CincyKris

I laughed at the Americans who came all the way to Europe to stay in big luxury hotels and eat steaks and hamburgers. Be assured that not all Americans are like this! We have so much variety in styles of food in different parts of the US, I always try to sample the local cuisine. When in Florida, eat fresh seafood, save the hamburger for the drive home from the airport! I'm happy that Owain and Colin are immersing themselves into their holiday. And that they are slowly but surely making plans for the future.

The comment from @weinerdog caused me to look at Kenji's first appearance in I Hate This Town. “Can I help you?” Alec asked, hand still on the door. He was ready to slam it if this guy ended up being some kind of freak. Although, he didn’t look like one. He was wearing a suit, plain black with a black undershirt and a black damask tie. “My apologies. I must have the wrong room. I was under the impression that someone else was staying here.” He said. His voice was flat and Alec frowned softly. The guy was the same height, but Alec found him intimidating. He made Alec feel much smaller than 5’11”. He felt like he was a foot tall. “Ken?” Alec turned and both he and the stranger’s eyes fell on River, wrapped up in a black robe, “What are you doing here?” Alec turned back to the man whose eyes flicked down River’s body and then back to Alec, appraising, “This is the correct room then.” “What are you doing here?” River asked again, eyes wide in confusion. So “Person A” had randomly shown up. He’d obviously come without asking River, given his friend’s shocked expression. That didn’t sit right with him. Alec’s eyes narrowed, “Listen, if you’re some kind of stalker or something, I’ll break your kneecaps.” The man’s expression shifted subtly and he ran his fingers over carefully styled and gelled, jet-black hair, “Kenji Shinoda.” Alec raised an eyebrow. Nothing else. Kenji? Ken. Kenji. So suspicion confirmed. Alec shifted a bit and looked between the two. He almost had a heart attack when he realized that River was blushing. Blushing. River never blushed. He was confident and always seemed to be sure of himself in every situation. Alec looked back at the man still standing in the doorway. His eyes were so dark and there was a very thin scar that lined his right cheekbone. There were silver rings on his fingers and that was it. He was very simply dressed, his hair and appearance neat and perfect. There was something in his eyes though that sent a chill down Alec’s spine. I agree that it seems Alec did not know anything about Kenji until he went to Iowa. And the trip to Iowa by Kenji was a surprise to River.

Very often the best villains are complex, they usually have or had some good qualities. Most of the purely evil villains I have read are not that complex or well written. But Mawgrim has created a despicable, villainous character universally hated that is very well written. I will give no spoilers, but have to say that this story is made more entertaining by this awesomely evil character. The comments are almost as good as the story, particularly those from @drsawzall.

I agree 100% with the above comments. Their communication was right where it needed to be. As for comments by @Summerabbacat, my priority list would be food, nature, and architecture. And A Room With a View is one of my favorites, the book was fantastic also.

Truer words have never been spoken: D’gar found himself taking a dislike to the man, even though they’d only just met. He hoped that he was wrong, but he didn’t think they were going to have anything close to a good working relationship. F'drun is one of the most detestable villains I have read. We are in for a fun ride!

I've been rereading the Pern series, in order of occurrence rather than posting date. It's a different read now that I know and care about D'gar so much. I'm saddened over the passing of @Mawgrim, and over the loss of what would have been. Herebeth would tell me the past is the past and to live in the now. Mawgrim is being missed in our community.

Woorawa performed his own completely natural magic for the delegates. This passage makes me wonder if one of our main bad guys, Harris, might be on the road to a change in attitude: "My curiosity presses me to research the local customs and history." I do have a question, is Malcolm a new character or is he Benton?

Keith started the day with his usual anxiety, experienced a little fuzziness in the middle (due to the ale), and finished with a pleasant and new experience admiring the church and music. And most importantly, he didn’t get caught! This was a nice chapter that shows Keith both strengthening his friendship with Bart and Greg, and giving him exposure to more than his previous small world. He is an unintentional “Eliza Doolittle” to Greg and Bart’s Henry Higgins.

@Demiurge, it was a hard fought battle. You finally made me love the brat!

Even some rather testy comments regarding Kalian?

I'm of two minds on Colin's mother's slow change in thinking. It is good for Colin and Owain, as well as good for Annalise and her girls (and bad for Miles 😈). However, i suspect the reason for her change of opinion is entirely selfish. Miles sucks at handiwork and gardening, so the Queen has no choice if she wants Colin to do her chores for her. My 76 year old mother would run circles around her. But, if it makes Colin's life easier and happier, it is a good thing.

