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Broken Shadows

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Broken hearts and dark shadows, will love ever find its way back to them? Fifteen years ago, Heidi Aasar fled the country, hoping to make sense of the chaos that surrounded her. A burned ex-operative, she refuses to continue hiding in the shadows. She now has the chance to right the wrongs of her dark past. Determined to find a way to redeem herself, she must first fix the loose threads she left behind so long ago. A successful business owner, Nadim Mohamed Sharaf has done his best to move on after his heart was broken fifteen years ago. In his mind, he has everything he could ever want or need at his fingertips. Until the moment Heidi makes a sudden reappearance in his life. It’s then everything around him changes. A chain reaction of events soon turns Nadim and Heidi’s lives upside-down. Forced to confront the turmoil brewing between them, they must put aside their differences if they are to survive another day. The choices they’ll have to make will define the outcome of the lives they lead. Will they be able to overcome their painful and chaotic past? Or will the pain and heartache consume them in the long run?

176 pages, Paperback

Published April 8, 2016

23 people want to read

About the author

Tarek Refaat

10 books123 followers
إسمي طارق رفعت ، كاتب و روائي مصري من مواليد 1980 ، و لي مؤلفات باللغة العربية و الإنجليزية بداية من 2011 ،

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Maha.
288 reviews30 followers
May 13, 2017
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
What would a man do when the woman he loves is nowhere to be found?  That is the question that bugged me when I first started reading Broken Shadows by Tarek Refaat.

Nadim and Heidi are deeply in love. They have all the future to look forward to. But when Heidi suddenly leaves without notice that changes everything. However, the more perplexing thing to me was Nadim’s reaction! All what Nadim thought of was him being betrayed. He was drowned in bitterness and self-pity!! And I really thought “What man could have this reaction except a self-centered one?” I mean, what if she was in danger? What if she had been kidnapped or something?

Fifteen years later, Nadim is the successful partner in a booming IT company. He still thinks of Heidi and wonders how she could leave him that way. And just as Heidi had disappeared into thin air fifteen years ago, she’s back out of nowhere. Nadim has a job opening for the post of marketing manager at his company, and Heidi is applying for this post.

Feeling bitter and confused, Nadim interviews Heidi. All the unasked questions are still whirling in his mind. Yet he chooses not to ask, and moreover he chooses not to listen to any explanations. All he wants now for this encounter after fifteen years is to go as professional as possible. But with a sudden twist in events, all Nadim’s world is shattered and the adventure begins. Nothing is what Nadim thought it was!

This should have been a very interesting thriller if not for the handful of shortcomings. It actually had a very powerful start. The author had all the powerful elements for an excellent plot. With elements such as “the girl is nowhere to be found”, “long buried secrets”, “showing up after fifteen years”, “people are not who they say they are”, you name it… I couldn’t help thinking of many scenarios this plot could have taken. However, something went wrong. The author for some reason or the other went into a very flat plot lacking depth and complexity. The events were unconvincing with many technical inaccuracies. Moreover, he went for espionage which is a very rich genre that requires a lot of complexity. You don’t expect secret agents to be acting in very plain and simple ways and falling into naïve mistakes. When I start reading an espionage thriller, I always expect an entangled web of events and multiple threads that the author is the only one who knows when and how to pull them. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with Broken Shadows.

The characters weren’t well developed.  I believe the author should have worked more on his characters putting more life into them so that we can see them as rea people. Nadim, the protagonist, was one of the characters I disliked most. He was always clueless popping up the most irrelevant questions all the time. I was fed up with him asking such as “What are we doing?”, “Where are we going?” all the time. I even wished someone would shoot him in the events so that I could read happily ever after without him in the plot. The most astonishing thing is that Nadim was supposed to be a tech savvy guy, being the well experienced owner of an IT company. However, he seemed clueless about the basics of communications tracking. Of course he was more obsessed with his irrelevant questions (Sad sigh!) Then we come to Heidi, smarty smart, who kept saying how smart she was without acting the least like it. The point is, this plot required much more characters with very engaging contributions to it. Real characters. People are not either black or white. There are so many shades of grey in between, and in these shades there exists the real essence of life.

