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A Prayer #1

A Silent Prayer

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Adam Gibson is a young and powerful Toronto millionaire. Despite his many blessings, he is an atheist, though he has an altruistic soul. He denies there is a God—until he meets a beautiful stranger in a place that does not exist for anyone but him.

Rania Ahmed strongly believes in God, but has lost hope she will ever find her soul mate. Endowed with hypnotic beauty and cursed by a brutal past, Rania has no idea she has cast a spell on Adam, who has never received more from a woman than physical pleasure. As Adam slowly discovers the true meaning of love from Rania, he begins to face his demons and reconsider his beliefs. He learns to love, forgive and repent. But as Adam grows closer to Rania, a series of strange, unexplained events threatens to drive them apart. To keep her from being destroyed by her past, he must persuade her to trust him with her deepest secrets.

In this spiritual romance, an atheist embarks on a path of enlightenment with a tormented soul who may just have the power to change everything he has ever believed to be true.

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First published May 14, 2013

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588 people want to read

About the author

Samreen Ahsan

8 books167 followers
History, art and literature are my passions. I love digging out information about prophecies, divine miracles, and paranormal events that are mentioned in history and holy books but don’t sound possible in today's modern world.

Since childhood, I have been into reading and writing—and yes, it can’t happen without imagination, which luckily has no boundaries. Dance and music are also pastimes I enjoy, as well as reading romance fiction. I love to travel and explore historical cities.

https://www.samreenahsan.com

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5 stars
152 (64%)
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29 (12%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
Profile Image for Wendy.
2,371 reviews45 followers
March 28, 2014
"A Silent Prayer" which I won from Goodreads Giveaways is an emotionally-charged, stirring romance between two broken people from different cultures and religious beliefs who are magnetically drawn to one another after they meet, and begin to discover that love is stronger than any barrier that could keep them apart.

The story opens in Toronto when Rania Ahmed, a Creative Designer for Greenway Advertising, on her way to a breakfast meeting stumbles into Adam Gibson, a philanthropic billionaire. Smitten by her loveliness Adam, a notorious womanizer pursues Rania only to discover he hungers for her trust and friendship more than just physical pleasure. In this story, as each one struggles to face and overcome the demons from their past, mysterious events unfold that threaten their lives and their blossoming relationship.

The plot is compelling although I found the dialogue artificial and forced at times. Samreen Ahsan writes with heart and passion, her own faith shining through Rania who communicates the essence of her beliefs to Adam, a confessed atheist. As they embark on a dance of love their story is told in both their voices; a creative device which exposes their thoughts and feelings, drawing the reader into the unfolding drama of their lives. The narrative combines mystery, the paranormal and romance while breathing in elements of friendship, compassion, forgiveness , faith and love.

The characters are unforgettable in all their complexity; like Rania Ahmed, an intelligent young Lebanese woman scarred by the trauma of her past. She's strong-minded, defensive, conservative and secretive; her strong faith an integral part of her identity. Adam Gibson is an ethical businessman who's reserved, unpredictable, and charming. Arrogant, proud and extremely rich, I could understand Adam wanting a background check, but had trouble with his compulsive obsession, and possessiveness of a girl he'd only known a short time.

Adding energy and dimension to this story are interesting characters like Ali bin Moosa, Adam's astute and loyal bodyguard; Ben Dynman a greedy, manipulative business owner; Mike Dynman, Rania's loving, reliable and trustworthy best friend as well as Ethan Murray a sleazy, aggressive, unconscionable blackmailer.

This story is far more than just a simple romance, it's a spiritual journey as an atheist with a tormented soul and a woman with a scarred past find light in the darkness that surrounds them , and find love might be the catalyst that changes everything including their future. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the sequel.
Profile Image for Cas.
48 reviews6 followers
March 6, 2025
*arc for a honest review *


loved this book and read it in one go.

The characters that this story follows, Adam and
Rania, are believable, which is my favourite thing of
this whole book. Adam is this somewhat spoiled
rich CEO who has money to burn and doesn't really
understand why paying for everything is not always
a good thing. And Rania is a smart girl with a strong
mind and a dark past. Their meeting causes a spark
that makes Adam want to spend more time with
her but her walls keep her at a bit of a distance.


The story was sweet and fun to read. It had
everything a good book has, love, anger, frustration,
a bit of a magical element, and the mentions of
religions were really interesting


The only things that kind of bothered me was that
the magical scene at the start of the book never
really gets explained, and the end was a bit too
abrupt for my taste, but I hope things will make
more sense in the next book.
Profile Image for Sheri.
2,111 reviews
March 16, 2014
A Silent Prayer by Samreen Ahsan

Rania Ahmedhas strong faith and devote belief in God. She is very beautiful, successful in her career, but had secrets from her past. They are so strong that it is destroying her from the inside keeping her from finding true happiness.

