James should have given Tristen the few kisses he requested, what's wrong with her?... it would have been medicinal for his poor broken and pained filled body!
Missus James, thank you for this great story that I am so involved in. You have captured a huge hunk of life and with your evident talent and superb writing skills, put that life to paper for all to enjoy.
I also learn from this story, about how some people like, James are living such destroyed lives since her birth that it is a nightmare, that she has survived is to her credit and that she is still able to have a small amount even of romantic feelings toward a man, in this case Tristen but, it is also logical that she would have a great amount of thick protective walls to her heart and her general well being. James also still strives to better herself, that she can maintain this hope with all the brutality to her humanity she has sufferd is another credit.
I look forward to seeing what relationship will develop between Tristen and James.
Reviewer: 5Danielle Signed
[Report This]Date: 07/02/11 03:15 pm
All the violence on Tristen was so unexpected; that Trigger/Pearl would act so soon and so greatly; it scared me a lot and made me feel a little nausea. I FEEL SO SORRY FOR TRISTEN. My God, he's a really nice guy who just showed a decent interest in a girl; to receive such painful brutality. However, there are many police on the payroll of well organized Black drug gangsters so James will have to be careful in contacting them for help.
The personal approach James has done was needed but she will have to come stronger, so some police involvement is needed. James indication that she possibly has evidence about their organization she could use to pull them down would be a major weapon of help.
I jumped for joy when James whipped Pearl's ass and also loved her scorching her skin. Finally, to give her just a little of the pain she has inflicted on James all her life!
Reviewer: 5Danielle Signed
[Report This]Date: 07/02/11 12:01 pm
Its evident that Pearl hates James, maybe Pearl also came from a severely abused background. Anyway, James should discontinue seeing Tristen but I dont think she will because so far he treats her like a decent person of human value and he himself appears to be a normal wholesome person, a rarity in James life that she would not want to give up. Also the romantic or just sensual feelings he raises in her.
Since, James wants to continue removing Pearl's shackles from her, this is actually another reason she should not give up Tristen but she should explain the dangers of the situation to him and let him make the decision.
I wish James could kill Pearl, she is a very vicious and evil person to have done all the horror to her defenseless daughter's life, especially when she was young. James is probably emotionally crippled now and I'm amazed she has the little bit of self esteem left that she does have.
As for Pearl hating the church, I think that may be because in the Black communities too many Churches are just pimps, just a business preying on the sadness and fear of destroyed persons, not giving any real guidance, just profiting by taking their money. Too often the Church is just another rip off and the worst because it does it under the mantle of God, thus taking away a desperate person's last belief that something good still exists in life. Accordingly, as I said why Pearl may hate the Church.
Reviewer: 5Danielle Signed [Report This]Date: 07/02/11 10:57 am
Enjoyed the club scene and the biological information about Melvin and Charles (Trigger) was dynamic. Also, the no-good character of Pearl, James's mother was very interesting. All of their histories certainly indicate why there is such a break down of values in many of our Black communities. Myself being a Black woman years of age beyond the present generations, I have continually been astonished by this break down, so unusual from the generation of the 1960's in which I was raised.
Reviewer: 5Danielle Signed [Report This]Date: 07/02/11 09:07 am
I like this; it's lively and Real. That turtle under the bed really made me laugh and definitely would have scared me a little as it did the girls.
I hope this story eventually tells me why a girl would have a boys name of James. Anyway, so far I like James's mother Pearl...Yeah! She was "real" in her confrontation with her daughter. Definitely reminds me of a few sistas I know. Pearl takes no prisoner's, she's real, life is indeed hard, no joke!
Quinn had a lot of nerve giving out James name and phone number to Tristen, a stranger. I don't like so called friends like that but evidently that's how James and Quinn roll.
I liked the bar scene and James response to the guy who came on so liberal and hip, she showed him up as not being as far out as he wanted to impersonate. Yeah! You've got to be ready to back up what image your putting down because you might meet someone like James and get called on it!
