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Mists of the Serengeti

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Winner, 2017 Indie Reader Discovery Awards, Fiction

Once in Africa, I kissed a king...

"And just like that, in an old red barn at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, I discovered the elusive magic I had only ever glimpsed between the pages of great love stories. It fluttered around me like a newborn butterfly and settled in a corner of my heart. I held my breath, afraid to exhale for fear it would slip out, never to be found again.”

When a bomb explodes in a mall in East Africa, its aftershocks send two strangers on a collision course that neither one sees coming.

Jack Warden, a divorced coffee farmer in Tanzania, loses his only daughter. An ocean away, in the English countryside, Rodel Emerson loses her only sibling.

Two ordinary people, bound by a tragic afternoon, set out to achieve the extraordinary, as they make three stops to rescue three children across the vast plains of the Serengeti—children who are worth more dead than alive.

But even if they beat the odds, another challenge looms at the end of the line. Can they survive yet another loss—this time of a love that’s bound to slip through their fingers, like the mists that dissipate in the light of the sun?

“Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it or hold on to it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought.”

A blend of romance and women’s fiction, Mists of The Serengeti is inspired by true events and contains emotional triggers, including the death of a child. Not recommended for sensitive readers. Standalone, contemporary fiction.

360 pages, ebook

First published January 31, 2017

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About the author

Leylah Attar

13 books2,687 followers
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 (for Moti on the Water) and the Indie Reader Discovery Award (for Mists of The Serengeti), Leylah writes unique, emotionally compelling stories that range from rom-com to dark romantic suspense.

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5 stars
3,400 (63%)
4 stars
1,220 (22%)
3 stars
485 (9%)
2 stars
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83 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,187 reviews
Profile Image for Aestas Book Blog.
1,059 reviews75.2k followers
February 8, 2017
::: FIRST 6 STAR RATING OF THE YEAR!!!!! :::


WOW! WOW! W.O.W!!!! If you've been looking for a story that will sweep you away, one that you will feel with all of your heart and soul, one that will take on a journey unlike any you've been on, one that'll break your heart and then put it back together, then this is the book for you!!! From the moment I heard about it, I knew I had to read it. And now, having finished it, I can say with full certainty that THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. Leylah Attar's breathtaking writing depicts vivid imagery with evocative prose that immerses you in the story and makes you feel every moment in your heart. Reading this book was a reaffirmation in everything that makes me love reading. It is a profoundly beautiful and unparalleled reading experience that I can't recommend highly enough!

Once in Africa, I kissed a king...

"And just like that, in an old red barn at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, I discovered the elusive magic I had only ever glimpsed between the pages of great love stories. It fluttered around me like a newly born butterfly and settled in a corner of my heart. I held my breath, afraid to exhale for fear it would slip out, never to be found again.”

When a bomb explodes in a mall in East Africa, its aftershocks send two strangers on a collision course that neither one sees coming.

Jack Warden, a divorced coffee farmer in Tanzania, loses his only daughter. An ocean away, in the English countryside, Rodel Emerson loses her only sibling.

Two ordinary people, bound by a tragic afternoon, set out to achieve the extraordinary, as they make three stops to rescue three children across the vast plains of the Serengeti—children who are worth more dead than alive.

But even if they beat the odds, another challenge looms at the end of the line. Can they survive yet another loss—this time of a love that’s bound to slip through their fingers, like the mists that dissipate in the light of the sun?

“Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it or hold on to it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought.”


I found myself smiling so often as I read, not because of what was happening in the story, but from the sheer joy of reading such a beautifully written book. Over and over again, I'd read a certain passage and just stop, take a deep breath, highlight it, and then read it again -- savoring the words. It usually takes me a couple hours to read a book, but it took me almost three days to read this one because I tried to read it as slowly as I could -- I wasn't just reading this book, I was experiencing the story. I believe that it's a reflection of an incredibly perceptive author when they not only weave together a great story, but also show a keen understanding of human nature through their words.

There’s an unspoken rule about how long you can stare like that at another person. No one says it, but we all know it. There is the quick glance we give to strangers, the acknowledgement we exchange with people we know, the private joke, the silent acceptance, the lover’s gaze, the parent’s concern. Our eyes are always different, always speaking. They meet and look away, a thousand nuances expressed without words. And then there’s this. Whatever was passing between Jack and me in the middle of that ancient caldera. Perhaps it was because we didn’t know exactly where we git — two people bound by a sunny, tragic afternoon, retreating from the edge of attraction — lives that were oceans apart, breaths that lingered in the space between.


I've been asked a lot what 'kind' of book this is. It feels wrong to try to label it but I can tell you that this book fully fits the definition of a Romance genre novel (complete with an ending that'll make your heart soar), but it's more than that. It's a love story set against a backdrop of a devastating loss, an exhilarating journey, and a thrilling race to save a group of endangered children. It's a story of loss and love, courage and sacrifice, and the full circle of healing. But ultimately, this is absolutely a breathtakingly beautiful romance unlike any other I've ever read.

“How is he now?”
“Intimidating. Sad, angry, bitter. I think he might have a death wish. He was standing under a tree in the storm, by his daughter’s grave, like he wanted to be struck down right next to her.”


“In a thousand lives, I would die a thousand deaths to save her. Over and over and over again.”


It was barely a brush, but his entire body tightened in reaction. I felt the quieting of his breath on my face, the jolt of his thigh against my body, the crackle of awareness where his bare arms touched mine. I felt the kind of chemistry I’d been holding out for, the kind that ignites all your senses, so that you’re more alive in that one second than in all the moments, in all the days before.


Losing someone you love tunes you in to the fragility of life — of moments and memories and music. It makes you want to embrace all the foolish, inarticulate longings that pull at your heart. It makes you want to grasp un-played notes of un-played symphonies. Perhaps that was why Jack and I clung to that moment, eyes locked, breaths stilled, listening to something that only we could hear, something that lived in the fleeting space between hello and goodbye.


As someone who has never visited Africa, I loved seeing the country through Rodel's eyes. And despite the intensely emotional backdrop to this story, and the beauty of the culture, I also found myself chuckling over and over again.

To his credit, Jack kept a straight face.
I ripped into the biscuits before he got in the car.
“Not a fan of the local cuisine?” he asked.
“Not a fan of roasted entrails, local or otherwise.”


But on a more serious note... Certain scenes just gave me these full body CHILLS!! Oh my gosh, there's this one particular scene in the mist by the tent when ****** happens and seriously, I got shivers from head to toe, tears sprang to my eyes, and these waves of emotion just kept coursing through me. ALL. THE. FEEEEEEEELS!!!

The first half of the book is beautiful but a little slower paced -- I read it over the course of two separate days. But the second half -- OH MY HOLY HEAVENS!!!! I sat down at my kitchen table in the morning expecting to just read a chapter or two and was literally swept away by the rest of the story. I cancelled my day plans the minute I started crying and I honestly wavered between crying and almost crying from that point until the very end of the book. The more I read, the harder I cried, and the more deeply I fell in complete and utter LOVE with this book. ------- I want to stress though that THIS IS NOT A SAD STORY. Yes, there are painful scenes, but these were not tears of sadness. They were just an overflow of the emotions that this story was drawing out of me.

His gaze traveled over my face for a long time, still beat before falling on my neck.
“I can’t bear the thought of you leaving,” he said to the mark his teeth had left there.
“I stop breathing every time I think about it.”


I felt this story in my soul. I will remember it forever. One day, when enough time has passed for the story to be fresh again, I know I will come back and read it all over again to experience the book magic again.

I rate books out of 5 stars. 5 stars is pure perfection in my eyes and is generally the highest rating I will give. However, I reserve a very rare 6 star rating for books that are not only perfect to me but also pull an extraordinary amount of emotion from my heart. There are very few books that ever had as strong an emotional impact on me as this one did. In the last four years, I have only rated one or two books each year with my highest rating of 6 stars. But this book has undeniably earned that rating because I know I will carry this story with me for the rest of my life.

I wish I could explain to you what that voice does to me.
I wish I could explain to you how you make me feel.
I don’t think I’ll ever fall as hard and as fast for anyone, the way I fell for you.
I don’t think I’ll ever love anyone the way I love you.


I now have the book hangover of the century. I'm not ready to let this story go. I can't let it go. I want to keep reliving it, re-reading it. I want to experience this majestic love story over and over again and let it keep sinking deeper into my heart. Every time I re-read quotes, tears fill my eyes and the feels come flooding back -- the beauty, the love, the loss, the healing, all of it. In every way, this is an unforgettable story.

I knew that whenever I thought of love, it would have a face, a name, a voice. And I would hear its heart beating from inside a tent in the wilds of Africa.


It is a truly rare and precious thing to come across a story as powerful as this one -- as beautiful, as intensely emotional, as evocative and unique. This book represents the reason I love to read. It's the diamond in the rough. It's the book that, ten years later, you think of and your heart skips a beat. It's a master piece of storytelling. I hope Leylah Attar never writing books because as long as she keeps writing them, I will be reading them.

Please do yourself a favor and read this book. Set aside some time in your life to just immerse yourself in this story. It is an unparalleled reading experience you don't want to miss. I recommend it to everyone with all my heart!

