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The Rescue

by Nicholas Sparks (Goodreads Author)

4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 · rating details · 74,228 ratings · 2,034 reviews

When confronted by raging fires or deadly accidents, volunteer fireman Taylor McAden feels compelled to take terrifying risks to save lives. But there is one leap of faith Taylor can't bring himself to make: he can't fall in love. For all his adult years, Taylor has sought out women who need to be rescued, women he leaves as soon as their crisis is over and the relationshi...more

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Published September 19th 2000 by Grand Central Publishing

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Aug 09, 2010 Buggy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: shelf-09, shelf-03, contemp-rom, top, re-read

Opening Line: "Why had this happened? Why, of all the children was Kyle the one?"

I first read THE RESCUE in 2002 and enjoyed it just as much this time with it's rediscovery. As soon as I opened the first page I was lost, reading continuously for the next 24 hours. Thinking to myself, damn that Nicholas Sparks' he's done it again, sucking me right back into one of the best love stories I've ever read.

Due to a horrific childhood trauma volunteer firefighter Taylor McAden is driven to take disturb...more Opening Line: "Why had this happened? Why, of all the children was Kyle the one?"

I first read THE RESCUE in 2002 and enjoyed it just as much this time with it's rediscovery. As soon as I opened the first page I was lost, reading continuously for the next 24 hours. Thinking to myself, damn that Nicholas Sparks' he's done it again, sucking me right back into one of the best love stories I've ever read.

Due to a horrific childhood trauma volunteer firefighter Taylor McAden is driven to take disturbing heroic risks while on the job, trying to somehow put his world right. He has few friends and all of his past relationships have resulted from rescuing troubled women in one way or another. All of whom he inevitably leaves as soon as they want more from him then he can give. It seems that there's just one leap Taylor can't make; that of allowing himself to fall in love.

Denise Holden is a single mother of a handicapped child. Due to a lack of finances she has been forced to move back to her mother's hometown and live in the inherited home. At the moment she's barely scraping by, her son Kyle taking up most of her time, energy and resources. Love is the last thing on Denise's mind as she drives home from her job at the local diner. As fate would have it though a terrible storm hit's the small southern town that night, contriving to bring our couple together. As the storm rages Denise crashes her car and upon regaining consciousness finds herself staring into the handsome face of risk taker extraordinaire Taylor. Before she can acknowledge him as her potential life partner though panic takes over as she realizes that her son is no longer in the car and is feared to be lost in the nearby swamp.

I won't be giving anything away by telling you that Taylor rescues both Denise and her son and together they forge into a relationship. But as wonderful as the relationship seems in the beginning it doesn't take long for the cracks to show and the harder Denise tries to help Taylor the more he pulls away. Shutting down emotionally and taking greater and greater risks with the fire department(For a small town they sure have a lot of fires.)

As with every Nicholas Sparks' novel we are never guaranteed a HEA which aids in a degree of tension throughout this story. For me the relationship and its sudden decline is so well written that it seemed a page from my own past, tugging at my heart with its familiarity. Taylor is a mystery throughout and the whys of this aren't revealed until the very end. THE RESCUE contains some fabulous secondary characters and you will fall in love with every one of them. It's also full of action, suspense and melodrama. There were a couple of moments when I actually gasped out loud, unbelieving as to what I'd just read. Have some Kleenex handy, this is great yet as always with Sparks bittersweet love story. Cheers!
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Jan 21, 2010 Violet Crush rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Before going anywhere with this review I would like to say that I love Nicholas Sparks. He has brought tears to my eyes by his heart wrenching stories many times. But it really pains me to say that I did not like this book. I am so disappointed.

The premise, in short, is as follows. Denise, a single woman in her late twenties has a 4 year old son, Kyle, who has learning disabilities. Denise is juggling her evening shift at a local diner and is also managing to home school her son Kyle to improve...more Before going anywhere with this review I would like to say that I love Nicholas Sparks. He has brought tears to my eyes by his heart wrenching stories many times. But it really pains me to say that I did not like this book. I am so disappointed.

The premise, in short, is as follows. Denise, a single woman in her late twenties has a 4 year old son, Kyle, who has learning disabilities. Denise is juggling her evening shift at a local diner and is also managing to home school her son Kyle to improve his language understanding and speaking abilities.

