[Report This]Date: January 29 2016 10:27 AM Title: Phoning Home
And, while there may not be many American woman named "Raphaella," the Italian version of the name (with two f's) has been around a long time. For example: Raffaella Carra (Italian singer/actress/hostess); Raffaella DiLaurentis (movie-producing daughter of the legendary Dino); and Raffaella Modugno (former "Miss Curvy Italy!").
Author's Response:
Thanks for the information. I chose the ph as opposed to ff just because. We learn early Tom's mother is indeed Italian . Good job. Raphaella Spence is out of the UK.
Date: January 29 2016 10:18 AM Title: Phoning Home
Hence, the adverb "retroactively," Tom.
;-)
[Report This]Date: January 29 2016 3:00 AM Title: Phoning Home
Now, as promised, my review post chapter fix.
First of all, Raphaella? I never heard of a woman named that. It's like they combined Raphael and Cinderella to make Raphaella.
Second, how did Raphaella's name pop up on Cassexy's phone? Shouldn't a number pop up instead?
Third, the way his mom keeps calling Tom a baby and tiny, I bet is making Cassisdy feel like she is taking care of a little baby. Trying to get him food, comfort, can't do anything on his own, and so on.
Next, is this whole mom incident necessary? The dilemmas and problems just keep piling up. A character gets introduced like every 3 chapters now. I envisioned this story to be just Tom, Janine and Lina. Now we got Tess's roommate, Miss Addison, the grandpa, Francis, Jessica, Cassidy, and now Tom's mom.
Now it feels like the "Adventures of Tom" with his many giantesses. He is just getting passed from one woman to the next. I wonder when it will return to the Lindholm house and Tom has to deal with the Janine/Lina duet. I miss that. Hopefully, Cassexy is the key for a reunion.
Since Raphaella mentioned having protection, does this imply that they are going to have some fun in the next few chapters? I hope so, even Tom's mom approves! Tom is 18 and Cassidy is 27. Boy, Tom keeps getting lucky.
I can't wait for the next chapter!
Author's Response:
Hmm. Perhaps I am over complicating this story. It was mentioned a while ago and maybe it's time. Not sure. It was my intent to try and keep this interesting but if it's getting too involved...
Date: January 29 2016 2:35 AM Title: Phoning Home
@Carycomic,
Ha! Actually I was first this time, but Duggernaut had an issue where 2 chapters of chapter 58 were posted, and when he solved it, my review was deleted along with it.
[Report This]Date: January 28 2016 7:56 PM Title: Phoning Home
"I wonder how I screwed them up?"
Sigmund Freud would probably venture the opinion that, due to all the impulsive trouble he had gotten himself into, recently, Tom subconsciously decided to reach out to his mother for help. Not too far-fetched as armchair theories go, I must admit.
"A boy's best friend...," and all that jazz.
P.S.---Nice to see I'm retroactively first reviewer of this chapter. :-)
Author's Response:
I don't know why it doubled up on my update. Weird. I think Freud might have a lot to say about some of the underlying psychological underpinnings in Tom's view of the world and how he interacts. I'm sure he could publish a treatise on psychosexual fixation in regards to some of the elements of the story.
[Report This]Date: January 25 2016 9:27 PM Title: Jess
The proof is in the pudding, Jess.
Or, rather, in putting Tom into your own nether-portions. ;-D
[Report This]Date: January 25 2016 6:17 PM Title: Jess
First of all, this is the funniest chapter in the entire story. I kept smiling and laughing, then smiling again until it hurt a bit. The secret is out, everyone knows about Tom and it's hilarious watching this all enfold.
Second, I'm kinda surprised that you brought Jess back in, but I should've know that whenever you mention a character, they become a key role in a story later on. Still waiting in Miss Harwood to show up. :)
Janine doesn't even seem to regret anything as Tess told the story. I would love to hear the uncensored version that Janine has experienced with Tom. That should get some great reactions from Jess.
Jessica is now Jess. Now that's gonna confuse me soon since Tess is already a common name in this story. I wonder if Jess will now get some time with Tom since she now knows about him.