Rating: 6 STARS!!!!! Standalone Romance/Women's Fiction.


Buy MISTS OF THE SERENGETI (Kindle)

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Profile Image for SueBee★bring me an alpha!★.
2,417 reviews14.8k followers
February 14, 2017
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Mists of Serengeti (stand-alone). An epic saga of loss, life, purpose & love!


Tragedy brought them together.

Coffee farmer Jack Warden lost his daughter.

Teacher Rodel Harris Emerson lost her sister.

Each coped with their losses differently.

A greater cause gave them purpose.

It was a mission with many challenges.

Through friendship passion burnt hot with the clock ticking.

They came to see how interwoven life truly is.


“Kissing Jack was like kissing a slumbering lion. He barely moved, but I could sense the raw power behind his restraint.”

Mists of Serengeti, told from dual POVs, is more than an epic love story. It deals with the fragility of life, the paradox of good versus evil, the healing power of love, the complexity of the universe and raises questions, prompts self-reflection and inspires activism.

Lyrically written in reads like a movie. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was turned into a movie! 6 stars!

“Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought.”

***
Hero: ★★★★★
Heroine: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★★
Storytelling: ★★★★★
Sexual tension: ★★★★★
Sex scenes: ★★★★★
Story ending: ★★★★★
******************************************
OVERALL RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angst: | HIGH FOCUS |
Darkness: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Humor: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Kink: | LOW FOCUS |
Romance: | HIGH FOCUS |
Sex frequency: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Suspense: | HIGH FOCUS |

Thank you everyone who participated in Shh… ARC(F)BR: https://goo.gl/tcb7tx

ARC provided to me by author Leylah Attar in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for ✦❋Arianna✦❋.
790 reviews2,560 followers
February 18, 2017
5 Stars!!



'Mists of the Serengeti' is poignant, beautiful, inspiring, unique and breathtaking. It is like nothing I’ve ever read before. It is purely and simply amazing. This thought-provoking and so stunningly written story touched me deeply. I finished this book days ago and I’m still thinking about it. It made me speechless and it made me feel. This book is epic from cover to cover. Needless to say, I can already tell that Leylah Attar’s newest release will be on my favorite shelf this year.


“And just like that, in an old red barn at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, I found the elusive magic I had glimpsed only between the pages of great love stories.”


Rodel ‘Ro’ Emerson is a teacher in England who is about to purchase her dream house, looking forward to finally have her place and find the stability she always wanted. Her life is irrevocably changed when she receives a call from Africa. She gets on a plane to Tanzania, hoping that Africa will bring her the peace she desperately needs. She decides to stay for three weeks, visit some places and try for the first time in her life to live properly, to see the world from a different perspective.


“In a thousand lives, I would die a thousand deaths to save her. Over and over and over again.”


Jack Warden is a ‘mzungu’, but his family has lived in Tanzania for generations. He has a coffee farm, one of the largest estates in the area. Recently Jack had lost the one thing that really ever mattered to him. He’s sad, angry, bitter, not wanting to live again. All he feels is guilt and so much agony and all he wants is to be left alone.


By some crazy twist of fate, Rodel and Jack’s paths cross. They are thrown into a hopeless situation trying to save each other and heal each other. What neither of them expects is to learn how to share their pain and grief, to learn the power of destiny and to fall in love with each other.


“The most profound, most memorable moments of life are the ones that make you feel.”


A story about redemption, healing, finding who you are and love, 'Mists of the Serengeti' is such an unforgettable read. It is, at times, hauntingly beautiful, heart-breaking and real, yet, at other times, so very heart-warming. I loved every single aspect of the story. I loved the magical, lyrical prose, the fascinating premise and captivating story-line. I loved the message, the epilogue which connects the whole story in such a fascinating way, the characters and I absolutely loved the epic romance between the hero and the heroine.


“You don’t always get what you want. Sometimes you get exactly what you need.”


Rodel and Jack’s story evoked so many emotions in me. From the prologue, it made me feel so much. Like I mentioned above, this compelling story was like nothing I’ve read before. The beautiful setting and the amazing descriptions were spectacularly done. I felt in love with Africa, with Tanzania, immediately. Leylah did such a wonderful job describing all these amazing places. I felt like I was there from the moment I started reading this fantastic book.


I loved the intricate plot, the progression of the story, the fantastic blend of suspense, action and romance. The supportive characters are as wonderful as the main ones. They are absolutely fascinating and vividly portrayed. As for the main characters – simply amazing. I loved both Rodel and Jack. They are incredibly well developed and complex - both flawed and tormented. My heart broke for both of them. I felt their pain and how lost they were at times, I felt their fears and insecurities.


“Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it or hold on to it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought.”


I absolutely loved Rodel and Jack together. The connection between them was palpable from the beginning of the novel. The epilogue, purely and simply, blew me away. It left me speechless. It definitely was one of the most original epilogues I’ve ever read.


If you are looking for a beautifully written, unique and poignant story that will make you think and feel, with two amazing, fantastically layered characters, then you must read this one.


"We are all connected. Taleenoi olngisoilechashur."





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Profile Image for Candace.
1,179 reviews4,553 followers
July 6, 2017
Telling the story of two people brought together by an unspeakable act of violence, 'Mists of the Serengeti' proves to be a heartfelt and emotional read. Listening to the Audible edition, I found it difficult to motivate myself to get out of my car once my commute was over. I lost myself in this story.

Rodel Emerson and Jack Warden meet in the wake of a terrorist attack. When a shopping mall in Africa is bombed, Jack's young daughter and Rodel's sister are among the dead. This prompts Rodel's trip to Tanzania to collect her sister's belongings and lay her to rest.

While going through her sister's things, Rodel stumbles across unexpected information. Always one for an adventure, her sister had agreed to help transport children safely across the country. In honor of her sister's memory, Rodel commits to complete the work that her sister started.

Soon she realizes that her sister was involved in a dangerous cat and mouse game. She was helping rescue albino children, who are highly sought after because it is believed that they possess special powers. They are often murdered and their body parts sold as key ingredients for witchcraft. These children are even sold by their own families because of the money that they can bring in. It was a horrifying reality that Rodel was not prepared for.

When Rodel ends up at Jack's home with a young girl in tow, his grandmother offers them sanctuary until the weather clears up. Unbeknownst to them at the time, this is the beginning of a great adventure. Despite his gruff demeanor and all-consuming grief, Jack's character won't let him send Rodel and the girl out into the African wild without protection. He knows that this foreigner is in over her head and has no idea of the danger that she's in.

Gradually, Jack and Rodel's attraction grows. They help each other through their grief. Each has to face their feelings of survivor's guilt and the what-ifs that haunt them. Meanwhile, they are on a life or death mission to try and save these hunted children, since they could not save their own loved ones on that tragic day.

'Mists of the Serengeti' was a touching and highly emotional story. I listened to the Audible version and it was well-narrated. The imagery was beautiful. I could envision the plains of Africa as if I were right there with Jack and Rodel.

Although there was plenty of tragedy, I was impressed with the author's ability to address such subject matter without letting it affect the overall mood of the book. It is easy to imagine the dreary, depressing book that this easily could have been. Instead, it was inspiring and heartfelt.

With a slow-burn romance and plenty of action/adventure, this book kept me fully engaged. It was heartbreaking at times, but I fell in love with this story and it's characters. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for an heartfelt romance with mature characters.

Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
Profile Image for Alex is The Romance Fox.
1,461 reviews1,176 followers
July 6, 2017
PLEASE CAN SOMEONE MAKE A MOVIE OUT OF THIS STORY!!!!

This book has been on my mind long after I finished reading the last page.....something like over a week ago. I've read some good and some great books and even some incredible ones too.
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But this one - Mists of the Serengeti by Leylah Attar is one of those timeless ones...a story that spoke directly to my soul. It evoked images, memories and so many emotions in me. A book that has stayed with you forever from the moment you put it down and no matter how much you try...it's like the author's words were speaking for me....
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Unique. Riveting. Haunting. Lyrical
So often a scene from book pops into my head and I find myself thinking about the story over and over again.

Having read so many reviews about this book, which have given loads of information on it, I have, therefore, decided to give more of my feelings on the story. What did I experienced reading this beautiful, powerful, emotional, poignant and breath-taking story of how a tragic moment brings two broken people together, under the most extraordinary circumstances and places, who find redemption, love and healing.
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WHAT WAS IT ABOUT MISTS OF THE SERENGETI THAT MADE IT SUCH AN UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR ME?

Beautiful and Powerful Prose: The words resonate with so many meanings.
“Sometimes we need to be jarred out of our own reality. We base so much of ourselves on other people’s perceptions of us. We live for the compliments, the approval, the applause. But what we really need is a grand, spine-chilling encounter with ourselves to believe we’re freaking magical. And that’s the best kind of believing, because no one can unsay it or take it away from you.
 photo 8a93e74a3a6fc79f75d67e89f71f62d3_zpscjfypmmg.jpg
They evoked images, memories and so many emotions to me.

