Safe Haven
On the plane right back from Orlando I grabbed a book to read... and sometimes I really feel like a nice romantic book. I don't mean those really romantic (and graphic) books... I mean like Nicholas Sparks. I'm kind of a sucker for Nicholas Sparks books- ever since I read A Walk to Remember when I was in high school (and then fell in love with the movie). Overall I find Nicholas Sparks books are a bit on the predictable side and overly fluffy- but I'm fine with that. They're my escape books- I don't pick up a Nicholas Sparks book expecting something breathtaking (like... The Help for example). I do know that they will be sweet romantic tales that are pretty well written and they have never failed at that.Generally I have to be in a particular mood to pick up and read a Nicholas Sparks book or movie even- so alot of times I don't feel any great need to drag my hubby to the movie theater to see the latest movie or rush to the book store to pick up the newest release from him. A lot of times it will just hit me- I'll see it while browsing in the book store and feel the urge to pick it up and read it. Anyway- I had that urge while I was at the airport in Orland while we were waiting for our plane and grabbed Safe Haven. I definitely enjoyed it and was able to pretty much finish it on the plane (although I've been told that I'm a fairly fast reader... so maybe four hours is the average amount of time to finish it).*No Spoilers : Promise* The story is a bit unique for a Nicholas Spark book. There is a bit more of a suspenseful and rough edge to this story- the main character, Katie, is running from a dangerous and scary past. She finds refuge in a small town in North Carolina and settles into a very quiet and 'off-the-grid' life. Of course (as required for it to be a Nicholas Sparks book) she meets a widower, Alex, and his two unbelievably adorable children- and (as I'm sure this is no spoiler) falls in love with him with some encouragement from her neighbor, Jo. As expected though- Katie's past catches up with her and she ends up fighting for not only her life but the life of Alex and his children. So there is some predictably through the book, but it was different enough that I felt it to be a refreshing and fun read.Now- you might point out that the movie was just recently in theaters- and I will now admit to you Safe Haven is actually one of the few Nicholas Sparks book that I read before seeing the movie (again I really have to be in the mood for a Nicholas Sparks movie... and it usually just hits me randomly). Well- I was pretty interested to see the movie after reading the book and was pretty delighted to find that Safe Haven was still at one of the dollar theaters (called the Elvis Theater - $3.50 for ticket!) here in Denver. So my hubby sweetly offered to take me to see it yesterday after work. :) Check out the trailerThere were of course changes to the story- but nothing for me to complain about as that just seems to be how movies work. I really enjoyed the cast- I love Cobie Smulders and find Josh Duhamel quite handsome and was pleasantly surprised my Julianne Hough's acting skills. Plus, my husband overall enjoyed it (albeit it will never be his first choice... but he said he didn't feel as if he was being tortured by watching it and he did laugh at a couple parts). My absolute favorite part was the little girl that played Alex's daughter (who is named Lexie in the movie and Kristen in the book)- she reminds me of my baby sister and I just couldn't help but find her adorable. This clip in particular reminds me of my little sister- the way she talks and laughs. So cute. :)Phew... that was a long post. Thanks for sticking with me. :)