Comment from Lordinajamjar

Excellent

I need to buy your first book. I shall do that when I have finished reviewing. :)

This is an interesting tale, pity I am only catching the 39th step now... lol my fault. I feel like Richard Hannay but at least I know where to find the other 38 steps.

A wonderful read.

Best
John

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2019

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reply by the author on 19-Apr-2019

What a lovely review to wake up to, John, thank you so very much. I love the reference to the book 'The Thirty-Nine Steps'. My only wish is, I hope one day mine will be as successful! LOL. The first book shows how it all began with Veronica and Mildred and takes you into two time frames with the same family, each one with a different task. The second book goes back to 1845. This book is the 'final' book in the trilogy. (I suspect another might come at a later date with Veronica's daughter who can see and speak to ghosts. She's only 10 years old at the moment.) Thank you again, for this lovely review, my friend. :) Sandra xx

Comment from HealingMuse

Excellent

Hi Sandra,

Ooooh, this is a great chapter with some great action, and I suspect forthcoming ones will be even moreso.

As always, your writing is flawless.

Thanks for sharing.

Jan :-)

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2019

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reply by the author on 19-Apr-2019

What a lovely review, thank you so very much, Jan! I really appreciate your wonderful support, it's so encouraging. Big hugs, my friend. :)) Sandra xxx

Comment from SLMorrical

Excellent

This is a great chapter. It is great that Amelia has the feeling that Gladys is around. I think I would have been a little scared seeing a handkerchief floating in the air and wiping my tears. Well they have Amelia with them now. I think Charles is going down now. This flows very well. Well done. I look forward to what will happen next.

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2019

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reply by the author on 19-Apr-2019

I think I would a tiny bit scared, but if it was someone I desperately wanted to talk to again, I'd really want that hankie. I'd just love my mum to pop back for a few minutes. :)) Thank you so much for this lovely review, my friend. Big hugs! :)) Sandra xxx

Comment from giraffmang

Excellent

Good continuation once more. Good to see Mildred making some headway.

Gladys was equally upset / quite so ... so badly." / we all stared apprehensively / Amelia walked in leaning heavily / contrasting nicely with her silver-grey hair / she lowered herself gingerly / Thankfully, I found none. - watch the adverb usage. these all come in a close together spate from the beginning of the piece. There proximity to one another makes them stand out.

I not sure how to describe it, - I'm?

blindly stretched her arm out. / completely fixed on the handkerchief / Then, very gently, Gladys wiped / paused as she turned earnestly to Mildred - another little section of those pesky 'ly' here too.

I should have known better. Why is Gladys still here? You said you need my help? - need closing speech marks here.

There's a few more smatterings of adverbs but they blend in more as there're a bit more spaced out.

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2019

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reply by the author on 19-Apr-2019

Since the last time you picked me up on my adverbs, I have been religiously checking. This time I didn't!! Damn! I've just spent some time altering the wording in those sentences and will be going over the whole book when I've finished as I'm sure I can find better descriptive words that don't end in the dreaded 'ly'.
Thank you so much for letting me know, it really does help. Not just the fact there were too many adverbs, but it helps me to write better.
Big hugs, my friend. :)) Sandra xx

Comment from JDRBAR

Exceptional

What a realistic portrayal of Amelia's reactions. Superbly done, my friend. What more can I say. Love this chapter.
Reverting back to your first book for a moment...I got a good lesson in the difference between UK and American English. I couldn't believe you would consistently misspell the word "jewelry" over and over. I finally looked it up and found that in the UK it is spelled "jewellry." LOL
Talk to you wednesday. Have a great Easter.

 Comment Written 18-Apr-2019

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reply by the author on 18-Apr-2019

I had to smile at you mentioning that word because when I wrote the chapters which had the word jewellery in, I had to put a note in my author's notes because everyone was picking that up. lol. In many words that you have one 'L' in, we have two. That was the main reason I now always let the readers know it's UK English.

Thank you so much for that lovely review, Diane, I'm so pleased you thought I'd handled Amelia's reactions well, and thank you for the lovely 6 stars, too, my friend. Yes, it will be nice to chat on Wednesday. You have a lovely Easter, too! :)) Sandra xxx

Comment from Jannypan (Jan)

Excellent

This is a great chapter, Sandra. I like the focus on the 3 women and the discussion that ensues. You did a good job getting Amelia to believe Gladys as a ghost.

I was wondering if this needs a capital A and a few sentences past this one the words 'venomous asp, both are in lowercase letters.

