THIS IS A NEW ADULT NOVEL. RECOMMENDED FOR 17+ YEARS DUE TO SEXUAL CONTENT AND SOCIAL SITUATIONS
When you see someone who looks like they need saving, you save them right?
Mackenzie Deeks is struggling. Outwardly she plays the tough guy and acts like being a young adult with an eating disorder is no big deal. Inside, she's crumbling.
Ever since her parents’ divorce, the only way she has been able to feel in control of her life is by purging the despair that has its grips on her and won't let go.
Tyler Redding knows when someone needs help - he's seen it before. This time, though, he's not going to take no for an answer. From the moment he first sets his sights on Mackenzie, he's unable to think of anyone else. But how can he focus on a football career when all he wants to do is date the most unassuming person he's ever met?
As their lives become intricately entwined, it becomes more than wishful thinking when Mackenzie and Tyler find each other again as adults. With successful careers, a beachside lifestyle and each other’s love to contend with, life should be pretty damn good. But just when they think they’ve found their wonderful kind of normal, their perfect world comes crashing down.
It’s going to take a lot to keep Mackenzie from succumbing to old habits, but Tyler thinks he might just be the one to save her for good.
TYLER
‘You can’t go on living like this. This is the old you. The you before you promised me that you’d never do this to yourself again. I love you so much and can’t watch you do this to yourself.’
‘Well then leave!’ Her stale breath hits me. The feral tone that spews from her mouth smacks me straight across the face. Her words sting like a bitch, but I’m trying not to take it personally.
‘You don’t mean that. You love me too, I know you do.’
‘Do I?’ Petulant eyes stare me down. I swallow hard. Why is she being so damn difficult?
‘Well if you don’t love me, damn well pretend Mackenzie! Because each and every second I’m not with you is like torture for me and I can’t accept that you don’t love me enough to want to let me help you get through this.’ Her expression softens just a little, but it’s enough to let me know I’m making headway. Levi is still standing in the bathroom doorway, the quiet spectator while all our back and forth is going on.
In my sternest voice possible, I issue her an order.
‘I’m going downstairs. I’m going to put the kettle on and make coffee for all of us. I’m going to make you a sandwich, which you’re damn well going to eat. Then we’re going to talk about anything you want to talk about, but whether you like it or not, we are going to talk. We’re going to talk until it doesn’t hurt anymore. I’m here for you and I’m not going anywhere. Levi is going to help you get cleaned up and you’re not going to give him a hard time about it. I know you’re hurting, Mack, but we are too. Your pain is our pain.’
I kiss the tip of her perfect little nose before rising to leave. Levi’s eyes lock with mine, respect silently offered as I make my way out.
‘Tyler!’ I swivel around, Mackenzie’s desperate plea grounding me to the spot.
‘Yeah?’
‘I do love you, you know.’ Tears trickle down her cheeks, falling into the bath water as though they are the most inconsequential thing in the world. They aren’t, though. They’re everything. It means she isn’t far enough gone not to feel anything.
‘I know you do, baby, I know you do.’
Fastest typer in the world ...
Over-user of exclamation points when talking!
Insane horn-honker when people cross the white lines in the middle of the road ...
And ... multi-genre author from the east coast of New South Wales in Australia.
I've always been a lover of books since a young age, but never really thought about writing one until I reached my thirties. Once I started writing, there was no stopping me. So many ideas swamped me that I found it hard to categorize myself as an author of any one particular genre. So, I thought, why should I have to?!
Since I started writing back in 2012, I've written over ten novels - all in different genres. My breakout novel is a contemporary romance titled RUINED. This novel is a little taboo, but hey, it's just fiction! I'm very proud to say that Ruined has sold over 30000 digital copies on Amazon for kindle users.
Not all of my novels are published as I have removed some earlier titles that I feel need re-working. Most of my earlier work is now published under the pseudonym of Stevie Harlow. These days, I publish under S. Pratt or Shelly Pratt - depending on the genre of the story. Some of my books are traditionally published, while others are self-published.
After becoming disillusioned with being a traditionally published author, I decided self-publishing was for me. With such an over-active mind, it allowed me to stipulate my own deadlines, and, who I wanted to hire as my editor or graphic designer.
Now I get to live the best of both worlds. I'm a full-time mum, while still being able to pursue my passion for writing. My gorgeous husband puts up with all things that occupy my mind and has been my biggest supporter while I've chased down my dreams.
I cannot thank the readers who have picked up my books enough. Without your support and kind words, all of THIS wouldn't be possible. I am deeply humbled by those who have purchased my books. I can now proudly say that I have been a member of the exclusive Amazon top 100 bestsellers.
Ever since her parents’ divorce, the only way she has been able to feel in control of her life is by purging the despair that has its grips on her and won't let go.
Tyler Redding knows when someone needs help - he's seen it before. This time, though, he's not going to take no for an answer. From the moment he first sets his sights on Mackenzie, he's unable to think of anyone else. But how can he focus on a football career when all he wants to do is date the most unassuming person he's ever met?
As their lives become intricately entwined, it becomes more than wishful thinking when Mackenzie and Tyler find each other again as adults. With successful careers, a beachside lifestyle and each other’s love to contend with, life should be pretty damn good. But just when they think they’ve found their wonderful kind of normal, their perfect world comes crashing down.
