First
and Only Destiny
The
Destiny Series Book 1
by
Gloria Silk
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
Second
edition of USA Today Bestselling Author's debut novel.
"Beautifully
written love story. The prose in this book is extraordinary, the
emotions heart-breaking and the author leaves you hanging on the edge
right to the end of the story. I could feel the characters'
happiness, confusion, pain and sadness. When it rained, I felt that
rain on me, when the characters were laughing, I laughed - it was
really that good! I can't wait to read the next story in this book
and will add Ms. Silk to my "must-buy" authors. Love her
writing! Ms. Silk fills the pages with emotion - hope, happiness,
sadness, guilt, joy - you will run the gamut with this book."
Elizabeth Lennox, Author of the Thorpe Brothers series
Do
you believe in love at first sight?
First
love has never been more intense, heartbreaking, and oh so worth
it!
Shy
artist Lia cannot resist gorgeous genius, Devraj. Sparks fly and
their families and friends try to break them apart.
FIRST
LOVE...
It’s
love at first sketch for shy, sheltered art major Lia Abraham, when
she meets the Bollywood-gorgeous Devraj Shah at a London university.
But she refuses to show her undeniable attraction to the gregarious
genius who is being groomed for his family business empire. Nothing
can stand between her and her dreams of traveling and teaching art
across Europe. No taking risks or detours for Lia!
FIRST
KISS…
The
last thing Lia needs is a handsome distraction from her true love:
art. Although she protests, the charming Devraj, with his dimpled
grin and sparkling eyes, convinces Lia to be “just friends”.
But
inevitably—with one rain-soaked, sweet yet sizzling kiss—their
unleashed desire becomes stronger than their cultural divides—a
Hindu boy and a Jewish girl? Gods forbid!
As
their friendship flares into an all-consuming passion, the growing
pressure from both families changes the landscape of both their
lives.
FOREVER
LOVE?
Despite
loving him to distraction, will Lia’s gratitude to her frail
grandparents, who raised her, and her loyalty to her cultural ties,
force her to forsake the forbidden fruit of her love for Devraj?
Or
can she stand up for her first and only love and face their uncharted
future head on?
A
PORTION OF ALL GLORIA SILK BOOK PROCEEDS GO TO CANADIAN CANCER
SOCIETY.
**read
as a standalone!!**
**Only
.99 cents!!**
Prologue
North London, June 1995
Leaving the tomb-like silence of the Rolls Royce, Lia gripped the heavy skirt of her imprisoning wedding dress, while accepting the stooping, old man’s help to brave the summer downpour.
The big, bat-like umbrella over them absorbed the mini bullets of the rain, turning the pure white of her gown to gunmetal grey.
Was it sunrise or sunset? She did not know or care. The universe had lost all colour and warmth.
Her feet and heart refused to cooperate as the old man tightened his embrace around her and urged her toward the arched doors of the imposing granite-grey building ahead of them.
A familiar magnetic pull made her turn her head to look over her shoulder, across the road. Lips trembling under the stifling veil, she saw the soaking, unshaven, Devraj standing by his car.
She felt his agony, heard his thoughts, How can you throw away your life, our destiny? Please come back to me!
But the sleek, dark river of the London street may as well have been oceans separating them, like a chasm of culture neither could overcome.
Even if this was her biggest mistake, he had to see her enter the house of her God.
Suddenly, thunder reverberated above them. She turned away from the love of her life. Her first love was an illusion and a part of her past, now. He had to be.
Look forward, not back.
“Love will come, you’ll see. Howard will make you happy.” Her grandmother’s mantra over the past endless weeks had almost made Lia want to scream that it would only make her grandparents happy. But... here she was, still walking in the opposite direction from Devraj. For his own sake.
Whether or not he ever forgave her, one day she would be proud of her strength and sacrifice.
Tears streaming down her face, she forced her legs up the stairs into the dimness. The cool, musty scent of the traditions ingrained into the spirit of the synagogue made her shiver.