She meets Adam Gibson, a young powerful and very rich man, but he is an Atheist, and has no belief in God. The two soon become friends and they find they are able to help each other. Will he be able to reach out to her and melt her heart? Will she be able to accept his declaration of his new found faith?

A touching story of two lost souls who find each other. Dramatic at times, so engrossing I could no put it down. I really liked Rania, and love the story line. I look forward to reading the second book A Prayer Heeded.
Profile Image for Sharon Heaverly .
426 reviews24 followers
September 10, 2014
Noooo......I didn't want it to end like this!!
First I must say that I got the ebook free from the author for an honest review.
I loved this book. I just didn't like the ending but I won't spoil it by saying why. You must read it for yourself.
I don't like doing reviews just to give a synopsis. The back cover blurb or other reviewers can give you that.
This is a modern day love story of a couple - Adam and Rania -from two different cultures, faiths and backgrounds. I found Rania's Muslim faith very interesting and her conviction is strong. Adam, an atheist, is brought to understand the possibility of a God by Rania's conviction.
I believe anyone with any religious belief will find this book captivating. I can't wait to read the next book by this author.
Profile Image for Tammy.
31 reviews3 followers
July 8, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! The story pulled me in so much that I felt like I was seeing more in the story than what was written. A kind of hidden message of sorts.

Have you ever read a book that has touched you so deeply that when you finished, it was hard to really express how you felt? This book is like that for me.

I cannot wait until the second book is out! Thank you, Samreen Ahsan, for the view beyond the words written and allowing me to read an early copy.
Profile Image for Shree.
Author 2 books10 followers
July 20, 2014
Note : This Review is up @ Readers' Muse

“ Never judge a book its cover” warned my fellow bibliophiles. They conveniently forgot about the summary part. I normally pick a book based on the summary. This book’s summary particularly didn’t stand out. In fact, the whole millionaire and simpleton story line sorted reminded me of the Fifty Shades of Grey series. In fact I was a little apprehensive and considered writing back to writer apologizing for not reading her book. Thankfully I did no such blunder, for I would have missed such a beautiful series.

The book was everything I didn’t expect. Our protagonist Rania has big baggage that prevents her from finding love. Enter Adam Gibson who falls heads over heels in love with her but is unable to spell it out for he is afraid that he’ll lose that one best friend in Raina, a relationship that he has never experienced. She is his light at the end of the tunnel.

The relationship between Raina and Adam develops so beautifully that I truly began to envy Raina. In fact, there were many parts in the book where the line between reality and fantasy blurred for me. Of course, men like Adam are almost extinct! Something tells me the character of Adam is the writer’s fantasy of the perfect man. I would be unfair if I don’t mention about Raina. Raina is the quintessentially perfect woman for me. Soft in the core like a flower but hard like a diamond when needed. The whole process of converting an Atheist to a believer is narrated so beautifully that I am sure any Atheist would seriously consider turning into a believer after reading this book.

Initially when I picked up the book, I found the tense of the narration a bit unsettling. I am not exactly a fan of present continuous tense. Alas! As the story line progressed I could find no flaws with the writing or the story line or the characterisation. The story line totally got me hooked that tenses didn’t matter anymore. This book is the closest to “ THE PERFECT” romance I’ve ever read (I can’t boast to be an avid romance reader). The high point of is the way it ended. It simply left hungry and wanting for more. In fact, I was so desperate I wrote to the writer almost within minutes of finishing this book. I have never been so desperate to read a romance (Only Harry Potter managed to evoke that true sense of despair in me till date).

Overall, this is one beautiful book well written with truly mind-blowing emotions portrayed so realistically. I can finally boast of knowing what it is like to enjoy a true, pure and unadulterated romance.

VERDICT: Please don’t miss it! MUST READ.
RATING: 4.9 on 5

Profile Image for Nina.
326 reviews64 followers
August 27, 2014
Got a free copy from Ms. Ahsan. So first, thank you for the copy. I enjoyed the book a lot.

So where to start? There are many wonderful things about this book. This book, to put it simply, is extraordinary. I rarely got a chance to read something based on Islamic beliefs. However, in this book, Rania is a Muslimah and Adam is an atheist, so there is journey for Adam to find his belief in God. Because of Rania, he starts to admit that God exists. But secrets from their pasts haunt them, and Rania might be a tad difficult to seduce and romance, because, well, her belief.

I liked the plot. Liked how Rania and Adam get to communicate. Both Rania and Adam can be awfully stubborn, partly because Adam is rich and can do whatever he wants. While Rania is used to independence. The beautiful part is that Ms. Ahsan puts on her (our) religious views in a story without being patronizing. She doesn't force on anything and everything related to Islam there opened my eyes in a way that I didn't even expected. Simple explanations about our religious belief, and I honestly like the religious parts, because sometimes I got uncomfortable. Not that I'm uptight or anything--hell, no. Just that this book has a way to say things without being too obvious, and the principles actually can be applied to another religions too.

