53 Letters for My Lover

53 Letters for My Lover #1

by Leylah Attar

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.

***Indie Reader "Best Books of 2014"***

Contemporary women's fiction: Ages 18+

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Forbidden Love, Adult, Emotional, Abuse

396 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 17, 2014

About the author

Leylah Attar is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. A recipient of the Writer’s Digest Award and the Indie Reader Discovery Award, Leylah writes unique, emotionally compelling stories that range from rom-com to dark romantic suspense.

Reviews

[SueBee★bring me an alpha!★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★! 53 Letters For My Lover, book 1 of 1.5. An epic, all-consuming love saga following two halves of one soul kept apart by life’s secrets, events & circumstances!

“This is what he does to me. Open up the windows of my soul and pushes me out.”

Books should be read in order:
Book 1: 53 Letters For My Lover
Part 1.5: From His Lips

53 Letters For My Lover (book 1) is Troy Heathgate and Shayda Hijazi epic love saga spanning several decades. They met briefly at the tender age of twenty when Shayda was a newlywed and Troy, the prodigal son, was attending college. Circumstances, events, secrets and traditions separated them for over a decade and when they meet again in their thirties the story goes on to follow them while they embark on an affair with flashbacks to their pasts.

“We were like two stars converging around the same axis, but with paths that missed each other by a fraction of infinity.”

Two halves of a soul goes to show that we don’t always get to choose who we fall in love with. Follow Troy and Shayda through life’s every day ups and downs and much more. It’s about taking chances and not taking chances for being paralyzed by fear and held back by one’s past.

It’s real. It’s profound. It’s thought-provoking. It’s empowering. It’s enlightening. But most of all it’s a love story with yearning and a soul searching passion, redemption and an unending love…



I predict Troy Heathgate will wrap himself around your heart. The prodigal son turned successful businessman with his classic good looks & enticing smile no woman can resist him, yet his heart beats for the one woman he can’t have! Seven words to describe Troy: Thoughtful, flirty, care-free, charming, noble, determined and patient.



Story will dig into the traditions and secrets that trap Shayda Hijazi, but at times I wanted to scream at her. Seven words to describe Shayda: Sweet, timid, loyal, indecisive, insecure, resourceful and thoughtless.

53 Letters For My Lover is a journey through life’s ups and downs depicting a love so great in transcends time. Story has many twists and turn, but the ending… was everything I hoped for. I am thrilled to open up part 1.5, From His Lips , a novella from Troy’s POV.

Epic love story! Poignant and all-consuming plot! Spellbinding story-telling! Unforgettable hero, Troy Heathgate! Spectacular journey!

“We all die, Shayda.” He turns and looks at me. “It’s about how we choose to get there.”

***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4- stars
Sexual tension rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Plot rating: 5 stars
Dialogue rating: 5 stars
Storytelling rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): N/A
************************************************
Overall rating: 5 stars

Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.



ARC provided to me by author Leylah Attar in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks Leylah! xo

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 6 STARS

Are you happy, Shayda?” I asked.
She was supposed to say yes.
And I was supposed to thank her for the dance, escort her back to the table and leave—free, clear and cured. With Helicia in tow.
She said nothing.
And I inhaled her all over again.

It’s been two days since I finished this series and and I still can't stop thinking about it. I sleep it, eat it, drink it, work it, live it.

Six reasons why I fell in love with this book:

♥ Because it’s beautiful. Because in spite of all those moments of heartbreak and ugliness it brings you beauty and happiness.





♥ Because it’s one of those books that gives you maximum satisfaction. It touches your soul and sears itself in your heart. It makes your heart beat faster and harder.





♥ Because it’s one of those books where each sentence carries meaning and each word has significance. It’s one of those books that showers you with smells, images, sounds, thoughts and beautiful metaphors.

...love is end-less, bottom-less, boundary-less. The more you give, the more gushes out. It spills over, refusing to be contained in neat little parcels, swelling like a river after a flash flood. And in the end, it doesn’t matter which part was whose, because in the end it’s all one, like streams merging into the ocean.

♥ Because it’s one of those books where every feeling is felt, every event is experienced, every pain is suffered and every thought is processed.





♥ Because it’s one of those books where a strong connection is palpable and true love exists.

It’s sensual.
It’s soulful.
It’s passionate.
It’s intense.
It’s funny.
It’s sad.
It’s hopeful.
It’s joyous.




♥ Because of Troy.

Troy, Troy, Troy.

Those brilliant pacific blues.



I love his playfulness, his romantic soul, his easy personality, his funny side, his everything...

And I know that I called dibs on dozens of heroes in the past but I think I finally found THE ONE.

It’s strange how someone can walk into your life, shatter the windows, break down your doors, empty the rooms, scatter your belongings, and then walk away without having the slightest inkling of the storm they’d brought.

.

QUICK REVIEW:

Enjoyment:: 5/5
Writing style: 5/5
Storyline: 5/5
Hero: 5/5
Heroine: 4/5
Secondary characters: 5/5
Hotness/chemistry: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Angst: 5/5
Darkness level: 2/5
Humor: 4/5
Depth of the book: 5/5
POV: heroine, 1st person
Triggers: cheating, rape
Books with a similar theme: Tethered by L. D. Davis

[enqi ☾⋆˚*̣̩✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and tender, yet fierce and almost feral, 53 Letters for My Lover is a book steeped in so much emotion that it all but bleeds from the pages. Across oceans, over continents and beyond time, Troy Heathgate and Shayda Hijazi's love refuses to fade. Torn apart by fate again and again, the two star-crossed lovers always manage to find their way, even broken and bleeding, back to each other.

“I love you, Shayda,” he says. “I miss you everywhere I go. I want to see you turn your nose up at chapulines in Mexico. I want to walk Temple Street Market with you when I’m in Hong Kong. I want to share every sunrise and every sunset and every second in between with you. I want your laughter and your breath and your blood and your bones. You’re the one thing that centres my soul. I may circle the whole world, but you’ll always be home, Beetroot.”

──★˚🖇️✩⊹💘┊TO BEGIN...

I turned into the shelter of his embrace, and he, not knowing, not asking, took me in.

Let me first address the elephant in the room: this book is, straight up, about an affair. In the romance genre, I know affairs are a sensitive subject that might turn many readers off. But nothing in this story is black and white: every character is flawed and so painfully human. Illicit romance is only one of the ways in which they betray each other’s trust and love with the choices they make, and it’s a theme that centers the entire story.

