Manipulated Lives - HA Leuschel

 

Manipulated Lives

Today I am pleased to be able to participate in the blog tour for Manipulated Lives by H A Leuschel.  My thanks go to @damppebbles blog tours for my spot on the tour. 

About the Book

Five compelling true-to-life stories each highlighting a narcissist’s manipulative mind games,

Narcissists are everywhere.

They can be witty, charming and highly charismatic.

Anyone can be their target.

At first their devious, calculating mind games can be hard to spot because they are masters of disguise, 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.

All stories highlight to what extent narcissistic abuse can distort lives and threaten our self-worth yet ultimately, also send a positive message that once the narcissist is unmasked, the victims can at last break free.

 Review

I am pleased to be one of the final stops on this blog tour and after reading the other books by HA Leuschel, I couldn’t wait to read this.

Now I have a confession, since saying I would read this book, things have been a bit chaotic as I am sure it has for most people during this strange time that we are all in and my reading has been hit and miss.  I have started to read this book but have not quite finished it.  I am seriously missing my train journey to and from work where I could read uninterrupted for at least 20 mins, whereas now as I am driving to and from work I don’t seem to have the same timescales and freedom to read (never mind that it would be frowned upon should I be reading a kindle whilst driving) as I used to. 

Anyway, I am not too far off finishing this book and once finished will update my review, however for the time being all I can say is I am so glad I started it (despite not being able to complete the same) as it is one of those books that will stay with me for a while. 

As anyone will know this is a collection of short stories and each one is that little bit different.  I love being able to read short stories and find that they do mean that the time that I can relax after a busy day at work with a cuppa, chocolate and peace and quiet even for half an hour means that I can read a story or hopefully read one in full, sit and digest the same and gather my thoughts before moving on to the next one.  I am like this with any book, in that I have to gather my thoughts at the end of each one and am not able to rush straight into another book immediately.

I am seriously looking forward to finishing this book and then I will be able to see if I can make a decision as to my overall favourite one (as despite the different stories that are in there, I am sure that one will be able to resonate with me more than the others).  At present it is hard to decide as each one gives you the presence to sit and think after reading it as to what actually goes on in peoples lives.  Whether the people that is discussed in these stories, actually feel guilty or any sort of remorse for what happens. 

All in all a very interesting book and just under 300 pages.  Looking forward to finishing this when my busy home and work life settles down again.   

About the Author

 

Helene Andrea Leuschel gained a Master 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. 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. She lives with her husband and two children in Portugal.

Social Media Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HALeuschel 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HALeuschel/

Website: https://www.heleneleuschel.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleuschel/

 

To buy from:

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2NJqNDI

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3bHPLLC

 

Check out the rest of the blog tour with these fabulous blogs: 

 

My thanks to HA Leuschel for letting me review this book along with Emma at @damppebbles for my spot on the blog tour.