About the story itself, there are supernatural stuffs, romance, and mystery. There are also gentle loving between both of them, a strong friendship, and plain beautiful relationship. There are to POVs here, both from Rania's and Adam's. So I can figure out what's going on with their heads, and it's a good feeling. I really envy Rania, haha. Now, if only I can snag myself an Adam.

One of the most beautiful love story I read this year. But I didn't give 4 stars because reading the book is like a work for me and I take two weeks because sometimes, I need to go back a page and re-read again. Maybe because I didn't really concentrate on reading, so I didn't get to understand a few stuffs (minor, but bugged me out all the same). And maybe, after re-reading this book and not so high after the vacation rush and all those new-adult contemporary romances I stacked on my e-reader, I'll enjoy the book more. But needless to say, now I'm itching for book two.
Profile Image for BooksandBeyondFiftyShades.
1,350 reviews157 followers
August 8, 2014
Adam Gibson is a young powerful and rich man. By his own admission he is an atheist with no belief in God. Adam’s belief in God was destroyed many years ago along with his family. Adam has no wants and believes he has everything a man needs.

He is not a romantic and doesn’t have time nor desire for a serious relationship. Adam is pulled into a dance studio where he see a beautiful masked ballerina and is completely smitten with her. He can’t seem to shake his feelings toward this woman.

Months later Adam has a chance encounter with Rania outside the building he owns and realizes she is ballerina from before. Rania is a young, beautiful graphic designer with a strong belief in God and her Muslim heritage.

Rania, believes she is never meant to be happy with a man. Her past dictates her fear of intimacy and she believes this is her punishment from God for things in her past. Adam begins his pursuit of Rania only to have her turn him down at every turn.

Rania has no desire to be one of Adams conquest. Adam begins to put himself into Rania’s life much to her dislike. He refuses to let her run. Slowly Rania lets Adam into her life and their journey of healing begins. Rania shows Adam that he need to be thankful for the blessing in his life and that God is always with him and listening. Adam shows Rania that someone can care for her if she allows them the opportunities. Rania helps Adam put his past behind him with the truth. Can Rania open up to Adam about her past? Will Adam and Rania make it to the end?

A Silent Prayer is a very well written book. The story is told from both Adam and Rania’s point of view. Once I started reading this book it was very hard to put down. I can’t wait to find out how this love story ends. I would recommend this book
Profile Image for Lauren.
459 reviews1 follower
September 4, 2014
Full review here: http://mommabearsbookblog.blogspot.co...

I try to go into new books with an open mind. This one, however, I had my reservations about. I'm not much of a religious person and I was worried that this book would be all about Christianity and religion in general. I was wrong!

I didn't "get" Rania right away, and wasn't sure how I was going to feel about her. As I read further, though, I began to understand her and why she said and did the things she did. I got the feeling that the people around her took her for granted, but not Adam!

I fell in love with Adam right away pretty much. As other's would see him stalking Rania, I thought it was sweet and he just wanted to protect her. The way he would look at Rania, and the way both their pulses quickened when they were near each other was swoon worthy!

There were just a couple of parts that I, personally, didn't get. I figured all would be revealed at the end of the book. Nope! I am still in the dark about things until I pick up and read A Prayer Heeded, book 2. I don't want to give anything away, that's why I'm being so vague.

Ms. Ahsan definitely did a good thing by leaving the book so open ended, so you would go out and read the next book! She really went out of her way to get in contact with me, as my "Contact Me" link was broken at my blog. She finally found me on Goodreads! Thank you for not giving up easily as I would have never read this book and missed out on a treasure!
2 reviews
December 24, 2013
A slient prayer is one of most exciting stories about love, care and intimacy. It's mystery, romance, suspense all combined. It starts casually but gets more and more exciting and mysterious. One of the unique things about the book is that the chapters have been written in a way in which u get to read from the perception of both the main characters. You get to read inside both their minds which is truly a different experience.I like the way they so easily discuss religious beliefs with eachother, and how rania patiently explains things to adam giving him all the space to absorb things rather than being aggressive about the matter, and the impact which rania leaves on adam's mind each time she explains him about the existence of God is rare. Plus i really love the title rania has given adam secretly in her heart i.e. "the forbidden fruit". Im simply in love with adam's character. I love the fact that adam starts to believe in the existence of God not beacuse of money power or fame but because he found a true partner in his life. Its really great the way they both are trying to help the other to get rid of his/her demons. The expressions used in the book are amazing! They actually make u feel the intensity with which adam regards rania and also feel the fears rania experiences throughout the book.
The book has been wrapped up amazingly. It leaves you craving to know the rest of the story and i think thats how a good book is supposed to make you feel!
Profile Image for Ericka Katwal.
114 reviews8 followers
July 22, 2014
I was sent this free ebook in exchange for an honest review)

This story is a mixture of suspense, mystery, and romance all together. What I love about this story is that we get to see what both of the characters are thinking in the chapters so that is a plus for me. The story starts off in Toronto. Adam and Raina have different lives. Adam is a billionaire and has everything that he could ever want or need. Raina is a graphic designer and keeps mostly to herself.

