Synopsis
This is not your typical love story.
It’s not so black and white. Lines are crossed.
Walls are smashed. Good becomes bad.
Bad becomes very, very good.
Shayda Hijazi—the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect daughter. For thirty-three years, she has played by the rules, swallowing secrets, burying dreams and doing whatever it takes to anchor her family. Shayda Hijazi is about to come face to face with the one thing that can rip it all apart, the one thing her heart has always been denied: Love.
Troy Heathgate—untamed, exhilarating, dangerous—a man who does exactly as he pleases. Life bends to his will. Until he comes across the one thing he would give it all up for, but can never have.
Born on the same day in opposite corners of the world, their lives collide. And nothing is ever the same again.
Spanning three decades, 53 Letters for My Lover is a fiercely sensual, emotional ride to the heart of an epic, forbidden love that defies it all—an intimate exploration of love, loyalty, passion, betrayal, and the human journey for hope, happiness and redemption.
"Sexy, intense fiction isn't afraid to step out of the box."
Contemporary women's fiction: Ages 18+
It’s not so black and white. Lines are crossed.
Walls are smashed. Good becomes bad.
Bad becomes very, very good.
Shayda Hijazi—the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect daughter. For thirty-three years, she has played by the rules, swallowing secrets, burying dreams and doing whatever it takes to anchor her family. Shayda Hijazi is about to come face to face with the one thing that can rip it all apart, the one thing her heart has always been denied: Love.
Troy Heathgate—untamed, exhilarating, dangerous—a man who does exactly as he pleases. Life bends to his will. Until he comes across the one thing he would give it all up for, but can never have.
Born on the same day in opposite corners of the world, their lives collide. And nothing is ever the same again.
Spanning three decades, 53 Letters for My Lover is a fiercely sensual, emotional ride to the heart of an epic, forbidden love that defies it all—an intimate exploration of love, loyalty, passion, betrayal, and the human journey for hope, happiness and redemption.
"Sexy, intense fiction isn't afraid to step out of the box."
Contemporary women's fiction: Ages 18+
Book Links
REVIEW:
4 stars.
Cheating in books had never really bothered me. The cheating in this book didn't bother me, instead I was intrigued by it. I've known many marriages that lasted 3 decades or more but to know that love outside of a marriage could last that long just blew my mind.
Shayda was born in Iran and in order to give her a better life she moved to Canada to live with her aunt. Her aunt arranges for Shayda to meet Hafez. Both are very young and really have no say so in the arranged marriage that is set up for them. So they're married, living with Hafez parents, struggling for a future, when Shayda finds a job with a realtor, Bob. Because of her job and Bobs family Shayda is introduced to Troy Heathgate.
I don't want to give out any spoilers but I will tell you this. It took Shayda a long time to admit she had feelings for Troy. She loves her husband, Hafez, but she also loves Troy. She's human and humans make mistakes. There are many mistakes made by all the main characters in this book. But that's to be expected; everyone is so young when the book starts.
When reading 53 Letters you won't a hate a single character. You won't root for one against the other. You will feel for Shayda and you will feel what she feels. You will know her hurt and her pain and her heart.
I'm not going to reveal the ending of the book but you will see everything come full circle. You will enjoy this book immensely if you're not turned off by the cheating. Keep in mind it was an arranged marriage and not a marriage of love to begin.
Review done for Stories and Swag
Excerpt
The doorbell rings. Repeatedly. Followed by loud thumping on the door.
“Coming, coming! Now what did you what forget?” I swing the door open.
My heart screeches to a slamming halt. “Troy.” I turn pale. “You...you shouldn’t be here.”
“No?” He storms past me into the house. “Where should I be, Shayda? Waiting by the phone? Staking out your office? Checking my email? Where the fuck, Shayda?” His fist slams into the console table, so ‘fuck’ is an obscure, jarring thud, like some censored song on the radio.
“I changed my mind.”
“You changed your mind. Just like that?” He starts pacing the hallway. “And when were you were planning to tell me exactly? When, Shayda?”
“I made a mistake.” My voice quivers. “I got caught up in the moment. We were alone, we were away. It was...it was all an illusion.”
“An illusion?” He pulls me hard against him. Our bodies collide, knocking the breath out of me. “Is this an illusion?”
His lips assault mine.
“And this?” His hand slides under my dress, claiming my thigh.
“What about this, Shayda?” He pushes my panties aside and slides two fingers inside.
“Tell me, Shayda. Tell me this is all in my head.” He shoves me against the door and deepens his strokes. “Tell me this is nothing.” He rubs his fingers on my neck, leaving the unmistakable trail of my reaction.
“This is you, Shayda.” His finger slips inside my mouth. “Your taste, your smell, your skin, your touch.” He grabs me by the hair and pulls my head back. “Tell me you’re not real, Shayda. Tell me!”
I feel the gathump gathump of his heart. Our breath comes in short, shallow gasps. His eyes darken, black holes pushing sky blue irises to the edges of raw emotion. Hunger. Anger. Love. Pain.
Giveaway
The author is giving away:
- A signed paperback (open international)
- $50 Amazon Gift Card to one winner (open international)
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.
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