Safe Haven

Nicholas Sparks

Sep 2010 · Hachette Audio · Narrated by Rebecca Lowman

About this audiobook

In a small North Carolina town, a mysterious and beautiful woman running from her past slowly falls for a kind-hearted store owner . . . until dark secrets begin to threaten her new life.
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 empathetic 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.

Ratings and reviews

3 stars for the first half of book, 5 for the second half. I don't typically read romance, but I'm glad I listened to this book and it was good. The narrator did a great job, especially with the second half. I thought the two female main characters were well written, but the male main character could be a little stronger. The pacing was a bit slow for me at first and I sometimes felt bored around the middle due to some unnecessary details, like which condiments were put away first from a picnic. However, the second half totally made up for it. The suspense was awesome and the villian, although despicable, was incredibly well written. It's like I really got a good look inside his head which made him so real and scary, but also human. I hated him but also still had a little empathy for him. The very end is a little meh for my taste but has an interesting concept. Spoiler and Trigger warning: I wouldn't recommend this to someone who has experienced an abusive relationship.

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About the author

Nicholas Sparks is the author of twenty-four books, all of which have been New York Times bestsellers. His books have been published across more than fifty languages with over 150 million copies sold worldwide, and eleven have been adapted into films. He is also the founder of the Nicholas Sparks Foundation, a nonprofit committed to improving cultural and international understanding through global education experiences. He lives in North Carolina.