“
It always amazes me how it is so easy to appear one way to the people around you but to live inside as someone else entirely.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
You could say it feels a bit like dressing up in the brightest party clothes so nobody sees how low and lost you feel underneath. You'd be surprised how easy it is to hide your true feelings with a smile and a kind word.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
You don't always know how you're going to react to a sudden tragedy breaking your life into little pieces.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Blink)
“
Just give yourself permission to feel it all, Jenny. The sadness, the anger, the heartbreak… let it come. All your feelings are valid. You don’t have to choose between them.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Girlfriend)
“
Why is that everyone can forget about physical ailments quite easily, but when it comes to mental illness, it sticks to you like glue for the rest of your life?
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Apartment)
“
If hope is like the softest snow, then the dread that replaces it is the razor-sharp ice that will slash and pare your very soul to ribbons
”
”
K.L. Slater (Blink)
“
This was a wretched place that most people would never get to see. Lucky them. Hope didn't feel that strong here, but fear loomed large
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”
K.L. Slater (The Evidence)
“
All the dark stuff nobody’s saying is stacking up in the silences between our words. It lives and breathes in the space around us where we can’t touch it, see it, or escape it.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Finding Grace)
“
Sit down, Mum,’ Ben says kindly when he’s finished mopping up the cream. I look down and see that the large area of polished wood is now dull and smeared, and although he’s done his best, the cream has surreptitiously seeped in between the boards where it might never be reached. ‘Mum?
”
”
K.L. Slater (Liar)
“
The pork is in the oven with the foil off now, and a quick satisfying peek confirms that the crackling will be done to perfection. Just how Ben likes it. The apple crumble, with my own special oaty topping, sits on the side, and I have a big carton of Marks and Spencer’s vanilla custard stowed away in the fridge. I find nobody notices a little cheat, so long as it’s just here and there. The trick is not to overdo it.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Liar)
“
pick Maddy and Josh up from Mum’s house no later than six each day, and we’re always home around ten minutes later. I thought that was enough to qualify me as a good mother, a parent who is there for her children. Yet I feel a niggle deep down that tells me he’s right. Once I get through the door each evening, I simply set my laptop up on the kitchen counter and carry on working. I often cook the children’s tea around updating the InsideOut4Kids website. The reality is, I’m there… but I’m not really there. Not all of me. For the first time, I consider the echoes of my own childhood, when Mum spent so much time in her bedroom. I can’t remember the last time we all sat down and ate together, or watched TV as a family. We often stay in different rooms until it’s time for bed. And the outings to the park or the cinema we used to plan and enjoy at weekends? I seriously can’t remember the last time we did that. I thought I was being Superwoman, and it turns out I’m struggling to tick all the boxes like any other mere mortal. The realisation renders me speechless, and it doesn’t take Tom long to
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Silent Ones)
“
There’s so much ugliness in the world, don’t you think? So much distrust and focus on negative events, rather than on making peaceful progress so that the world is a better, more informed place for our future generations.
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”
K.L. Slater (The Apartment)
K.L. Slater (Little Whispers)
K.L. Slater (The Girl She Wanted)
“
A childhood like that makes for a nervous adult who spends her time working out how to please others, saying yes to everything and wearing herself ragged in the process.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Little Whispers)
“
I’ve always thought it amazing how, up to about nine or ten years of age, kids see chores and responsibilities as proof of a kind of grown-up status. But once they get any older than that, it’s like pulling teeth to get them to do anything to help.