I still have to give the author some credit. He is an ambitious talented writer who is always writing something. In addition to his books, he is the author of many short stories and articles. He had the talent and patience to write three book in a foreign language which is something I quite admire. If there were some linguistic or structural mistakes, they were nothing a good editor won’t fix.

I believe Tarek Refaat is an author whom we can expect a lot more from. He has the required ambition and talent to do that. I will be waiting for his next book which I hope will be much better than this one.

For all my reviews please visit http://www.meshascorner.net
Profile Image for Hiba.
1,072 reviews417 followers
February 7, 2017
I'm really very grateful to #Ketabablelnoom for sending me one of the copies that were part of the giveaway, 'cause I really enjoyed the book, in some passages I almost forgot that the scenes are supposed to occur in Egypt, it had a hollywoodian touch in it, it will certainly make a great movie.
The simplicity of its language and the well composed plot with the writer's way in shifting from scene to scene to create suspens.
It was really enjoyable.
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,242 reviews2,345 followers
July 15, 2016
Broken Shadows by Tarek Refaat is a fast paced novel that will have you reading the book in one sitting! The characters are believable and realistic. The plot has lots of twists and turns and it moves fast! The book has action, adventure, suspense, romance, and more. A fast exciting read. Loved it. I was given this book for a honest review and it in no way effected my rating or review content.
Profile Image for May.
900 reviews117 followers
November 7, 2016
For the most part, I did enjoy the plot and the way it developed. However, the introduction seemed belabored and heavy handed. Nadim repeatedly told us, rather than demonstrate to us, that he was conflicted by Heidi's return & distracted by her presence.

Actually, I felt that Nadim's character was stilted and awkward. I think the author did a much better job of unveiling Heidi's character as the story developed. I found Nour and Ashraf to be excellent foils. I wasn't quite sure where Nour's excessive attention to detail was leading and was convinced that Ashraf was the lead in this plot. I did not see that he was the puppet until the phone call to Hussein.
I was as frustrated as Nadim with the lack of explanation . It felt artificial. A little bit each time he asked would have been a bit more exciting / intriguing.

That being said, I am glad that I kept reading. There is a good story here!!!
Profile Image for iamnotabookworm.
402 reviews16 followers
May 18, 2017
I got this from the author through Goodreads a few months back but have only gotten to read this recently. This is a fast-paced story and I was done in one sitting.

A guy left heartbroken and without any explanation. The girl came back and end up right on the guy's office for a job interview. Spell A-W-K-W-A-R-D. A romance in the middle of an Egyptian intrigue and espionage. Will these two live happily-ever-after?

What's unique about this story is the setting. This is set in Egypt. A land of great history and a cradle of civilization. I think it's an exotic place, rich with culture and tradition. It gives color and a rich backdrop for the story.

The story is not so unique but it has a character of its own. I think the male protagonist Nadim, is defined by his being hung up on his last relationship. He can't seem to move on from the rejection. He needed closure and answers to the many questions that have been plaguing him. The reasons for Heidi for leaving Nadim made a very good twist to this supposedly love story. From the time Heidi reappeared in Nadim's life, the story takes a turn into a deadly chase where Nadim is caught in the middle.

It's actually a good story but there seems to be something missing. The pacing is very good and the fact that it can be finished in one go is a plus. I think I agree with one of the reviews that said "this would turn out a lot better after another phase of editing". I think the start was a bit forced. It seemed to not flow naturally. Nadim's character was not someone I would sympathize or empathize with. I think his character needed more depth or background so the readers will be able to connect with him. On the other hand, Heidi's character is easier to understand and like. There was enough information and background to go with that lead to her decisions.

I give this 3/5 playing cards. The story is good but it needs polishing.

Thank you again, Tarek Refaat for the copy.


