Reviews - Been There, Read That!

A Bend in the Road

A Bend in the Road

By: Nicholas Sparks

4 Hearts out of 5

Summary from GoodReads:

Miles Ryan's life seemed to end the day his wife was killed in a hit-and-run accident two years ago. Missy had been his first love, and Miles fervently believes she will be his last. As a deputy in the North Carolina town of New Bern, Miles Ryan not only grieves for Missy, but also longs to bring the unknown driver to justice. Then Miles meets Sarah Andrews. The second grade teacher of his son, Jonah, Sarah had left Baltimore after a difficult divorce to start over in the gentler surroundings of New Bern. Perhaps it's her own emotional wounds that make her sensitive to the hurt she first sees in Jonah's eyes, and then his father's.

Tentatively, Sarah and Miles reach out to each other. Soon they are both laughing for the first time in years . . . and falling in love. Neither will be able to guess how closely linked they are to a shocking secret -- one that will force them to question everything they ever believed in . . . and make a heartbreaking choice that will change their lives forever.

In A Bend in the Road, Nicholas Sparks writes with a luminous intensity about life's bitter turns and incomparable sweetness. His affirming message carries a powerful lesson about the imperfections of being human, the mistakes we all make, and the joy that comes when we give ourselves to love. (GoodReads)

Decided to try another story from one of my favourite authors. Find out why I took a chance on this contemporary read:

Knowing Nicholas Sparks as an author, every one of his stories is bound to have heartbreak and a mystery. In the very beginning of this one you are told about the death of a mother and wife, and this book essentially tells you the story of a man and his son's journey through the grief of it. This was a very sweet love story, and while it could have had more depth and analysis to it, it did give you want you wanted in most cases, and fulfilled the wishes for as much of a happy ending as possible.

The flashbacks in the story is a nice touch to bring the past into the future and give a snippet into how the plots may intertwine. The character of Sarah is amazing, and it's easy to make her a greatly loved character, but our main character, which is sad, seemed to be lacking, at least in my opinion, many needed character traits. He seemed a bit too cliché, very droned out, and didn't allow for much of an emotional connection. Maybe that was Sparks intention, with having a macho man who likes to hide his emotions because of what he's been through. If that was the case it didn't really work for me, but with others it may be a good thing.

This book is essentially about a dad who falls hopelessly in love with his son's teacher after the death of his wife. He's a bit skeptical about it, but this can all be learned about in this great read from Mr. Sparks.

I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Nicholas Sparks, likes mystery romances, and like heartache, but then a happy ending. This book is sure to touch all of your emotions. 

Take a chance with this book, it may surprise you. It surely did with me!

~BetwixtDecisions