The Story: The complexity, depth, profundity and multi-layers that make you think about it again when you least expect.
“We don’t always understand the things we do. We just do them and hope we’ll feel better.”
Reminded me of some many things about life that have happened to me....
 photo BW-Lioness-and-cub-set-against-kopie-studded-savanah-and-looming-storm-clouds-Seronera-Serengeti-Tanzania_zpsfiscaacm.jpg
The plight of the ostracizing of a certain group of people in Tanzania as well as some of history of the Masai people, is seamlessly woven into the story and fits in without it becoming the focal point in the story.
It's a story about love, loyalty, power, loss and fighting for survival.

The characters: Sympathetic characters that you care about, that you're rooting for, that you want them to win, that you want for them to overcome the challenges in their lives.

Jack Warden, a divorced coffee farmer in Tanzania and Rodel Emmerson, schoolteacher from England. Both flawed. Both struggling with their own demons, imperfections, traumas, obsessions and the amazing way we see the internal and external changes in the conflicting situations they experience that pushes them into reaching their dreams and goals.
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"This is what it looks like when you wander somewhere between sand and stardust, and meet a piece of yourself in someone else."
.
Characters that are human, real life, with their own insecurities and frailties. I adored Goma, Jack's grandmother
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and Bahati, the family friend, who shines through the pages. The fragility and strength of the albino children.

The African Setting:
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I loved the evocative descriptions of Tanzania and the Serengeti. I have visited both places and the author brought to life the sense of place and time so incredibly well.
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The Epilogue: Sad. Raw. Totally unexpected. It just blew me away!!

I was inspired. Reminded me again that anything is possible. You can reach amazing heights even when you're thinking that all is dark around you.

For me, Mists of the Serengeti, was a masterpiece in storytelling.

I will end my review thus:

"YOU KNOW WHAT'S HEARTBREAKING?
IT'S NOT WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU, OR WHEN LIFE TURNS OUT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM
WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

WHAT'S HEARTBREAKING IS WHEN YOU DON'T GET BACK UP, WHEN YOU DON'T CARE ENOUGH GO PICK
UP THE MILLION BROKEN PIECES OF YOU THAT ARE SCREAMING TO BE PUT BACK TOGETHER,
AND YOU JUST LIE THERE, LISTENING TO A SHATTERED CHORUS OF YOURSELF."
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I LOVE THE BOOK COVER!!!
Profile Image for Jennifer Kyle.
2,465 reviews5,297 followers
November 13, 2021
5 + STARS

"Once in Africa, I kissed a king..."

description

I’ve been rendered speechless by this book. It’s definitely a journey of epic proportions. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve been using a thesaurus to find other words to use for: beautiful, powerful, stunning, unforgettable, inspiring, you get the idea.

“My greatest loss had led to my greatest love. Hearts were broken, and hearts were healed. Lives were lost, and lives were saved.”

description

My mind keeps going back to the epilogue which BRILLIANTLY connects the whole story. This story goes straight on my favorite shelf of all time and without a doubt for this year. However, I’m getting ahead of myself...

description

The book starts off with a horrific event that connects a teacher in England, Rodel Emerson, to a coffee farmer in Tanzania named Jack Warden. There’s a cast of unforgettable supporting characters all done to perfection. The author sheds light on the atrocious crimes against humanity in particular albino children. Lives are lost, others are connected, and a reader gets to go to Tanzania. Rodel heads to gather her sister's items in Africa and finds that she had left some very important unfinished business that she feels compelled to see through.

"I was miles from home, but I felt exactly like I belonged."

description

“We don’t always understand the things we do. We just do them and hope we’ll feel better.”

The author paints a tangible picture of the Serengeti with her words. I felt like I was with Rodel and Jack inhaling all the majestic sights, people, animals, not to mention falling in love right along with them.

“This is what it looks like when you wander somewhere between the sand and stardust and meet a piece of yourself in someone else.”

description

This was the journey of Rodel's lifetime and due to the visceral writing from this author I was transported into a virtual reality, transposing me into this landscape, yet I never left my house. Some of the events in this story are based upon are true events. It sheds light and hopefully more support for these albino children's plight. The heartbreak is gutting, the danger is terrifying, and the love powerful.

"You're like the broken chapter of my favorite story."

description

If you get to read just one book this month, this year, this may be the book for you to try.

description

”Taleenoi olngisoilechashur ”

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Christy.
4,081 reviews34.6k followers
December 3, 2017
5+ stars!

description
Once in Africa, I kissed a king…

Mists of the Serengeti has been recommended to me by so many people this year. I finally read it, and I can see why. This book blew me away. The story was powerful, important, and left me at a loss for words. Seriously, I read this book weeks ago and I’ve struggled to review it ever since. It’s one of those books that truly left me speechless. Well, almost speechless. I’ll say a little something ;)
“My greatest loss had led to my greatest love. Hearts were broken, and hearts were healed. Lives were lost, and lives were saved.”

Jack and Rodel met and bonded through tragedy. They both lost one of the most important people in their lives in the same tragedy. Rodel lost her sister and Jack lost his daughter. This book broke me. It had me in tears more times than I can count, but it was also hopeful, brilliant, and the ending part gave me goosebumps. Leylah Attar has such a way with words, and this story moved me. It will definitely be a top favorite of mine this year, and if you haven’t read it yet, I can’t recommend it enough!
“Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it or hold on to it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought.”

description
Profile Image for  A. .
1,162 reviews4,834 followers
August 3, 2020




"We are all connected. Taleenoi olngisoilechashur."

You know you loved the book when you can't stop thinking about it no matter how hard you try, when you rush home after work looking forward to stopping at every red light because you finally, finally have a chance to read at least one word before real life and mundane things rob you again of the opportunity to savour this incredible book.

I loved everything about this book.
I loved the concept of the story.
I loved the setting.
I loved the writing.
I loved the tone and the atmosphere of the book.
I loved the author's voice and all the messages.
But most of all, I love the characters.

If you want to read something different - a remarkable, unique and poignant story about love and life, with powerful, fluid and poetic writing, strong and intricate plot, beautiful descriptions and mesmerizing scenes, and vivid, multilayered and fascinating characters, look not further. This is a book for you.

QUICK REVIEW:

Enjoyment: 5/5
Writing style: 5/5
Storyline: 5/5
Hero: 5/5
Heroine: 4/5
Secondary characters: 5/5
Hotness/chemistry: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Angst: 4/5
Darkness level: 3/5
Humor: 3/5
Depth of the book: 5/5
POV: dual, 1st and 3rd person
Triggers:

Profile Image for Bibi.
1,288 reviews13 followers
March 9, 2017
**Spoiler**

I am despondent. Ms. Attar is one of my fail-safe authors, this book however, was indulgent and specious.

But first, thank you to Ms. Attar for:
• taking us on a road trip through East Africa (Tanzania, to be exact)
• highlighting the humanitarian issues that persist in parts of that culture and
• the intelligent and vivid prose.

Now, on to the (love) story itself.

Even though I finished Mists of the Serengeti less than 24 hours ago, I struggle to remember the main characters. Jack- the H- I remember (vaguely) but for the life of me, I cannot recall the name of our female MC! Furthermore, I did not buy their love story! AT. ALL.

If I thought Karina Halle's Heat Wave was a travel guide disguised as a love story, well, then, MOTS was the full on Safari experience! I was bored. Outta my head bored. With a Leylah Attar book? You see now why it has to be me and not this book? Can you understand why I'm in despair?

The H and h lose loved ones under the most tragic circumstance yet a mere one month after this horrific incident, Jack and the h (darnit, what's her name?!) are busy making googly eyes and embarking on an Indiana Jones escapade? Notwithstanding they were both fighting for a just cause, the speed and time frame of their relationship, for me, was inappropriate on many levels. I'm sorry. I can't. No.

I pictured losing a daughter or any of my sisters and I literally couldn't breathe, so instinctively, I knew this story did not capture even a tenth of the anguish that ought to have been intrinsic to the plot.

Then the story telling was just that. Telling. It might be Ms. Attar has spoiled me with 53 Letters for My Lover and The Paper Swan (both are 5-star mind reeling reads), MOTS was a whole lot of beautiful words that never felt right. I mean, I was right there with Jack and the h, yet, I didn't understand why or how the love came to be.

The book moves along with them separating for 10 months- a period captured in a mere 5 pages- only to have Jack turn up on her doorstep? What was the point of this plot twist if it wasn't fully explored? If Leylah had devoted fewer pages to other aspects of this story, I might have felt a connection to the main characters, perhaps their love would have been more reflective of the author's intent. Instead, we get pages upon pages of info-dumping about the ambiance, the Maasai tribe, the persecution of people with albinism (truly tragic) and so on. It was all too much.

Still, I kept reading until I got to the part highlighted below (85%, the h, and Jack are at dinner exactly one year after the tragic incident):

Our hands met silently across the table and held, taking comfort in each other.
“I called Sarah today,” I said. We hadn’t talked since Lily’s funeral, but I knew she missed her just as much as I did, and today of all days, I felt the need to reach out to my ex.
“And?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think she’s ever going to forgive me for what happened to Lily.”
Rodel squeezed my hand softly. “People will love you. People will hate you. And it always has more to do with them, than it does with you.”


Seriously? That the h could say this about Jack's ex-wife, who, btw, also lost a child, was UNFORGIVABLE! I don't care how you spin it, no one has a right to talk about how I should comport myself while grieving the loss of MY child. Especially not my ex-husband's new GF!
How dare she? I was livid and done with her to the point I all but erased her character from my mind!

