Reviewer: Chavel 47 Anonymous
Date: 25 Jan 2013 12:46 pm Title: Chapter 1
Normally one submits a review after reading the entire story. Since I saw you were posting a series of stories, I went back to find the first one. I wanted to read them in sequence. As you can see, I am on #4, Chapter 95. I find your stories captivating. It takes all my will power to put down the iPad and do the other tasks like “work”. I enjoy reading Adam’s adventures and at the same time seeing what is happening back home on the Ponderosa. You have so many twists and turns. Thank you for such a fascinating read and something to look forward each time I get to take a break from my other obligations.
Author’s Response: Chavel 47, I do so apologise for being so late in replying to your review, I tend to forget to check to see if there are any new ones. I was very, very touched by what you have written here, Chavel, thank you. What you have said means a great deal to me and I can’t thank you enough for letting me iknow what you think of the stories. I do hope that you continue to read the others and enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed writing them. Believe me, they are a labour of love. Thanks again, best wishes, Krystyna
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Reviewer: BluewindFarm Signed
Date: 30 Oct 2012 08:19 am Title: Chapter 1
What a riveting series, from Captain Cartwright to Commodore!
Shocking that the Cartwrights could lose the Ponderosa, but thankfully, they had guardian angel in their midst.
I was saddened that the writers/producers of Bonanza just let Adam’s character sort of be forgotten. It would have meant so much more had we seen snippets of Adam’s life away from the the Ponderosa and I do believe he would have been a success in what ever endeavor he attempted. I’m glad your stories had him take to the sea, it was in his blood!
Author’s Response: Bluewindfarm: I always get rather excited when I see a review for any of my CC stories, as so many readers don’t like to go beyond the four of them together. The fact that he was involved with the sea is canon to the series so I took the series from there … I am just so very glad you enjyed the story, BluewindFarm, as they have always been a joy to write, especially as they give me so much opportunity to do research in various aspects of American history which makes for an even more interesting twist to the fiction. Thanks again very much. Krystyna
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Reviewer: sunrider Signed
Date: 21 Jan 2012 03:41 pm Title: Chapter 1
Another great sequel of the Captain Cartwright series, sorry I mean Commodore. Very exciting again, Adam tracking down the missing ship and his friend O’Brian and the dealing with Cassandra Pelman. One of the things I liked most was Hoss finding the woman he loves and finally married her, and Adam just arrived at home in time. Looking forward to the next part …
Author’s Response: Oh Sunrider, this is such a great review, thank you so very much. It was great writing about Hoss meeting Hester and falling in love … I am really, really pleased that you enjoyed it so very much. Thank you again. Krystyna
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Reviewer: Krystynaw Signed
Date: 28 Aug 2011 12:21 pm Title: Chapter 1
Well, Krystynaw, what can I say that I haven’t already said? Nothing has changed in this series. It’s masterful…thrilling…blood-pumping…laugh inducing…tear drawing…I truly feel like there’s nothing more I can say. With every story it just gets better and better, and frankly, there’s so many things I loved about this that I don’t know where to begin. You have a way of drawing a person into a story and making it so that they don’t want to stop until the story is over. And THEN when they have finished the story, they feel this ache inside because they didn’t want it to end. Thank you from the depths of my heart for all the hard work and devotion you put into these stories. You’ll never know what they mean and the pleasure they bring ~Meghan
Author’s Response: I really felt sad at seeing a bit fat 0 opposite my Commodore so thought I’d post one of the reviews this story received from when it was posted on BW. Meghan’s comments I felt deserved a full 10 stars but went for 9 for the sake of modesty. Krystyna
Yay, Hoss! 🙂
So … oh, what a story! Definitely my favorite installment so far. I was so sucked into it that I kept having to remind myself (sometimes more successfully than others) that I do have other things I need to be doing than just stay glued to my phone reading … and reading … and reading … 😛
I continued to be aggravated by the Ponderosa proceedings at the beginning — I’m glad that bit got wrapped up fairly quickly, or I would have worked myself into a bit of a state by the time it was all over. People like that just soooo aggravate me. McGarthy definitely falls into Hop Sing’s cousin’s comment about some people just being born wanting what’s not theirs to have …
I was so very worried about Daniel, and glad to see him showing some initiative in case no one showed up to help him (as he surely would not expect). And as much as it was a bad time to leave home and (as always) he thought about resigning before leaving, in this case I think Adam would never have forgiven himself had he not gone and something happened to his friend. Of course, the following adventures were more aggravation for all — there were times I wanted to smack every man on that ship. I know they were taught to view women in a certain way (eg, not terribly clever), but … come on, boys!!
