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Leylah Attar’s One Year Celebration Giveaway – 53 LETTERS FOR MY LOVER

June 20, 2015

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Fun Facts about 53 Letters:

    • The original novel had a different ending, and was written a collection of letters that Shayda leaves behind for Troy.
    • The emails in the epilogue are real.
    • The book was released on the same day as Troy and Shayda’s birthday. This year they turn 53! Happy Birthday, SC + BB!
    • 53 Letters For My Lover was inspired by the following music video:

 

“He Said/She Said” with Shayda and Troy:

Shayda’s quotes from 53 Letters For My Lover , and Troy’s quotes from the companion short story, From His Lips.

The first time they meet:

Shayda:

Dusty sneakers, grey sweatpants…and then—the most startling pair of blue eyes. They reminded me of the cut outs I had saved in my wish book, of the places I wanted to visit. Blue like the water that surrounds the islands in the South Pacific. I felt like I had been picked off the pavement and plopped smack dab in the middle of it. I floated there for a while, suspended in its endless horizons as it held me for long, still seconds.

 

Troy:

“Here you go.” I knelt beside her. That’s when I first saw her face.

At the time, I was completely clueless about just how significant that moment was, how it would derail both our lives, because at the time I was just an ordinary guy looking at an ordinary girl on a quiet, shaded street. That’s how a lot of things start, don’t they? Our most profound experiences, our greatest adventures. When we’re just looking. Because if we knew that we were really at the beginning of miracles and plagues, and slayings and resurrections, we might retreat. But not knowing, I kept looking. And so did she.

Except she didn’t just look at me, she looked into me. As if she saw a place there that she’d always wanted to go, and it stunned her that it actually existed.

 

The moment when everything changed:

Shayda:

For a moment, I fought against the disarming tenderness of a stranger, the shame of being caught in a moment of weakness. Then his arms circled my waist, pulling me away from the door, from whatever heartache he had witnessed in my reflection. The fight drained out of me. I turned into the shelter of his embrace, and he, not knowing, not asking, took me in.

Something changed in that instant. For me. For him. Like when the sun and moon align and day turns to night. They finally see each other’s faces and hang, transfixed, even as their eclipse throws everything else into darkness. For those fleeting moments, everything made sense—the pattern behind the random trajectory of life, the infinite order beneath chaos.

 

Troy:

For a while, she just stood there, like a deer that knows it’s been caught in the hunter’s cross hairs. Then she bolted.

I seized her before she could escape, pinning her against the glass, my hand over hers, so I could anchor her, keep her from getting swept away.

Hey. It’s okay.

She made a small, choking sound when I pulled her away from the sliding door. My arms went around her and her cheek found my chest. And just like that, something fell into place.

All of my wild, crazy exuberance fit perfectly in the quiet crevices of her dreams. It was as if all my life, I had been running towards this moment, this diamond sharp clarity of being and belonging, this strange, intriguing girl with her rose breath and her broken wings.

 

The point of no return:

Shayda:

“Three days.” I drop my chin to his chest. “I haven’t thought beyond that.”

“Three days, huh?”

I squeal as he puts one hand under my knees and picks me up.

“We better get going then. You, my dear, have a lot to make up for.” He grins and carries me out of his office.

 

Troy:

I had three days to get her to face the truth—that she loved me, that she wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t left a gaping hole in her heart, that the only reason she wouldn’t admit it was because she was scared, because it would destroy everything safe and familiar and predictable in her world.

I didn’t care anymore. She would go through hell, but I’d be there to catch her. All I had to do was crush her defenses, lead a seventy-two hour assault on her senses and walk away with her heart in my hand. She would have no choice but to follow.

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53 letters for my lover

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.

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from his lips

Synopsis

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 story (90 pages) contains spoilers. It is meant to be read after the full length novel, 53 Letters For My Lover. For readers who want more from the hero’s point of view. From His Lips (53 Letters #1.5)expands on some of the crucial scenes, and includes a few new ones.