But it’s not just this. It’s the things he doesn’t see, the ghosts of my father and brother in that photo, staring back at me. Men who can never limit themselves to just one woman.

If you were in a loveless marriage, and for your whole life you’d played by the rules and expectations everyone else had set for you – embarked on the future they dreamed of and married the man they wanted – would you not be tantalised by the possibility of having just one thing for yourself: real, unconditional love, even knowing that the whole world would condemn you for it?


──★˚🖇️✩⊹💘┊ SHAYDA HIJAZI

“That’s sad,” I say. “And beautiful. If she stays, she dies. If she goes, she dies.”

Shayda Hijazi. She’s one of the most thoughtless, irresolute heroines I’ve read – but at the same time, she’s a stoic, long-suffering woman. Her indecision, ironically, catalyses the entire book. Told through first person POV, it's conveyed to you so clearly that you cannot help but sympathise with her despite your best efforts. She risks hurting her loyal, unwavering husband and her two children if she leaves him, and yet her marriage has always been haunted by her husband's demons. She, who has married for companionship rather than love, finds that her heart only soars when it's with Troy. So she drags out her inevitable choice for almost a decade (!!!), hoping she and Troy can somehow get each other out of their systems, and everyone is hurt in the process.


Leylah excelled in crafting Shayda's character. Raised in a cold, bleak environment, she's always tried her best to hold her family together and live the life planned out for her. So when the time comes for her to make a choice based on what she truly wants, she can't because she's too afraid of censure. She's selfish, but at the same time, I understood why. She's indecisive, but at the same time, I'd most likely have done what she did. I wanted to slap sense into her, but at the same time, my heart ached for her.

Because you love him, comes the answer. You love him.
You love him.
It echoes like the clap of distant thunder. How many women have loved him and been left by him? How many have sat with him on a rainy night and felt like this? This gut-twisting, soul-wrenching thing he does to me? What does it matter, this sad, useless love, when it would destroy all my other loves—my home, my family?

──★˚🖇️✩⊹💘┊ TROY HEATHGATE

There are two types of women in the world. Those who run far and fast from Troy Heathgate, and those who throw themselves at him. Indifference is not an option.

WHERE can I find myself a man like Troy because he set the standard so high that I'm not settling for anything less 😭😭😭 Usually I have one or two gripes, no matter how small, about fictional men but I am so in love with everything about Troy it’s not even funny. Every time I think about him, I literally start blushing – I'm down THAT bad girlies 🥹🥹 Not only is he one of the most attractive men I've read about (I can already envision those pacific blue eyes), he's also the perfect balance of goofy, patient, funny, and so caring. He treats Shayda like a queen, and to top it all off, HIS PINING IS SO OBVIOUS 😭😭😭 He was obsessed with Shayda for YEARS while she was unsure, and Leylah Attar's writing must be phenomenal because the force of his emotions and desires hit me like a truck. I was squealing and kicking my legs every time they had scenes like this:

His eyes are bare, naked, like he’s been running for a long, long time and now he’s finally here, looking at me, tired, weary, and very, very thirsty.
He lowers his gaze, picks up a strand of my hair and twirls it around his finger.
“I miss you,” he says to it.

Or this:

He cuts me off with a passionate kiss, slamming me hard against the car. “I fucking love you,” he chants with hot breath in my ear, before claiming my lips again.

Cars honk as they drive by. A man passes by with his dog. Somewhere, a jackhammer is drilling the pavement. Wind chimes tinkle in the breeze. The soft whirring of pigeon wings. A kid laughs at us. And there, in the bustle of mid-town, our lips cling in silence, until the edges of our bodies melt, until my mouth knows the taste of his soul.

When we finally come up for air, I open my mouth, but he silences me.

"I just couldn’t not say it anymore.” He leans his forehead against mine and closes his eyes.

I cling to him, not caring that the whole street can see me crying.

I've fallen in love with a million book boyfriends, but what really distinguished Troy from the rest was how goofy he was. I loved how he challenged Shayda to come out of her self-made shell and step out of her comfort zone, by encouraging her not to take things too seriously. Part of the book was dedicated to the intimate moments they spent together and again, I felt like Leylah captured the chemistry between them perfectly without making it seem over the top. You know when you look at a couple and they're always either laughing with or at each other and that's how you can tell they're hopelessly in love? That's how Leylah portrayed Troy and Shayda. Their back-and-forth banter was electrifying and Troy carried all of it he's so unserious but yet so hot I swear.

Troy, behind a glass wall, shooting hoops in his corner office. Who has a basketball net installed at work? How did I allow myself to get involved with a man who thinks the whole world is his playground?

──★˚🖇️✩⊹💘┊IN CONCLUSION...
If I have influenced even one of you guys to read this book IMMEDIATELY then this review was worth it 😭😭 I cried harder than I have in a long time and I cannot believe that none of my GR friends have read this book yet. It's so underrated!!

My breath still catches when he looks at me. I think maybe that was it all along. He always looked at me like he really saw me. Me, the empty woman with half eaten dreams and flaws and desires. And he filled me up.

MINI PLAYLIST
🎶 Over – Lykke Li
🎶 Lose Control – Teddy Swims
🎶 How Does It Feel (Paul Woolford Remix) – London Grammar, Paul Woolford
🎶 Ivy – Taylor Swift
🎶 You Are In Love – Taylor Swift
🎶 Snow On The Beach – Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey
🎶 Confess To You – Lim Kim
🎶 Beginning Middle End – Leah Nobel
🎶 You’re Still The One – Shania Twain

__________________________________

This book SHATTERED me. It's beautiful and tender and yet cruel and feral at the same time 😭😭 I cried harder than I have in a long time and I cannot believe that none of my GR friends have read this book yet. It's so underrated!!

Full review to come ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

[warhawke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Type: Standalone Book 1 from 53 Letters For My Lover series
POV: First Person - Female
Rating:




Shayda Hijazi yearned to soar but was bound by familial obligations. Married at a young age not out of love but of convenience, she never got to experience what falling in love and lust was like until she met someone else.

Troy Heathgate had the smile and the charm that could disarm anyone. Women fell all over themselves for him, but he only had his eyes on the one he can't have. They finally took chance to be together but they had to learn to embrace the past for a hope of the future.



I always love when author touched sensitive subject in books because life is not black and white and it shouldn't be portrayed as so. This story is the kind of story that needed to be told.

“Then let’s have a wild and crazy affair. Get it out of our system. Anything would be better than this. This half-living. This damned yearning.”

Troy captured my attention since he was first introduced. I love how considerate he was considering the situation they were in. I appreciate that I could also see the dilemma from his side.

