JJQuinn

Mmm you and @Cane23lol... There was a mention of it in the last chapter 7. I don't think it's in chapter 8. It was a brief casual mention in Max's thoughts. I wasn't sure anyone would catch it. He is recalling Sam's decades worth of devotion and he says "closeted devotion ' It's a hint then not everything is always as it seems. To this point we've gotten Sam's perspective, and of course we do know because Sam and Max admit to it that Max pushed so many people between them because he felt he couldn't be what Sam needed. And he and Tara talk about it on the roof. So we all know that. But the fact remains, that Sam never wanted anyone to know he was gay especially in the military. And it's not until later, after he's almost killed that he tells Max that he would be willing to come out for him. And then when Connor goes to visit Max after that, he tells Max the same thing. So of course the theory to everyone including Max is that he's the soul screw up here as to why he and Sam are together. But the fact is that Sam was closeted even in high school and then he entered the military . Max wasn't. Perhaps he would have been willing to try something more permanent with Sam if Sam hadn't been so insistent on hiding their relationship even back then. They are both young and it took them growing up especially Sam almost being killed in that whole scene in the hospital which was in just found heaven for them both to shift their mentality to the more adult, i almost lost something important to me mentality for things to really shift. Of course it didn't work out because Max was afraid, and felt he wasn't good enough for sam, but there's definitely an argument to be made that sam didn't think Max was worth the risk , at least not back then when they were just friends and much younger. Just food for thought. So...... By now you although that I try and write very complicated characters and all humans are complicated. So I try to do that to my characters as pertinent per the character and the situation . Max messed up, but it does take you to tango. Roman on the other hand is not one to hide and definitely not one who is submissive enough to share and he'll make that very clear next chapter LOL

You are very VERY close!!! It's weirder than that and rare but a direct parallel I think ties into the complicated relationship he has with his father and the Trammell boys..... 😸

You are completely right yet again. And Ben may not see eye to eye though they will fix that in this novel and the relationship with Sam will also be fixed, but is the kind of person that then you would keep max out of trouble and out of his hair LOL but there was attraction like you said because tell Sophia and Sam in Halos and heroes that Roman never gets on the dance floor and he did with Max. That's what started them off. Poor Tara LOL she's very Saucy in this one. Next chapter oh boy. She's just Saucy in general which you saw when she first confronted Roman when she brought Max downstairs. She is not a sweet magnolia flower. Very short tongue but all love all the time and she and Max are very protective one another. I didn't think that I could put her story here but I've gotten so many comments asking me to continue it that she will get her own story for sure it'll just be a little shorter maybe I don't know. But that's already being set up with being mentioned.

I completely agree he always does a good job he worries because of the language barrier that he's not on Target but I tell him all the time he's always on target picking up these little things in contacts I'm very appreciative of him and of you.

Oh my goodness I left you a very long response and somehow it disappeared. Lol. Anyway, let's try this again. Thank you so much for your commentary. I always look forward to what you and @Cane23 have to say. You're both very insightful and often your comments feed me percolating thoughts. And sometimes those thoughts end up in other stories or the same story with a shift in thought. So I am very grateful for you taking the time to say your piece. I am feeling okay. I am actually having a lot of issues. You feel free to message me if you want more of it but suffice it to say it's not great but at least I'm moving forward. Yes, the Colonel. Max's father is very tough on him. In the next chapter actually readers will find out why. It is a justification, but not the best justification. And it actually puts a lot of guilt on max. I don't think it's something readers will see coming, but it also explains in a way why his father has a preference for Sam . It has something to do with the dynamic of the family. It was still brutal to do to a child and he's just a very Stern person in general. Career military man so very stoic. And Max grew up with that. However, that does not justify the way that Max treated sam, or the endless sexcapades. There's reason behind it, but the reason doesn't mean that it's right. You'll see that next chapter. LOL it is most certainly not a one night stand lol and Roman will make that very very clear in the next chapter. And Tara will help. There's a lot of snark in the beginning , because Tara is involved but then it will get more serious. There will not be sex for probably the next three chapters at least . Clothes will remain on . They may come off again in chapter 10 or 11 but for the most part we're going to start seeing more of a shift of a romantic dynamic or at least heading towards romance. I am so glad that you and Cane both feel that the relationship is coming along realistically. I always worry about going off into melodramatic places, but I write family dramas for the most part if I'm not writing comedies and family Dynamics can get very complicated and very dramatic so it's appropriate at times. You're very perceptive with misfits. They're going to come off of course later because that's Romans adopted family in a sense. I'm Max only has his mother and his father. That's why Janet at the hospital has adopted him and of course Sam and Sophia and he has a very limited Circle so allowing Roman and means expanding that circle with the Misfits and he's a misfit in and of himself. It's going to take quite the twist next chapter so definitely stay tuned. Thank you so much for following along! 🧡

Oh the snark is like the song that never ends. LOL it will be unending and in the beginning of the next chapter it's all snark because Tara is involved so of course it's going to be all snark but then it will get serious a little angsty because Max is who Max is and nothing terrible. Clothes on!

