Rating: 
Summary: A Page Turner
Review: This book definitally held my interest, but I can't say it had me on the edge of my seat. Sparks did a great job with the characters- they are easy to relate to and fun to become friends with. He wrapped it all up nice in the end, but I wasn't left feeling "wowed". It was easy to guess what was going to happen next. A good story overall however.
Rating:
Summary: Looking for something deper
Review: I still love Nicholas Sparks, I always will but I was hoping for something a little deeper with this one. I was hoping for something more like The Notebook or Shade of the Maple by Kirk Martin. Still, it is a good story well worth the time.
Rating: 
Summary: Disapointed
Review: I have read all of Sparks books to this point. I must say that I was a little surprised at this one. Not his usual love story. It held my interest. But I was very disappointed with the ending. Not to give to much away....But the "Singer" ending was terrible. Then for Sparks to say in his Author's notes at the end of his novel that stories like Old Yeller, Where the red fern grows, To Dance with the White Dog were the inspiration for this novel made me laugh. He is NOT that good of a novelist. His books are good for a quick read...........that's all
Rating: 
Summary: Sparks adds some suspense
Review: "The Guardian" tells the story of a young woman named Julie Barenson who is trying to recover from the death of her husband Jim 4 years ago. Her closest friend is her dog, Singer, who was given to Julie by her husband to be a companion to her. She is being romanced by two men, Richard, a handsome and charming engineer, and Mike, the down-to-earth mechanic who was her husband's best friend. When she chooses Mike as a steady date, Richard begins to act in a bizarre fashion and his actions frighten Julie. She and Mike have a hard time convincing police that Richard is a danger to them, and so the stalking behavior continues. There's not much doubt as to how this story will turn out, but it still makes for an entertaining read.
Rating: 
Summary: Gets nothing right
Review: An utter bore at the beginning. This is the clumsiest romance writing I've ever seen. Progresses to a predictable but mildly interesting stalker situation. Has a disgusting ending. 'Nuff said.
Rating: 
Summary: Another great romance with a great twist!
Review: The Guardian is by far THE BEST NICHOLAS SPARKS NOVEL YET TO DATE! I say that with great sastification because not only does this novel have a good love story, but also a tale of how something can go wrong when you least expect it.
Julie is a widow whose husband, Jim died. Of course on Christmas, she receives a gift from her deceased husband, a dog who she names Singer. Now fast forward four years later, she is now ready to date again. But so far, no luck. So she runs into this nice guy named Richard. A successful businessman who's good looks and charms catch Julies eye. Then there is Mike, who is friends with Julie, and was friends with Julies husband Mike. They are very close to each other, but Mike loves her in a more passionate way, but when Richard gets into the picture, it kind of turns things sour with her and Mike. But then Julie does not like Richard because she feels that there is no spark there like she had with Jim, so she callss it off, and Mike then talks to her, and he asks her out, she said yes and she falls in love with Mike. But then Richard, who's leaves town to go to her mothers funeral finds out that it is over between her and Richard.
Then Richard's evil side comes out, and now he is stalking Julie and Mike, Richard is obessed with Julie, and will do anything to get rid of Mike, even murder! Now I am not going to spoil the ending because it just gets better and better, of course the book starts off slow, and it just gets harder to put down, but if you find the beginning boring, JUST KEEP READING IT, and you wont regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Good Story
Review: ISBN: 0446527793
Title: The Guardian
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Warner Books
Julie Barenson is all of twenty five and already a widow. Months after her husband's death, a package arrives at her door, a puppy that will grow into a Great Dane and a note from her husband, he and the pup will watch over her.
Four years have passed, Singer is now full grown and Julie's constant companion, even sitting in a special corner at the Beauty Salon while Julie works. Julie decides that she is ready for a relationship, a new phase in her life.
Mike, Julie's forever friend, wants more than friendship with Julie and so does Richard, a new man in town. Suddenly unusual things occur and Julie fears for her life. Sparks once again creates a narrative sure to grab your attention and touch your soul, "The Guardian" another best-seller from Nicholas Sparks.
Beverly J Scott author of "Righteous Revenge" and "Ruth Fever." Reviewer for Intriguing Authors and Their Books at http://www.funeralassociates.com/authors.htm
Rating:
Summary: Typical Sparks with a twist
Review: In the "guilty pleasure department," I must admit to liking the books
of Nicholas Sparks (THE NOTEBOOK, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE,
etc.) . . . they're typically romantic and very quick reading . . . also,
they leave you looking forward to his next effort.So as soon as I was able to obtain a copy of THE GUARDIAN from
my local library, I grabbed it--and was not disappointed in having done
so. In fact, this novel actually surprised me in that it had a romantic
plot, as well as a chilling mystery/suspense side to it . . . throw
in a dog as a main character, and you have something for just
about everybody. The story involves a widow who must fight for her life when one
of her two suitors turns out to be not quite the guy she had
expected he would be. It kept my interest until the very
end . . . actually, make that past the end for Sparks then
included a very insightful Author's Note that helped explain
why he wrote the book . . . here is part of it: The genesis of a novel is always a tricky process. Often it begins
with a vague idea, of in my case, a theme, and for this novel, I chose
the theme of love and danger. In other words, I wanted to write a story
in which two believable characters fall in love, but I wanted to add
elements of suspense and peril that would ultimately put both
characters in jeopardy. I can't remember where I was when I made
the decision to attempt such a story, but I do remember thinking that
I was going to enjoy the process of trying to write a type of novel
that I hadn't written before. Boy, was I ever wrong. Well, let me rephrase that. While I did enjoy the process of writing
the novel, the editing required was far and away the most difficult
I've ever had to do. From first to final draft, the novel went through
eight major revisions until my editor and I were finally satisfied
that the novel accomplished what it set out to do; that is, be a love
story first and foremost, and secondly--in a way that sneaks up on
the reader--a compelling thriller. I wish the above was something done by all authors! There were several memorable passages in the actual book; among
them: He missed talking to her, seeing her smile, hearing the sound of her
laughter. Watching the way her eyes, in the late afternoon when the
sun was just right, seemed to change from green to turquoise. Listening
to the quick intakes of breathe whenever she was getting close to the
end of a funny story. Even the way she punched him in the arm
sometimes. It would break my heart if I thought you'd never be happy again. . . .
Find someone who makes you happy. . . . The world is a better place
when you smile. But like a gambler at a slot machine, hoping the next spin would
change her life for the better, she closed in before she lost her nerve.
Taking his hand, she pulled him toward her, near enough to feel his
body against her. She looked up at him, tilting her head slightly
as she leaned in. Mike, recognizing what was happening but still
having trouble believing it, tilted his head and closed his eyes,
their faces drawing near.
Rating:
Summary: Hey, the dog HAD to die!
Review: Look guys, that dog was her husband. Get it? He HAD to go back to the Great Beyond ... to be reincarnated AGAIN, as her next lover, or maybe her son. Stay tuned to the oh-so-romantic imaginings or Mr. Sparks! But enough about minor plot details. Literarily speaking, the book was the biggest stinker I've ever read ... if you can call that reading.
Rating:
Summary: For the dogs . . .
Review: So, like, this guy dies, then comes back as a dog (but a very precocious and sensitive dog) to take care of his widowed wife? If that's the kinda sappy nonsense you're into, by all means, read on . . .
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