Sunshine

I can smell the gum leaves from here! Great chapter. Not great for Matt, but definitely a tightening of the plot and I sense a turning point for Levi.

Thanks! Yeah, I am up to chapter 3 already in Mardi Gras Murders. I live in Australia (Queensland) so reading Mark's stories always feels like "home" in a way that US based stories never do. I even lived in Sydney for 2 years as a child, and then later for 5 years as a 20-something, so the setting of Mardi Gras Murders is very familiar. I attended my first Mardi Gras in Sydney in 2006, 4 months after I came out.

Just started this - it's really good - as I have come to expect from @MarkPonyboyPeters. I've come here from Out of the Blue to read Jimmy and Shane's back story. They pop up, years later, in Thompsonville with Matt and Luke and Levi. Good read, both there and here.

OK, I am off to read "Mardi Gras Murders" now - I didn't know Shane and Jimmy had a back story. Mark, you do weave a whole world of characters! Thanks. (I am not thinking of rabbit holes right now, or am I?)

I'm glad Levi got the right advice. He needs to follow through on what Father Costa said. But not even Father Costa is aware of the extent of what Levi has done. Can Father Costa, perhaps, be present when Levi (finally) does confess? It may give Levi some strength to know someone is with him when he faces up to his father.

Great ending, thank you Wayne. And like other suggestions, I sense both an Epilogue and a sequel are called for. Presumably Ash and Taggert get a HEA ending. Who will go down on bended knee - Ash or Taggert? Or both? They could then move out of the trailer into something more permanent? Have their own ranch? Ah, let a guy dream...

Yes, I picked up on this immediately too. The change in dynamic is obvious - Tag is the one being strong and reassuring now instead of the other way around. Ash is the one who is afraid and vulnerable. And I would be too if I found out my future husband (?) was a multi-millionaire! LOL (By the way, wouldn't that be wonderful?) Great chapter - had me on the edge of my seat, and the really important paragraphs I had to read slowly, and twice, to get the full impact. Well written - I could see that all playing out on a big movie screen somewhere in my mind.

Just found this cute and sweet story. Short enough to read in one sitting, but long enough to have some real development. Great story. I just wish I had found someone to love when I was - crumbs, only 13? I do have someone now but it took decades of searching to find him. But wishes do come true in the end. Thanks for this story. Great read. Loved it.

Ah, now the real story begins! Everything up to now has been just the introduction, setting the scene and getting us ready for the "big reveal." Love it.

Like some others have said, I missed the survey announcement. I love doing surveys, so I would have participated. However, I notice that everything (and a lot more) that I would have said has already been covered. Thanks for the detailed analysis of the survey results. I agree heartily and look forward to the upgrades. And THANK YOU for all you do. We appreciate it. I don't read here as much as I would like to, but when I do, it is always a satisfying experience. Thanks a million.

Great story. Highly recommended since this is one of the best MM romance I have ever read. I am reading from Australia, so I appreciate the Australian references, local slang and obvious Australian cultural allusions. Had to read the last 8 chapters in one sitting - one of those books where you "have" to find out what happened. Just wish it had been this easy coming out (and kissing public!) when I was at school! LOL

Great follow up! At first I thought Patrick was going to be a home-wrecker, but love wins out after all. Well written as usual. The photographs Galen gave Josh sounded just perfect.

I enjoyed the story overall, although there were some difficult spots. Every story has to have some drama and the author has posted appropriate warnings, which should be noted. However, I think the story would have benefited from toning down some of the more graphic details. The story was realistic with all the ups and downs of romance, although (spoiler alert) it is pretty clear from the start that the two main characters will end up together. Interesting setting, which was new to me, and reinforces the need for communication and unconditional love. The story has a nice rounded conclusion at the end. I appreciated the editing - good grammar, good spelling and good punctuation and the story flows smoothly. I understand there is a follow-up story to this, which I must read next. I have given it four stars, but I really wanted to give it four and a half stars.

I have waited until the last chapter to add any comment, since at the time I am reading it, the story is already complete. Not sure that I liked Josh, even towards the end. I think I got off side with him almost from the start and never really warmed up to him. However, I enjoyed the story eventually, and the HEA ending. The story was, for the most part, realistic (which I prefer) and reasonably romantic, especially at the end. Just wished they could have had more happiness together earlier in the story. I appreciated the editing - good grammar, good spelling and good punctuation (I used to be a magazine proof-reader before I retired so that kind of thing really matters to me), and it was easy to let the story flow smoothly. Good story, although the story would not have suffered if we had been spared the blood and trauma, but I understand every story has to have some drama. The story has a nice rounded conclusion at the end. I understand there is a follow-up story to this, which I must read next. Thank you Val.

Great short story! Well written, no typos or grammatical errors (that I could detect - and I used to be a proof reader) and a smooth, coherent, well-crafted story. Well done. Although I was half expecting (or even more than half) some kind of twist at the end, the climax when it came was sweet and emotional that had me tearing up! Love it.