FanLit

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.

I think Matthew’s dad is homophobic and doesn’t like his son being a theater geek when he’s not on the football team. His wife was probably a buffer between them but her death and their grief boiled everything over. I’m also getting Eddie and Matthew are in love with each other- and are keeping it from each other. It’ll be interesting to see how that plays between them and their families.

I second that wholeheartedly!!

Happy Belated Anniversary!! 🥂🎊 The wedding was beautiful and tasteful.

After Oskar and Will, Damien the boy/man is my favorite of your characters. I enjoyed the story very much.

I wished I could love and laugh at this at the same time-❤️ 🤣 Lord and Lady Underwood are beyond useless and beyond my pity. They pander to an insecure drug dealer and treat the diamond in their midst like a cubic zirconia. I can’t wait until Damian tells his dad that James is a drug dealing “fookin terror-wrist“ so that he can “fookin end up in an orange suit at Guano Bay wiv Osma Bin Liner.” (You are hi-lar-ious with your lines, Mike Arram, I’ve literally laughed out loud several times reading, Damien is hands down the funniest character in this story.) I doubt their influence will be able to cover that up. I’m thrilled that Danny and Gus both realized James is a coward and that they are stronger than him, that’s an important realization; Thing about cowards is that they can be really sneaky and can still do damage so they would do well to still watch their backs around him. I hope they get to see each other soon. 🥺

I wasn’t a fan of Peter for turning Gus and Danny in and this phrase made me less inclined to give him any interest: “Now I have my Oskar, the most perfect lover and partner I could ever have imagined.” 😝 Now I’ve missed a few Rothenian tales so don’t know the current status of Will and Felip but can Oskar truly be happy with anyone else but his Willemsczu? I dread Danny and Gus’ reunions with their families, especially after: “Yet despite all the hard words, he got nothing more from Lady Rosalind than assertions that her James would never do such a thing, and that small children were often mistaken.” It’s incredible how deluded parents can be about their children and she is deluded about both her sons, James can do no wrong and Gus doesn’t get enough credit. Besides genetic material, that woman and her husband have not done their children any favors. (don’t know what the other brother is like but I’m not encouraged)

Bittersweet chapter. Progress on the Damien and Justin front and distress with Danny and Gus. What a vile creature James is, as a person of wealth and privilege, there’s no need for him to be so nasty to people except that he wants to. I could hear blah blah blah about a childhood trauma or what not but he victimizes those younger and in more vulnerable positions than him, that’s a character flaw. I look forward to him getting his, as he deserves so much more than an arse kicking. My heart breaks at the thought of the end of Danny and Gus’ idyll. 💔 😟 ”....Damien had been calling him ‘Daddy’ and ‘Dad’ for the first time since they had met. The sun came out in Justin’s heart.....”. 🌤️ 👏

And the funniest part of the chapter for me was: “At five, an ominous feeling of wetness crept under him. The boy had let loose a second tide of urine in his sleep. Nathan woke, turned with a squelch and yelled, ‘Oh my God ….!’ And that was it for that night.”

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 As a parent, I can sympathize with what Justin and Nathan went through, as the parent who was not on the receiving end of Damien, I found it hilarious, for the most part. A child can’t endure what Damien has without some issues and they will come out as he gets accustomed to living with Justin and Nathan. Damien will test them to see if they’ll keep him, too; I fear it will get worse before it gets better. People are always poaching on the Peachers, smh; Now Danny and Gus will be saving the day.