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I agree. The whole problem seems to be that everyone expect Alec to come back to the place that almost destroyed him for good. But what really would prevent Fi n from following Alec--Finn can always come 'home' on regular visits, can't he?

My sentiments exactly! I really hope you do continue this charming story. I loved both characters!

Cipriani or no Ciprian--I would definitely not want to see Vincent on the throne. As Dani recognized, he is driven by revenge. And when he will have exacted his revenge on those he has targeted, what will then be the basis of his rule? The next stage will be to root out and exact revenge on those who supported his "enemies"; then anyone who questions his actions. He himself says it, they are not aiming to build a democracy, but an absolute monarchy. Vincent doesn't seem to understand that his all-exclusive focus on revenge would leave no basis for any kind of positive rule. Dani's choice is far more difficult than he may realize...

Agree...does anyone think that Loren's intense reaction to Jay's faux pas might have something to do the stress of hearing that Larsmisxapptrnytly lurking around?

One emerging theme seems to be corporal punishment...a "fetish" for Robby perhaps, but rooted somewhere in his adolescent past. Poor Dylan Keys beaten by his self-rihhteous father at very little provocation. Then, there is Trevor, punished by his father the cop who should know better, and who seems to use a physical bearing to compensate for his own inability to enforce a simple "grounding" (the "Attitude Adjuster" is a whole lot easier to wield than spending the time to show his son that grounding IS in fact supposed to be a "big deal"). It obviously happens regularly, given Trevor calm calculation of the pros and cons of the Attitude Adjuster. And now with the entry onto the scene of the unknown Mark_Cain, who might just turn out to be that slimy Pierson's son, it wouldn't surprise me at all to find out that he too is being physically abused. Three adolescents, possibly four (counting the younger Robbie and his procession of stepfathers) regularly subject to abuse by their fathers...if this does develop as a subconscious theme, I hope the story's resolution addresses this issue, alongside the radical so-called 'Christian' homophobia exemplified by Pierson.

Topnotch is absolutely right!! And you deserve these compliments, and more. Of course, such compliments come with OBLIGATIONS—the sequel (s) to Jay’s Loelife (their life together with the four kids, you remember, don’t you?); Parts 2-5 of Boss Nanny; and of course, “The Chronicles of Aidan, the pint-sized therapist” . I mean, just so we all clear….😉 again, another wonderful chapter.

I hope that isn’t what our deeply admired author really has in mind. Actually l, my comment was intended to inspire her to continue without rest until we have the full saga of Aidan as he grows, Loren and Jay as they build a family with four little ones, AND Seamus and Matt, of whom we have heard entirely too little!😉😁

Oh no, even when I’m disturbed and worried, it’s because I’m so invested in your, nah, in our characters. And I have to say, the “cracking” was so SMOOTH!!!!😉😊 you really are a magnificent storyteller!!!

I agree that it wasn’t very nice of Jay to spring the Aidan surprise on Loren, but I liked that little exchange you quoted as they lay in bed—it gave Loren something to think about, another aspect of the changes he would to make if the relationship is to succeed. I guess he took the point too, as there didn’t see to be a follow-up argument the next day. Of course, Jay just might have realized that Aido Potato could have a therapeutic effect on Loren, and really help him in his struggle to overcome the traumas of his own childhood. The more I see of Jay, the more I can convince myself that he may have something like this in mind from the start of Aidan’s stay. Not that he expected Aidan to claim Loren as his own, but rather to just get Loren used to being around a little one and helping to break down some of the walls in Loren’s psyche that way. And THANK you that exchange between Jay and Seamus at the start, where Seamus asked Jay if he was okay with Loren’s “life online”. I confess I was worried that it might become too much for Jay and weigh down in their relationship, but now I’m pretty sure he has no problem with it. Jay is way more than Loren deserves and yet exactly what he needs! Mrsgnomie, he’s by far the best of your many great characters, and I desperately hope there’s more of Jay in our future!! thanks for a really wonderful chapter!!!!

"Of course, Jay fixes that right away". I guess that is the obligation that someone in Loren's profession undertakes--to be constantly online, in the public eye. To surrender any modicum of privacy. It is astonishing, though, that both he AND Jay seem to feel that obligation, even while Loren is at the very beginning of his recovery. In any other profession, including Jay's, people understand that if you're sick, you can't work until you are better. But both Jay and Loren voluntarily surrender that accommodation and put his recovery out there. Will there ever be any privacy for the two of them, in any aspect of their lives? They took the whole world with them on their 'getaway' vacation; the recovery and convalescence gets repurposed as 'content'--will they film and post their inevitable disagreements and fights? Stands to reason--just imagine what the online 'making up' would do to Loe's ratings! Jay is in the public eye too, but he doesn't (or at least didn't) LIVE there--he goes to spend time with his family, especially during the holiday season; he goes on the annual two-week offline vacation with his buddies (this year to Mexico). I just hope that this compulsion that ALL of Loren's life has to be lived online in real time does turn into a source of conflict between the two of them. Please excuse the rant--in my defense, I disclose that I've never even been on Facebook, so.....