It’s going to take a lot to keep Mackenzie from succumbing to old habits, but Tyler thinks he might just be the one to save her for good.
Mackenzie's life is spinning out of control. She overhears a late night argument between her parents, who quickly divorce. Her father leaves and she misses him greatly. That leaves her with her mother, who, after hearing the argument and the things that were said, she is incredibly angry with. She feels like there is nothing that she can do to fix her life, until she realizes only she can control her caloric intake. So begins her descent into bulimia.
Mackenzie hides in plain sight at her school. Never makes friends, avoiding all social situations. Until she sees a boy, Levi, getting picked on and is compelled to stand up for him. Which diverts the attention onto her. In steps Tyler. Tyler, who has had his eye on Mackenzie for a while now. Tyler, who knows all too well the signs and consequences of an eating disorder.
S. Pratt hits on some pretty difficult issues in this book. Not only do we get an insiders view of Mackenzie's eating disorder, we find out what happens to the friends and family of the person with the problem. We also see, through Levi, what it is like to be on the other side of the fence and be a binge eater.
Tyler and Levi turn into a great support system for Mackenzie and help her to fins a better way to deal with all of the hurt and anger that she is carrying around. However, when Mackenzie finds out that Tyler knows a lot more about eating disorders than she thought he did, she is devastated. She feels like she was just a project for him.
If you like books that are a little controversial, a lot sad, and deal with things that we all assume will never effect us, this is a great book to pick up. S. Pratt gives a face and a life to a disorder, and huge problem in our society, that we can connect to.
TYLER
‘You can’t go on living like this. This is the old you. The you before you promised me that you’d never do this to yourself again. I love you so much and can’t watch you do this to yourself.’
‘Well then leave!’ Her stale breath hits me. The feral tone that spews from her mouth smacks me straight across the face. Her words sting like a bitch, but I’m trying not to take it personally.
‘You don’t mean that. You love me too, I know you do.’
‘Do I?’ Petulant eyes stare me down. I swallow hard. Why is she being so damn difficult?
‘Well if you don’t love me, damn well pretend Mackenzie! Because each and every second I’m not with you is like torture for me and I can’t accept that you don’t love me enough to want to let me help you get through this.’ Her expression softens just a little, but it’s enough to let me know I’m making headway. Levi is still standing in the bathroom doorway, the quiet spectator while all our back and forth is going on.
In my sternest voice possible, I issue her an order.
‘I’m going downstairs. I’m going to put the kettle on and make coffee for all of us. I’m going to make you a sandwich, which you’re damn well going to eat. Then we’re going to talk about anything you want to talk about, but whether you like it or not, we are going to talk. We’re going to talk until it doesn’t hurt anymore. I’m here for you and I’m not going anywhere. Levi is going to help you get cleaned up and you’re not going to give him a hard time about it. I know you’re hurting, Mack, but we are too. Your pain is our pain.’
I kiss the tip of her perfect little nose before rising to leave. Levi’s eyes lock with mine, respect silently offered as I make my way out.
‘Tyler!’ I swivel around, Mackenzie’s desperate plea grounding me to the spot.
‘Yeah?’
‘I do love you, you know.’ Tears trickle down her cheeks, falling into the bath water as though they are the most inconsequential thing in the world. They aren’t, though. They’re everything. It means she isn’t far enough gone not to feel anything.
‘I know you do, baby, I know you do.’
Over-user of exclamation points when talking!
Insane horn-honker when people cross the white lines in the middle of the road ...
And ... multi-genre author from the east coast of New South Wales in Australia.
I've always been a lover of books since a young age, but never really thought about writing one until I reached my thirties. Once I started writing, there was no stopping me. So many ideas swamped me that I found it hard to categorize myself as an author of any one particular genre. So, I thought, why should I have to?!
Since I started writing back in 2012, I've written over ten novels - all in different genres. My breakout novel is a contemporary romance titled RUINED. This novel is a little taboo, but hey, it's just fiction! I'm very proud to say that Ruined has sold over 30000 digital copies on Amazon for kindle users.
Not all of my novels are published as I have removed some earlier titles that I feel need re-working. Most of my earlier work is now published under the pseudonym of Stevie Harlow. These days, I publish under S. Pratt or Shelly Pratt - depending on the genre of the story. Some of my books are traditionally published, while others are self-published.
After becoming disillusioned with being a traditionally published author, I decided self-publishing was for me. With such an over-active mind, it allowed me to stipulate my own deadlines, and, who I wanted to hire as my editor or graphic designer.
Now I get to live the best of both worlds. I'm a full-time mum, while still being able to pursue my passion for writing. My gorgeous husband puts up with all things that occupy my mind and has been my biggest supporter while I've chased down my dreams.
I cannot thank the readers who have picked up my books enough. Without your support and kind words, all of THIS wouldn't be possible. I am deeply humbled by those who have purchased my books. I can now proudly say that I have been a member of the exclusive Amazon top 100 bestsellers.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorpratt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorprattster
Website: http://www.shellypratt.net/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1aTgZKk
No comments:
Post a Comment