The Ex Files

Hector O'Halloran looks like the ideal catch, but he can never keep a romantic relationship on track for long. Women quickly tire of his self-centred style. They need to move on, find someone who does not confuse love with exploitation. But no matter how much they try, they cannot shake the compelling desire to transform needy, demanding Hal over into someone they can love.

Is it love, or co-dependency? Is Hal beyond redemption, or does his inner child need more TLC? When he tells the woman of the moment that he can't live without her, is he expressing his need for deep connection, or is everything he says pure manipulation?

Four very different women discover that they have one thing in common -- Hal-itosis. The past cannot be re-set, but is there hope for the future.

Rankings April 19, 2022:
#! disillusionment (of 136)
#2 reality check (of 195)
#3 antiromance (of 142)
#3 healthy relationships (of 56)
#4 codependency (of 213)

This story is an anti-romance of sorts. Romance is the icing on the cake, not the whole meal. The tale of Hal and his exes includes sexual situations and mature themes. If you are looking for a blow-by-blow account of frenzied sexual activity, you will be disappointed. If you are interested in life and love and how sexuality fits into them, you might find this a refreshing read.

Disclaimer: Edmonton and Calgary are real cities in Alberta. The Muttart Conservatory is a well-known landmark. Gananoque is a small picturesque community in Ontario. All else is fiction. Any resemblance to actual organizations, businesses, people, or situations is purely coincidental.