how to put URL inside of laravel blade

I have database structure like Book & download link ..

$book= new Book();
$book->name = $request->Input(['name']);
$book->download_link = $request->Input(['download_link']); // eg. http://ift.tt/2vi6OB3
$book->save();

now if i want to give this in blade page ..like download link..how do i put in href tag so that it will redirect the user to that page?

<a href=""></a>
// This doesn't work

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