RLC MA

i have enjoyed the whole CJ series. As a school counselor in an excellent high school, I have met some pretty impressive high school students. I must admit that at 15 and just having come out of the trauma of being thrown out of his home because of his sexual orientation, he was a bit too much to believe. However, a bit of fantasy often makes for a good story. And you are a good story teller. I started reading your work on CRVBoy and only recently caught up with the fact that your stuff was now appearing here. I like the presentation here better and find it easier for my aging eyes to read. Looking forward to your next project.

Thank you for this chapter and great end to this particular saga of Granger's. What a way to really bring them back together. It shows that difficulty of making such an intermittent relationship work. Love and respect can prevail. I have to say again how much your work and dedication to your writing for your fans is appreciated. The research that you do to give your stories an authentic and real base in history is also appreciated. Character development is also a great strength. Bob

As everyone else, glad to get an update on the clan. So enjoy your humor. JJ dealing with the likes of the travelers we find on Southwest. Glad to have you back. I assume that your real life is at least somewhat less hectic.

A good beginning draws one in with some kind of hook. A suggestion something that intrigues the reader. You have done that for me. Looking forward to your next chapter. The idea that coming chapters will be shorter suggests that they will be coming regularly. At least one can hope. A couple of attractive and interesting guys. Much to like here. Thanks.

First thanks for another Granger fix for us addicts! Mark! Like others I am glad to see his relations with Caroline and Cavendish are improving because they are so important to George's personal well being and success on the home front politically.

Thanks for another very interesting chapter, Mark. I'm not sure but I've begun to get the feeling that we just saw something in Mary Ellen that we haven't before. I think there is more positive potential for her than I gave her credit for before. I also think that both Alex and JJ are quite possibly more bi than many have been thinking - certainly Alex is IMHO. This could lead to interesting possibilities. The Christmas back in Paly was warm and loving. Great! Seems like things have continued to come many miles for Zach and Wally. We'll wait to see how this continues. Will the NFL continue to be the all consuming goal for Zach? An injury is always a possibility that could end that. Is this relationship that he and Will have at present be the lasting thing? After all they are still teens. I love the questions that you generate with your stories! Bob

Despite his drama queen character, he does seem to be making progress towards maturity. As difficult as it was to see that JJ and Alex come together as a couple in the beginning, I think that it is working for them somehow. I think that a crash will come at some point when Alex will have to choose between his family role responsibilities and JJ. Sure Zach may be a very talented football player. However, he is only a high school kid and the path to the NFL is arduous and filled with a very high attrition rate to the next level let alone for being gay. It would be twelve years before the first openly gay football player hits the NFL. I don't see him being able to carry off the deception for that long given where he is in the relationship with Will. Dave Kopay came out in 1975 after he retired from the NFL. Apparently he had functioned as a heterosexual and dated enough to carry it off. I think that you are right on with how you are presenting the family counseling for a skilled therapist who obviously was quickly able to gain the trust and confidence of Zack and, probably, Wally it seems. Some resolution may come rather quickly for them. Now as to Brad and Marc who seem to be progressing rapidly towards a committed relationship which is the desire of both of them. They both seem to have had enough experience to know what they want in another relationship. This is a relationship in which Marc can grow in confidence. This doesn't seem like a rebound for Brad and I also sense not for Marc. However, I don't expect that the road will be a smooth one to eternal happiness with Arbour as our story teller.

I also like the direction that Brad and Marc seem to be going. I think that it difficult for someone whether gay, bi or straight who hasn't had children to get into parenting a partner's kids. It is also hard for the kids to accept the new parent figure. So there is potential for things to go wrong. There is always a satisfaction to see an A-hole, like Hammer, get his just rewards. Admittedly, Wade didn't orchestrate the punishment, but not willing to stop it is also understandable. Wade is her son too although he isn't the same. I also like to see that Wade and Alex seem to be getting along better. I guess that I am not sure how far to go in trusting Alex. I still wonder about how he will do when it comes down to a real decision about a gay relationship when his parents expect something traditional. Bob

I agree with Miles about another great chapter in a line of great stories! You continue to paint a wonderfully delicious word picture of the bitch that, I think, we have come to hate. How much more will she be able to stir up and vex George he deposits her in Constantinople and is done with her? Thanks for the hint that there is a possibility that George and Caroline may be able to restore the romantic part of their relationship along with the business part. It would be better for the kids as they can always tell when all is not well between parents. And I think that they really love each other, but this has sorely tested them. Maybe her thinking at the time will be revealed and reconciliation can occur. Bob

Off to an interesting start and I 'm looking forward to another great ride. I was set for Chicago because it was "the city" of my growing up. However, Boston has been "the city" of my adult life since graduate school. Like them both a great deal for what they are. Finding a even a gay hockey team for Matt and Wade shouldn't be a big problem because Boston is very gay friendly with much mobility for the gay population from like The South End even out into the burbs. There is a great interest in hockey in the Boston area, particularly north and west of the city. For them the Bruins are kings. And indeed the Boston Skating Club has some very well known and recognized skating teachers in the country and has produced many Olympic skaters. JJ could easily run into some of them at some point. I am wondering about this JJ - Alex relationship. I'm sure you will make it interesting, Mark. Bob

That was a great ending. However, given your proclivity for happy endings I felt that somehow you would make that happen within certain constraints. Namely, it had to be believable and consistent with reasonably normal developmental behavior and their established character structure. I think that you are a master at that. Yet, you give us plenty of drama and interesting turns in the road. I think that most couples ( a very high percentage) have conflicts if they are being real with each other, whether heterosexual or same sex couples, and will have fights or serious disagreements at various times. When someone claims that they never fight, I have strong doubts. Not fighting was the cause of the breakdown of my first marriage. I have speculated that JJ and Zach each present some interesting possibilities for new POVs. Bob

I am a little puzzled by what is going on between George and Caroline, but it certainly does have a real feeling of what can sometimes go between a husband and wife. However I want to say right upfront that I love this whole series with it historical setting. While I am impressed with all of the protocol details that are included, I have no doubts about them because I know that Mark is a great stickler for accuracy of details. Although there are questions that leave one to wonder and contemplate, I don't quite feel that they are as threatening or menacing as other cliffhangers have been. Thanks so much, Mark for sharing you creativity and talent with us, your your avid fans. Bob

As always you have taken us along for an emotional encounter that was more than a bit of a surprise. Too often many if not most of us have get hit hard to get to awareness of what has really been going on with us. And this is especially true of Brad and Matt. Your characters are so real to the reader. An aside question about how much time you spend in a average week writing, editing, and communicating with your team about your team about your stories? You develop and weave you plots so well. Then there is the whole thing of your great productivity! Thanks.

Another chapter that shows the state that Brad is still in and not ready for anything serious to develop, but the progress that he is making in dealing with his loss. Great how you do that, Mark. And we have a new and interesting pairing of side characters. You get us up for something to happen with Ben and then make the switch. When "Mr. Right" comes along at the "right time," I trust that you will make it believable and good. Also great to see the family having a caring and enjoyable dinner together. Thanks again for sharing your talents with us your loyal readers.

I love this story because it gets at some of the tensions and turmoil that we Bis have struggle with when taking that first step down a new path. The excitement and risks both tugging at you in different directions. You have done a very good even excellent job I should say of portraying those feelings. So glad that you have gotten back your mojo, Adam. I look forward to each new chapter as well as stories to come.