Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
Book Description
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 as Kate 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.
Nicholas Sparks is a bestselling romance author with a
dedicated following. Safe Haven is
not his latest publication as it was released in 2010, but it has had a
resurgence of interest since the book was made into a movie this year.
After
suffering years of physical and emotional abuse from her husband, Katie Feldman
has managed to escape the marriage with the hope of starting a new life. After
bouncing from state to state, she decides to stay awhile along the coast of
North Carolina in Southport.
However, Katie is all too aware her stay may only be
temporary as she must hide from her unstable police detective husband. Kevin.
Although she lives in constant fear of being found, Katie manages to find a job
as a waitress and she finds a place to call her own, a small cottage nestled in
a secluded part of the town where she can maintain her privacy and heal from
her physical and emotional scars.
Another Southport resident, Alex, also seems determined to
become a part of Katie’s life. Alex is a widower with two small children who
owns a country store on the outskirts of town. He cannot help but notice the
lovely Katie whenever she stops by the store to shop. Alex is curious about Katie’s
skittish nature and evasiveness when he tries to engage her in conversation. He
senses Katie wants to be friendly but is too scared to do so. During one of her
visits, Katie intervenes when Alex’s son becomes endangered. Her involvement
during this crisis causes Alex and his children to reach out to Katie, to
encourage her to become a part of their lives.
This is a big step for Alex, since he is only now beginning
to consider getting involved with another woman since his wife died. But Alex
sees something in Katie, and although he knows she has secrets, he still wants
to take a chance with her to see where the relationship will take them.
The pacing of the novel is slow in order to show the
development of Katie’s relationship with Alex and his children. As they get to
know each other, their mutual attraction grows, and Alex’s children are
accepting of Katie, and she comes to care for both them. Yet, Katie is still afraid to become too
involved with this family because of the dangers from her past. Early in the
relationship, she tells Alex, “…I
do want to see you and it scares me because I know deep in my heart that you
deserve someone better. You deserve someone you can count on. Someone your kids
can count on. Like I said, there are things you don’t know about me.” Katie doesn't think Alex will want to
continue their relationship once he knows the truth, but she believes that Alex
deserves to know about her past. The flashbacks to significant episodes in
Katie’s marriage describe a vibrant woman who eventually crumbles under the
control of a selfish husband who uses criticism and violence to keep his wife
submissive. Although, she has been traumatized from the marriage, Katie is a
survivor, a strong character who refuses to succumb to a life of pain and loneliness.
To Katie’s surprise, Alex is understanding and even
accepting of her situation and vows to keep her secrets in order to keep her
safe. Alex is an admirable man who isn't afraid to put his heart out there for
the woman he has grown to love. He is open and honest about his feelings for
Katie, which is refreshing for me as a reader of romance.
As predicted, Kevin
eventually tracks Katie to Southport, and even as he searches for her specific
location, he remains in a perpetual state of drunkenness. His extreme mood
swings leave readers wondering whether he will kidnap Katie and bring her home
or kill her since she has betrayed him by leaving and being with another man.
Throughout, the novel, we get Kevin's point of view about his marriage to Katie
whose birth name is really Erin until she obtains her new identity. Although at times Kevin becomes mournful and
cries about losing Erin, it is hard to feel much sympathy for a man who is
bullies and physically assaults a woman without accepting responsibility for
his actions.
Kevin's arrival
in town builds towards a suspenseful and dramatic climax that
impacts the future of Katie and Alex. Just when you
think you have the ending figured out Sparks throws you for a loop with
neighbor Jo’s role in the story. The ending leaves you reaching for the
Kleenex, yet feeling optimistic about rare second chances we may be fortunate
to be given in our lifetime.
Rating:
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Related to Nicholas Sparks
Nicholas Sparks Official Website
Goodreads Author Profile
Safe Haven Movie Trailer (Movie Released February 2013)
I'm a North Carolina native, and although you might consider me biased, I do believe Southport is a great place to visit and vacation.
Learn more about Southport, North Carolina: Southport
For some great recipes check out the online magazine Our State: North Carolina
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