On a stormy weather one night, Denise’s car skids and bangs against a tree. She falls unconscious. When she wakes up she finds that Kyle has disappeared.

Taylor is a volunteer fireman who finds her unconscious in her car. He and the other fireman manage to search and find Kyle from a swamp and it is very obvious that Taylor, being the hero of the novel, is instrumental in finding him.

So far so good. All this happens in the first 100 pages or less of this novel. The rest of the novel is how they fall in love and how Taylor manages to overcome his issues from the past and how they live happily ever after.

My main complain here, I never thought I would say this for a Nicholas Sparks novel, is the writing. It’s too cheesy. Don’t get me wrong, I love cheesy, but this is *bad* cheesy. It’s like he was trying too hard. ‘The Rescue’ lacks the easy and non-pretentious writing of ‘The message in the bottle’.

After the first hundred pages the book kind of dragged on and on and on. I really did not understand how Taylor’s problems from the past kept him from getting too close to Denise.

Finally, I thought Nicholas Sparks tried to explain things a little too much. I am intelligent enough to read in between the lines, thank you very much. I don’t need a step by step explanation of why the characters are doing what they are doing.

Even though I did not like this book, I will certainly read another book by him, albeit with a little caution.
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Jul 17, 2010 TheBookVixen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2009, own, c-b

My relationship with Nicholas Sparks began with The Notebook, the movie. I LOVE that movie. It's one of the few movies I can watch over and over. I was so infatuated with the story (I wanted to be Allie and where was my Noah and plantation house?!!) and when I found out there was a novel behind it, I searched it out and picked it up; It was love at first page. From there, I've been picking up his books and waiting for his new releases.

Nicholas Sparks has a craft of bringing his characters to lif...more

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Oct 20, 2008 Annie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Nicholas Sparks Fans

Recommended to Annie by: Sheree McCleod

Shelves: read-in-2008

A dear friend lent this book to me months ago, exclaiming I had to read it. Not that I need much talking round to read a Nicholas Sparks novel - I just have to be in the mood. So, I thought, when better to read the King of the love story/tragedy than straight after a wedding?

This turned out to be a good choice because this was such a feel-good book. It's about a volunteer firefighter and a single mum but really, it's about how love can rescue you from yourself. The relationships explored in thi...more

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May 20, 2012 Sondra rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Even though I didn't finish this awful book, I find that over a week later I'm still FURIOUS about this:

The heroine is a penniless single mom who works the night shift as a waitress and during the day takes care of her disabled 3-year-old. The first time the hero comes to her house--on an unplanned visit--he notes that even though the place is old, it's spotless. From this, of course, we're supposed to infer that the heroine is a hard worker, has high moral fiber, and is good wife material.

BULLS...more

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Mar 31, 2009 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love Nicholas Sparks and this one didn't disappoint. I guess because he's written so many they become somewhat monotonous, so I didn't go above 3 stars. This one was a little heart-wrenching at the beginning because there is a 4 year old boy that is missing, and being a mom of a little boy, I could hardly stomach reading it. Around page 100, the story moves into the "love story."

As a note to myself (or reminder so that I don't buy it again), the book is about a fireman and a single mom. The mo...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 22, 2009 BJ Rose rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemp-romance, traded-away

This book begins with every parent's nightmare - my child is gone and I can't find him. And that situation is compounded by the fact that Denise's 4-year-old son is a special needs child, and that she is a single parent whose every moment is wrapped up in meeting those needs.

The missing Kyle is found by volunteer-fireman Taylor, and Denise discovers that there can be room in her life for someone else, especially since that someone else interacts well with her son and seems to genuinely like to b...more

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Feb 23, 2009 Steph Su rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

By most people’s standards, Taylor McAden is an amazing man. He always gives it his all on his volunteer firefighting/lifesaving job, often risking his life in the process. He always helps out with his best friend Mitch, his wife Melissa, and their four sons.

