Old Reviews

The Game

Reviewer: BluewindFarm Signed

Date: 13 Aug 2013 11:44 am Title: The Game

I love the scene of Adam sitting over the chessboard, trying to figure out his unwitting moves already made, as well as what moves would happen next.

I never realized there were so many rules to chess, a game I never developed a talent for playing.

A well orchestrated story that surpassed the thrill of the victory.

Author’s Response:

 I’ve never been much for chess, myself. I know how each piece moves, but as to strategy…;) Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Reviewer: Yankee818 Signed

Date: 01 Dec 2012 08:04 pm Title: The Game

I read both stories 2x(this and Engame) Wonderful!!! If it were a book(a page turner). The suspense, drama, hurt, etc. I was so there in the story. Thank you.. Dana

Author’s Response:

Thank you, Dana! I love page turners–except in the middle of the night when I know I have to get up early! Doh! But I do love them, so I love to hear when my own stories succeed in that “category”! I’m glad you enjoyed them both! 🙂

Reviewer: moira4eku Signed starstarstarstarstar

Date: 17 Apr 2011 11:04 am Title: The Game

I do believe I read this story eleswhere and really love it. I thoroughly enjoyed rereading the story here. You are spot on with each Cartwright. Thanks for bringing your story here.

Author’s Response:

Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’ll be posting a sequel soon, called “Endgame.” There’s a lot being posted so I won’t rush it; but it’ll be up before too much longer!

Reviewer: Annie K Cowgirl Signed

Date: 15 Apr 2011 07:04 pm Title: The Game

Wonderful story, Freya!! Another example of gifted writing; thanks for sharing your talent!!! 🙂

Author’s Response:

Thank you very much! 🙂

Reviewer: mamse5 Signed

Date: 15 Apr 2011 06:36 pm Title: The Game

Fascinating story! I enjoyed it the 2nd time around, just as much as the first read. Well thought out – lots of drama and great writing. Thanks for sharing your talent!! Jane

Author’s Response:

Thank you! Hearing feedback like this is just awesome! It’s very much appreciated! (and inspiring!)

Reviewer: slaine89 Signed

Date: 13 Apr 2011 06:17 pm Title: The Game

Just wanted to tell you once again how much I enjoyed this story. I love the intricacy of the plot and the very real emotions that were spot on for the characters and of course, Peter Nobridge. Great character you created there. I hope you plan on posting the sequel here as well.

Author’s Response:

Thank you! Yes, End Game will be posted soon as I can get to it. I want to do it right this time, i.e. break it into chapters, since it’s even longer than this one.

1 page (of 4) recovered from Bonanza World’s lost data….

readerwriter [registered]         2011.01.19 – 08:20PM | Member | Respond

Enjoyed it. A lot of mystery and suspense. Thank you

Author’s Response: Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply! This review snuck past me somehow! Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the story, and especially glad you enjoyed it enough to leave feedback! Thanks, again! 🙂

mlfan54 [registered]    2011.01.13 – 02:25AM | Member | Respond

I’ve sat up half the night reading this awesome story….I didn’t want it to end, even though my hand on my mouse was just racing along. You’ve done such a good job at depicting all the emotional drama in this “game” even though there was plenty of “action” as well. I loved the scene near the beginning of Joe holding up one finger for “one beer” – that is an action so typical of Joe in many of the tv episodes. Adam worrying about Joe’s involvement with Whitfield, which of course at that point in the story, I saw as a perfect opportunity for some good SJS, and I wasn’t disappointed. Joe suffers, Adam feels guilt……both were at their BEST in this story. Joe of course has many heroic actions in this story which I loved: trying to escape from the cave, rising to the occasion in trying to help first Pa, and then Hoss (despite his exquisite suffering all the while in his “pretty little night shirt”). Adam insisting on lighting the fuse at the cave so that he could take the responsibility if anything went wrong. Hoss’ anguish at unintentionally hurting Joe in trying to remove the rocks. I loved Whitfield’s comeupance at Mr. Seymour’s house. Adam hoping that Joe would soon be back to being…….just Joe. Your descriptions were also haunting…the light showing Griffin’s icy blue eyes, Joe’s attention to sunrises. I of course was eager to see who fired “the shot”…..Adam’s sling feeling very heavy with the weight of 3 lives depending upon him….Adam thinking of Whitfield as a “mindless cow” and I loved the ending where Adam looked at “little” Joe and seeing a man…..and Joe’s finding a “balance” at the end of the crisis. WHAT A GREAT STORY!!!

Author’s Response: Wow! What a great review! I’m sorry I cost you some sleep, but I’m so happy you found this story to be so compelling! 😀 Thank you very much! Really, I’m speechless. It thrills me to find people enjoying my stories!

Taylor [registered]       2011.01.12 – 07:10PM | Member | Respond

Great story. Very enjoyable read indeed. Look forward to reading more of your Bonanza fan fic. Cheers.

Author’s Response: Thank you so much! I’m very glad you liked it! 😀

slaine89 [registered]    2011.01.11 – 03:37PM | Member | Respond

Great story; I loved the complexity and all the twists. Clearly you are either a genius or have too much time on your hands to think of a chess game like that 🙂

Author’s Response: LOL! I certainly do not have too much time on my hands (quite the opposite!) I just happen to be obsessive when a good story idea sticks in my mind–so obsessive that I ignore things I really shouldn’t ignore! (grin). On the other hand, genius…. Um. Nope. I don’t think so–but I appreciate the compliment! 😉 And I’m glad you enjoyed this one!

Cyndy [registered]      2011.01.10 – 10:53PM | Member | Respond

Great story and I’m glad it included Hop Sing.

