rate_review Reviews

Erin, this was great! I can't wait for the next chapter! Is the Hessian amongst the audience?

The opening was fantastic! I just loved reading that! From really nice moments in there from Mme. Wimund checking out the Hessian, and him not fully understanding what the hell she's doing, to references such as "something that belonged to the night" and "caged animal" when it came to him being in a house, full of bourgeois types! Really shows us who he is, and again, you are doing suberbly with him! It was also very him to retreat to the stables, with the horses! Fine job through all of that! Really makes me want more of him!

And your descriptiveness never fails to impress me! The dress was probably my favorite part of that, how it was "rustic" and likely an old dress that Mme. Wimund just never threw out. Perfect! I was afraid you'd go all frilly on us, but you didn't !

So again, anxious to see what happens at the questioning! Looking forward to more of the Hessian, and still so very curious to find out how Jody and the Hessian end up together! This is truly quite a story you've got going here, and I'm so very hooked! Keep it up!

Grace

Okay, the morning after her first full night in the 18th century! It'll be interesting to see what the day holds, and even more interesting to see how she and the Hessian link up again!

Once more I applaud your abilities to make this feel so very real and make us all see what is going on as it happens! I also love that Jo feels like her presence in the gown detracts from its value. I like the subtly of how she is regarding the objects in her surroundings as both antiques, but also as part of her new world. It's the first step in accepting where she is, and there won't be anything between she and the Hessian until she does at least that.

I so can't wait until they see each other face to face again and hear what they have to say, if anything. I'm thinking though that any conversation they might have will be more telling in what is not said rather than what is, the Hessian's like that.:-)

Good job again, as always, and looking forward to more! These chapters are always such a treat to read, so keep 'em coming!:-)

Grace

I feel like such a bad person, I only just this evening saw that you'd updated, and two chapters no less! Wow! Thank you for the Halloween present!

I just finished Chapter 9, will read Chapter 10 when I've more time to devote to it, but wanted to tell you what a wonderful job you continue to do with weaving this web of characters and scenery and the reality you put into this story! I love reading this because it's always like a walk through history!

I love Jodi's two new friends! I said before that her reactions to things and people are outstanding and accurate, and you continue to blow me away with that! And her blowing her nose on her shirt was just the crowning, awful glory to such a despairing scene! The twisting of Jodi's fear and the slave's tale were perfect, I can see them bonding, and I love it!

And the Hessian is always such a joy to see again! I love his reactions to the house, "useless finery," yes, that's a perfect attitude for him! (And you said you were having difficulty getting him and writing him! You're doing great!) I also love watching him interact with his superiors, tolerating their authority, but abhorring it and them at the same time. And I love that you've got him doing normal things for him that have such a sense of...well, sexuality attached to them, but I bet you don't yet realize you're doing it. What I mean is when he clicked his heels for the woman who answered the door--he didn't have to offer her that, but he did! Really made me swoon!:-)

Can't wait to get to Chapter 10, and I'm sorry for not reading sooner than this! But, it was such a wonderful surprise to find this tonight, and I'm so glad you're posting again! Keep it up!

Grace

Wow. This is great but there should be more. I'm loving this! Keep writting!

i really like this story. does she ahve the hots for the horseman? please update soon *hopeful angelic smile and inocent eyes*

You continue to draw us deeper and deeper into this world you've created for Jodi, until even us readers are forgetting where we are! I can't wait to find out how the Hessian ends up relating to all of this, or if he does or not, or what it will eventually mean to him. I'm looking very forward to seeing how you write him again when the opportunity presents itself. Right now, Jodi's getting used to his "world" and that has to happen, so don't feel like you're stringing us all along and we're not entertained, we are. There's too much going on that is too strange to Jodi for us not to be! And besides, the more Jodi is used to where she is and understands, the better she and the Hessian are going to be able to relate to one another, and therefore, the easier it will be to write them together, too.

