Susie has had a crush on her boss for the year she has worked for the company. Her best friend, Mark, comes over after work but she is off hand with him, and he leaves her apartment. The next day her boss tells her she is going to a charity function with him, so she asks Mark's advice for an outfit. Since he does not answer her calls all weekend, she buys lunch and goes to his worksite. Will he be happy? Will Susie be happy? Who will she choose--her boss or her best friend?

This story was so short that everything happens so fast. I never had a sense of the characters. I had no idea of who she should be with. I assume she made the right choice, but this was a vignette where I knew what was happening but not what emotions were being felt. I would like to see this expanded and more character and plot development.

Forever Mason by Heidi McLaughlin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



A celebration of life that spans friendships lost, heartaches found and a love story that will forever stay in your heart. Forever Mason is a life well lived. McLaughlin takes emotions on a turbulent trek through love and loss that plows it's way into a heart and makes an impression on the soul.



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A registry of my passage upon the earth, the clue to the unravelling of this collection of short stories is held within the title. I found it somewhat difficult to comprehend this weird grouping of unrelated events and happenings. What is the connection between a sailor, a boxer, a balloonist, a linesman on a busy lonely railroad in South America?  The final story and in particular the final image go some way to helping a confused reader make sense and arrive at some logical conclusions on the authors intentions. Many thanks to netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review, on a difficult read, and that is what I have written.

I received a copy from Netgalley.

An enjoyable mystery with a paranormal twist. Takes place in a “then and now” form.  Sisters Loo and Bee live with their mom and dad and siblings in a rambling farm in the 1970s. Their parents are considered “outsiders” in their small communities. The kids are home schooled, the dad’s an artist. The mom wanted an easier life, and while it seems ideal on the front, it’s doesn’t sound as easy as it looked in the idea stage.

During one summer strange things start happening in the house and before long a slew of paranormal experts and professors, reporter and a medium are on the property interviewing the family, trying to get to the bottom of the mystery.

In the present day, the mom, Cathy, is now in a care home and Loo has been called home to come and see to Cathy’s care and needs. At the same time a modern day team of university students are conducting a paranormal research investigation Loo and Cathy’s former house which has been empty for many years now.

The chapters flip back and forth between what happened back then and what’s happening present day. It’s been a while since I read it so I can’t remember too much of the intricacies of the plot. Lots of characters, can’t remember anything that particularly stood out. It was a well written mystery that kept the pages turning.

Intriguing more in the past stages for me than the present. The present day sounded like a thousand other ghost hunter books/tv shows/movies but it was interesting in comparing the temperament of adult Loo to the child Loo in the past along with how she dealt with things back then and what she’s thinking/feeling now as the recent events unfold.

There were a few twists at various points which I had already guessed, however, that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the novel.  The twists were believable and the errors involved human and understandable, given the circumstances.  Some good family and relationship dynamics added into the mix.

All in all a very enjoyable read and definitely an author I would read again.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for approving my request to view the title.

DNF @10%

Book source ~ Review copy. My review is voluntary and honest.

Vaihan Louchian is a zombie and a special advisor to the President. Leera Waltz is a pawn. Rowley is some wing-nut who is anti-zombie. And there’s some guy (I can’t even be bothered to remember his name) who I have no idea whose side he’s on.

I usually try to give books more than 10% to see if it gets better, but when I stopped at 10% I just couldn’t gather a single drop of enthusiasm to come back to it. Vaihan is described as Ancient. Um, he’s 100 yrs old. I’m 51, nearly 52. What the fuck does that make me? Semi-Ancient? Wtf. Leera is sexually assaulted by this guy who is playing all sides. At least, I think he is? Anyway, she’s a wimp. And I have no idea what is going on. The writing is convoluted and boring. I think this is trying to be a military/political thriller with a paranormal twist and failing spectacularly. Maybe someone else will like this better.