Adam is an atheist and doesn't have has little appreciation to the things that he has. Raina, who is faithful tries to be the example that Adam needs and tries to show him just how blessed he really is. Their relationship was very interesting to read. It was more centered around trust and leaping out on "faith" that what really meets the eye. They respect each other.

I will admit it took some time for me to connect to the characters but once I kept reading I was hooked. I loved reading about these two and their journey. This is book One and to finish their story you have to read the next ones. The ending made sure of that. :)

Rating. 4Stars
Recommend? Yes
Profile Image for Maggie Way.
Author 11 books594 followers
May 9, 2016
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Never judge a book by its cover – because otherwise I would have missed a fab read like this.
Let me firstly start off by saying that I do not read religious focused love stories, never have. But wow this was definitely a pleasant surprise. Samreen did an amazing job with the characters and I really enjoyed getting to know Adam and Rania. Mixed race couples are so rarely represented and this was a beautiful portrayal. Let’s face it, faiths and culture play a big part in the development of a relationship and she did a great job making it realistic, fast paced and engrossing. Adam is definitely an interesting male lead – I loved the way she set out in the very first chapter how he is powerful, wealthy and brilliant but has a humanitarian side and it immediately set the scene for me rooting for him. Rania is gorgeous, strong willed and a great compliment to Adam.
And the ending, WHOA I did not see that coming. It will leave you wanting more and wanting it right away - without delay!
Profile Image for Laurie.
17 reviews1 follower
August 8, 2014

Where Romance meets the Spiritual

Two great genres intersect and keep moving ahead in this new series...

Asked to review this book, I was a wee bit skeptical that the two genres would be successfully combined.combined. But, get it right she did. The characters Adam and Raina are meant to be together. One is an Atheist the other a Muslim. Both have sworn off love and the hopes of a normal relationship with another.

Yet drawn together since their first meeting, it forces both of them to question their beliefs both in their God's and themselves. Ahsan creates characters with just enough depth for to like them in parts and question them in others. She makes you the reader do some "self examination" of your own lives and beliefs.

Can love conquer past hurts and personal defeats? Can meeting the love of your life and soulmate make you rethink your faith and belief system?

This is Book one of "The Prayer Series"....waiting for Book 2!
1 review
July 23, 2013
A good read ... decent characterization to visualize both the protagonists and details surrounding them. Chapters written from male and female POVs kept the interest and didn't let the story fall away. Adam and Rania's chemistry seems to be going beyond expectations and anxiously waiting for 'what will happen next'. Mystery behind Rania and paranormal activities kept me guessing and I was proved wrong at many occasions. Keep up the good work and bring your next volume in market soon.

A Silent Prayer

Sam A.
3 reviews
July 8, 2013
I loved this book. Its much better than the many famous (read infamous) titles that have been quite popular these days.

The author has her unique way of twisting and turning the story around to maintain the readers interest. Was not bored the least and read till the end. Can't wait for the rest of the books in the series.
Author 9 books5 followers
August 19, 2014
Rania and Adam....what a Iove battle they have going on in this fast paced nugget of a novel. The reader gets to look over Adam's shoulder as he peels away Rania's defenses to her heart. I loved every moment, and the ending left me wanting more. What a hook. How can Adam explain his actions of drunken jealousy? Will Nathan win after all? Loved it!
Profile Image for Sümeyye Seyhan.
1 review15 followers
March 5, 2015
Well, its one of the best story I have ever read in wattpad.. When I start to read first I noticed how words combinated fluently. the usage of words were so impressive and powerful. While reading this book I felt as if I am inside of the world of A Silent Prayer... Now Im looking for the next book.. Thank you Ms Ahsan! :)
1 review
January 2, 2014
A very sweet romantic love story of two people, poles apart in belief but glued to each other in hearts. I love the paranormal punches of the story and would really like to know Rania's secrets in the sequel.
1 review1 follower
February 28, 2015
i've already read it in wattpad...and I feel like my life is incomplete without reading the book 2: A Prayer Heeded... Can I have it please....
Profile Image for Marsha.
10 reviews
April 7, 2025
I want to thank Samreen and her team for the ARC of this story and the opportunity to review! There are parts that intrigued me and some moments that started to pull me in, but overall, this story didn’t fully work for me and my personal taste.