Denise Holton certainly thinks he is great. After all, Taylor was the one who rescued her from a car accident one stormy night, then found her son Kyle, who had wandered off into the swamp afterward. But it is more than that. It’s the way Ta...more

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Dec 12, 2007 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Nicholas Sparks fans

Totally a Nicholas Sparks formula, but I liked this one better than most. He at least waited until the couple knew each other for 3 weeks before hitting the sack together. It usually takes about 3 days, and happens immediately following their first kiss. I liked that they waited until they had kissed a few times, but really, can't he just hold off with the sex until they actually know each other? I'm still a Nicholas Sparks fan, though, because I am a woman, and I need my love stories. :)

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Jun 06, 2013 Sarae rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I pick up every Nicholas Sparks book ever since I read one of his book in seventh grade but The Rescue has to be one of my favorite books he's written. The book starts off with a tragedy which leads into a wonderful love story. We see a mother raising her child, but its not as simple as it usually is Denise is raising her son Kyle and he docent speak very well. Kyle is five years old in the start of the book and has the speaking skills of a two year old. Denise is affect by this greatly, she goe...more I pick up every Nicholas Sparks book ever since I read one of his book in seventh grade but The Rescue has to be one of my favorite books he's written. The book starts off with a tragedy which leads into a wonderful love story. We see a mother raising her child, but its not as simple as it usually is Denise is raising her son Kyle and he docent speak very well. Kyle is five years old in the start of the book and has the speaking skills of a two year old. Denise is affect by this greatly, she goes to doctors and they all tell her the same thing, that he will never learn to sully speak, but she is determined to show them their wrong. Denise works with Kyle everyday to improve on his speech.
One day after they were leaving the beach a place where Kyle really likes to practice his speech a storm was coming in. They tried to make it home before it came but they didn't have luck. Denise got into an accident and her car spun off the road by the time she woke Kyle was gone. A man Taylor approached the car and tried to figure out what happened and help her as best he could. Soon there was a huge search for Kyle, Taylor in charge leading it.
With Denise panicking she had to go to the hospital where five hours or so later her and her son were back together all because of Taylor, he had found Kyle in a terrible storm. Denise thanked him in every way possible for her and many people around her lent out a hand while she and Kyle were trying to get back to normal. Running into Taylor and him helping out became a routine an soon enough you could see Denise was beginning to like him. It would be perfect especially because Kyle had looked up to him ever since he found him in the storm.
In the book Denise questions weather or not it could work because of Taylor's attitude because of something occurring to him when he was a child. She questioned if he would be able to deal with Kyle and his disabilities. Through arguments it works out and they live their live happy as ever. Nicholas Sparks shows how hard it is to find love and how to make it work once you have found it. This book shows the courage and strength it takes to get through the toughest times in life.(less)

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May 06, 2013 Megan Wise marked it as to-read · review of another edition

The book The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks, Published by Warner Books. This Book was a love story. The Book starts of explaining how a single Mother named Denise Holton has a son who is five and has a speaking disorder. They were moving and they were driving through a town and skid off the road and Denise passed out. When a guy name Taylor McAden woke her up she turned to see her son he was gone. He was missing for 6 hours in a rain storm, many people were looking for him and Taylor found him in a s...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked this book. Not just because it has a feel good, everything-works-out-in-the-end ending, but because it had an engaging story. I felt like the characters were real and believable. And I know people who fit the scenarios presented, so definitely not far from reality. My only complaint would come from the fact that, despite the seeming research done into the kid's side of things, the fire fighting side of things was a little off now and then. I grew up as the child of a volunteer turned car...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Minna rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1-star, annoying-characters, blech, cheesy-dialogue, contemporary-romance, did-not-like-at-all, dumb-choices, i-hate-the-main-character, so-so-dumb, unappealing-characters, unrealistic, wish-i-could-give-negative-stars, women-s-fiction

ICK.

I borrowed this book from a friend while on vacation, because I was DESPERATE. She promised it was amazing. It was not.

I did not like Taylor. Denise was a flagrant Mary Sue (did the woman have a single flaw?). Melissa and Mitch's main functions were to push Taylor towards (or back to) Denise. The writing was flat - it seemed rushed, and watered down.

A friend who is a speech therapist had some very critical things to say about the "therapy" presented in the book. I defer to her opinion on th...more

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May 22, 2012 Megan Kolde rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While reading The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks, I didn't want to put it down. Every chance I had I wanted to read to see what happened. Like most of Sparks' books it was amazing. A perfect love story to say the least. I would suggest this book for girls to read rather than boys. Just because it is kind of like a "chick flick" type of book.

