Reviews from

Letters From Heaven's Gateway #4

Manny and Theresa

22 total reviews 
Comment from lyenochka
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Oh, so sad but beautiful. Wondered if this was a real train accident - there wasn't any mention of the year and the picture looked vintage but with cellphones and scanners, I assumed it's today.
It's wonderful when someone keeps their promise to a loved one such as your Manny character did!



 Comment Written 02-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 03-Feb-2020
    Thank you so much, dear Helen. I'm so pleased you enjoyed this. Yes, if you remember in the story Manny and Theresa are. models going to a vintage wedding shoot in New York. These photo shoots have become quite popular these days. I wrote this story just by looking at this photo. :)

    I am so honored by your kindness and stars. It means the world to me.
    Sending you my best today as always,
    Sally xoxo
Comment from WalkerMan
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Your stories in this series certainly prove the often disastrous consequences of procrastination in matters of love. This too-frequently cruel world does take lives much earlier than anticipated, so the only defense is to seize the moment as soon as it appears.

We don't know whether Robert, the soldier who wrote the included love letter, survived the war and came home to his family unharmed. That is plausible motivation for Theresa to write to Manny to say she won't hesitate any longer to marry him.

Your description of her incognito train ride is realistic, as is Manny's euphoria about her expected arrival.

You stretch out the suspense plausibly with the unexplained delay of her arrival, combined with Manny's inability to reach her by cell phone.

The events following his finding her after the train's derailment, ironically not far from the station, are sad but pure love in the brief time they still have together -- on-the-spot marriage (just as legally binding as any other), and Manny's later adoption of Theresa's son, Charlie. His playing catch with Charlie is a fitting end to this story, both reminding us of the soldier's expressed wish in his letter and showing that life goes on.

Superb, aptly illustrated, and well accompanied by Soul's relevant "Love's Divine" video.

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 03-Feb-2020
    Thank you so much for the wonderful review and kimd compliments, once again. I am always so pleased to see how much you enjoy these. You have a tender heart, just like Jackson. He starting crying at the train scene. He knew what was coming. I usually pick the right song nine times out of ten. This one by Seal was the one for this. I'm so glad you liked it. It's a little older but a classic love song about a man waking up to his need for love. Sending you my best today as always,
    Sally :))
reply by WalkerMan on 03-Feb-2020
    You are most welcome, Sal. Yes, love for mere moments is better than none; and your splendidly composed stories make that clear. DR DIP wrote a poem ("One Last Kiss"), which he let me add to my literary art book's Second Edition (2017), on a theme related to your stories, but without a letter. While reading your story, as soon as you mentioned smoke, I knew.... Still, the ending was beautiful. -- Mike
Comment from juliaSjames
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Such a poignant yet beautiful write, dear Sal. You have a gift for romantic fiction. Your characters come to life, Theresa in her disguise of Mickey mouse sweatshirt and dark glasses, Manny dancing around the breakfast table shouting she loves me.

Coincidental that you and rspoet have both posted about train crashes today. FanStory telepathy.

Blessings Julia

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 04-Feb-2020
    Thank you, Julia dear. Your kind reviews mean so much to me. I saw and reviewed Robert's poem. I told him I was glad it wasn't a passenger train. I have had this in edit for over a month just waiting for February. :) I needed something good coming in to Valentine's Day. Sending you my best today as always,
    Sal xoxo
Comment from Robert Zimmerman
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hello Sal.
You wrote the story with compassion and anticipation being built through the train ride. The discussion of the Minnie mouse t-shirt added to the realism of the story. All of these items led up to the anticipation of Manny and Teresa being reunited.

As usual, your narrative evokes emotions as the story is being read, which draws the reader in, and then comes the resolution to the story.

It's another reminder that we don't have any idea what tomorrow brings. We just need to live life one moment at a time.

