FEATURED BOOK
Guard Thy Heart
International Author, Speaker & Cultural Commentator
A Meditation On Love’s Fragility, Buried Grief, And The Fierce Grace Of Starting Over.
OVERVIEW
A Story of a Place and Its People
Guard Thy Heart is not too short a literary fiction masterpiece. In essence, it is a novel about the cost of emotional silence – the kind that accumulates over years in a principled life, until the weight of it becomes impossible to carry quietly. It is a literary fiction novel in the tradition of morally precise European writing, told with emotional restraint and considerable depth.
SYNOPSIS
A Story of Courage, Loss & Resilience
Years after a life-saving heart transplant, Paul Ollenson finds himself adrift in a marriage that no longer breathes, and haunted by a love that once set his soul alight. In the tranquil beauty of Provence, surrounded by lavender fields and summer winds, Paul confronts the emotional weight he has long buried. But what begins as quiet reflection quickly becomes a reckoning – whispers of a forgotten woman, a tragic memory reawakened, a choice between comfort and truth. Guard Thy Heart is a stirring meditation on love’s fragility, the mystery of second chances, and the fierce grace of starting over.
THEMES
Profound Themes. Timeless Questions.
Love
What it means to love truly - not comfortably, but honestly.
Truth
The weight of what we know and choose not to say.
Second Chances
Whether the heart can find its way back to what it left behind.
Moral Courage
The quiet, demanding kind - the kind no one else sees.
CHARACTERS
Unforgettable People. Unforgettable Journeys.
Meet the characters whose lives, choices, and relationships bring the story to life.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
A Nation at a Crossroads
The novel moves across the landscapes of European professional and private life – from the corridors of international institutions to the lavender fields of southern France. Historical fiction underpins this story through the layered moral world it inhabits: a world in which reputation and principle are carefully maintained, and in which the personal cost of that maintenance is rarely acknowledged.
BEHIND THE BOOK
A Personal Journey
“Guard Thy Heart began with a question i kept returning to: what happens to the parts of ourselves we set aside in order to function? Paul is a man who has been very good at function. The novel is about what it costs him.”
TESTIMONIALS
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
Voices that reflect the impact, depth, and emotion behind Siwar Al Assad’s work.
“Palmyre Pour Toujours is quietly devastating. it changes the way you think about what we lose when we lose history.”
Cultural Heritage
Reader Review
“Le Temps D’une Saison has the pace of a thriller and the heart of a love story. it transported me completely.”
Historical fiction
Reader Review
“A rich and imaginative world brought to life with warmth and moral seriousness. Altana stays with you.”
Young adult fiction
Reader Review
“A Coeur Perdu Is A Thrilling, Lyrical, And Deeply Human Debut. Siwar Al Assad Writes With Emotional Precision And Philosophical Depth.”
Marianne Duval
Reader & Blogger
“Each of Siwar Al Assad’s books unveils a different layer of the human condition. His work is unified by compassion, depth, and an unwavering voice for peace.”
Karim Saidi
Literary Critic
“Guard Thy Heart Captures The Emotional Gravity Of Love, Loss, And Ethical Awakening. A Beautifully Crafted Novel.”
Joseph Turner
Reader & Reviewer
READER GUIDE
For Deeper Conversations
Discussion questions, themes, and resources to help readers explore the novel’s ideas, characters, and historical context.
INSIDE THE GUIDE
- Discussion Questions
- Key Themes
- Historical Context
- Activity Ideas
- Further Reading
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common Questions.
Find answers to common questions about the book, the author, and the ideas behind the story.
Memory, history, and the quiet courage of ordinary people navigating extraordinary circumstances.
Born in Damascus, educated across Europe – shaped by many places, rooted in one.
Identity, belonging, love, cultural memory, and the moral weight of the choices we make under pressure.
Use the speaking inquiry form on the Speaking page to share your event details.
All titles are available through major international retailers. Visit the Books page for direct links.
GET YOUR COPY
Available Worldwide
Find Guard Thy Heart At Your Favorite Retailer.
CONTINUE THE JOURNEY
More Stories to Explore
Discover other books by Siwar Al Assad and step into new worlds of history, love, and unforgettable people.
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