Overall, the story felt indulgent and superficial, even the epilogue- as heartrending as it was- could not redeem this book.

I have to stop now to go nurse my broken heart. Please know this is just MY opinion and in no way means this wasn't a good book. Just not for me.


Edited on 2/1/2017
Profile Image for ✰ Liz ✰ .
1,365 reviews1,318 followers
December 27, 2023
"Once in Africa, I kissed a king..."
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Mists of the Serengeti is an epic love story that brings two broken people together in order to make each other whole again. With action, passion, tenderness, and beauty this story has left me completely awestruck. Set in Africa amidst a world of chaos and quiet beauty, we find that we are all connected in a unique and extraordinary way.

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"We don't always understand the things we do. We just do them and hope we'll feel better."
Rodel Emerson is a young teacher who is living a happy life. When she is in the middle of purchasing a new home and feeling hopeful about putting down her roots, she receives a call that will change her life forever. In one moment, her life is shaken, and she decides to make the journey to Africa to find some semblance of peace. Jack Warden, a farmer in Tanzania, is also experiencing a significant loss. Desperate to be left alone in his misery, it is the introduction to Rodel that begins to break down his walls. Once their paths are crossed, they come together on a mission that has the potential to save lives.

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"We were both feeling guilty for it because desire has no place at grief's table, and yet, there it was, sitting between us like a shameless, uninvited guest."
As Jack and Rodel venture out into the African countryside, they face many adversaries. Africa is beautiful. Africa is violent. Africa becomes everything. The friendship between Jack and Rodel blossoms and quietly transitions into so much more. After experiencing so much loss, it seems a betrayal for them to find a sliver of happiness in each other. When their mission comes to an end, will Jack and Rodel find a way to be together or will Rodel return home and leave Africa (and her heart) behind?

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"His mouth moved wildly over mine, his tongue exploring the recesses of my mouth, as if I had stolen a piece of him, and he wanted it back."
Told in dual POV, Mists of the Serengeti is an absolute masterpiece. The lyrical writing style of Ms. Attar flows naturally and is full of vibrant colors. The characters are complex, and their circumstances make the stakes high for each of them to find solace and peace in the chaos of this world. The real life connections only further enhance the impact of this story because the events and circumstances are in fact parallel to actual events and circumstances taking place in Africa today. Jack and Rodel share such an intimate and beautiful connection, and because it follows such horrific losses for them both, it makes their relationship even more precious. The supporting characters offer comedic relief with their dynamic presence and witty dialogue. There were countless moments in the book when I found myself highlighting, re-reading, and re-living each second because I could not get enough! In short, this is truly so much more than a romance novel as the message is so clearly and eloquently delivered. We are all connected in a special and unique way. Life sometimes moves in a direction we least expect. We will face losses, but even in those moments, there is beauty and love.

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If there is only one book that you read this year, it should be Mists of the Serengeti. Although I have attempted to share a glimpse into its greatness through this review, the truth is everyone should experience this epic romance. This journey to Africa is one that I will simply never forget! Leylah Attar is an author who takes the time to develop each and every moment and delivers it to her readers with expert care and precision. If you haven't checked out her work, you need to!!!! You will be so glad that you did!

***This was a BR with my Shh... Sistas!

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*ARC graciously provided via author in exchange for an honest review! Thank you Leylah!

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Profile Image for KAS.
317 reviews3,126 followers
May 20, 2018
I am so late to the party, but from all the accolades this book has received, I knew I was in for something special. The exhilarating ride of the storyline, the achingly beautiful romance and the stunning backdrop, took my breath away. It is a heart pounding and emotional read.

Of course, and thankfully, I went in blind and ended up in jaw dropping amazement!

This is my first read by this author and her writing is gorgeous! I was completely captivated.

Set in the lush lands of Zanzibar, Tanzania, this is a poignant story featuring Jack and Rodel, with an unforgettable supporting cast. Did I mention, Jack? Swoon!!

How Jack and Rodel meet, why they meet, and where they meet are as integral to the storyline as the romance itself. Don’t even get me started on the epic epilogue!

Because I would love for you to go in blind, I won’t give out anymore details. Except, let me end with this fact. There are over 2400 five star ratings on Goodreads. Yes, this is something special, indeed!

Thank you, Robin, for urging me to bump this one way up on my tbr ;)
Profile Image for Hulya Kara Yuksel.
987 reviews1,227 followers
November 5, 2022
This book is a must read!!! <3

“When you lose someone you love, it doesn’t end with that event, or with their funeral, or with their name on the tombstone. You lose them again and again, every day, in small moments that catch you off guard.”



WOW this story literally left me speechless... :'(

I highlighted almost every single page (which this an unusual thing for me because I'm not that kind of a reader) and I have a lot of things to say about this amazing, wonderful, phenomenal book but pls don't waste your time with me and go ahead read this book right now! Trust me, it will shook you really bad and I guarantee, you'll never forget this beautiful book. <3


"Some circles never close, some wounds never heal. Love is like that. It leaves you forever open, forever vulnerable."

"The most profound, most memorable moments of life are the ones that make you feel."

"Have you ever sat across from someone, fully clothed, and felt them slowly unbutton your heart?"

"My greatest loss had led to my greatest love. Hearts were broken, and hearts were healed. Lives were lost, and lives were saved."

"Once in Africa, I kissed a king . . ."

“People will love you. People will hate you. And it always has more to do with them, than it does with you.”

"Sometimes we need to be jarred out of our own reality. We base so much of ourselves on other people’s perceptions of us. We live for the compliments, the approval, the applause. But what we really need is a grand, spine-chilling encounter with ourselves to believe we’re freaking magical. And that’s the best kind of believing, because no one can unsay it or take it away from you."
Profile Image for Lo Bookfrantic.
791 reviews589 followers
August 10, 2017
EARLY #LIVE #ALERT
Amazon--> http://a.co/1Vgjmad

5★★★★★EPIC stars

Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person – Dual

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"All we really want is to feel that we matter-that we're seen, that we're heard."

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Rodel (Ro) Emerson; received the worse call of her life and in that call she truly thought her like ended but it was only the beginning. She took the flight to Tanzania and there in Africa she meets unforgettable people that crosses her life and she would never be the same again. At only twenty four years old Ro was scared of changes; growing up traveling with her parents all she dreamed about what to settle down. Her sister was complete opposite; she craved the adventure and making new memories.



Jack Warden; had his life in Africa. All he has ever known is the farm and his legacy. After a tragedy so deep he didn't care anymore until he meets Ro. She somehow helped him healed and sees the world in a different way. Everything he thought he never would do; soon thought It could be possible.

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Two people from different worlds; connected by the tragedy; a different kind of pain for each but same kind of loss. They never in a million years thought that destiny would put them together but their loss brought them together. Once they found that connection they both never had before it was so hard to turn away from it. The chemistry was electric, it was freaking EPIC. Their journey was absolutely incredible. Lots of action, lots of feels, lots of funny moments, this book has it all.

"I caught a glimpse of his soul. So many pieces of him had been fed to the lions. And as dark and bitter as it had turned him, he was a gladiator for standing where I would have surely fallen."


This book was a complete and utterly incredible ride. It is a journey you do not want to miss. Everything I look for in a book for was here. The emotional feels, laughter I mean I seriously laughed so damn hard, butterflies they were making me all fuzzy inside, smoking, hot sexy scenes. There was nothing I hated about this book at all. I absolutely fell in love with the hero and the heroine they were both badass and stubborn and incredible amazing together. The side characters had me dying laughing so hard too they were just hilarious. This story was so unique packed with action and so much feels with just perfection. Don't get me started on the EPILOGUE HOLY shit, that Epilogue was WOW like anything I've ever read before, it left me breathless and at the same time complete. My heart hurts but is in a good way the story was just so powerful and it made it my first full five stars book of 2017.

"I knew that whenever I thought of love, it would have a face, a name, a voice. And I would hear its heart beating from inside a tent in the wilds of Africa."


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Release: January 31, 2017
Shh (F)BR with my Shhluts: https://goo.gl/tcb7tx

Book Order: Stand-alone
Mists of the Serengeti by Leylah Attar

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For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

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Profile Image for warhawke.
1,390 reviews2,107 followers
February 7, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:




Rodel (Ro) Emerson ended up in Tanzania due to a tragedy. A simple trip for closure turned into something more when she discovered unfinished businesses she couldn't turn a blind eye to. But she knew she couldn't do it alone.

Jack Warden used to have everything until he lost the one thing that ever mattered. Faced with a dilemma, he willingly took a chance even when he knew he could end up even more hollow that he already was.



I am always on the lookout for books with something extra - be it a good writing, a profound story, or outstanding characters. This book pretty much has it all.

And as dark and bitter as it had turned him, he was a gladiator for standing where I would have surely fallen.


I love vulnerable characters and Jack's pain was palpable that I can't help but love him from the very beginning. It was fascinating seeing how he evolved throughout the book.

“We don’t always understand the things we do. We just do them and hope we’ll feel better.”


I like how Ro was brave in making changes. She was not afraid to take chances and push herself.