You are absolutely correct. He is a manhole with a mission LOL there is a subtle shift in the next chapter. On Roman side not Max's as much. He's getting there used to be idea, dipping a toe in. Readers are ready no we're Roman stands as far as being a little software Max is concerns because of his chapter and just found heaven. It was the last two chapters for anyone who hasn't read it. That was from Roman's perspective. So he's also in a spot where he's more prepared for a romantic relationship if it goes that way. Max is still on the fence. The attraction is there and there are enough parallels be between Roman and Sam that it's a draw, but the difference is which also what attract him to Roman are the scary part. It's like when you have your first crush and you really really like someone and you don't want to go out with them because you like them so much LOL and you're afraid to mess it up. But he'll get there. As I said there's going to be a shift in the next one readers will see more of how Roman is unflappable in many ways at least in regards to romance and business and his people. However.. He has a weak spot as well. That will happen a lot later as far as completely forming in the story he mentioned it before that his mother cut him out of her life completely. So he doesn't know anything about her now or if she's married, has a family or single etc. So that's his Achilles heel and max, well bad at romance, is very good at protective family instincts. That will show up in a couple of chapters. It was supposed to happen later but the way the chapters are kind of being reconfigured as I edit in some get longer some get shorter, it's going to happen a little bit sooner so readers will see how Max is when it comes to dealing with anyone who hurts the people he considers his family. Thanks for reading. Hope you continue to enjoy it . Next few chapters though their clothes will be on everybody LOL so we get a reprieve for a while

@Cane23YESSSS! That's always been one of the biggest problems that they had. Fact that they considered one another brothers, family which made having an emotional connection more dangerous for both of them in the sense that it could easily break them the relationship didn't work. And we saw that it has broken him and Sam some ways. It will get fixed though later in the novel by something that Max does that is proof he's accepted and moved on past his relationship with Sam and truly embraced Ben as his family, not just as an addition that comes along with Sam by default. Hah Emma needs to be put on that job for sure. She does love her Disney Princesses so that might actually work out well lol I haven't written that part yet but I have a feeling that you just inspired that particular moment. 😂

I forgot to address this part which is completely on the mark. Sam on iously had qualities that Max was drawn to and in some waya felt safe with. The ones he couldn't handle are in part, what prevented their relationship from moving on into something more lasting. Roman, has qualities that are unique to compliment Max's makeup just like Ben has qualities unique to him that compliments him. Tara said it in just found heaven. That Roman needs a very specific kind of man. One that is in a sense, more aggressive than Sam was capable of being in a relationship. Not in a bad way but with a certain dominant streak that matches Max's. They're similar in so many ways . Both southern, both strong , and both very very protective of their people. Which obviously means they will be protective of one another as well eventually. It's already starting. Like you pointed out, Roman doesn't get offended easily by Max's nonsense. He gives it back to him , pushes him, challenges him and that's going to be a continued theme. Has protective streaks that Roman isn't being used to being turned on him. He's used to being the protector, not the protected. But we'll see more of that later by how Max responds to situations with Roman as well as another's character in particular.

Thank you @Cane23. I always appreciate your perspective. You're on my wavelength 95% of the time I wasn't sure, but I'm glad that it read that way. There are definitely skating around the intimacy issue as far as hearts are concerned (not other parts!) LOL but we did see Romans perspective in the two last chapters of Just Found Heaven so kind of know where he is already. Not LOVE yet, but DEFINITELY a STRONG LIKE. Max is just very squirrely. He's stuck between feeling a sense of loyalty to his feelings for Sam, because he had them for so long and knows he messed up any chance of the relationship between them, even though he also knows and has admitted that Ben is a much better choice for Sam. He's sort of at a crossroads right now, holding on to a memory out of a sense of guilt and because it's SAFER. The next chapter is going to show more of a shift. There will be a lot of snark and silliness in the beginning because Tara is involved so we know how that goes LOL but after she leaves there's going to be actual clothes on conversation between him and Roman and a lot more contact as to why Max is the way he is when it comes to relationships. The emotional constipation isn't because of a past romantic relationship that went wrong as much as it is family dynamics. Because whom do we learn to love from, and first? Yep, you guessed it, family. Which of course is the foundation for the entire series. Every novel will always go back to the bonds between friends and family. You're correct. Max makes a lot of excuses for the feelings he's beginning to develop for Roman because of that conflicted sense of what he should be feeling for Sam especially after everything he put him through. But that doesn't mean that there isn't a parallel. He did admit that Roman reminds him of Sam in some ways but he also pointed out even if it was only to himself, the fact that in some ways Roman is stronger than Sam. Granted, Sam saw and did some dark things while he was the military. Granted, Black Ops is something that very few human beings can handle . Most of them come out with issues of and poor integration habits when they have to get back into society . You can read about it or listen to tons of podcasts from former members of Special Forces teams, but Roman also went to prison which we will learn about in the next chapter and he has his own ghost, both living and dead to deal with. Max admires that tenacity that Roman moves forward with, and reflection how he treats his Misfits and people that he considers his. And I think it's already pretty clear that Max is starting to fall into that category. Like you said, Max through his own words at him so a promise that he doesn't even realize yet, but Roman certainly does . He's not stupid. And he's very very patient. On to continue editing the next chapter. It's written but I just have to finish editing it. Thanks for always sticking with me.

