I originally posted a review for the Alternative on Amazon. Yes, I bought the book, read it and gave a five-star review. For some reason yet to be explained, Amazon removed my review. So I feel no obligation not to publish the same review here on my blog. So here it is.
My Five Star Review
Suzanne Burke has a masterful way of telling a story. She is very direct in laying out the plot in such a way as to convince the reader that the ending will naturally follow the sequence that has been presented. The beauty of the way Ms. Burke crafts her tale is when the finish comes it packs the wallop of a couple of horse’s hooves.
The collection of stories in The Alternative is no exception to this phenomenon. One cannot even be assured that any one of the stories will follow a prescribed path to a conclusion. That is the beauty of Ms. Burke’s work. The reader is delighted and surprised every step of the way.
There is delightful darkness to Ms. Burke’s storytelling. Having read other work by her, I have to believe she finds the dark infinitely more interesting than the light. I can say one thing. Once you read a Suzanne Burke novel or short story, you’ll become a fan.
This collection of stories is well told and have a sophistication not generally found in the short story style. Anyone of these stories carries the depth of plot and complexity that would be typically be found in a full-length novel. I would recommend this collection of short stories to anyone who likes a well-developed plot and the demonstration of an exceptional level of writing craft.
Author Bio
Suzanne Burke resides with her daughter and grandson in a small country town located hundreds-of miles to the west of her previous home in Sydney Australia.
Suzanne had long wanted to write, life interrupted and she didn’t begin her journey into the world of writing until she was in her early fifties.
Suzanne has written her memoirs under the author name of Stacey Danson, both her non-fiction books have ranked in the top 100 paid in Kindle on Amazon. “Empty Chairs” and “Faint Echoes of Laughter” continue to earn wonderful reviews.
Suzanne writes her powerful Thrillers “Acts Beyond Redemption” and “Acts of Betrayal” and her Paranormal anthology “Mind-Shaft” as S. Burke.
Connect with Suzanne
Fiction Favorites 
Thank you for posting your review, John. My 5-star review was also removed, I believe because I mentioned being a Beta Reader. I’m not sure Amazon understands that role. Suzanne Burke is an amazing writer and her latest book, The Alternative, deserves the spotlight, which you’ve beautifully offered. Thank you, John. ☺
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Thank you as well, Gwen. 😀
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❤️️ Thank you, Gwen, your review touched me deeply, thank you, my friend. Amazon’s removal of both yours and John’s reviews confounded me! I am so pleased that John has shared his marvelous review here.
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Hi, John! Amazon is removing reviews—Hmmm. Thanks for that heads-up and for placing your review here.
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I have lost a number on my books. No reasons given.
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Hi, Linda! I had never experienced that happening before either, but it appears to be becoming all too frequent.
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Amazon is so powerful that it’s almost impossible for Indies to combat them.
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So true. Thanks, Linda
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Great review!
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Thanks, Billy Ray. The book is suer cool.
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😊It surely is. Thanks, Billy Ray.
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John, Amazon is so weird about the reviews that they will or won’t post. I fought with them for almost 2 weeks over my review of your book.
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It is a shame. I think they are eliminating more legit reviews than illigit. Thaks, Rhani.
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I had never had this happen before, Rhani. To say I was upset would be an understatement. I’m so grateful that John posted it here.
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Soooz, Sharon and I both posted reviews of Circumstances of Childhood. Hers was up until I tried to post mine. Mine was never posted and hers was removed. Amazon told me it was because we both live at the same address. They said more, but that was the basic gist of it. I argued with them for two weeks or so but never got the review posted or any understandable reason why not.
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Make your blood boil? Well I should say.(Music Man lyric)
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Having this happen at any time is so damned frustrating. How the hell does any Indie author swim against the tides of Amazon. Let’s hope it doesn’t manifest itself as some Orwellian ‘Big Brother.” Hmm … that could work as a book … 😎
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You could make it a good one Soooz
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😊It definitely wouldn’t be regarded a science fiction.
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LOL
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Soooz, you crack me up! 😄
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😀 Me too
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😂😈 My work here is done. Sigh.
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Sorry, I hit send too soon. Lol Amazon is getting to be as weird as Twitter and there’s no way to understand it. I’m glad you reposted the review. 😀
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Thaks, Rhani. ;-D
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😊
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It’s good of you to share your review here, John. Amazon is doing this to so many authors…it’s very unfair. I better check to make sure my review of The Contract is still there…those big meanies! 😦
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Those big meanies for sure, Jill.
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😊
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A very nice review, John! Gwen may be right. If you mention being a beta-reader, that could be the reason for them pulling it. I was also a beta-reader, but didn’t mention it in my review and I just checked to see if it’s still there. It is.