Author’s Response: Thank you! The sequel includes Hop Sing also… It’s still a WIP, but it’s coming… 😉

tidman [registered]      2011.01.09 – 06:15PM | Member | Respond

Just a great story!! Loved the interaction and the including of Hop Sing in the tale. Thanks for taking the time to write it!!

Author’s Response: Thank you! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to read it! 😉

Bonanza Girl [registered]        2011.01.05 – 07:19PM | Member | Respond

Bonanza Girl Very good story. I enjoyed it very much, thanks for sharing it with us.

Author’s Response: I’m glad you liked it! Thank you for reading, and for letting me know you enjoyed it! 🙂

ledforcd [registered]   2011.01.04 – 03:58PM | Member | Respond

Awesome story! From the beginning to the end, you took this reader on a journey that could have gone many different directions. I really found myself trying to figure out the “chess match” that Adam was playing with Whitfield!! What would happen and to whom? Awesome read!

Author’s Response: Thank you very much! I’m so glad you liked it! I’ll admit it was a thrill to write! Certainly challenging, but definitely enjoyable! 😀

BnzaGal [registered]   2011.01.04 – 12:35AM | Member | Respond

Oh! This was such a great story! I’m so glad I got to read it! Once I started I couldn’t stop- I’m glad it wasn’t a WIP… I wouldn’t have been able to stand the suspense! Thanks to all who made this story possible! -BnzaGal-

Author’s Response: Thank you so much! Your comments are awesome! I *do* have a sequel being posted as a WIP. I’m told I’m keeping folks on the edge of their seats, but I am trying to post frequently! (grin) Stay tuned… 😉

inca222 [registered]    2011.01.03 – 01:31PM | Member | Respond

Intelligently written. Great to have plenty of angst and suffering but set within a decent plot that takes a bit of time to unfold. I like longer stories that I can really get into. I thought the ambiguous nature of the Peter character was intriguing. Kept me guessing. Also nicely balanced between the different family members. Thanks for a good read!

Author’s Response: Thank you for such wonderful feedback! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, and particularly glad you found it nicely balanced! I do dearly love all the Cartwrights! 😀

Englishgirl [registered]            2011.01.02 – 09:01PM | Member | Respond

Freyakendra you certainly come up with some very intriguing and novel plotlines. Mind poor Adam must think all his opponents are into some kind of game (Crucible) I just hope I didn’t upset anyone at college as much as Adam upset Alfred, mind we are all a bit long in the tooth to make that much difference now. Brilliantly plotted story, great characterisation and a story with all the Cartwrights involved in the action, what more can one ask for. Thanks for sharing.

Author’s Response: Thank you so much for such wonderful feedback! I’m very glad you thought so much of this story to provide these comments! 😀

fourjays [registered]    2011.01.02 – 06:10PM | Member | Respond

Great story – very interesting – enjoyed reading it.

Author’s Response: I’m very glad you liked this story! Thank you for the wonderful feedback!

AddieMaureen [registered]     2011.01.02 – 12:06AM | Member | Respond

Love the chess game idea! Very interesting story. Thanks for sharing.

Author’s Response: I’m so glad you liked it! Thank you for reading, and for the wonderful feedback! 🙂

sunrider [registered]    2011.01.01 – 03:04PM | Member | Respond

Wow, this is a really special story. I found your story “Endgame” in the Forum and decided to read this first. I didn’t regret it, this chess-game is a very good idea. The story is very good writen, I love the interaction between the brothers, a lot of details and feelings. Now I’m looking forward how the sequel is going on.

Author’s Response: Thank you so very much! I’m glad you enjoyed it enough to catch up with the sequel! 😀

ILuvLilJoe [registered]           2011.01.01 – 10:13AM | Member | Respond

Wonderful story, freya! 😀

Author’s Response: Thank you! 😀

Laurie [registered]       2011.03.25 – 11:12PM | Member | Respond

loved it, you are a very good story teller, look forward to more, thanks

Prima donna [registered]         2011.03.24 – 08:59PM | Member | Respond

A good drama story to read about Adam and his brother.

Englishgirl [registered]            2011.03.24 – 06:09PM | Member | Respond

You really know how to create a compelling plotline but more than that you create superb originial characters. I would love to read more about Peter and his Aunt and how they come to terms with the past. Thanks for sharing this great story.

rider [registered]         2011.03.24 – 04:55PM | Member | Respond

A very intense and superbly written story! Keep up the writing as I wait to read more from you. Thank you for sharing your talent with us!

alhernandez1 [registered]        2011.03.24 – 12:57PM | Member | Respond

great story

kathy65 [registered]    2011.03.24 – 10:20AM | Member | Respond

another fantastic story, please write more.

jma0531 [registered]   2011.03.24 – 06:54AM | Member | Respond

Interesting story.

Smith [registered]       2011.03.23 – 08:21PM | Member | Respond

Great Story! I Loved “The Game” and this is a great ending for that whole story. Keep writing you are great at it.

slaine89 [registered]    2011.03.23 – 05:56PM | Member | Respond

Wow, reading it as a whole just adds to the tension and the great plot construction. I was going to skim through and see what all you changed, but I got drawn in and ended up on the edge of my seat reading it all over again. Thanks for the great story!

vanharenk [registered]            2011.03.23 – 04:23PM | Member | Respond

Wonderful story! Peter is a a well written character and I would love to read more stories with him.

sklamb [registered]      2011.03.23 – 02:20PM | Member | Respond

A story that covers a wide range of emotions and every sort of conflict–from breathless shootouts to introspective self-examination–and conveys it all with clarity and profound sympathy. You’ve not only shown us fresh sides of all the Cartwrights (not to mention Roy Coffee) but also created two new characters whom I feel richer for having met. I enjoyed every word of this! Thank you so much!