Reviewer: 5Danielle Signed [Report This]Date: 07/02/11 08:25 am
Yvonne, the receptionist sure has a filthy disrespectful mouth, maybe she's the office slut. Anyway, lots of hostility between her and Mark.
I like that river song James was sing and yeah so true, often time you don't commit suicide only cause you don't really know what's on the other side!
I liked James and Tristen's communication, no pretensions to romance, just responding to human sensuality but thankfully not straight to the bed. Also, like the lively tempo of the writing here. I like Tristen took her on a ice cream date instead of a liquor and that he behaved as a gentlemen!
Good chapter and characters well drawn, very realistic.
Reviewer: 5Danielle Signed [Report This]Date: 07/02/11 08:11 am
I kinda sorta saw this coming, but as usual what James does is the unexpected as she faces her Kryptonite and I love her reaction. I also like the fact that she put on her big girl panties and was woman enough to want to tell Tris about the baby. That is until he told her his news.
I was disappointed in Tris because he did not put on his big boy drawers and tell James sooner. Instead he waited till now to tell her, but he made up for it by not acting like a jerk or asking if it was his. He held her like she needed and stepped up to the plate by asking her to go with him to Paris.
Wish we could have seen James in the outfit and shoes sounds like that would have been one hot date.
Now the question is what will James say? Nuff said.
Reviewer: Junebug66 Signed
[Report This]Date: 03/02/11 04:50 am
Okay, they make it home safely, knock the boots and James whispers to Tris that she loves him in French. Girlfriend is losing her edge when she needs to be on her game.
Speaking of knocking boots did they have the safe sex talk cause unless James is on the Pill 'Houston we may have a problem.'
What have these two been up to the last few months? I'm curious because they haven't been doing a lot of talking. Have they only been making out?
Come up for air and talk guys. It is good that Tris can tell her about his family but is there something else he has failed to mention? Like the fact that he is leaving the country maybe? It looks like he even forgot about it himself even.
They've forgotten that Trick and Pony are out there lurking, waiting to pounce like a pair of rabid mongrels. James needs to take Melvin up on his offer of taking care of them once and for all.
Reviewer: Junebug66 Signed
[Report This]Date: 03/02/11 03:44 am
Ok lost another one, here we go again.
I'm not gonna bring anymore water to the party bcause I think there's enough of that already from the swimming pool. That was hot, intense and so very James and Tris-like to do something so unexpected. The two are well matched in the wildness department.
They both obviously got some sexy moves and it was nice to see them happy for a change. But Tris really took his life into his hands when he pulled her into the swimming pool. Doesn't he know that you don't get a black girl's hair wet?
I liked Tris' little jealous episode and the fact that for once he was at a loss for words when he snatched her up. I like that and also how he made her feel beautiful, desireable and sexy and so he should because she is.
Author's Response:
LOL! June, he's French so he didn't know any better, but there should be a law that you shouldn't get a black girl's hair wet. James went easy on him, but he probably would have gotten an ass whooping if it were any other girl, LOL. But he made it up to her, but doing what you said which is making her feel beautiful and desireable. You can't go wrong with that! :)
Reviewer: Junebug66 Signed [Report This]Date: 03/02/11 02:32 am
Well I believe the saying is you can't keep a good man down and apparently that means this resilient Frenchman. I am relieved that he woke up and didn't blame James for what had occurred to him, but that does not mitigate her sense of guilt.
He doesn't seem to be going anywhere and that is a good thing. She needs someone who treats her the way she deserves to be treated like a worthy human being. The fact that he finds her sexy is a close second though
Tris is one tough cookie and with that sense of humor, determination and charm he is fast on his way to not only recovering but winning James over as well whether she likes it or not.
Author's Response:
Yes, Tristen is a very persistent man. I think that is one of his most important qualities because he forces James out of her shell when she wants to hide from the rest of the world. He's not overly dominant to a point where he is oozing, but he exerts enough persistence upon James that it's slowly developing James' character. I wanted him to reassure her that it wasn't her fault about what happened because it really wasn't, lol. It was Trigger and Pearl's faults, but James feels responsible because of Trigger and Pearl's actions.
