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OVERLAND
After Danny Benson finishes medical school he wants nothing more than to start his residency and settle down to marry his fiancée, Heather. But on the day of his final exam, Danny receives a letter. The engagement is off. Heather’s baffling she’s going to London where she will travel overland on the Magic Bus to Kathmandu. His plans shattered, Danny finds himself on a journey thousands of miles from home, in search of the woman he loves. When he discovers her on a bus somewhere east of Europe the reunion is less than stellar. They spend the entire ride to Afghanistan debating whether to stay together or break up forever. Now, arriving in Kabul, exhausted from their long bus trip, fate will decide their dispute for them. The following day, December 27th, 1979, the Soviet Union invades Afghanistan. What happens next is their moment of truth as Danny and Heather collide with history.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2009
14 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Mark Stephen Levy
5 books9 followersMark Levy was a worker bee, but yearned to travel. He went to bookstores to research his trip. He bought an India travel guide and absorbed it as if it were a page turning novel. He read that the monsoon season ended in India the end of August. It was May 30th when he left the US, and spent three months in Europe, just biding his time, while having the time of his life.
On his birthday, August 16, at age 32, he flew to India. A mishap caused his backpack to not make the flight on a brief transit stop from Sri Lanka to Southern India. He spent two frustrating hours in the Trivandrum airport lining up his backpack with hopes it would show up a few days later.
Resigned to the fact that there was nothing he could do, he took his trusty India guide and asked an auto rickshaw driver take him to the Hotel Blue Sea. As he was whisked through the balmy palm lined, slow paced, exotic streets, he completely forgot about his backpack. In that moment, his life had changed forever.
From there he met a French girl some weeks later in Jaipur, India. They spent only five days together and said goodbye never really knowing they would see each other again. They did, as she is now his wife and they have a beautiful eighteen year old daughter.
Mark is originally from Los Angeles and he and his family live in Denver, Colorado.
Overland is a result of a many of his adventures and a vivid imagination.
Levy is a native of Los Angeles and currently live in Denver, Colorado with his wife and daughter.
On his birthday, August 16, at age 32, he flew to India. A mishap caused his backpack to not make the flight on a brief transit stop from Sri Lanka to Southern India. He spent two frustrating hours in the Trivandrum airport lining up his backpack with hopes it would show up a few days later.
Resigned to the fact that there was nothing he could do, he took his trusty India guide and asked an auto rickshaw driver take him to the Hotel Blue Sea. As he was whisked through the balmy palm lined, slow paced, exotic streets, he completely forgot about his backpack. In that moment, his life had changed forever.
From there he met a French girl some weeks later in Jaipur, India. They spent only five days together and said goodbye never really knowing they would see each other again. They did, as she is now his wife and they have a beautiful eighteen year old daughter.
Mark is originally from Los Angeles and he and his family live in Denver, Colorado.
Overland is a result of a many of his adventures and a vivid imagination.
Levy is a native of Los Angeles and currently live in Denver, Colorado with his wife and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 31, 2022
I have watched quite a few romantic flicks set in the backdrop of war torn regions but haven't come across many novels on the same subject. As I am not a huge fan of chasing people and also the cheesy love tales, the blurb dint intrigue me much as it gave me an impression of the same. Notwithstanding I decided to pick it as the cover really appealed me.
The story revolves around Danny who is planning to get hitched to his financee Heather but just when he thought his life is all set ,he receives a letter from his lady love and was devastated to know that she has decided to move on with a bizarre reason behind the same. In a bid to reclaim his love for her ,he travels all the way and encounter her in eastern Europe. They spend time mulling over their decision and future life over their journey to Afghanistan (now Taliban) but things will never be the same in near future.
What happens next? Do they reconcile? Grab the novel to find out
As most will agree , the novel premise does seem cliche but what still makes it likeable is the smooth soothing narration with amazing description of characters and places by the author. The usage of words and setting is brilliant and the readers feel like being at the same place where the event is unfolding. The cover feels like a fairy tale and is magical to say the least. Only if the plot could have been better and more realistic the book would have been excellent.
Overall read it for its aesthetic appeal. Certainly a visual delight.
