The Demolition Project

The Demolition Series, Book 1

By: M.J. Padgett

Narrated by: Mary Huff

Knox Harris was perfect. He was the perfect student, ultimate best friend, a gifted athlete, and chillingly handsome with a sweetheart streak a mile long. There was absolutely nothing about the boy to hate. Everyone loved him, but Charlotte hated him.

Charlotte Woods was alone. She was nothing but trouble, a criminal, a waste of time. Not a single soul in the world cared about her. In fact, most people wished she would just disappear. She spent her days hiding in the shadows just trying to survive.

The unfortunate product of a broken foster care system, Charlotte aged out and hit the streets running on nothing but anger and a bad attitude. Barely able to keep herself alive, Charlotte's anger grew. It threatened to eat her alive, but she refused to go down alone.

Charlotte turned her focus to Knox, the one boy who seemed to care about everything and everyone but her. Knox didn't appreciate the amazing life he had, but Charlotte vowed to make him see. She'd show him the hard way, as she systematically destroyed everything he held dear.

But when a broken girl sets her sights on destroying an unbreakable boy, she had better be prepared to suffer the consequences. For Charlotte, the consequences just might kill her.

©2017 Melissa Padgett (P)2020 Melissa Padgett

Incredible story!

The Demolition Project is a coming of age story of a broken girl and a boy who seems to enjoy everything about life and helps anyone who needs it. Knox Harris is a remarkable person in so many ways. He's one of the most popular boys at school, his grades are top notch and he never makes a disparaging comment about anybody. The most amazing thing about him is that he's not aware of how special he is. He's not cocky or entitled and it's what drives Charlotte Woods to attempt to bring him down with her Demolition Project. Charlotte (Charlie) has lived a dreadful life in group homes, with foster families, in hotels and even a rundown warehouse where many went to die. Ageing out in the system is one of the worst things an orphan has to face and it took a terrible toll on Charlie. She has a mean mouth, surly attitude and a total lack of love for herself. With all this anger in her heart, she has to show Knox how it feels to be in her shoes. She has a plan and it's ready to go, but she didn't count on Knox being able to push back against her insolence. There is tension every step of the way because the reader doesn't know what horrible betrayal she's going to implement next. The author has a method of upping the tension with foreshadowing with statements like "She never would have done it, if she had known how much it would cost her." She drops little gems that either twist your stomach or give you hope. I have to admit that Charlie went over the line and out of control with her cruelty and I really wanted to yell at her "This is enough!" And then comes the pain and it seems like everything Charlie did backfires completely. I was really nervous as the ending came near, but there were still a few twists to come that would change the course of the story. There were so many places that I teared up and am so grateful that they got their HEA.
The narration is wonderfully done by Mary Huff. Her dynamic voice and perfect pacing bring life to each of the characters. Her narration gives another layer of understanding to the story.

So sadly sweet

This was an emotional listen but told great story with a good message. Narration was done really well.