T and P are very immature, greedy beings.
Reviewer: Junebug66 Signed [Report This]Date: 02/02/11 11:21 pm
Ok let's try this again, my review just disappeared.
This just reinforces my opinion of Tris, that was a very thoughtful gift. He is definitely a keeper, unfortunately Trick and Pony don't look like they intend for James to have him that long.
I like how James delivered the 411 to the 'messenger' I could almost smell the meat burning but I wish it was Trick she was giving that tip to. Although if it was him she would have to pull out the big guns and that would not be good her.
James understandably feels guilty about Tris being in the hospital but he is going to need her strength to get him through this ordeal.
Really liking it MJ.
Author's Response:
It was very fun writing the hair salon scene between James and Pearl. It was also a major leap for James to do such a thing. For years since she had left her old life behind she had been trying to be less violent and more controlled over her emotions. What she did to Pearl was fueled by years and years of bottling up her emotions and she basically unleashed the dragon. Trigger will get his turn though!
James does feel extremely guilty for Tristen being in the hospital because she told him not to come back, but he did anyway and she couldn't stay away from him. The price for this was not a good one, but in the end it will strengthen the two people that were impacted the most: James and Tristen.
Thanks, June!
Reviewer: Junebug66 Signed [Report This]Date: 02/02/11 09:50 pm
I hope that James takes Melvin's advice to heart. She knows what Trick and Pony are capable of. Does she think they would mellow with age? Only alcohol gets better with age James not people who the most part get hardened in their ways for better or worse.
I like J & T's interaction, he is very sweet and persistent which is a good thing in a man that you want, not in a man that you don't want which is Trick to a T.
James is a very strong woman to have survived the trauma inflicted on her by her maternal incubator because I refuse to call Pony her mother anymore. Any woman who could subject her daughter, her fourteen year old child to not only drug deals but rape is a monster.
It is no wonder James has a hard edge to her and even something of a devil may care attitude when it comes to getting free from Trick & Pony.
Melvin is correct she needs to tell Tris, there is no hiding from this situation, she needs to face this head on.
Author's Response:
June, you are too much! Trick and Pony? I would have never thought of that! :) There is no need to redeem characters like Trigger and Pearl because they've already dug themselves so deep into a hole that they are most likely vacationing in China! Compared to James' past, I think Tristen is the perfect balance. He is patient, but he is also persistent in a sense that he forces her to open up and talk about her feelings.
This is really the key to her character development throughout the story. Tristen is getting his own character development. In his last relationship, he ran from Paris after his girlfriend cheated on her without a fight. Now he is going to fight for a chance with James.
Thanks, June!
Reviewer: Junebug66 Signed [Report This]Date: 02/02/11 08:43 pm
Hey MJ, something occurred to me while reading this and I went back and looked and sure enough found what I was looking for. The club is named Melancholy (a fancy way to say sad) it is a blues club and the inside is blue with blue lighting. When you are sad you are blue. Did you do that deliberately? Nice touch.
Also a nice touch is James' relationship with Melvin who seems to have been a constant from her teenaged years and thank God for him because Pearl was not there in any constructive fashion apparently.
James held her position with Trigger and Pearl and sounded her battle cry with that song. Unfortunately neither one of them like to take no for an answer and won't let go but somehow she needs to shake them off like dirt under her feet or she will never be free.
The flirting was cute between J & T. The fact that James paid attention to Tristen though in front of Trick and his Pony is not going to be a good thing. I can only hope that he watches his back.
Enjoying the story and playing catch-up.
Author's Response: Yes, I did do that deliberately. I've always liked the word 'melancholy' even though it's meaning isn't very nice, LOL. I thought that having a club named as such would be an interesting take on a blues club especially a blues club equipped with the right lighting and atmosphere. In this story, James' relationship with Melvin is briefly touched, but in the sequel there will be much more interaction between the two of them. This story is basically setting up the plot for the sequel. Reviewer: Junebug66 Signed
[Report This]Date: 02/02/11 08:08 pm
I forgot to say from the previous chapter her mother is not a nice person and now I see why with Mr. Charming as a Snake Trigger around. He is one sleazy, scary dude and his interest in James is disgusting. He already has the mother (poor excuse that she is) why is he trying to step to James?