The romance develops incredibly fast—Adam’s intensity especially felt abrupt and a little overwhelming. Rania’s character feels a bit underdeveloped. There are hints that she’s dealing with past trauma, but instead of exploring those themes in depth, the story tends to circle the same emotional beats without much growth.

Their dynamic also felt inconsistent. Conversations between them often came off awkward, and the recurring arguments about money and behaviours started to feel repetitive. I think the story was aiming to highlight cultural differences and misunderstandings, but these ideas weren’t fully explored, and I found myself wanting more clarity—especially as someone outside that cultural lens.

A bigger disappointment for me was the lack of the magical elements promised in the description. Aside from one early scene, there’s barely mention of magic or curses, and it felt like a missed opportunity to elevate the story.

I did enjoy the nods to Arabian Nights, and the final stretch of the book had more emotional weight with me finally rooting for them—but the ending felt abrupt rather than impactful.

I’m curious where the story goes next, but I was hoping for more depth and impact in this one.
Profile Image for Kamiye.
247 reviews7 followers
March 1, 2025
*ARC READER *

This book was really surprising (in a good way). I went in, almost blind. I know it was a romance - boy meets girl and all that - BUT I was not expecting this. This is the slowest-burn romance I ever read and the author takes slow-burn to another level.

The characters - Adam & Rania - are really cute; on their own and together. It makes for some funny scenes. Something important to note is the mystic/religious element and if you are uncomfortable with this idea, this might not be the book for you.

Adam & Rania's love story has magic, but for them, it's a curse. Adam falls hard and first, he's pursuing Rania with everything he has. Rania is cold and only wants to be friends. However, she's starting to feel something for this relentless man. Adam wants to protect her, love her, and know more about her past. Their story takes them on a journey where friendship and love start to blend.

More to follow in book 2 (this is a series), the book ends on a cliffhanger (be warned).

Please note: I received an e-copy of this book from the author, I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Akisah.
3 reviews
November 27, 2018
As a fan of history books, mystery and fiction novels. I was not expecting that this book would caught my interest in terms of my actual taste in books. I've been a fan of Dan Brown, Shakespeare, and Stephanie Meyer but right now Samreen Ahsan has been added on my list of favorite authors who gives quality story with uniqueness.

I'm not a sweet talker, but I highly suggest this book.
I love how she integrated the mystery of unseen creatures in this story with its religious concept.
Every time I discover a new book and get tired of it (because of its boring concept), I always go back to this story and read it again and again. I'll never get tired of this book.

I'm kinda late in discovering Samreen Ahsan's books, but I'm really thankful that someone as great as her exist.

LOVE IT........... A LOT..... :)
I truly bow with all my praises to this talented lady.
2 reviews
November 28, 2017
oh my god This book is one of the best fiction ive ever read...The writing is so damn magical that it takes you flying into to the colourful Toronto..Okay so This is story about two stranger Rania and Adam Both have different lifestyle and culture and religion... Rania is muslim whereas Adam doesn't believe in god...Adam Finds Rania And fall in love with her at first sight but Rania was little reserved and she had a tormented past..

This is not the book about religion or anything just little glimpse of Islam thats all..Which you will find mesmerizing while you read it and please just read this book Rania and Adam will be your next Favorite fictional character

There Romance is so Pure and innocent that you will definitely question the lust coated romance you see or read everyday...
Profile Image for nev.
120 reviews3 followers
March 5, 2025
I liked this book! The romance blossomed in a neutral way and I hope to see it play out more in the second book.

The writing was a bit hard to follow sometimes, but I managed!

I was enlightened to learn more about Muslim culture, and enjoyed the religious aspect surprisingly.

