Daddydavek

Great start. You have hooked me and I am following your story!

Chapter 29 is all about Will who is not being very helpful in resolving his problem with his dad and pops. The two dads are the adults, but not so much. Will does help Ryan with a problem.

Brad and Robbie are the adults but not so much. Will is being an annoying little shit about his family and isn't really doing much of anything to help the situation either. Will was nice to Ryan and Ryan enjoyed it.

Murphy's law at work again! Sorry for the chapter loss CJ. But as you probably have it memorized verbatim, just retyping it in will probably be a good typing execise for you. Seriously, I do appreciate all the work you do to bring us your stories. Thanks! Dave

The words I dislike the most are swear or cuss words uttered or written and repeated like "um" just to be filling up space. A well placed epithet employing a curse word in an appropriate setting is one thing, but the constant use of gutter language reminds me of 10 year old kids trying to impress each other. I find it annoying and usually tune elsewhere.

Chess players are always studying gambits and conventional and unconventional moves trying to play the game at least six moves ahead. Unlike CJ's stories, there is never a CLIFFHANGER, but there are traps, false moves, and strict adherence to the rules. CJ has laid some traps and made some false moves but has never strictly adhered to his own rules or else the story would be finished already! Of course that's what happens in a character driven story. (The characters sometimes take over!)

Saying it to your lover on special occasions is fine. Saying it all the time is like saying hello. Love really requires that you show it. Being nice, cheerful, thoughtful, loyal, loving and demonstrative is more important to me. In other words say it with a kiss!

Like the story, but needs editing.

I keep a clean pair of boxers and a tee shirt handy, but I move around too much in my sleep to be comfortable wearing clothes that get bunched up, so it's in the nude for me.

As I patiently await the next chapter.....

Odyssey: A long series of wanderings or adventures, especially when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc Somehow, I think this book in the Bridgemont series will more than fulfill the meaning of its title. Sir George's character and very mettle seems likely to be sorely tested.

The story is moving right along. Good job!

Good to see Book 6 has arrived. Having said that, it seems like a terrible idea to send Teasdale to replace Bertie and to send him on Granger's ship seems like a doubly bad idea. If Teasdale has become mentally unbalanced, it could be progressive as in Syphilis. No wonder this prospect has caused Granger to express his foreboding feelings.

As happy and healthy as your daughter looks in all her pictures, I think anyone who thinks you guys were doing anything wrong is in serious need of a reality check. As much as 'lil Q has changed in the past 6 and half months, she will continue to change more in the next six months. Just wait until she gets mobile, first scooting, then crawling, then walking, then running. Oh you guys are in for some fun times. Almost makes me wish I could go through it again at nearly 65. NOT!

Chapter 28 is all from Wade's viewpoint and is a fun chapter to read, especially for dirty old men. One small kernal of information was about Will in that Wade revealed that he tried to have a conversation with Brad about Will but Brad wasn't hearing it. I think Wade should put a little more thought into making his sister's life uncomfortable beyond his little foray at the end of the chapter.

Def Leppard's Pour Some Sugar on Me is perfect for the scene in the bedroom with Sean!

One of the perks of being uber rich is to have your own way, especially in little things. Not letting the bellboy take your bags or show you to your room really isn't a big deal, but then you should just press a twenty into their hands and telll them you can handle it. It was a fun chapter to read and I suspect to write. The financial settlement with Tiff does seem a little low, but it is still early in this century and it can always go up. The last bit with Wade starting some shit with Carl to get back at his sister was cool, but probably not enough payback in my opinion. Hopefully, Wade has a long memory.

Hopefully, Mr. Arbour is ignoring this and instead is being entertained watching the Blues hockey game against San Jose tonight! (Perhaps with his son) edited at 11:33 p.m. Sharks won in OT

Family dynamics are not always smooth and sometimes downright unpleasant, even with the best of people who are smart, talented and yes, monied. From the current chapter, it seems clear that the problems between Will and his dads is reaching a pivotal point which could determine their ongoing relationships into Will's adulthood. I look forward to see how Mark lays out his plot. While we kibbitz, second guess the characters (and indirectly the author) it seems there is a point being made. Life, always has bumps and problems even in the most idyllic situations. How the characters handle their private adversities is the benchmark on which we judge them. It is what is so endearing about Granger in the Bridgemont series. In the CAP series, Mark's characters are more modern and perhaps, more flawed. J.P. has made his mistakes (many of them), Stef has a long history; Robbie was a nut case in college. Brad was a willful and calculating teenager and young adult and has done some not so nice things as an adult too. How it turns out is in the hands of the master story weaver!

Wade's plans for the old hotel in D.C. reveal that he really does have a warm spot in his heart for his deceased uncle and it looks like it will be interesting to see how it effects his mother. Unlike another reviewer, I think the ongoing contention between Will and his dad and pops did move the story along. Wade is convinced that Brad and Robbie have handled it badly and that Will is going to prevail and Wade's judgment is pretty good. Stef is firmly in Will's corner and when Brad called him on giving Will money, he let them have it. Finally, JP who has tried to stay out of it, is becoming more concerned. I think there may be a really big blow-up still to come before things get worked out. This is a story about relationships. If relationships between parents and teenage children are not dramatic, nothing is. I just hope that Brad gets over his bullheadedness and realizes he may permanently damage his relationship with Will if he doesn't eat a little crow for screwing up the episode with Pat and how avoiding it made it worse. Beyond that, teenagers want to be treated like adults and be independent, yet they crave lots of attention. Parents are either too much in their face or ignoring them. For parents it's often a can't win situation so you just have to muddle through and keep telling them you love them even when they drive you nuts.

Brad and Robbie dropped the ball again by not taking Will's calls about Gathan in Chapter 26 and set themselves up for another embarrassing confrontation in front of the family at the hospital. These are smart guys but they have not acted very smart lately and that makes me wonder are they just clueless or is there some other major distraction going on that hasn't come out yet? Gathan getting his bell rung so hard is not a cool thing either. At least he got to the hospital and was checked out. Even so, brain trauma has effects, some short term like spotty or hazy memory loss for a day or so and long term effects as well as we now know. Wade's plan for handling his mom was also mentioned and I was surprised that he told Sean to take the deal without dickering, at least some. By not doing so, that may warn Elizabeth to be even more careful as I suspect she no longer under estimates her son.

Loved this chapter. The parental units are not doing such a hot job at the moment. Even pissed, they should be taking calls from Will and by not doing so, set themselves up for another embarrassing scene in front of everyone including Stef. Somehow I can see this whole situation escalating even further to where JP and Stef have to be a little forceful with Brad and Robbie. Poor Gathan, getting your bell rung that hard is the pits. Maybe not the best time to work through relationship issues because during the acute phase most people have holes in their memories so he may not remember much of the conversation about or with Kristin by the next day. Wade has a plan for dealing with his mom but the properties listed and their condition makes me wonder why he took the deal without dickering at all.

Even 'truly responsible' parents are not perfect and make mistakes and of course the spectrum of mistakes people make is truly remarkable. While I am the product of a different and older generation, and would have reacted differently and perhaps more confrontationally as the parent, I have never believed 'my way is the only way'. Busy people prioritize and sometimes the children whom we should hold first do in fact get relegated to a lesser priority. It happens. The fact that Brad and Robbie did not immediately discuss this with Will (and it seems even Pat) is a fair criticism which Will has pounded them for. Repeatedly. I for one can't wait to see what happens next.

Go Cards! For over $600 million it should be spectacular.

You got me hooked and I'll be following.