He's Coming For You

Have you locked your doors? Are your windows secure? Is your reading light on because one chapter will turn your happy-go-lucky Hallmark experience into an uncontrollably unnerving thrill? 

This photo provided by rjp. 

The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks is a novel that brings every emotion to the page: painful sorrow and lighthearted joy, tender love and searing hatred, and… of course, a bone-chilling eeriness that will leave you stranded in the dark, both figuratively and literally, until you turn the very last page. As a reader, your third person omniscient point of view allows you to see every character in their shining moments or evil demise, making your job as a reader that much harder since the characters cannot hear you screaming at them through the pages.

The Guardian is a romantic thriller, one of the few by Sparks, involving the young widow, Julie, and her Great Dane, Singer. Throughout the plot, Julie must figure out what her heart desires most, or who it desires: a natural and gentle love with one of her late husband’s, and her, closest friends or an extravagant yet protective relationship with an out-of-towner. Both men are kind and devoted to Julie, waiting for her every beckon call; however, this bachelorette may not have a say in whom to love, as the novel adopts a psychological twist that will take the characters… and the reader… for a total tail spin.

Despite some debate over the quality of The Guardian on the website goodreads.com, FictionAddiction.net reviews Sparks’ novel as “A real page-turner sure to delight his dedicated fans and land him a whole new fan base at the same time. The characters are so real…. Sparks has nailed the stalker’s character so well, it’s downright creepy.”

Before reading this novel, I can honestly say that I expected the usual, cliché romance plot that Sparks generally produces in his other stories. What I did not expect was a supposed-to-be-easy-read-during-Christmas-vacation to turn into a don’t-read-after-nightfall paranoia (with a hint of classic reader's addiction). I found myself on numerous occasions curled up in a ball on the couch or in front of the fire, an image of delightful reading in my head, while tremors shivered down my spine as I read this book in a haste to discover the unforeseeable conclusion. The wonderful side of thrillers is that once you are enveloped in the mystery, it is almost impossible, and unspeakable, to rip your eyes from the pages.  

If you are in need of an escape from watching the clock tick-tock as time seems to drag through the week, this book will give you something to think about, pay close attention to, and really ponder over the aspects of the human mind and how far some will go to get what they want. While some may be resistant to read a book from a notorious romance novelist, I can assure you that this novel possesses the obvious aspect of love, but also heartache, betrayal, murder, mystery, a chase, and an intense ending that will ring in your ears days after the last word has been digested.

I also recommend any of Sparks' numerous other novels - just make sure you are ready for a good cry!
This image is provided by Denise P.S.