"You’re a mass of contradictions, Shayda. All these delicious curves, wrapped around a rod of steel."

Shayda was a strong woman in all that matters. She carried the burden of a secret relationship for years, sacrificing her own happiness to make sure others were not left out.

We were a different kind of broken. The quiet, silent kind that gets swept under the bed or stuffed in the linen closet. And we had become good, really, really good, at leaving those spaces undisturbed.

I think Shayda's husband, Hafez, deserved an honorable mention. I love how his character portrayed the way it did instead of the other way around. It made the whole thing more powerful and emotionally engaging.



What I love the most about a story is when it made me think about life. About blurring the line between doing what's right and doing what's best. About the ability to put myself in the character's shoes, justifying and accepting their actions. About accepting fate and flaws. This book is about all that.

53 Letters To My Lover is a sweeping tale of forbidden love that would make you yearn for something as wonderful even if the journey hurts.


★ Read as part of #ShhIndieSTARchat May ★

Chat thread: https://goo.gl/16EIEc


For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Hulya Kara Yuksel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! I LOVED it soooo much. ❤

"I want to share every sunrise and every sunset and every second in between with you. I want your laughter and your breath and your blood and your bones. You're the one thing that centers my soul. I may circle the whole world, but you'll always be home."

[Aestas Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!! 53 Letters For My Lover was a sexy, daring, and powerful debut novel that told a beautifully written forbidden romance spanning three decades.

This is not your typical love story.

Every once in a while, you come across a book that makes your heart race from the moment you hear about it. This was one of those books for me. I knew based on the blurb that this would be a "rule breaking" book for me but something about it still called to me.  I just had to read it.

"My grandma used to say that people born on the same day are two halves of the same soul."

Troy Heathgate and Shayda Hijazi were born on the same day on opposite sides of the world. Over the course of three decades, they paths crossed over and over again and, with each time, their connection grew stronger. Troy had almost everything he could dream of but couldn't have the woman he was in love with.  Shayda had had her whole life planned for her but dared to break the rules and follow her heart.

“My mind keeps going back to Troy.

Somewhere in the fabric of all these years, our lives got tangled, like unruly threads pulling and snagging into impossible knots.”

I'm going to first explain the story set-up as clearly as I can. Ok so, Shayda's family was able to send her to Canada from where she was born in Iran in hopes of starting a better life and they set up her marriage to an Iranian man. This wasn't literally an arranged marriage, but it was clear which path they wanted her to take. He was a good man -- kind, loyal, and caring but they were never truly in love with each other. Then Troy Heathgate came into her life by complete random chance and something between them just sparked.

"I notice Troy Heathgate's eyes on me. Every time I turn around, there he is, following me with his brooding eyes. Having shots at the bar, looking at me. Listening to his dates, looking at me. Toying with his drink, looking at me... Watching and waiting."

They both feel the attraction and the connection but neither truly acts on it and they go their separate ways. However, life's random chance keeps bringing them back together over the course of the next years. Sometimes just for a fleeting moment, sometimes for longer and eventually they can no longer deny their feelings and begin an affair.

“I know it took a lot for you to get here and I know why you came.”

“Why?”

“For the same reason I did. Because you had no choice. Because you couldn’t eat. Or sleep. Or think of anything else but this.”

I'd like to point out that, in Shayda's culture, many men had mistresses (in fact, her mother even openly encouraged her to find a boyfriend at one point). Also, even though I'm hardcore anti-cheating/triangles, there was no doubt ever in my mind that Troy and Shayda were meant to be together and none of my alarm bells went off with the way this story unfolded. He just loved her and wanted to be with her even if he couldn't have all of her. And she desperately wanted to be with him but felt duty-bound to her family. Their life paths were anything but smooth and the strength of their love was put to the test over the years time and time again by circumstance, illness, and everything life could throw at them but I want to promise you that the ending is absolutely wonderful. This is a story of forbidden love but it is not tragic.

“I wish I could hold your hand outside this room, go for a walk, sit on a patio, watch the world go by.”

If you’re primarily a romance reader like me, I think it’s important to know that this book is kind of in a “genre middle ground”. It isn’t exactly classified as a Romance. It’s almost more Women’s Fiction with an intense forbidden love story running throughout it. Meaning that it’s a life story with a very strong love story in it, but it’s not just solely a love story. So I’ll admit that it took me a little while to adjust to that difference in genre because for the first part, I’d say half the time was focused on the Troy + Shayda storyline, and the other half was just on Shayda’s life and I found it harder to connect to the non-romance part of the story. But, as the story went on, it became more and more focused on them as their feelings intensified and as it became harder for them to stay away from each other.

“Are you happy, Shayda?”

A second. That’s all it takes. A single beat of hesitation on my part…

Here I am, ten years later. Troy Heathgate is at my door.

Let me in.

I should clarify though that this book is quite sensual and erotic. Despite the fact that it's not solely a romance, it's quite sexy in a very beautiful way. Basically, this is absolutely not a "fade-to-black" book.

This author's writing is absolutely stunning. It's thought provoking, evocative, and this book was truly a joy to read. In the first few chapters, I'd already highlighted more quotes than I usually do in entire books.

“He says my name like he’s been holding it in his mouth for a long time, savouring it, letting his tongue taste each vowel, each consonant, before releasing it.”

We’re told the story in woven layers of both past and present. I loved that this story really didn’t have any bad guy because it made the emotional complexity so much deeper. Her husband was a good man with a painful past who did his best to provide for her and their two children, there were no evil ex’es in Troy’s past trying to keep them away from each other, nothing that you could put your finger on to blame for anything that happened. Their situation itself, being so close yet so far from their soul mate, was heart wrenching. This was just life — a tangle of emotions, duties, cultural ties, personal desires, and choices.

“You want me to choose?”

“It’s not about what I want. Or what anyone else wants. What do YOU want, Shayda?”

This story also brings up many cultural and gender issues. It highlights not only cultural differences but also the shift between generations and how those customs and cultures change in that time.

“You okay?” He rubs my feet.

Am I okay?

I start laughing, a little hysterically. I don’t think he has the slightest idea what it’s taken for me to get here. I’ve crossed oceans and countries and continents. That was the easy part. But sitting here before Troy Heathgate now, I’m teetering on a knife’s edge between honour and disgrace.”

