Why ?! Couldn't he just live? Both of them !?I'm crying myself to sleep tonight...g great story though and thanks for the song. I love the song now and have never heard of it until now, so thanks️

WHY?! James Moody didn't have to die ! That is why it's called fiction ! good story but sad ending

I'm sobbing

Shit ...I'm crying

Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh

This story is great! Very well-written, and pretty much historically accurate, which is rare. I get Cate's desire for a simpler life - life could be quite complicated for an Edwardian lady - but her father is right when he says that she never had to endure hardship, and she had come to romanticize a "lower class life" she never really experienced. I like that the answer to her "A life without money isn't automatically an unhappy one" is something along the line of "yeah, gurl, you think so because you never had to get out of bed at 4 a.m. to milk the cows!"

In regards of spaces in lifeboats for the junior officers and how even the seniors might’ve survived if they only tried, I somehow truly wish for Harold to maybe share the little anecdote that occured at the lifeboats 14 and 16 between him and James. Apparently, and it’s even assumed historically, this little conversation and the decision James made might’ve haunted Harold a bit more than he let through, or at least it was always at the front of his mind, as it’s always one of the bits that he recalls during both the British and American inquiries and even in his affidavit.
Though I do believe Lightoller was a bit luckier than he could’ve been, considering he worked at the boat deck, releasing the last collapsibles, until the ship was engulfed in water completely. He was lucky enough to climb on a lifeboat and even luckier to have regained a bit more of physical strength due to his nap as he wasn’t on shift working when the crash happened, in contrast to Will and James, who worked continuously, without physical rest, since 8 PM and therefore probably had an even slimmer chance of survival, even if they tried hard enough.

When Cate imagines all the collateral damage that the sinking has left, the people crying for help as they slowly die in the freezing water, I wondered whether she would put some sort of reproaches on some of the individuals, who were in charge of these lifeboats, like f.e. some seamen, even officers like Pitman, Boxhall, Lowe maybe not so much as he pretty much did his best to rescue more survivors from the wreck side. I truly curious whether there’ll be some sort of reaction, especially as soon as she figures out how little effort some of these lifeboats made to even try and rescue more survivors.

I actually really like that Lightoller was the one who visited Cate at first and somehow connotes his condolences towards her, telling her about his memories with Will. It’s probably the way the real Lightoller would’ve reacted (I remember that he had nothing but nice to say about his former colleagues).

Awwww, Harold offering to guide and shelter Cate if she wants and needs it, is absolutely pure. I would assume that he felt guilty because of what happened to James? Since he survived and James, as the more junior officer, did not but submitted to his inevitable fate? And maybe even pity for Cate, because he probably couldn’t imagine what it must’ve felt like for her to loose two very close beloved ones in one night. It’s a very empathetic gesture on Lowe’s behalf to make sure that Cate is alright, in the name of both Will and James. Aww, my heart. Maybe Cate should reconsider writing him at some point? It might be a good and very helpful healing process for both of them.

Cate is strong, she will try and be able to eventually overcome these events. But right now she needs time to grieve. Everyone who just lost loved ones does.

„If she tells me she can't, I'll reply
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Let me know that at least she will try
And then she'll be a true love of mine“

What a beautiful, sorrowful, thought-provoking end to an outstanding story. You won’t believe how glad I am that this is not the final end of everything because I most likely wouldn’t be satisfied if you just ended it here completely. There’s still so much to tell, the story is basically on it’s peak now, at least in regards of Cate’s lifetime.

I’m absolutely looking forward to the next instalment of this series and, again, I’d like to thank you SO much for endowing us with this amazing piece of fiction.

