Synopsis
They say it
takes 21 days to form a habit.
They lie.
For 21 days she held on.
But on Day 22, she would have
given anything for the sweet slumber of death.
Because on Day 22, she
realizes that her only way out means certain death for one of the two men she
loves.
A haunting tale of passion, loss, and
redemption, The Paper Swan is a darkly intense yet heartwarming love story,
textured with grit, intrigue, and suspense. Please note: This is NOT a love
triangle.
A full-length, standalone
novel, intended for mature audiences due to violence, sex and language. Subject
matter may be disturbing for some readers.
Excerpts
The light from the hallway outlined
Damian’s form, casting a sinister shadow over my bed. I wanted to hide
somewhere it couldn’t reach me.
He placed a tray on the bed and pulled up a
chair. He left the lights off, but I smelled food. He’d brought me food.
I approached the tray cautiously, keeping
my eyes averted. I remembered what had happened the last time I’d defied him,
and I was going to be a good girl. I was going to be a good, conditioned girl.
I could barely contain the hunger pangs that were rolling through my stomach in
short, tight contractions, but I forced myself to slow down, to behave, to
be civil and not bury my face in the plate like I wanted to.
It was some kind of fish, simply grilled,
with rice on the side. God, it smelled good. There was no cutlery, which was
fine, because all I wanted to do was rip into it, but I knew he was watching,
so I pinched off a piece with my fingers, and the oil and cooking juices
mingled with the rice.
“Not so fast,” he said.
Oh God, not again. Please just let me eat.
I wondered what he’d do if I licked my
fingers.
I could taste the fish so bad.
“Stand up,” he instructed.
I swallowed the dry lump in my throat, the
one that wanted to scream and cry and whimper and beg. I swallowed the
tasteless, fishless lump and stood.
“Take your clothes off,” he said from the
shadows.
I had been expecting it. Sooner or later,
one way or another, it always came down to their dick. Suck it, lick it, stroke
it, fuck it.
Because my mother didn’t love me.
Because my father hit me.
Because my teacher fondled me.
Because I was bullied.
Because my wife left me.
Because my kids don’t talk to me.
That’s why I drink.
I gamble.
I can’t stop eating.
I’m addicted to sex.
I cut myself.
I pull out my eyelashes.
I do drugs.
But it’s not always enough, you know?
And sometimes, it spills over because you can’t control it, because you need to
make others feel your pain, your hurt, your rage, because it’s tough to walk
around all scarred up, in a world full of slick billboards and bright, smiley
toothpaste ads and shiny, happy people. Life’s not always fair. So suck it,
lick it, stroke it, fuck it.
I didn’t care what category of dysfunction
Damian fell in to. Sometimes it’s because I’m just pure evil, you
know? I kept my mind on the prize as I unbuttoned my top. It might have looked
like I was staring at the floor, but I was eating rice and fish with my eyes.
It’s amazing—the things you can do in survival mode. I stepped out of my pants
and stood before him in my bra and panties. Agent Provocateur. Midnight Captive
Collection.
The Paper
Swan Book Links
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The Paper
Swan Spotify Playlist
The
Paper Swan Trailer
Author Bio and Links
Leylah
Attar writes stories about love - shaken, stirred and served with a twist. When
she's not writing, she can be found pursuing her other passions: photography,
food, family and travel. Sometimes she disappears into the black hole of the
internet, but can usually be enticed out with chocolate.
GIVEAWAY
The author is giving away a signed paperback of The Paper Swan and a $25 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
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