Adult Women's Fiction/Romance
On sale for . 99 cents at Amazon
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 daughter, the perfect wife, the perfect mother. 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. Now Shayda is flying free and Troy has found
the one thing that centers his soul, but even as they beat the odds, a cancer
diagnosis puts Shayda in a painful dilemma. On the one hand is the man who
makes her feel gloriously alive and on the other, her children, and a husband
ravaged by the past.
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 yearning for hope, happiness
and redemption.
AUTHOR WARNING: This book is a blend of women's fiction and romance. It
involves infidelity and an attempted rape. If you are not comfortable with
these subjects, this may not be the best book for you.
Writing 53 LETTER TO MY LOVER
Guest Post
By Leylah Attar
•
The idea for 53 Letters came to me when I was watching a music video. I started to wonder about the couple being portrayed, and what had brought them to that point in their lives. I used that as the ending for the story and worked my way back. The entire novel was inspired by music. Sometimes I would listen to a song and picture the same couple at a different stage in their relationship. I strung the evolving vignettes in my head into different scenes and then tweaked them to fit the story. All the songs are included in the story, except, ironically, the one that got me started. Reader feedback was overwhelmingly in favor of an alternate ending, so it never made it in the published version. So here it is - the missing song that inspired the novel:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnTelUJrDhc
•
The original version of 53 Letters was a real tear jerker - it slayed everyone including me. I wrote a happy ending for a particularly impassioned reader, but when I put the two stories together, side by side, the happy ending just 'felt' right. I decided to change it a few weeks before publication and let me tell you, it was pure madness, but I am so glad I did it.
•
I am often asked why I chose to tackle a love story that involves infidelity. It's like the kiss of death, particularly for a debut novel. For me, this book is not so much about infidelity as it is about what happens when we are denied the opportunity to make our own choices, or when we make choices out of external pressure, circumstances or expectations. Although Shayda was not forced into her marriage, she entered into it out of a sense of duty and obligation.This is not something that is specific to any particular culture, country or generation. People override their dreams for whatever reasons,every day, everywhere. Sometimes it takes exceptional courage to stand up for them; we risk being labeled as selfish if we do, and cowardly if we don't. It's a dilemma everyone faces at one point or another.
•
Ultimately, this story is about love, an epic love that refuses to be denied - a love that demands, destroys, rebuilds, and redeems itself,and all the people it touched. Right or wrong is something best left up to the reader, and that's what makes reading such a beautiful, personal experience.
Book Trailer:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmMbi2ooLPA&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmMbi2ooLPA&w=560&h=315]
(A 53 Letters Short Story)
FREE
Troy
Heathgate has it all - brains, brawn and the kind of smile that just begs a
ribbon. Everything but the woman he loves. But now he’s back and determined to
possess her. There’s just one catch - she’s married to another man.
This short teaser story (9,500 words, 38 pages) is a re-telling of
select scenes from ' 53 Letters For My Lover'. It is narrated from the male
point of view - raw and uncut.
***This is a companion to the full length novel.
Although you can read it on its own, the recommended order is after the full
length novel, as an extra glimpse into the hero's perspective.****
About the Author
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.