One of the things I loved most about this story was this feeling of intensity between Troy and Shayda that you could feel in every moment that they were. It was always there, wrapping you up in the emotional turmoil of their situation. The author truly did a fantastic job of describing their feelings in ways that that showed them to us rather than just telling us about them. The intensity was built in beautiful but subtle ways such as this…

“I return to my office and shut the door. I want to keep the smell of him from escaping. It’s barely noticeable, the kind of thing only a lover would recognize, sparking associations that set the pulse racing.”

There were a few scenes in the second half of the book where where tears would be flowing down my face as the emotional overflow of frustration at their situation and a longing for their happiness began to take a toll on my heart.

“Don’t.” The softest whisper.

My eyes swing to the door.

He never left.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he says. “I told you. Whatever happens, we face it together.”

Troy was just amazing. And I'm not just talking about how sexy or charming he was, I'm talking about the way he stood by Shayda and pushed her to follow her heart and to stand up for herself, for them, and for her own happiness. That moment when you see her fully come into her own and fight for what she wanted was so powerful. Decades of choices brought to a head by one final decision.

I was very impressed with the way the author handled the ending and the aftermath of their affair. Yes, there was a lot of hurt, how could there not be? But life is messy. It's not always beautiful, and it certainly isn't always easy. Sometimes life just simply hands you the wrong deck of cards and sometimes it takes you down the wrong path and it's up to you to set it right. I loved that this story left you with the message that it's never too late to reach for your happiness and follow your heart and sometimes by taking that big scary leap, it's possible for things to work out better than you ever could have imagined.

There’s actually a quote that I feel really represents the book as a whole…

“It’s one of those moments that sears itself in your heart, where you realize that somehow, miraculously, through all the mistakes you can make, through all the hurt and pain, happiness can still find it’s way through all the cracks in your heart.

I'm having a hard time rating this. If I could, I'd rate the two main parts (their romance VS her life) separately but it's hard to do that because they're so closely entwined. I'd easily give the Romance part of the book -- Troy & Shayda's love story -- a strong 4.5--5 stars, but as a romance reader, the more Women's Fiction side of the story didn't quite capture me as much so I would have given that section of the story more of a 3.5--4 star rating. However, when I look back on the book as a whole, I have to say that I loved it. This really was a very different style of read for me than my usual but there's no doubt about it... It was a beautifully written, powerful love story and it's going to stay in my heart for a long time.

Final rating: 4.5 stars. Standalone (HEA).
Women's Fiction/Adult Romance.

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[Alexis *Reality Bites* · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS
Genre: Adult Romance
Author to look out for!

53 Letters for my Lover is Stirring - Utterly Gripping - And emotionally intense.



‘What is it about Troy Heathgate that just won’t let me be?’ -Shayda

Could it be that the man can charm the panties off of any woman he encounters. Yeah, that must be it! Shayda Hijazi is in love with a man who is NOT her husband. Placed in an arranged marriage, Shayda has just taken the cards that life has dealt her, never really taking the time to do what she wants in life. She is a wife to Hafez, they have two children but Shayda has secrets. Secrets that could leave a person shattered a secret that has left two people broken, a secret that can tear a family apart. Shayda holds them tightly inside tucked in a little corner as she goes through life being a mum, a wife, a daughter and a friend. Alive but not truly living. Not living for Shayda and then she meets Troy…

“So what’s it like? To have it all?” -Shayda
“Like flying. Soaring. Until you come across the one thing you’d give it all up for, and can never have.” -Troy
I suck in my breath.

As do I. You suck in a breath as Troy casually tells Shayda that to the world YES I seem to have it all but in reality I don’t, I don’t have YOU. Troy Heathgate is rich, gorgeous, charismatic, and intelligent. He is lusted after by women all across the globe. He takes whatever it is he wants in life and most times what he wants is freely given. It’s not until he meets Shayda that he realizes he can’t have it all. Or…can he?

“Shayda, if we’re going to do this, there’s something you should know. I don’t do threesomes with shame or guilt or regret. You need to check those in at the door . They don’t belong in bed. I intend to get to know everything about you—every curve on your body, every dirty, sexy thought, every dark, hidden spot. Everything…” -Troy



A love story that spans time covering three decades of love, guilt, secrets, fear, sorrow, helplessness, beauty, pain and joy.

I was careful to leave A LOT of things that I would love to say out of my review. I pretty much went in to this read blind and am very happy I did. There a things you should read and feel. I want that impact to hit you how it hit me. I will say this and you’ll have to read to understand, my fave scene involves the big red ‘O’.

Leylah Attar does an awesome job with this book, I was totally enraptured by Shayda and Troy! Attar includes our changing and forever evolving world by incorporating computers and the internet which is Troy’s main source of income as the internet was just in it’s beginning stages around the timeframe set in the book. I really liked that, when real life connects with book life.

There are a few scenes that WHOOSH and knock the wind out of you. Especially in relation to relationships particularly Shayda and her father. With that I think this author does something that not all can do well let alone pull off wonderfully.
She explores. She explored Shayda’s life, culture, customs, love, infidelity and how all these things work in terms of cause and effect. Damn, what I just wrote..that last sentence just made me change my 4 stars to 5.

My thoughts
Excellent! Well written! These characters will stick with me FOREVER. This is not your typical affair it’s so much more to it. I’m kind of pissed I waited to read it; this book was sitting in my Kindle for weeks.
At first I was not convinced that this book was for me. As I started the book for about the first 10% I was just not in to it but I kept going. By the time I got to 19% I knew this book had me. From then on, if I had to stop reading for real life I would get pissed. In my humble opinion I believe this book can easily be a best seller, it completely sucks you in. My Recommendation is READ THIS BOOK!

My Ratings
Characters- Beautiful, Charming and Witty
Writing Style- Very solid with an intense undertone that tackles morality, being human and making mistakes.
Plot/Storyline- A woman has an affair, but it’s not what you think. She was placed in an arrange marriage one of convenience and ancestry not love.
Steam Factor- High/Very Steamy on a scale of 1-10 I say 9
Entertainment Level- Lo-Med-Hi Highly entertaining! Loved it!
Overall- I recommend you read the book! It is a 2014 FAVE!

Now go forth and read. Then come tell us about it on Goodreads!
For more reviews got to: www.realitybites-letsgetlost.blogspot...
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[Katy Loves Romance ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5++ Beetroot ❤️s Scary Cherry Stars


This is an older book and on the norm when I'm catching up I'll just write a few lines, that said when I LOVE a book, when I ADORE the writing I have to write my feelings down. So I'm writing this review for that reason alone. I need to tell you how much this book touched my heart.