I admire how this chapter was setup. The way Jess was trying to put the pieces together takes skill becuase you have to exclude stuff that the rest of the characters already know.
Man, Lina felt embarrassed the whole time. It's like Jess had respect for her and then it just dropped as soon as Jess found out that Lina had sex with Tess's brother. Also, Lina's explanation was awesome. "It's Tom, there's se thing special about him" as if she recommends Jess to have a go with Tom to figure it out herself.
This chapter also felt like a showdown. Everyone is on the same page and everyone knows what each person did with Tom. I wish each lady shares their story of what they did with Tom. Sexy story time!
I really, really like this chapter. Even though, there was no sexual fun, this chapter was fun to read.
I can't wait for the next chapter!
Author's Response:
I wonder if Selene would make a good first name for Miss Harwood? Hmm...
[Report This]Date: January 23 2016 3:56 AM Title: Tom
Very good!
Cassie should change his mind and stay with tone. May punish him in some way.
Author's Response:
Thanks for the review who knows what Cassidy may or may not have in store for Tom.
Date: January 20 2016 10:28 PM Title: Tom's Story
I did some thinking and I realized that Tom is probably thinking that Tess is still looking for him when he disappeared from her dorm.
Janine never let Tom communicate to Tess so this was actually his first chance, and this message actually is Tom's way of telling Tess that he is all right since his disappearance.
Now I see why Tom didn't mention the car crash. He is just letting Tess know about his location, his health, and who is taking care of him. Just the important stuff was sent in that message.
Got it.
Author's Response:
Bingo!
Date: January 20 2016 10:21 PM Title: Tom's Story
Well, in my ch. 51 review, I had 3 possibilities and only the 1st one was that Janine wasn't going to crash and it was just a scare. My other two involved her being injured becuase of a crash.
Author's Response:
I think presenting a variety of possibilities actually helps relay to me a number of threads some of which I had not considered. I love that you are invested in the story and that it has not become too one dimensional. I know several chapters back there was some discussion on how this story was losing depth.
[Report This]Date: January 20 2016 9:57 PM Title: Tom
Dear Tom: you also thought--in your ch. 51 review--that there wouldn't be any car crash, at all. ;-)
[Report This]Date: January 20 2016 7:32 PM Title: Tom
Cassidy seems super nice. She is even nicer than Lina which I could now believe thanks to Lina getting deceptive lady chapter.
This chapter felt just like Michael's story. The fact that Tom asked Cassidy to call Tess reminded me of the scene where Michael wanted Madison to call Lucie. Only difference is that Cassidy is nice enough to grant Tom's wish.
One thing that felt off. Tom's message didn't include the car crash. It's almost like he knows that Tess is aware of the crash. We, the readers are aware of it, but Tom has no idea that Tess knows about it.
When Cassidy asked Tom about Janine's underpants, I was anxious to hear Tom describe his whole experience. It could give Cassidy some fun ideas becuase I encourage the idea of Tom having fun with Cassidy. However, I think this gentleness will make Cassidy the new Lina, and Lina will become more agressive and controlling.
Nurse angle....Yes! We could have some nurse/patient roleplay with Cassidy taking care of Tom by "keeping him safe" by putting him in some comfy tight places. I like Tom's thoughts about this situation.
The phone buzzed, she swiped the screen, then she frowned. She frowned not when she immediately looks at her phone, but only after she swipes her phone. Perhaps she got hacked, and she might punish Tom. Probably not, but I think Lina had something to do with this cliffhanger.
Good stuff, I can't wait for the next chapter!
Date: January 20 2016 7:15 PM Title: Tom
@Carycomic,
I don't even know my siblings' phone numbers either becuase I just click on their names when I call them. I don't think the accident had anything to do with it. He probably just put in the number a long time ago and now Tom just clicks on the Tess button now.
Author's Response:
Lol it's funny the reason I presented it this way was because I couldn't remember my brother's number
[Report This]Date: January 20 2016 6:03 PM Title: Tom
Well, so far/so good!
