Date: 06/04/17 10:25 pm Title: Chapter 72
Well, of course it's going to blow up in your face, Nick! How could you think otherwise?? LOL God, men are clueless sometimes.
I laughed at the bit about Lauren sounding like Brian. Funny how the two people who know Nick the best are able to see right through him and call out his relationship with Howie for what it is; pure convenience. Nick has never been good at being alone, and now poor Howie has fallen victim to his need to always have someone standing next to him. It's sad really.
I see that there's another chapter waiting for me. One of the benefits of being behind!! Haha On to the next!
Author's Response: LOL! I love reading your reactions. Thanks!
Date: 06/04/17 07:01 pm Title: Chapter 73
Is it bad I sort of want Howie to die in this story? LOL. It sort of seems to me now that's where things are headed. Or maybe he'll be on the brink of death and then Nick will realise that he loves Howie and only Howie! Sorry, just spouting off theories in the review box haha. I did feel bad for Howie though, when he was arguing with Nick and how he realised Nick was still in love with Lauren. Well of course he is, Howie! Jeez. Like what did you think? I can understand Nick's rationale in just wanting to be normal and have a few beers with the guys. Even though he's coping better with all this stuff, he still seems to have bits that underlying "If I ignore everything, maybe it'll go away" attitude lingering. He's such a complex character in this story. I'm really enjoying it.
Author's Response: I love reading your theories! Thanks for the compliment on Nick's character being complex. I'm glad you could feel for both of them. Thanks, Steph!
Date: 06/04/17 06:06 pm Title: Prologue
I knew it was time to introduce some complications, but you threw them all at us at once!
Looking forward to more.
Author's Response: Thanks!
Date: 06/03/17 04:17 am Title: Chapter 72
This was an anticipated chapter that had me clutching my pearls. I didn't know how Lauren would react when she found out about Howie. "Sneaky bastard"? She went from seeing Howie as a friend to a manipulative little homewrecker, lol.
I wonder how Nick is going to continue things with Howie with Lauren's words weighing on his mind. Howie might not want to get too comfortable with this relationship if Nick develops second thoughts.
Author's Response: LOL, I hope it lived up to your expectations! Thanks for the review! :)
Date: 06/02/17 05:20 pm Title: Chapter 72
I liked how Nick worked out his own thoughts and feelings about Howie through his conversation with Laruen here. I actually thought he was going to blow up more when she told him that Howie told her to leave and it was nice to see that he sort of rationalized it and took his own feelings and actions into account. He's grown so much since the beginning of the story and his whole "Howie raped me on the cruise!" comment! It's nice to see. I'm glad Lauren seems to have forgiven him. I liked Nick's apology to her through song, that was cute. I'm curious to see how it'll blow up for him - I'm assuming the media will catch wind of it via fan videos or whatever. Can't wait for more! Still loving it.
Author's Response: Thanks! I appreciate what you said about seeing the growth and change in Nick over the course of the story. That was definitely one goal of mine in this story. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Date: 05/28/17 11:54 pm Title: Chapter 71
Julie, I have finally caught up on this via putting it on my Kindle and reading it in the bath, lol. So, my apologies for falling so very behind and putting all my thoughts into one review at the end rather than throughout.
However I have to say that I have LOVED every bit of this so far! (I think I saw on Twitter that you were close to finishing it?) I love the slow burn of Nick and Howie's relationship. The drama at the very beginning was well written and not too over the top. Nick wigging out and eventually coming to terms with having HIV and Howie was really well paced. I liked that you had Lauren be supportive of Nick from the get-go. That was an interesting angle to take given that they were not (I assume?) going to end up together in the end, or at least for the bulk of the story. But I liked where you went with Nick ending things with her because he wanted to keep her free from his drama-filled life and give her the opportunity to be with someone else who didn't have the disease. I thought that was a very Nick-ish thing to do.
Howie. Oh, Howie. He is just hard to hate in this story, despite having done so many awful things. I really felt for him when he tried to kill himself, and the part where Nick listens to his message and goes to find him is just heart-wrenching. Despite all of that at the beginning, as the story goes on he really is the more stable one it seems like and he's good for Nick in that sense.
Oh yeah, and their relationship. It developed so naturally. I loved how you had things between the two of them progress through them living in the house and watching the rocket launch together. It was so sweet and came off as very real. I also like have you've added in Nick's struggles over being with another guy. I think that he'd definitely have reservations, especially after having been with women (and with Lauren) for so long, that everything he knows is now flipped upside down. I also loved the scene where the other guys find out, and Nick's conversation with Brian was spot-on. I loved that you brought it back to Frick and Frack. I think it was good Nick was able to talk to him candidly like that. Also LMAO at Leighanne walking in on them smoking and Nick's comment about banging Howie. Hilarious.
All in all I just wanted to say that I love this and I'll definitely try my best to keep up (though I am admittedly bad at that) as the story comes to a close. This was so much fun to read! Truly I loved every word. Will probably update it on my kindle once it's complete and read it again.