The story revolves around Danny who is planning to get hitched to his financee Heather but just when he thought his life is all set ,he receives a letter from his lady love and was devastated to know that she has decided to move on with a bizarre reason behind the same. In a bid to reclaim his love for her ,he travels all the way and encounter her in eastern Europe. They spend time mulling over their decision and future life over their journey to Afghanistan (now Taliban) but things will never be the same in near future.
What happens next? Do they reconcile? Grab the novel to find out
As most will agree , the novel premise does seem cliche but what still makes it likeable is the smooth soothing narration with amazing description of characters and places by the author. The usage of words and setting is brilliant and the readers feel like being at the same place where the event is unfolding. The cover feels like a fairy tale and is magical to say the least. Only if the plot could have been better and more realistic the book would have been excellent.
Overall read it for its aesthetic appeal. Certainly a visual delight.
September 7, 2009
Sara Wolf Stevens' Review of Overland
What a magical story! Mark not only gives us a story about love, he also provides action, adventure, and suspense. I found this book to flow as I turned each page and was taken away to far away places by Mark's vivid descriptions and incorporation of historical events. I would highly recommend this book to fans of all genres for its appeal to entertain the reader and keep you hooked all the way to the end.
From Jennifer Foust:
"Your story was so intoxicating...your writing so picturesque without being wordy, the locales were postcard perfect, you really not just painted the image with your words, but I could hear the sounds and smell the scents of each scene that you described...I really felt as though I was there, as though I was Danny. I adore Emily, even the briefly introduced Anna. That's what I mean, you described each character, that they became people in my world. I even found myself weeping at the Tea Garden when they embrace at the end. And although you realistically described the horrific personal tradgies of war, I loved the way the doctors and towns folks were united and had the intimate relationships that this environment created. And you made it realistic but not gory where you want to skip thru it, I wanted to read every word because even with the bad you worked in a bit of compassion/good over evil/humanity at it's best a the time when it was it's worst. And the village story where Emily and Danny have their hut was such a romantic and perfectly time respite from the realistic war. From the birth then it went to the war and threat of death but ended in the escape...I just didn't want to put it down but at the same time I didn't want to read it too fast because each section was so wonderful I didn't want it to end. Your story has everything...one minute I was laughing, then teary-eyed. This would make one heck of a movie, like "The Notebook" quality movie.
From Lindsey Landis:
"Mark, I just finished your book! What a page-turner! You did a fantastic job! "
What a magical story! Mark not only gives us a story about love, he also provides action, adventure, and suspense. I found this book to flow as I turned each page and was taken away to far away places by Mark's vivid descriptions and incorporation of historical events. I would highly recommend this book to fans of all genres for its appeal to entertain the reader and keep you hooked all the way to the end.
From Jennifer Foust:
"Your story was so intoxicating...your writing so picturesque without being wordy, the locales were postcard perfect, you really not just painted the image with your words, but I could hear the sounds and smell the scents of each scene that you described...I really felt as though I was there, as though I was Danny. I adore Emily, even the briefly introduced Anna. That's what I mean, you described each character, that they became people in my world. I even found myself weeping at the Tea Garden when they embrace at the end. And although you realistically described the horrific personal tradgies of war, I loved the way the doctors and towns folks were united and had the intimate relationships that this environment created. And you made it realistic but not gory where you want to skip thru it, I wanted to read every word because even with the bad you worked in a bit of compassion/good over evil/humanity at it's best a the time when it was it's worst. And the village story where Emily and Danny have their hut was such a romantic and perfectly time respite from the realistic war. From the birth then it went to the war and threat of death but ended in the escape...I just didn't want to put it down but at the same time I didn't want to read it too fast because each section was so wonderful I didn't want it to end. Your story has everything...one minute I was laughing, then teary-eyed. This would make one heck of a movie, like "The Notebook" quality movie.
From Lindsey Landis:
"Mark, I just finished your book! What a page-turner! You did a fantastic job! "
October 10, 2023
"Overland" by Mark Stephen Levy transports readers on a thrilling journey, blending traveling adventures with a personal love story and the backdrop of war and history. The protagonist, Danny Benson, embarks on a compelling odyssey, desperately searching for his lost love, Heather, riding the Magic Bus from Afghanistan to Kathmandu. As the pages turn swiftly, Danny's magnetic personality and determination grip the reader, keeping them engrossed in his quest and the unanswered questions surrounding their relationship.
