In the chaos of a war-torn Iraq, two strangers were never meant to meet - let alone fall in love.
Shawn, a young soldier raised in the foster system, found purpose and belonging in the U.S. Army. Trained for danger and sent across the world, he never expected that the most unforgettable moment of his deployment would come not from combat but from a quiet exchange with a local woman inside a U.S. base.
Nahrain, an Assyrian risking everything to work alongside American forces, dreamed of survival and a future beyond the gunfire. But when her vehicle was attacked and she disappeared, Shawn was told she had died.
Over a year passed. The dust of war settled - but the grief remained.
Then, with one unexpected message, everything changed.
A true story, The Thread That Held is a sweeping, soul-stirring novel of love across borders, resilience in the face of devastation, and the impossible journey that reunited two lives. From the streets of Baghdad to a refugee and distant continents, this is a story of hope, sacrifice, and the human cost of conflict - told by the couple who lived it.
About the Authors:
Shawn and Nahrain Taylor are the husband-and-wife team behind The Thread That Held: A true story of two lives torn by war, and one love that refused to die.
Shawn was raised in the United States, growing up in foster care before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He served in Germany, Kosovo, and Iraq, where he developed a reputation for resourcefulness and leadership. After the war, he transitioned into technology and entrepreneurship, building companies from the ground up while carrying the experiences of conflict and survival with him.
Nahrain was born and raised in Iraq. An Assyrian Christian, she endured the harsh realities of war, supporting her family and working on a U.S. military base to build a better future. Her resilience was tested when a targeted attack nearly ended her life, forcing her to flee her homeland and start over as a refugee in Australia.
Their paths crossed in Iraq during the height of conflict, where an unlikely friendship grew into love against all odds. Separated by war and borders, they fought to stay connected - eventually reuniting, marrying, and building a life together in Australia and the U.S.
Today, Shawn and Nahrain share their story not as a tale of tragedy, but as a testament to resilience, faith, and the enduring power of love.
