Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Safe Haven is the 92nd book I've read this year.  Out of curiosity, I decided to check my stats from last year to see where I was at the end of September 2009.  Funnily enough, at the end of last September, I'd also made it through 92 books, with The Last Song, another Nicholas Sparks book, listed as my 92nd read.  (I actually wrote this review a couple of days ago, but didn't post it until tonight.  I managed to get a 93rd book in today.  Review coming up.)

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.

Safe Haven dealt with a very difficult subject matter and was quite difficult to read at times.  I wanted to like it more than I did, because I've really enjoyed the last two or three Nicholas Sparks books that have been released.  This one was good, but I wasn't as emotionally involved as I usually am.  I didn't even cry, which is surprising because Nicholas Sparks books are (almost always) guaranteed tearjerkers.  I did like the characters, though (Sparks' development of Kevin was incredible), and the small-town feel of the book.

By the way, I had "Jo" figured out from the very beginning.

My rating: 3.5/5