Levy's storytelling mastery shines through, intertwining unexpected circumstances that irrevocably alter Danny's life. The novel delves into the complexities of relationships, the impact of historical events like the Soviet invasion, and the resilience of the human spirit amidst adversity. The encounters with Heather in Kabul set the stage for a poignant exploration of their past and the uncertain future that lies ahead, against the backdrop of a war-torn nation.
The book effortlessly captures the essence of each country Danny traverses, painting vivid scenes of natural beauty and daily struggles faced by the local populace. The narrative is a roller-coaster ride of emotions, seamlessly blending excitement, danger, sorrow, and joy. Levy's ability to infuse romance amidst the chaos and drama showcases the author's expertise in crafting a captivating plot that resonates with readers.
"Overland" is a literary work that embraces adventure, historical fiction, and romance, making it a must-read for a diverse audience. The novel's colorful portrayal and unforgettable storytelling conjure a world that beckons to be adapted to the silver screen, akin to iconic classics. In its captivating journey, "Overland" proves as entertaining as GONE WITH THE WIND, as romantic as JERRY MAGUIRE, and as dramatic as THE DEER HUNTER. A triumph in storytelling, this book leaves a lasting imprint on readers, urging them to reflect on love, perseverance, and the undeniable impacts of history on our lives.
Levy's storytelling mastery shines through, intertwining unexpected circumstances that irrevocably alter Danny's life. The novel delves into the complexities of relationships, the impact of historical events like the Soviet invasion, and the resilience of the human spirit amidst adversity. The encounters with Heather in Kabul set the stage for a poignant exploration of their past and the uncertain future that lies ahead, against the backdrop of a war-torn nation.
The book effortlessly captures the essence of each country Danny traverses, painting vivid scenes of natural beauty and daily struggles faced by the local populace. The narrative is a roller-coaster ride of emotions, seamlessly blending excitement, danger, sorrow, and joy. Levy's ability to infuse romance amidst the chaos and drama showcases the author's expertise in crafting a captivating plot that resonates with readers.
"Overland" is a literary work that embraces adventure, historical fiction, and romance, making it a must-read for a diverse audience. The novel's colorful portrayal and unforgettable storytelling conjure a world that beckons to be adapted to the silver screen, akin to iconic classics. In its captivating journey, "Overland" proves as entertaining as GONE WITH THE WIND, as romantic as JERRY MAGUIRE, and as dramatic as THE DEER HUNTER. A triumph in storytelling, this book leaves a lasting imprint on readers, urging them to reflect on love, perseverance, and the undeniable impacts of history on our lives.
August 5, 2022
Mark Stephen Levy's
OVERLAND
#action #adventure #romance
___
On the day of his last medical school exam, Danny Benson receives a Dear John letter from his fiancé Heather.
In it, she writes that the engagement is off.
Why?
She's flown to London to meet up with her friends and ride the Magic Bus, traveling overland to Kathmandu Nepal.
The postmark is dated two weeks earlier.
With his plans shattered and a sudden urgency, Danny instinctively knows what he has to do: set out on a journey thousands of miles from home in search of her.
Just one last conversation stands in the way of either rekindling their relationship or get the closure to move on with his life.
When he inexplicably runs into Heather crossing continents, they spend the entire ride debating whether to stay together or break up forever.
Arriving in town and exhausted from their long bus trip and long-drawn-out conversation, fate decides for them. Instead of resolution, their decisive moment materializes when they collide with history.
___
📍This is a story about war, love, travel, adventure, heartbreak & finding true love. Yes it does have a happy ever after but it does leave one teary eyed & others with a heartbreak.
They say travel the world as much as you can if you want to experience the true essence of life, if you want to learn from life. In this story, we travel along with Danny who pursues Heather, his love, passionately but the catch here is, does he end up having her in his life or does the travel, the war & life as it happens, make him realise something else which takes him away from Heather, the Mirage he was following like crazy?