The Rescue takes place in modern day South Carolina. Denise a young, single mother of Kyle, a five year old little boy with a comprehension disorder as well as a...more

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May 19, 2012 Jaymee rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is not one of my favorites. For me the book went by very slow. It had a very similar plot to 'Message in a Bottle'. This fact made the book a little boring for me. I love Nicholas as a writer because he has a way of touching peoples' hearts.

Warning: Plot Spoilers and Discussion Follow Below

Setting: Edenton, North Carolina

Protagonist: The Protagonist is Denise Holton. She is a single mother who isn't looking for love. She has a five year old disabled son. She is working as a waitress....more

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May 15, 2012 Rachel rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is one of the few Nicholas Sparks' books with a happy ending. Little did I know, because I didn't expect it. And in a way it was disappointing, the star-crossed lovers losing to fate are the stories that define Sparks' writing. Part of me is glad that Denise and Taylor do get happily ever after--they deserved it, yet it is not as satisfying as the heart wrenching, desperate, beautiful ending of Dear John. In a way the ending, and the story is incomplete. For me it was not written the right...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Basmah Hamad rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I've read a lot of Sparks's work - I have an entire shelf of his books. But this one didn't impress me much. The first hundred or so pages kept me interested; Kyle was missing and his mother was freaking out and everything was so intense. I thought the whole book might go on like this, Taylor and Denise searching for Kyle and falling in love while doing so. But no, Taylor found Kyle and the whole plot transformed into a love story. And then the book just dragged on.
It sort of bothered me that D...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, contemporary

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Dec 06, 2011 Alannah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is about finding love when you never opened yourself up to it before. I loved this book because it makes you feel what the characters are feeling through the great details that the author uses. This book is a must read for people who love to read about finding and fighting for the ones you love. At first I thought that this book was just a sappy, love book that only happened in fairy tales. But this book turned out to be on of my favorite books I've ever read.

I totally agree with the...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Rjsmommy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: firefighters-are-hot-romances

This is the first Sparks novel I read and even though I enjoyed it I'm not sure I'll read another. I was drawn to this novel for two reasons...first the aspect of the special needs son. I have an son with Asperger's and ADHD and am also a single mom so I tend to identify with the struggles of these characters. Secondly, I have to admit to the typical female attraction of a fireman especially one with the hinted at troubling past. This book was an easy read (done in about 5 hours) and kept my att...more

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May 29, 2011 Jennefer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: all my girlfriends

As always Nicholas Sparks is a brilliant writer and this book doesn’t disappoint! In The Rescue, Taylor McAden is a volunteer fireman who seems to have a bit of a death wish. Taylor puts his life on the line multiple times to save others. Some call it being a hero and others call it just plan crazy since he tends to go over and beyond the call of duty. Taylor’s behavior is due to an incident that took place when he was just a child. Like most of his books, Nicholas Sparks alludes to the issue at...more

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May 23, 2011 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 05, 2011 Morgan Anderson added it · review of another edition

Denise holter is a single mother. Her son kyle is as normal as could be on the outside, he looks just like any other little five year old boy. But inside his brain, something is not working right. Kyle can not talk. He has the talking ability of a one year old and does not know how to pronounce very many words correctly. As Denise drives home one night, she loses control of the car and lands in a ditch. Denise is unconcious but kyle however is not. He wanders off. Almost seven hours later Denise...more

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May 03, 2011 Moondust rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-shelf, 350-page-challenge

Here are more details, Denise has a 4 year old son who she has dedicated her entire life too! I will not elaborate on that because it will give away some of the book. Technically she is a loner trying to get by life on the fringes. Then she meets Taylor, the fireman who rescued her from an accident and found her missing son in heavy rains.
Taylor is single and lives alone.He has made several rescues and has always been willing to take risk,except when it came to women. He has never had a lasting...more

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Apr 30, 2011 Hannah M. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-read, books-i-own, favorites, fiction, romance

Volunteer fireman Taylor McAden is no stranger to taking risks, except when it comes to one thing, women. Born and bred in the small town of Edenton, North Carolina he really is an upstanding southern gentlemen. He works hard in his own contracting business, goes out at all hours of the day to help others, but the one thing he won’t do is let himself fall in love.