Faces of curious strangers watched her advance towards the waiting bridegroom. The high jewel-tone stained-glass windows, to which generations of proud families had contributed, seemed about to shatter in on her. And, as every hesitant step led her closer to the man at the end of the aisle, his patent happiness made her steps falter, and she wanted to shout, it’s a lie; you know nothing about me!
She almost stumbled, but Dedda supported her. The nightmare continued.
But this was her destiny, not the heart-broken, young man out in the rain.
Statue-still, she lowered her burning eyes behind the veil. If Devraj ran up that aisle, demanding he was her rightful soul mate, would she flee with him? No!
Sucking in a shaky breath, she prayed for strength from the same God who had gifted—and then snatched away—an alternate, impossible future.
Anchoring her limbs, she swore to be the perfect wife to the smiling man beside her. She was not marrying him for her grandparents, but for a much bigger reason.
Or—she raised her head, heart pounding—she could grab the long train of her white dress as restrictive as armour, and escape into the arms of her one and only true love.
She took another fortifying breath.
Her fingers unfurled from their fists like opening petals.
Second
Destiny
The
Destiny Series Book 2
From
USA Today Bestselling Author, Gloria Silk
"Beautifully
written love story with a perfect happy ever after." Elizabeth
Lennox, Author of the Thorpe Brothers series
The
standalone bestseller, First and Only Destiny gave Lia and Devraj
their own well deserved dramatic and satisfying happy-ever-after! BUT
what if...
What
if Lia and Devraj lose each other within minutes and are both left
devastated, unable to forget each other?
Second
Destiny is an emotional, sensuous story of the star-crossed lovers
reuniting 19 years later. Just as Lia discovers her husband's
infidelity, her first love, Devraj is at her door. Lia's 18-year-old
daughter and Devraj's nephew are repeating romantic history. Can Lia
and the Bollywood-gorgeous hero put their past behind, or will their
sizzling, intense passion reignite and endanger everything in its
path?
THE
OLDER GENERATION BROKE THEM APART…
Lia
Abraham gave up everything for her family and culture—art, autonomy
and even self-worth. Worst of all was the sacrifice of
Bollywood-gorgeous, idealistic Devraj Shah, when Lia caved in to
pressure from both their families. She broke her first love’s heart
by marrying the “right” Jewish man.
THE
YOUNGER GENERATION REUNITES THEM…
Nineteen
years later, minutes after Lia demands a divorce from her cheating
husband, her world turns upside down again; Devraj is at her door.
His nephew and Lia’s feisty teenage daughter are repeating history.
They’re in love, but the now reserved, enigmatic Devraj is dead-set
against the couple’s marriage plans. He is convinced Lia’s
daughter will ultimately reject his nephew the way Lia had rejected
Devraj.
After
years of feeling caged in a loveless marriage, Lia embraces her newly
found freedom, and her resurgent passion for Devraj is irresistible.
Once again, she surrenders to the true love of her life, but their
affair re-ignites opposition from both families. Will Lia’s second
chance at love again destroy her loved ones and her dreams?
Torn
once again between her love for Devraj, her family responsibilities
and her need for true independence, will Lia choose duty over the
desires of her heart?
**read
as a standalone!!**
Chapter One:
Something was wrong but Lia could not put a finger on it as she glanced around the long dining table at her in-laws. Her ever-silent father-in-law, Jonathan was nursing his third brandy since their arrival. Nothing new there.
The residual smells of Grace’s famous matzo ball soup, with its swirling rainbow of grease reflecting the chandelier lights, intermingled with the fresh yeasty challa rolls her mother-in-law had baked, as she did every Friday night for Sabbath.
What I wouldn’t give for a bowl of curry at this moment. Maybe tomorrow she would order it with her girlfriends at their bi-weekly lunch date. But tonight routine and tradition ruled this ritual Friday night dinner in London’s suburban Oakwood.