What are the various life lessons, wisdom, learnings, treasures he explores till the very end, when he gets what he was looking for all along, is interesting to note.
A medium sized (bigger than normal), around 250+ pages divided into two parts, this book is a slow paced read. A sequel looks like on the way.
OVERLAND
#action #adventure #romance
___
On the day of his last medical school exam, Danny Benson receives a Dear John letter from his fiancé Heather.
In it, she writes that the engagement is off.
Why?
She's flown to London to meet up with her friends and ride the Magic Bus, traveling overland to Kathmandu Nepal.
The postmark is dated two weeks earlier.
With his plans shattered and a sudden urgency, Danny instinctively knows what he has to do: set out on a journey thousands of miles from home in search of her.
Just one last conversation stands in the way of either rekindling their relationship or get the closure to move on with his life.
When he inexplicably runs into Heather crossing continents, they spend the entire ride debating whether to stay together or break up forever.
Arriving in town and exhausted from their long bus trip and long-drawn-out conversation, fate decides for them. Instead of resolution, their decisive moment materializes when they collide with history.
___
📍This is a story about war, love, travel, adventure, heartbreak & finding true love. Yes it does have a happy ever after but it does leave one teary eyed & others with a heartbreak.
They say travel the world as much as you can if you want to experience the true essence of life, if you want to learn from life. In this story, we travel along with Danny who pursues Heather, his love, passionately but the catch here is, does he end up having her in his life or does the travel, the war & life as it happens, make him realise something else which takes him away from Heather, the Mirage he was following like crazy?
What are the various life lessons, wisdom, learnings, treasures he explores till the very end, when he gets what he was looking for all along, is interesting to note.
A medium sized (bigger than normal), around 250+ pages divided into two parts, this book is a slow paced read. A sequel looks like on the way.
August 3, 2022
📘 OVERLAND
AUTHOR- Mark Stephen Levy
PUBLISHER- White Falcon Publishing
PUBLISHED ON- 22 June, 2022 (latest edition)
GENRE- Romance
RATING- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
" IT MIGHT TAKE A YEAR,
IT MIGHT TAKE A DAY.
BUT WHAT'S MEANT TO BE WILL ALWAYS FIND ITS WAY"
ABOUT AUTHOR- Author of Overland, American Maharajah and Tibetan spring. Added portion of his traveling adventures into the books.
BOOK DESCRIPTION- Storyline of Danny and Heather with touch of travel, love, history and adventure.
BOOK REVIEW-
Story of Danny and Heather, who are engaged and finally planning to get hitched. Danny just wanted to start his residency after medical school completion and settle down with Heather. Unfortunately Danny receives a letter from Heather on his final exam day stating that the engagement is off. As Heather was going to London and she will travel overland on the Magic bus to Kathmandu. Letter left Danny in devastated state and he decides to ho after his love so travels all the way to her and get encountered with her in East Europe. Together they traveled to Afghanistan debating on whether to stay or depart for forever.
Emily, girl from different timezone story. Danny met her in childhood at his cousins place, two were in love but circumstances departed them. In current time zone Danny again met Emily at local hospital while serving patients as Emily worked there as nurse. Two started to bond again but history repeats and they drifted away.
Will Danny tell Heather about his past?
Who will be the forever partner of Danny - Heather or Emily?
Sublimate your curiosity with your own copy of book!!
Climax is scripted with grace and thought. Moments were descriptive in very realistic and romantic way.
Looking forward for more from Author!!👏✍️
*******************************
MAGICAL STORY!!
*******************************
ALL VIEWS AND OPINIONS ARE OF MY OWN AND HONEST.
AUTHOR- Mark Stephen Levy
PUBLISHER- White Falcon Publishing
PUBLISHED ON- 22 June, 2022 (latest edition)
GENRE- Romance
RATING- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
" IT MIGHT TAKE A YEAR,
IT MIGHT TAKE A DAY.
BUT WHAT'S MEANT TO BE WILL ALWAYS FIND ITS WAY"
ABOUT AUTHOR- Author of Overland, American Maharajah and Tibetan spring. Added portion of his traveling adventures into the books.
BOOK DESCRIPTION- Storyline of Danny and Heather with touch of travel, love, history and adventure.
