Dan South

No one mentioned mommy. Hmm.

I suspect the Warrior just showed up. Only one way to find out…

I find this very relatable. Many years have passed since I summoned the courage Zane displays here with greater ease than I did. The shirt change and his musings about it were a welcome smile.

Nine years? That’s one great big love.

That was incredible and incredibly hard to read. Add me to the list of criers. I’m so relieved by the hopeful ending. Love is patient…

This grown man gasped and giggled. Such a feel good story.

What a lovely mess Sam and Paul are. Fear is a powerful thing. Luckily, love won. Phew!

The simmer is killing me. Boil already! Please, please, please.

Powerful…and painful.

No doubt about it

Mason held him tightly. “You’re here, Pup,” he whispered.

The anvil!?! Hilarious! Nothing disappointing here, Mr. Stone. The sum will always be greater than its parts. Love has won again and again in this series and that’s why I love it. Thank you and Clumpies is on me.

All three parts were a delight to read and this one gave me peace. Reading the first two chapters I was screaming in my head “sixty is not old”!!! Here, in this third installment, the guys confirm that themselves. Phew! You've written one of my greatest fears: being the one left alone. Then you soothed it with a new great love. Beautiful.

Imagine being just thirteen years old and completely uncomfortable in your own skin. Discomfort created not by the growth and other physical changes accompanying that age but by being an anomaly, being unlike the other kids. Shay takes us through the twists and turns of their world as only they, Shay, can. If it’s not hard enough for someone so young to struggle with gender identity, Shay has the added challenge of a mother slipping further away into mental illness. Held steady by the loving hands of her father and friends Shay more than survives, they thrive. Heady and heavy topics are woven with laugh out loud humor throughout. This is a beautifully balanced narrative, start to finish. I’ll borrow the title to say that for better or for worse this is a must read.

I’m instituting a kbois curfew in my home as this was not the story to pick up at bedtime last night. Paired much better with coffee when I read it for a second time this morning. Epic. Tragic. Heartbreaking and warming. Perhaps most importantly? Educational. I’m not talking about the queer alphabet soup that’s so well treated here. (Gay guy, not being dismissive) I’m talking about the mental wellness aspects of it. My high school years at home were not so different than Shay’s though ultimately the result was better years later. We do a better job today than we, as a society, did 40 years ago bringing light to that darkness but there’s far to go. Thank you for this, kbois. Thank you for sharing Shay. 💜

Well that was intense! That was also courageous, putting it all out there. I absolutely believe in love at first sight and looks like I just witnessed it in action. I wondered how these to got so close, so together, so fast. Tickled to read their story.

I respectfully request a time hop if your muse returns. Nate and Bodie *waggles eyebrows* should be young adults by now … ❤️

I’ve spent 15 days reading your 326,466 words. A story you spent, by my calculations, 1,031 days crafting. I’m a bit of a numbers nerd and these statistics are phenomenal. So is Cards on the Table. Phenomenal, plain and simple. I’m one to read the comments section because it makes me feel like I’m at a book club meeting. There’s a theme present without a doubt and it’s “more” loud and clear. I stand in disagreement not disappointment. If there’s never another word added this is enough. Artists, including Authors, have a difficult time with that concept: enough. Please refrain from making any more apologies for giving us all you have with this compelling love story. Powerful prose like COTT evokes so many emotions. I doubled back and reread Chapter One to regain the pain that starts Kendall down the path to joy. That’s the overwhelming emotion for me at this moment: Joy! All of these folks, these characters, are left in a great place. I’ve loved getting to know all of them. Candy and Mark may be exceptions … I have one more thing to say and that is Thank You. Sincerely, your fan, Dan

I’m perilously close to the long-term hold and I’ll take “Morningstar” as a read next recommendation. I can’t even give voice to how much I appreciate the interaction we’re having, Gary. Been making my day for days, honestly. Thank you.

Acceptance. I’ve been sitting with this chapter looking for the core because there’s so much apple to eat and I’m settling on Acceptance. Mrs B needed to understand more about The Gays to find her way to accept them. Nate’s hormones kicking into overdrive is a new experience that, with guidance from the Uncles, he is learning to accept. And Michael? Holy smokes! “Everything before that was just empty sex…” Wow. Acceptance. Stop making me cry already.

I’m acutely aware of the advantage I have binge reading this after enjoying the comments on this chapter. Christmas was a long time coming!

Don’t you touch a giggle! Pinky swear?

“Our bright light is back.” That line was a hard stop for me. Then, as I thought about it in the broader context of this story, my worry turned to wonder. Yes those two boys came close to harm and that’s terrifying. There have been so many lights brightened though! Kendall started in a place of darkness and was soon joined by Michael during his pre-Kendallsexual days. Lanny, Chet, Janine, Candy, Carson, Agnes all with bright new lights! Even the young lady working at the gym! I think I just realized what a great big wave of hopefulness I’m riding as I read this. Maybe that’s why I giggle when I read the word and “giggle” appears a lot, just saying…

Sweet, sexy start and a sentimental ending. Deeply appreciating the lack of tension (except you know) in this chapter. Lily and Rose! Love it!

Adding Candy to the list of 180° turns, but, that’s still half way to 360°. I saw a prior comment about a leopard and their spots and I’m there on that fence sitting by Mikiesboy. Michael and Kendall don’t send me to the Kleenex box like the young couple do, thank gawd. Remains a great ride Gary!