FanLit

I want Jake to get what (who) he wants.

Why does it seem like this amazing, normal boy attracts the kookiest of the kooks?!?! His parents and now Amber, smh. Seeing his mother in that condition I feel is a warning that Jake is ignoring, his progenitor is not done with him yet.

VERY nicely said.

How beautiful. ❤️

I agree. Happily ever after doesn’t mean Jack and Jill, Jack and Jack or Jill and Jill always wind up together; Happily ever after means everyone winds up in the best place they should be.

Being shown this generosity from Christy and her family might make Jake suppress his feelings for Alex more if Christy starts to like him. Did I see a crack in Jake’s mother’s crazy?

Jake’s parents are going to make this a hard read for me, lol...,I wonder if they were both nut jobs before they got together or if one influenced the other. Two friends having a crush on the same guy isn’t unusual, even if one friend is a boy and the other is a girl nowadays, my interest is in finding out what team (or teams) Alex plays for. I’m sad that Jake may now not be able talk to the one person he might’ve opened up to about his feelings for Alex; He needs an outlet.

Ditto. 😊 😘

What a tease this was, Gary. I was delighted to see new material from you and as is typically the case with your writing, I was fully immersed in the scene and left hanging at the end. (“That’s it?!?!” was my mind’s response) There are many who have had or still have a Scott in their lives; There are many who have had or wish they had this liberating conversation. Reading that Dan was still in love with Scott and was “faking it ‘til he makes it” as it were is realistic, just as him truly being at that point emotionally would be as well. The important thing is that Dan took that first decisive step to end the song and dance they’d been playing for years. “Last Christmas/I gave you my heart/but the very next day/you gave it away/This year/ to save me from tears/I’ll give it to someone special”. “You are what I’m most grateful for this Christmas”, indeed. Freedom, especially from a hurtful situation and the emotional manipulations from false love will always be a gift. Excellent, Gary. It left me wanting a longer look into their world. 🍻

What in the holy fuck is up with Jake’s parents?!?! Religious extremists, much? Quite an interesting start.

Jett doesn’t have anything against gay dudes. Jett’s best friend is gay. Jett doesn’t want to be gay. There is a disconnect. Jett is still hung up on April/Theo and bones a bunch of women, one of whom claims he’s Jay’s father. There is a reason Jett is denying his sexual preference, (which from reading is either bisexual or gay in denial or maybe just gay for April?) is it his father? There will be big fireworks when Jett realizes April is Theo; He already wants to protect him as April from the loan sharks who want to use him and Zane (though he doesn’t realize it yet, lol). He’ll go into super fortress mode when he knows the guy of his dreams is under the same roof as him. Good chapter, Goldie.

I’m waiting for Hadjek to be found out. I think he’s the one responsible for framing Yuli’s dad and for the cameras planted in Roman’s room; He has an unhealthy obsession with Roman and I don’t think we’ve seen the last of it.

Hi Gary!!!! 👋 I’m rereading this gem and it’s interesting what you pick up on that you missed the first time (okay, first few times 😊). Ms. Dorothy’s actions have captured my interests this time around; I find her “get back at you by sleeping with someone else” response curious. The first time was in reaction to something her then fiancé did, the second time was a tit for tat situation. At first, it’s easy to dismiss her actions as those of a flighty, emotionally immature woman (which may be true) but something clearly triggers that type of action. I don’t know how much thought went into her makeup when you wrote the story but her motivation behind such risky behavior intrigues.

“There’s all sorts of loving,’ Roman said. ‘I know you love Yuli, and he’s been more than a brother to you. But the way I see it is that the love you two share isn’t the love Yuli and I have. You share a heart, but we share a soul.’“ ❤️❤️

This just confirms what Henry and Peter were saying about the Von Ebersfeld camp: why go to such lengths to discredit your opponent if your case is so strong? They have more to hide it appears. I wonder how this will affect Yuli and Roman’s relationship.