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”
K.L. Slater (Little Whispers)
“
indefinitely and yet nothing I do will ever make what happened right. Nothing.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Little Whispers)
“
I’m not sure whether I distanced myself or they did, but losing touch with people is something I’ve just accepted happens throughout my life. It seems… safer somehow, relying on no one but yourself.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Little Whispers)
“
crop the length a bit so it’s a nice blunt bob and then get a balayage next
”
”
K.L. Slater (Little Whispers)
“
the more nervously you act around people like that, the more power they draw from it.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Bedroom Window)
“
Try to avoid going from zero to one hundred miles an hour on the strength of a look, a comment or mere suspicion.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Bedroom Window)
K.L. Slater (Husband and Wife)
“
Embrace every moment of life rather than wasting it in conflict. We should strive to demonstrate to others the love, grace, and mercy God has extended us.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
up to her bedroom and lay her in her cot. I sit in the comfy chair next to it and hold her hand through the
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Girl She Wanted)
“
We want to believe they are good and true and so we do. We run with that. Then suddenly we can’t see what’s around us anymore; we can’t spot the signs. We’re blind to anything other than what they place right in front of our eyes and tell us is the truth.’ ‘I
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Evidence)
“
Inside, I felt hollow. Years together, wiped out in what felt like an instant.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Evidence)
“
The gradual disintegration of their close relationship meant that Justine felt she couldn’t air her concerns with Esme.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Evidence)
“
If only people with busy lives understood that kindness, however brief, could linger and get a soul through a long, quiet evening.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Widow)
“
We sometimes suffer through self-imposed life sentences on ourselves or others for wrongdoings, despite having the key to freedom in our hearts.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
Our trust, like iron, can withstand enormous weight, but if constantly exposed to corrosive elements, rust can form, weakening its once-reliable strength—it becomes untrustworthy.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
Because of a living and faithful God who loves us undeservingly, life unfolds by His grace when all seems hopeless.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
If we’re obedient to God's divine authority while wearing God's Armor, we’ve won the battle before it begins.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
The tiny ant can teach us enormous lessons about never giving up.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
Selfishness consumes everything around us until nothing remains, including ourselves.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
Managed anger fades like the sunset, but when uncontrolled and released, it can create those lasting memories we wish we could delete.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
We sometimes suffer through self-imposed life sentences on ourselves or others for wrongdoings, despite having the key to freedom in our hearts
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
We sometimes suffer through self-imposed life sentences on ourselves or others for wrongdoings, despite having the key to freedom in our hearts.
”
”
John K Slater
“
The truth always frees us from the self-imposed shackles of lies found in worldly desires.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
If we want to protect others, we should first seek to protect them from ourselves.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
Our trust, like iron, can withstand enormous weight, but if constantly exposed to corrosive elements, rust can form, weakening its once-reliable strength—it becomes untrustworthy.
”
”
John K Slater
“
When the lion’s roar is laden with too much pride, God will send a tiny thorn of humility to hush the mighty beast.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
Disrespect is like tossing a stone into calm water. It causes ripples to travel outward, upsetting what was once a serene environment.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
Scripture remains the lighthouse that defines us, gives us hope, and guides us through life’s perilous storms.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
Patience is like a faucet handle. It controls the flow and timing of our reactions, satisfying the thirst of kindness.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
Kindness can change a moment, but it can also change us if practiced consistently.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
Envy erodes our conviction of being blessed by God and diminishes faith in Him knowing what’s best.