Ok, if any of you haven't read I Hate This Town, you really need to! I appreciated that River was so introspective and thoughtful in the first part of the chapter, I hope he expresses his thanks to his friends. I think I might have touched on this in comments on I Hate This Town, but I appreciate that you make me care about characters that are outside my normal preferences. It is due to your humor and how well written and fleshed out your characters are. I'm looking forward to River and Kenji's next meeting.

Their trip is off to a great start, other than Nonna's health. One thing that is bugging me still is how Chris and Michael completely lost contact in this modern age. Did Chris lose contact with his own parents also? If not, why didn't Michael just go through the parents to get a hold of Chris?

I’m hoping for Keith’s sake that Thomas is not too good to be true, as @drsawzall mentioned. I had the same thought. He really needs another likeminded friend, especially one who could potentially be more than a friend.

It was Owain's and Mhairi's grandfather that lost the company their great grandfather made successful. Their father supposedly wanted nothing to do with the company or any leftover money due to his religious beliefs. I think, but am not sure, that all the money they will receive comes from the trust set up by their grandmother.

I can't help but feel there is a good bit of hypocrisy in Mhairi's father's stance. His father's company made tank parts for British war effort. Would he have preferred living under Nazi rule? As for the questionable activities, if you only want to benefit from "clean" money, you probably shouldn't poke around in the past to far. If you look hard enough, you are going to find something undesirable about almost every old company. I like the idea of a charitable trust. Though I like the idea more for the good it will do, than to just assuage Mhairi's guilt.

I guess my biggest problem with Sarah is the lost potential. And I don't mean it in a "you have to get a good job young lady" kind of way. Being happy and successful isn't about having a prestigious job or making a lot of money, unless that's your goal. Having a job that is fulfilling and challenging, pays the bills, and makes you happy is my definition of successful. I don't think Sarah is there yet. But she is an interesting and complex character.

I'm still struggling with Sarah. On one hand, she is a self-centered, under achieving slacker, and has been since her junior year of college. On the other hand, she is an intelligent, strong-willed young woman who came from nothing. I think she is covering her self confidence issues with loud bravado. I admire Jeff for sticking around, I still think he could be a stabilizing influence on her and a good partner for her. The work warning could be a wake up call, either at the law firm or setting her back on the path started as a child. I visited the National Air Force museum In Dayton, not expecting a lot, but was so impressed. I haven't been to DC, but I want to go mainly for the museums.

This is a memorable, tension filled masterpiece! There is romance, mystery, animals, a major hurricane, and more than a little suspense! It's so well written and I wouldn't change a thing!

Their meeting with Corey couldn't have come at a better time, for either Corey or our guys. They have powers that the bad guys can't comprehend, but the bad guys had knowledge and information that our guys didn't fully understand. Corey will protect them from the evils of the human world, they will save Corey and cure him from past abuse and hurt. I sense some attraction between Corey and Michael. The meeting with Woorawa and his people was magical. Rhys has a new role. The team needs a good catch-up training/war council.

Now that I've had time to process and dab my eyes, I have a few specific comments. I was reading this with Antiques Roadshow on BBC America on TV, and the pattern of Billie's tea ritual seemed not dissimilar to a proper British tea service. Burke nods, but politely waits for his tea. No news, fantastic or fatal, is an excuse for discourtesy I loved Billie, I think his earlier life might make a good story, hint hint, if you are ever so inclined! Micco and Chase were always meant to be together, it was just a matter of time. They will thrive at the new Brother Wolf. Perhaps Chase can help Burke, although he is not Seminole, as his side gig. Micco will continue his training with Billie. Kane will grow and learn and retake his place within his pack.

I can't adequately express how much I loved both this chapter and the whole story. Thank you for Kane.

We learn more about Gesi, he is a complex villain. His greed for power and wealth is based on injustice by a greedy and wealthy villain! Evil begets evil.

Thank goodness for Burke! A man that would hire people to rape and murder his own wife and daughter, and brag and take joy in looking at photos of the atrocities, should not be allowed to exist. Burke did the world a favor. As for Micco, he is in an introspective mood, looking and wondering at the destruction surrounding him. I'm hoping the new refuge will be built. More so I'm glad that Micco will have Chase to love him and keep him grounded.

I missed this when it posted. What an entertaining chapter. You have a talent writing sexual tension!