Profile Image for Karen Bainbridge.
106 reviews116 followers
August 28, 2014
Intense, thought provoking, emotional roller coaster, tremendously done, pure romance but not for young readers.
I give it 4 and half stars because it explored Adam and Rania's dreamlike states and their symbiotic existence in A Silent Prayer and it also did it in a totally new way, which is bound to be copied.
A Silent Prayer is a stroke of genius from the start with Adam seeing a beautiful masked woman dances with music, lights and shadowy dancers until she is left alone and it seems like there is a spotlight on her! She dances with sheer joy and she is now the one who haunts his dreams!
Adam a rich handsome Toronto billionaire and Rania, a graphic designer and devout Muslim bump into to each other one morning as they are entering his building, as Rania is heading for a morning meeting and for Adam here is the flesh and warm of his dreams.. he has to have her even though she wants nothing to do with him!
It is exceptionally beautiful and moving, although there are some harrowing scenes it keeps you riveted and grabs your attention and torments your emotions right from the very start and holds your attention long after the book is finished. I never really knew what to expect next and cannot believe that it was all contained in a few days. Miss Ahsan wove a 'dream' of a story that started with the dance and just built form there up and up!! I really enjoyed the way one chapter was from the male view and the next female view throughout giving incites into the thoughts, feelings to the conclusion of the story!!
I was intrigued and fascinated at times appalled in the telling of Adam and Rania's dreamlike symbiotic world, it works very well for A Silent Prayer well done Miss Ahsan...entranced by their love including the different facets of their natures because they each became more through their own and different interactions with the other characters in the book. Miss Ahsan is an in-genius writer taking Adam, an atheist and womanizer and Rania, a devout woman of faith and incorporating your version of 1001 nights! Combining the texts and beliefs of the Koran and Islamic concepts works extremely well and I loved the changes which occurred in Adam and Rania in the book. I did not know much about all that and would never known as much if it had not been a central part of A Silent Prayer. It worked very well bringing Adam back from his womanizing ways to his family and on his way to belief in God through his meeting with Rania. Rania is also a changed woman from being haunted by her past and the belief that she is worthless and unloveable to a beautiful captivating and contented woman through her relationship with Adam!
I especially loved the time spent on their trips alone in Toronto and Edmonton because they were so true to life, ass I know little about both places. I did not see the ending coming and throughout the book it is so intense that I cried a lot.. how could it end like that?
The secondary characters of Mike, Rania's childhood /present friend although he wants more. Ali who works for Adam and is looking out for Rania, Adam's family especially his younger sister Eva who befriends Rania as the sister she never had.. they each add to the flavor of the story and they are all very real! Adam's family, Mike, Ben, his father and Rania's boss and Ali are all very protective of Rania and they all have a generous affection for her because of the changes in her and Adam. He too is protective but he is also very possessive, as shown by him saying 'mine' when talking about Rania and not wanting her to be looked upon by other men and/or women. I think he is 'shocked' at how easily his family have welcomed Rania into their midst open heartedly.. something Adam never had until now!
The characters of Ethan and Rania's memories of her husband caused me to really dislike them - they are evil... but they add flavor to the story!
I am not sure about the end of the book, it really shook me because I thought that everything was going good for them!
All in all A Silent Prayer was a powerful emotionally charged book that worked extremely well. I loved the ebb and flow between Adam and Rania it felt so right and true to life(but without Rania's complications) when you are courting or getting ready for marriage... it was magical and dreamlike!
The only thing I did not like was ending but we will see what happens next in A Prayer Heeded.
A Silent Prayer was exceptionally well written and bound to become a pure romance classic!
I give it 4 and a half stars, great storyline, fascinating characters and a lot that you did not see coming.
Congratulations Miss Ahsan on an excellent and enthralling piece of penmanship and a great read... that is bound to keep you rooting for Adam and Rania's relationship and love, very emotionally charged and enjoy A Silent Prayer.. I believe you will!!
Profile Image for Karen Bainbridge.
106 reviews116 followers
September 14, 2014
Astute, tremendous powerful paranormal romance with a difference it's all true! Intense turbulent romance becoming a modern classic. Be forewarned this is a tear jerker but still able to be read by all!
I did not foresee the ending of A Silent Prayer... how could it end! I wanted more!!
A Silent Prayer was a stroke of genius, it is exceptionally moving, I never knew what was going to happen next! Miss Ahsan wove a dream like symbiotic world that drew you in from the first page, it hooked you in and held you long after the last page!! It built from Adam's vision or was it?!! I really enjoyed the 2 sides of the story as told by male one chapter and female the next, this gave us insights into both Adam and Rania's innermost thoughts and feelings and how their experiences together and apart changed them both!! From the beginning to the conclusion of A Silent Prayer but not the end of the story there is a thread of decidedly strange occurrences which draw us closer to the characters, I was intrigued and fascinated and sometimes appalled in the telling of their love including the different facets of their love and natures as each became both closer and further apart at different times in the book! They both experienced changes that would forever change them!
Miss Ahsan you are an in-genius writer and including the different telling of your own version of 1001 Arabian Nights works very well and the beliefs of both the Koran and Islamic and also their concepts provided an interesting part of Rania's character and life. How Rania and Adam ever became a couple is exceptionally well written from Adam's vision of a masked beauty dancing to music that he can hear one moment and then is gone like a wisp of smoke.. maybe it was a dream!! I did not know to much about Islam and learned so much and am really glad that it was in the book as it adds that air of the exotic to the book because it worked so well and did not distract from the story only added to it.
How an atheist and womaniser changed throughout the book was brilliant, through love and believing in him and her love Rania brought him and his family back together, him back to God and made him a much better man than before. Rania changed also from a woman who would not let anyone get close to her to a loving and most complicated young woman, sometimes I wished to shake her to make her 'grow up' and believe in the power of true love!
I especially loved the trips that Adam and Rania took on their own because it built up their relationship and brought them to a new level in their relationship. I loved the trips to Edmonton and Toronto because the times spent there were so real, especially the trip to The Muttart Conservatory where all those beautiful hours were spent alone as Adam had paid for the place to be open only for them, a beautiful touch I commend you Miss Ahsan!
The secondary characters of Mike, Rania's childhood and present friend who loves only her and wishes that she loved him too! Ben Mike's father and Rania's boss a bit obtuse, Ali Adam's main man who loves Rania and is very protective, as is Mike, of Rania and Adam's family especially his younger sister Eve who "took' to Rania as the big sister she never had, they do all the girly things that Rania never did before.. these all added to the story! These secondary characters were very true to life and all loved and wanted to protect Rania, because of the changes they have seen in Adam. Adam has waited so long to find this woman of his dreams and although loving he is also very possessive as shown by his saying 'mine' all the time when with Rania and not wanting her to spend time or even be looked upon by both men and women. I believe that Adam was 'shocked' at his reactions and at how easily his love for Rania has changed him and how his family has welcomed her into their lives so open heartedly into their lives!
But that ending will haunt me.. I am not even sure that I read it right because it was so unexpected.. nice touch Miss Ahsan!
The characters of Ethan and the memories of her husband caused me distress, which I am sure you meant us to feel Miss Ahsan, and I really disliked them - they were just evil!! But the added so much to the storyline.
I tremendously enjoyed A Silent Prayer because it was a moving , inventive and new sort of paranormal romance, it was exceptionally well done, a very exciting and inventive story. Therefore I give A Silent Prayer 4 and a half stars!!!! Thank you Miss Ahsan for this modern romance classic it was well worth reading A Silent Prayer and I recommend it to everybody who wishes to read a really great book!!
Profile Image for Scott Bury.
Author 34 books124 followers
May 4, 2015
A Silent Prayer is a book that deserves all the attention it has received.

