Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion

This is the topic for discussion on chapters 7-12 of All She Wrote by Josh Lanyon.

We are reading chapters 7-12 during the second week of October (Oct 8 - Oct 14), but you are welcome to join the discussion at any time!

The October discussion is split in four topics (four weeks, six chapters each) to make the reading schedule more flexible for everyone. This way anyone can join any of these topics whenever they have time to read the chapters in question:

October 2012, week 1 (chapters 1-6)
October 2012, week 2 (chapters 7-12)
October 2012, week 3 (chapters 13-18)
October 2012, week 4 (chapters 19-24)

Those of you who are able to read the book at the same pace with others are welcome to comment the day you read the chapter(s) or at the end of each week.

Enjoy! :)

Ok, so jumping into the discussion.
I just love this part in Chapter 7

"I guess I hit a nerve," Poppy said, amused. "Nerve is the right word. I'm offering to do Nella a favor and you're basically-" I stopped there. He who argues with a fool is a bigger fool. Or drunk. And I was neither. I wasn't drunk, anyway. Worse luck.

Sounds like Kit would love to have an excuse to just cut loose and have a major temper tantrum. Release all that pent up tension he likes to hold onto.

OkayKim wrote: "Ok, so jumping into the discussion.
I just love this part in Chapter 7

"I guess I hit a nerve," Poppy said, amused. "Nerve is the right word. I'm offering to do Nella a favor and you're basically-..."

Agree, I was actually amazed he was able to restrain himself :)

But he only barely restrained himself though, ref the sentence; I think I spoke the word execution with more fervor than strictly necessary.

I guess not only looks, but words kan almost kill.... ;)

Anne wrote: "But he only barely restrained himself though, ref the sentence; I think I spoke the word execution with more fervor than strictly necessary.

I guess not only looks, but words kan almost kill.... ;)"

Lol, he's sneaky.

My impression of Poppy, just going by what she says, is that she doesn't trust anyone and she's bitter.

While I understand why Kit held back, his outrage at Poppy's accusation is equally real. A good author doesn't need to steal from another ... (having read this book before, I only just now come to realize what this scene actually means in the later half of the book. Doh!)

Glad to see you gals already started the discussion on this thread! I'm afraid there were too many too dramatic things going on in my life today — I'll have to get back to you tomorrow! See you! :)

Dear Johanna, I hope you are more or less all right!

Johanna wrote: "Glad to see you gals already started the discussion on this thread! I'm afraid there were too many too dramatic things going on in my life today — I'll have to get back to you tomorrow! See you! :)"

I hope dramatic in a good way!

Johanna wrote: "Glad to see you gals already started the discussion on this thread! I'm afraid there were too many too dramatic things going on in my life today — I'll have to get back to you tomorrow! See you! :)"

I hope everything is fine Johanna!

I wonder why Poppi is so bitter though.
What's her problem?

Darkm wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Glad to see you gals already started the discussion on this thread! I'm afraid there were too many too dramatic things going on in my life today — I'll have to get back to you tomor..."

Maybe she thinks she doesn't get the attention she thinks she deserves, or maybe someone stole her works?

I have finished chapters seven and eight, and man it is dramatic indeed.

And what is it about those hospital scenes that are so beautiful? Maybe because then the protag (Kit this time)is at his most vulnerable,the defenses are down due to painkillers,pain and fear and he can finally admit to himself that he needs someone else,that he might need JX. And by coming,JX has to admit a few things for himself as well..

Btw,I am leaving for New York and Boston tomorrow,so might not be able to comment much the next week.

Anne wrote: "Btw,I am leaving for New York and Boston tomorrow,so might not be able to comment much the next week."

Have a lovely time, Anne :)

I love New York, bring my heart back if you meet it, it's somewhere around Brooklyn Heights :)

Johanna wrote: "Glad to see you gals already started the discussion on this thread! I'm afraid there were too many too dramatic things going on in my life today — I'll have to get back to you tomorrow! See you! :)"

I hope everything is ok, Johanna! See you soon :)

I'm behind, as always. A few things about Chapter 7.

