Reviewer: Chavel47 Anonymous
Date: 01 Mar 2013 11:33 pm Title: Chapter 1
Wow! What a ride of emotions! A Duty to Live captivated me as much as the previous stories. I found the end of this story very satisfying. I enjoyed the relative calm that the families are experiencing after so many adventures. Looking forward to the next adventures. Meanwhile, I need to catch up on work around the house that was delegated to the “hold” list. I’m sure that many of your other readers also have chores on their “hold” list.
Author’s Response: More than delighted that you enjoyed this story as well. I think most readers felt a sense of satisfaction at the conclusion and there does seem to be a lull in unpleasant activities on the Ponderosa now, doens’t there? So sorry about all those jobs ‘on hold’ but you have plenty of time before the next one is ready as I have only just started on No.9. Chavel47, thank you so much for reading the stories I do appreciate they take a while to read just so very pleased that you’ve enjoyed it all. Best wishes Krystyna
**********
Reviewer: BettyHT Signed
Date: 02 Feb 2013 02:11 pm Title: Chapter 1
Great story — it is a major commitment of time but well worth the effort. Thank you so much for writing these installments. Waiting for the next.
Author’s Response: Betty, thank you so much for taking the time to read this story, not the last in the series by any means, it surprises me all the time that I am now starting on No.9 when I only intended one to be written…how powerful words can be when spun around the characters we care about so much. Thank you for your encouraging and motivating review… Krystyna
**********
Reviewer: Snuffybear Anonymous
Date: 01 Feb 2013 07:07 pm Title: Chapter 1
This was my first (but not last!) Commodore story. Your writing is quite simply amazing-your attention to details ranging from illness in Virginia City to hurricanes in the Caribbean to Spanish politics is mind boggling. Your characters are so real that I feel like I’ve met them all! I can’t say enough good about this story!
Author’s Response: Snuffybear: THank youso much for this review. I hope you get to read some of the others, although they are long, I know. I feel very complimented at what you have said about this one though, thank you again. Krystyna
**********
Reviewer: jcg Bonanzababe Anonymous
Date: 31 Jan 2013 08:59 am Title: Chapter 1
Was riveted to the story.
Went to work with only two hours of sleep
Thank you, again
Always enjoy your writing
Author’s Response: Whoops, hope you were alright at work? But what a lovely review, I am so very pleased you enjoyed it, Bonanzababe, because it really was a labour of love with thanks also to the readers as this was posted as a w.i.p and they all chipped in with their comments and opinions and what direction the story should take (if left to me Adam would still be single …grrrr…) Thank you so much, working on No. 9 now. Hope you’ll enjoy that as well. Krystyna
**********
Reviewer: BluewindFarm Signed
Date: 30 Jan 2013 04:38 pm Title: Chapter 1
Upon reading the title to the eigth installment in the Captain Cartwright series, I began to read the story with trepidation. A Duty to Live, who would face Death’s Door? Each time someone left the Ponderosa, I worried, ‘would this be the one’?
I know I should have grieved with the Nation upon receiving the news of General Custer’s death at Little Big Horn. The arrogance upon which he addressed Adam was the same arrogance he used to ‘deal’ with the Indians; he felt he was above all. I’m sorry so many others lost their lives as he proved himself a fool.
I feared for Hoss on the cattle drive. I grieved for Hester and her loss and mourned with Olivia’s losses. I dreaded the fate you would deal Adam when he was called back into service. After all he suffered in China, why couldn’t the President graciously accept his resignation?!
As for the ending, kudos!!! Just what I had hoped. I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment.
I know the length of these stories might put off some readers from starting the journey into the world of Captain Cartwright, however, the stories are well worth snuggling up in a blanket during this cold winter and settling down to read. Krystyna weaves fact and fiction into a wonderful story full of delight and sorrow, of loss and redemption, of apathy and love — a story of a family who understands the meaning of having A Duty to Live…
Author’s Response: Such a wonderful review, no, indeed, tribute to the story makes me feel both humble and proud… thank you so much, BlueWindfarm. I know these stories don’t get many readers but they do have their own little following and when I read such an overwhelmingly beautiful review like this one I feel really so encouraged to write another. Thank you, Deanne, thank you so very much, you make every hour and every word spent on writing this story so worthwhile, you even make me feel a halfway good writer l.o.l. I can’t thank you enough… Best wishes Krystyna
So … hmm. I stayed up way too late last night finishing this — and the irony is, supposedly I’m cutting back on sitting around and reading for Lent. That didn’t go according to plan … 😛
Really liked this one. I enjoy Adam’s sea adventures, but I also just enjoy them all together at the Ponderosa doing their family/ranching thing, so I was glad to have some of both in this one. I really enjoyed watching Adam get to know his new family, and the relationship he is developing with Reuben. I know the government doesn’t generally care about these things, but I was really annoyed about the short turnaround they gave Adam to get going on his assignment — not only is that hard on him and his family, but whatever else he might be involved in (cattle drive) has to scramble to cover.
I thought the ‘range war’ would be a bit crazy, but it seemed almost tame compared to the rest of the craziness throughout — storms and births and deaths, lost and found kids, sickness and injury, near misses and the like. The stuff of every day really is the craziest, right? I’m left with some happiness, some satisfaction, some concern … pretty much what the day to day gives you.
As always, thanks so much for writing. I look forward to the next. (Mustn’t stay up until 1:30 again, mustn’t stay up until 1:30 again) … 🙂
BTW … just how old is Hester?? Because he might be a great doctor, but I wanted to slap that man a few times …
Thank you so much for your review, PSW. I am sorry – sort of – that you stayed up so late/so early to finish it. But I do so love your enthusiasm for these stories, thank you for that as well.
Well, I can not reveal a ladies age…except to say that in those days there was such a high mortality rate among women giving birth that doctors far preferred younger women who were thought to be stronger. Hester would be in her 30’s so Dr Schofield would be a little apprehensive ..however, it turned out okay in the end.
Yes, I is the every day stuff that can provide the best adventures and the peaks of drama, and I am glad you have the imagination to appreciate that, PSW. Thank you so much.
Krystyna, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was restful and good to have Adam back on land, well until he got called to sea again. The families are all settling in and I enjoy the dynamics of the grandkids. Adam’s time at sea was well done. I truly feared for his life in the storm. He did the right thing with Delgado in the end and I was with him in his growing fury at the Admiral to suggest otherwise. My heart sank with Joe and Olivia trapped in town with the illness. I’m pleased Hoss and Hester are a growing family. I look forward to the next story with Adam and Olivia’s family. Like Debbie said, it is good the way old friends drift in and out of the picture. I sometimes find I’m wishing a few would stay a bit longer.
I am so pleased you enjoyed this story as slowly we are being weaned away from Commodore Cartwrights adventures at sea and into his life as father and husband. Hoss and Joe also have different life styles as married men so I really am so very glad to see that you enjoyed this story and all the different threads woven through it. Thank you for your encouragement, AC1830
Debbie … It really was encouraging to receive your comment on this story as developing the Cartwrights away from the series and creating other characters that relate so intimately with them I.e wives and children was quite a venture. I am at times rather daunted by moving away from the normal genre of what BZ readers expect, so when I get such a great comment as this it makes me give a sigh of relief. Thank you so very much. I do hope you continue to enjoy the series with All Those Tomorrows…best wishes Krystyna
I have loved all of this series but I think this is my favorite “book”. I love how you inject characters from Bonanza episodes and mention episode plots. It seems to add to the reality of the Cartwrights. On to the next one….
Thanks