Catering Girl
“Frankie Goldberg is the kind of character I’d like as a best friend… smart, but ready to jump into trouble; loyal, but not entirely foolish; sassy with class. I loved her when I met her in The Joke’s on Me, and was delighted to meet her again in this book… Boris is a writer’s writer. She knows her craft, and she knows how to tell a story. I can only hope there will be more books about Frankie!” – leland1234
“A charming novella that took me right in. Smart writing, in your face prose had me gliding through the pages effortlessly. Catering Girl offers up plenty of food for thought and does so with spirit and a great sense of humor.” –Brenda Perlin
A Sudden Gust of Gravity
“An impressively well written novel from beginning to end, ‘A Sudden Gust of Gravity’ confirms author Laurie Boris as a master of the Contemporary Romantic genre. An inherently absorbing and entertaining read throughout….” — Midwest Book Review
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“An entertaining mix of intrigue and romance. A well-written tale with a magical feel as well as a magical plot line. This is a story of second chances, an uplifting look about not settling for less than you deserve. I found this to be uplifting and delightfully endearing. Moved me and had me charmed.” — Brenda Perlin
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“My first mistake was starting this book while on my lunch break, making it hard to stay focused at work that afternoon. I couldn’t put it down once I got back to it. I really enjoyed the complexity of the characters, the way she described the magic in detail and how she brought to life the world in which these characters live. This book is a perfect choice for reading on a rainy day, on a beach, lounging by the pool on vacation.” — Stephanie, Amazon Reader
Playing Charlie Cool
“This series was a joy to read, and this, the third book, was the best, imo. Charlie Trager is someone you wish you knew irl. Boris’ characters are believable because they’re drawn in all dimensions, including their exterior facade (“Mr. Producer”) and interior angsty selves. Add excellent writing skills and an engaging plot, and you’ll have three cool books to keep you entertained.” — Candace Williams
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“There is a beautiful sweetness in the writing of Laurie Boris. Her characters are imbued with a deep down goodness that’s endearing to read. They don’t always do the best things or the easiest things but deep inside what we see of them there’s true pain and true joy and a human emotion where they leap from the page. The author warned me that Playing Charlie Cool is the third book in an ongoing series but felt that it would work well as a stand-alone and I must agree that she is correct. Playing Charlie Cool is a complete and well-worked story that introduced this reader to wonderfully sweet characters that I’d like to follow for a long time to come.
“Charlie was written in such a way that he felt like someone I’ve known and liked forever. He tries to be slightly cynical and keep the edge but deep down he wants what we all want. Charlie is deeply in love with Josh but what if he’s the rebound? No one stays with the rebound, right? Charlie is a fighter and he’s going to do what he has to do to earn the best possible outcome but if the result is to be the secret that’s kept while his boyfriend pursues politics is that simply too much to contemplate?
“As much as the story is about Josh’s coming out experience and finding love with Charlie, Playing Charlie Cool is a perfectly charming romance novel. Normally the way they got together would be a turn-off for this reader and that children are involved is not an easy thing to reconcile. Josh is torn between ambition and love. Does anyone really give up everything they’ve ever wanted for someone they love?
“Playing Charlie Cool is a wonderful read.” – Rabid Readers Reviews
The Picture of Cool
“The Picture of Cool (Trager Family Secrets Book 1) by Laurie Boris is a wonderfully written and a quick, easy read. This is the second book I have read by Ms. Boris (the first being Sliding Past Vertical – which was also excellent).
“The story centers around Charlie, who works as a producer at a television studio and falls in love with Adam. But, Adam has a complicated life, not to mention a wife and kids. But, through the pages of this short story, the couple tries to work out a way to be together. This is not just any love story, but a poignant and compassionate one.
“For such a short piece, the author created a full story and well-developed characters. I totally adored Charlie and hoped that there would be a happy ending. Now, I must go read Don’t Tell Anyone to find out about the rest of Charlie’s family.
“If you are open-minded and love a good love story, I highly recommend this short read.” – S. Molteni
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“Loved, loved, loved this wonderfully written novella. As a prequel to Don’t Tell Anyone (another fine book, I might add) it adds another dimension to one of my favorite Boris characters, Charlie. That Charlie happens to be gay gives the piece that much more poignancy. His soul aches for love, he’s sweet and vulnerable–the author has conveyed so much meaning in such a short length. I would use the word “quiet” to speak of her books. She doesn’t go for hyperbole or shock to draw you in–just great writing. Boris writes deftly and with such compassion, that I’m sure whatever her next project is, it will be an enjoyable, well-written read.
You’re in good hands with Laurie Boris :-D” – Washington Grrl
Sliding Past Vertical
“In Sliding Past Vertical Laurie Boris has written a love story without romantic illusions, a character-driven novel with suspense that never flags.
