SAFE HAVEN: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
SAFE HAVEN
BY NICHOLAS SPARKS 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.  

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicholas Sparks is the author of 15 books. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and children. You can visit the author's web site at www. nicholassparks.com.

ABOUT MY REVIEW:  

For readers seeking more excitement who may have shied away from Nicholas Sparks‘ work before, being known for his enduring love stories, SAFE HAVEN may be the book that will gather more fans with this slight change of pace new novel. SAFE HAVEN is a love story but also is edgier, suspenseful, and not all hearts and flowers. It still possesses the author’s trademark setting in North Carolina and the power of love and all that entails, but it also includes a gripping tale of a darker side to relationships and love.

Centered around Katie, a woman of mystery to the townsfolk where she has come to live, readers will find an attractive, unassumingly quiet young woman who seems to just want to live her own life without any connections or attention. Taking on a job as a waitress, nobody realizes how happy she is to have a job around food after going without for several days. This pretty, short haired brunette does draw attention, however, as she is new, easy on the eyes, and has an air of mystery about her as she keeps to herself. Katie slowly slips into life in Southport and fixes up a rental on the outskirts of town that she feels somewhat secure in located at the end of the somewhat isolated rocky road. Katie isn’t alone for long as a neighbor returns to a nearby bungalow nearby. Jo comes by to introduce herself and although Katie can’t afford to trust anyone she finds herself becoming friends with this woman. It feels good to have someone to feel close to. Later on, Katie will discover how important this friendship will be to her.

As with all Nichols Sparks books, there is the love interest and this comes in the form of Alex, who owns the local shop where Katie shops. Alex is a widower of a year now, having lost his beloved Carly, and has no interest in romantic ties as he runs his shop and raises his two young children. Nonetheless, Alex is intrigued by this quiet, new stranger to town and he likes that when she is in the store his daughter gravitates to Katie. When a dangerous incident occurs that could have been quite serious, Katie is there and involved and it brings the two together. Katie find herself weakening as her attraction to Alex builds and her barriers slowly give way a little as she begins to trust a man again. But what keeps this Nicholas Sparks book from being like his others is wrapped up in the reason for Katie’s secrecy and reluctance to open up. What horrible thing has happened to her in the past and, we find out, is it still a threat to her? 

Little by little, Sparks reveals the horror of what Katie had endured and why she has disguised herself and tried to run away to a SAFE HAVEN. Katie’s terrifying, abusive past is never out of her mind or far behind her, especially as Kevin enters the picture. Reminiscent of the thrilling Julia Roberts movie, “Sleeping with the Enemy”, the chilling tension mounts and Sparks successfully brings suspense and sheer terror to SAFE HAVEN. The story builds nicely from the start as the sense of foreboding builds, and is a real page-turner once readers discover the secret past that Katie is hiding from. The twist at the end will surprise readers somewhat and I think for Sparks’ first foray into this genre, he does a fine job and will certainly please his many followers and add several new fans as well.

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO BRAD AND FRIENDS 
AT HACHETTE BOOK GROUP, I 
I HAVE THREE COPIES OF THIS
WONDERFUL NEW NICHOLAS SPARKS
BOOK TO GIVE AWAY!
 
THE RULES:

--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE
SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY


HOW TO ENTER

+1 ENTRY: READ ABOVE AND LISTEN TO THE VIDEO. THEN COMMENT ON WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO WIN THIS BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: GO TO NICHOLAS SPARKS WEBSITE HERE AND LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT BOOKS HE HAS WRITTEN. NAME ONE YOU HAVE READ, OR PERHAPS WOULD LIKE TO READ, BESIDE SAFE HAVEN

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, OCTOBER 30!
GOOD LUCK!