Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks

Every Breath
by Nicholas Sparks
Pages: 321
Published by Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date October 16, 2018
Source: Gift
Genres: Romance
Goodreads

In the romantic tradition of The Notebook and Nights in Rodanthe, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks returns with a story about a chance encounter that becomes a touchstone for two vastly different individuals -- transcending decades, continents, and the bittersweet workings of fate.

Hope Anderson is at a crossroads. At thirty-six, she's been dating her boyfriend, an orthopedic surgeon, for six years. With no wedding plans in sight, and her father recently diagnosed with ALS, she decides to use a week at her family's cottage in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to ready the house for sale and mull over some difficult decisions about her future.

Tru Walls has never visited North Carolina but is summoned to Sunset Beach by a letter from a man claiming to be his father. A safari guide, born and raised in Zimbabwe, Tru hopes to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding his mother's early life and recapture memories lost with her death. When the two strangers cross paths, their connection is as electric as it is unfathomable . . . but in the immersive days that follow, their feelings for each other will give way to choices that pit family duty against personal happiness in devastating ways.

Illuminating life's heartbreaking regrets and enduring hope, Every Breath explores the many facets of love that lay claim to our deepest loyalties -- and asks the question, How long can a dream survive?

Every Breath reminded me of one of Nicholas Sparks’ earlier works, Message in a Bottle, how fate and the power of a letter can transform the roads one takes.

After reading the forward and learning that this was based on a true story I was excited to begin reading Nicholas Sparks’ first semi-non-fiction novel.  Tru and Hope were lovely, inspiring characters that one can route for.  The story was well paced, and throughout the novel could not believe this not-the-right-time story was true.

Like most Nicholas Sparks’ novels, they always lead to a few teary moments. Like The Notebook it is a beautiful, inspiring plot.

Unfortunately, when I read the afterward Sparks’ admits that the only true aspect of the novel was the community mailbox which ultimately brought the two lovers together. Like One Million Little Pieces and Go Ask Alice I felt slightly cheated. However, I quickly got over it as I still throughly enjoyed this heart-warming romance, I just wish the author had been upfront about its inspiration.