First, I want to visit the teashop. Second: it seems I'm in a very Earnest mood while re-reading it, so:

I’d have been willing to eat soggy cucumbers

Aunt Augusta and her predilection for cucumber sandwiches :) (I know it has nothing to do with the book, but my mind wanders)

There's always the recurring "How did you get an agent?" question. I'm wondering in ... say 5 year's time if the question will be about self-publishing :)

I loved this (I'll use the love-word a lot, but I'm a sap...)

To my astonishment, I heard myself saying, “If you want to mail me a copy of your manuscript, I could send it on to Rachel with a note of recommendation.”
She lit up happily.
Yeah. No good deed goes unpublished.

As you already remarked, the part about the stolen book is important. I also think it's a legitimate concern. Even if Kit is no more at the top of success, he still has enough pride not to diminish his integrity by wanting to steal someone else's work. He can admit envy, but he's honest. While I was thinking about this all on my lonesome, I was surprised, I think probably more now than the first time I read the book about this:

[...]and convincing myself I still had one more Miss Butterwith in me.
I stopped chewing. Where had that thought come from? That almost sounded like I was tired of writing Miss Butterwith, and of course I wasn’t. I adored her. I adored Mr. Pinkerton. I adored Inspector Appleby—even if he was in the closet.

I think I had the same reaction as Kit and it always makes me happy when I'm reacting like the character, because I feel there with him. Italics mine on the above paragraph because, ha ha, the dashing Inspector Appleby!

Nella’s cheeks went rosy again. I suspected that explained the awkwardness of her sex scenes.

I agree, it tells a bit about Nella, I think it was our Anne who made the observation somewhere. I always wonder if writing a lot about sex is like exercising, you get better the more you write about it. Of course, to become an Olympic champion you have to be a bit gifted. In the sense that - apart from practice - you have to be able to convey the sexiness. Lapalissian.

The scene of the accident is prepared very well. There's not a sense of impending doom, there are those little details - the driving, the sleek roads - and then in four paragraphs, not even half a page, you get the instancy of it all.

Thank you for your warm thoughts everybody. Everything is not all right, but will be eventually. Ironically the same day I read Josh's Heart Trouble I found myself in the hospital in heart x-ray. Now I'm on sick leave for three weeks due to catastrophically high blood pressure (stress related no doubt). So, I guess it's my turn to stop, look around and ponder on what really is important in my life.

Anne wrote: "And what is it about those hospital scenes that are so beautiful? Maybe because then the protag (Kit this time)is at his most vulnerable,the defenses are down due to painkillers,pain and fear and he can finally admit to himself that he needs someone else,that he might need JX."

I think this is true. There is just something downright scary about hospitals. It definitely has a lot to do with the feeling of vulnerability and fear you talked about. And maybe it's also the fact that hospital always makes one (me, at least) to think about very basic things like life and death - very final things. Things that you don't have much power over. And that in turn makes it seem important to make an effort to sort out the things you currently still can have an effect on.

Emanuela wrote: "I love New York, bring my heart back if you meet it, it's somewhere around Brooklyn Heights :)"

Have a lovely trip to meet your son, Anne! And after you fetch Manu's heart from Brooklyn Heights, bring mine from Central Park... I left it with Mr. Polar Bear in the zoo. :)

Chapter 8

Kit's confusion at the beginning of the paragraph is funny, even in the drama: gardeners, wheelbarrow, train tracks. Why gardeners? Maybe because Kit's last thoughts were about Luke? So of course, at the obvious questions, Kit answers:

“I’m allergic to cantaloupe.” It seemed important that they understand this. “Maybe honeydew.”