This book is about fate, about two souls who are meant to be together. I am a true believer in life and circumstances happening for reasons. I believe we make friends with the kind of people we need at the right time, have people who support our paths. And these two beautiful souls share the same birthday, and meet because of fate.



Shayda is married and with two children. And although some will see them happy it's not always the way. I loved ALL characters in this story aside from one (we won't talk about that) but know that things happen with best intentions.

Troy Troy Troy swooooon...

"I miss you everywhere I go.... You're the one thing that centres my soul. I may circle the whole world, but you'll always be home, Beetroot."



Let me tell you it's been difficult working out what quotes, and highlights to use. I have read so many and highlighted so many, the book is one big exquisite read of emotions. Leylah is a new author to me. But what I found out while reading this, was that she hits you hard. She makes you think and feel and LOVE. And although this themed read may put people off know that this is sooo much more than that. It is about family, about butterfly's, about blue eyes. About right and wrong, is there any wrong? About LOVE and devotion. About finding your ONE true soulmate. I fell again for words in this book. It is not a drama filled NA read. This is a sensual, beautiful love story that will make you believe in fate and about being brave. And about believing in yourself.



That is all.

For more reviews and blog posts

[Bibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are no words. Please join in applause for this author, as she has written this beautifully poignant epic that will have you on the edge of your chaise lounge.

The prose, the plot arc, the character development....all perfectly done to engender your deepest emotions.

There are so many layers and complexities within this book which all plays out perfectly at the end. To be truthful, there were so many times I was tempted to just skip to the last chapters, just cos my heart could no longer take the suspense; however, I persevered and trust me, it was ah-mazing

Please place this on you TBR and get at it asap. You won't be disappointed.

[B(ea) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS 🌟

i swear i’m not generous w my 5 stars on GR but this month seems to slap real good huh
•
•
𝚁𝚃𝙲 🥺

[Amy | Foxy Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm starting this off by letting you know what kind of reader I am. I'm one who doesn't read the book blurbs. I instead look at the covers, titles and what my friends star ratings are for a particular book before I decide if I'll read it or not. For this particular book I followed my normal suit which meant I came up with a preconceived notion that this book was going to be told through letters to a lover. Look my 'pre-review' picture below->



I was wrong though and it took me a couple minutes to re-adjust my thought process before continuing on with this book. To help me reset my brain I went ahead and looked at the blurb so I could get in the right mindset.

53 LETTERS FOR MY LOVER spans several decades between a married woman and her life both with her husband and children, and her lover. Shayda and her husband's life is more of story of two souls who have been put together because of cultural acceptance than a love story. Shayda and her lover,Troy's, story is definitely a love story but one that is forbidden because of Shayda's marriage.

Troy, meet Hafez, Shayda's husband. Her anchor, her rock, her safe harbor.
Hafez, meet Troy, the current that sweeps her so far ashore, she forgets which way is home.

Shayda and Troy are both born on the same day but in different parts of the country.

"My grandma used to say that people born on the same day are two halves of the same soul."

Shayda loves each man but is not in-love with each man.

I realized that it's possible to love two people in two completely different ways.

An impressive debut book for, Ms. Attar, and I look forward to more from this up and coming author. She created a cultural story told within the confines of two genres: women's fiction and romance.

53 Letters is a STANDALONE with a companion story (38 pages) that is from Troy's pov of some of the scenes from this book. It is a FREE gift from the author ->http://amzn.to/1lMDDfH

**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**

[TheCrazyWorldOfABookLover · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What good is love if you don't show it?"

To be entirely honest, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. If you read the blurb and the author's review, you'll know this book centers around an affair. And I think I put off reading this for so long because I absolutely despise anything to do with cheating. I have read a few books in the past with cheating and did NOT enjoy them. But this book was NOT one of those books.

"You just see what you can't have," I reply.
"Maybe. Or maybe I've carried you with me for so long, there's no room for anyone else."

Leylah did the impossible - She actually made me LIKE all of the characters in this book. And that's what I want to focus on in this review. I didn't hate any one. No anger towards any of them. Did I always agree with some of their choices? No. But Leylah wrote this in such a way you just can't help but sympathize and yearn for everyone that was involved.

"I wait for guilt to set in. I wait for self-loathing to roll in. I wait for my feet to carry me to the door. But when his lips graze mine, whisper soft, I know this is what I've been waiting for. How long have I thought about this? How many weeks? Months? Years? His lips on mine. Like this. My fingers running through his hair. Like this."

"Who can resist to be disrobed so? With lips and tongue and lover's breath."

You would think I would have some choice words for the man who goes after a woman that is married. But as much as I tried, as much as I thought I would, I NEVER once hated Troy. I loved his character, in fact. I rooted for him and Shayda to be together even though I knew what they were doing was wrong. But like everything in life, nothing is black and white and neither was their lives, their choices, or their affair.

"I want to share every sunrise and every sunset and every second in between with you. I want your laughter and your breath and your blood and your bones. You're the one thing that centers my soul. I may circle the whole world, but you'll always be home."

If you're like me and haven't picked this up because of the touchy premise, I promise you this is this book that will change your mind on the topic.

Leylah's writing is beautiful and vivid, the story was heartbreaking and messy and touching and emotional, and I can most definitely see why this book is marked as a favorite among so many book friends. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves emotional reads!



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[[~Ami~]♥Sexy Dexy♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars


I'm surprised how much I liked this considering this went out my comfort zone. I think when you come across great writing it doesn't matter what the story is about. I felt so much for these two. Their story was just captivating and heartfelt spanning over 3 decades.

I had my doubts about Troy to begin with maybe because we started the book where they already knew each other. But somewhere along the way he grew on me. This had some 5 star moments. Unfortunately I wasnt expecting the direction the book took at 70%. Overall really enjoyed it and would recommend!

BR with Jeanne. I woudnt have picked this up if I hadnt seen your updates x

[Rosalinda *KRASNORADA* · Rating 4 out of 5]

’53 letters…’ tells us the complicated life of Shayda Hijazi.

”The only way to feel truly alive is to start living fearlessly”

Before you read this review or this book, you need to know Shayda cheats on her husband so if you can’t stand cheating in books this book might not be for you. BUT if you have an open mind you might understand her.
Shayda’s family ‘make’ her marry Hafez, a really nice guy who loves her but who also has some demons that won’t let him have a normal life.

They are very young when they marry and have to work very hard to have a future but they eventually get there.

When Shayda is about 20 yo Bob offers her a job and a brighter future(under kind of complicated circumstances) and because of her new job she crosses paths with Troy Heathgate. Troy is a womanizer in college who’s best friends with Ryan, Bob’s son.