Watching her two silent children Lia concentrated on being in the moment. The only sounds in the slightly oppressive, antique furnished dining room were the delicate clatter of cutlery against the plates and her husband’s response to his mother’s probing questions about his latest problems with his business partner. As usual, mother and son were the two centre stage entertainers, while the rest of them were their audience.
Lia observed Howard. Tonight he seemed even more distracted, obsessed, as always searching for bigger ways to promote his cosmetic-surgery practice, and still waiting to be recognized for his genius.
Nothing new here, either.
Studying his roast chicken breast through his designer glasses, Howard said, “Of course I want him out, mother. My solicitors agree that Tom’s got too unrealistic expectations of me, but I have a busy clinic to run.”
Grace expelled one of her loaded sighs. More questions and reluctant answers ping-ponged between them.
Lia was tired of these conversations, but at least no one expected her to contribute. Most of the time she felt invisible, but that freed her to observe everyone.
She had a busy, uncomplicated life, with a beautiful home and great friends. Her parents-in-law tolerated her well enough. Her children were healthy and for the most part happy.
If she had not pursued her art, it was her own choice, and she had made peace with it.
She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and reminded herself to be more grateful.
Her husband of nineteen years may not be the perfect mate, but he was a good provider and, mostly, an indulgent father to their children.
Swaying her attention back to their children, Lia glanced at her ever silent thirteen-year-old son, Gabriel—nicknamed Gabe and sometimes Gaby—sat slouching beside her. Then Lia regarded Danielle who sat across from her.
Lia’s spine went rigid.
This was where something was definitely wrong.
Her eighteen-year-old had hardly eaten much in the past few weeks. Tonight Danielle seemed extra moody and withdrawn. What was going through the med student’s mind, sitting with her head downcast?
Medicine seemed to be her passion, but she was not the talkative type if she did have any issues with her studies.
At least Danielle had not gone through with the tattoo or belly-piercing rebellion, Lia thanked God. Where was her funny, vivacious little girl who could not wait to spill her every adventure the moment she burst through the doors after school?
And would she ever resurface?
How could she help her daughter’s sombre demeanor, while the teen appeared to act like a caged animal, yet again wearing those dark, tight fitting clothes Howard disliked?
Lia realized she was again twisting her tight engagement and wedding bands around her ring finger as if they were a double noose. She picked up her fork.
Guilt seeped through her. Were her children noticing her growing discontentment? The English spring weather always brought it on, along with the memories of a lost love.
Danielle broke the momentary silence between her grandmother and father. “Daddy, I have something to tell you.” Those wide shining eyes were a warmer shade of her father’s blue eyes.
Electricity seemed to crackle in the air around Danielle.
“What, sugar-plum?” Howard asked just as Gabe reached across the table for another roll.
“Where are your manners, Gabe?” Howard did not raise his voice, but just glared through arctic-blue eyes. “Ask if you want something.”
“S-s-sorry, D-dad.”
Lia’s heart squeezed hard. Gabe’s stutter never bothered him when mother and son were alone. These days he spent almost all his hours in his room with his books and computer.
Picking up the basket, she held it out to him.
He shook his head. Putting down the basket, she discreetly patted his knee.
He did not pull away, but his expression made her question why she never stood up for him, or took his father to task. Oh, she had, after both children had gone to bed—or in the privacy of their bedroom when they had still shared one—arguing, reasoning with Howard, until she was emotionally exhausted talking to a human equivalent of a brick wall.
“Daddy, will you please listen?” Danielle’s voice broke through her thoughts.
Ever patient with his daughter, Howard glanced at her, resuming cutting his chicken with the precision of a perfectionist surgeon.
“I’ve met my Mr. Right. I’ve been seeing him for a year and I love him. I’d like you to meet him.” Danielle’s honey-gold bob framed her pale face. She sat reed-straight as if expecting an explosion or at least a rare shouting match. “Sanjay is of a different culture—”
At the mention of this familiar name, Lia’s airways seemed stuffed with hardening cement, choking the breath out of her.
