Safe Haven

I typically don't deal w anything written by sparks. There are a select few books I've read because the majority of his books all use the same diluted sorry line from what I can tell. However, not too long ago I got sucked into a movie with a thriller of a beginning and couldn't stop watching. As it turned out it was the movie to this book. I have thoroughly enjoyed both and would def recommend this one.

I am going to preface this by saying that I normally prefer historical romance novels (works by exceptionally intelligent and emotionally attuned authors like Lisa Kleypas, Julie Quinn, and lately Sherry Thomas), so it is possible that my expectations do not match other readers'. I don't think that I necessarily require a love scene when reading a romance novel (whether it be contemporary or historical), but for me, it was necessary in Safe Haven. Unfortunately all we got were **Spoiler Alert!!!! [horrific sex scenes with the abusive ex-husband. If Sparks is going to include those traumatic occurrences and a whole lot of violence, then I needed to see Erin/Katie heal through attaining an emotionally fulfilling sexual relationship with Alex. Their relationship felt a bit rushed, shallow, and incomplete for my taste.] **

I found this book to be mediocre in the quality of the writing. Much of the language and word choices were bland or lacked specificity. I just expect my author's to be more intelligent and better edited than I am. Perhaps that is unreasonable. I didn't feel enough chemistry between the main two characters. Those are just some of the things that bothered me. It wasn't the worst book I have ever read by far, and there were a lot of things that I did like about it. Some of these things are Spoilers . . . Katie struck me as a strong and resourceful person who grew throughout the novel. I also like her relationship with Alex's children. **Big Spoiler I like that Katie is the one who ends up saving the day more or less in the end, rather than Alex just swooping in and protecting her.

All and all, for people who like a romance novel with no graphic sex scenes, this may work for you. I left the experience wishing I hadn't wasted my time.

I have to first say that this is not my first N.S. book so you would think I would know what I was getting myself in for. For the most part, I did but still this book hit some new lows in my opinion. I am a romantic at heart and I think most of the people who read his books would say the same but.... come on now! Could any single man living in a small town be this perfect without one of the locals getting their hands on him before a woman from the big city just came along and snapped him right up??? I think not! He is just too perect to believe. So when reading this book you are best to be in a dream state of mind. If that is not enough, turn on any Life Time movie of the week and you will find a husband/cop that some poor young girl has married only to find out that he is really the son of the devil. This story has been told so many times I am surprised that it is making it back to the big screen once again.

Now for the low blow, and this maybe a spoiler so read on if you wish. What in the WORLD was Nicholas Sparks thinking when he wrote the whole "his dead wife was a imaginary friend/ ghost who lived next door to new girlfriend thing???? Talk about needing therapy! That would have sent any sane woman running but this poor girl was so messed up anyway of course she was too much in love to leave. Come on Nick, you can do better then this! Not to judge anyone else but how in the world does this book have so many 5 stars? I gave it 3, did not HATE the book but sure did not LOVE it.

Who are the over 3,000 people who gave this terrible book 5 stars? I love to read. I will read just about anything. However, I will never read my second Sparks book. Try Elizabeth Berg if you want a fast good read. Or Anne Tyler.

If you want to read a new released YA fantasy adventure trilogy novel check out Crepuscular Light In The Night. It's the first one in the series and it has all the right ingredients you want for a page-turning book with new creatures you've never heard about before. Dragon Vampires have been with us longer than Vampires have. The werewolfs and the Vikings have known about their secret for a long time. Now it's time to hear their story. Ones you start reading you will be hooked. Love, adventure, family, friendship and betrayal will leave you wanting more.
Crepuscular Light In The Night

(Review contains spoilers) I can't write that this was Mr. Sparks' best book but I did enjoy it. The hero and heroine were fun, although the heroine was a bit tiresome at times. I started to get annoyed with the text that had nothing to do with propelling the story forward (butterfly hunting? Really Nicholas?) and found myself skipping those parts. Overall, it's an easy read with a happy ending. What else could you ask for? Tinthia Clemant

I bought the book because I loved the movie and I wanted to explore some of the elements in more detail. But I was disappointed by the book. Frankly, I think the movie was much better crafted . . . and I rarely think that.

Alex Wheatley is a widower in the small town of Southport, North Carolina, struggling to raise his two young children alone following the death of his wife a couple of years earlier. Katie is the mysterious beauty who has recently moved to town, taken up a job waitressing, and clearly prefers to keep to herself. These two gradually fall for each other and Alex (who used to be an investigator for the Army's Criminal Investigative Division) gradually pieces together the secrets of Katie's past.

I like that these two seemed to fall in love gradually and over a reasonable amount of time. And that they didn't rush into the bedroom together. And I'm pleased that their feelings for each other did seem to germinate from some truly meaningful connections like her easy way with his kids and a shared appreciation for Dickens. I just wished it had run a little deeper somehow.

In many ways, this book accurately depicted (minor spoiler alert) domestic violence . . . and I admire the book's ability to shed some light on that difficult dynamic.

But, overall, I found the book to drag somewhat. And I found a lot of faults with the character of Katie's neighbor, Jo, which was much better done in the movie. Also, and this is a minor complaint, but it says that Alex retired from the Army after ten years of service . . . and that is inconsistent with how military retirements work. I know it may seem like a small point, but the details do count.

I wanted to love this book as much as I enjoyed the movie, but it just fell somewhat flat.

While I do enjoy Nicholaus Sparks's books, this book is the exact same story as the 1991 movie "Sleeping with the Enemy" starring Julia Roberts. Sorry, but Mr. Sparks looses tons of points for stealing the storyline. Not impressed.

Let me just say this is the first book of his I read and I could not finish it even though I was almost at the end... I would give this zero stars if it was possible but I cant so I had to stick with one star and even that made me cringe.

First off his editor should be fired because let me tell there are so man issues with his writing that even I can write better then that. He is repeating him self constantly to the point where i wanted to yell I get it already move on. He is particularly in love with the word "and" as well as not having a wide vocabulary.

The characters were one dimensional and so unbelievable that it was really hard to root for any of them. For someone who has been a victim of abuse she sure dd not act like it (I think he should have done his research). The conversation between characters were boring and it never changed through out the book.

If you want to read a good author Nalini Singh is one of the best and after reading Archangel storm then trying this book... my brain cells begged me to stop before they threatened to walk away and leave me. So know I am off to try and read something more stimulating then this garbage... Will never read him again and have no respect for authors who write to make a living not because they love it.. It shows in his work that he is not a real write yet he continues to insult us with this drivel. Sparks is only in it for the money and not the because he can write or loves it even.

As with all Nicholas Sparks books, this one is drippy and unimaginative. The diaglogue is bland at best and repetitive. There is a 'twist' at the end that made me want to throw this book out of my window. The only interesting character is Kevin. It would've been really interesting to read an entire book from his perspective. The climax at the end is ridiculous and waaaaay too long. In addition, there isn't a lot of resolution at the end of the book. There are 100 questions that go unanswered at the end. All in all, not worth your time or money, but I'll probably download the movie...illegally, because there's no way in hell I'm paying to see that either.