“Sarah is a hapless twenty-something so careless she accidentally burns down the print shop where she works and so naive she agrees to hold drugs for her musician boyfriend who deals on the side. One afternoon, she comes home to find her apartment trashed and her roommate’s parakeet dead. Terrified, Sarah turns to her old college sweetheart, Emerson, for help. She flees Boston for Albany and moves into the house where he lives. But it’s apparent her troubles will follow.
“Although the no-good boyfriend lurks in the background, the story’s heart is the problematic relationship of Sarah and Emerson. She broke up with him, and he never completely got over the hurt. They have remained long-distance friends. He keeps his guard up with her. Sarah has qualms about reentering his life, but in this crisis she has nowhere else to turn. Emerson graduated a while ago, but he continues to live like a student, sharing the large house with several foreigners who have come to the United States to attend the university. One of them, kind and innocent Rashid, is his closest friend. The interplay between Rashid and Sarah adds another complication.
“Sarah has flaws that are all too human. It irks her that Emerson makes money writing erotica for men’s magazines, and she detests the idea that the sex objects in his stories might be modeled after her. Yet she chooses men who exploit her sexually. The irony seems to elude her. In general, she feels guilty about her mistakes but has trouble taking responsibility for them. It’s as if she doesn’t know how and keeps struggling to learn.
“The story ends in a catastrophe for which Sarah is somewhat responsible and – heartbreaking though it is – might be the lesson she needs.
“Laurie Boris has crafted a compelling story without gimmickry or contrivance. Her characters seem as real as the people who live down the block. Her prose is graceful and transparent and never forced. The editing of this book exceeds the standards of large commercial presses.
“In short, Sliding Past Vertical is not to be missed.” – Mary Maddox
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“I enjoyed so many elements of Sliding Past Vertical but I think what I enjoyed most was how flawed both Sarah and Emerson were…and yet…they were totally engaging and believable. There were times when I wanted to yell at them…don’t do that…but of course I couldn’t. Besides…having slid past vertical a few times myself…I knew they had to learn their lessons in their own ways.
“This was the first book by Laurie Boris I’ve read…but it won’t be the last. It hooked me from the start…and had me reading too late at night and too early the next morning until I finished the last word. Well done!” – Jane Cowart
Don’t Tell Anyone
“Don’t Tell Anyone by Laurie Boris is a riveting novel that takes on some very tough subjects: breast cancer and assisted suicide. Boris manages this adeptly in a story that is poignant and lingers with the reader long after the final page.
“Estelle watched both her grandmother and mother waste away day by day in the slow, hideous death march of breast cancer. When she finds a lump in her own breast she keeps it secret from her family so she won’t be a burden and does not seek treatment. When her family, sons Charlie and Adam and Adam’s wife Liza, inadvertently discover her diagnosis they are shocked. They desperately try to get Estelle to seek treatment since breast cancer is now highly treatable but she adamantly refuses.
“As her illness progresses Estelle is forced to live with Adam and Liza so that she can be cared for. She’s never particularly cared for Liza, who she considers a hippie-type but as they spend more time together the two form a fragile bond. Estelle then asks Liza to help her end her life with dignity. As Liza struggles with the ramifications of this request, the whole family struggles as they untangle the secrets and lies that lurked beneath the surface of all their lives.
“Boris did a fantastic job tackling these tough subjects with tenderness, some humor and believable characters. The characters are all well-developed so that you can see each one’s side in the situation and how they came to their beliefs. Liza is very real and likeable. I felt for her, being thrust into the role of caretaker of a woman who didn’t treat her all that well. The writing flowed and was well paced.
“If you are looking for an emotional family drama with depth I highly recommend this book.” – Kate Farrell, The Kindle Book Review
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“Thank goodness for authors like Laurie Boris. She reminds me that the indie-author world is, mercifully, populated by some topnotch authors (a recent read exasperated me somewhat!). Think of when you’ve had an absolutely rotten day at work, you’ve lost the heel off your shoe, a hideous journey home and it’s still only Monday, but you get home, put the fire on, put your feet up, pour a glass of wine and enjoy a TV dinner. That ghastly day you’ve had fades away, and all is good with the world once again.
That’s how I feel when I pick up a book by Laurie. I get that ‘aaaaaaah’ feeling. Invariably, she ticks all the boxes:
“I’m hooked on page one.
“The characters are immaculately drawn and defined.
“The story neatly structured.
“Her writing is faultless.
“The editing exemplary.
“…all round excellence, in fact.
“This book doesn’t stray from the path of superiority, I’ve become accustomed to with this author. It’s a story about a woman with a terminal illness. A woman whose two sons and daughter-in-law find out accidentally. Apart from the unanswered questions why they were not told earlier about this distressing news, the issue opens a Pandora’s box of secrets, lies and unspoken emotions. Three people whose lives were ambling along in an okayish, bordering on mediocre, way, suddenly find they’re walking on a tightrope of relationships. The tensions build as the reader learns whether the truth and revelations see them falling off or reaching the other side.