"Venomous asp [Asp ]?" Amelia cut in, a puzzled look on her face

"You call my nephew the venomous asp? [Venomous Asp ] I must remember that ... it suits him." She chuckled. "Go on, tell me--there

I enjoyed reading this chapter and look forward to the next one. Thanks for sharing. Jan

 Comment Written 17-Apr-2019

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reply by the author on 18-Apr-2019

You're right, Jan, I will go and capitalise Asp. I don't know why I put it in lower case in the first place so I'm really grateful to you for pointing it out. Thank you so much, my friend, for another lovely review. I appreciate your encouragement a lot. Big hugs, my friend. :)) Sandra xx

Comment from Heather Knight

Excellent

Another very interesting chapter.

As I told you today, I thought you were American, so when I read 'written in UK English', I thought you were making a big effort.

I love the idea of your departed loved ones staying with you.

When you say Bethlem you are referring to the place people call Bedlam (I know that's not the real name)?

Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 17-Apr-2019

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reply by the author on 18-Apr-2019

Yes, Bethlem is the hospital's true name but was given the nickname Bedlam because of the confusion and chaos inside. There is a lot of horrific history about the place that would make several different novels.
I had to let the readers know this was written in UK English because I was being picked up all the time for my 'spelling mistakes' lol. There are some words in the novel that the Americans have never heard of, so it's been an education on both sides of the 'pond'.
I do believe that our loved ones stay with you, at least until they know you are ready to let them go. My mother will have to hang around for a few more years, lol, I just can't let her go yet.
Thank you so much for reading this part. I expect the story sounds quite weird at this point but I really appreciate you reading it. Big hugs, my friend. :) Sandra xx

reply by Heather Knight on 18-Apr-2019

Thanks for explaining. Like you say in your story, mental institutions in the past must have been horrible.
Talking about difference in spelling and vocabulary, the other day I used the word dandelion clock and several people asked me what it meant... apparently it's only a British word.
Take care.

reply by the author on 18-Apr-2019

That's what I mean, I've had a lot of that. We used to blow the seeds of the dandelion off and count the puffs to tell the time, but when I put that in a story, no one knew what I was talking about. We have some lovely traditions that children enjoy. I'm glad you know these things. :)

reply by Heather Knight on 18-Apr-2019

We do that too. I guess as Europeans we have quite a lot in common. Plus I've been going to England for the summer like forever so I'm familiar with the culture ;)

reply by the author on 18-Apr-2019

That's probably why your English is so good, too. My Spanish is slipping now that I've been back in England for 7 years. They say, use it, or lose it. We are going to stay with my cousin who has a place in Denia. So I will get to practice a bit then. :))

reply by Heather Knight on 18-Apr-2019

I'm sure you speak good Spanish.
I go to an English-speaking church in Madrid and some of the parishioners speak excellent Spanish, but others can't say a word even though they live here.
I use English constantly: I talk to my children in English and I'm an English (EFL) teacher, so I speak to my students in English too.

reply by the author on 18-Apr-2019

I could never understand English people moving to another country and not even trying to learn the language. I think it's just downright rude. Well done you, your children will speak both languages fluently, I wish they started teaching our children earlier.

I'm off to the gym now, keep my arthritic bones moving. It was lovely chatting with you. Have a wonderful day. xx

reply by Heather Knight on 18-Apr-2019

You too.

Comment from royowen

Excellent

Poor Amelia, trying to convince her that Gladys was still here and earthbound, trying to bring her husband, Charles, to justice, to enter the light of God's presence. After scaring Amelia half to death, she finally believe that Gladys is actually there. Highly moving and well written dear Sandra, blessings, Roy
Typo : Our plan for Charles(') downfall.

 Comment Written 17-Apr-2019

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reply by the author on 17-Apr-2019

Oh, thank you so much for finding that missing apostrophe, Roy! And a big thank you for this lovely review. As always, I really appreciate you and your thoughts. Big hugs, my friend. :)) Sandra xx

reply by royowen on 17-Apr-2019

Most welcome Sandra

Comment from damommy

Exceptional

I'm so glad Amelia took this well. This should prove to be a lot fun, tormenting the venomous asp. How I'd like to be in on that. As always, a delight to read.

 Comment Written 17-Apr-2019

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reply by the author on 17-Apr-2019

I think Gladys will enjoy the problems she and Veronica will be causing him, Lol! Sweet revenge. Thank you so very much for the lovely 6 stars, my dear friend, and the wonderful review. Big hugs!! Sandra xxx

Comment from WryWriter

Excellent

Wow! This is sooo sooo good! Your chapter flows like a river with perfect pacing, great dialogue, just the right amount of believable action by the characters, need I say more? I Love it! Deserves more stars but I never seem to have them.

 Comment Written 17-Apr-2019

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reply by the author on 17-Apr-2019

Oh, thank you so very much for this fantastic review, no amount of stars could better your words. I really am so pleased you liked this part, thank you, my friend. :)) Sandra