This made me laugh despite the accident. But while Kit is so unguarded, what's in his mind slips out:

And then I remembered the important thing I’d been waiting to tell someone.
“I want to talk to J.X.”
The voice sounded like it was hushing me.
I persisted anyway. It had been on my mind and my sense of being wronged was strong. “It wasn’t fair. He didn’t give me a chance to explain.”
I couldn’t tell if the voice responded or not, but I was relieved to have that off my chest. Now I could sleep.

And then the dramtic moment:

The idea that the kid was dead…
Just like that? From alive to not in a matter of seconds? All that enthusiasm and energy and excitement. All those hopes and dreams and aspirations. All the stories she would never have the chance to tell.

Kit can't feel the loss, because he didn't know her, but he describes perfectly how a life is robbed. While Kit doesn't place the blame, Anna is very willing to.

But life goes on for Kit:

J.X. stood framed in the doorway.
J.X.
Not a dream. Not a mirage. J.X.

My romantic heart beats so fast at this moment. Anne said it beautifully in her comment above, that I'll quote verbatim:

And what is it about those hospital scenes that are so beautiful? Maybe because then the protag (Kit this time)is at his most vulnerable,the defenses are down due to painkillers,pain and fear and he can finally admit to himself that he needs someone else,that he might need JX. And by coming,JX has to admit a few things for himself as well..

And this, oh, yeah, bring on the cheesy soaps:

I responded to that fierce gentleness to the best of my bruised and battered ability. I’d have had to be comatose not to respond to J.X.’s kisses.

And I loved how Kit keeps repeating:

It was just…I was so happy to see him.

It's such an elemental emotion, and it can't be told in any other way: happy.

Mixed with it was a hint of the John Varvatos fragrance I now associated with him: leather, tamarind leaves and auramber.

This is wonderful. And this is the fragrance http://www.basenotes.net/ID26122565.html

And anyboy thrilled when:

“You look beat, honey. Why don’t you sleep,” he said softly.
Honey. That was nice. He’d never called me that before. Not that I’d ever encouraged the use of pet names. But for now…it was nice.

Italics not mine. A bit like Jake's "baby".

Another Miss Butterwith's title: The Moving Finger Writes for Miss Butterwith. Sorry Kit, but: what the hell? :) I want to read it, lol

J.X. is wonderfully caring:

It was sort of ridiculous how good even that casual touch felt. Like my hair had nerve endings; I could feel him to my roots. That hyper-receptivity was probably due to the years of sensory deprivation that had passed for my marriage.

Do you think J.X. brings out Kit's sensuality? That he's the only one who can make him feel that way. It's AWFULLY romantic :)

“Sorry, Kit.” He said it gently, seriously. I regarded him curiously. I never thought of him as particularly sensitive. My young, tough ex-cop. Maybe I didn’t give him many opportunities for softness.

I was contemplating this new idea when he said, [...]

Here, again, Kit made me laugh a lot. Oh, mind in the gutter, Kit :) But then the accident doesn't seem a coincidence anymore, and Kit has the best partner in crime:

“Kit.” I’d known that solicitousness was too good to last. “Start talking.”

Johanna wrote: "Thank you for your warm thoughts everybody. Everything is not all right, but will be eventually. Ironically the same day I read Josh's Heart Trouble I found myself in the hospital in heart x-ray. N..."

Oh, Johanna! *hugs* You are important, we don't need to tell you that!

HUGS HUGS to Johanna!!! We will be thinking good thoughts as you REST and recover.

Johanna wrote: "Thank you for your warm thoughts everybody. Everything is not all right, but will be eventually. Ironically the same day I read Josh's Heart Trouble I found myself in the hospital in heart x-ray. N..."

OMG, Johanna! REST! (((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "The scene of the accident is prepared very well. There's not a sense of impending doom, there are those little details - the driving, the sleek roads - and then in four paragraphs, not even half a page, you get the instancy of it all."

I agree. When reading this the first time, I never saw it coming. Only now, when re-reading it, I notice those little details you pointed out. Also the sentence about the seat belt registered differently this time around.

Lori wrote: "My impression of Poppy, just going by what she says, is that she doesn't trust anyone and she's bitter."