I had an issue with their story at the beginning because I could not feel the special connection between Shayda and Troy but it all worked out in the end (I can’t say anything else, no spoilers from me ladies).

As you guys know I have not read het romance in a while but I needed a change and this book made the trick. I know she’s a cheater but who are we to judge if we haven’t walked on her shoes?

The story spams more than 30 years and their journey is not an easy one but it was worth it.

I liked that there weren’t bad and good characters, they were all HUMAN and humans make mistakes, we all do! The author will not make you hate Hafez so you can approve Shayda cheating on him but even if you like Hafez and you pray he has a HEA too you still want Shayda and Troy together because they are meant to be together.

I didn’t like that the end was way too happy, all of them paired perfectly , I didn’t like that you need to get to the end to really feel the connection between them (I needed more lake moments and more banter before the first kiss) but I still enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you feel like accepting the cheating part without judging.

”If we base our decisions on all the things we’re afraid of, we would be paralyzed with fear. We’d never have the guts to love, or hope or dream”

[Dilek VT · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just deadly boring and annoying!

Neither the story line nor the characters and their conversations appealed to me. I couldn't relate to any of them. When I saw that I still had trouble getting into the book by 40%, I "dnf"ed it!

[Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

** Review edit 06/17/14 to reflect REVISED ENDING **
IT'S LIVE!!! And available for $0.99 on Amazon for a limited time!

~~~ 4.5 STAY WITH ME FOREVER STARS! ~~~

**INTENSE, BUT GRATIFYING EMOTIONS AHEAD **

This incredibly poignant and remarkably affecting book is a debut by a talented Canadian author. Setting is Canada, of course, and I loved that for a change. This book is written as a memorable collection of love letters by a woman, Shayda Hijazi, to her lover, Troy Heathgate. Shayda is a 33 year old married woman with two children that embarks on a journey filled with self-discovery, growth, love and the ability to do what's right for her, to finally shed societal expectations and embrace the one in a million love she fatefully finds. The book spans 3 decades, giving us glimpses into Shayda's and Troy's 20's, 30's and 40's. Incredibly, these two share the exact same age and birthday!
It's a tale that gave rise to many questions and left me feeling elated and wrought with intense emotion. Nothing is simple here. There are right and wrongs, but the grey areas in between determine what we choose. What is right? What defines 'wrong'? Is it easier to betray someone than abandon them completely? Does making a decision in favor of yourself paint you as selfish or is staying where you are, cowardly? This book also examines loyalty, the very definition of what makes us loyal and the justifications of holding on to what has always defined you, even in the face of bitter truth. But it also begs you to consider what giving up true love means and having the guts to follow your heart.

The author set up Shayda's infidelity in a very palpable way. There wasn't that scorn or judgement often linked with cheating, rather, I felt I understood her decision, understood her choice to give into herself. Does it make it any less wrong, sympathizing with Shayda? NO, but it does give you context. There was happiness, epic love, joy and beauty to Shayda's and Troy's love affair. But there was also messiness, guilt and shame. You might wonder, why didn't she leave her husband right away?? I guess at the end of the day, you have to decide if her reasons were valid, if it was possible for her situation to be reduced to the simplicity of ONE DECISION.
What about Troy? He's not innocent in all this is he? No, but I'll get to him.

SHAYDA: she was Persian by birth and parentage, sent to Canada to essentially get married. Her plight was a recognizable one, married young, working hard, meshing herself into a new culture. It wasn't easy for her and reading about her experiences overwhelmed me with empathy. She meets Troy at 21, they're both young and beautiful. He's smitten by her and she fights her unfamiliar longing. Their time is limited and they don't cross paths till over 12 years later. When they do, old feelings ignite and what was once restrainable, no longer is. These two were like an almost perfect alignment of stars, never quite converging. And as much as I wanted to hate Shayda for doing what she did to her family, I couldn't. I empathized with her but eventually I demanded for her to decide. Life is never perfect, a decision like hers, to leave her husband for another isn't easy, but she ultimately had to do what was right for her.

TROY: give me a minute....
His sensuality is summed up perfectly by this quote:

" He says my name like he's been holding it in his mouth for a long time, savoring it, letting his tongue taste each vowel, each consonant, before releasing it with a warm 'ahhh'".

The man slayed me. I've never, NEVER wanted someone to get his HEA as much as I wanted Troy to. He loved Shayda more than life itself. He was always accommodating, giving, patient and incredibly thoughtful. But we all have limits and when Troy reached his, I loved him even more! He made Shayda work, dammit! He deserved everything and more. He's not an innocent man, not the injured party perhaps but I don't care, he's that amazing.

Of course, there are many secondary characters, Shayda's husband, Hafez, her children, her friends, Troy's friends and family... Everyone plays a role in this book and it was beautiful. So if you're thinking this sounds deep, it is. It's messy, complicated, touching, affecting, compelling. It deals with real issues, real people with real problems. It's a lot to process but it's worth it. There are many scenes that had me grabbing the Kleenex, I was literally on the edge of my seat for the last 20%! But ultimately this was about love, about going after what you deserve, deciding to live life and not let fear dictate how it turns out. The epilogue was beautiful, came full circle, I loved it.

I won't say anymore, I think I've said enough, but not even close to what I'm feeling, what I'm dying to scream out! This was an emotional journey. It would make a phenomenal movie. Highly recommended.


** copy generously provided by the author for an honest review **

[♥Sharon♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so HAPPY I decided to give this one a try! What a beautiful story. ❤.



I finished reading this book a little over a week ago and had to think about it for a bit. For me this story was a little different and after reading the blurb for it I knew I would be crossing a line that I don’t often do. But I have to say 53 Letters For My Lover was a very powerful and sexy read.

This is the love story of Troy Heathgate and Shayda Hijazi. It wasn’t your typical love story. Their story spans over several decades after a short meeting at the age of 20. There is a connection that is made between the two, one that won’t be forgotten but one that cannot be acted upon because Shayda is married.

Infidelity. This is the line I don’t often cross but Shayda’s marriage was one of tradition, I guess you could say. I’m uncertain what needs to be in place in order to consider this an arranged marriage but in many ways that is how it appeared to me. Shayda’s family “arranged” for her to meet an Iranian man so that she may have a better life by living in Canada. Her husband was Hafez. He was a good man. He cared and provided for Shayda. He loved her but not in a way a normal couple would love each other. Shayda and Hafez shared a life but they didn’t share love for each other. Actually there was love but not “that” kind of love. Their relationship is not strong which allows for cracks to easily be made.