Author's Response: Wow, thanks so much, Steph!! It's awesome to hear your thoughts on the overall story so far. I'm glad that things have seemed believable and not too over-the-top, and I especially appreciate your comments on the slash relationship, since that has been the most challenging aspect of the story for me to write. Thanks for taking the time to catch up and review!
Date: 05/28/17 09:32 pm Title: Chapter 71
Leigh is just so amazing; she handles herself with such grace and dignity. The fact that she can still be compassionate towards Howie is endearing. I've always thought that Howie made a good choice when he married Leigh, and I think that you've got her character down pat. Next to Kristin, she's probably my favourite BSB wife.
Now, I can only assume that you brought up her declinging health for a reason. I really hope that nothing happens to Leigh! If she ends up being the only casualty of this story, I will burst into tears!! (Just an FYI).
Author's Response: I agree about Leigh! She seems so classy in real life, and she obviously loves Howie. I think she still loves him in this story, even though he's hurt her, and that's why she has stayed compassionate and supportive of him. Thanks for the review!
Date: 05/28/17 07:04 pm Title: Chapter 65
I don't think they will keep it a secret for much longer, not now they are back in LA.
Author's Response: We'll see! Thanks for the review!
Date: 05/28/17 06:56 pm Title: Chapter 64
That was such a lovely chapter and I'm glad Howie and Nick told Howie's family.
They may not be ready to tell the world yet, but they are making progress.
Loving it :)
Author's Response: Baby steps! They are definitely starting to get more comfortable telling people. Thanks, Steph! :)
Date: 05/26/17 01:37 am Title: Chapter 70
Omg! The two of them and their bloody pictures - killing me! Sorry for my delay in getting around to reading this. I was away for the long weekend and have been playing catch up with life for the past few days. Anyways, Nick is totally getting back with Lauren! Howie is putting himself out there and telling everyone about him and Nick, and Nick is lurking in the shadows. He won't go public. I know that he won't. It's too bad, really. Nick is totally using Howie, and poor Howie can't even realize what's happening.
Author's Response: I know! No new ones this week, though - sad. Can't wait for them to get back to Vegas and post more! Yeah, Nick is definitely still lurking in the shadows at this point. Howie is still not out publicly, but is clearly getting more comfortable telling people. Thanks for the review; I always enjoy reading your thoughts!
Date: 05/24/17 08:31 pm Title: Chapter 70
Is it me or does Nick seem to run a bit hot and cold on Howie? I'm still not sure about things being over between him and Lauren. I think you might let him go back to her *cries* lol.
I enjoyed it immensly as usual. Thank you for sharing.
Author's Response: It's not just you; Nick definitely runs hot and cold. He's still not completely comfortable for the feelings he has for Howie - and may still have some feelings for Lauren, too. Thanks for the review!
Date: 05/19/17 08:44 pm Title: Chapter 69
LOL love that you put that pic with it. Thanks for that beautiful chapter. It was so touching, I was all teary eyed. Thank you for updating again. I look forward to each new chapter.
Author's Response: Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the chapter. I love all the pics Nick and Howie have been sharing of the two of them together! :)
Date: 05/15/17 02:05 am Title: Chapter 69
So, is it just me, or does Howie keep posting about him and Nick being out and about together doing stuff?! Every time I see one of his Instagram posts, I grin stupidly to myself and think about this story. Seriously though, you do know that someone has tipped them off about this story and they're totally playing with all of us, right?! LOL
Anyways, I'm still standing by my prediction that Nick is going to leave Howie and totally devastate him. He won't risk jeapordizing his place as fan favourite. He thrives off of all the ladies lusting after him, and he knows that admitting to being in a relationship with Howie will destroy that part of his career. In the end, Nick needs the constant attention and just getting attention from Howie won't be enough. He's going to call it quits, and I don't know where that will leave Howie.
Author's Response: LOL It's not just you! I laugh every time one of them posts a pic of them out and about together. They make a cute couple! ;) Thanks for the predictions and the review!
Date: 05/14/17 04:40 am Title: Chapter 69
Another few chapters at once. Loved the reveal to the bandmates, plus the first concert description had me misty-eyed!
Author's Response: Thanks! Aww, I love that the concert scene made you misty-eyed! It can be so difficult to portray concerts without music or visuals, so I'm glad to hear the description was enough to have the emotional impact I was going for.
Date: 05/09/17 08:46 am Title: Chapter 68
"Hot, steamy, butt sex" LMAO, I love when Nick tries to push Leighanne's buttons. I wonder if Nick is a bit sour at her for figuratively cockblocking the Frick & Frack friendship at times. Cute hug at the end.
Well, for Howie's sake, I hope Brian's words aren't too accurate. Howie is probably too deep in the honeymoon phase to have given the possibility of Nick "settling" a lot of thought.
Author's Response: LOL I couldn't resist writing that in. I don't think Howie has considered the possibility that Nick is settling for him either. Thanks for the thoughts!