She really says awful things to Kit (well, to everybody)! She insults him by calling his dear Miss Butterwith Miss Butternut (page 76) and a little later (page 78) she says:

"I'll say you have a lot of books," Poppy commented. "I don't know how you keep them straight. The book-jacket blurbs all sound the same."

What a mean thing to say. She's basically saying that all Kit's book are alike, isn't she? Emanuela posted earlier this part (page 73):

[...]and convincing myself I still had one more Miss Butterwith in me.
I stopped chewing. Where had that thought come from? That almost sounded like I was tired of writing Miss Butterwith, and of course I wasn’t. I adored her. I adored Mr. Pinkerton. I adored Inspector Appleby—even if he was in the closet.

I post-ited this too, because it was a surprising (and a somewhat sad) thought. Do you guys feel, that these kind of doubts might have started to grow in Kit's subconscious already during the SKHE — particularly after J.X. commented about Kit's ability to write something much more interesting and challenging...

I'm behind with reading. :( It seems that I'll read chapters 8 & 9 tomorrow to catch up with you guys. :)

Thank you, girls. I'm reading your posts a little teary-eyed. Your thoughts really warm my heart. :)

Johanna wrote: "Thank you, girls. I'm reading your posts a little teary-eyed. Your thoughts really warm my heart. :)"

Dear Johanna, now is the time to take care of yourself and rest and get well.

I shall look after both your and Manu's heart in the Big Apple :)

Johanna wrote: "Thank you for your warm thoughts everybody. Everything is not all right, but will be eventually. Ironically the same day I read Josh's Heart Trouble I found myself in the hospital in heart x-ray. N..."

Oh, Johanna, sweetie, get well soon! *lotsofhugs*
Don't let the stress get you or those pesky, little students. ;-) I hope that with lots of rest and maybe the right meds you'll be on your feet again in no time.

Thank you again. I think that Q&A with Josh Lanyon and you all are the best meds for me. :)

To Johanna, take care of yourself. Gone Crazy

[...]and convincing myself I still had one more Miss Butterwith in me.
I stopped chewing. Where had that thought come from? That almost sounded like I was tired of writing Miss Butterwith, and of course I wasn’t. I adored her. I adored Mr. Pinkerton. I adored Inspector Appleby—even if he was in the closet.

I post-ited this too, because it was a surprising (and a somewhat sad) thought. Do you guys feel, that these kind of doubts might have started to grow in Kit's subconscious already during the SKHE — particularly after J.X. commented about Kit's ability to write something much more interesting and challenging...

I think it actually goes back to when Rachel called Kit about losing his contract with his old publisher. J.X. isn't the only one who points out that Kit's Miss Butterwith doesn't read in any real context and that he ought to write what he really knows. At least one attendee told Kit she remembered reading his books when she was a kid. He's not really sure how to take that.

So I finally caught with chapters 7 & 8 and I kept nodding while reading through your observations. :)

Some random thoughts:

http://www.writersmarket.com/ Nella mentioned that at the beginning of chapter 7 (p. 71). I wonder if the webpage existed when Kit looked for an agent or a print equivalent.

"What's to stop you from stealing Nella's story?" Poppy broke in. (p. 72)

It reminded me that Peaches (first to be dead in SKHE) had stolen manuscripts. I can relate to Kit's reaction to this accusation. I don't know how somebody's mind must work to do this.

I adored Inspector Appleby - even if he was in the closet. (p. 73)

Kit is warming to the thought of Inspector Appleby being gay. :D The last time he still insisted

and the dashing Inspector Appleby, who was not gay no matter what anyone said—

*g*

"That was awful," Victoria said. "I actually saw it happen." (p. 75)

I like how this one line shatters the whole image I had of the accident. Suddenly there is one more person in the picture, more information to be had, more suspects...

I recalled that her spouse had died in a drowning accident. I wondered if anyone had thought to investigate possible suicide. (p. 77)

*lightbulb* I only now (after having read the book several times) realize why Poppy's husband could have had a reason to commit suicide! :)

Chapter 8:

A crowd of excited gardeners... (p. 80)

Gardeners because of the "green pajamas"?