Once more, a wonderful chapter! I like that Jodi has this contemporary guilt about the slave, wants to help with the chores and such. Very appropriate and real, most of us would feel that if we were in that situation. Again, you know how to use the "gift" of feeling out of place that we would all naturally experience! Also interesting is the addition of the new female character who is bending a room full of British officers to her whim! This is all very intriguing, and the best part, I don't know where you're going with any of it! (That's a good thing in this sense, because you are making sense, but you're not being transparent as fanfic writers often are!)

Thanks for updating so soon! Can't wait for more! This has really got me thinking about who relates to who and how! Looking forward to following the web!

Grace

First, I'm very glad, and very honored to have my name appear at the bottom of your piece! I'm also glad that I could give you some encouragement--not that you really need it, you're a very strong writer!

The character of Jodi is herself so real and so interesting that I hardly noticed that the Hessian was absent in this chapter. We knew she was still thinking about him, and in the context of what was happening, it was very appropriate to have just the thought of him and not actualy him. As I've said before, you've done such a wonderful job creating and fleshing out Jodi that she can carry the scene all by herself!

In addition, I'm constantly amazed by the clarity with which you present how new and strange things are to Jodi! When reading that last chapter, it was like I was there, seeing these things, wondering these things, feeling a bit relieved, but not at all "at home." A lot of writers take for granted easy gifts, such as, we today are not in anyway conditioned to life back in the 18th century, and so you'd think that writing the strangeness of it all to a contemporary character would come naturally. Let me assure you it doesn't! But, you definitely have not taken such a "gift" for granted! You're progressing along perfectly from Jodi's point of view, and even more enjoyably, you're encompassing 18th century reactions and attitudes towards her as well! As a writer, you have a scope that I envy!

I was so excited to see that you'd updated, and as usual, you didn't disappoint my anticipation! Always a wonderful read, and I'm always looking forward to more! Beautifully done, once again! Thank you!

Grace

You are being much too hard on yourself! Let us review: 1.We know that Jodi is kinda thinking differently about The Hessian. 2.We know that The Hessian is even more annoyed with her. 3.We know that The Hessian doesn't think much of his superiors, or even of having superiors. 4.We know which of his superiors he dislikes the most. 5.We know that despite that The Hessian can force himself to play the game of "m'lords" and that he still has an interest in at least the sexual aspect of a woman's company, that Daredevil is the one whose opinion he values most. 6.You left us with a feeling of "what's Westmorland got planned for Jodi?" and that came through to us via The Hessian's thoughts.

That is a very very dense! Not a thing wrong with loading a chapter with information and foreshadowing like that, particularly when you can present it without having to rely on writing it as some exposition, but instead as a narrative that we can visualize and feel!

I completely understand what it's like to get to a point where you know what's going to happen next, but you just don't realize how you're going to get there. That's always when you feel like you've droned on saying nothing, or that you haven't showed enough, but instead did a lot of telling and directing the reader of what to watch out for next. It's scary to write without a plan, but you know what, sometimes you have to, and sometimes, that's your best stuff!

You did fine here, maybe not quite what you envisioned, but I never felt lost, or bored or anything other than delighted to see that Jodi smiled at The Hessian, and that he's developing a distrust of Westmorland when it comes to her. It's subtle, and it works!

So, stop apologizing. It is what it is, and it ain't at all bad!:-) It's got me so curious to know what happens next, and really, isn't that the goal when writing piecemeal chapters? Great job, and an interesting chapter! Thanks for updating!

Grace

This is great! You've spared no expense with the details, you've included everything that I could have thought of, right down to the Hessian's reaction to her straight teeth! (I enjoyed that particularly, considering how his own teeth are!lol) I also love how he's riding back to base with her thinking that she wasn't only strange, but also annoying! And the end, it couldn't have been a better cliffhanger! Hmm...so as it turns out, the strange, annoying, stranger is on their side? Huh?lol That's going to really throw the Hessian for a loop! Can't wait to read what's next!

You're finding him pretty well, although I know this is just the beginning. But, you get him, that's evident! Not everyone who writes him does.

I wish there was a way to put some sort of billboard or blinking light on your story! More people need to be made aware of this, it's far too good to not be read! Much encouragement to you to continue! There are so very few fics out there that one can truly get lost in!

Grace

haha now he's stuck with her...keep it up