In the first year following its publication, A Silent Prayer has won first prizes at book fairs in Los Angeles, Hollywood and Paris, first prize in the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards, and an Honourable Mention at the New York Book Festival.

Deservedly so.

I know I am not the target audience for this book, but like all great novels, it has a universal appeal.

The story

I know from the author’s statements on social media that she hated the bestseller, 50 Shades of Grey. I did, too. And reading A Silent Prayer, I got the distinct feeling that Ahsan thought “Let’s try that thing again.”

So, like so many books out there, it has a similar premise: a very rich man who has determined never to get emotionally involved with his sexual conquests falls head over heels in love, almost against his will.

But that’s where the similarity ends. First, Ahsan is a talented writer with a competent, smooth style. She knows how to draw a reader into the story.

The characters are sympathetic and believable. Adam Gibson is a real estate developer in Toronto, and he’s close to 40 years old. Like Christian Gray, he has an emotional trauma in his past that prevents him from getting emotionally involved with the women he beds.

And Rania Ahmed is as different from Anastasia Steel as could be imagined. She’s smart, professional, religious and independent. She also has some kind of trauma in her past, a trauma that the author slowly unveils through the story.

Then the author has added a mystical, supernatural thread to the story. It picks up in the first chapter, when Adam Gibson finds a staircase leading to a roof access in a building he renovated—and that he does not remember being there before. This is a classic magical element: the mysterious portal.

He follows “magical-sounding” music to another building’s rooftop, opens another door to a spiral passage that leads downward, where a beautiful girl is dancing. “For the first time in my life, I feel my soul is pulling me … toward her.” He follows her in a scene that reads like a dream. When he finally touches her, they look at each other briefly, and then the spell breaks. The music ends, the woman walks away, and even the spiral passage vanishes.

Of course, the woman has an uncanny physical resemblance to the heroine of the story, Rania. Next is the chance encounter between her and Adam, which leads to their inevitable mutual attraction.

But that’s the extent of the love story tropes. Adam and Rania are unique, sympathetic and believable.

SamreenNewAhsan gives their love story a series of obstacles, but a love as powerful and inevitable as gravity pulls them together.

What I liked

believable characters
writing style
professional production values

Drawbacks

The only drawback is that A Silent Prayer does not answer all the questions it raises. It has a beginning, middle and end that tell a complete story—except for resolving the magical element. Was it really Rania that Adam saw dancing in Chapter 1? What is the cause of her nightmares? What is the mystical, shadowy presence in her life?

To find those answers, you have to read the sequel, A Prayer Heeded. I understand that. I’ve done the same thing with my latest book, Army of Worn Soles. But I have to admit, it’s a little frustrating.

Still, I will read the sequel and I promise not to take so long to review it.