Cassie really does seem nice and, therefore, a credit to her calling. Which, in turn, makes me all the more eager for a more detailed description of her. As, thus far, all any of us know for certain about her appearance is that she's pretty!*
As to Tom's memory of his sister's cellphone number being a little fuzzy? All too plausible after a car accident. So, I give you two thumbs' up for that bit of realism. But, that cliff-hanging frown has me worried. Did Cassie's caller ID register the name of whatever private detective agency Janine's flunky is using? Or was it something even more sinister?
You may touch-down dance in the knowledge that you've well and truly stumped me, as to what comes next.
*Of course, given that she's an ER nurse, it stands to reason that her hair would quite naturally be camouflaged by either her blue surgical cap, or the more conventional white one.
Author's Response:
The caller ID did indeed register some information Cassie was not expecting. I consider it a compliment that there enough potentialities that the story has not become too predictable, though I will hold off on the Ickey Shuffle for now.
Date: January 16 2016 10:00 PM Title: Search
@Hector. Oh I know, I just don't believe thats the direction Dugger is taking Janine ;)
Shes either faking or will fall back into old habits when she gets out of the hospital.
Date: January 15 2016 9:30 PM Title: Tom's Story
Haha! First Tomspeedyitis, now too much sugar?
I just like to imagine random stuff in these stories and sometimes I get carried away.
Yeah, the murder thing won't likely happen. I just surprised of Lina's agressiveness and I was open to any possibilities of what she will do to Cassidy. I think Lina will just confront Cassidy at her house or during Cassidy's next shift. Then she might just ask for Tom. The murder thought was just a "what if" moment. That's all.
[Report This]Date: January 15 2016 8:26 PM Title: Search
A remorseful Janine??? Say it isnt so! Im not buying it, nope, lol.
I think Tomspeedy has had too much sugar, I dont see Cassidy being murdered, lol. Sorry tomspeedy, just joking with you. But I dont see that leap at all.
Don't think we have seen the last of Jessica either, would have been pointless to introduce her in the first place. Unless she was mentioned earler in the story and I don't remember.
Hopefully we learn a little about Cassidy in the next chapter, find out what she is about.
Date: January 15 2016 7:22 PM Title: Search
@ TomSpeedy
Nothing wrong with fun. In the immortal words of comedian Kevin Pollack (while imitating the late, great Dudley Moore): "It's the best thing ever!" :-)
[Report This]Date: January 15 2016 5:00 PM Title: Tom's Story
@Carycomic,
Well, with my long reviews, there will be always parts that may not make sense or mistakes that I did not intend to say.
While you make a good point about Jessica probably going to make a return by using the same detective agency as Lina, perhaps Jessica will be oblivious to the whole situation just like her father.
Also, Jessica knows that Tom is a boy from school that Janine goes to and that he is Tess's brother. Jessica will probably assume that there is some relationship triangle between the three kids but I don't think it's that important for her to go further and search for information about Tom.
Lastly, my reviews attract conversations becuase I assume lots of stuff that is most likely not true, but I'm also playing the guessing game that Duggernaut provides within each cliffhanger. So my opinions may seem unlikely, but you never know what can happen given this complex story.
The good thing about disagreements is the conversation that comes out of it. Let's have some fun.
[Report This]Date: January 15 2016 2:32 PM Title: Search
Postcript: I' have to respectfully disagree with my distinguished fellow reviewer. If, as he has stated, aggressive curiosity is a hereditary trait among the women of the Lindholm family, then Jessica's must be thoroughly piqued by this point. Twice, she's inquired as to who Tom is; and, twice, she's been deliberately (and not-so-subtly) ignored. So, if Lina is using the same private detective agency I'm presuming she used, to find out about her husband's prior paramours, then Jessica might resolve to contact them, herself. She might even lie to them; claiming she's getting an update on her mother's behalf!* And, thus, she might learn of Tom's existence (and present whereabouts) ahead of her mother and sister.
Whew! Those anti-TomSpeedyitis shots are wearing off more and more quickly.
* "She's busy checking on my father's injuries, now that my younger sister is awake and out of danger," would be a good alibi.