It was just…Jesus, I was happy to see him. I can’t remember ever being so happy, so grateful to see someone. Someone I’d been afraid I was never going to see again.(p. 85)

*sigh* As 'happy' doesn't seem to be Kit's default state of mind that says a lot. I hope the default is changing the longer he's together with J.X.

In case anybody doesn't know whodunit, don't read the spoiler. ^^
(view spoiler)[

“I remember.” Anna shifted her crutches. “I didn’t realize—” (p. 86)

Looking back, this must have been quite a shock for her. She had gambled on a amateur, wannabe sleuth and suddenly gets the ex-cop in the packet. (hide spoiler)]

“Is there a part of you that isn’t black and blue?”
“My eyelids?”
“No. You’ve got a black eye.”
“My mouth?”
(...)
Eyes closed, I murmured, “Are you kissing it better?”
“Am I?”
“I think so. My lips hurt too.”
He was smiling as he kissed me again,... (p. 86f.)

This feels like a quote from a movie. I keep thinking of a younger Harrison Ford but can't decide wether it was Indiana Jones or Star Wars.

Thanks, Manu, for putting in the link to the John Varvator fragrance! Does anybody know if it's still on sale? I'd like to try a smell. Maybe after that you'll to surgically remove the bottle from my nose. ;))

I have a language question. On page 74 they guess about Luke and the phrase "assault and battery" came up. This time I looked it up in the dictionary to get the precise meaning. Unfortunately, there are a whole lot of similar meanings for 'assault' and one of them is exactly the same like 'battery'. Can someone of you please explain the diffrence or what the meaning in this 'crime' context is? Thanks!

And I have another question, this one for those of you who had had a broken limb in plaster. I never had and so don't know how it feels. Anna is hopping around on her crutches. It was mentioned more than once that she's wincing in pain or such.

She was using crutches—using them expertly, as a matter of fact. But she was obviously in pain.

Somehow I thought that when the broken limb is in plaster it should be stable and therefor shouldn't hurt. Is she faking it to convince Kit of her need for help?

Johanna, take care of yourself and get those stress levels down :)

Calathea wrote: "Somehow I thought that when the broken limb is in plaster it should be stable and therefor shouldn't hurt. Is she faking it to convince Kit of her need for help?"

The plaster is to keep the limb immobile so that the bones can knit together correctly. I've never had a broken limb (*touch wood*) but I understand that it can be painful, at least early on. Also, there's probably some bruising there as well.

Also, she's got bruised or cracked ribs, so that the crutches are probably rubbing against them.

Calathea: you're right. It's from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, the scene in the bedroom on the smuggler ship.

There are fine differences between the two and it would take someone in the legal field to explain it to me, but this is what I found on Expert Law:

An assault invoves:

1]An intentional, unlawful threat or "offer" to cause bodily injury to another by force;
2]Under circumstances which create in the other person a well-founded fear of imminent peril;
3]Where there exists the apparent present ability to carry out the act if not prevented.

Battery:

A battery is the willful or intentional touching of a person against that person’s will by another person, or by an object or substance put in motion by that other person. Please note that an offensive touching can constitute a battery even if it does not cause injury, and could not reasonably be expected to cause injury.

Johanna wrote: "Thank you for your warm thoughts everybody. Everything is not all right, but will be eventually. Ironically the same day I read Josh's Heart Trouble I found myself in the hospital in heart x-ray. Now I'm on sick leave for three weeks due to catastrophically high blood pressure (stress related no doubt). So, I guess it's my turn to stop, look around and ponder on what really is important in my life."

Seriously, Johanna, take good care. I've had a couple of opportunities to ponder what matters and am happy to be here. In 2008 I had a heart attack that was primarily stress related (as cholesterol levels and other factors were good), but I was trying to do a lot of demanding things at once, so I was operating (so to speak) on about four hours of sleep a night. Dumb and truly not worth it. So please, please give yourself the rest and care you need!

