WHAT! WHAT DO YOU MEAN WENT WRONG! CAN'T THEY CATCH A BREAK ALREADY!

I'm really hoping Collin just dies at the minuet.

Loved it! Great story :D

So I must say I have been looking for a suitable sequel to The Secret Garden for a very long time. Finally I found it in your story! You stayed true to all the characters, and I actually really enjoyed Julian. I was almost rooting for him at one point even though I'm a very strict MaryxDickon. You were also true to the historical elements as well. All in all it was a fantastic read. Keep up writing!

Sorry my second review came off so snarky, and thanks for your PM. I just found those few scenes so similar but like I said in my note to you, there's only so much you can really do with Mary and company because they didn't have that many places they could go and things they could do so I see how visiting a theatre would be a common thing, and shopping and whatnot. I didn't mean to bite your head off, I was just surprised to see 3 or 4 similar points all together like that. Sorry I said you ripped it off my story, that was uncalled for. And like I mentioned, your story is really all together different in tone, plot and focus so I'm not saying you copied my story literally or anything like that. I don't want to discourage anyone from writing TSG stories as we have so few to begin with. This is a very good story for someone who was in high school when it was written and the length is amazing as well since a lot of people have trouble writing and finishing stories (*coughMEcough*) that are exceeding in length. You don't see many completed stories over about 10-20 thousand words for the most part. It has wee minor grammatical errors that are of no consequence really and I agree with the others on the usage of the word "prick" but again, I admit I have not researched that word recently so I'd have to check into it. Yorkshire dialect is hard to write as well, and kudos to anyone attempting it. I do like that you added Julian because the trio and especially Mary needed to see "beyond" just Dickon and Colin. I like that aspect because it brings us out of the typical stuff - and yeah my story is pretty typical love triangle stuff. But hey I like my cliches:) Sorry again for coming off like a beast to you. You can remove my previous reviews if you like.

I'm seriously not trying to be a meanie here, just pointing out these amazing similarities (of course not everything is similar, you have your own plotline etc. but these points were just too close to ignore):

A Chance to Grow, Chapter 1:
"Mary emerged from the carriage, clutching her skirts around her. She stepped down daintily, revealing for a moment her stocking covered ankle. Dickon took this in, noting that Colin would have missed it, being as close as he was to her. She looked radiant: her long dark blonde hair was pinned up under a fancy blue hat and only a few twisted tendrils hung about her rosy cheeks. Her dress of blue and eggshell had a laced collar and the equally laced hem hung all the way to her feet.

Dickon's silent inventory was interrupted by Colin, who grabbed Mary about the waist and hoisted her into his arms, spinning her around in circles in the courtyard. Mary giggled, trying to hold onto her hat while being spun.

"Colin Craven, release her immediately!" cried Mrs. Medlock, who tried to extricate the young man from Mary to no avail.

"I'm only having a bit of fun, Mrs. Medlock," Colin said as he finally set the flustered young woman down.

"You've been taught not to play roughly with young ladies, Master Colin! Whatever shall we do with you?"
Tell my father, probably," he replied simply, used to being reported for his antics. "Though he won't be back for another month as it is so my punishment will just have to wait."

Mrs. Medlock sniffed at the young man and addressed Mary. "Mary, it is so good to have you home!"

"Thank you, Mrs. Medlock. I'm very pleased to be back," Mary said"

Heart's Call, Chapter 1:
When Mary's carriage came to a stop in front of the Manor it was as if the world was at a standstill. It could easily be agreed that when Mary stepped out of her carriage that she looked like her mother. Her yellow hair was tied up in the latest fashion and her dress showed of how much she had changed. Her smile remained the same; it was as welcoming as it was when she left. She was no longer "Mistress Mary Quite Contrary" but now Ms. Mary Lennox. Before she had time to great everyone Colin had pulled her into his bear hug and yelled "Oh, Mary! How nice it is to see you again!"

"Come off now, Master Colin! That is no way for a grown man to behave when greeting a proper lady." Said . She then turned to "Welcome back Lord Craven" Archibald Craven smiled has he was lowered into his wheel chair and said "It's good to be back, Mrs. Medlock."

A Chance to Grow, Chapter 8
"They left the tea shop and walked down Parliament, turning onto Oxford St, stopping in front of the Grand Opera House. The theatre had been built almost twenty years before and boasted a beautiful red marquee. It was also quite a popular attraction with the public.

Mary looked up at it admiringly. "I'd love to come to a show here one day," she remarked. "I've never seen a show before, not even while I was away at school. I wish I'd been – there are many theatres in London but I just never had the time."

"Then you shall," said Archie. "What a splendid idea."

"Would it be too much trouble, Uncle?"

"Not at all; I will inquire inside as to their schedule. I won't be but a moment." He disappeared within the building and left Mary with Colin outside.
...
"We are in luck, my dears," he said jubilantly. "I have secured tickets for a performance taking place a fortnight hence."

"Lovely! What are we to see?" Mary said excitedly.

"Romeo and Juliet," said Archie, waving the tickets at Mary and Colin."

Heart's Call, Chapter 2:
"After lunch they walked around Main Street. They came across a theater which prompted Colin to say "Would you like to watch a play, Mary? I think they're showing The Twelfth Night." They both moved closer and saw that the Twelfth Night had just ended and the next show was Faust. Mary smiled and said "I would love to watch, Colin!" she clapped her hands together as Colin went to purchase tickets. She had never been this happy since she left Misselthwaite. Now that she was back at her home she knew everything would be better."

(There are a couple of other small references, like how Mrs Medlock wants Mary to get some new clothes/dresses etc. I haven't read the whole thing yet. Though mine's very very very focused on the romance between Mary and Dickon and yours has a wider scope, I am curious about how the two stories seem to have a lot of similar components. I started mine in 2003 (yeah, I know I'm terribly slow! I did a lot in those ten years like get married, have a baby, buy a house, move to another country etc.)

Not saying you did anything wrong if you did get "inspired" or something, it just is curious and interesting that's all. If they're completely unintentional and you haven't read my story then I'm pretty amazed at how we must think alike!

And I found that not only did they have tea just like in my story, but later they went to a town (harrogate in mine) where they stopped and saw a theatre and in my story Archie finds they are performing Romeo and Juliet while in yours they are performing Twelfth Night. Coincidence? I am thinking not. Did you seriously read my story first and just rip out parts to add to yours?

This first chapter reads extremely similar to my story, a chance to grow, published here in 2006 but an earlier incarnation had been published before that on another account. In fact I started writing it in 2003. Just extremely interesting that the first chapter here is almost exact to my story, with Mary arriving by carriage in the first scene and Colin being reprimanded for being too rough with her at their greeting, etc. very very odd indeed. Dare I continue reading, for what else might I find?

I love this story. if any one should write the next secret garden book. it should be you.

oh I hope she ends up with Dickon

Splendid story! I enjoyed it so much and I loved the characters and plot and everything!

Great job! :DDD

Oh I absurdly adore this story! Fantastic.

Ooh, I loved the ending part of this chapter, very sweet indeed. Thanks!

Oh, wonderful stuff. Great job on this chapter.

No! My heart is falling as well as theirs! Wonderful chapter though, mate.