A Bend In The Road [Hardcover]

A Bend in the Road is a first-rate novel and Nicholas Sparks' finest book yet. Such well-turned books as The Rescue, and Message in a Bottle established him as a writer of skill and persuasiveness, with a particular knack for wry, well-rounded characterisations--qualities well in evidence in this book.

Miles Ryan leads a relatively uneventful life in the small town in which he is sheriff--except for an incident two years previously that changed him irrevocably: the killing (by a hit-and-run driver) of his adored wife. Miles' obsession with uncovering the identity of the driver has led to problems with his nine-year-old son Jonah, who is having difficulties at school. And when Miles finds himself brought together with Jonah's teacher, the attractive Sarah, both of them are soon caught up in a relationship that will force them to re-examine what their lives mean--particularly as Sarah has a secret of her own.

The secret of Sparks' success (here, as in his other books) is to carefully establish the problems of his main protagonists so that we come to be involved in their lives and care about them--before involving them with someone else, who we similarly come to know intimately. It's not an easy task, and many a novelist has come adrift by concentrating too much on the hero or heroine at the expense of those around them. Sparks is much too sure-footed for that, and we are utterly involved with the problems of both Miles and Sarah (not to mention the nine-year-old Jonah, who is handled without a trace of sentimentality, which is a refreshing touch). As the central characters' destinies intertwine, we are as keen for them to recognise each other's virtues as we are that they'll solve the problems that have been ruining their lives. Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Sweet, accessible, uplifting and predictable, the latest love story from Sparks (The Notebook) leaves the reader with just one burning question: Why is this consummate beach book being published in the fall? The nearly thwarted but eventually triumphant romance of deputy sheriff Miles Ryan and second-grade teacher Sarah Andrews goes down as easily as marshmallow fluff and offers about as much real nourishment. Miles's high school sweetheart, Missy, was killed in an unsolved hit and run accident, leaving him to raise their son, Jonah, in New Bern, N.C. Sarah's politically ambitious husband, Michael, dumped her when her ovaries proved inactive, and she fled to New Bern to teach, and love, other people's kids. Miles and Sarah meet at a parent-teacher conference, and the sparks fly. But there's a fly in the ointment as well; an italicized voice threaded among the happy chapters alerts us that Missy's death was caused by someone whose identity, if revealed, could destroy Miles and Sarah's newfound joy. In Sparks's heaven, clouds exist to make silver linings look the brighter. As tough truth shadows their landscape, Miles and Sarah find depths within themselves, and their rekindled light illumines all. New Bern becomes a city of the reborn. Charlie Curtis, Miles's stickler boss, learns to bend; Missy's aimless killer morphs into a healer; and Jonah once again knows a mother's love. The opposite of edgy, with simple sentences and soft-pedaled sex, Sparks's plain vanilla morality will doubtless sell like ice cream on a steamy day. (Sept.)Forecast: Major television and print advertising and an 18-city author tour will broadcast Sparks's latest from the rooftops; expect instant bestsellerdom.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

A man loses his wife, lives in a haze, and then finds healing new love until the secrets start popping. nonfiction
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Love and death are constant companions in Sparks' books, and this one is no exception. Miles Ryan, deputy sheriff of New Bern, North Carolina, had married his high-school sweetheart, Missy, and was living a charmed life when tragedy struck. In 1986, Missy was killed by a car on an isolated road while she was out jogging, and the driver was never found. Two years later, Miles is still haunted by the lack of closure and only recently has shown signs of overcoming his grief. The only bright spot in his life is his seven-year-old son, Jonah, who is now having trouble in school. Then Miles meets Jonah's teacher, Sarah Andrews, and is drawn to her. A newcomer to town, she has moved to be near her family and to escape from a disastrous divorce. The two broken souls recognize each other's fragility as they work together to help Jonah. They embark on a serious relationship, which is sorely tested after Miles receives a tip about Missy's accident. In his determination to find the culprit, he throws his training out the door in his crazed his pursuit for justice. Anyone who disagrees with him or his methods is perceived as the enemy, including his boss and friend, and Sarah, who tries to be the voice of reason. Once again, Sparks brings a powerful tale of true love to fruition, proving that love stories can be sweet without being cloying. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

