Reviews from

Letters from Heaven's Gateway 3

Gus and Alice

35 total reviews 
Comment from lyenochka
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

A sweet but such a sad love story! Wish His had said something earlier! And her terrible ex-husband might try to steal from her. But you told it very well and perhaps it's a lesson for us to express ourselves to our loved ones while we can.

 Comment Written 13-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 14-Jan-2020
    Thank you so much for the excellent review and insightful comments, dear Helen. It is always so appreciated.
    Sending you my best today as always,
    Sally xoxo
Comment from WalkerMan
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Yes, it is never too late to say "I love you" to someone you adore, unless you have waited so long that one of you is gone. Here, Gus almost missed his last chance to tell Alice, but wised up just in time. Writing the letter to her enabled him to focus his thoughts and make vital decisions before his time ran out.

Alice did not need to see the letter because the red roses told her all she needed to know, once Randy, the delivery man, revealed the sender's name.

The contrast between Gus and Alice's ex-husband is readily apparent from their brief dialog, given what we already know about him from Gus's letter.

Late in the day, Gus's friend Leonard arrives to explain Gus's uncustomary absence from the diner and need to see her quickly at the hospital.

At the hospital, Leonard caringly leaves Alice alone with Gus. Just enough conversation follows to verify their mutual feelings. After a lengthy kiss both have waited ages for, Gus asks to dance. Anne Murray's "Could I Have This Dance" is perfect accompaniment for the few moments in moonlight they have before Gus tires.

Gus then tells Alice that he is leaving her everything he owns -- house, truck, and life savings -- enough to change her and her daughter's life for the better. When Alice protests his gift as excessive, he has the answer that will mist any reader's eye not already damp: "There's no such thing as too much love."

"The pale moon faded as Gus and Alice slept side by side on his last night on earth."

Not even the most professional of experienced romance writers could have said it any better.

Superb, aptly illustrated, and beautifully accompanied by the video.

 Comment Written 13-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 13-Jan-2020
    Thank you very much for the lovely review and kind compliments, dear Mike. It is so appreciated. I'm pleased you thought these to be professional. I have enjoyed writing these so much. I have one more to go and I'll probably save that one for February. I'm focus on the last Blimd Girl for this Sunday. Thanks again for your time and attention.
    Sending you my best today as always,
    Sally :))
reply by WalkerMan on 13-Jan-2020
    You are most welcome, Sal. Yes, to have such a powerful emotional effect time after time is impressive. I look forward to the Blind Girl Epilogue. -- Mike
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Excellent
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Aw, that was so sad, Sally, but so very sweet. She was there for him at the end, and that was what he wanted most at that late stage. This letter just shows how silly we are at not coming forward and telling a person of their feelings. A life of love wasted. :) Well done, Sally, this was a lovely story with a sort of happy ending. :)) Sandra xx

 Comment Written 13-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 14-Jan-2020
    Thank you, Sandra dear. I'm being spoiled by your kind reviews! Thank you so much for stopping by and for always leaving such sweet comments. It is so appreciated.
    Sending you my best today as always,
    Sally xo
Comment from Barbaraj1
Excellent
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This is such a nice story, but so sad. If only Gus told Alice a long time ago
how he felt. Sometimes we wait too long and then it's too late. He was
too shy, so maybe she should have spoken up.

 Comment Written 13-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 14-Jan-2020
    Thank you so much for the excellent review and shiny stars, Barbara. Your kind comments are always so appreciated.
    Sending you my best today as always,
    Sally xo
Comment from royowen
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Oh you are a true true romantic Sally. You speak and write your heart in your writing, there is no better way of declaring one's love than with one's dying breath. And you're a romantic writer extraordinaire. I know a lady who makes a living writing romance novels, you ought to try it. Well done, good job, blessings, Roy

 Comment Written 13-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 14-Jan-2020
    Thank you, dear Roy. What a nice thing to say. Someone else just told me that. I will take your good advice as soon as I publish my novella in February.
    Sending you my best today as always,
    Sally xo
reply by royowen on 14-Jan-2020
    Good job
Comment from Mary Kay Bonfante
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Wow! What an amazing story! It's so incredibly romantic, even in all the sadness of profound loss. In this case, they had their newly discovered, mutual love to sweeten the separation by death, which they knew was coming.

I just caught two minor errors:
In Paragraph 9:
I take it from their hushed tones and the bruise I saw once on you cheek... --> your cheek

In Paragraph 10:
I've eaten at 'Bob's Big Burgers' daily for years. (I think this needs either the regular double quotes, or none -- probably none -- I wouldn't put Burger King or the Olive Garden in quotes; it's just a proper noun.)

I can't help hoping that letter will later turn up for Alice, your character -- although there's never any substitute for the real, live person, in the flesh -- she will appreciate having it later. (I sometimes keep a copy when I write something important!)

He's giving her all of his earthly possessions, just as if they're married! What a spectacular expression of his love. And she is there for him, at the end.

