers which made us fans moan and grumble. The sex – well, I’ll let you discover those parts for yourself, but at least one reader had to buy a new laptop because the hotness made her old one melt. Oh, and a BDSM tag might have been appropriate. This review is a shorter version of a Featured Story blog review.

I have to admit it took me a while to start reading RRS, mainly because I was put off by the story description. Most of all the word irrational gave me severe doubts, but I decided to trust Aditus and my GA friends who seemed to enjoy the story. Once I took the plunge, I was quickly caught up in the magic Aditus weaves. Jonah was betrayed and hurt by someone he loved and trusted, and his reaction was to run away to another city/country. As the story starts, he returns and tries to pick up his life. He longs for love but is scared of another broken heart. The author makes us engage ourselves in Jonah and the people around him, we hope the best and fear the worst, as we alternately laugh and curse over his antics. If you like romance rollercoasters, RRS is worth trying. I guarantee all your emotions will be played upon. And the image of a dove tattoo will stay with you forever. This review is a shorter version of a Featured Story blog review.

That's good advice, Myr. I'll make sure to change and shorten the reviews when added to the story and link to the longer blog review. And inserting the new format links to stories I review also works well. And I can't edit anyone else's comments anymore, so thanks for fixing that too.

You're not the only one, Lisa. Nobody guessed Cole wrote Fool's Gold - or at least they didn't say so in the guessing game. I guessed on jfalkon.

That's a great idea, Kitt. Especially now Renee has a Review Team to keep her supplied with blog reviews. Now we have the new Review feature for Completed stories I've been planning to write some for my favorite stories, but I hadn't thought about posting them here too. But it would be a good way to keep track of the ones I have done, and also give readers a place to see them all listed, if they are interested in knowing which stories I recommend.

Well, that's no surprise, Val, and probably why four people guessed on you for the author.

There are no words which can be enough in the face of such deeply felt love and loss. My thoughts are with you, my friend.

Oh no What a cruel joke for Fate to play on you, my friend. The pain may have ended for him, but your loss makes all of us sad on your behalf. Yes, your Daniel and the love you two share will live here eternally, and we'll think of him and you whenever we read your beautiful stories.

Yeah, I felt the same, Gary. A tiny drop of pity for the guy, but it was quickly drowned in anger at Dom for never telling Johnny and of course even more for pursuing him for useless revenge.

I'm not so sure about the closet part. Three people guessed on you for the author.

This chapter of catharsis still makes me want to and rant and kill punch somebody, preferably those nasty fucks who tortured him - and I want Bobby to keep holding St.John and make him feel safe and cared about.

I can recall being worried about this reply of yours. I didn't like it at all, this hint of something bad happening. I was just feeling pleased about the case going to well and the fact St.John was finally getting a bit of writing done, and his plans for taking a relaxing break. He deserves smething going right for once.

Interesting how Bobby has taken St.John's word to heart and made an effort to connect to Pete and JP: And the sneaky protective thing was sort of cute, even if I can understand why Johnny was pissed. In any case, it's good to know he has friends who care about him - maybe even Bobby?

This was actually a positive chapter in some ways, in spite of us being at Dom and his stupid lawsuit. I have faith in Vange, and there's no way they can lose. But if the bad stuff is leaking into his work and interactions with the students, then the situation is even more upsetting. We don't need more stuff making him feel bad or guilty. Anyway, I agree completely with Gary about St.John being caring and understanding. I wonder if Emma knew he'd be a great mentor, or if this is a bonus she gets for taking a chance on him.

Knowing what I know now, Johnny calling out Bobby's name in this context takes on so much more significance.