Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Average Customer Rating:

A bit dull	Customer Rating:
I was very disappointed in the ending. After having so many chapters of depressing news it would have been nice to have a better written ending. I am still a fan of Nicholis though... just not one of his best

Sparks with a twist

Customer Rating:

Usually, Sparks writes of bad circumstance, an illness or something else that affects a relationship. In this novel, there is an accident that affects many lives, Miles, Jonah, Missy and Sarah. You feel the pain both Miles and Jonah feel and the emotional hardship since the accident. You see the development of the characters as the story progresses. Sarah is introduced as Jonah's teacher who offers to work with Jonah to improve his reading skills. A relationship begins to develop between Miles and Sarah. Sparks does an excellent job of conveying the conflict of emotions and the nervousness Miles faces in moving on. Just when things start to move smoothly, there is a turning point in the novel, as with other Sparks' novels, that ultimately determine if the love is worth keeping. The difference is, this is the first time I've seen Sparks introduce a 'bad guy.' Not a bad guy as in 'evil' person, rather, the ramblings of a character whose purpose is later revealed and is critical in the development of the story. I've read several of Spark's novels and this one is definitely one of the best.

Don't read the book jacket

Customer Rating:

I really enjoyed this fast read. It was predictable only because I read the book jacket when it said (spoiler?) that the secret would be closer to each of them (Sarah and Miles) than they would realize. Sarah being new to the small town, how many people could she and Miles know in common, Sarah's parents and brother being at the top of this list. I enjoyed the book, though. I'm glad it ended how it did, especially the candles!

easy to finish, but just okay

Customer Rating:

I see this was written in 2001 and I have enjoyed other books better from Sparks since this was written. Not to say avoid this book but this reader was a little less impressed with the character and story flow in "a bend..." I guess my main problem is the protagonist Miles, a sheriff in a small town who comes off a little silly and too drama prone for the story's own good. Still can't wait to read another novel by this talented writer.

Another winner by Sparks

Customer Rating:

I have become a Nicholas Sparks fan and have come to expect certain things with his writing. This and At First Sight were the two exceptions for which I couldn't imagine the ending if I tried. This book chronicles Miles Ryan and his son, Jonah, attempting to live their lives as normally as possible after the death of their wife and mother. While walking along a bendy road, she is struck by a vehicle, covered with a blanket, and left. Miles, an employee of the sheriff's department, is completely distraught and finds himself investigating on his own while his department also investigates. Eventually, he moves on and begins to fall for his son's teacher, Sarah. This story is very touching and romantic, and also is a frank portrayal of an adult attempting to get back in touch with the dating scene he has been out of for so long. While at times the book was predictable, Sparks' writing gives it an unexpected edge and you will find yourself enjoying it, even if you have a feeling about what's to come.