Manipulated Lives by H.A. Leuschel - Book Blitz + Giveaway
Manipulated Lives
Five stories – Five Lives
Have you ever felt confused or at a loss for words in front of a spouse, colleague or parent, to the extent that you have felt inadequate or, worse, a failure? Do you ever wonder why someone close to you seems to endure humiliation without resistance?
Manipulators are everywhere. At first these devious and calculating people can be hard to spot, because that is their way. They are often masters of disguise: witty, disarming, even charming in public – tricks to snare their prey – but then they revert to their true self of being controlling and angry in private. Their main aim: to dominate and use others to satisfy their needs, with a complete lack of compassion and empathy for their victim.
In this collection of short novellas, you meet people like you and me, intent on living happy lives, yet each of them, in one way or another, is caught up and damaged by a manipulative individual. First you meet Tess, whose past is haunted by a wrong decision, then young, successful and well balanced Sophie, who is drawn into the life of a little boy and his troubled father. Next, there is teenage Holly, who is intent on making a better life for herself, followed by a manipulator himself, trying to make sense of his irreversible incarceration. Lastly, there is Lisa, who has to face a parent’s biggest regret. All stories highlight to what extent abusive manipulation can distort lives and threaten our very feeling of self-worth.
Manipulators are everywhere. At first these devious and calculating people can be hard to spot, because that is their way. They are often masters of disguise: witty, disarming, even charming in public – tricks to snare their prey – but then they revert to their true self of being controlling and angry in private. Their main aim: to dominate and use others to satisfy their needs, with a complete lack of compassion and empathy for their victim.
In this collection of short novellas, you meet people like you and me, intent on living happy lives, yet each of them, in one way or another, is caught up and damaged by a manipulative individual. First you meet Tess, whose past is haunted by a wrong decision, then young, successful and well balanced Sophie, who is drawn into the life of a little boy and his troubled father. Next, there is teenage Holly, who is intent on making a better life for herself, followed by a manipulator himself, trying to make sense of his irreversible incarceration. Lastly, there is Lisa, who has to face a parent’s biggest regret. All stories highlight to what extent abusive manipulation can distort lives and threaten our very feeling of self-worth.
Purchase Link - https://books2read.com/u/49P2MJ
MANIPULATED LIVES by H.A. Leuschel
Hello and thank you
very much for inviting me to ‘Jazzy Book Reviews’!
We’ve all done it,
consciously or unconsciously and, that is deny the facts that are staring us
right in the face. A wide range of emotions may be the main culprits for
us denying that we’ve broken something, lost something or are facing an illness
that we could have avoided had we listened to the warning signs or someone
close to us, anxiously watching and commenting on our behaviour. At the end of
the day, we’d rather be seen doing things right than doing things wrong and
making mistakes. We’d rather tell a happy story than a story that contains
unpleasant passages.
Humiliation,
embarrassment or fear to admit weakness or face punishment may also be at the
centre of our blindness. Other peoples’ expectations can misguide our better
judgment because making mistakes is human after all, yet learning from them can
make us into a better and stronger person, even if the experience as such can
be difficult and very painful.
At
the end of the day, it may depend on how heavily a person’s actions weigh on
their conscience and further, going back to the roots, the way our relationship
developed with our primary care-giver when we were children, followed by the
many years encountering a number of different teachers.
Decades
of research in psychology have shown that this initial phase has a decisive
impact on our emotional and mental growth, our empathic skills and the
development as a moral individual overall.
In the fourth novella
of my anthology ‘Manipulated Lives’ called ‘The Narcissist’, the reader meets
the person himself - the manipulator in denial despite his incarceration and
the evidence of a dark past that haunts him but which he refuses to endorse.
Excerpt
I
was wearing one of my finest black suits. It had been custom-made and therefore
fit me like a glove. Underneath, I wore a white shirt, ironed to perfection by
my wife just under an hour before. My tie was red and had a black eagle
stitched onto the front. I had been called away for an important business
dinner, as I often was.
I
entered a restaurant and instantly felt at home. A mounted floral creation was
displayed at the centre of a big room with a layout of tables, set with the
finest cream-coloured linen and crystal glasses, that gave off a feeling of
exclusivity as they reflected the flattering light of candles placed between
the delicate porcelain plates. I absolutely loved these Michelin star places. Every
single detail had been thought about, considered for the greatest comfort of
the very special customer who could afford the bill, subtly concealed under a
crisp-white napkin. The carpeted floor muffled my steps and the submissive
glances of the staff gave off a sense of suspended existence. I was in a bubble
of wealth surrounded by people of wealth and I was one of them. I always felt
my chest rise in volume, my heart beating with excitement, and this was when I
produced my best small talk and funniest jokes. This was also where I lingered
that bit longer on an attractive woman’s silhouette as she passed by, picturing
where she lived and how thickly her wallet may be lined. And before I knew it,
I sat in the most comfortable seats in town, thanks to lavish cushioning.
Without
a moment’s hesitation, I took out my mobile. I should not have been the one
waiting. She should be. I was only faintly annoyed though, because my attention
was swiftly diverted by a perfectly dressed young waitress approaching my table
with a welcoming smile. Her attitude confirmed, yet again, how special I was.
Her hair was smartly pulled up in a tidy bun and her make-up had been applied
subtly so that every other lady in the room could shine. I knew that the aim
was to look pleasing to the eye without stealing anyone else’s show.
‘Good
evening, sir. Would you care for an Aperitif or would you prefer to wait?’ she
asked, whilst lifting off my napkin and setting it accurately over my lap. It
was a perfect choreography and if it wasn’t that way, I’d be the first to
complain. Next I sensed the refreshing, prickly feeling of Champagne filling my
mouth and sighed with relief that all was well and as it should be.
Author Bio –
Helene Andrea Leuschel grew up in Belgium where she gained a Licentiate in Journalism & Communication, which led to a career in radio and television in Brussels, London and Edinburgh. She now lives with her husband and two children in Portugal and recently acquired a Master of Philosophy with the OU, deepening her passion for the study of the mind. When she is not writing, Helene works as a freelance journalist and teaches Yoga.
Social Media Links –
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