rate_review Reviews

This was a wonderful story! The characters were likeable but realistic, the plot was unhurried but not plodding, and the ending was happy. Loved it.

I'm not certain what to say. Not exactly. So, um, I'll start with a compliment.

Your writing is beautiful. Poetry. It makes me laugh, and cry, and hurt ways I didn't know I could hurt. But that's okay. Because I've read some of your other stuff, and I know now you always give a happy ending.

I hate that. I love it. I want it, even while I know that in my head, your ending never happened. They never left the bus together; instead, Aspen was gone at a stop Oakes slept through. Disappeared. Oakes climbed off the bus alone, went home alone. Went to the funeral. Faded while he was tempted to believe Aspen was almost a dream. Saw a blood orange in the fruit basket, remembered the art on his back. How could he forget? He hadn't forgotten, just had set it aside. To think about later, when grief and almost-heartbreak weren't eating at him. Went home. Took a picture of the little mural. Washed it away in a shower that was freezing by the time he got out.

He went back to school. Graduated. Got the graduation photos developed.

The mural of his back was on the roll.

He had forgotten. Set aside the memory until grief and almost-heartbreak weren't eating at him. Set it aside too well. And now he's a little hollower. Carries on- keeps the photo in his wallet. He doesn't know why. He never fell in love, but he almost did.

My closing scene is of him several years later, walking into a tattoo parlor and asking how much it would cost for the recreation of what's in the photograph. And in his other hand is a newspaper clipping, an obituary with the name 'Cai Barrett Reaves' and a picture of his Aspen and a date of death that's the day he wasn't on the bus. And it's torn above where the cause of death is.

So I wanted to thank you for the happy ending, and share my bitter ending.
Please don't ever stop writing. Please sell it so I can find a way to repay you, a little.

Hmm this one... it started out 'interesting. As in...TOO interesting. But I forced myself to keep reading it and now I'm glad I did, even though I was worried it wouldn't have a happy ending. I'm glad it did though and I finished this with a smile on my face. It's a heartwarming piece with an interesting premise and a job well done.

<3

Amazing story, I love the connection and characters you developed so slowly and carefully. I am so glad that you were recommended to me, I anticipate a good chunk of my future time will be devoted to reading the rest of your work. I just loved it. The last line of your author note made me happy beyond words, that is a sentiment I think we all can get behind.

Liked your story very much and its very sexy... but after the sex at the end of story, I kinda wanted to know how the lovers made out in life together with one going to hockey college/team and how he keep Aspen with him. G

I loved this story!!! Your writing style is really good I couldn't stop reading this thanks for writing :)

I read this over the weekend all in one go. I was waiting for your updates on Better Now (EXCELLENT STORY), and The Trouble with Thirteen (AMAZING, DIFFERENT STORY). I also read It's Like This (AWESOME STORY) all in one sitting. You are such an excellent writer. Your writing is so prolific, original, emotional and at the same time, full of humor. The banter between Oakes and Aspen (great names btw, also Cai, love that name), is so funny and quirky. Aspen is such a lovable, eccentric character and Oakes didn't even blink an eye when he started getting physical. Aspen seemed to know exactly what Oakes needed, w/o even knowing him. At the beginning, I got the feeling that Aspen wasn't real; that he was a figment of Aspen's imagination. A defense mechanism, maybe, to help him deal w/his grief. When they went into the diner, I was afraid that the waitress would be looking at Oakes strangely, thinking that Aspen wasn't real. I am so glad I was wrong. Aspen is the type of character ANYONE could fall in love with. I did have a sense of foreboding when he mentioned that he falls in love easily and is always leaving. I already had a knot of anxiety in my stomach for poor Oakes, who didn't need another person leaving him.

I also really liked Oake's dad; he didn't even bat an eye when Aspen introduced himself. The funeral was heartbreaking. I lost both my parents, but my dad when I was also 19. Those things that are said at the funeral and at the service are so totally true. Your description of the funeral sent me back many, many years, but the tears I cried were as fresh, as if it just happened.

But, the real heartbreak was when Oakes woke up to find the note. THAT was heartbreaking. I think I cried for the next God knows how many chapters. My heart was breaking for Oakes. He was so brave. I think if that was me, I'd be skipping school, staying there and canvassing the area desperate to find him.

When their eyes met in the auditorium at graduation, I was ecstatic! Your story was an emotional roller coaster, but in a really good way! I LOVE your writing and the way you develop your characters, not rushing the plot to get to the action, so to speak. I'm going to read all your stories while waiting for those updates!

I do hope you get this review! I know the story was written in 2007; I don't know how AFF works, as far as reviews go. I'm not an author, so I don't know if you're notified of a review or what. I do hope you get this review tho. I wanted you to know you are an EXCELLENT author and you should NEVER stop writing!

I realized that my review for Blood Oranges was the longest review I have ever left!

That was nothing short of amazing; the characters, the story, the unbelievably uncliched sex scenes! I am definately putting this on my Recommended Reading list.

this story was beautiful :)