Comment from Elizabeth Emerald

Excellent

Wonderful romance story. Send them both my way--I need a gardener and a gourmet cook ASAP. Looks to me as if you met the requirements--sister's death from cancer isn't a deathbed scene.

 Comment Written 22-Feb-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2022

Thank you Liz. Lovely review, always encouraging.
(Yes, I figured that mentioning death or cancer did not violate no hospital/hospice/deathbed rules.)
Wendy

Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Excellent

A wonderful love story Wendy and some relationships start off on the wrong foot until two people find common ground, I liked your entertaining start to a fine romance, love Dolly x

 Comment Written 22-Feb-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2022

Thank you Dolly. What a lovely review.
(I keep looking at your photo and admiring your lovely haircut! It really suits you like that. Very elegant and glamorous photo.)
Wendy

Comment from royowen

Excellent

What lovely story Wendy. A story of how love begins. I thought the guy was going to be a real grouch, but he wasn't that bad, and what a lovely girl, but a little naughty to just help herself, although she knew what she was doing. Beautifully written my friend, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 22-Feb-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2022

Thanks Roy, a great review. Apparently it's not theft if it's on the public footpath. Lol. And maybe he just needed to find love so he wouldn't be such a grouch!
Wendy

reply by royowen on 22-Feb-2022

That?s right

Comment from Wayne Fowler

Excellent

Well written. You nailed it.
Would that all confrontations ended so.
But alas, I'm afraid it is truly fictional.
Best wishes and good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 22-Feb-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2022

Thank you so much Wayne. A great review. Yes, just fiction, probably it wouldn't have ended well in real life ...
Wendy

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

I enjoyed reding your writing prompt entry. Romance introduces itself in interesting ways.

"Are you making cuttings of MY plants?" he sounded very angry. (MOVE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE HERE)
"Couldn't you have asked permission first? It's theft! Buy your own plants!"

The next day, Geoff invited her to help him manage his garden, (The following day, it has to deal with the definition of both words)

 Comment Written 22-Feb-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2022

Thank you for your thoughtful review, Barbara. In Australia we tend to use "the next day" much more frequently than "the following day", and that grammar point is not known over here unless one specifically checks, but it doesn't flow naturally for us. However I will change it for the American readers so it doesn't jar.
Many thanks for the suggestions.
Wendy

Comment from Theodore McDowell

Excellent

Wonderful story for the romance prompt. This little gem deserves a six star review, but I am out of sixes for now. Well structured story of how a man and a woman can unexpectedly connect.

 Comment Written 22-Feb-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2022

Thanks so much Tim. I appreciate your lovely encouraging words.
Wendy

Comment from Kayte Ray

Exceptional

This is an outstanding complete story in a few hundred words. The reader can feel the emotions being exchanged between the two main characters as the story progresses and has felt the complete connection by the end of the piece. This is well written and the presentation and chosen graphic are wonderful and go well with the story. Nice job.

 Comment Written 22-Feb-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2022

Thank you so much for your wonderful and thoughtful review. I appreciate also the honour of six stars. Greatly valued!!
Wendy

Comment from Begin Again

Excellent

Hurrah! A love story...with a bit of friction to get the heart thumping. Your story was sweet and very clever. I enjoyed it very much. Tell Sunny to stay away from the flowers... they don't need any watering. LOL

Hugs, Carol

 Comment Written 22-Feb-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2022

Thanks so much Carol. I have passed your message to Sunny. He says he wanted the story to be about their pets, but animals weren't allowed in the story. Lol. Now he's telling ME what to write ...!
Wendy

Comment from Tom Horonzy

Excellent

Another fine writing from the gal down under. Poser. If men are mates in Australia what are women? .........................>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 Comment Written 22-Feb-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2022

Thanks for reviewing. Women who are friends with men can also be their "mate". It's just an expression like "pal" or "buddy".
Wendy

reply by Tom Horonzy on 22-Feb-2022

When google it warns not to call gals mat nor Sheila. g-nite.

reply by the author on 22-Feb-2022

Aussies know the right context. Sheila is not well accepted by women at all. I have a male friend who calls me "Mate" as a term of affection. We are both married to other people, but we are great friends. For non Australians it is best not to take a chance.

reply by Tom Horonzy on 23-Feb-2022

got it

Comment from LisaMay

Excellent

Clever title. Nice story. An awkward exchange turns out very well. Maybe I should start stealing people's plants in the hope that I might meet a nice man to have coffee with (except I don't drink coffee).

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

 Comment Written 22-Feb-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2022

I changed it from tea to coffee to suit the readership. Lol. In real life one should probably check out the eligibility and character of the home-owner first. Lol. And then knock sweetly on his door, and ask permission ....
Many thanks. Great review.
Wendy

reply by LisaMay on 22-Feb-2022

I change Mum to Mom for that reason too sometimes... just so voters don't guess so easily it might be a non-American writer.