BookRix

Thanks, Sabrina. I hope you enjoy it. My next project is about a serial killer, a "killer thriller" you might say--a 180 degree swing from this light romance!

Hahaha! Well, versatility is always a good thing.

So far, I've read the first two chapters, and begun Chapter Three. Very good work already. :)

My one complaint is that Nathan seems too typical of a college student. Besides his weird obsession with the Jenny Lind chest, he's pretty standard. He drinks (a lot, from what I can tell), he's constantly trying to have sex with his girlfriend (which is pretty accurate about a lot of men of any age, honestly, but it still irritates me to no end...), and a few other things that I can't put my finger on right now. I'm hoping that he grows out of that immature impulse-ridden stage of his life soon.

His girlfriend Tina, I can already tell I'm not going to like her. She seems superficial, and the fact that she isn't even a little interested about the pieces of history hidden away in Nathan's grandmother's house makes her appear a little dull to me. I know a lot of people like this, and seeing it in book form, brings forth the same frustration as in real life. Where's her sense of adventure?! Even just a trip to the local antiques shop would be enough...

Katrina seems a bit more interesting, being a feminist in an era for men. THAT piques my interest. She's a bit ahead of her time. Of course, she can easily come off as a know-it-all, or overly independent. But the fact that she appears to want to be in the company of men is an interesting tidbit. Yes, she wants equality in education and work as men, but she also still holds onto the old-fashioned idea of men's chivalry. It's a bit like feminists today wanting to be treated like an equal, yet still having the bizarre notion that the man should pay for everything on dates.

All in all, these are some realistic characters. Besides Nathan (who I'm hoping will be a dynamic character and change with the progress of the book), all the characters seem to be developed and have their own unique personalities.

I would like to take a moment to praise your excellent beginning to the book. The writing in the first few paragraphs, and in the entire first chapter, in fact, was amazing. I love the description. As I read it, I could get a near perfect image of the embracing trees and the storm around them. It serves as a wonderful metaphor, but also an interesting way to begin a story. Instead of starting off talking about people, you have personified these trees so that the reader can almost believe that THEY are people. The rest of the chapter highlights what becomes of the trees after death, and that alone leaves me knowing that the chests crafted out of their wood are special. Great foreshadowing.

Wow... That's a giant wall of text... (Sorry)

Wow! No need to be sorry. I believe that was the most probing analysis of the book, and a pretty darn accurate one at that. But not to worry, Nathan will get his act together as the book goes along. Also--as you perceived-- Katrina is a strong willed female ahead of her time. Actually, as I wrote the book she gained momentum and took command of the story.

I appreciate the time you took to comment on the story so far. Thank you. I hope you enjoy the remainder.

Haha! Well, I DID take two years of AP English in high school, which consisted of mostly rhetoric and textual analysis. I would hope that my two years paid off. I've gotten into the habit of analyzing everything, it seems.

It was my pleasure! I'll probably get more reading done tonight :)

Just updating...

I'm on Chapter Six as of now.

I knew something was up when Chapter One revealed that Nate and his sister were his grandmother's only living relatives... And then you learn about his parents being alcoholics. I wonder if these past scars will resurface at a later date.

Just a side note, but I don't think anyone ever truly outgrows their love of the fantastic. I'm sure there's still a part of Nathan that wants to believe in magic. Hell, I think the chest is going to give him that chance.

I can tell already that Katrina is going to become an activists for equal rights in America (at least, that's my guess.)

Otherwise, I'm just along for the ride :)

Thank you for your kind comments. I think you will enjoy the story, but I'm not going to tell you what happens next!

lol xD wouldn't want it any other way.

Thank you, Now, you just need to read the whole book to find out what happens.

Thank you so much for your kind comment; I'm really glad you enjoyed it. It was a story that was a pleasure to write.

Don't mention it, brother. I wish you read my collection of sonnets "Free verse sonnets for Miranda Cosgrove" and give me your opinion, please.