I adored Inspector Appleby—even if he was in the closet.

Emanuela, I laughed reading this too, remembering how Kit was still denying it earlier in the book. So perhaps Kit's next series will be a spin-off starring Inspector Appleby... a bit closer to "what he knows" as Lori noted (referring back to SKHE).

Lovely commentary on so many of my favorite lines in Chapter 8. Two stunning chapters, 7 and 8.

One of my all-time favorite lines:

I’d have had to be comatose not to respond to J.X.’s kisses.

And these lines from Chapter 8 just make me smile as Kit tries to subdue his vulnerable emotional responses with humorous commentary:

So touched that he’d done this—flown clear across country to yell at me in my hour of need.

I watched in fascination as J.X.’s chiseled nostrils flared. He clenched his strong jaw. Yep, he was pretty worked up in his manly way and I was probably a dork to feel so pleased about it, but there’s no denying that there’s a certain appeal in knowing it would really ruin that special someone’s day if you checked out early.

Lori wrote: "Also, she's got bruised or cracked ribs, so that the crutches are probably rubbing against them.

Calathea: you're right. It's from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, the scene in the b..."

I am not an expert on American law, but it seems to me that there are a slight difference, where assault is the stage before battery, the attack meant to scare and threathen, whereas battery is the actual act of hitting etc. It is typical of Anglo-American law to use several words that are almost synonyms, to describe and act in order to get all nuances.

Calathea wrote: "So I finally caught with chapters 7 & 8 and I kept nodding while reading through your observations. :)

Some random thoughts:

http://www.writersmarket.com/ Nella mentioned that at the beginning of..."

Ha ha, I too noticed that Kit now thinks about the dashing Appleby as being in the closet, so definitely progress there :)

I'm chronically late and I still need to read all your comments, but I wanted to send a big hug to Johanna.
Take care please! :)

Calathea wrote: "Thanks, Manu, for putting in the link to the John Varvator fragrance! Does anybody know if it's still on sale? I'd like to try a smell. Maybe after that you'll to surgically remove the bottle from my nose. ;)) "

I like that I'm not the only one who thought about this!

What stops me is that there are different ones, or at least I think so.

Johanna wrote: "Thank you for your warm thoughts everybody. Everything is not all right, but will be eventually. Ironically the same day I read Josh's Heart Trouble I found myself in the hospital in heart x-ray. Now I'm on sick leave for three weeks due to catastrophically high blood pressure (stress related no doubt). So, I guess it's my turn to stop, look around and ponder on what really is important in my life."

I had missed this, probably because I was too taken by the polar bear pic.

Such things are a good motivation to rearrange one's priorities in life.

Best Wishes, dear Johanna!

Antonella wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Thanks, Manu, for putting in the link to the John Varvator fragrance! Does anybody know if it's still on sale? I'd like to try a smell. Maybe after that you'll to surgically remove..."

I googled tamarind, auramber and Varvatos, and that's the one the hits the majority of searches. The next time I go to the perfume shop, I'll look for it :)

Thank you everyone for the kind thoughts and words. They mean the world to me. They really do.

And Karen, your situation four years ago sounds a whole lot like mine right now (the overwhelming work related stress being the main problem), so it really gives me hope to know that you survived through it. I'm so happy to hear stories like that right now.

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Thanks, Manu, for putting in the link to the John Varvator fragrance! Does anybody know if it's still on sale? I'd like to try a smell. Maybe after that you'll to..."

Hmmm... wouldn't it be wonderful to have a J.X.-smelling husband... what a turn on would that be... here I come

http://www.fragrancex.com/products/_l...

They describe it "masculine, modern, sophisticated, luxurious and alluring" and it's recommended "for a romantic evening". LOL. It sounds like J.X. all right. :)

Johanna wrote: "Hmmm... wouldn't it be wonderful to have a J.X.-smelling husband..."