Sad that things worked out the way they did for Joe — but it’s probably just as well. She never would have been happy there (even from the beginning, when she was thinking she would convince her husband to see the world with her), and he could never be happy elsewhere. Of course, Virginia City did its level best (as always) to illustrate what happens when people have too much time and opportunity to stand around gossip. Maybe everyone should all just be out doing physically taxing work every day like the Cs … leaves a lot less time and energy for that sort of thing.
Hester was great, I like her for Hoss. He needs a strong woman, I have always been convinced — if he marries a shy, timid woman he will (at least, I think) end up seeing her as almost another puppy or colt or stray animal that he’s taken in. It’s important that he has someone who can be a partner, who can stand on her own two feet and support him in the way he is as much as he does her. (If that makes sense …)
Was happy for Candy and Ann (liked what you did there), glad one of Ben’s sons finally managed to tie the knot, and glad Adam made it home in (relatively) one piece. I’m a little concerned what will come of that wound, given the hints you’ve thrown … but I guess we’ll see.
Thanks so much as always for writing, this was a really great read. 🙂
Thank you so much for your terrific review of the story, psw. I am so glad you liked Daniel, he became a big character during the series. I was especially pleased that you liked Hester…I so agree with you, Hoss needed and deserved a strong woman in his life, one whom perfectly understood him and has a sense of humour too. I think you will enjoy their married life …
Thank you again…I was totally bowled over by such a generous review..Krystyna
So, I’m most of the way through chapter 2, and I’m so aggravated. If I was Ben, I’d be cracking skulls! (Only, he would apparently go to jail then … ?)
Seriously, if the Winnemucca thing was a problem, his lawyer should have brought that up a long time ago. (Though Im barely begun, so who knows what’s coming …)
Anyhoo … Merry Christmas! ?
Thank you PSW…and yes, well, you know how trusting the Cartwrights are with their friends? Adam trusted quite a few unworthies in his time and looks like the acorn didnt fall far from the tree … but I hope you get to enjoy it all, all I can say is ..poor Joe, poor Adam..and good ol’ Hoss.
Hi AC1830 …thank you for such a great review on this story…and I am glad you liked Laurence as he and some other “old” friends pop up in the next story. I get so thrilled at the reviews you send about the stories, knowing they are giving new readers, such as yourself, pleasure. I so hope you enjoy Invictus….Krystyna
This story certainly had its ups and downs for Adam and his shipmates. It was a nice respite from the tenseness of the previous story, but it certainly had its moments of looking over your shoulder and not knowing who to trust. I loved Willoughby, though sad his journey wasn’t all he thought it would be. The romances with Joe and Hoss were wonderfully done. I felt so bad for Joe but it did make sense. Vicky still had things to work out on her own. The JPM in the barn was perfection, so beautiful. The possible loss of the Ponderosa had me fearing the worst. Ben was truly trapped. Lastly, Cassandra!! What can I say? It was such fun to see how Adam would react to each of her plans. I laughed so hard when it was her song vs. the men’s music. You never knew what she would do next, making her extremely dangerous. With all the intrigue, descriptions of sailing, the foreign lands and history, and Adam’s longing to be where he is not make for some wonderful reading. I’m off to read the next one and see what adventures and enemies await him and his family.
Well, I’m at the 4th segment of this magnificent series. I love this sooo very much.! There is so much laughter and as many tears shed. I love Adam on the Ponderosa and even more when he’s at sea. I didn’t mention that this is my second cruise on this amazing journey. It’s just as amazing the second time around. I read this through about 9 months ago and thought about this so much since that I couldn’t resist starting it all over again. I read these fiction stories alot. I have read several a second time (on purpose), but nothing is so unforgetable as this. Krystyna, you are gifted writer and I enjoy everything you write. Thanks so much for sharing your talent.
Hi Debbie, this is such a lovely comment. Thank you so much for letting me know how much you enjoyed Commodore and also the series. I never knew it would grow to ten stories!! But I have enjoyed the cruise as well over the years it has become part of life to be writing about the Cartwrights. When I get reviews like this I really feel “Wow, it was worth it after all. . Thank you so much, Debbie, for your encouragement this morning…