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Yeah I mentioned the same thing so maybe that was it. Thanks, Jan
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😊It is a great review, Jan. I can’t make any sense out of Amazon’s decision.
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This sounds great! Amazon pulled ALL of my reviews and when I contacted them they said I breached some ethic of theirs- case closed. I’ve started posting reviews to BookBub now and of course, Goodreads. Amazon is becoming their own worst enemy.
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Whoa what a blow. I hadn’t thought of Book Bub. Thanks, Jacquie.
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That must have been so utterly frustrating, Jacquie. Glad to hear that you share them elsewhere. Amazon seems to hold all the aces in this business.
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Yes, and we’re the throw away pile, unfortunately.
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We writers are the ultimate gamblers. Deal me another hand, I’ll keep right on playing.😊
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I bought the book and it is next on my TBR list. Thanks for hosting, John.
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😊Thank you, Mark.
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🌹I’m both proud and humbled to have received this review, John. Thank you so much for going that extra mile and posting it here. Your support and encouragement has been amazing, and so very much appreciated.
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Reblogged this on Welcome to the World of Suzanne Burke. and commented:
I’m delighted to share this marvelous review of my New Release “The Alternative” Thank you, John Howell @HowellWave #RRBC
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It’s so irritating the way Amazon decides which reviews to keep and which to remove. Grrr!
I’m so glad you shared your review here, John. Having read The Alternative, I have to agree with everything you said. Bravo to Soooz for delivering such a compelling collection!
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😊Thanks so much, Mae Clair. I’m delighted with the wonderful response to “The Alternative” It was kind of John to share his review here. As for the mighty Amazon … I may have to write a new book, I’ll make it a comedy. Sigh.
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Excellent review, John! I completely agree with how you described Suzanne’s writing style. I love it! I don’t understand, why did Amazon remove your review? Is this something new I have to worry about?😐😯😧
Thanks for posting your review here❣️
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🌹Thanks so much, Vashti! This removal of reviews is something new in my experience, but it appears to be happening quite often. It’s gutting for any author to lose a review. I have no idea what can be done about it. I appreciate you stopping by, my friend.
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😮 Wow! We work so hard to get reviews and then they just go away? That’s terrible. You’re welcome. It’s a pleasure.😀
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There is some bully at Amazon who never got published.
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I just realized yesterday that I lost one of my reviews also. I went from having 31 reviews to having 30. Is there someone at Amazon we can contact about this?
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They don’t care. You’ll get no answer.
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Great review that I completely agree with! I think your sentiment ” packs the wallop of a couple of horse’s hooves” neatly summed it up. I had that issue once with Amazon and never did get it posted for the book no matter what I was told. I hope your issue does get resolved. Congrats Soooz on awesome review.
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I just hope it doesn’t lead to other review “bans.” Thank you, Denise.
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I worried about that, too, but it didn’t. Fingers crossed.
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Legs too.
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🌹Thanks so much, Denise. I’m so pleased that John was kind enough to post his review here.
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Excellent review, John. I have Suzanna’s book on my TBR and am looking forward to reading it. I don’t understand Amazon’s reasoning in removing reviews. Seems their bots don’t either. I hope they clean up their act; otherwise, authors might start leaving in droves ❤️
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Not sure authors have the guts to leave. We shall see.
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I echo that sentiment, my friend. Amazon are the biggest fish in an Indie Author’s pond. Frankly it makes me shudder to even think about trying to publish my new works without them.
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So we live under the boot.
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I’m reminded of a quote from Edmund Burke (Not a relation)😊 … “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Individually we don’t even make the smallest of ripples…But collectively, now that’s a whole other ball game.
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Good one.
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🌹Thanks, Tina.
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Wonderful review, John! I’ve read about Amazon removing reviews on several blog sites.
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Yes they have. Thanks, Teri
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🌹Thanks, Teri.
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🙂
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Excellent review, John.
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😊Thank you, Jennie.
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You’re welcome! 🙂
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🙂
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Thank you, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John.
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That’s a great review, John. Kudos to you, Soooz!
Amazon hates me, too. They pull down reviews I write (and receive) all the time. Don’t feel bad. Er… too bad. (It’s a crappy situation and you’re allowed to be frustrated.)
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Thank youfor th ekind words, Staci.
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🙂
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😊Thanks so much, Staci. It is frustrating but there appears to be nothing we can do about it. I refuse to let it dampen my delight with John’s marvelous review.
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🙂
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That’s a great attitude, Soooz.
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😊Thank you, Staci.
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Awesome review, John! What a shame that Amazon removed it. What a shame. This is a gem of a collection and you captured it magnificently. Bravo to Soooz! 🙂
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Thank you, Natalie.
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