"What’s heartbreaking is when you don’t get back up, when you don’t care enough to pick up the million broken pieces of you that are screaming to be put back together, and you just lie there, listening to a shattered chorus of yourself."


The supporting characters were fantastic. Goma and Bahati were highly lovable in their own way and added comic relief to the intense story. The story itself was highly engaging with ranges of emotions from intense and sad, to light and amusing. The author also managed to transport readers into the country and the culture with beautifully descriptive scenes.



Mists of the Serengeti is an inspiring journey of two people bound by grief who dared to rise up to do something bigger. It would appeal to readers looking to immerse themselves into richly told tales of humanity.

Note:
I despise epilogues. A lot of time they annoyed me with unnecessary/insignificant closure. Very few books have epilogue that I can tolerate. Even fewer that I can say I love. This book is in the rare category of epilogue I love. It was significant and impactful, perfectly connected the dots to make a full circle.



♐ ♉ ♐ . . . (F)BR With The Shhluts . . . ♐ ♉ ♐




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Profile Image for Christie«SHBBblogger».
972 reviews1,293 followers
February 6, 2017
*****NOW LIVE EARLY!*****


Title: Mists of the Serengeti
Series: Standalone
Author: Leylah Attar
Release date: January 31, 2017
Cliffhanger: No
HEA



I just finished this book minutes ago, and I'm sitting here trying to choke down all the emotions this book has me feeling. I wanted to write this while the words I soaked in are still fresh in my mind. Though, honestly, I don't see this incredible story fading whatsoever. It was just that poignant and breathtaking for me. With zero hesitation, I can say that this book will be on my favorites for the entire year, as well as being one of the all-time best books I've read. (Yes, I really said that.) I loved every piece of this story, each one so impressive separately, but when the whole of them came together they created magic.

They say that a person’s true strength comes through in times of calamity. It’s a strange and unfair measure of a man.

I started reading the prologue and immediately felt pulled in. After meeting Jack and Rodel, I was fully invested by the cataclysmic event that eventually brought them together. The bombing that took his daughter, and her sister, left them devastated. Trying to make sense of the senseless and not sure how they will ever recover.

When Ro comes to Nima House in Amosha, Africa, it served a dual purpose. One, to collect her sister's things where she had been volunteering. And two, to step inside her sister's wanderlust shoes. To see the world from her perspective, when for so long she always lived life in a neat and orderly way. There were so many things that I loved about this heroine. She was intelligent, brave, funny, and filled with wonder at the strange and beautiful land in front of her. She begins her journey searching for peace, but eventually finds her way to Jack's coffee plantation and an adventure unlike any she's ever experienced.



Jack is just a hollow shell of a man, deeply mourning the loss of his little girl. He wants no part of this trip she's asking him to take her on. To finish the task her sister had set in motion, delivering persecuted Albino children to the orphanage in Wanza. It was dangerous, and a hero's mission. Something he wasn't deluded enough to believe of himself anymore. Not after failing to save his daughter that horrible day.

“In a thousand lives, I would die a thousand deaths to save her. Over and over and over again.”

The grief that mirrors back at her from his eyes eventually isn't quite as sharp after they have each other to lean on. And in that process of letting go, they find themselves in each fevered, longing glance. The heat these two generated was absolute perfection. The angst was slowly drawn out and delivered a powerful punch that was well worth the wait. The romance that was spun took my breath away. They are the entire package, everything I look for. Jack and Rodel had the kind of quiet, sublime love that will make your heart race and shatter from one moment to the next.

This is what it looks like when you wander somewhere between the sand and stardust, and meet a piece of yourself in someone else.

How could I explain to her the hunger, the craving, the obsession? The small, sharp memories of her, always at the edge of my brain? I couldn’t. So I kissed her. With all the words I couldn’t form.


I was so impressed with the incredible writing. Attar blew me away with her brilliant descriptions of the sights and sounds of Africa. The culture of the native people, the clothing, food, the dusty safari in the Serengeti...she breathed life into the book with each gorgeous detail. The setting was fresh and vibrantly realistic. A kaleidoscope of a million colored words. And I don't think there was a character that I wasn't crazy about. But my favorite secondary character was without a doubt Jack's grandmother Goma. She had me laughing out loud so many times, she was absolutely hilarious!!!

The romance, the setting, the unique and well developed plot, they all tied together in the end to make me prepare for the inevitable book hangover that's coming. I can't believe that I've never read anything by this author before, and I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to discover her. If there's one book that I can convince you to read this year, let it be this one. It's one of those books that I will never forget. These characters have stolen a little piece of my heart and I don't want them to give it back.

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Profile Image for Snow.
2,241 reviews688 followers
February 7, 2017

6 "We are all connected" stars

"You lose people you love. Over and over again. Some get taken away from you. Some walk away. And some you learn to let go."

It took one instant to take numerous innocent lives due to a tragedy, and it shattered many more that stayed behind.

Rodel/Ro Harris Emerson is a teacher in England, satisfied with the conformity of her solid, pleasant life until she loses her sister in Kilimani Mall explosion in Tanzania, Africa. She takes upon herself to collect her sister's things and in one last attempt to reconcile the notion of the reality with the devastating grief, she embarks on a mission to fulfill her sister's last task of saving the endangered albino kids and taking them to safety. Following the leads of selective info and gathering the missing pieces, she crosses path with Jack Warden, a man broken by the grief of losing his daugter to the same tragedy. The primarly animosity and rude exterior sets the tone of their encounter into aloofness until Jack accepts to help her.

They come together united in shared grif, pain and compassion on a mission against dangerous deeds inspired by greed, profit and superstition of others, while more innocent lives are in constant peril of being perished.

The connection and recognition of wide range of emotions between Jack and Ro is excrutiatingly beautiful as they reach into each other for joined companionship through comfort and understanding.
Losing someone you love tunes you in to the fragillity of life - of moments and memories and music

and their road is filled with the impeccable, almost cruel natural beauty of the land,
"It's beautiful and heart-wrenching. It heals you, it destroys you.

while they share the acknowledgment of the ancient traditions and lives of the people and tribes they encounter along the way, and as well as they search for solace, forgivness and a little notion of peace. They share memories of their loved ones, past cherished moments forever frozen in time, but never to be forgotten.
Sometimes the most heroic thing we can do is fight the battle within and just emerge on the other side. Because it's not just one battle, one time. We do it over and over again, as long as we breathe, as long as we live.

that kind of connection brings them more than intimacy and undulated passion,
"I want to take you like I hate you. Fiercely. Completely. Because you resurrected me, only to relinquish me." - Jack -

"I want recless. I want mindless, ruthless, heedless. I want to be swept up in madness. I want your passion. I want your pain. I want you to tell me that you can't bear the thought of me leaving, that it feels like you can't breathe, that you want me, that you'll miss me." - Rodel -

but it also scares them to reach out for that once in a life time permanent bond dreaded of another potential loss, and hurt until they realize that fear is not worth the time to keep them away from love.
My greatest loss had led to my greatest love. Hearts were broken, and hearts were healed. Lives were lost, and lives were saved.


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Africa by Toto
...It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what's right
As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become


It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you...


I have only high praise for this book. I came close to being emotionally overloaded and an inch closer re-living it all, which is a grand deal on its own cause I do not usually do that. I have spend the longest time reading this book, cause i have been re-reading the highlightened lines, I wanted to burst upon every word, every emotion and every single visual presented in this story as I thrived to reach that cathartic emotional overflow and I searched for that lingering feeling, especially after reading that would keep me thinking and re-thinking about the story, like in this case, after the truth-gutting epilogue, the highlights of perfection for me, were life altering truths that evoked the personally cherished memories, and emotions, the most incredible vividly passionate and authentic physical and emotional interaction between the characters, and at last but not the least, the meaningful, detailed, palpably auhentic descriptions of the traditions, people and the stunning visuals of the cradle of life itself -Africa.

I have never been there, never seen it in person, but Leylah Attar made me feel it, she gave me the opportunity to experience it all, and that is something I will rememeber and cherish for a long time.

and now that I've experienced Africa, in a way I never thought possible, I have also witnessed a miracle in writing...

Leylah Attar took me on a journey I will NEVER forget... I hope you will allow yourself the freedom to embark on the same journey and feel it.

I highly recommend this book, for the ultimate experience

***ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***

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Profile Image for Pavlina Read more sleep less blog  .
2,434 reviews5,107 followers
February 7, 2017
Live https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ND0KWBH/...

5 INTENSE Stars

“We don’t always understand the things we do. We just do them and hope we’ll feel better.”

This book was incredible.It's one of those stories that you will never forget.I'm still thinking about this every day.Mists of the Serengeti was a powerful,unique,intense and emotional story with a heavy romance.

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"Maybe it was a necessary lie,one we were trying to convince ourselves of, but in that moment, with my hand resting in Jack's warm solid grip,I thought anything was possible."

Two broken people found each other when they both needed it the most.The author takes you on a journey full of emotions.This exactly how all the epic loves should be.After what they went through they deserved to be happy.

"It was more intimate than a kiss.."

Another flawless,captivating and unforgettable story from Leylah Attar.I'm in love with her stories, her writing is phenomenal and her stories beautiful and original!If you are looking for something unique this is the perfect book!


