Book Review: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

BOOK review

Started on: 13.February.2012
Finished on: 17.February.2012

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks 
Book Title : Safe Haven

Author : Nicholas Sparks

Publisher : Grand Central Publishing

Pages : 340 Pages

a romance book for Valentine Special! a little bit late, but better late than never! ;)
♥ ♥ Happy Valentine's Day! ♥ ♥
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"It was irrational and illogical and it went against everything she'd promised herself when she'd moved here, but she realized that she wanted him to know her. She wanted him to understand her, if only because she had the strange sense that he was the kind of man she could fall in love with, even if she didn't want to."

The story starts with Katie; a 27 year-old who works as a waitress at Ivan's. She's living a quiet live in Southport, not really wanting to interact with anybody; not even a chance to make friends. But things started to change when she met a friendly neighbor called Jo, who live across the street. At first, Katie didn't want to open up and accept Jo's friendliness; but without realizing, Katie started to enjoy having a company. Something she had been avoiding for quite a long time.

Her life changes doesn't stop there. She even met a guy from a store named Alex. He's a widowed man, living with his 2 adorable children: Josh and Kristen. At first, Katie didn't want to have any relationship whatsoever with Alex; but not until unintentionally Katie saved Josh's life. From that point on, Alex had been constantly trying to show his gratitude towards her; which she constantly rejected. But in the end, both of them couldn't deny, that they were attracted to each other.

Katie finally gave her trust to Jo, her only friend in Southport. She started to open up and tell stories about her life before Southport; and the reason she moved to this small and quiet place. Katie wanted to start over. Wanted to forget her past, when she was living with her psychotic husband who constantly beats her and fully controls her life. Katie did everything she could to escape and run away without getting caught by her husband; she was even close to starvation before she got the job at Ivan's because she had no money left.

"But what if the past isn't in the past? What if it's still happening?"

 

With that history behind her, can Katie move on and accept Alex's love for her?
What if Katie's husband finally found out where she lives and try to get her back?

This book is a story about how love can heal even the deepest scar inside a person's heart.
How true love finds each other without them wanting to, and will finally brings happiness upon their lives.

Nicholas Sparks had always been one of my most favorite romance writers. And once again, he succeeds in writing a beautiful story of falling in love. I've always admired how he built the relationship of two strangers; starting from small glances, short conversation, getting to know each other, become friends, starting to trust each other, and then fall in love. The story feels real because that's how most people fall in love; they start as friends first.

My favorite character in this book would be  

♥♥ Alex Wheatley! ♥♥

Even though Alex was described as this gray-haired man, I couldn't help but fall in love with his personality. ♥ ♥ ♥ He's an absolute gentleman, with a kind and loving heart, a great father, and an overall wonderful guy. My heart gets all warm when I read his loving words towards Katie; and at times wished someone would do the same thing to me too :) Who wouldn't love him anyway? Alex would definitely be a nominee in Top Book Boyfriends in 2012 ;) Quotes below will give a better description as to what kind of man Alex is :)

"The more he talked, the more she realized that he was the kind of man who tried to find the best in people, the kind of man who tried to find the best in people, the kind of man who didn't like to complain."

"Everyone has a past, but that's just it- it's in the past. You can learn from it, but you can't change it. Besides, I never knew that person. The person I've come to know is the one I want to get to know even better."

"I'm not sure anyone's life turns out exactly the way they imagine. All we can do is to try to make the best of it. Even when it seems impossible."

Overall, I love the book! It took me quite a long time to finish this book because I've been reading under the pressure of college assignments. My rating might be a little bias because I love Nicholas Sparks' works so much; the book has a great story, and I learned tons of things from it :)

Will update on my February book-shopping soon :)

bye! ;)

5/5 stars
by.stefaniesugia♥
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