Thank you. I always appreciate you taking the time to comment. And you were the first one this time lol yep he is still on his mind, but that will change eventually. Against his better judgment LOL they will have their clothes on for the next two chapters 😁

"If love is the answer, could you please rephrase the question?" -Lily Tomlin MY GRIN widened as I leaned my left shoulder lazily into my bedroom’s open doorframe to support my weight while I lounged against it. I wanted to be comfortable as I gorged myself on the visual bounty laid out before me with all the promising potential of the Pilgrim’s first Thanksgiving. Roman had followed half of the directions I’d given him in the bathroom; he was situated naked and gorgeous on

Hi Mike thank you. I intend to finish them all just not sure when. Health is not cooperating and some of the medications given for the muscles spasms make my mind fuzzy so writing has been an issue. But I do intend to finish them all. I wanted to finish them all by this year but it looks like it'll be maybe some this year and some next year. This one maybe I'll do. It's pretty light and fluffy and is a doable goal by the end of the year. It is a heavy revision of a story I wrote like 15 years ago so I'm essentially rewriting it. I have most of the next chapter done. I also have most of the next chapter of hood and holy water and Coloring Outside the Lines done so it's a thing of which one do I work on. I just have to see where the mind goes. In the original version Jessie wasn't trans but it works out better for the new version just new times and relatable to more people. I have a lot of stories that are in the making but just haven't come about yet. If I could just connect my brain to some kind of amazing computer that would write the stories for me it would be fantastic cuz it's all in there it's just getting it out lOL but thank you for commenting and following along. If you like the cheerful fluff you might like the short piece I did last year for the Anthology. I actally missef the Anthology date so I posted it separately.

You know me sir... Max and Sam will start coming to terms midway here but towards the end they will come to terms and so will Max and Ben. And yessss I didn't think of it that way but you're right. Max has been more Sam's brother than Connor for decades minus the fact they were bonking lol... Mild pseudo incest.

Cane, you are always so perceptive! Yep this and the next chapters will be big turning point for the adult toddlers. There will be some nods to the past... I'm sure you will pick up on the parallels. They are so stubborn lol.

Yep! She'll be introduced in this book but won't be a huge character until sweet Cherry chapstick which is Tara's book

Thanks for that. I always appreciate your insight. They are definitely the opposite of Sam and Ben who were slow burn Romance to eventual hot and heavy. Max and Roman are doing it backwards but the next chapter will have a little bit more insight into max and his relationship issues. Some sort of daddy issues but a lot of it is stuff that was already touched upon in Halos and heroes and just found heaven. Mostly that he didn't think he was good enough for Sam, but the why. Still, knowing the why doesn't necessarily change the behavior. It's going to be a process and we saw in Romans point of view and just found heaven that he already is a little bit more into Max even if he won't admit it. You'll see some of that in the next chapter and then in chapter 8 as well. There was supposed to be a lot of in the next chapter but I'm not sure yet because it might not fit the tone now that I look at it. So I have to see . And there will be a portion with Adeline in it as well showing how Max reacts with other people. LOL and Tara of course is Tara and she will be featured a little bit in the next chapter as well again. Her story should be shorter than the others but it's going to be more of a novella since she's already had a lot of her story introduced in Halos and heroes and just found heaven and we'll have more of it showing in put in holy water . One of the characters that's going to be introduced in hood and holy water and has already been mentioned will become her love interest later on. Not Sloane though.

Ooooooo OK I misunderstood you lol. Sorry! Most people love Sam and Ben as a couple. Oops! And yes I agree with you. Some of that will be addressed much later in the story as the heat dials down enough for the emotions to amp up. Roman is much more possessive than Ben is so he will share on his terms and give Max just enough rope not to hang himself with It will get very awkward for a bit- Sam and Ben have a surrogate and oh boy... Max will be all about the big ugly feelings. Very different story but the damaged ones are always the most fun to write. Tara said it her POV in Just Found Heaven; that Max needs a very specific type of man....that Sam was a soldier but, 'baby boy, you need a SOLDIER a la Miss Beyonce herself."