Freedom is not just about breaking away from everything and doing everything alone. Freedom is, to a great extent, trying to make the choices that suit you best so that you won't regret them.
- Tarek Refaat, Broken Shadows -
Profile Image for Dina M.hamdy.
46 reviews100 followers
July 8, 2017
قبل أي حاجة بشكر الكاتب على إهدائه الكتاب ليا عشان اقراه ممتنة جدا
^_^
الرواية كانت مسلية واتفاجأت بيها خصوصا بسبب التحول اللي حصل في الأحداث بعد الصفحة ال20 تقريبا ..
كان عندي انطباع عنها من وصف الجودريدز أو ال description
أنها رومانسية بحته ومش عارفة الحقيقة اذا كان ده مضلل ولا مقصود لكن لولا إني شفت فيديوهات للكاتب على انستجرام بيوصف فيه إن الرواية فيها كلام عن جواسيس ومغامرات كنت ح استغرب جدا اللي حصل وبالرغم من ده ف النقلة دي عجبتني الحقيقة بس مشكلتي معاها إنها اتأخرت حبتين وخصوصا إن عدد صفحات الكتاب مش كتير كلهم 117 أو 120 صفحة


لينك فيديو المراجعة على اليوتيوب
https://youtu.be/QenKhK4rtGw

لكن في العموم الأحداث ظريفة وممتعة ..
وحسيت إن الشخصيات النسائية أكثر حيوية فيها عن الشخصيات الذكورية وفكرتني بحاجتين أولا بفيلم
Wanted for Angelina Jolie & James McAvoy
وثانيا
بروايات نبيل فاروق رجل المستحيل
أوي بس هنا ح يبقى اسمها فتاة المستحيل .. مش عاوزة أحرق أحداث طبعا لكن العيب التاني اللي ضايقني كان بس في تكرار أجزاء من الحوار .
في النهاية بتمنى للكاتب التوفيق وبنتظر أعماله اللي جاية أكيد وبهنيه على اجتهاده الصراحة ، شكرا
:)

l Youtube Channel l Facebook Page l Blog l instagram l
Profile Image for Sarah (SoU) Yehia.
96 reviews83 followers
July 9, 2016
Okay.. It is worth mentioning that I finished this book in almost one setting..
Let's start with the details:
- The Pace: the book is truly fast paced and hence there is no chance that you would feel bored while reading it.
That being said..
- I think one of the things that the author could work on is building more background and backstories for the character which will make them seem more like a real people instead of characters in a book and hence making the reader care abut them..

- Also, some of the details mentioned I found a bit unbelievable like how a hardcore operative would leave important pieces of evidence scattered in the most random and insecure places.. that was a little bit hard to swallow for me..

I got to confess though that espionage literature is not really my thing however this author managed to grab my attention till the very end..
I am planning on reading "Ruptured".. Yet another book for the same author and let's see how it goes..
Profile Image for Gloria Antypowich.
Author 6 books45 followers
July 10, 2016
Tarek Refaat is a versatile author. I have read all three of his books--Ruptured, Ribbons and Heels and now Broken Shadows. The plot and storyline of each one is very different. Ruptured dealt with the pain of a woman who had been violated and how she struggled to overcome the stigma of what had happened, as well as how her fellow Egyptian woman treated her. Ribbons and Heels dealt with men and women who were seeking to find trust and love in relationships in his home country. While the customs of different societies are different, human beings are all basically the same emotionally. I am impressed by his insight into the emotional side of the female species, and how he deals with different situations.

Broken Shadows was a very different read and I also enjoyed it a great deal. I believe Tarek Refaat could become known as one of those truly great authors in time. I recommend all of his books.
Profile Image for سارة أمير.
Author 0 books16 followers
June 16, 2016
A page turner, and with its easy language you simply won't be able to put the book down easily once u start reading it.

Being a spy novel, we will expect the usual action scenes that might be repetitive, however that wasn't the case in broken shadows; Refaat succeeded in blending those expected scenes in a way that made me only see how they made perfect sense.

