Rating: 
Summary: Not very clever - lifeless characters
Review: I just didn't buy into this book's plot. I have family in New Bern and I enjoyed his description of the town and life there (fairly accurate slice of life). However, the characters were awful. He never developed the romance into anything beyond infatuation. The two seemed to have nothing in common and no reason to stay together. The big cliffhanger is awful and then poorly handled by the characters creating artificial drama -- common in many people's lives, but something I like to avoid. I am actively waving people away from this book as trite and annoying.
Rating: 
Summary: Beware the black dog!
Review: This intense novel is mainly a bittersweet romance, though the twists and turns involved in that small town in North Carolina complicate the matter. The climax toward the end was more than I could take at one sitting -- had to read it in snatches, as too much emotion was involved.It was a clever twist, and I was fooled as to the identity of the perpetrator of the misery to this couple and their families. And to think that this 'innocent' person might end up ruining the lives of all involved. This story was nothing like A WALK TO REMEMBER with the exception of a useless, early death to an important character. It was different, yet much alike; I hope the movie won't be such a tearjerker, though. This writer sitting among the daffodils (should have been tulips -- read the book and you will understand why) could fit the description of the main character of this book. Makes a reader wonder if he bases his stories on real life.
Rating:
Summary: Down the Long, Straight Road to Predictability
Review: Normally I am a big fan of Nicholas Sparks, but this book did not come even close to meeting, let alone exceeding my expectations. He really disappointed me and I would not recommend this novel to anyone. This book contains basic characters that are so cliché; it could drive any reader insane. Meet Miles Ryan- a single parent that is distraught over his lost love. His poor son Jonah has never been the same after his mother died that fateful day in a mysterious hit-and-run accident. Along comes Sarah Andrews, the ideal mother who cannot bear children. Then there is the mysterious narrator who has driven himself crazy because of the accident he caused that involved Missy Ryan so long ago. From the start I knew that I was in for an unexciting and conventional read. The first half of the book is devoted solely to the development of Miles' and Sarah's relationship. That part is excellent, if you really like to read sentimental and 'heart-warming' books. As you reach the second part, it breaks of into figuring out who Missy's killer is; as if no one knew who it was after they met him for the first time. In this book, Sparks makes most of his chapters short and leaves you hanging. He then jumps to another person's point of view and will not return for at least two chapters. He also spends too much time on insignificant details that make this book painful to read. A Bend in the Road, though it starts out fine, takes a horrible turn and quickly turns into one of the most monotonous and uneventful novels ever written by an acclaimed author. It is almost like reading a Nancy Drew novel (one that is too easy to figure out) and a love story that has been told over and over again. There really is no unexpected twist in this book because as you move on, Sparks puts up huge warning signs that tell you what is to come.
Rating:
Summary: Down the Long, Straight Road to Predictability
Review: Normally I am a big fan of Nicholas Sparks, but this book did not come even close to meeting, let alone exceeding my expectations. This book contains basic characters that are so cliché; it could drive any reader insane. Meet Miles Ryan- a single parent that is distraught over his lost love. His poor son Jonah has never been the same after his mother died that fateful day in a mysterious hit-and-run accident. Along comes Sarah Andrews, the ideal mother who cannot bear children. Then there is the mysterious narrator who has driven himself crazy because of the accident he caused that involved Missy Ryan so long ago. From the start I knew that I was in for an unexciting and conventional read. The first half of the book is devoted solely to the development of Miles' and Sarah's relationship. As you reach the second part, it breaks of into figuring out who Missy's killer is; as if no one knew who it was after they met him for the first time. In this book, Sparks makes most of his chapters short and leaves you hanging. He then jumps to another person's point of view and will not return for at least two chapters. He also spends too much time on insignificant details that make this book painful to read. A Bend in the Road, though it starts out fine, takes a horrible turn and quickly turns into one of the most monotonous and uneventful novels ever written by an acclaimed author.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: I even liked this book better than the Notebook. Nicholas Sparks is such a gifted writer. A Bend in the Road was a page turner from beginning to end.
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: Compelling, and beautifully written. Such a mystery with the love of two people. I really liked this book, and most people will.
Rating: 
Summary: CAN I HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA SAP WITH THAT BOOK PLEASE?
Review: Let me start this review by saying I am not hard to please when it comes to romance novels and I don't mind a little extra sap mixed in, at times. For me this book was a good read to pass the time on these long winter days with cups of hot chocolate. If your looking for an enjoyable book, something that is not "heavy" and that you can see being a movie of the week on the LIFE TIME Channel you will enjoy this book. I did figure it out pretty early on and I still wanted to finish it. Can't ask for much more then that from a book that was in the bargin bin for five bucks at BORDER'S BOOK STORE. ( Off the record, about the author, a guy that looks that good should not be allowed to write romance novels. Boy is he hot )
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Read-Nice Light Romance
Review: Miles Ryan's life seemed to end the day he lost he beloved wife Missy. She 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 sheriff in the North Carolina town of New Bern, Miles not only grieves for Missy, but longs to bring her killer to justice. Then Miles meets Sarah Andrews. The second grade teacher of his son Jonah. Sarah left Baltimore after a difficult divorce to start over again. Perhaps it is 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 laughing for the first time in years and falling in love. But neither have any idea how closely linked they are to a shocking secret. This secret changes everything between them and forces each of them to question everything they believe in. It is from this point on they must make a heartbreaking choice.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!
Review: As a Nicholas Sparks fan I would have to say that this book is by far my favorite. Like most of his books it starts off tragic but than blooms into this incredible love story between Miles Ryan a widower and Sarah Andrews his son's second grade teacher who had just recently moved to New Bern because of a divorce. As their love grows you will laugh and cry with them. But as usual there is a twist in the end of the book that you will have to read to find out! I would recommend this book to everyone who believes in love.
Rating:
Summary: It was a real page turner!!!!!!!!!!
Review: The first time i came upon this book was when i was on Amazon.com looking for books to read. I read some of the reviews and the sounded good. So the next day i went to my school library and got the book. It was a real page turner. I like every minute of reading that book.I've read a Nicholas Sparks book before this one and i think he is such a wonderful and inspiring author. In this book Miles loses his wife when she takes a jog and is hit by a car. Now he had to take care of his son Jonah, who is sad and lost without his mother. I give alot of credit to this character in this book. I couldn't imagine losing someone and having to take care of a child and at the same time working full time as a sheriff. This is truly a love story , from losing someone then in a twist of fate finding another person and falling in love all over again.Though i thought that it was weird that it was Jonah's teacher. This was not a hard book to read, it was rather relaxing. Several people who i have talked to said that this book was great. I thought that this book really makes you think about life and how it could change in an instant. I also thought it teaches you not to take things for granted because before Miles's wife went on that jog they got into a fight and he regretted that. I would suggest this book to anyone, young or old. I would rate this a five star book.
| 
