Manipulated Lives by H.A. Leuschel - Book Tour + Giveaway
Manipulated Lives
by H.A. Leuschel
Genre:
Psychological Fiction
Psychological Fiction
‘Realistic, heart-breaking and utterly gripping!’ - Bookneeders
'A brilliant and important book ... I could barely put it down'- Nerdish Mum Book Blog
You NEED to read this. Your family needs to read this, your friends need
to read this, your children … NEED to read this’ - JenacideByBibliophile
Five fictional, compelling true-to-life stories about how people can be manipulated by others.
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.
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.
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To
her dismay, Tess seemed to have nodded off, her face looking pale and slightly
ashen. That was when she could not bear it any longer and silently crept over
to
where Tess was sitting and already emitting small snoring sounds, while the
music was still accompanying the next enthusiastic dancing couple on screen.
She whispered Tess’s name a few times and then, without any further thought,
raised her friend’s sleeve to the top of her arm.
She
was speechless at what she discovered. Tess’s arm was surrounded by a row of
interlocked shackles. They were thick and black and she was taken aback by the
courage of this old lady for choosing such a strong design. At the front of the
arm though, the link was broken and instead of the metal chain, small detached
pieces were progressively floating up her upper armwhere they took on the shape
of
a group of birds flying off towards the top of her shoulder. Sandra sat back
with a great sigh, pulled the sleeve back down and reached for the cover that
laid by her side. While she covered Tess’s legs and ever so gently placed
another cushion behind her head, she could sense her friend’s hand, the skin
dry and cool, reaching for hers. She was startled by the unexpected gesture,
her thoughts racing with amixture of guilt and embarrassment. She knelt close
to her, holding her hand for a while, when she heard a small whisper coming
from Tess’s mouth and she lowered her ear, asking her to repeat what she had
just said.
‘Thank
you so much... I’m sorry for leaving you so soon, my love.’ Sandra’s eyes
widened in disbelief. What on earth was Tess talking about? Before she could
set her forehead into a deep frown, she sensed her heart drop into the centre
of the stomach. It
is too late, she told herself.
The
room suddenly felt oppressive and stuffy and the air was still with foreboding.
Sandra got up and frantically opened one of the dining room windows, knowing
the feeling all too well, even though it had been a while since she last
experienced it. The fresh gust of air blowing into her face was rejuvenating
and refreshing but she was frightened to turn round. In the nearby trees she
could hear the birds
singing
and twittering as if it were just another normal autumn afternoon.
She
took another deep breath, her eyes streaming now with tears of frustration, and
resolutely walked back to where Tess was now slumped awkwardly in her chair.
The meaning of the tattoo was staring her straight in the face. Tess had lost
her imaginary wings before she had ever learned to fly.
And she had not seen it coming.
Helene Andrea Leuschel gained a BA in Journalism & Communication, which
led to a career in radio and television in Brussels, London and
Edinburgh. She later acquired a Master in Philosophy, specializing in
the study of the mind.
led to a career in radio and television in Brussels, London and
Edinburgh. She later acquired a Master in Philosophy, specializing in
the study of the mind.
Helene has a particular interest in emotional, psychological and social
well-being and this led her to write her first novel, Manipulated
Lives, a fictional collection of five novellas, each highlighting the
dangers of interacting with narcissists.
well-being and this led her to write her first novel, Manipulated
Lives, a fictional collection of five novellas, each highlighting the
dangers of interacting with narcissists.
She lives with her husband and two children in Portugal.
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