You picked the perfect song, I love it. Your photo works well, too.



 Comment Written 13-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 14-Jan-2020
    Thank you so much for the superb review and generous six stars, Mary Kay. You are just a sweetheart. I always appreciate critiques and yours are so kindly offered. I have repaired those areas. Thank you for feeling that you could offer them and please don't ever hesitate to do so. I have grown exponentially since I humble myself to receive. None of us have arrived, so to speak. I certainly haven't. I am a blind writer and I miss all sorts of things. LOL!
    Your kindness and sweetness is already felt by me. I thank you so much.
    Sending you my best today as always,
    Sally Law xoxo
reply by Mary Kay Bonfante on 14-Jan-2020
    You're very welcome. Thank you, Sally, for your warm and gracious response to my review. I think you had mentioned it before, but I wasn't aware when I was reviewing it, that you are a blind writer -- not that it should make any difference in my review, but you do a wonderful job generating a clean copy, however you're managing it! God bless you, my friend. With love, Mary Kay
reply by the author on 14-Jan-2020
    I have blind helps and not comp,early blind. I have advanced retinitis pigmentosa. I also have cataracts in both eyes. I have about 2 to 3 perfect of my central vision left in each eye. I spend most of my days writing.
    Sal xo
reply by Mary Kay Bonfante on 14-Jan-2020
    Thanks for explaining Sal, I am sorry, I didn't completely understand it (especially your first sentence), but I think I can grasp that your blindness is partial, at least at this point?

    Not sure what "2 to 3 perfect of my central vision in each eye" is, unless you mean "2 to 3 percent" which is not a lot! I know that cataracts do respond to surgery, but you said you also have advanced retinitis pigmentosa -- I can Google that.

    If you have been gradually losing your vision as you get older and were not blind from a young age, that must be a very difficult adjustment.

    I am wondering if you use speech-to-text tools for writing, and whether it's hard to get accustomed to that.

    Once I accidentally triggered an "Accessibility" feature on a tablet I owned (and have since, somehow lost). It was highlighting stuff all over the place and I couldn't bring it under control or turn it off -- finally something I did, worked. I would never go near that feature again!
Comment from juliaSjames
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Sally you are the queen of short romantic writes on FanStory. It's not a genre that I usually read, but your writing is heartfelt and superbly composed.

Blessings Julia

 Comment Written 13-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 14-Jan-2020
    Like a warm breeze comes dear Julia. Thank you so much for your marvelous review and six generous stars!! I am deeply honored. I admit, I am as you said. I'll wear my crown proudly. I'm delighted you're enjoying these, Julia. Thanks, again.
    Sending you my best today as always and blessings for the new year,
    Sally xoxo
Comment from MamaBebop
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Sally!
I had to use several tissues for this one. I'm going to have to remind myself to read these at the end of the day, not mid-day, when I have more activities which require me to be fresh faced...lol.
A beautiful, yet sorrowful story. Wish Alice and Gus had more time.
Hardly worth mentioning, but in Gus' letter to Alice he mentions the bruise "on you cheek". Think you meant YOUR.
Blessings, Beth

 Comment Written 13-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 14-Jan-2020
    Dear Mama, how kind you are to stop by and read me. I'm so pleased to see you once again. I am a hopeless romantic. I love to make everyone cry!
    Sending you my best today as always,
    Sally xo
reply by MamaBebop on 14-Jan-2020
    We hopeless romantics must stick together. :)

    I listened to Ann MURRAY all day yesterday...thanks for making my day great. Hope I can repay the favor one day.
    Beth
Comment from fm wright
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I think you meant tomorrow instead of tommorow in "Today or tommorow sounds good.Such a melancholy ending. It truly brought tears to my eyes. I do like the illustration you chose to go with it, it's just perfect.

 Comment Written 13-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 14-Jan-2020
    Thank you, dear Faye. I appreciate the lovely review and kindest compliments. I'm always waiting to hear what you think. For the stars, I am deeply honored once again. It all means so much to me.

    So sorry for the late reply. Phyllis Stewart's death set me back and filled my box with kind responses to my post. Everyone has been so sweet. I woke up Sunday with 52 reviews in my box! I'm still working on them. The same thing happened after Dean died, too. A family member of Dean's contacted me to say thanks. I was (am) overwhelmed at how many people read these tributes.

    I hope you are well and enjoying the new year.
    Sal xoxo
reply by fm wright on 14-Jan-2020
    I am, thank you. Hope you are the same.
    Faye xoxo
Comment from ExperiencingLiphe
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

It's crazy how the kindness of one person can make such an impact on someone's life. The right person can open the closed heart of another. Opening up and telling someone how you feel is scary but it can be the best thing a person can do. I loved it, I only wish they had more time.

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 Comment Written 13-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 14-Jan-2020
    Thank you so much for the excellent review and kind words, Megan. Your thoughtful reviews are always so appreciated.
    Sending you my best today as always,
    Sally xoxo