Let me rephrase: Hmmm... wouldn't it be wonderful to have a J.X. husband...

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Hmmm... wouldn't it be wonderful to have a J.X.-smelling husband..."

Let me rephrase: Hmmm... wouldn't it be wonderful to have a J.X. husband..."

LOL. A girl can always daydream... ;)

YES! I'm almost 40, like Kit, I should be entitled to a 35-year-old J.X. too. Someone lost the memo :)

I'm trying to catch up with commenting on the lovely chapters 8 & 9. Manu, Calathea and Karen have already posted many of my favorite lines from chapter 8 and I also loved reading their sharp-eyed observation of the things going on. :)

It seems to me that the story is so full of life now when J.X. is back in the picture. That sounds a bit weird though — considering that the first death has just happened. Or maybe that's the reason for the lively feeling between Kit and J.X. altogether? There are so many emotions packed in these two chapters: worry, relief, longing, sorrow, happiness, anger...

Emanuela wrote: "Kit's confusion at the beginning of the paragraph is funny--"

Oh yes. All the confused thoughts and talk about the cantaloupe and (possible) honeydew allergies, gardeners, the pumpkin soup and finally J.X... it was all written so well. Overall I'm always in awe of authors, who can mix feelings and tone like this. I don't know if I'm able to explain myself understandably here, but what I mean is that I enjoy reading Josh's stories, because he can make terrible situations seem funny and on the other hand he can make a seemingly funny line contain a serious message. I'm sure you guys know what I mean despite my clumsy attempt to describe it. :)

Anyway, I think that the chapter 8 of this book is actually going to be on the top of my all-time-favorite-comfort-read list in the future... Along with chapters 18 and 21 — but let's not go there yet. ;)

Karen wrote: "And these lines from Chapter 8 just make me smile as Kit tries to subdue his vulnerable emotional responses with humorous commentary:

So touched that he’d done this—flown clear across country to yell at me in my hour of need.

I watched in fascination as J.X.’s chiseled nostrils flared. He clenched his strong jaw. Yep, he was pretty worked up in his manly way and I was probably a dork to feel so pleased about it, but there’s no denying that there’s a certain appeal in knowing it would really ruin that special someone’s day if you checked out early.

Dear Kit, this wonderful man calls you honey, wants to take care of you and clearly loves you. He knows astonishingly well how your complicated brain works and he's been amazingly patient with you. He flew across country to yell at you in your hour of need. *grin* Do not, I repeat, do not let this man go. Please.

ETA: I'll be back to comment on chapter 9 a bit later today. :)

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "YES! I'm almost 40, like Kit, I should be entitled to a 35-year-old J.X. too. Someone lost the memo :)"

Do you think you'd had it in you to share? ;-)

Calathea wrote: "Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "YES! I'm almost 40, like Kit, I should be entitled to a 35-year-old J.X. too. Someone lost the memo :)"

Do you think you'd had it in you to share? ;-)"

To share with two girls? ;)

J.X.s for all! :)

Calathea wrote: ""That was awful," Victoria said. "I actually saw it happen." (p. 75)

I like how this one line shatters the whole image I had of the accident. Suddenly there is one more person in the picture, more information to be had, more suspects...
"

I had the same reaction too. I wonder how Kit was able to keep his cool, because someone witnessing the accident changes our perceptions of the accident, even if there's still a doubt about the whys of the ice.

Johanna wrote: "It seems to me that the story is so full of life now when J.X. is back in the picture. That sounds a bit weird though — considering that the first death has just happened."

That's something I noticed too. It lightens up the blue mood. As should be in a romance :)

I'm re-reading a few of all the comments so far.

Re: Poppy. Oooops, I was almost writing Poopy, Freudian slip! When people reach a certain plateau of awfulness, I began to feel sorry for them, not only in books, but in real life too. I'd like to tell them: you would be love and liked too, if you were at least civil.

And what I'm not commenting on, I'm nodding vehemently :D