 


  
Profile Image for ★ Larissa ~ book crusher ~.
239 reviews80 followers
February 7, 2017
Absolutely riveting. Gorgeous. 6+++++ stars. This book left me speechless in the best of ways. A new all time favorite! ❤️

"Sometimes you come across a rainbow story-one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it or hold on to it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought."






By now, this book is being talked about everywhere and it only just released. I read it about a week ago and I can say, with 100% certainty, I knew this book was going to be huge. How did I know this? Magic. Just like that. Pure, unabashed magic. This book has it in spades. Leylah Attar wrote a masterpiece of a book, something so evocative, romantic, powerful and unforgettable, it deserves to be owned in paperback form. It deserves to be cherished and placed in a bookshelf and reread and passed on and recommended. It's that good. It's that emotionally arresting. It was everything I was hoping for and more.

The minute I saw this book cover and read this blurb I immediately knew I wanted to read this book. That's a huge statement, considering I wasn't the biggest fan of this author's previous smash hit The Paper Swan. But this looked different. And when I say different, I mean different to anything I'd come across before in my life. From the very first line of the synopsis, I was hooked. "Once in Africa, I kissed a king."

I'm always on the prowl for something daring, truly epic, something out of the norm.... I had it with From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon and I had it with Leylah Attar and Mists of the Serengeti. From Sand and Ash is one of my favorite books of all time and my favorite book of 2016, so me even mentioning Mists of the Serengeti in the same sentence is a huge deal. Believe me. It's the highest praise I can think of right now.

What can you expect with this book?
-You can expect stunning prose.
-Gorgeous, evocative descriptions of Africa.
-Beautiful, and emotionally poignant moments.
-You can expect highlighting the beejesus out of this book.
-Feeling as though you've been to Tanzania, breathing, tasting, living the culture.
-You will feel like you want to go out and do something amazing, and fantastic and daring.
-You can expect to be inspired to be all that you can be.
-Expect a raw, beautifully flawed, true-to-the-bone hero that will steal your heart.
-Find yourself in the shoes of a fantastic heroine, living the adventure of a lifetime.
-Expect to cry, to laugh... to fall in love.
-Not just with the story itself, fall in love with reading all over again, and again and again.
-You will laugh, and cry and you will have the biggest smile. All at the same time.
-You will feel like you need to take a break because the beauty is too much to take.
-You'll lose your breath and love every second of it.
-Be on the edge of your seat, biting your nails.
-Be blown away by the epilogue.

And it doesn't end there... once you're finished:

-Find yourself reeling, squeeing and needing to talk about this book to everyone you come across. I can guarantee you, you'll feel like you will burst if you don't.

-Congratulate yourself for taking the chance on this book, for daring to read something truly different, meaningful.

-Feel a bit guilty because you'll want to quit real life right away just so you don't have to abandon Jack and Rodel and the beautiful secondary characters that will fill your heart. Aka, you'll want to do a reread.


Mists of the Serengeti is not just a book, it's an experience. Everyone should be able to feel this way about a book at least once in their life. Thank you, Leylah... for my ARC copy. It was an honor to be among the first readers of this gem of a book. You're talented and awe-inspiring and I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next!



ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.



Profile Image for Ramona Popescu.
394 reviews138 followers
April 15, 2018
This book came as a surprise, as a total unexpected event which I am really glad to have stumbled upon:) I received another good tip from my friend Sophie and I am excited to share my thoughts with you regarding this amazing story. I hope I’ll make her proud:)

“Mists of the Serengeti” is an unique experience, a life changing chain of events which leads Rodel, the book’s heroine, to the love of her life. After loosing her sister in a tragic bomb attack in a mall in Tanzania, she wants to have peace with herself and travels there in order to say goodbye properly. Rodel is a book nerd, a very shy and guarded person, but life is about to show her she is far from ordinary. When learning that her sister had plans to save albino children from being butchered and used for superstitions or magical purposes, she tries to finalize her job, to be useful in a way. Her path leads Rodel to Jack’s coffee farm in Tanzania and the 2 of them will experience feelings like nothing before. Jack is also eaten up by remorse, because he lost his daughter in the same attack Rodel lost her sister. Being united by this grief leads to unexplainable feelings and an epic love story. Jack will help Rodel save those children, having the adventure of a life time, but after that, new perspectives will arise and hearts will be healed in the most amazing way.

I don’t think it was something about this book I didn’t enjoy. The characters were amazing and relatable. I loved Rodel’s vulnerability, strengths and character. She is far from ordinary and the opinion she has of herself will soon be changed by Jack’s love and attention. The guilt that has been eating her alive will soon have a purpose, to show her sister she can finalize her dream, save those children and let her rest in peace. Little did she knew that this mission will only have a bigger outcome and in the end, she will win more than just gratitude and peace for having to save lives. Jack’s life was also changed by Rodel the minute he laid eyes on her. Tormented by not being able to save his daughter, Jack refused to move on and became bitter and grumpy, cutting every tie with the exterior. Rodel’s mission will soon become his as well and together, they will embark on a discovering path that will lead them to peace and love.

Beside the amazing characters and message, the book was like an enciclopedia of Africa, from the description of landscapes, animals, locals, habits to the use of language. I admired Leylah soooo much for this, because clearly she did her research and used every element perfectly to fit into the scenario. The plot was very dynamic and inteligent, because we are not only talking about a love story here. Besides that, important aspects such as human trafficking, acts of vandalism, political assassination were explored and blended into the story, trying to send an important message.

Loss, hope, love, second chances and grief, are all part of this amazing story which thought me so much in the process. The feelings were raw, the pain was palpable, but also the love was radiant and inspiring, making me smile so much that my cheek’s hurt and my heart was beating fast like “Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack” 🙂

5 stars!

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Profile Image for CC.
1,131 reviews679 followers
February 7, 2017
6+ Stars!

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Rodel “Ro” Emerson is a teacher in England. While she is content with her life, she’s always lived vicariously through her uninhibited and spontaneous sister. However, when Ro receives news of her sister's death in Tanzania, she is confronted with regret and grief. Off to put her sister to rest, Ro journeys to Africa in hopes of finding solace but finds much more than she had ever imagined.

“The most profound, most memorable moments of life are the ones that make you feel. And that’s what I’ve been missing. The feeling of being alive.”

Jack Warden is a coffee farmer and divorced father in Tanzania. Being a strong man comes easy to Jack until his daughter is tragically killed. Grieving as he only knows how, Jack is tortured by his loss and wants to preserve every memory and moment he shared with his little girl. It isn’t until a woman asking for help arrives at his ranch and turns his world upside down.

“Trust me. Some things are better left in the dark, where they belong.”

Sharing the commonality of their loss, Jack and Rodel unite for a cause hoping they can make a small difference. During this time, they realize how honest they are with each other by not trying to hide behind the mask of grief. As friendship buds, Jack and Ro are aware of their attraction and it is palpable beyond belief! To say Jack is a hunk is putting it mildly! When they succumb to their desires, it is hot, romantic and perfect!

“Last chance, sweetness. I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you. So if you’re having second thoughts, now’s the time, because in a little while I’m going to take you, gently at first, and then to all kinds of dark, delicious places.”


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Caught in their own adventure, Jack and Rodel face danger at every turn. Knowing what is at stake, they selflessly put the needs of others ahead of their own. For Jack, his actions provide the second chance he so desperately seeks, and for Rodel, she learns just how resilient and adaptable she can be when facing adversity. Ultimately, their choices lead them to a place where sacrifice is no longer a question.

"In a thousand lives, I would die a thousand deaths to save her."

From the beginning, you could feel the grief these characters shared yet hope, strength and love filled all the cracks and made their foundations even stronger. The entrenched cultural themes underscored the contrasts and similarities between communities and countries yet these elements added to the significance of the journey. Furthermore, with such a richly crafted plot, the secondary characters add value and dimensionality to Jack and Rodel. Goma is a stand out for her sage observations and resolve, while Bahati adds comic relief and his own battle for acceptance.

Mists of the Serengeti is an incredible story of endearing characters with a compelling plot and impeccable story-telling. With every element coming together like a perfectly conducted symphony, Leylah Attar pens a beautiful love story about healing and courage. I highly recommend this book!



*An ARC was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

*This was a (F)BR with the Shhluts!
Profile Image for Kaila.
754 reviews13 followers
March 11, 2017
5/5 Stars

“My greatest loss had led to my greatest love. Hearts were broken, and hearts were healed. Lives were lost, and lives were saved.”


This book was absolutely stunning! It was breathtakingly beautiful, sensual, inspiring, heartbreaking and thought-provoking. It's like I was in a completely different world where every word was dipped with meaning and made an achingly beautiful story. I was speechless after finishing this book and I still can't seem to wrap my head around how completely gorgeous and emotional it really was.

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Rodel Emerson was always content with living in her sister's shadow. While her sister was off exploring the world and volunteering in Africa, Rodel lived a quite and reserved life on the English countryside. But, thousands of miles away in Tanzania, a bomb goes off in a mall which caused some people to lose everything, just like it caused Rodel to lose her sister. Rodel immediately flys to Africa for the funeral and decides to stay a little longer and go live life like her sister did, at least for a little while.

