Emily Regained - by A C Bruce (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Suffering from chronic pain after a devastating car accident, Emily fights to rebuild her life by blowing the whistle on the health professionals who betrayed her trust. Emily used to be a genetics researcher. She used to play competitive chess and captain a soccer team. Then a distracted driver shattered her world. She can no longer work, the opioid she has been prescribed is not only highly addictive, it causes hallucinations and her insurance company's psychologist has labelled her paranoid. Life as she knew it and loved it, is over. Suicide begins to look attractive. When Emily learns that the health professionals she trusted have betrayed her, she struggles to throw off self-pity and take what's left of her life and her good name to launch a counterplay. Told from Emily's point of view, we get her inner most thoughts - her humour, frustration and fear - and we cheer her on as she takes on those who have deceived her. Emily Regained includes elements of mystery and a bit of romance but, just like the real life it's based on, it is multilayered and a little messy, all captured in entertaining and engaging prose.

About the Author

A.C. Bruce is the penname for two Calgary writers. Based on lived experience, they were driven to write this book because of their frustration over the lack of effective treatment for people who suffer chronic pain and their disgust at the unethical behaviour of certain health professionals. They wish to salute crash survivors. Non-fatal accidents, like non-fatal illnesses, seldom make the news unless they hold up traffic. But they are often life-altering.