My GA life feels more complete because I’ve read something you’ve authored. It’s been a while, Gary and I’ve missed doing so. Whether it’s the joyful or contemplative musings of your mind expressed in prose or the literary journey your narratives encompass, it’s a very special exchange; I am grateful to your muses....they marry with your imagination and experiences to paint our eyes with the broad and delicate brushstrokes of your stories. Your three examples here show how you master both (though I must admit, I hate soaked running shoes, lol.) Hi, Gary. It’s good to see you. 🍻

Hate doesn’t solve hate, love does. Though it’s hard to get past what Donald did to Eddie, Donald is a victim, too. I approve of Eddie’s compassion.

Just wondering-Chapter 6 introduced us to Donald Harper, this chapter refers to him as Donald Harmon. Has he undergone a name change?

“Wake up Eddie. It scares me when you won’t wake up. I want my big brother back. I promise to be good if you just wake up, Eddie. Please?” Right then and there, Nathan had me. Good chapter, waiting to hear Harper’s fate.

Don’t get me started on “their”, “there” and “they’re”!!!! (“Your” and “you’re” is another peeve, smh, lol) On a more serious note, what Donald Harper did was unconscionably inexcusable. Teenage sexuality is a minefield of confusion and embarrassment, whether your interest is same sex, opposite sex or no sex. One’s preference should be their own to declare, (if at all) not forced out, especially in an attempt to shame. In wanting to try and give Donald the benefit of the doubt, I can speculate that he has misguided feelings for Eddie of either attraction, jealousy or a combination of the two. Maybe he was molested by a guy and has a irrational hatred of gay people? Is his homophobia a product of his upbringing? Whatever the reason, outing Matthew and Eddie cannot be excused, nor his self defeating grudge against Eddie; If he is the one behind the physical attack on Eddie, he truly is beyond reason. As upsetting as Eddie’s attack is, it kind of brought the ballon back down to earth; While the reaction M & E received from family and friends (with the exception of Matthew’s dad) is hoped for, I can’t believe that’s the norm (yet), especially in a southern, mainly conservative town. I pray Eddie’s injuries aren’t serious but at least we know he has an amazing support system behind him whatever happens.

You are Julius,’ she stated, somewhat redundantly. ‘I expect you to be gone by seven. Roman has homework.’ Bitch. How did such a sweet person like Roman come from the two of them?!?! Well it does take piles of shit to bloom beautiful flowers and diamonds emerge from ugly lumps of coal. 🌺 💎

That has got to be your favorite emoji when responding to comments, lol.

You do such a good job creating these new relationships and maintaining the old ones while credibly linking them together. I've not read all the Rothenian tales so did not know the beginnings of Henry’s, Peter’s or Rudi’s romances; I just knew my beloved Oskar and Will were no longer together and while I like Felip and read the start up of that union, no one will ever be quite for Oskar for me except Will. I have to trust you’d make him happy, Mike. I love the relationships in this story-Yuli with his parents, Willem and Roman. Roman’s father doesn’t seem to be quite a nice guy and I don’t have a favorable opinion of he and Frau Von Ebersfeld as parents, their actions toward Roman don’t strike me as protective, maybe it is the best two emotionally detached people can do, idk. The characters and all the drama makes this trip to Rothenia very engaging; I’m looking forward to more.

Ms. Margaret is a dutiful wife and an amazing mother. I’m glad she accepts Eddie and Matthew. Knowing the history of how Rev. Clayton started his church, I can’t imagine he’d have an extreme reaction to Eddie’s sexual preference, unless it’s one of those cases where it’s okay for someone else’s kid and not his own. If that winds up being the case, I think Ms. Margaret will have something to say about that. Romantic love can be such an all consuming experience, to have that with someone you already consider your best friend adds a secure layer of trust and respect that can only help. I hope everything in your personal life worked out okay.

Well alrighty then!!!! Yay!! ❤️ I’m glad their feelings were addressed for each other early, (What a first kiss!!) now it’ll be the two of them united against the world, thank goodness I’m reading this 15 chapters in, no cliffhanger for me, lol. Well done.