Unlike usual spy novels, there's an interesting emotional depth given to the characters which would make readers who are not big fans of this genre, find something for their taste as well.
Profile Image for Jeff Dawson.
Author 23 books107 followers
December 23, 2016
Will be a lot better after another phase of editing

The plot centers around two old lovers, Nadim and Heidi. For reasons unknown to Nadim, fifteen years ago, Heide abruptly called off their relationship and disappeared. Shed reappears applying for a marketing job at Nadim’s firm. Deja-vu or coincidence.? You be he judge.

What editing issues?
Name tags are over the top. Every sentence chronicles who’s talking. When it’s only two people, let the scene play out and stop hammering the reader with the names. Interrupts the flow.

There are a few sentences that need to be dressed up.

Plot wise it’s fast paced and exciting. The only criticism I came across is where Heidi and Nadim have been captured. She is tied up and one the evil-doers is about to crush her hand with a mallet. He unties her hand and then all hell breaks loose as she frees herself from what looks like a “Bondism escape.” I couldn’t help thinking, “if she was tied up and only her left hand restraint has loosened, how in the hell did she not only escape but manage to beat the hell out of her two captors? Hmm.

Overall, this a great story. With a little more attention, it’s a four star work.

Three stars
Profile Image for Patricia Gitt.
18 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2017
Title: A love lost and found amid Egyptian intrigue
Broken Shadows begins with the abandonment of one man by his lover, then confronted with her reappearance many years later.
For years he has kept his heartbreak hidden. Then suddenly, his lost love reappears and applies for a job at his company. This meeting begins a fast-paced race to not only find out why she disappeared, but how she got him into trouble with enemies of the Egyptian government.
A tale of love from a man’s point-of-view. Why did she leave him all those years ago? What is she involved in? Questions that reverberate throughout this tale of espionage culminating in their race to escape from forces of evil.
A page turner with strong plot and characters.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...
Author 1 book3 followers
August 29, 2016
I read with great pleasure the spy/crime thriller Broken Shadows by Tarek Refaat. It was a quick read, mainly because once you start you will have difficulty in putting it down again. One of the captivating aspects of the story is that it takes a non traditional approach; rather than the classic damsel in distress, Heidi (the heroine) is the one that causes distress for others.
The pace is quick and the story progression flows naturally and you will find yourself grabbing the edge of your seat more without realizing it. The author shifts seamlessly between flashbacks and current events, providing the background to the story without disengaging the reader from current events.
There are some moments where you will wince at what the characters are experiencing. One of the unintended results of reading this book is that you will develop suspicion towards carpet cleaners, but I will say no more about that.
Overall a recommended read.

Profile Image for Juli.
1,536 reviews144 followers
February 7, 2017
First off all THANKS to Tarek to send me his book to a honest review

I started the book and read it in one night.
The history is extremely catching and I can't stop reading it.
Its short but with a good argument.
Definitly I recommended this book to the ones who like storys of spies.
Its a history that have rommance, action, drama and adventure.
The only problem that I have was that I don't connect with the main character, but I was able to enjoy the same story.

I recommended this book!
Profile Image for Barbara Gartman.
192 reviews5 followers
May 9, 2016
LOVE LOVE LOVE Broken Shadows!!! This is a very engaging story. I was engrossed in the world Tarek created from the very first page and struggled to put the book down for even one second. In my opinion this is a one of a kind book and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to get lost within the pages. Broken Shadows and Tarek are now on my favorites list. I highly recommend purchasing and reading Broken Shadows immediately!
4 reviews
January 17, 2017
Interesting story of a civilian falled in love with a secret agent. she came back applying for job in his company after fifteen years of leaving him without letting a trace behind. After she'd been recruited, his life turned up into the miss. At the end, she finished what she began (getting Her vengeance) and then reunited with her lover.
Good luck more Mr Tariq, and thank you very much for the gift, I do really appreciate it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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