5*
Profile Image for Neha Khan.
1 review
December 24, 2017
Its an amazing book...just loved it..everyone should definately give it a try ...good job samreen hasan 👍😊
Profile Image for Vivian.
Author 2 books137 followers
June 3, 2014
3.5 star read

Adam Gibson is the epitome of the young, urban professional. He is a self-made millionaire and used to getting what he wants when he wants it. He isn't wholly selfish in that he also gives backs to the community and feels that if he gives his promise to someone then he must follow through. In Canadian society, Adam is hot and his life is constantly in the spotlight. Rania Ahmed is the exact opposite of Adam. She has a fervent belief in God and that only God has the right to guide her life. She is quiet, circumspect, modest, and an intensely private person. She goes to work, has few friends and hobbies, and shies away from the spotlight. Even though Adam and Rania are polar opposites, there is simply something about Rania that immediately attracts Adam and he isn't willing to take no for an answer.

A Silent Prayer provides a nice spin on the love at first sight story between complete opposites. Adam is willing to make compromises to keep Rania in his life, but is he willing to commit to a belief in God? Rania may be attracted to Adam but she isn't willing to forego her religious principles for the sake of romance or love. Both Adam and Rania have secrets and although Adam shares his secrets with Rania, Rania isn't willing to share with Adam for fear it will mean the immediate demise to their friendship.

I found A Silent Prayer to be a fast-paced and rather enjoyable read. Perhaps it was my inner prude, but I found the profanity (mild profanity but profanity nonetheless) to be rather off-putting and didn't feel as if it added to the story. I rather enjoyed the portrayal of Rania as a modern Muslim in Western society. Although Rania doesn't wear the traditional head-covering, she is quite devout in her beliefs and religious practices. It was rather nice to read about a Muslim that is unapologetic for their belief and completely unwilling to compromise even for love. I had issues with Adam, but then I've never dealt with a millionaire before. Based on the news and stories I've read about professional athletes and other young celebutantes, it is quite possible Adam's character is more realistic than fiction. There were some paranormal aspects to the story that were rather intriguing and I hope will be explained in future stories. Obviously there's quite a bit more to the story, but if I tell you then you won't have to read it. Did I like A Silent Prayer? Yes. Did I have issues with A Silent Prayer? Yes, but that was only related to the profanity. Can I recommend A Silent Prayer? Wholeheartedly! If you've ever wondered about the inner struggle that many young Muslims face in a world not exactly accepting to the religion of Islam, or if you simply enjoy romance, then you'll definitely want to add A Silent Prayer to your reading list. But I must warn you that this story does leave you hanging, so you'll also need to add the next book in this series: A Prayer Heeded (A Prayer Series II) to your list as well.
Profile Image for DelSheree.
Author 48 books447 followers
June 10, 2014
On the surface, it seems as though Adam and Rania have led very different lives. Adam is a wealthy, womanizing billionaire with every possession he could ever need. Rania is a graphic designer who secludes herself from others, men especially, as much as possible. The truth is, the are both hiding difficult pasts that have scarred them and left them nearly incapable of a normal relationship. The question is whether they can heal each other, or if the will only tear each other apart even more.

While on the surface this may sound like a standard romance novel, readers will be surprised by the depth of the story and characters. I had a little difficulty getting into the story at the very beginning, but as I read into the next few chapters and discovered two very complex, very flawed and broken characters, I couldn't help but keep reading. There is much more to this story than might first appear.

The overall story was well crafted. It is not only a romantic journey between two people who seem almost determined to prove they should not be together. It is a spiritual journey as well. Adam, a professed atheist, sees little in his past to be grateful for, yet Rania manages to show him the blessings he has been given through her faithful example. I enjoyed learning about the Muslim beliefs regarding angels and satans (or jinns). It was explained in a way that helped readers see Rania's point of view and the reasons behind her choices. There is also a mystical spiritual element to this story, portrayed in a series on strange events that happened between Adam and Rania. These are not explained in this book, but I look forward to learning more about them in the sequel.

The characters themselves are the biggest draw to this story. At times, they are both frustrating to read about, particularly Adam, but they are realistic portrayals of people who have lived difficult lives and no longer understand how to trust and put asides their fears. While Adam bears the brunt of undesirable characteristics, I certainly did not feel as though Rania was a perfect, either. There were times when she behaved foolishly, in ways that hurt Adam deeply. Adam's character is extremely volatile. He is very possessive and struggles to control this impulse. There are times when he borders on unlikable as a character, but then he would turn around and win over both the reader and Rania.

When I began reading this book, I did not realize there was a sequel, which was my own fault. I became frustrated at times that the characters weren't progressing as much as I expected, but once I realized that they had a whole second book to work out there remaining issues, I was okay with how the story had progressed. The end of this book does have a quite abrupt ending, so readers will want to grab a copy of the sequel, "A Prayer Heeded," right away. This book does contain strong language, which some readers may not be comfortable with.
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