Perception: A Bittersweet Romance Suspense Novel
Page 30
When we are the person involved in a set of circumstances, it is easy to see things for the way they are, but that doesn’t mean that the people around us perceive them in the same way. People have a habit of forming opinions based on whatever suits their needs. In other words, we see what we want to see. We cannot force someone else to see our situation as we do. Unless they choose to empathize, to stand in the place we stand, to walk a mile in our shoes, their viewpoint may always differ from our own. All we can hope for is that one day they respect us enough to realize that their perception of a situation is not reality, but simply their interpretation of it.
Jackson and Savannah’s journey through life was almost always shaped from the perceptions they made along the way. Exposure to violence as a child almost certainly incited Jackson’s decision to get involved in illegal fights in early life, and later, his innate need to make up for what he felt was his failing in childhood spilled over into his chosen career as protector. Savannah’s choices were influenced by the loss of her parents at a young and vulnerable age which led to her handing over control of her destiny and the loss of her independence. Her toleration of an abusive marriage stemmed from the perceptions she’d formed of herself as a result of it—the control and humiliation stripping her of all her confidence and self-worth. Even the circumstances in which Jackson and Savannah met and fell in love were governed by varying observations which in turn resulted in the struggles they had to combat to see things from each other’s viewpoint.
Savannah’s story, her experience of violence and sexual abuse, is not dissimilar to thousands of women all over the world. However, what is unique to Savannah is her perception of her situation and how she chose to deal with it. Her choices may make her character hard for some to relate to, but it is okay for people to have different perceptions and reactions to the story. The whole idea of Perception is to open our minds up to the possibility that we are all capable of viewing the same situations differently. The way we choose to handle them depends wholly on our individual understanding.
For me, giving Savannah a voice and the courage to find strength to fight for her freedom, to have a hand in her transformation from victim to survivor, from a tiny flightless sparrow into a magnificent golden eagle, was nothing less than an absolute privilege. While the actions she took to escape her abuse were, at times, extreme because … well, fiction; they were, of course, meant as a metaphorical message. Strength comes in all different forms. Anybody that has suffered abuse knows it can be a dark and lonely place to be, and quite often it seems like there is no way to escape it. But remember—you just have to change where you stand to see something new. Like Jackson said, “You can do anything you want. You just have to believe in yourself.”
If you or anyone you know are sufferers of abuse, below you will find a list of support groups where victims can get help:
metoomvmt.org/resources
www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline
rapecrisis.org.uk
www.victimsupport.org.uk/crime-info/types-crime/domestic-abuse
I want to say a huge thank you for choosing to read Perception. If you enjoyed it please consider leaving a rating and a review, and if you’d like to stay up to date with new releases, please take the time to sign up to my newsletter. Your email address will not be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.
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A Thank You
To David Wilson, who opened my eyes to the idea of perception—thank you. It really is like looking out at the world from a whole new set of eyes. To Amy Queau of QDesign, who brought my vision to life when she created this amazing cover—thank you, it’s perfect. To Maxanne Dobson of The Polished Pen, thank you for making me one of your handful, for your continued enthusiasm and support, and your amazing editorial skills. Thanks to Champagne Book Design for formatting, and adding the final touches. A huge thanks go to my readers, I am truly grateful for every one of you. Finally, to my family — my husband, my daughter and, of course, my little man. You guys are my world, my everything, always.
Other Titles by Kendra Leigh
Read on to get a glimpse into Angel and Ethan’s story in the Amazon bestselling
Bound Trilogy.
Bound for Hell
Bound for Salvation
Bound for Nirvana
Bound for Hell
Book 1—The Bound Trilogy
Changing her destiny means following her heart… and breaking all the rules.
Sometimes the Hell you fear isn’t a place at all. Sometimes it’s the life you’re living. A life filled with darkness, isolation, guilt and remorse—for a sin you’re convinced you committed, yet can’t remember. A life filled with shallow relationships — because the risk of opening your heart is more frightening than living with your inner demons.
On the surface, Angel Lawson is a poised, confident photographer and successful gallery owner. But underneath, she lives her days in constant fear of exposure, and her nights tormented by nightmares. She has spent years building impenetrable walls to keep the demons at bay.
And then she meets the powerful, persistent billionaire, Ethan Wilde… the one man who sees past the barriers and bravado to her brokenness. Ethan is as intense as he is sinfully sexy. A man so irretrievably captivated, he is determined to possess her — mind, body and soul. But can he help her heal it?
Can Angel risk leaving her ‘safe’ life behind, or is the choice no longer hers?
Ethan Wilde is used to getting what he wants… and what he wants is Angel.
Bound For Hell
Book 1 of The Bound Trilogy, by Kendra Leigh
Relentlessly sexy. Emotionally deep. Tangled, twisted, intricately woven love story with romance and suspense. For readers 18 and over due to explicit sexual content.
Bound for Salvation
Book 2—The Bound Trilogy
Savior or betrayer? Buried secrets lead to broken hearts…
Angel Lawson has spent her life alone and running from her past. After years of avoiding intimacy, she has finally found her soul mate in Ethan Wilde. Inch by inch, he’s woven his way past her defenses, folding himself around her soul like a soothing blanket. Brick by brick, he’s broken down the walls she built to protect her heart. For the first time in living memory she feels cherished and protected.
On the surface, Ethan is her savior — a man who has sworn to help heal her fragile heart, and release her tortured soul from a lifetime of guilt and shame.
But what lies lurking in the shadows of Ethan’s past?
Pasts smothered and left to burn become toxic secrets. Secrets powerful enough to tear even the strongest love apart.
Is Ethan really her Prince Charming, her salvation? Or will he lead her right back to the start of her journey? Alone… and bound for Hell?
Bound for Salvation
Book 2 of The Bound Trilogy, by Kendra Leigh
Relentlessly sexy. Emotionally deep. Tangled, twisted, intricately woven love story with romance and suspense. For readers 18 and over due to explicit sexual content.
Bound for Nirvana
Book 3 — The Bound Trilogy
…but to get there, they’ll have to fight their way out of Hell.
Angel once believed she was destined for a loveless, hellish existence. Now she willingly gives her heart to Ethan Wilde, the man whose love mends her broken soul a little more each day. The promise of peace and the chance to breathe are finally within her reach.
Ethan knows Hell is no place for an angel, especially not his Angel. He’s sworn to protect her at any cost. He would willingly sacrifice his soul to save hers.
When Ethan’s past threatened to destroy them, they fought their way through a living hell, fuelled by their passion and driven by their unbreakable bond. They emerged stronger than ever, determined to find their happy ever after.
But Angel continues to paper over the cracks of her troubled childhood in an effort to keep her own demons at bay. When a tw
ist of fate forces her to confront them, she knows she will never find the peace she craves until they, too, are defeated. But in her search for Nirvana, Angel discovers far more than buried memories — she’s forced to face a lifetime of betrayal.
What happens when the worst nightmare you’ve ever encountered is the one you wake up in? When the past comes face to face with the present to reveal a web of dark secrets and a lifetime of lies? Is there such a thing as a happy ever after for those who are bound for Hell?
Bound for Nirvana
Book 3 of The Bound Trilogy, by Kendra Leigh
Relentlessly sexy. Emotionally deep. Tangled, twisted, intricately woven love story with romance and suspense. For readers 18 and over due to explicit sexual content.
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