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AboutTheAuthor

 

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.

Author Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads |

Categories : Contemporary Romance, Events, Giveaway Tagged : 53 Letters for My Lover, Leylah Attar

REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: 53 LETTERS FOR MY LOVER by LEYLAH ATTAR

November 8, 2014

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53 Letters for my lover

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+

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My Review:

5 GLORIOUS STARS!!!

53 Letters for My Lover is one of those rare books that sweeps you off your feet, transports you to another world, and truly touches your soul. Leylah Attar absolutely blew me away with this wonderfully sexy, bittersweet tale of 2 people who seem to be destined to be together, yet spend years apart.

Shayda is an obedient wife and daughter, married to a damaged man to whom she is fiercely loyal. Their story is in itself raw and heartbreaking. She meets Troy, the sexy, brilliant man who she believes she can never truly have.

“Dusty sneakers, grey sweatpants…and then—the most startling pair of blue eyes. They reminded me of the cut outs I had saved in my wish book, of the places I wanted to visit. Blue like the water that surrounds the islands in the South Pacific. I felt like I had been picked off the pavement and plopped smack dab in the middle of it. I floated there for a while, suspended in its endless horizons as it held me for long, still seconds.”

Troy is mesmerized by her exotic beauty and captivated by her innocence and naiveté. These two begin a dance that spans decades and is gloriously and deliriously sexy and heartbreaking at the same time. I understood why Shayda could not let herself go and truly be happy but at the same time, I could not believe that these two could ever be apart from one another. Shayda is bound by her sense of honor and loyalty to her family, but is slowly suffocating under the weight of her obligations. Troy makes her truly feel alive for the first time in her life.

“You have to stop running from the things that scare you, Shayda.” He fixes those dreamy eyes on me, “The only way to feel truly alive is to start living fearlessly.”

I read this book in one sitting and was dying for more! Lucky for me, the author has written a companion novel from Troy’s POV!! Leylah Attar is a magnificent storyteller. My heart was pounding, I had tears in my eyes, I laughed and I could not stop reading. Don’t miss 53 Letters For My Lover. It is easily one of my favorite books this year.

“Your the one thing that centers my soul. I may circle the whole world, but you’ll always be home, Beetroot.”

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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.

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53 Letters for Your Lover has a companion novella in Troy’s POV titled From His Lips

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53 Letters for My Lover
From His Lips

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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Categories : 5 Stars, Blog Tour, Contemporary Romance, Giveaway Tagged : 5 stars, 53 Letters for My Lover, Excerpt, Giveaway, Leylah Attar, Review

Leylah Attar’s Breast Cancer Awareness Promo & Giveaway

October 29, 2014

Join the fight…

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, $1 from each sale of 53 Letters for My Lover, from October 1st to 31st 2014, will go directly to Susan G. Komen for The Cure.

53 Letters October Breast Cancer Awareness
What you can do to join the fight:

Educate yourself about early detection, diagnosis and treatment.

Create an Early Detection Plan and invite others to do the same.
The best way to fight breast cancer is to have a plan that helps you detect the disease in its early stages. Use the Early Detection Plan to receive reminders for breast self-exams, and schedule your clinical breast exams and mammograms based on your age and health history.

Make your own donation.
This month, you will have the opportunity to support many retailers involved with the cause. In addition to giving indirectly by shopping, you can also make your own contribution to your favorite charity. Use an independent charity-rating site such as Charity Navigator to find out about your charity’s perfomance, how much of your money actually goes toward the cause, how much is used for administrative fees etc.

Volunteer, fundraise, discuss, promote!
Get involved with your favorite local charity. Use your social media to educate and raise awareness.

Look after your body, mind and soul!
Reduce your stress and boost your happy chemicals by eating healthy, getting active and enjoying the great outdoors. Curling up with your favorite book boyfriends is also a good way to go!

 

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Categories : Contemporary Romance, Events, Giveaway Tagged : 53 Letters for My Lover, Giveaway, Leylah Attar

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