“We were a different kind of broken. The quiet, silent kind that gets swept under the bed or stuffed in the linen closet. And we had become good, really, really good at leaving those spaces undisturbed.”

As I mentioned Troy and Shayda’s spans over several decades. Their story truly is journey. When they meet again in their 30’s things have changed. Things continue to change. Shayda yearns to be happy, to be with the one she desires. Though this scares her to death, she finds herself running to Troy and finally letting him in to her life.

Everything with Troy feels different. His touches, his words and his desire for her. Shayda has waited to feel these things for so long. When her walls finally come down it really was madness between them.

“This is what it feels like when someone wraps up your hopes and dreams, and presents them to you on a sunny afternoon. There is nothing to hide anymore. When love looks at you, when it truly pins you down and stares into your soul, it renders you defenseless. And in that moment, in that state of humbling nakedness, it makes you completely invincible.”

Words that I would use to describe their story would be powerful, passionate, all-consuming and undying. As they both reach for that love and happy ending they truly want they experience heartache and pain. They struggle to bridge the gaps that threaten to keep them apart and Shayda deals with the turmoil over her marriage and her family. But things come full circle for everyone. For Troy and Shayda. For her children and even for Hafez.

This story is thought provoking and complex. It is also very beautiful and sensual too. The thread of forbidden love will keep you engaged and allow for you to experience a true love story that is probably different than most you read.

This author did an amazing job at writing Shayda’s and Troy’s story. The passion she had for this story shined with all her words. She weaved together culture, destiny, love, betrayal in a way that will bring about intense feelings and emotions. If you give this book a try I think you will loved it!

It was different. It was so worth the read. I would definitely recommend this book. ❤

[Jln · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Emotional, Thought Provoking, Forbidden stars

"My Grandma used to say that people born on the same day are two halves of the same soul."






Shayda Hijazi is a 33 year old wife, mother, and real estate agent. Most of her life's choices have been made for her, and she goes through life doing what she feels is expected of her, her own needs are pushed aside. When Troy Heathgate comes back into her life, well, let's just say he stirs things up and changes everything.





The first thing I would say about this novel is just simply that it's beautifully written. While reading this story, it was obvious to me that Ms. Attar put her heart and every effort into writing it. The story spans three decades, and was different, memorable and made me think outside of those black and white lines. I can't imagine reading this and not empathizing with Shayda, I could really feel and even understand her conflicting emotions. I don't want to ruin the story by blabbing too much, but I do recommend it to friends who want to read something original and heartfelt. Thank you to Maida and Supreet for recommending it to me!

* Thanks for br again Ami! If I were as crafty as you I would add our pictures. Lol!

[Ilze · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 54%
I rate all my dnf books, since I waste my money and time on them.

I really wanted to love this but Shayda... I tried to like her, connect with her, or find something common with her. When that didn't work I tried to not be annoyed by her and later not to hate her. I failed.

[jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

”Troy, meet Hafez, Shayda’s husband. Her anchor, her rock, her safe harbor. Hafez, meet Troy, the current that sweeps her so far ashore, she forgets which way is home.”

Shayda is a Persian and was basically sent to Canada to get married. She gets married to Hafez and they like each other so it’s not the typical arranged marriage. One day she meets Troy and there is a special connection. The book spans over several decades and tells Shayda’s story and her journey to happiness.

“The only way to feel truly alive is to start living fearlessly.”

53 Letters for My Lover was not what I expected. I kind of expected letters in the book. But there weren’t any real letters. However, that’s not why I’m rating it 3 stars. It just didn’t blow me away. The first part of the book was interesting, it was heartbreaking to read about what Shayda and Hafez experienced during their life. But then it was just sex, sex and again sex. Don’t get me wrong – I have nothing against sex, but I felt like at some point there wasn’t a real plot anymore. I would have loved to read more about her life with Hafez during the affair, not just the sex parts with Troy; although Troy was an excellent lover ;).

All in all there was a lot of drama involved and in the end I wasn’t that interested anymore. Still, I think the author is very talented and I will certainly read more of her books in the future. This one just wasn’t for me and that's not because of the cheating, I could totally feel for Shayda and understood why she was torn.

[CC · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Ring "O" Eternity Stars!!

This book is so eloquently well-written and the characters are developed so genuinely you feel as though you can step into Shayda's life at any moment - that includes the trying times and the happy ones. I experienced such a wide range of emotions throughout the journey of Shayda and Troy. Ultimately, the subject was addressed in the most respectful manner possible. Considering the circumstances of Shayda's marriage, I could understand her feelings for Troy, but it doesn't lessen the impact in any way. Be prepared because this is a gripping and heart wrenching story of love, redemption and fate. The ending was perfect, and while there were many times when I wanted to soar (like a Monarch butterfly) to the end to see what happens, I managed to successfully restrain myself. This book is a heartfelt and genuine exploration of love between lovers, family and friends.

Moving on from the heavy stuff....Troy is a character that I will not forget! "He starts walking towards us, with that lazy gunslinger stride, a powder keg dressed in snug jeans and a black t-shirt." He is swoon worthy material and so damn hawt!! But, there is also substance to Troy and that makes him so likeable/likable. Did I spell that correctly? Looks too close to lickable..hmmm.

I'll end this with my absolute favorite Troy quote: "Put on your red lipstick, Shayda. You make a hell of an "O" with it. I'll take that ring of eternity any day over gold and silver. Yes, sir. And finish the job next time, woman." ;))

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Beautiful, emotional and EPIC is the only way I can describe this story.






Set over a period of 18 or so years...it tells the love story of Iranian born Shayda and Troy ..

Sent to Canada for a better life, nothing for Shayda is simple, she looks for a sign where her path will take her. Instead, an arranged marriage to Hafez is made for her by her family.
Hafez is withdrawn at times and their marriage starts without passion. He's away from home a lot.

He is a good man, a good husband but because of things he has experienced as a child he is left emotional detached.


When Shayda first meets Troy, an up and coming business tycoon, seductor, a man who has everything....except the one thing he wants...her..Shayda




Shayda stays in the background watching....but Troy has seen her and is totally mesmerized by her.



Choices, guilt... whilst we see their relationship slowly develop throughout the years into something beautiful we still see the pain, the feelings that pulls them closer and also apart.

When she finally makes a choice will devastating events change everything?

This is a very touching heartfelt story, beautifully written.
Its a brave story to write and I think thats what touched me so much.