I agree--if ten years of leading his own life plus intensive therapy have left Alex in this sorry a state, arguably even MORE vulnerable then before he left Finn and his parents, well I don't know how well he us going to manage actually dealing with the closure he thinks he is seeking. River is some kind of saint for having stuck with Alex through an whole decade of self-indulgent wallowing in his own misery.

We all agree that Loren is sensitive and vulnerable and has a lot of stuff to deal with, even before he looks at his new relationship. I understand that his profession requires him to live every aspect of his life except sex and bowel movements in front of his fans. But isn't this gong to make the relationship learning curve even steeper, to have a whole heap of intrusive "fans" hanging around everywhere they stop, and worse yet with all these strangers being encouraged by BOTH Loren and Jay to do exactly that. How are either of them going to concentrate on their budding relationship if they have to do it all "in public" this way?

I take the point that they both live in the public eye. But is there to be some aspect of their relationship that is just for the two of them, that is private? Even their planned getaway vacation now seems to be getting "repurposed". Jay is super-flexible and accommodating of Loren's profession and admires his success. But it might become a strain on Jay to have to be always 'out there', because Loren has to be so public. Because, so iL empires cannot thrive under absentee emperors.

One aspect of this chapter really stood out for me...Loren reaction to Sven's throwing himself on Jay. Loren was jealous, more than a bit miffed at Jay for soaking up all the attention, Loren has strung Jay along for MONTHS. MONTHS!!!!! Jay has absorbed everything because he is committed to the long game. Loren seems finally to have realized just how much he cares for Jay, and he knows how much of a stretch it will be for himself to grow into the kind of relationship Jay wants, until he realizes that it is the type of relationship that he, Loren, also wants for himself, though he has never experienced one like it. I hope the incident with Sven makes him recognize that it would not be at all hard to lose Jay. Their relationship is getting serious and there are a couple of fundamental things that Loren is going to have to adapt to if he wants to avoid finally driving Jay away. Can't wait for the next chapter. You're amazing, Mrsgnomie!!!

Beautiful! Desperately sad, and yet strangely uplifting at the same time. Thank you, Georgie.

Is Quentin supposed to manage nine hot guys falling in love with him, all AT THE SAME TIME?-?!? Poor kid, he's going to need a little more magic.. . Don't suppose Grandma Mary has something else up her sleeve that could be useful, perhaps as a "Valentine's gift" this time? Though it would be interesting to see the nine hot guys fighting for Q's attention!!

Amazing, how in one crisp Prologue you set up the character of Quentinddo adroitly that we all hope the Naughty List is really magical and look forward to seeing how it all will work out. A wonderful start. I'm going to savor the two chapters you have posted and I'm already impatient for chapter 3!!

Why does Puppy tell himself that sex with Stephen is A BAD IDEA but still end up drinking himself into oblivion with Stephen and having sex with him anyway.? He is rapidly wiping out the last vestiges of sympathy I had for him from the first two books. I am starting to sincerely hope he does NOT get together with Joey...Joey's going to need a supportive relationship after his marriage to Jack ends. Puppy would not be right, not at all

Going out on a limb here, but thus scenario reminds me of how another mob was whipped up into irrational violence in the not too distant past. Here's hoping that the psychopath in this story has to face justice, finally, unlike that other, far more public, rabblerouser, who's still out there rousing the rabble with impunity.

Well, let's just hope the "road test" doesn't turn into a wild "joy ride" that ends up leaving one of the other three guys deeply hurt, all so Puppy can figure out what he wants from his own life. He has a difficult childhood to overcome, yes, but that doesn't give him the right to play with others' emotions, and besides, Hunter's childhood was probably a lot worse.

Puppy seems to be WAY confused. One minute he is all about Joey, then it's Jack that catches his eye, then he's eyeing Joey again, and now he is busy dragging Steven into the mix. And all of this in what seems to be about the space of a week. He needs to wrap his head around what his next steps are to be with Hunter, because even that relationship still has a few loose ends to be tied up, and then he should just chill for a while. He does not need to be messing with poor Steven's head at this point.

No Krista, don't apologize. You made me feel so strongly about this character that I was COMPELLED to react! That's your skill. And I read this because I've was so captivated by The Best Year that I thought I would spend the time that I'm impatient waiting for its next chapter reading some of your other work. And by the way, that's a very discreet little hint that I and lots of others are waiting with bated breath for the next installment of The Best Year!

He really is an idiot.

I couldn't agree more...though I have to say they probably deserve each other. I am a bit worried about where Aiden will end up in all this.

Jake might be confused, but his utter self-absorption here is more than troubling, it is just disgusting. He should be doing everything he possibly could to make his betrayal a little bit easier on Cody, but what does he do instead? PURE SELF-gratification although just before trying to force himself on Cody, he was saying to himself he shouldn't even be in the same bed with him. Can anyone justify his cheating first on Cody and then on Ethen ( for that is exactly what he did) in less than 24 hours?!!!!????