Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Synopsis: 

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.


I am so glad I came across this book on goodreads, I purchased it on my iPad after reading the synopsis and let me say.. It was well worth it. This is my first time reading a Nicholas Sparks book although I have seen a few of the movies adapted from his books like A Walk to Remember, Dear John, The Lucky One and The Notebook. ALWAYS TEARJERKERS! I started this book thinking it was just going to be another tear jerking love story but IT IS SO MUCH MORE. Nicholas Sparks does an amazing job of writing Katie as a completely broken victim of domestic abuse but with the will to FIGHT. He did a wonderful job merging both death and domestic abuse into a beautiful love...If that makes any sense. Unlike most of his movies & books(did research on them), Safe Haven is full of twists that you wouldn't see coming from a mile away. I don't want to spoil anything for future readers so I leave with a list of the emotions I felt while reading this book...

HAPPY 
SCARED
EXCITED
NERVOUS
WORRIED
DEPRESSED
RELIEVED
LOVE<3