Lovely greetings,

Beru

Hello my dear,

first of all, I’m not sure how many friends and wholehearted fangirls you have as by now, but I’m wildly assuming that this one friend you’ve mentioned in the introductory part of this chapter, might be my humble self? But really, I can’t thank YOU enough for creating and continuing to write Cate’s life story. I can relate to her so much and it helped me a lot through some recent hardships, as I already told you before. Not to mention the way you obviously manage to feed my tremendous passion for the quirks and way of life in the Edwardian era very much authentically in both writing, descriptions and character manners, as well as my enormous love for everything Titanic-related. Especially including both officers, who not only but definitely fuelled by your fantastic piece of fiction, grew to be my favourites among them all. Your brave, charming and witty darling James and fierce, but mostly compassionate and fatherly Will are by far my favourite characterisations of these two historic individuals and I’m actually very sure, from what I’ve read about them genuinely, that you’ve essentially captured their personalities very well. You made me love them even more than I already do and that’s something I wouldn’t have imagined, really. Apart from that you made me feel attached to more than one completely fictional characters that you’ve created on your own, and I absolutely love Cate (as James might’ve thought at some point: The lovely lass bewitched me straight away). I’m pretty sure that I’ve already pointed that out in one of my previous reviews - or I’m having some sort of deja-vu right now - but still, I can’t emphasise enough how much this story, it’s concept and the way it enfolds from your pen means to me.

Who would’ve thought that it would cost me so much restraint to hold back tears right now, as I’m reaching the end of your novel. As I’m preparing the final comment on the original story piece. I’m glad to witness the end and I’m SO relieved that you didn’t choose to terminate this project, although I know how hard it must’ve been at times, to retain motivation and a fruitful writing muse. You have all the right to pad your shoulder and be proud of this achievement.
I still can’t comprehend that it’s the last chapter. But, fortunately, as I’m re-reading it right now, I realize that you’ve posted another chapter and hinted at the continuation. For somehow in these upcoming chapters (as I’m re-reading and commenting from this point onwards I’ve already read the first chapters of the continuation) I’ve been accompanied by songs that, at least for me, capture and stress the respective atmosphere whilst reading and feeling emotions rushing through my body. For this chapter it’s the piano piece „Stay In The Dark“ by Lambert that’s basically in my ear.

But enough nattering, let’s get back to the original story.

Ugh, she’s holding onto James’ gloves and even though her heart probably shatters everytime since this would be a reminder forever, it is in fact a precious memento as well. One possession, one subject representing the shared moments between James and her during the voyage, the growth of their feelings for each other, before everything fell apart. And a reminder how much James cared for her, cared for her physical well-being, her warmth amidst the devastating disaster happening around them. The pain and exhaustive emptiness that Cate must’ve felt is absolutely unimaginable. I feel for her. On Esther’s behalf I’d probably throw every common decency aside and go straight to her, take her in my arms tightly and make her feel at least a bit of bodily warmth. But, as Cate notes, Esther does her best and that’s alright. She has to deal with a good bunch of traumatic experience herself.

On the one hand it’s rather sad, but probably for the best, that Cate didn’t witness how both James and Will got helplessly submerged by the cold Atlantic waves or however these two brave souls lost their lives in that fateful night.

I will be forever devastated that a happy ending for Cate and James is futile now. They won’t have a beautiful wedding, maybe over in Scotland, up on Barr Hill, Dalbeattie. Will leading Cate down the aisle. It won’t happen and I don’t know why, but the whole realisation makes me incredibly sad the more I think about it, the possibilities and moments these two could’ve shared but never will. Excuse me, a grown-up woman, for sobbing my eyes out more than once while reading your story and writing these comments. [end of review part one]

The last chapter broke my heart! She sings the song hoping he’ll come back and now I’m depressed. I was expecting this, but I’m still holding unto the hope that James somehow made it...

That was so sad! ugh...LOVED THE STORY!

Woah... I can't believe I finished it in one sitting. Oh my, I cried a river over this story certainly more than the movie. I hope to read Way Back Home soon dear.

I think I am falling in love with this story. The words are so appropriate and very classic!

Hello,
It's me again. Are James Moody and William Murdoch really dead? I can't and don't want to believe that. I still hope that William and James have survived somehow and that they meet cate in New York/philadelphia. It would be so sweet, if cate could spend her life with James, perhaps in scotland. And it would be nice, if she could still be with her father. I hope, William and James return, William and Lillian repair their relationship and that the story "the way back home" has a Happy end.
Best wishes from Titanic Fan99

This was amazing! I loved it from the first chapter, so sad that its over. :)

Awww;(