Jack Warden is a coffee farmer who is grief-stricken after losing his daughter to the mall bombings. No longer does he love the wonders of life, instead, his daughter's death has made him miserable, angry and undeserving of life. Brought together by their losses, Jack and Rodel must work together to save albino children and deliver them to an orphanage which was Rodel's sister's plan before she died. The albino children in these villages are hunted, sold and murdered due to the belief that they're body parts hold special abilities. As well as saving the children, Rodel and Jack must learn to forgive themselves, live their lives and love whilst supporting each other through their losses.

“Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought.”


I went into this book completely blind, I didn't even read the blur before I bought I bought it! There had been so many glowing reviews of Mists of the Serengeti on my feed that I just had to buy it. I didn't know if it was going to be a romance or more focused on African culture, but I did have high hopes. I can honestly say that this book exceeded all my expectations and completely blew me away. I'd be surprised if I ever read a book like this again and especially one with this much emotional impact. Mists of the Serengeti was the perfect blend of African scenery, themes of overcoming grief, the cultural struggles surrounding albinism in Africa and a sensual romance that was just so perfect.

“It wasn’t just a kiss. It was a lesson—a fierce, burning imprint, so that my lips would always know the difference between being wanted and being craved.”


The romance in this book was so darn good!! The relationship in this book is my favourite so far for 2017 and I just can't wrap my head around how much I loved it. Jack and Ro were perfect together; they were supportive, compassionate and had such a good friendship as well as a romantic relationship. I adored every moment they spent together and even thinking about it brings butterflies to my stomach. Not only was their relationship beautiful, it was also extraordinarily sensual and at times, down right hot! Whew, some of those scenes (that sometimes lasted chapters!!) were pure sexual chemistry steaming off the page and I loved every moment of it!

“It said I was equal parts earth and stars, equal parts animal and soul. I was hope. I was calamity. I was love. I was prejudice. I was my sister. I was his daughter. I was Juma. I was Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack.”


The lyrical writing of this book just enchanted me from the beginning. The words were so beautifully written and in such an emotional and powerful way. This book was filled with deeper meanings, stunning imagery and romantic writing. On top of the writing being so beautiful and poetic, it's also so painfully real! All the emotions that the characters felt were so authentic and believable! It made me feel for them so much! The dialogue is also realistic with a perfect mixture of deep conversations, relationship establishing interactions and down right humorous moments! I never imaged a book this meaningful and emotional could also be so darn funny! This is the only book I've read by Leylah Attar, but I guarantee you that it won't be for long.

If you didn't already guess from my gushing review, I'll put it plainly: I LOVED THIS BOOK! The characters were amazing (eve the quirky side characters), the writing was poetic, the story was breathtakingly beautiful and the romance was practically perfect! I recommend this book whole heartedly.

“Sometimes we have to let go of the people we love because we love them—because their hopes and dreams lie elsewhere. It’s the reason I let you go, the reason I never asked you to stay. And it’s why Goma is letting me go, because my heart is already with you, all day, every day. So if you want me, always and forever, here I am.”
Profile Image for Sher❤ The Fabulous BookLover.
907 reviews575 followers
March 27, 2017
5 Amazing Stars!!!!

Just wow! Such a beautiful love story and what an adventure this was! This is my first Attar book and I honestly didn't know what to expect. But I was not expecting to be blown away by the characters, the story and the beautiful backdrop of Africa. What a journey this story was...I was in Africa and I didn't even have to buy a ticket and board an airplane. I simply opened this book and I was whisked away to the hills of Kilimanjaro. Books like these remind me of why I'm a booklover and why I enjoy reading. Because sometimes a book comes along and sweeps you off your feet and you feel like you're floating and this was one of those reads.
Profile Image for Katy Loves Romance ❤️.
434 reviews753 followers
February 5, 2017
6 STUNNING STARS******
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Oh man what a stunning, beautiful story.

Two people lost a loved one tragically on one day in the same Mall and so two people who are slightly lost and majorly lost but where one girl teaches one man how to live and dream and be again.

Ro is the stable kind of girl, she knows routine, and lives in her books wants a home which she just succeeds in getting and is a lovely school teacher. Her sister though is the fly by the wall kind of girl, the traveler and so on one summers day Ro looses her fun loving and outgoing sister. That prologue gah it broke me.... (this is in the blurb and not a spoiler) in the same day Jack lost his daughter and so by tragedy they need each other for one expedition...

Ok that's all I'm saying, this book is RAW AND REAL. It's about living, and learning and meeting ourselves when they go to help others. It's about the true life in Tanzania and understanding what goes on in the back streets. But it's about LIFE, living, loving and breathing again. And then it's about falling in love when you feel you don't deserve it.

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I'd say though above all it's about family, friendships, sunshine, and EPICALLY FALLING IN LOVE again. Falling in love with each other but falling for Africa and what it gives you.

Then there's Leylah's writing. I started to highlight so many quotes it just gets better and better with each word and each paragraph but then it just became one big ole quote the whole book has sentiments, quotes, sayings EVERYTHING. I just highly recommend this book for all. Take your time and enjoy the Serengeti..

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Enjoy Xo

ARC generously gifted in exchange for a honest review

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Profile Image for Malene.
1,250 reviews699 followers
March 26, 2017
That epilogue!! Holy shit! Tears everywhere. Wow. Mists of the Serengeti is truly an extraordinary and magnificent story. I devoured it and when I wasn't reading it, it was lurking in the back of my mind constantly.
I loved the characters so much. Ro, Jack, Goma and Bahati. Even the little girl Scholastica. They had so much heart and depth that they couldn't help but imprint themselves to me. I now understand all the fuss about this story because it has to be experienced. The journey Ro and Jack embark on is forever life changing. They're both dealing with loss and in different ways. My heart broke for Jack cause he was in serious mourning. He was defeated but Ro soon brought light, meaning and love into his life.
The prose of Leylah Attar is out this world. Captivating and flawless with every word. Although too descriptive at times but nothing that ruined the story for me. I was in Africa right along with Ro and Jack. I was in England with Ro. I experienced every sound and smell. I could easily imagine Jack's farm or the Serengeti. Truly remarkable writing and storytelling.

5 BadAssDirtyRainbowStars
Profile Image for Rachel  L.
1,940 reviews2,399 followers
November 27, 2018
4.5 stars!

“People will love you. People will hate you. And it always has more to do with them, than it does with you.”



Cause I want to brag, I took this photo when I was in Africa^^^ This book captured that beautiful and unforgettable continent so well!

Mists of the Serengeti is the story of two people who faced unspeakable tragedy and work together to bring at risk children to safety. When Rodel discovers her sister has been killed in a mall shooting and bombing, she travels to Tanzania to pack up her belongings. While there she discovers her sister had been working to save children and bring them to a safe haven orphanage that protects them.

Needing help, she turns to Jack Warden, a local coffee plantation owner, for help picking up the children and bringing them to their destination. But Jack is a broken man, having lost his daughter in the same incident that took Rodel’s sister. There’s an immediate attraction, but neither one of them is ready for the emotional upheaval of a relationship.

“Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought.”

I absolutely loved this book. I actually picked it up when it first came out, but I was reading it in public and quickly realized that was a bad idea, because I knew this book would WRECK ME. And I was right. So I waited for a day when I knew I didn’t have anyone around to see me cry.

Leylah Attar has such an incredible way with words. This was a remarkable book filled with so many different emotions from sadness, hope, loss, and most of all, the release of those emotions. I love reading stories about broken people who heal themselves and find comfort in one another. Jack and Rodel are a couple I will be thinking about for a long time.

I also felt this book completely captured Africa, it’s a place filled with wonder but also one with haunting images (like everywhere in the world). But there’s spirit there you can feel in the air and I loved being able to journey back to that magical land and I felt as if I was there with the characters.

“Sometimes we need to be jarred out of our own reality. We base so much of ourselves on other people’s perceptions of us. We live for the compliments, the approval, the applause. But what we really need is a grand, spine-chilling encounter with ourselves to believe we’re freaking magical. And that’s the best kind of believing, because no one can unsay it or take it away from you.”


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Profile Image for Nazanin.
1,144 reviews766 followers
November 18, 2017
4.5 Stars

"Some circles never close, some wounds never heal. Love is like that. It leaves you forever open, forever vulnerable."

This book was amazing. It was one of those books that I didn’t like to finish but at the same time I couldn’t read it faster! It was my second read by this author and like "The Paper Swan" I loved it. How can she write like this! So beautiful! So magical! She is so talented. The story-line was perfect; the characters were well-written. It was a slow burn and you know I’m not a fan of slow burns but this one was exceptional for me. It was an emotional read but everything was in balance; reality and fiction, happiness and sadness, sense of humor and seriousness… Something that I loved about it was the ride that I have to Africa with this book! and become familiar with some of their culture (in some of their villages/the tribes), their nature, their wildlife… It was like a movie in front of my eyes! Well done Ms. Attar, well done! So why I didn’t give it 5 stars? Because it didn’t make my heart pounding like "The Paper Swan"!

"Falling in love with something that can never be is like piercing yourself with a honey-dipped dagger. Over and over again. It’s sharp and sweet, beautiful and sad, and you don’t always which when you cry."

The story is told in multiple POV, 1st person (except the epilogue, it was 3rd person). It’s a stand-alone novel. All in all, I loved it, hope you enjoy it as well!