BOOK REVIEW-
Story of Danny and Heather, who are engaged and finally planning to get hitched. Danny just wanted to start his residency after medical school completion and settle down with Heather. Unfortunately Danny receives a letter from Heather on his final exam day stating that the engagement is off. As Heather was going to London and she will travel overland on the Magic bus to Kathmandu. Letter left Danny in devastated state and he decides to ho after his love so travels all the way to her and get encountered with her in East Europe. Together they traveled to Afghanistan debating on whether to stay or depart for forever.
Emily, girl from different timezone story. Danny met her in childhood at his cousins place, two were in love but circumstances departed them. In current time zone Danny again met Emily at local hospital while serving patients as Emily worked there as nurse. Two started to bond again but history repeats and they drifted away.
Will Danny tell Heather about his past?
Who will be the forever partner of Danny - Heather or Emily?
Sublimate your curiosity with your own copy of book!!
Climax is scripted with grace and thought. Moments were descriptive in very realistic and romantic way.
Looking forward for more from Author!!👏✍️
*******************************
MAGICAL STORY!!
*******************************
ALL VIEWS AND OPINIONS ARE OF MY OWN AND HONEST.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2022
Overland
By
Mark Stephen Levy
Rating:5/5
Description/review:
👉Talking about the title of the book, the title of the book is really so interesting to read.
👉The cover is appealing and attractive as well.Writing style is quite appreciable .
On the day of his last medical school exam, Danny Benson receives a Dear John letter from his fiancé Heather. In it, she writes that the engagement is off. Why? She's flown to London to meet up with her friends and ride the Magic Bus, traveling overland to Kathmandu Nepal. The postmark is dated two weeks earlier.With his plans shattered and a sudden urgency, Danny instinctively knows what he has to do: set out on a journey thousands of miles from home in search of her. Just one last conversation stands in the way of either rekindling their relationship or get the closure to move on with his life.When he inexplicably runs into Heather crossing continents, they spend the entire ride debating whether to stay together or break up forever. Arriving in town and exhausted from their long bus trip and long-drawn-out conversation, fate decides for them. Instead of resolution, their decisive moment materializes when they collide with history.
For book link:
https://www.amazon.com/Overland-Mark-...
Wow! What a book! I am in love with the book
For complete read do order the book on @amazondotin @amazondotcom
👉I just loved reading the book and will recommended to everyone ....
Happy reading!..
By
Mark Stephen Levy
Rating:5/5
Description/review:
👉Talking about the title of the book, the title of the book is really so interesting to read.
👉The cover is appealing and attractive as well.Writing style is quite appreciable .
On the day of his last medical school exam, Danny Benson receives a Dear John letter from his fiancé Heather. In it, she writes that the engagement is off. Why? She's flown to London to meet up with her friends and ride the Magic Bus, traveling overland to Kathmandu Nepal. The postmark is dated two weeks earlier.With his plans shattered and a sudden urgency, Danny instinctively knows what he has to do: set out on a journey thousands of miles from home in search of her. Just one last conversation stands in the way of either rekindling their relationship or get the closure to move on with his life.When he inexplicably runs into Heather crossing continents, they spend the entire ride debating whether to stay together or break up forever. Arriving in town and exhausted from their long bus trip and long-drawn-out conversation, fate decides for them. Instead of resolution, their decisive moment materializes when they collide with history.
For book link:
https://www.amazon.com/Overland-Mark-...
Wow! What a book! I am in love with the book
For complete read do order the book on @amazondotin @amazondotcom
👉I just loved reading the book and will recommended to everyone ....
Happy reading!..
July 23, 2021
This could have been a more enjoyable read (the story was not bad), had the author taken the time to have his book edited/revised. Too many spelling and other types of errors (with the first one on page 1) really put me off, sadly...
August 28, 2013
The Overland is an adventurous novel by Mark Stephen Levy published in 2011.
In story of the books revolves around the life of three main characters Danny, Heather and Emily. The story line actually swings around different time lines from 1969 to 2010 and different location of the world. The main three characters are from 1969 part.
