Manipulated Lives by H A Leuschel @HALeuschel #BlogBlitz @rararesources #ManipulatedLives

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.

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.

I'm really pleased to be part of the Blog Blitz arranged by Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for Manipulated Lives by H A Leuschel today.
This is a collection of five stories, all with the theme of manipulation.

To manipulate: to manage or influence skillfully, especially in an unfair manner:

to manipulate people's feelings.

I'd hazard a guess that most of us have been manipulated at some time during our lives, and also that many of us have done a little manipulation of our own. It's a part of human nature that can be so very dangerous, hurtful and long lasting.

HA Leuschel has taken the theme of manipulation and created five very well written short stories around it. I read this collection over a week or so, picking them up every now and again and reading each story in one go. 

This is a very accomplished collection, the writing is vivid and insightful and actually can hit a nerve or two along the way. Reader may recognise things that have happened to them, or even see some of their own behaviours reflected on the pages. 

A very satisfying collection of extremely well written stories; sometimes uncomfortable but always believable. I'd be interested to read more from this author, and thank her and Rachel for sending my copy for review and inviting me to take part on this tour.

Buy a copy of Manipulated Lives here 

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.

Find her Author page on Facebook

Follow her on Twitter @HALeuschel

Find her on Goodreads

Find out more at www.heleneleuschel.com