I read such a mixture of genres, that when I come across a story like this, one that makes me feel the way I felt.....I know thats the reason I love reading so much.


There were subjects that were painful, heartbreaking but the author had me consumed into their story.
It should be made into a film..
I cried, I smiled, I cheered....I loved it.

Shayda and a Troys love story will stay with me for a long time..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmMbi...

[Naqelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS
“The only way to feel truly alive is to start living fearlessly.”
This is my first Leylah Attar book and I must say she is a fantastic writer.
(About the book)
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.
(What I Loved About It)
I loved how the book to me everything came full circle. Like everything these characters did they were consequences for every action,But every action that happen I was ok with because it came from the heart.I loved how the author did not make their love easy and did not give the characters an easy way out of their situations.
“But sitting here before Troy Heathgate now, I'm teetering on a knife's edge between honor and disgrace.”
I love how the story expanded for so many years and you got see the characters grow and still find love in each other. Even though sometimes I wanted to pull my hair out and scream at these characters I still loved the book It has a great message about love and difficult choices that people face everyday.I will Definitely read more from this author.
“I want to share every sunrise and every sunset and every second in between with you. I want your laughter and your breath and your blood and your bones. You’re the one thing that centres my soul. I may circle the whole world, but you’ll always be home, Beetroot.”
For mor reviews check ou my tumblr:http://readingwithnaqelle.tumblr.com/

[Lisa *-* GiViNg It To YoU * LoCk StOcK & TwO SmOkiNg BaRrELs · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 LOVED. IT. STARS




Such a stunningly written story 53 Letters For My Lover was just simply beautiful.

The love story of Shayda and Troy ....spans 18 years....a story of love, betrayal, hope, infidelity, enlightenment, heartache, laughter and lust.

"Somewhere in the fabric of all these years, our lives got tangled, like unruly threads pulling and snagging into impossible knots."

This simple is a must read.....just beautiful

[Claire Contreras · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good.

"So what's it like to have it all?"

"Like flying. Soaring. Until you come across the one thing you'd give it all up for, and can never have."



"If we base our decisions on all the things we're afraid of, we would be paralyzed with fear. We'd never have the guts to love, or hope or dream, or have kids, or swim in the ocean. And that's what makes us human, isn't it? What carries us through it all?

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful, engaging, soul-wrenching but heartwarming story about a love that spans over decades of time and deserves the status of being 'EPIC' for all that it's had to overcome. And even for someone like me, who doesn't normally like books that involve cheating and/or love triangles, I would say this is a highly recommendable read!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's there to say about this ?????


There are NO words that I can come up with that will do this book justice.
OH, and read this novella after too

[Esra Kara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bu iğrenç kitaba 1 puan bile çok fazla.

Fazla sinir bozucu ve b*ktandı.

Shayda'dan nefret ettim ve kitabın başından sonuna kadar evli olup kocasını aldatışını okumak beni çıldırttı. Ulan boşa bari, zaten sevmiyorsun ve seni bağlayan da yok! Yok bana ihtiyacı var, yok öyle, yok böyle. Dalga mı geçiyorsun, arka zekalı manyak karı! Habire Troy'a bir gidip bir gelmeler. Ay resmen kitap beni delirtti. Bu sene okuduğum en kötü kitaptı.

[Allison ❤️Will Never Conquer Her TBR❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!





53 Letters For My Lover was unlike any book I've read. At first I was a bit worried if it would hold my interest, but the love story built page after page and I was entranced in their love affair.

Shayda (aka Beetroot) is a married woman who's in love with another man. The book spans 20-some years...from the day she first set eyes on Troy Heathgate, watching fireworks on an abandoned pier. True to her Persian customs, she married a man best suited for her and her family...and not necessarily for love. She stayed home while Hafez worked, tending to their modest home with her in-laws. Life, however, kept throwing her and Troy together. Her best friend Julia's husband is close to him, so their paths crossed at every turn...and their chemistry continued to build, making it impossible to resist. Troy, the eternal bachelor, woman flocking to him, wealthy entrepreneur, can't get Shayda out of his head either. He must have her....





53 Letters For My Lover (I would've chosen a different title as the book has nothing to do with letters until virtually the last few pages, but I digress)...was a book I walked away actually learning something. They live in Canada but are from Iran and I've taken away quite a bit of new knowledge of their culture. My heart broke for Shayda, her husband Hafez, Troy, everyone involved. I wouldn't shy away from the book if you're against love triangles. The dynamics are totally different considering her somewhat arranged marriage. The book is sexy, angsty, gritty at times, and smoking hot at others. Troy is the eternal swoon-worthy alpha bachelor any woman would find hard to resist. But also endearing in his devotion to a woman trapped and confused as to the best path to follow in life.


My heart broke for Shayda. She was a devoted wife and mother but in a completely loveless marriage...a friendship bond but a family all the same. Then I'd flip a switch and wanna throttle Troy for constantly being at her beck and call with her wishy washy "I want you" then "I can't go through with it" antics. I felt their connection. I felt their conflict. Yet, I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her silly (or taser her).






I'd seriously give the book a try if you're in the mood for something different, a book with a healthy dose of anticipation and steam. The author sweeps the reader into their world, her family, their friends. You truly feel a part of it. I have to be honest and say I got confused often along the way, however, with the names of the characters. Being of Iranian decent, they were unfamiliar to me and often one character was referred to with different names...like the different way I would address mom, mother, momma..she said Maamaan or Ma. I had to sit back and think if this is the same person or a new character....or her father (I think?) was referred to as Baba. I'm just not familiar with nicknames, I guess so I got a bit distracted trying to place their relationship to her.

**Here's a link to the cast of characters. This would've been perfect while I was reading it. http://www.leylahattar.com/Images/53L...

Looking forward to more from this author.

And I thank you.




***There's a companion short story From His Lips in Troy's POV. It's currently free on Amazon.

[Lo Bookfrantic · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this book!! it was so good, I can't believe I am just now reading it. Loved Loved loved every single word!! will come back and write a proper review.

📖#currentlyreading📖

#53lettersformylover 🦋 by #leylahattar

Happy day my book friends!! As usual I am late to the party 😒🙄 lol Soooo
I decided to read this book for my first read of the year because I am craving deep feels writing and so far what I’ve read by this author has not disappoint. My book friends are telling me to get my tissues ready, so my heart is immediately doing flips and I’m so excited that I made the right choice yaaassss 🙌🙌🙌 bring on the feels!!! 😁
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