”
”
John K. Slater (God's Love Manual: A How-to Guide for Building Successful Relationships (Milk to Meat Christian Book 2))
“
So, have we decided what we’d like to order?’ The waiter reappears, a little more confident now, his pencil poised expectantly above a small white order pad that looks brand new. Isaac’s pet hate: condescending waiter-speak. ‘Yes, we have decided. You can now take our order,’ Isaac says snappily, and the waiter blanches slightly.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Little Whispers)
“
hear this a lot but reviews are so massively important to authors. If you’ve enjoyed ‘Safe with Me’ and could spare just a few minutes on Amazon or Goodreads to say so, I would so appreciate that. You can also connect with me via my website, on Facebook or Twitter. If you’ve enjoyed this, my debut novel, you might be interested to know that I’ve been
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
I am trapped in a vacuum that exists between life and death.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Blink)
“
like Evie’s nice round pink heart had been ironed flat. So it felt like a grey pancake hanging inside her chest. It was really hard to make the adults understand it all, so Evie decided it was better to just stay quiet. Today, when they’d got home from school and Evie had been upset, Mummy had looked at her as if she was disappointed, somehow.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Blink)
“
believed she was innocent.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
Over time, our marriage has faded, like a vibrant painting left in strong sunlight for too many years. Time has slipped through our fingers like melting snow. We thought we had so much of it, but suddenly it’s just cold water, trickling away fast. We’re
”
”
K.L. Slater (Liar)
“
There’s a point at which you may might realise the journey isn’t really for you any more. But every time you get a chance to change paths, you just stay put because it’s easier. You end up trudging along the same old way and watching as life happens to other people as you pass by. Then one day you just stop looking around you
”
”
K.L. Slater (Liar)
“
send myself birthday cards every year, but it was the first time I’d done flowers.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
You can never be sure quite how much time you’ve got with the people you love
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
You push the chair right up next to them so the fabrics are touching. You carefully extract two balls of molten coal from the ashes with the tongs, carefully placing each one in the middle of the cushions. Now you sit back to watch them melting in, deep down. The glowing balls sink greedily into the soft foam, and the scorched fabric cover of the cushion shrinks back as if it’s trying to escape.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
Imagine if someone took away all the chores and pressure and worries and replaced them with the sweetest joy that filled your heart and left you wanting nothing. If you can imagine that, then you start to come close to feeling what a grandparent feels.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Liar)
“
smiled. ‘I’ve got a whole new life waiting
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Mistake)
“
He had a good sense of direction. His class teacher had said so last summer when they went on the mini-beast hunt, here at Newstead Abbey. And so Billy forged ahead, his inner compass telling him that the kite was definitely around here somewhere.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Mistake)
“
because the hospital
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Mistake)
“
how easy it is to hide your true feelings with a smile and a kind word.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
Is he going to be alright?’ Ivy presses a fist to her lips. ‘All will be revealed in good time,’ Dr Khan replies without looking at her. ‘Head injuries can be tricky things; no two are the same.’ ‘He doesn’t seem to know me, Doctor,’ Ivy says. ‘Some memory loss can be expected under the circumstances,’ Dr Khan mutters, studying a printout. He looks up sharply with raised eyebrows. ‘Give it time, Mrs—’ ‘Bradbury,’ the nurse supplies. We are asked to move outside to the waiting area in the main ward. Ivy falls silent and sits with her head bowed,
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
I continued. ‘My mother encouraged me to move up to Nottingham. It felt like it was time for us to make a clean break.’ For a moment I couldn’t speak.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Blink)
“
As our kids get older and become adults themselves, there’s a stage we unknowingly pass, from which point forward our role as parents diminishes in
”
”
K.L. Slater (Liar)
K.L. Slater (The Mistake)
“
In some ways, a long marriage is a bit like embarking on a journey. There’s a point at which you may might realise the journey isn’t really for you any more. But every time you get a chance to change paths, you just stay put because it’s easier. You end up trudging along the same old way and watching as life happens to other people as you pass by. Then one day you just stop looking around you … and well, here we are.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Liar)
“
Truth never disappears or deserts us; it’s there forever, shining strong. It can be covered and disguised but it’s still there.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Mistake)
“
I start each day promising myself I’ll do better, I tell myself I can stop the destructive eating pattern. But something inside of me is broken and I always let myself down… By nightfall, the early morning hope has turned full-circle, back to self-loathing.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Mistake)