Denise Holton gave her heart and her life to her young son Kyle. Life, and parenting, certainly isn’t what she thought it would be, bu...more Volunteer fireman Taylor McAden is no stranger to taking risks, except when it comes to one thing, women. Born and bred in the small town of Edenton, North Carolina he really is an upstanding southern gentlemen. He works hard in his own contracting business, goes out at all hours of the day to help others, but the one thing he won’t do is let himself fall in love.

Denise Holton gave her heart and her life to her young son Kyle. Life, and parenting, certainly isn’t what she thought it would be, but that doesn’t mean she’s giving up. One night on her way home from work things go terribly wrong. An awful storm has moved in and in her haste to get home has a terrible accident. The last thing she ever thought she’d be doing is looking for her lost son.

This terrible storm brings two people who need each other together. (Aweeee) The question is though, will it last? (Duhn Duhn Duhnnn)

The Rescue immediately made it to my list of favorites. The primary reason is Kyle. Damn if that kid didn’t have my heart from the get-go. The other reason is everything that the characters had to overcome to get their ultimate happy ending.

Everything about this book was fantastic. I loved Denise to death and praise her for doing all she has for Kyle. She didn’t bargain for becoming a parent the way she did and when she did, but she took it in stride. When it turned out that not everything was as it should be Denise sacrificed her home and her job that she loves to give Kyle everything she can. That is true dedication to your child, and unfortunately it’s too commonly not something that parents are willing to do for their children.

Taylor, ahh Taylor, how I love myself a tortured hero. What a good, hardworking man he is with of course those obligatory skeletons in the closet. Taylor is sooo good to Kyle, one of the reasons I love him as I do. He’s also an idiot at times, but I understand it better after having finished the book than I did in the middle. He’s been incredibly lucky but still isn’t willing to give up his volunteer position at the fire department which also makes him stubborn. Are we seeing a pattern here? But really, you can’t not love him.

I’ll say this also, I knew that there was some huge, pivotal event headed my way. I was waiting to see what would happen, and when it did it knocked me for a loop. It was one of those things that it should’ve been obvious and once I picked up on it I was going, “NO! NO! Don’t you do it Sparks!” Which of course he proceeded to, which of course meant I hopped off the couch pissed off with tears streaming down my face.

All of that leads me to my next piece, the warning. This is a tearjerker. If your cold and have no heart then you probably won’t care. If your heart beats then be prepared for tears. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t crying almost constantly for the last 100 pages or so of the book. It was one of those, your tears literally just dried up and something happens bringing new ones out. Awesome.

The bottom line: Great book, amazing read. On my favorites list for good, I’ll be going back to this regularly, I’m sure of it.(less)

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Feb 23, 2011 Sirimas-isb rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"The Rescue" written by Nicholas Sparks is a romantic novel which talk about a single mother, Denise who have a mentally disabled child called Kyle and a fireman, Taylor McAden. They met in the stormy night when Taylor rescued Denise from the car accident and found Kyle who was missing. Sparks did a really good job with bringing his character to life with is good character development and how he pay attention to details. Similar to his other novel, toward the end of the novel Spark give a twist...more

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Nov 05, 2010 Bailey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of the books I read was The Rescue, by Nicholas Sparks. The genre of the book is a fantasy and fiction. This book is geared to anybody who wants to listen to love happening but doesn’t really have a love life. Also, people who want action and romance together, but mostly is geared to young girls.

In my opinion the book had a lot of drama so it was kinda exciting and I never wanted to put it down. I really enjoyed the parts that had action but romance at the same time. I would encourage anyb...more

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Oct 30, 2010 Sara Hibbs rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks starts out with a tragic car accident which makes Denise Holton lose her mentally disabled son named Kyle, but luckily for Denise the perfect fireman, Taylor McAden, comes to the rescue to finds her son while saving her life. A couple of weeks after the accident Taylor and Denise run into each other at the grocery store and Taylor looks at Denise for the first time with out any blood on her face and finds out how beautiful she is. Their friendship gradually turns in...more

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Aug 02, 2010 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: domestic, fiction, love-stories, read-in-2010

At twenty-nine in Edenton, North Carolina, single mother Denise Holden wonders how her dreams turned into nightmares. Currently, she lives in the home of her mother struggling to raise her four-year-old son Kyle who suffers with central auditory processing disorder.

