impunity

Well, he seems to have figured out (just barely) that sex isn't all about pleasing himself. The rest...I guess that remains to be seen.

A few things struck me during this chapter which, as an aside, was a really good one. First was that Neil seems to have gotten over his crush on Jim. There's no more staring and plotting, and he is able to have normal interactions when Jim is around. Second is how comfortable Jim has gotten being openly gay around the rest of the team. 'Jim yelled back. “If he’s good-looking, sit on his lap.”' was one of the funniest lines I've read in ages. I loved even more that the brat did it (and promptly got tossed into the aisle). I'd have laughed out loud if my husband weren't so grumpy when he's woken too early on a Saturday morning. And it was brilliant that Neil participated in the joke by admitting that Todd was good-looking. Third was just how supportive the team continues to be of Dave. I'm not sure how many coaches would go that far to help a player recover from an emotional trauma. I can see a lot of them just putting the player on leave until he was fit to participate fully. I also really loved Liam's uncomfortable confession to his dad, and his dad's subsequent reaction. I hope the other boys' parents react similarly when they find out about the bullying. I still see disaster ahead for Liam and Neil which, no doubt, will be very entertaining for the reader (me).

I started reading this yesterday and am thoroughly hooked. I love the subtle humor, particularly the boys' fastidiousness when contrasted with the (stinky, unkempt) Wildman. I was slightly disappointed that they returned to the city without having accomplished their mission, but I expect it is just one of many detours to come. Looking forward to more. As an aside, after a couple of chapters I realized that this story reminded me of something. Not the actual story, of course, but the tone and some of the underlying themes. Eventually I figured it out: Jasper Fforde's Shades of Grey (not related to and published slightly before the novel of a similar title). If you haven't read it (he's a bit obscure in the US), you might want to; it's very clever and funny.

I loved this chapter! George was at his diplomatic best, regardless of the outcome. And little Kingsdale is growing up; I like that he is Lord Kingsdale when George introduces him to important people, even though he remains Mr. Kingsdale onboard. Of course, the new midshipman will have to get used to that rule, too.

I enjoyed Wade's getting the better of Elizabeth (as one does, generally), but the rest of the chapter felt a bit off to me. Unlike other threesomes we've encountered in the past, Alex's proposal just seemed sleazy. Maybe it was the lack of spontaneity or that JJ felt vaguely pressured into going along with it. JJ's virgin persona is also starting to seem a tad too calculated. On the other hand, I doubt Alex ever dreamed he'd get to have sex with his virgin and his whore at the same time. Of course, the irony is that he's also marrying the whore.

That was a lovely ending to a very sweet story. Although, I have to admit that the two parts to the epilogue confused me. In the first part they were clearly moving in together, presumably somewhere rented. However, I was pretty sure that Clem was leaving Four Corners as well. Was he just back for lambing season in the second epilogue? In which case, why did Penny get so upset when they left? Sorry if I missed something in the story that cleared this all up. Also, why do they still not have a bed?

I love where the Neil-Liam story line is going. Liam is stalking; Neil is getting obsessed. It's all going to go horribly wrong eventually. Still hoping for a happy outcome, though. I'm feeling badly for Deon. Everything is so frustrating for him right now. The scouts are exciting, though. Hopefully they'll notice more than just Ty when they return.

I love that the fireworks over dinner segued immediately into covert planning and negotiations. Thank you for the early chapter. I hope things quiet down for you soon.

Just to clarify, when I wrote this I was referring to Mary Ellen. It's true, JJ was enamored of Alex's title to begin with, and Alex may have found in JJ the virgin of his dreams, but they have both moved on from there. On the other hand, ME has spent less than a day with Alex: riding, shagging, and having dinner with Wade and Elizabeth. I doubt they've even had a real conversation. She probably sees a guy who is very much like most of the guys she grew up with (most of whom she has probably fucked), except that he comes with the opportunity of her becoming a countess then a marchioness and eventually a duchess. I think she'd quite like that.

I expect she and Alex will come to a mutually agreeable arrangement. JJ's broken heart aside, I can't help but feel a little sorry for Alex. I am sure he pictured himself eventually marrying a Madonna, rather than the whore he's getting. Good points about Claire and Marie. I hadn't really considered Claire's choice to support her husband's career rather than pursue her own. In a somewhat similar vein, it has always bothered me that JP and Isidore didn't insist that Armand finish his education before pursuing a career in Hollywood.

On the other hand (playing my own devil's advocate), she had to have known that Matt wouldn't have married her even if she had managed to get pregnant with his kid. Neither her not Elizabeth's machinations were a match for Wade. So, maybe it is the baby she needs, after all. Argh! Trying to predict what Mark is going to do is so damn hard.

Matt inherited from Robbie, but I think it was somewhere in the vicinity of $10 million. From Mary Ellen's perspective, that wouldn't be worth going after. I also don't think his family name is worth the bother either, when her own is already so much better. Furthermore, he lives in Wade's house, doesn't have a job or go to school, and doesn't have any influence or power. If marrying Matt was really a consideration, she has to have another motive. I also don't think Mary Ellen is actually that bothered with being married from the sorority girl/Mrs. status perspective. I think she likes being independent and would like to be more so. I think the real motivator has to be her trust fund. On further reflection, I don't think it would be tied to having a baby because any baby of hers wouldn't be a Danfield heir, anyway. And her grandfather, who set up the trust fund, was probably a traditionalist who would never have contemplated (or condoned) a baby born out of wedlock to his granddaughter. Therefore, I think it's more likely that she (or possibly her husband) gets control of her trust once she's married. (Of course, any potential husband could probably be more easily manipulated than her mother.) On the other hand, Wade didn't have to be married to get control of his money; he only needed an heir. It'll be an interesting double standard, if it turns out to be the case. (As an afterthought, was it the Danfield grandfather or the other one who set up this trust? It might have been the other given that Elizabeth had control of it.) I completely agree that Alex's title is the most attractive thing about him. I also don't think British aristocracy would recognize American breeding as comparable to their own, but it would certainly make marrying for American money (or an unplanned pregnancy) more palatable. Finally, I found your point about Claire very interesting, especially in light of the fact that Isidore had a well established career in the construction industry, despite being married with children. PS: I need to learn to write more quickly.

I don't think Mary Ellen would know about Alex and JJ's relationship. Both have too much to lose by sharing this information outside the immediate family. They usually have their own bedrooms. My guess is they are sharing due to a shortage of available rooms, just as Will and Zach are.

In that case, I take back what I said in my review. She wasn't lucky, she hit the fucking jackpot: one of the most eligible men currently in the US, and probably the only one who can't afford to wait for paternity testing. I'm still a little confused by her motives, though. Why would Mary Ellen -- 21 (or thereabouts) years old, beautiful and rich -- be so desperate to marry that she'd settle for Matt who probably doesn't have that much more money than she does? Also, there is ample precedent that men in this family don't marry the women they knock up, and she isn't exactly in a position to be able to force Matt to marry her against his will. And why rely on Wade's bringing home someone decent to catch a husband? Has she so exhausted the pool of eligible bachelors that she can't find one herself? Or does she just need the baby to get control of her trust fund the way Wade got his with Riley? After all, she is the woman who let herself get beaten up for a measly (by CAP standards) $2 million. I'm also not sure where all this "hell to pay" money is going to come from. Doesn't Wade control most of the Danfield fortune at this point? I certainly don't see his coughing up to preserve Mary Ellen's "honor". I hope all this doesn't sound critical. I should stop asking questions and just enjoy the ride.

You promised drama and you delivered. This was a brilliant chapter! And we've only hit the first major dip on the CAP rollercoaster. (I am such a drama whore.) No offense, but I saw that Mary Ellen pregnancy thing coming. The fact that she is aware of her pregnancy after the first month is further evidence that she planned it. However, I can't help wondering how she did it. She had no way of knowing that Alex was going to be at Goodwell that weekend. I looked back at chapter 22; Wade definitely didn't tell his mother that Alex would be accompanying him. So, unless there was another conversation to which we (the collective reader) were not privy, she must have been taking her chances that Alex would be invited along. Given that and the relatively low odds of becoming pregnant after a single sexual encounter, Mary Ellen got incredibly lucky that weekend! With all the talk of paternity testing, one thing hasn't been mentioned: if Alex waits for the baby to be born and paternity test results before marrying Mary Ellen, and he is in fact the father, the child (if male) will be ineligible to inherit the peerage even if they subsequently get married. I don't think early prenatal paternity testing was available in 2002 and invasive procedures (amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling) were needed. This adds a whole layer of complexity to the decision. Of course, he probably has more to lose by marrying Mary Ellen without the testing. Not to mention that marrying her at all would be a losing proposition. Ugh!

Gary, I like it! Great characters.

So, it's not often that I anxiously await the arrival of Monday.

Haha! I think you are overestimating my motivation here. A qualitative answer would probably suffice for my purposes.

How hard would Brad's list be? I bet shorter than Will's.

Didn't Will and Zach both sleep with Pedro? Or was it just Will then Zach indulged himself (for lack of a better term) afterwards?

Thanks for the new chapter. I had a sense Brent was going to leave Jackie. I'm glad he has. Although, I also hope she manages to come to her senses at some point and reconcile with both Brent and Mark.

I loved this chapter! Neil was still weird and awkward, but a lot less so. Liam's bumbling attempts to make friends with him were hilarious. And Clarissa just bossed everyone around and got her own way, as always. The phone call with Ty (sorry, brat) made me giggle. Thank you! This was lighthearted and fun, and a perfect start to the weekend.

I just reread CAP and 1968 and am really glad I did. I don't think we've seen the last of Thomas Hartford.

So, here we are, poised momentarily at the top of the rollercoaster. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and everyone is happy... JP and Stef: Recently reconciled and now reunited with an old lover who may or may not still hold a grudge. Brad and Marc: Entering a new phase in their sparkly new relationship. JJ and Alex: Thoroughly infatuated and more than a little co-dependent. Matt and Wade: More solidly together than they have ever been. Will and Zach: Blissfully in love and closing out the chapter with one of the most ominous lines I have ever read. Oh, this is going to be so good!

True, but by then, adult Zach will no longer be subject to the laws of high school and can probably attribute early experiences with guys his own age to experimentation. So, entirely off topic: Honestly, I don't have a clue. I have no knowledge of or experience with counseling at all. I just figured Jacobs had worked out from Will's terminology that he was receiving help and decided not to interfere. On the other hand, from a literary perspective, it worked perfectly. Anything more would have been a distraction and interfered with the flow of the dialogue. I expect Jacobs probably checked back with Will after the session. Because he's nice.