Sam and Ben? Many people do It was the first book and introduced everyone and Sam was a damaged man with a gentle heart and Ben is most people's dream guy. Makes sense for most. Ben for me, is a little too goody goody. He's the ideal man (tough past yet he rose above and is so righteous I wrinkle my nose lol) and what Sam needed as a character because he was so damaged. I tend to prefer Max's hot mess lol. He has more to redeem for. It will get I to that eventual. Right now it's more the heat factor and being a smart ass but he has a heart that will be see more as he interacts with others like Adelyn.... Pseudo uncle Max does no harm but takes no shit from anyone who hurts his Addie-Cat lol... I agree. They're falling, but they will fight it tooth and nail because they're stubborn. Roman is a little further in (based of his chapters in JUST FOUND HEAVEN) but he hides it better. Cool cucumber while Max goes all in and balls out to hide the hurts. Some of it is going to come out in the next chapter. Vulnerable Max equals feral cat Max, so Roman has to buckle in. I'm glad you're following along! Hope the next chapter will land well and slowly as characters work their way in we will see other sides. And yep! He and Tara will eventually get there. Probably at the end of her story. ♥️

“Sex without love is a meaningless experience, but as far as meaningless experiences go, it’s pretty damn good.” — Woody Allen “JUST AS an FYI, you probably should’ve brought your blueberry surprises in here with you. Out there, they’re in the wild with a beautiful hell beast who’ll house them in an impressive heartbeat-small bites and chewin’ are not required.” I didn’t bother turning around as I addressed Roman because he was standing so close that I could feel the heat radiati

Oh yes she does. LOL I always look forward to your Insight because you're usually so on the nose or so close to it that it makes me giggle. Alexis definitely has insiders and there will be a lot of twists and turns. She will try to play them all against each other. Nobody is going to want Griffin there because of course there's that suspicion that he did help her especially because of the way the news manipulated the story and there will be a short flashback scene as to what happened in the church and how she didn't kill him when she could have that leaves suspicion on Griffin . Doesn't matter if he's innocent. If you're guilty in the eyes of the public, then you're guilty. He and Sean will be tested, and there's going to be some things I don't think people will see coming. It's also unrolling in my head as we go along. I had a whole plan like in my book written down of what I was going to do slowly it's turning into something else so lots of twists and turns even for me . And of course she's going to have help LOL she can't be who she is and not have some link to the outside world. I can't say that she's ever going to redeem herself because she's on redeemable honestly no matter what her motivations are, which will come out later, but she has a moment let's say. Not a Redemption Arc but a moment. But there's going to be a lot of head games in the next chapter which I anticipate being probably about as long as this one because there's going to be a lot of cat and mouse and of course the flashback and then as they're finding information he'll be leaving the room and coming back talking to the team and coming back Etc I'm so glad that you're enjoying it. I know how much you like my deep family dramas so this is something that I'm not really strong at and I know that so I'm glad that so far it seems to be drawing people in. I know it's darker but I'm trying to keep it from being too ugly even though obviously there's children involved so going to be hard to read for anyone who has kids and being a former pre-kindergarten teacher and just a very soft hearted person in general it's tough for me to think about it but I just try to detach and think of it as just a story because that's all it is. If I ever learned about somebody doing anything like this to the children that I know, including my friend's children come on my nieces my nephews etc, I would be the one wearing pretty silver bracelets, but as far as I'm sorry we can push ourselves as writers. I might be Switching gears though for a hot minute lOL I'm going back to Max and Roman because I just write as it pops into my head kind of what I'm feeling that day so I have most of the next chapter for Max and Roman written well most of the next two chapters so I might work on those and then go back to this. It all depends on if the person who was being a better reader for me before can edit those while I work on Alexis and Griffin . We shall see.

LOL thanks Cane. I try to do certain things like in this case keep it dark keep it very serious but I can't LOL I mean it's dark don't get me wrong . As you read along you'll see that it's dark , but I have to sneak myself in there which is my humor. Can't wait to see what you think of the rest of it. Thank you

“Light and shadow are opposite sides of the same coin. We can illuminate our paths or darken our way. It is a matter of choice.” — Maya Angelou “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, welcome to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. We’ve now landed and arrived at our final destination. We kindly ask that you remain seated with your seatbelts firmly fastened until the aircraft comes to a complete stop, and that nifty little sign up there indicates that you can remove them. Thank you so much f

I'll have to add this to my TBR pile since it seems to be so well received and I do love a good western. I think I already have the Sidewinder series noted as to be read in the future, but I'll add this one as well. Thanks for the suggestion.

I do love a good Western so I'll have to put some of these on my ever expanding TBR pile. That list is ever growing. Far too many talented people on this site lol. Congrats to all who made it.