Dr. John NYC

Welcome, Justin, and best of luck with your final semester! It’s a momentous time for you and the world, so relish all the good aspects and when some not-so-good crap comes along, just remember that it will get better—but as one professor told me 40+ years ago, you will likely look back and realize that it was one of the best periods of your like, so appreciate the hell out of ALL of it!

Almost impossible to believe you’ve been here such a short time, Aaron. You have already become a favorite author for me — and many others, based on the comments to LitS chapters. So, to go with your belated intro, here is a belated welcome and thanks for your writing!

I grew up in Appalachia with the expression “better than sliced bread”, too — along with the variants of “white bread” and “Wonder bread”. I’m sure there are some other interesting variants from different parts of the country.

...& the answer would be: a resounding, YES. At least in my mind, the picture of Rita is that she will do whatever easy, sleazy thing it takes to accomplish HER goals. She's a pathological narcissist, just like Heinrich. Hey, maybe T****p can play Heinrich in the movie version -- except he would never get dirty doing plumbing.

...& it’s just one of many fabulous stories from @Cia . You might as well click “Follow” on her link now to get alerted about all her stories!

My thought exactly... & maybe Bouncer will be part of the catalyst for that hypothesis to become a reality. 😉

Loved the history. I did my PhD at UGA and had friends at Ga Tech, but never got that history lesson. PS: I agree with your thoughts about Todd...

Oh yeah, Caroline DEFINITELY has Rick figured out. Bringing Jared to distract Marta does seem likely to be Rick’s plan, but I think it is more explicitly to give Joey and Marta some separation. Of course, any time alone with Gus is an added benefit.

So glad the Four-Arms’ leaders let Esssell wake up Bouncer and start to show how he’s not what they thought. Our 21-year-old chihuahua died two months ago, and although we’re not ready for a new pet yet, I’ll be looking for a Bouncer when we are. 😉

Following up on the hybrid mind: clearly Mason and other Alphas in their hybrid forms are not just animal instinct. Can either their animal or human mind be in charge? Is the problem with Vincent/VinW that they wreaked havoc on their mind barrier too soon, or that they did it all? I'm sure at least some of the questions will be answered in future chapters, but the questions were burning in my brain after reading this chapter, so I figured I'd ask. Happy New Year!

Or, walk a bit on the wild side... 😜

Yeah! For once, I guessed right: Willy Kohler is SexyHunk. Even better is that he has become a parody of the memory Rick has of him, though I expect his personality not to have changed -- except maybe for the worse. I hope that Rick can let this demon go, now. I also hope that Rick checks his bank statement sooner rather than later. I worry that the "deal" Sr. was discussing with Rita involves significant $$ moving from their company to her purse. After hearing how Sr. blocked Rick's mom from ever having a vacation, I'd hope Rita drained Sr. dry, except that it really is the money that Rick has earned at this point. Now, on to the music festival, but I suspect Rick will have to butt heads with Sr. again for it to happen. After all, it will be a day Rick is not refilling the coffers... Happy New Year, @Parker Owens, and once again, thank you for such a wonderful story! ...& Happy New Year to all the other readers, too!!! May 2021 bring you closer to your dreams!

Sweet Temptations AND Sweet Endings! I'm loving all the variations of Sheith, but this one is up at the top with the first one (at least that I read) about them becoming politically-arranged husbands to reknit the warring factions. Of course, my brain is almost exploding as it tries to force them all together in a coherent universe of Shiro and Keith. I know intellectually that I'm not supposed to try to meld them, but my heart keeps trying. Thanks, @Sasha Distan! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a much, much better New Year to all!

Absolutely amazing chapter, and not just for the sex although your description of their first time together was simply... right, perfect, incredible, magnifique, superb (and the list goes on). It did seem as though Jimmy's desire to bite him might have been the correct thing to do, from a shifter biology perspective, but I understand how it could have been too much for Sawyer, despite how well he is taking everything. Perhaps in the few weeks before the full moon Jimmy can explain more to Sawyer about the bite being a part of the bonding: I suspect that Sawyer will be ok with it if he knows what to expect. By the way, I think splitting the chapters the way you did fit the flow perfectly. Sorry you were so stressed, but it drove you to an apropos solution. On to the next chapter at my next break... thanks, @Mann Ramblings!

Magnificent! There are a couple of other GA stories about forced marriages that end in similar ways that are among my favorite stories. Now, ‘Warlords’ will be there with them. Being in a multicultural, multilingual marriage and still occasionally finding myself like Keith sitting in an environment where I’m the odd one, made the story so understandable and personal. Both Keith and Shiro are so incredibly strong — yet broken because of the lives they’ve been forced to live up until now — that what their future will bring makes ME want to purr. Thanks, @Sasha Distan, for such a wonderfully special tale!

What a consuming metaphor for this year, @Cia—& indeed, the past 4 years. The depravity and inhumanity that has sometimes felt like demon hoards ravaging our world is tempered by the goodness of those special souls who have stood firm — and love. Seeing love banish the shadows from Callim & Maris, if only for a short time, was a gift for the season. Thanks, @Cia!

Ahh... to be young (& not just in spirit) and in Europe for the summer. Maybe next life. Thank you, @Mac Rountree, for a break from Covid & winter!

What a poignant story, running the gamut from the bad to the good of human behavior. I’m so glad that Teddy was blessed with the good parents to make up for Rose’s parents. I can’t explain why — your story was different in so many ways — but I had the sense of ‘Gift of the Magi’ as I finished reading. Happy Holidays, @Valkyrie, and thanks.

I loved Vincent's wolf conversations with... everyone, including Vinnie himself! Not surprisingly, he is smart, adaptable, and good-spirited -- not overly aggressive but not going to take crap from anyone. Human and wolf Vincent are already meshing well, and once the full moon arrives, I expect Vinnie will be a major force to reckon with as a mage and shifter together! Buckle up, Stefan, it's going to be a bumpy night when you return.

...nor how much Tristan, the little boy, sounded like a mini-Peter. Hmmm... certainly going to be an interesting story that Peter has to tell.

Could Garjah be feeling a connection with Essell? Could it be romantic? It seems like a key element for Essell either learning to function in Four-Arm culture or escape is dealing with >2X gravity. Physiologically it would take a long time to adapt. Could Timok have some advanced medical technology to help? So many questions, such short chapters! 😉

Absolutely and completely agree, Mac!!!

Mating scenes such as this one are incredibly challenging to write, based on my reading of quite a few. How to combine enough sex and love to balance the inherent violence of the act is not a formula that can be captured and taught. You did a masterful job, @astone2292, and for the satisfaction you brought this reader, Thanks! and Congratulations!!🎊

So many things to delight over, but one of my favorites was this sentence: They were being subjected to southern hospitality, which had its own set of norms. It takes a Southerner (or someone sensitive to cultural issues who has spent a significant time in the South) to fully appreciate the depths of this simple statement. Thank you for sharing @Mac Rountree!

Undercover agent? Double agent? Triple Agent? — and that’s just for Shaw, assuming he was the person talking with Stefan. Then again, Henry was behaving a bit strangely, and the point already made by @mikedup was valid: why wouldn’t meeting at Shaw’s apartment have been safer. Henry, on the other hand, might have other family that would make a meeting at his house challenging. Guess time will tell... On a less cliffhanging note, how was your first Thanksgiving as hubby & hubby, @astone2292?