Comment from Carol Hillebrenner

Exceptional

You have done a great job of telling Brian's story and his experimentation results, good and bad. Julia has remained his greatest fan, even when he seems to be a failure, and that could not have been easy. The addition of Fran's possible use of his earlier drug makes a great lure to encourage us to wait impatiently for your next book.

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2024

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reply by the author on 16-Oct-2024

Thanks so much, Carol. You've been a loyal follower of this story from the start, and I really appreciate all your fine comments, as well as the 6 stars.

Now I've got to start thinking about the sequel. I will most likely bring back some of my favorite characters from some of my other books too.

Comment from Pearl Edwards

Exceptional

I love how you've used The devil went down to Georgia through this story, Jim. This was a good finish with Brian giving returned vets the opportunity to be in his phase one trial. Good twist with agent FKP. Great work and well done Jim.
Cheers
Valda

 Comment Written 15-Oct-2024

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reply by the author on 15-Oct-2024

Thanks very much, Valda, for your wonderful reviews throughout the duration of the story. I always enjoy hearing from you. Look for FKP as a major character in the next one.

Thanks so much for those 6 stars too. Much appreciated.

Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill

Exceptional

What a great way to end it. Very very very clever friend of mine.
You can go back and talk about the tgesting and the volunteers lives changing, You can help your sister with Torture/no torture drugs. You could give us some Fran Stories. How many sisters do you have? Karen

 Comment Written 15-Oct-2024

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reply by the author on 15-Oct-2024

Thanks very much, my friend. I appreciate all your reviews and your good ideas here for the sequel. I haven't committed to any particular direction for it yet. Still working on ideas for it. I do want to bring in some characters from my other novels, though.

No sisters, but two brothers. I'm the middle one.

Thanks so much for those 6 stars too! Much appreciated.

reply by Karen Cherry Threadgill on 15-Oct-2024

I wondered because you are so pro -women. Maybe it's just your high intelligence. :-)

Comment from T B Botts

Exceptional

Hello Jim,
I enjoyed this novel quite a bit. The technical stuff gave it a feeling of authenticity without being too boring or overbearing. I assume there will be another story coming in the future involving Fran. Thanks for sharing this.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom

 Comment Written 14-Oct-2024

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reply by the author on 14-Oct-2024

Thanks so much, Tom. I'm glad to hear you felt it had the right balance of science. It was something I wrestled with throughout. I appreciate all your reviews during the course of this long novel, and I really appreciate those 6 stars too.

That's the plan right now--a sequel to this story. Just starting to think of some ideas for it.

Comment from lyenochka

Exceptional

Cute epilogue. I guess Julia's saving that bit of Dipraxa will be useful to the secret service somehow. Fran knows how to get a supply. Lol.
You already prepared us for a family life for Brian and Julia with the visit from their college friends. Hope their cat is ready!
Great job with this book, Jim!

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2024

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reply by the author on 14-Oct-2024

Thanks so much, Helen. You've been a terrific (and generous) follower of this story from the beginning, and I really appreciate all your wonderful reviews. Thanks very much for that 6 too.

Comment from royowen

Excellent

As you know I'm a sucker for stories with a happy ending, and yours always end with that desirable asset, yes, I know what it's like when the spark of travel has been extinguished, and the natural thing of leaving a legacy behind, like having kids happens, beautifully written Jim, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2024

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reply by the author on 14-Oct-2024

Thanks so much, Roy. Yeah, it would be hard for me to end a story on a sad note, being a positive person like yourself. Thanks for all your reviews and being a great reader of this story from the start.

reply by royowen on 14-Oct-2024

Well done

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

Thank you for letting us know Julia and Brian are good. I am concerned about Fran and her desire to use Brian's first drug. Are we going to be getting another novel???

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2024

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reply by the author on 14-Oct-2024

Some day soon, probably. Still thinking of ideas on how to write it.

Thanks for all your reviews throughout the telling, Barbara. I appreciate your comments and edits too.

Comment from lancellot

Excellent

Yes, a happy ending, and having Brian test and use Veterans was a good touch too. It adds to the positivity, as does his readily agreement to having a baby with Jules. The Epilogue sets up the possible next story.

Good luck to you in that.

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2024

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reply by the author on 14-Oct-2024

Thanks very much, Lance. I've appreciated all your reviews--the positive and the negative.

By its nature, the next one will have a greater variety of character types you may find more appealing.

Comment from Rachelle Allen

Exceptional

Oh, wow!! What a perfect ending!!!
You have really stood the test of time with this book by keeping it engaging and interesting and full of everything your readers needed: a good plot, relatable characters, love, conflict, friendship, drama, tension, and a perfect resolution.

Congratulations on this fabulous achievement, Jim. I enjoyed this book very much and appreciate all the work and talent that went into completing it!! xoxoxox

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Oct-2024

Thank you so much, Rachelle, for your wonderful review and the 6 stars. I have enjoyed your reviews immensely, including the critical ones, which I always find help make me a better writer.

This has been a fun journey for me, as I really got into the research. I've always enjoyed that aspect of writing a novel, especially the ones about an invention (which seems to be most of them.)

Comment from Debbie D'Arcy

Exceptional

And there I was, before reading your notes, about to ask you to forward me some of that panacea drug, damn it!
What a clever, inventive, original and infinitely readable book this has been. The research has clearly been a labour of love and it's paid off to give this story with its very current theme of drug addiction a true edge of credibility and purpose. It's included all the elements of tragedy, comedy, romance/love, family relationships, science (its long overdue research into combating the woes/expense of addiction) and so much more. This concluding chapter is one of your best yet and ties up remaining ends of the book whilst keeping it open-ended with expectations, including child-birth, for the future.
This is the tiniest quibble but only because I tend to overuse the word, 'would' sometimes unnecessary: "..when I would travel to foreign countries" - perhaps better and more fluent - "when I travelled to foreign countries."
Well done, Jim! I look forward to the sequel. Debbie

 Comment Written 13-Oct-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Oct-2024

I sure wish I had some of that too!

Thank you so much, Debbie, for your wonderful, thoughtful, and thoroughly analytical reviews over the course of this book. You really seemed to get what was in my mind, and it's very gratifying when someone sees things the way I intend them.

You probably use "would" correctly more often than you think. It is often used to indicate a habitual action or something that was done repeatedly in the past, which is what I intended here with Julia's remark.

Thanks very much for your 6 stars too! I'm very honored.