Danny first met Emily at his cousin Cathleen's place and they liked each other but circumstances separates them at that moment. The story then flows to 1979. Danny is now a doctor and has Heather in his life whom he wants to marry. But their relationship was also going from a tough patch. Suddenly Heather leaves Danny and decides to go for a magic bus ride to Kathmandu with her friends. Danny with some hope and some confusion in his mind decides to follow her there. Danny's travel continues through different countries and at last he finds Heather in Istanbul. They together goes to Afghanistan. At that very moment Soviet army attacks Afghanistan and they get separated again while went to buy Christmas gift for each other. Heather somehow makes her way out that county but an injured Danny gets stuck in the turmoil in-spite of his number of attempts to flee. He then meets Dr.Gulzar there and starts treating war victims in a local hospital. There to his surprise he meets Emily who is now a nurse. Their childhood love again starts to bond them together and they decides to flee Afghanistan together. Danny and Emily then comes to contact with Mustapha with the help of Anna. Mustapha provides them shelter and after a failed attempt to guide them out the country asks to wait until the end of winter. Their life goes on with time. At that very point Danny suddenly gets arrested by Soviet soldiers who also takes Emily away from him. Then with the help of Sargent Chernoff, Danny finally makes his way out via Tajikistan. He then goes to Washington D.C. There he meets Heather again who till now had no clue about Danny. Heather who thought Danny to be dead now falls in a dilemma whether to go back to Danny or to stay with her present love whom she met in Islamabad. But Danny who is now completely lost in the love for Emily tells Heather the truth and goes to Kathmandu to find her. At last he finds Emily down there at the end of the story.
The story line is very impressive and there are some pretty surprising twists and turns. The climax is scripted with grace and thought. The connection between different timeline is also well maintained thought the main part of the story is from past. There are some unfinished incidents also which I think is an indication of a possible sequel of the book. Overall a very entertaining book that will keep the interest going till the end and will leave with some good memories too.
In story of the books revolves around the life of three main characters Danny, Heather and Emily. The story line actually swings around different time lines from 1969 to 2010 and different location of the world. The main three characters are from 1969 part.
Danny first met Emily at his cousin Cathleen's place and they liked each other but circumstances separates them at that moment. The story then flows to 1979. Danny is now a doctor and has Heather in his life whom he wants to marry. But their relationship was also going from a tough patch. Suddenly Heather leaves Danny and decides to go for a magic bus ride to Kathmandu with her friends. Danny with some hope and some confusion in his mind decides to follow her there. Danny's travel continues through different countries and at last he finds Heather in Istanbul. They together goes to Afghanistan. At that very moment Soviet army attacks Afghanistan and they get separated again while went to buy Christmas gift for each other. Heather somehow makes her way out that county but an injured Danny gets stuck in the turmoil in-spite of his number of attempts to flee. He then meets Dr.Gulzar there and starts treating war victims in a local hospital. There to his surprise he meets Emily who is now a nurse. Their childhood love again starts to bond them together and they decides to flee Afghanistan together. Danny and Emily then comes to contact with Mustapha with the help of Anna. Mustapha provides them shelter and after a failed attempt to guide them out the country asks to wait until the end of winter. Their life goes on with time. At that very point Danny suddenly gets arrested by Soviet soldiers who also takes Emily away from him. Then with the help of Sargent Chernoff, Danny finally makes his way out via Tajikistan. He then goes to Washington D.C. There he meets Heather again who till now had no clue about Danny. Heather who thought Danny to be dead now falls in a dilemma whether to go back to Danny or to stay with her present love whom she met in Islamabad. But Danny who is now completely lost in the love for Emily tells Heather the truth and goes to Kathmandu to find her. At last he finds Emily down there at the end of the story.
The story line is very impressive and there are some pretty surprising twists and turns. The climax is scripted with grace and thought. The connection between different timeline is also well maintained thought the main part of the story is from past. There are some unfinished incidents also which I think is an indication of a possible sequel of the book. Overall a very entertaining book that will keep the interest going till the end and will leave with some good memories too.
December 31, 2012
Wasting a good story line that could have been built up to be a wonderful book, this story falls flat; devoid of good description, emotion or plots, with too many loose ends, further pulled down by middle school standard writing.
Read
August 22, 2009I think it's incredible
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews