pickuptoy

You didn't know when you posted this, that just a hair over 3 months and Mathew Perry would be dead. We never know, never promised tomorrow.

Happy Late Birthday!! I hope you had a Great One!

Great Chapter Mark! Looking forward to the next one! LOL!!!

Thank you Mark for this latest chapter. And while I was reading it another notice came in that you have updated "Freshman" you are a making me a happy man! Keep up the great work!

Looking back and reading some of the responses, both mine and everyone else's 6 or 8 weeks later are funny. But my hate for JJ has changed over the last number of chapters. I am now pulling for him to become a more likeable, and productive young man with a clear direction in life. Since he is now in a relationship that I hope turns out to be very positive and lasting for both him and Kris. Travis and Kris could be great additions to the family in both harmony, wealth, and power. But if he keeps acting the same as he has always acted, hopefully it will be a double decker bus that runs him over!

Thank you Mark for another great chapter!. Love it you are pushing them out regularly. “I have wanted to meet you for damn near my whole life,” Ian said to Stef. “I’ve read at least three of your biographies.” “That is kind of you to say, but I am not the hero of the hour, you are,” Stef replied with a smile. I interrupted their mutual admiration moment by introducing Grant. I liked that response to Ian by Stef. Shows a lot of class from one of the world's richest men. The stop off in NY is going to be a fun!! And I think will be a good move in building a better relationship and trust between JJ and the rest of the family. Maybe that will help JJ's direction of how his life should head. Should he further his higher education or be and apprentice at Stef's magazine, or both. Just mulling around shopping, partying, and sleeping till about noon has no real purpose. Kris has a career and JJ now needs one too. Maybe Kris being seen around Stef and Brad will enhance his status with both Goldman Sachs and his clients too. Who you are associated with can establish credibility. If Kris is good at investment banking he deserves the boost.

It really is an honor for Granger to host Lord St. Vincent for the journey over to Weymouth to meet with the King. Would be interesting if they were to encounter a French ship lingering some distance off shore along the way after they have cleared the Isle of Wright. Glad Grangers kids like Calvert and him seemingly to like them too. He may become Uncle Francis to them. LOL! Thanks again Mark.

Great chapter! Seems like for JJ life is good! And Will seemed down without the love of his life back in CA, but then Ian Thorpe may make life good again for him. Will can be Will again. By the way right after I started reading this chapter I got a notice that you Mark had already updated the Granger Series. @Mark Arbouryou have been a busy boy. Thanks for all you do!

I just checked his profile and he was last on GA January 25th. And last comment on Chapter 104 Jan. 10th

I was wondering the same thing a chapter or two ago! He always would chime right in.

Thank you Mark for this latest chapter. Keep up the great work. Looking forward to the next chapter.

Thank you Andre for the latest Great chapter. Keep up the Great Work!

I don't hate JJ. I have never cared for him though. But I do think they him and Kris can be good for each other. Kris can keep him fucked real good and hopefully man up some. Susannah, and even Bellona keep him pussified and whiny and acting like a little boy. I like how he was assertive with Rafael. And Kris being with Jj is really going to help him open more doors and move up in his career. I really don't think he is trying to be a gold digger, just riding a horse is a lot better than hopping on a mule here and there. The two of them might flourish together and stick with one another for some time. J.P. Stef, and Brad may even be impressed with the two of them. Will might even come around JJ a lot more. Otherwise JJ may just be JJ, not do anything constructive the rest of his life. Just be a fashion world groupie with no direction.

@masongpretty much summed up my feelings about this chapter. I have never been a fan of JJ's. But I can see hope for the kid. Kris may be good for him, and he may be good for Kris. I really don't think Kris is a gold-digger, but more of an opportunist but may even be a keeper, or at least someone to help JJ get in a better direction. Maybe as this relationship builds JJ may become a better person with a drive to become relevant. Not just a little whiney bitch! Great Chapter Mark. I was disappointed when I saw JJ was narrating, but you did a hell of a job with it. Keep up the great work.

Wow! Perfect timing for both Granger and Calvert. I wonder it that was the King's first voyage the he encountered the enemy. He will have something to boost about when he gets back to court and to laud George with. Thanks Mark. Another Great Chapter!!

Thank you so much Mark for getting Granger back on the water again. I wish he could keep permanent command of the Endymion. But just having him in command again even if temporary is welcome. Keep up the great work Mark!

JJ is just JJ, my least favorite character on here. I have a higher respect for Zach and "The Black Widow" than I do for JJ. Whenever he is the narrator, I picture the weather as being cold, and foggy outside every time, whether it is day or night. Thanks Mark for the chapter.

Now where did I vaguely hint that George could die? If you will reread the post, I responded to Mark's quote.

I am really hoping that doesn't happen or at least until George has lived a long fulfilling life.

What a surprise when I opened my email and had gotten a notification that my favorite story on this site has been continued with it's first chapter in a new book. And on Tues. morning. If it had been on a Sunday it wouldn't have been that much of a surprise. But a big "Thank You" to Sir Mark! Caroline is smart enough to know it is not advantageous to continue to fight George. She knows George and the kids wealth and status will continue to rise. Continuing being combative with George only pushes him and probably her relationship with the kids completely away. Being civil with George, and able to still have a chance to be part of the kids life will have it's advantages. Her status should benefit along with her security. As the kids mature and still have respect for her they will always see to it she is taken care of by either George or themselves as they take their rolls in life. Continuing the way she had been might turn their backs on her. Who knows, as time passes, George might start trusting her more and might could use her as the hostess for his own or attending Royal functions that having a female or beard is needed. Between the two, I would trust Caroline more than his sister-in-law. Also George may get another command, and he knows that Caroline will help make sure the children's welfare is first. Look forward to the next chapter.

Somehow I must have missed where the cook was connected to Curtis Buck. I remember her being rude and a homophobia, but not the other connection. Now Curtis Buck may have paid her to bug their beach house. But if so where are the recording going to? Are they in Buck study somewhere, or are they in a third parties hands? Also how did the cook get into Miranda's house to bug hers? But we don't know for sure if hers is bugged or not. I think it may have been one of the investigators that probably bugged Brad's beach house thinking they may find out Zach is hiding out there. If they a deputy watching the street in and out and a deputy or maybe more monitoring the beach. They had pretty good info that he may show up there. But I will go back and read the where Will fired the cook and see what I might have missed there.

Thank you so much for the book "Gap Year". Mark. Going to be impatiently waiting for Book 18. Is it done yet? LOL! I know this will not be popular with everyone, but I hope whoever the main character or characters that is telling the story in the coming book, Will, Brad, Stef, JP, Wade, Marie etc. I hope we skip ahead a year or so in their lives. 105 chapters in GAP Year covered less than 4 months. But seemed like a couple of years. Maybe getting a big portion of the family and close friends we have all come to love for a reunion, significate birthday, or big event where we can get caught up with their busy lives and what has happened since May 4, 2004. How well the Sluder/Crampton empire has grown in wealth, investment, relationships, carriers, accomplishments, or failures. But I will be satisfied however it is presented to us. But beggers can't be choosers!!

Thank you Mark for another chapter. Hope you had a great time New Year's Eve and day. I am wondering how they are going to get thru the forensics that will show the distance from the gun will not jive with Curtis holding the gun to shoot himself. Different splatter patterns from his brains and back of his head. His face isn't going to be hurt that much if he was shot in the mouth. So they are going to be very interested in who had beat Curtis. Remember this was 10 years after the Nicole Brown Simpson murder. And forensics even then was very sophisticated. But as Mark said, "money has power" But the hopefully the hospital didn't do any sampling of Taylor's hands or protected any of the cloths and towels that they may have use cleaning her when they admitted her. So the investigators won't have that to use. I am sure they will find the slug from the plant Zach shot. I don't care for Zach, but don't want anyone framed for something they didn't do.

Thanks for this latest chapter. Sounds like a beautiful and exciting addition to the their growing empire they are building. Keep up the great work.