Melissa MacDonald

“That whole ‘pretty’ thing annoys me. Everyone’s one and only compliment to me has always been about my appearance. It’s all I get to be.”
― K.F. Breene, A Ruin of Roses

“You’re not a miracle worker, Finley,” he said sadly. “You can’t save everyone.” I was damn sure going to try.”
― K.F. Breene, A Ruin of Roses

“I’m so much more than my appearance. We all are. I’m as well read as I can be in this village. I’m smart and strong and good at problem solving. I have courage—mostly. I’ve created various healing remedies people use, not to mention the one that keeps their family members alive. But I only get praise for being pretty. It feels like, in this village, if you’re beautiful, you’ve reached the highest level of achievement for a woman—something none of us can control. Something given to me and that I didn’t work for or have any choice in. And if you aren’t perceived as beautiful, or if you don’t play up your beauty, you’re constantly told ways to fix yourself to look better—hair, makeup, clothes, whatever. As if we somehow need fixing because someone else doesn’t like us the way we are. As if we should care what others think over what we think of ourselves. It’s bullshit.”
― K.F. Breene, A Ruin of Roses

“Why would he look lesser for dating someone more attractive than him? I’d think other men would be clapping him on the back in congratulations.”
― K.F. Breene, A Ruin of Roses