While driving in a torrential storm, Denise crashes. Firefighter Taylor McAden rescues her and leads the search for the missing Kyle. When Taylor finds Kyle, the two hit it off in a way that the child has never done before. Soon Tayl...more

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Jul 02, 2010 Tracie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I knew not to approach a NS novel as a romance. Our library system categorizes his books as "fiction" not "romance". And as the first book of his I was exposed to was Message in a Bottle, I expect tragedy along with any romance in the story line.

Also, unlike some other reviewers, I did not find Denise's devotion to her special needs child over done, abusive, or out of the normal realm of self-sacrificing. I have many friends who have special needs children, an...more

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About Nicholas Sparks

As a child, Nicholas Sparks lived in Minnesota, Los Angeles, and Grand Island, Nebraska, finally settling in Fair Oaks, California at the age of eight. His father was a professor, his mother a homemaker, then optometrist's assistant. He lived in Fair Oaks through high school, graduated valedictorian in 1984, and received a full track scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.

After breaking the N...more As a child, Nicholas Sparks lived in Minnesota, Los Angeles, and Grand Island, Nebraska, finally settling in Fair Oaks, California at the age of eight. His father was a professor, his mother a homemaker, then optometrist's assistant. He lived in Fair Oaks through high school, graduated valedictorian in 1984, and received a full track scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.

After breaking the Notre Dame school record as part of a relay team in 1985 as a freshman (a record which still stands), he was injured and spent the summer recovering. During that summer, he wrote his first novel, though it was never published. He majored in Business Finance and graduated with high honors in 1988.

He and his wife Catherine, who met on spring break in 1988, were married in July, 1989. While living in Sacramento, he wrote his second novel that same year, though again, it wasn't published. He worked a variety of jobs over the next three years, including real estate appraisal, waiting tables, selling dental products by phone, and started his own small manufacturing business which struggled from the beginning. In 1990, he collaborated on a book with Billy Mills, the Olympic Gold Medalist and it was published by Feather Publishing before later being picked up by Random House. (It was recently re-issued by Hay House Books.) Though it received scant publicity, sales topped 50,000 copies in the first year of release.

He began selling pharmaceuticals and moved from Sacramento, California to North Carolina in 1992. In 1994, at the age of 28, he wrote The Notebook over a period of six months. In October, 1995, rights to The Notebook were sold to Warner Books. It was published in October, 1996, and he followed that with Message in a Bottle (1998), A Walk to Remember (1999), The Rescue (2000), A Bend in the Road (2001), and Nights in Rodanthe (2002), The Guardian (2003), The Wedding (2003), Three Weeks with my Brother (2004), True Believer (2005) and At First Sight (2005) all with Warner Books. All were domestic and international best sellers and were translated into more than 35 languages. The movie version of Message in a Bottle was released in 1999, A Walk to Remember was released in 2002, and The Notebook was released in 2004. The average domestic box office gross per film was $56 million -- with another $100 million in DVD sales -- making the novels by Nicholas Sparks one of the most successful franchises in Hollywood.

The film rights to Nights in Rodanthe, True Believer and At First Sight have been sold, and Nicholas Sparks has written the screenplay for The Guardian, though he has not offered it for sale at this point.

He now has five children: Miles, Ryan, Landon, Lexie, and Savannah. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and children.

His ancestry is German, Czech, English, and Irish, he's 5'10" and weighs 180 lbs. He is an avid athlete who runs daily, lifts weights regularly, and competes in Tae Kwon Do. He attends church regularly and reads approximately 125 books a year. He contributes to a variety of local and national charities, and is a major contributor to the Creative Writing Program (MFA) at the University of Notre Dame, where he provides scholarships, internships, and a fellowship annually.(less)

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Quotes from The Rescue

“You're going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it's always their actions you should judge them by. It's actions, not words, that matter.” — 8,353 people liked it

“People come, people go – they’ll drift in and out of your life, almost like characters in a favorite book. When you finally close the cover, the characters have told their story and you start up again with another book, complete with new characters and adventures. Then you find yourself focusing on the new ones, not the ones from the past.” — 2,228 people liked it

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The Rescue

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