Well done, again

Your pal,
Z

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 04-Feb-2020
    My pal, thanks for the wonderful review and kind compliments. I'm glad you hung on for this one. We don't often like to think of the flipside of love and the hard things life deals us. I personally think love makes the difference in overcoming those difficult times and remains triumphant. In my own life, Ive had many blows and love seems to carry me through it all. Sending you my best today as always,
    Your pal, Le Sal :))
reply by Robert Zimmerman on 04-Feb-2020
    You're very welcome as always.
    Your Pal... Z
Comment from royowen
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Another enduring work. Just love these stories. The thought of living with part of Therese, even though she was gone, living and raising her son, now his, is inspiring Sally. I think you are fond of the bittersweet aren't you? You would loved the film "Magnificent obsession" with Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman, beautifully done Sally, blessings Roy
Typo : A career that (God) provides for us. 2: comfortable in (the) coach near the window

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 04-Feb-2020
    Thank you very much for the lovely review and helpful critique, Roy. It is so appreciated. I'm glad it was moving and memorable for you.
    Sending you my best today as,
    Sally xo
reply by royowen on 04-Feb-2020
    Good job,
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

What a poignant write, Sally. Your words flow smoothly with great imagery. I like how you interspersed the letter Theresa copied into the middle of the text. Not only does Many read it, but readers do and all can get the full impact of it. I know I was pulling for Manny to be safe and never thought that something would happen to Theresa. Although heartbreaking, I'm happy that Manny was able to find and 'marry' her in the end. Thanks for sharing another beautiful, but sad, letter from your series. Respectfully with Love and Admiration, Jan

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 04-Feb-2020
    Thank you so much for the excellent review of my work, dear Jan. I love letter writing and penned words of love. It is not old fashioned to me. I hope to revive it here in these stories. Sending you my best today as always,
    Sally xoxo
Comment from Dorothy Farrell
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hello Sally, you are a very classy and accomplished writer. You tell a story well and I like how you tell it. Your vocabulary and style are faultless. Because it is so good it is not laborious to read. I found it a pleasure to read #4. I came to your writing late in the day so have to sort out timescale etc. 'I photocopied the letter for you to read.' - photocopiers came on the market around 1959-60 in UK. Am I on track? Love the Victor Hugo quote. Lovely work. Love Dorothy xxxx

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 02-Feb-2020
    Thank you , dear Dorothy. I am so deeply honored by this and your kindest compliments. This is set in modern day as Theresa and Manny are models who do vintage photo shoots. My brother in ,aw is a photographer and he says these shoot and actual weddings are all the rage. If you remember, she refuses to fly and took the train dressed in Minnie Mouse and carrying a travel mug. Maybe I'll say scanned. LOL! Thank you so much for the awesome review and suggestion. Sending you my best today as,
    Sally xoxo
Comment from damommy
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Oh, my goodness. How could I not see how this was going to end. Sometimes, we put things off until it's too late, just as Theresa did. But at least, her son had a good life with Manny.

This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 04-Feb-2020
    Thank you for the wonderful derful review and kind compliments, dear Yvonne. It is so appreciated. Sending you my best today as always,
    Sally xoxo
Comment from Diana L Crawford
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Speechless, yet I have to put some words in this review! Powerful, tender, heart-breaking! How terribly sad to reach the moment of change only for life to be taken! I love Seal! I wonder if he wrote this for Heidi! He was on "The Masked Singer" and I knew right from the start that it was his magnificent voice under the costume! Thank you for blessing me with this beautiful story! xoxo

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 04-Feb-2020
    Dear Diana, thank you. I always wait for my dear Diama and her review. I am deeply honored and cherish this as I do each and every review. Thank you so much. Sending you my best today as always
    Sally xoxo
reply by Diana L Crawford on 04-Feb-2020
    No thank you for blessing my heart with your words! xoxo
Comment from fm wright
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

A truly riveting story that is so sad and yet so full of love. In it was conveyed so much between the characters.I adore the photo you used in your illustration of it. It goes with it perfectly.

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 06-Feb-2020
    Thank you so much, dear Faye. I'm so glad our enjoyed my latest Letters from Heaven's Gateway. I actually wrote the entire story inspired only by the photo. Your kind review and stars means so much. Thank you once again.
    Sending you my best today as always,
    Sally xoxo