“Along with the impeccable character portrayal and beautifully conceived story…poignant, sad, shocking even…Laurie manages to mix in a little, but perfectly balanced, humour. The result? A five-star book.” – Cath-n-Kindle Books
Drawing Breath
“A friend of mine told me that I needed to read this book, and a week later it magically appeared on my Kindle. Since she felt so strongly about this, I started reading without knowing what I was reading. What I discovered is that the author and one of the characters fully grasp how important time is. The thing that amazed me was that Caitlin, the youngest character in the book, really understood what all of the adults failed to grasp. She got how important each second was. She understood Daniel’s borrowed time more than he did. This book is entertaining as it is heartbreaking. If you have ever had a family member or friend who has a terminal disease or is disabled, or if you have a terminal disease or are disabled, you will find yourself nodding along and smiling or sighing at the familiarity of Daniel’s situation and actions and the actions of the people around him. I can tell you, from experience, that there are few people in the world and understanding and kind as the Kelly women are. It takes a special person to give someone who is in difficult circumstances space and to listen to what that person wants or needs and respect that.
“I also found myself reliving a connection with someone entirely inappropriate, born of shared passion of music, while reading about Caitlin and Daniel’s connection. At it’s heart this is a story about an innocent and unique love. These characters are drawn to each other because of their love of art. They keep turning to each other because neither of them can find someone else who really understands that love and connects to art the way that they do. This is a beautiful story about love, passion, need, and living life on your own terms.” – Erin McGowan
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“Without any illusion, I want to say that Drawing Breath is one of the best indie authored books I have ever read. No offense to others, Laurie Boris has delivered a masterpiece in a short 137 pages.
“The story offers an insight into a chronic disease and how it plays into the life of an art teacher. The story itself is not about the disease, but the choices one makes when life is assured to end prematurely. This type love story is not my kind of thing, which proves the point that great writing transcends all genre’s. The emotion and tension between the two main characters builds as the novel ticks off the seconds–precious seconds that cannot be regained. The story is so real that you can reach out and touch the characters as they develop and premise is solid.
“Edited to perfection, this story never succumbs to the cliche, but builds to a climax that tugs at the heart, the kind of feeling that stays with you long after you’ve finished the book.” – J. Devitt
The Joke’s on Me
“I loved this book and I’ll tell you why: Any book that sucks me in on page one and doesn’t let me go until I’m rereading the back cover is definitely worth the price printed on it. I found the main character, Frankie, to be funny and easy to relate to, and all the supporting characters vivid and believable. The pace flows steadily and never drags, leading the reader towards a satisfying yet unpredictable destination. Written with warmth and humor, The Joke’s On Me is a feel good story that pulls you in so deep that one can almost smell the aromas of Frankie’s world. A highly recommended lighthearted summer read.” – Jennifer D.
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“Woodstock, beautiful, bucolic, friendly and still small village like is calling her children home. They are returning from the big city, from the southwest and from the west coast. Home to lick their wounds surrounded by family and friends.
“Frankie is the latest to arrive. Tail tucked between her legs behind the wheel of a cherry red sport car, exhausted and drained. She’d tried her luck over two decades in Hollywood. First as a minor film actress with a few unremarkable roles, then as a comedian in the harsh and depressing world of stand-up comedy clubs. Finally accepting her fate as another never-quite-got-there east coast transplant she resigns herself to being assistant to one of the biggest actresses in Hollywood. But living on the west coast has drama all its own and Frankie’s latest abode has joined so many others in the mudslide down to the Pacific. Homeless, jobless as her employer decides to go on hiatus, Frankie drives home.
“Home to Woodstock and the family Bed and Breakfast. But Frankie isn’t the only daughter to come home. Her sister, Jude, is already there. Successful businesswoman and single mom, Jude has come home to take over the business and care for their aged and ill mother while she licks her wounds from divorce number 4. But the business is in trouble and Jude has a plan to save it. A plan that will lead to conflict for both sisters.
“Oh but with all good romantic comedies there has to be a little romance.
“The sisters aren’t the only ones to have come home. Frankie’s all time adolescent crush has also come home. Home to be near his son who lives with his ex-wife, home to take over his fathers business and home for comfort from a professional base-ball career that never quite made it. Joey Mazzarella filled Frankie’s life with teenage angst, now he is back in town to complicate her adulthood.
“Add in a nephew with a yearning to go into the “movie biz,” an ex-husband with a sense of humour and a lingering crush on his ex-wife and the kind of characters you only seem to find in small towns, stir them together and you have a recipe for a fun, lively and enjoyable romantic comedy.
“Crisply written and filled with irony “The Joke’s on Me” is fun and witty with snappy dialogue sure to please those who like their romance with quirk and spirit. This is a great first novel and I hope to see more from Ms. Boris in future. I will certainly put Ms. Boris on my authors to follow list. — Karen Bryant Doering
Laurie Boris 