'Raya: A Novel' Offers Readers a Tale of Love, Loss and...

Being at crossroads in life, having experienced loss on many levels and feeling the universe's indifference made author Mahsa Rahmani Noble reflect back to her roots and to the life of a woman whose stories she grew up with and felt a kind of kinship with. It was a form of therapy at first but further realizations in life led her to the publication of her debut book, “Raya: A Novel” (published by Archway Publishing). Visit https://www.amazon.com/Raya-Mahsa-Rahmani-Noble/dp/1480864218 to purchase and know more about the book.

From the palaces of pre-revolutionary Iran to Swiss boarding schools and the world’s glamour capitals, Princess Soraya Esfandiary Bahktiari lived a life seemingly straight out of a fairy tale. The only daughter of a prominent Iranian family, at 16 she is selected from among the most beautiful and eligible women of her country to wed the Shah of Iran. Too young to recognize prominent members of Iranian society made the match — and that her job is to help unite a country being driven apart — one truth is inescapable: Soraya loves the Shah deeply. Sadly, her affections are not equally returned and her life is shattered overnight. The red carpet is pulled from under her feet as her royal status is torn away.

Years later, a chance encounter with a distant relative leads Soraya back on a journey through the tender and tumultuous times of her life as another young woman struggles to come to terms with love and betrayal. Together, they share their stories of defeats and victories of love, hoping to make sense of the ever-fragile human heart.

“Raya: A Novel” is a portrayal of loss and the loss of love, identity, stature, status, family and country. Through the characters in the story, it conveys a timeless message that human traits do not change with time. Both women, though coming from different generations, share a shattered soul and come to understand what it means to be true to one's self.

“We all experience loss in one form or another — you do not have to be an empress, commoner, man or woman — it’s a human experience and we all struggle with how to move on,” the author shares. “I hope that readers walk away with a positive message, especially women, on loyalty, kinship and how we all gain strength from sharing our stories. I hope that my readers realize that life is transient but love isn't.”

“Raya: A Novel”
By Mahsa Rahmani Noble
Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 362 pages | ISBN 9781480864207
Softcover | 6 x 9in | 362 pages | ISBN 9781480864214
E-Book | 362 pages | ISBN 9781480864221
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author
Mahsa Rahmani Noble is a designer, philanthropist and global child welfare advocate. In 2008, after working in the fashion industry for over a decade, she turned her attention to writing. She currently resides between Boston, New York and Martha's Vineyard.

Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly ninety years of publishing experience, has teamed up with Author Solutions, LLC, the leading self-publishing company worldwide, to create Archway Publishing. With unique resources to support books of all kind, Archway Publishing offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience. For more information, visit http://www.archwaypublishing.com or call 888-242-5904.

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