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Literary Friday: Safe Haven

Friday, January 29, 2016



Happy Literary Friday, My Lovelies!  This week I read Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks.  Each Christmas, our daughters and I enjoy watching movies, and Safe Haven was a favorite.  Shanley Belle checked-out the book from the library, and I checked it out, too, upon her recommendation.

Erin is married to a monster named Kevin.  Kevin is a police detective in Boston, and he has a history of mentally and physically abusing her.  She lives in a virtual prison, and she never knows what will trigger his harassment and abuse.  Erin finds her chance to escape when Kevin must travel to another town to appear as a witness in a high-profile case.  She cuts her blonde hair and dyes it brown before catching a bus to Philadelphia.  She waits tables at a couple of restaurants because she needs the money, but she quickly moves on because she recognizes Kevin's car: He knows she's in Philly! Eventually she ends-up in the sleepy coastal town of  Southport, North Carolina.  She now goes by Katie.

Katie is in survival mode.   She's hungry, she's lost weight, and she wants to simply find a job and live frugally so she can save half her wages in case she needs to run again.  She is too broken and scared to form any relationships or friendships in her new town.  Her plans are thwarted when buying supplies in the local country store, she meets the store's proprietor, Alex.  They slowly begin a friendship and eventually admit they're attracted to each other.  Alex is a widower with two young children: Josh who's six and Kristen who's five.  Katie is great with the kids, and she enjoys spending time with the little family.  Katie is reluctant to let down her guard, but with the encouragement of her neighbor and friend Jo, she opens her heart to the possibility of joining this sweet family.  The only problem is that she's still married to a monster, and she's scared that his superior detective skills will lead him to Southport.

I love this book.  It is the first Nicholas Sparks book I've ever read, and from what I understand most of them have unhappy endings (hence the reason I don't read them).  However, this one does have a happy ending, and I like how Sparks tells the story about the marriage from hell in flashbacks woven throughout the novel.  The scenes containing the spousal abuse are tough to read (I almost had to book the book down a couple of times).  The story is told from both Katie and Kevin's points of view, and Kevin's depraved justification for his actions are truly chilling sections to read, so consider yourself forewarned!

On a side note, the movie is a lovely adaptation of the book.  Here is the trailer:




Safe Haven stars Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough



What have you read lately? This is a link party!


Until next time…

Happy reading!
Ricki Jill



7 comments

  1. This weekI read SECRETS OF A CHARMED LIFE and THE LAKE HOUSE. I enjoyed both tremendously. I watched the trailer and read your synopsis of SAFE HAVEN. Things like this are very hard for me to read, as I was married to someone who was very abusive a long time ago. It also sounds a lot like the plot of another movie although I forget the name, which starred Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.

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  2. Hello,
    Yes, I have read Safe Haven. I enjoyed it. I just finished reading The Longest Ride by N. Sparks. I think you would enjoy it. A great ending.
    Carla

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  3. Wow Ricki Jill I bet as you were turning the pages your knuckles were turning white from fear and your heart was beating fast. I bet you couldn't put this book down. This is so going to the top of my must read list and then afterwards I will watch the movie. Thank you my friend for this review.
    Enjoy your weekend and go play.
    xoxo,
    Vera

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  4. I read this one quite a while ago and liked it. It is a bit different than some of his other books but I thought it was really enjoyable. Have not seen the movie, though. xo Diana

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  5. We have this movie on our Netflix list. Now I shall be moving it up in the listing. Thanks, Ricki Jill.

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  6. I have seen the movie and enjoyed it. Of course, watching Josh Duhamel is easy on the eyes. I didn't realize that it was a Nicholas Sparks book though.

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  7. Sold! I've got to read it now. I remember when the movie came out and I never did see it. Looks good. {So do the actors!!!} But I do not recall most of Nicholas Sparks stories ending sadly, although I have cried reading some of them...Thanks for sharing Ricki Jill.

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I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

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