'Definitely one to read with a box of tissues handy' THE TIMES 'A powerful tale of true love' BOOKLIST 'Sweet, accessible, uplifting' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 'A Bend in the Road is a first-rate novel and Nicholas Sparks' finest book yet. Such well-turned books as The Rescue, and Message in a Bottle established him as a writer of skill and persuasiveness, with a particular knack for wry, well-rounded characterisations--qualities well in evidence in this book. Miles Ryan leads a relatively uneventful life in the small town in which he is sheriff--except for an incident two years previously that changed him irrevocably: the killing (by a hit-and-run driver) of his adored wife. Miles' obsession with uncovering the identity of the driver has led to problems with his nine-year-old son Jonah, who is having difficulties at school. And when Miles finds himself brought together with Jonah's teacher, the attractive Sarah, both of them are soon caught up in a relationship that will force them to re-examine what their lives mean--particularly as Sarah has a secret of her own. The secret of Sparks' success (here, as in his other books) is to carefully establish the problems of his main protagonists so that we come to be involved in their lives and care about them--before involving them with someone else, who we similarly come to know intimately. It's not an easy task, and many a novelist has come adrift by concentrating too much on the hero or heroine at the expense of those around them. Sparks is much too sure-footed for that, and we are utterly involved with the problems of both Miles and Sarah (not to mention the nine-year-old Jonah, who is handled without a trace of sentimentality, which is a refreshing touch). As the central characters' destinies intertwine, we are as keen for them to recognise each other's virtues as we are that they'll solve the problems that have been ruining their lives.' Barry Forshaw, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW 'Sparks' novels about small-town American life are designed to give you that Readybrek glow...You'll lap up the pure romance' MIRROR --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Miles life seemed to end the day his wife was killed in a hit-and-run accident. He still rises each morning to take care of his young son and carries out his duties as deputy sheriff of New Bern, North Carolina, but its all in a numb and hopeless haze. Then Miles meets Sarah Andrews, who is rebuilding her own life. Slowly, their newfound love starts to soothe the pain of the past. But when a devastating secret is revealed, they start questioning everything they ever believed in. Sparks previous hardcover, The Rescue (Warner Books, 9/00), was a #1 New York Times bestseller and remained on the list for 14 weeks. It has 912,000 hardcover copies in print. A New York Times hardcover bestseller for 56 weeks and paperback bestseller for 58, Nicholas Sparks debut novel, The Notebook (Warner, 1996), has over three million copies in hardcover and paperback print combined. The film rights have been optioned by New Line. Message in a Bottle has more than 2.5 million copies in hardcover and paperback print combined, and was a New York Times bestseller for a total of 33 weeks in all. The 1999 film starred Robin Wright Penn and Kevin Costner. A Walk to Remember (Warner, 10/99), which has more than 2.5 million copies in combined print, was an instant New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback. Denise DiNovi (Message in a Bottle, Heathers, Practical Magic) of Warner Bros. will produce the film, which is currently in development.

Nicholas Sparks is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers The Rescue and Nights in Rodanthe, as well as The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, A Bend in the Road, The Guardian, The Wedding, and his moving memoir, Three Weeks with My Brother, written with his brother, Micah. All his books were New York Times and international bestsellers translated into more than thirty languages, and Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, and The Notebook were adapted into major motion pictures. Nicholas Sparks lives in North Carolina with his wife and family. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Deputy Sheriff Miles Ryan struggles to learn how to live with the death of his wife, Missy, who died in a hit-and-run accident. As he searches for the driver of that car, he confronts his relationship with his son, Jonah, and his burgeoning love of Sarah Andrews. As this combination mystery and love story unfolds, L.J. Ganser takes the listener through the ups and downs of love, the adrenaline rushes of law enforcement, and the investigation of this particular crime. Sparks weaves a captivating tale, told by the hit-and-run driver, who slowly tells all. As Ganser takes on the identity of the story's narrator, the listener roots for the discovery of truth and for justice to prevail. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.