“
The job and the flat had been sorted for a while, and finally the story of her past was in place. She had rehearsed it all in her head until it had felt real. The waiting had been hellish but she knew it was essential that any loose ends were eradicated.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Liar)
“
titivating herself before work had made a change from her usual rushing out
”
”
K.L. Slater (Liar)
“
Soon the boys will be here and the house will be transformed into a home once more. Noisy, glorious chaos again, just like when Ben and David were young. Long before the bad decisions and the terrible consequences.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Liar)
“
The full horror of what he did here is still too much for the village psyche to handle.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Mistake)
“
I realised a long time ago that unless a person has experienced true terror, there is nothing you can do to make them understand how utterly debilitating it can be. Or how your safe, ordinary life can disappear in the space of a heartbeat.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Mistake)
“
I felt desperate for a few hours of blissful oblivion. I couldn’t face the thoughts and possibilities that were ricocheting around my head.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Blink)
“
believed Geraldine would look for me, that she’d suspect I was the one who killed Brendan. I’ve felt Evan’s presence in my head… as if he’s missing me too.’ Her voice drops and becomes faint. ‘But none of it was real.’ ‘But why hurt Mrs Barrett? After everything she did for you… and you pretended to be my friend. This is how you repay us?’ ‘I liked you, David. I really did.’ She says it in such a regretful tone, I almost believe her. ‘You know what it’s like to be an outsider. Perhaps we could have been true friends under different circumstances.’ I stand up. ‘I have to call the police
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Visitor)
“
I can't believe you. You can kiss your cover goodbye because the next time I talk to Kane I'm tellin' him how much of a big, fat, c**k lover you really are!"
Aideen gasped. "You wouldn't!"
"I would, blow job lips, trust me."
Aideen covered her mouth and screeched.
"You promise not to call me that anymore!"
I smirked when I looked over to find Alec was in a fit of laughter next to me.
"Please..." he laughed, "continue!"
I looked back at Aideen who was fuming but silent.
Just the way I liked it.
"You're evil," she hissed at me.
I grinned. "I was raised by the Devil, I picked up few things up."
"I'll say," Aideen muttered.
I chuckled. "I miss you."
"I miss you, too. Has anythin' happened? Besides hanky-panky with one of the Slater God’s of course."
"Slater God," Alec snorted.
”
”
L.A. Casey
“
One Present day Anna The small silver car coming the other way is moving far too fast, and as it takes the bend, the driver loses control and veers over on to the wrong
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
mustn’t cough. You don’t want to wake them, set the sillies screaming and crying. Leave them to their dreams, they will learn soon enough. The flames grow larger, then fuse together. You know it’s a sign that they are silently promising to help you and yet, for a second, you actually consider changing your mind. You could stomp down the flames and shout for help. You could wake them up. Then you hear
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
There is no such thing as a memory-keeper, no entity exists that has the power to declare whether things really happened or not. All we have are the pictures and the short films we play over and over in our mind's eye.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
Sometimes my memories get a bit blurred, good and bad ones together, until it is virtually impossible to separate them. But after all, what are memories but pictures in your mind?
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
This morning it happens at three thirty a.m. and I am scared to move. Scared of what? I haven't got a clue and that just makes it worse.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Safe With Me)
“
Karma has no menu. You get served what you deserve
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Marriage)
K.L. Slater (The Girl She Wanted)
K.L. Slater (The Girl She Wanted)
“
happened to help her make sense of it. ‘It seems
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Apartment)
“
looking efficient and
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Girlfriend)
“
When the chips are down, the mother is the one who is expected to step into the breach.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Closer)
“
People always seem too busy to pass the time of day any more, but us invisible oldies … well, we see a lot more than people give us credit for.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Marriage)
“
It’s so true that small tasks can give a sense of achievement far beyond their perceived importance. Little pleasures, like a short nap, time to enjoy a simple lunch without multitasking. Just giving myself some time for me, rather than family, home or work.
”
”
K.L. Slater (Closer)
“
There’s a solution for every problem. You just have to be creative enough to find it.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Girlfriend)
“
some people crave familiarity, but it’s not for me.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Narrator)
“
some people crave familiarity, but it’s not for me. I don’t feel as if I belong around here anymore.
”
”
K.L. Slater (The Narrator)