Someone’s cutlery clanged loudly against a plate.
“Sanjay?” Both Grace and Howard pronounced the name as if smelling something disgusting.
A warped sense of déjà vu settled over Lia, heat prickling under her arms, neck and up her face.
Danielle stared back at her father. “He’s of Indian background, but—”
“Danielle, are you out of your mind?” Grace demanded in her haughty over-British voice.
“Let me handle this, mother.” Howard continued glaring at their daughter. Wiping his mouth on his damask napkin, he stood up to his full height of five feet seven inches.
Lia could not move.
“You’ve been seeing him for a whole year.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Why now? I thought we talked about everything.” Lia heard the tinge of betrayal.
“We do, but at first we were just friends, then it became more important and . . . I didn’t think you’d accept him because he’s not Jewish—”
“Glad you know your father so well.” He looked at Grace. “That was tasty, mother.” He thanked her as he thanked Lia after every meal.
He squinted back at Danielle through his glasses, his thinning oatmeal hair shone on his pinkish scalp under the chandelier lights. “This was in very poor taste, to come out with this nonsense at your grandmother’s Friday night table. Now you’ve ruined everyone’s dessert with this rubbish. I won’t get angry, but you’ll never see this person again. Or mention him. It stops now! End of conversation.” Although his voice was firm, he gave Danielle one of the smiles he reserved for his female patients, their best friend and beauty god promising to make them look younger, more beautiful or desirable again.
But as Danielle stared up at him with that brave expression, Lia knew it was far from the end. “No, Daddy. If you won’t meet him, we’ll elope.”
Lia needed water to help her constricting throat, but she could not trust her fingers to pick up the crystal water goblet. Had she not said almost the same words to her grandfather nearly two decades ago, about an intense yet fun loving—Indian—young man?
“If you promise to see Sanjay then I’ll continue my studies after—”
“Like your mother did after I married her?” He sneered. “At least that was only art, no loss to the world. But medicine’s not to be taken lightly, young lady.”
“I don’t care about medicine, never have, and I don’t want a marriage like yours.” Danielle almost shuddered. “I want a real marriage, real love, and I will get it.”
Fists by his sides, lips even thinner, Howard turned to Lia.
For the first time in years, he glared right at her, not through her. “Do you know anything about this, considering the background of this . . . this . . . ?”
“No, but the boy may be—” She started.
“He’s nearly twenty-one, Mom. He’s hardly a boy.” Without glancing at her, daughter and father dueled with each other with the same challenging eyes. “Sanjay’s smart and kind and such a hard worker, Daddy. He’s doing his MBA, and then plans to join his uncle’s business—”
Howard’s hand shot up in front of him. “Spare me the details.”
Watching, Lia’s sense of déjà vu grew stronger and her chest felt overtaxed from ineffective, too-shallow breathing. Devraj had also been subtly groomed for his family business empire. Her memories were torture enough, almost distracting her from the crisis at hand.
“Why have you let this go on, Lia?” Grace asked, blinking profusely while holding her hand against her pearl-clad neck and cream cashmere sweater.
USA
Today Bestselling author, Gloria Silk, loves writing sensuous,
uplifting and unforgettable romance and women's fiction. Her powerful
stories are filled with passion without cultural borders, which will
take you to various exotic locales around the world. Her books focus
on the many facets of romantic relationships with strong and complex
family bonds.
Born
in Russia, her love of travel was ingrained within her from a very
young age, as she has lived in various parts of Europe and the
Mediterranean. Some of her favorite visited places are Austria,
France, the Middle East, Hawaii and Hong Kong. Her next planned
excursion is to Australia and New Zealand.
England
(where she was brought up) holds a very special place in her heart
with all its history and lush, green landscapes. Her background in
English literature, writing and psychology help her create
well-rounded, unique characters.
After
spending many years in London, England where she met and married her
own loving hero, she now lives - and happily writes - in Toronto,
Canada.
For
a very special reward of a custom book gift set go to
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the tour HERE
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