Review by Booklist Review
Sparks (Two by Two , 2016) is known for crafting sweeping romances that make readers feel deeply and believe in the power of love. In 1990, Hope Anderson visits her family's longtime summer cottage on the North Carolina coast. In town for a friend's wedding, Hope welcomes the brief solitude as she contemplates her father's ALS diagnosis and questions her waning relationship with her boyfriend. Tru Walls, a Zimbabwe-born safari guide, is invited to North Carolina by a man claiming to be his father. Curious enough to accept the invitation, Tru finds himself staying in a lavish beach house next to a charming cottage occupied by a lovely woman. When Hope and Tru meet on the beach, they are drawn to each other but never expect to make a connection that will change their lives forever. Sparks confirms his gifts as he spans the last two decades and transports readers to the bush of Zimbabwe and the Carolina coast in this thoughtfully researched and spellbinding story of love that defies time, a tale both heartbreaking and heartwarming. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Sparks is a perennial best-seller, with 11 of his novels made into movies, so this is a must-have.--Patricia Smith Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Bestseller Sparks returns from a two-year hiatus with a heart-wrenching tale of fate and circumstance. Hope, a 36-year-old American trauma nurse, and Tru, a 42-year-old safari guide from Zimbabwe, meet while on a beach vacation in North Carolina. Hope, who is there for a friend's wedding, and Tru, who is meeting his estranged American father for the first time, immediately take a liking to each other. After falling in love over the course of one weekend, the two are forced to confront reality as Tru learns devastating secrets about his family's past and Hope's on-and-off boyfriend of six years, Josh, reaches out to amend their latest breakup. When their weekend comes to an end, Hope must choose between the comfortable life she always dreamed of with Josh and exploring new possibilities with Tru. What follows is an epic romance featuring plenty of heartbreak, which helps facilitate empathy for otherwise lackluster characters. Sparks's depiction of Hope's father's battle with ALS is particularly moving, as is Tru's well-plotted family drama. The rich setting helps bring life to their story, making this a worthwhile venture for romance readers despite the cookie-cutter protagonists. Sparks fans will not be disappointed. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