"Fear is a liar. Don’t let it whisper in your ear. Turn that sh!t off. Do what scares you. Over and over again. And one day, your fear will become so small, you’ll be able to laugh at it."
Profile Image for Mirjam.
1,789 reviews111 followers
March 17, 2021

You don’t always get what you want. Sometimes you get exactly what you need.





Once in Africa, I kissed a king…

Jack Warden, coffee farmer in Tanzania, only 30 years, coping with his share of storms life has thrown him. Losing his parents at just seven years old, divorced from his college sweetheart and losing his 8-year old daughter Lilly during a vicious attack, has turned Jack into a dark and bitter man.



Rodel Emerson, 24 years, recent graduate and house owner in Cotswolds UK, and a newly teacher learns through a news broadcast, that she lost her sister, Montego, during the same vicious attack as Lilly.



Separated by an ocean both Rodel & Jack are unaware of the invisible threads that connect wishes, actions, people and consequences.

“Taleenoi olngisoilechashur.( We are all connected)”



After her sister’s memorial service Ro decides to take a trip to Tanzania to collect her belongings and clear her room.



While cleaning out Mo’s room she decides to complete some goals Mo had set. These events will lead her to Jack and together they set out to a dangerous mission.
During their trip the sizzling attraction between the two intensives and they finally submit to each other. I want to take you like I hate your. Fiercely. Completely. Because you resurrected me, only to relinquish me.



He was a biter, grazing my neck with just enough force to command all of my attention, and then letting go, like a lion playing with his prey

I loved to see how the demure English teacher evolves into a fierce lioness protecting the ones she cares about. And the secondary characters? I really loved Goma, I do hope that one day I will age the way she has. And Bahati, the not-so-fierce Maasai warrior who proved that he can be brave when needed.

I loved Jack and how he choose between the two most important things in his live.
Home was wherever she was



The epilogue here was a very unconventional one, one that I could not decide what to think of.
Did I wanted to know? Or did I wanted to have kept it a mystery? I do not know, but it is there and it will stay with you.

“You ever wonder what we’d find if we could pick up the threads back to the point where things unravel, where paths cross, and lives pivot, and people come together?”

This was an amazing read, one that really touched me. Not only for Jack & Ro’s story but also for the wonders of Africa. I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

ARC provided by the author Leylah Attar for a BR with the amazing Shh... shhluts

Profile Image for Diana.
575 reviews18 followers
March 22, 2021
Story 5+++++
Audiobook 5+++++

I have no idea why I haven’t read this book before, but I could kick myself. It is going to be hard to top this book on my favorite list. Not only is the story phenomenal, the audiobook is just as amazing.

The story is about two people each struggling with a loss, and when Rodel and Jack first meet, things don’t go so well. It’s not until they both start fighting for what they want, they finally realize how much they are alike and trying to honor their loved ones. They embark on an adventure that is soul searching as well as magical.

But the story is more than a romance. I was so sucked into description of the landscape, animals and people they meet. It was almost as a movie was playing in my head and I had to stop more than once to soak it all in. There are plenty of heart wrenching moments that did make me teary eyed.

If you haven’t read this book yet, make it your next read. As I said, the audiobook is fantastic. Honestly, I grabbed it because of Zachary Webber, but it’s Megan Tusing’s narration that blows me away. Her ability to switch between different accents, female/male voice is perfection. I should also give warn you 90% of the book is from Rodel’s POV, so you really only get maybe 15% of ZW’s.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Profile Image for Jeannine Allison.
Author 13 books531 followers
August 16, 2017
I finished this book the exact same way I started, like this:

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I HATED the way it ended (because it hurt like a bitch 😰), and I also loved it if that makes any sense. The epilogue was heartbreaking and beautiful, but as much as it killed me, I think it was the perfect conclusion.

I've been meaning to read this book for awhile now. Between the rave reviews and the quotes I see on Leylah Attar's Instagram, I knew I was in for some beautiful writing and an awe-inspiring story. And I'm so glad it lived up to that 🤗

Anyone who knows me knows that I love stories about fate, about chance, about how lives are weaved together in ways we can't always see. I still don't have a clear answer as to what I personally believe, but I always enjoy novels that question the idea of fate, whether they are for it or against it. *These quotes are all kind of similar but I couldn't pick between them 🙈
We're all connected in strange, mysterious ways. Pull a thread here and a life unravels there.
How many times do we pass people on the street, whose lives are intertwined with ours in ways that remain forever unknown? How many ways are we tied to a stranger by fragile, invisible threads that bind us all together?
"You ever wonder what we'd find if we could pick up the threads back to the point where things unravel, where paths cross, and lives pivot, and people come together?"
I don't want to give too much away but I love how everyone's stories ended up weaving together. I wasn't always expecting things to happen the way they did, but I thought it all came together beautifully.

- Rodel -

She was an easy character to like. I loved how average she was, and I don't mean that in a negative way, rather it made her easy to relate to. I think we can all relate to this one 😏
She had book boyfriends that no flesh-and-blood man could ever live up to.
Rodel made me feel like I could be dropped in a situation like that and get through it (well, maybe not me because I have extreme anxiety when I travel), but that any one could, if they had to. She's unsure and afraid, but she keeps moving.
"I don't have the answers, Jack, but sometimes the only things that keep us from falling off the edge are necessary lies. The kind we tell ourselves, so we can keep going."
She tries even when she thinks it's hopeless...
I'm dead either way. At least I'll die trying.
And in the end she's left with an incredible, life-changing experience.
I pulled back, my eyes still closed, knowing that I had just stolen an epic moment from life. Someday when I looked back, I would smile in the middle of the street and no one would know why, because it was just for me, so that I could say to myself: Once in Africa, I kissed a king...
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- Jack -

Oh, man. I felt Rodel's pain, boy did I, but Jack's was on a whole other level for me. I can't even imagine what it would be like to lose a child, add in the guilt of the situation and the fact that we get to meet his daughter for a little bit, and I was heartbroken. Jack and Rodel both felt guilt, as I think everyone does when they experience a lost, but Jack's pain became a part of him.
Maybe he wanted to be fully aware, fully awake to the pain. Maybe Jack Warden liked the pain because he believed it was exactly what he deserved.
I was happy that he didn't push Rodel away for too long because it was obvious how much they needed each other. I enjoyed his character but I wish we'd gotten a bit more of his POV in the middle, I would have loved to have his thoughts.

- Favorite Quotes -
They had been doomed from the start, but when does that ever stop anyone from falling in love?
When you lose someone you love, it doesn't end with that event, or with their funeral, or with their name on the tombstone. You lose them again and again, every day, in small moments that catch you off guard.
There is an invisible threshold of possibilities when someone is alive. It contracts when they're gone, swallowing up all the worlds that hover around them—names of people they'd never meet, faces of kids they'd never have, flavors of ice cream they'd never taste.
"Growing old isn't for sissies... you lose the people you love. Over and over again. Some get taken away from you. Some walk away. And some you learn to let go."
"We live for the compliments, the approval, the applause. But what we really need is a grand, spine-chilling encounter with ourselves to believe we’re freaking magical. And that's the best kind of believing, because no one can unsay it or take it away from you."
Maybe that's what life was about. Seven billion people playing hide and seek, waiting to find and be found. Mothers, fathers, lovers, friends, playing a cosmic game of discovery—of self, and of others—appearing and disappearing like stars rotating on the horizon.
Some people are like that. They listen to their inner voice even if it's mad and feral and doesn't make sense to the rest of us.
His mouth moved wildly over mine, his tongue exploring the recesses of my mouth, as if I had stolen a piece of him, and he wanted it back.
I tasted the whole universe in Jack's kiss—the blue heat of spinning stars, the birth of distant suns, atoms buzzing and colliding and fusing.
"That fear is a liar. Don’t let it whisper in your ear. Turn that shit off. Do what scares you. Over and over again. And one day, your fear will become so small, you'll be able to laugh at it."
That night, my definition of hero grew bigger and wider. Sometimes heroes were found between the pages of a book, and sometimes they stood on a hill, their checkered togas fluttering in the wind, holding fort for the rest of us.
I had always thought of home as a place, where you put down your roots, unpack your collection of mugs with snarky quotes, put up all the bookshelves you want, and watch the rain splash down your windows on wet, gray afternoons. But I was realizing that home was a feeling—of being, of belonging—a feeling that swirled through my veins every time I was with Jack.
"People will love you. People will hate you. And it always has more to do with them, than it does with you."
I know there's a lot, but I couldn't cut any of them, these words were beautiful and really resonated with me ❤️ My inner quote whore was very pleased 😏😍🤗

description

The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because of the pacing. I was never bored nor did I want to skim, I just wish it had flowed better. It felt a bit segmented, like Beginning + Romance + Adventure/Suspense + Ending. Jack and Rodel were definitely not victims of insta-love, but I was expecting more of a slow burn. . I wanted the adventure to be woven into the romance so both were spread out and it felt more cohesive. I have no clue if that makes any sense, but given all the 5 stars I was expecting something a bit more epic. Don't get me wrong, it's stunning and I enjoyed the heck out of it, I was just expecting more. There's no doubt that it's a must read, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

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