Tristan seems like a nice guy whose had some interesting experiences from the sister dying during childbirth to his fiance cheating on him to his driven mother making them 'international'.
I like Tris' persistence and I hope he turns out to be the man I think he is. James needs all the support she can get especially when she has to face her mother and 'step-father'.
Playing catch-up.
Author's Response: Trigger and Pearl are two interesting characters indeed. They have their own intentions in mind, which will over time be revealed for all to see. Though it may seem like this is a battle that James must fight alone, it isn't and eventually, James will understand that. She tries to put up a wall between herself and others because she feels that is the only way she can survive, but all she is doing is hurting herself than benefiting from her actions. Though Tristen will be there to break down that wall whether she likes it or not! :) Reviewer: Junebug66 Signed
[Report This]Date: 01/02/11 05:38 am
James is one tough cookie, but it sounds like she's had to be. She is trying to better herself by going to school but why does it sound like she is being serious when she talks about being a drug dealer?
I like the friendship that she shares with Quinn and Xander and wonder if they know James has a very strange sense of humor? (As does the Creator known in this case as MJ).
Hmmmm enter one sexy Frenchman. Let the games begin.
Author's Response: LOL! A strange sense of humor? You know I'll take that as a compliment. It was very fun writing the scenes between Quinn, Xander, and James because their characters are inspired by my own friends. I wanted to try and make their friendship and interaction with each other as authentic as possible. James is a tough cookie, but she luckily bumped into someone who could make her tough persona crumble. :) Thank you! Reviewer: Junebug66 Signed
[Report This]Date: 01/02/11 05:11 am
I like your cast MJ, this is a very interesting looking bunch and I am curious to see the journey they will all take.
Author's Response: Thanks, June! You know it's going to be an interesting journey! ;)
[Report This]Date: 01/02/11 04:29 am
Wow, heavy situation there being preggers. Hmm, wonder if she'll go with him or refuse??!!
Author's Response: We'll just have to wait and see! You know James is a stubborn heifer! :) Thank you.
[Report This]Date: 03/01/11 08:27 am
Aw...
I wasn't surprised...I kind of figured that something was going to come up...and with them not using protection...
James...I know she was upset but she slapped him really hard. Poor Tristen. James...so afraid just getting her life back on track just started to enjoy being with Tristen and in love. I feel for her but I think for all she went through (she's knows how not to raise a child) and the kind of person Tristen is...that they'd be great parents. It isn't under the best circumstances but at least he's willing to be there for her. About Paris....hmm..I can already see James there with Tristen and the rest of his family.
Thanks for sharing this story; I really enjoyed this chapter.
Author's Response: LOL, if you just found out that you were pregnant and your baby's daddy just told you that he's leaving for his home country in two weeks, I think a hard slap is a subtle response! It's going to be a long, bumpy road for James and Tristen, but I definitely agree that they would be great parents. As for Paris, only time will tell if James agrees to go. You know she's stubborn! Thanks for your review. Happy New Years! Reviewer: R. Anonymous
[Report This]Date: 01/01/11 07:48 am
I'm so glad Tristen knows about the pregnancy. Glad it didn't go in the direction where the woman decides not to tell the guy and he goes on with his life only to find out later about the bebe.
I was surprised and I wasn't, if that makes sense. The minute she had the grocery bag in the bathroom[!]. I knew, she thinks she's preggers and then with her symptoms, it clicked. James killed me with so many tests! and when the first one initially show negative, I was like, but what about all the symptoms and then the next pink line slowly showed, and even though it was devastaing for her, it made me laugh. I was like damn!
Now the question is how will he persuade her to go with him?Author's Response:
LOL, I was laughing as I wrote that scene even though it wasn't a laughing matter for James. You know she is completely devastated! I don't think the story would be the same if Tristen hadn't of found out the way he did. Tristen getting hurt gave James the strength she needed to confront Pearl and Trigger, James being pregnant is forcing Tristen to take matters into his own hands.
