Safe Haven

By: Nicholas Sparks

Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman

Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2010 Nicolas Sparks (P)2010 Hachette Audio

Awesome love story.

I love all of these stories. I can't get enough of them. I want more.

A master writer producing a cartoon. Why?

Clearly, Sparks is a master at manipulating the emotions of the reader. He doesn't bring the rest of his writing up to that level, but lowers it down to the level of a Saturday morning cartoon for teenagers.
Alex is perfect, far too perfect, and not a hint of a flaw. Then there is Kevin. Okay, he is an obsessive nut-ball, fine, but what motivates his villainy. He is a major character and we almost know nothing on that score. There is no significant backstory to explain why he is a lunatic-wife beater. Kevin is as flawed as Alex is perfect. That does not satisfy. Kevin is like the old-time mustache-twirling villain with a black hat. He is just pure wicked for no particular reason. One or two pages would have been plenty for the reason he is cracked.
So why does Katie take it for so long from Kevin? She really has two different personalities that seem disconnected, and a little too convenient for the plot. Her backstory did not justify her allowing herself to be victimized to that extent.
The bottom line is that Sparks is so good at building suspense, fights, chase scenes and tugging at the heart strings that he just phones in the rest. Here is a master writer delivering up melodrama. I felt insulted, by his effort.
And, was the relentless repetition really necessary? Did he really have to repeat "gray-haired" about twenty-five times? What about the fifteen times about the "bad neighbors?" How about the seventeen or so times "the Bible says..." maybe all the mind-numbing repetition replaced Kevin's backstory? It seemed lame to me.
Sparks knows what he can get away with using his tricks to move the emotions, but he is letting a world-class talent wither by producing this kind of cartoon. I think he is laughing a little at the reader too, and wondering why we take it.
I’ve read Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, and Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene lately, and Sparks certainly has the ability to write at this level, but I suppose he is afraid to try. It’s such a shame.

Jaw Dropped...

OMG! I loved this book! I found myself thinking about it for days after!
My favorite part was the ending! For sure. I have to go back and listen again.. which I normally wouldnt' do. I loved all the characters, but I think my favorite was Jo. She plays her voice so happy and joyful.

I'm really looking forward to the movie, although, I'm sure it won't be nearly as good as the book.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Nicholas Sparks! Always have. He's awesome.

Romance and Suspense

What made the experience of listening to Safe Haven the most enjoyable?

The romance and the characters... well thought out plot that is surprising and exciting.

What other book might you compare Safe Haven to and why?

Actually, this book reminds me of the movie "Sleeping with the Enemy"

What does Rebecca Lowman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Listening to someone read with excitement and suspense beats trying to read it and think it to yourself. I love listening to books over and over again, but I don't usually read a book more than once.

If you could rename Safe Haven, what would you call it?

Wouldn't rename it... Can't think of a better name.

Excellent story and excellent narrator!

This was one of the best narrations of a book I've listened to... Rebecca Lowman was wonderful with accents and voices for all the characters, and made them all original and recognizable. The story was heartwarming and suspenseful. I never wanted to get out of the car when I got to work because I wanted to keep listening until the end! Recommended for anyone who likes romance & suspense.

msytery

until the end. kept me on the edge of my seat.I enjoyed this book and would recommend to everyone.

Good listening

Pretty good listen, quite captivating. A little confusing at the end and a little disappointing in how the end unfolds, maybe the movie version can fix it.

LOVED IT!!!

Loved this book! Very well read. Had my attention the whole time! Would highly recommend!

Predictable....

Too much of a long suffering female character. Not Nicholas Sparks best but an okay filler if you need something to listen to . Way too predictable for me.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Nicholas Sparks has done it again!!! This is a wonderful, unique story which held my attention from the first chapter thru the last. Kevin’s treatment of his wife was horrible but provided the perfect stage for the story to unfold. I am sure I will come back and hear it again.