As for how he is going to persuade her, I'll just say it's going to be something that everyone else expects. ;) Thank you!
Reviewer: BellaChica Signed
[Report This]Date: 31/12/10 11:05 pm
I thought this chapter was the best. I was excited about the new addition. Can't wait for the next udate.
Author's Response: Thank you so much! :) More updates coming soon definitely.
[Report This]Date: 31/12/10 08:31 pm
I am Surprised that Tristian didnt tell James he was only there temperally. I like the direction this is going. James may need to excape to Paris to get away from her mom and Trigger. I just love babies so I love the whole baby thing. Awesome update. Look forward to reading more.
Author's Response:
He probably should have in the beginning, but he was too busy courting her. Time passes by so quickly when you're falling in love, LOL. I love babies too and this is going to be a fun journey because we all know that Tristen has some nurturing skills from helping raise his niece, but James do not have the slightest idea of what it takes to be a mother considering her mother wasn't really a mother to her.
Reviewer: Cali2mt406 Signed
[Report This]Date: 31/12/10 06:32 pm
yes well good luck to triton getting james to leave. she doesn't seem to care for that solution very much. so glad your flow is back!
Author's Response: Aw, thanks! You know James isn't going to leave without a fight, LOL. But Tristen ain't leaving her in general, so this is going to be an interesting struggle. :)
[Report This]Date: 31/12/10 04:09 pm
Well, I was quite surprised which this new bit of information. Question why can't Tristian stay states side instead of going back home. Get out of his contract with the french guy and get a new job with (Mark?) the guy he is working with for the past 9 months. Anyway Loved it. Now Update.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!
Author's Response: If James is pregnant with Tristen's baby then he does not want to live in the States especially when she has a dangerous past lurking around. I'm not saying that her past can't follow her to Paris, but at least he has a fighting chance of protecting her and the baby in his own playground, Paris. Though he enjoys working for Mark, he knows that Mark's company won't provide the same kind of check that Jean-Claude's company can provide him and he wants to be financially prepared to take care of a baby. I hope that answers your question! :) Thank you for reviewing. Happy New Year! Reviewer: cimmy1 Anonymous
[Report This]Date: 31/12/10 03:09 pm
So enjoying the story and the update was great! Love the line: She felt like Superman on the verge of facing his ultimate weakness, kryptonite. LOL! Thought it was too funny! Please update soon!
Author's Response: Thank you! I am a comic book fan, so sometimes I can't handle but sneak a few references in my stories every once and a while without making it seem like I'm a dork, which I am, but that's not that point! LOL! More updates are coming soon, I am trying to wrap this baby up as soon as possible! Happy New Years!
Date: 31/12/10 02:03 pm
This was sooo good, so good! Loved every minute of it. PUhleeze let that stubborn ass girl go with her man, her baby's daddy I should say. (That's gonna be a beautiful little boy or girl, or boys, or girls, or - well, you know what I'm saying lol)
Tristen is the man for her. He doesn't allow her to hide from her emotions or from him: he totally completes the woman she's become. Now she's a mother-to-be who must think of her kid too. There's no life left for her there - only demons that continue to suck the life out of her. Its time for James to finally exhale, forgive herself... and live. Not saying that the road ahead will be roses but it doesn't have to be all doom either.
So glad your writing flow is back. Looking forward to the next fun-packed update. :)
Author's Response:
LOL, it feels weird calling him James' baby's daddy! But what a fine baby daddy he is. ;) I completely agree with you. Tristen completes James because he won't tolerate her hiding from him or emotions and James completes Tristen because she forces him to step outside of his boundaries and experience things he's never felt before to prove himself to her. There really isn't any thing for her in the States even if she does have Melvin and her best friends, but if Trigger and Pearl finds out that she is pregnant then they might do something drastic and Tristen doesn't want that risk.
Thanks for your review! Happy New Year! :)
Reviewer: JV4ME Anonymous [Report This]Date: 31/12/10 01:59 pm