Customer Reviews

The Rescue (Random House Large Print)

5 star:		(192)
4 star:		(72)
3 star:		(49)
2 star:		(25)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

Taylor McAden is a volunteer fireman with a death wish. His life's direction is in response to an incident that took place in his childhood. The author alludes to it but it is not till the end that it all comes together and we find out that Taylor isn't the only one doing the rescuing.

The book starts with Kyle, a missing four year old that has limited language skills and understanding. After a car wreck where his mother, Denise Holten is knocked unconscious, he has wandered away and is now lost somewhere in the swamp on a stormy night. With limited resources, a child that won't answer if called, and the temperature dropping we are off to an interesting beginning. Sparks molds his characters with such deference and intimacy. He grants us insight into the undaunting trials and tribulations of a mother faced with what appears to be an impossible task, the love and strength of heart of a little boy and Taylor who steps in and is eventually saved from himself.

This is an excellent book that will leave you in tears as well as make you smile. I've read all of Spark's books and I must admit I liked this one the best. He just keeps getting better...

As usual, I'll let you read the synopsis above and just tell you what I liked/disliked about the book. No point in being redundant.

While this book has similar main characters to Message in a Bottle (single mother, loner guy), it definitely carries its own weight. I was so relieved that the author has not fallen into the "formula writing" style that so many bestselling authors have these days.

The plot is new but the author's style of writing is still there. He does an excellent job of introducing the characters and letting us go through their range of emotions with them. The book flows nicely as I was able to finish in a weekend. (I obtained an advance reader copy about a month ago)

If you have enjoyed his previous novels, you'll like this one too. You'll also enjoy it if this is your first Nicholas Sparks book. You should also check his others as they are all available in paperback now.

I grabbed an advanced reading copy of this book at work one day for a friend, and it sat in my car waiting to be delivered. There it sat... and sat... untill I had a doctor's appointment. I grabbed it on my way in for the long wait and boring medical journals that waited inside. This book sucked me in on the first page. The characters, Denise and Taylor were so realistic. They had everyday struggles and convictions that made these people alive in my mind. This is a page turner book that leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling and a little faith in people and the power of love. I had never read this type of book before, but now I am an addict. A must read!

THE RESCUE by Nicholas Sparks

The book opens with a horrific storm, and Denise Holton is driving home on the highway with her son Kyle. She loses control of the car and ends up in an accident, losing consciousness. If it hadn't been for volunteer fireman Taylor McAden coming to the rescue, she would have surely died.

As Taylor is seeing to it that Denise is ok, Denise looks behind her car seat for her son Kyle, and discovers he is missing. The back door is open, and Taylor admits he did not know there was a boy in the car with her. She's in a panic, mainly because Kyle is not a normally adjusted child. For some unknown reason, Kyle has a problem with language, and will not come if someone were to call out his name. Knowing this, the search for Kyle would be impossible, especially since the car crash was near a swampy area known to lose people in normal weather. The odds of finding Kyle were pretty slim.

Denise is taken to the hospital, while the search continues for the young 5-year old. Taylor, who seems to have the gift of finding and rescuing people, miraculously finds Kyle hiding in a duck blind, unharmed. Mother and son are reunited.

Denise and Taylor develop a mutual attraction for each other, and slowly they start up a friendship that soon becomes a romance. Taylor seems to be the man of Denise's dreams, and to top it off he loves Kyle. Most persons who have met Kyle are awkward with him, because of his speech impediments and his learning disabilities. But, not Taylor. He treats little Kyle as a normal healthy boy, and soon Kyle becomes attached to his mother's new friend. Taylor is Kyle's hero and the father he never had. Denise watches as Kyle begins to develop better language skills and he does things he never was able to do before. He plays catch with Taylor. He rides on roller coasters. Kyle's life is totally changed. He slowly comes out of his shell.

In the meantime, Denise and Taylor become closer. Things are going wonderfully well until they attend a party held by Taylor's closest friends Mitch and Melissa. Mitch is his childhood friend and together they are part of the volunteer fireman group. Melissa is like the sister Taylor never had, and she teases him throughout the gathering, asking whether he is going to marry Denise. Taylor reacts by choking on his food, and becomes distant the rest of the evening.

Unsurprisingly, their relationship turns for the worse. Instead of seeing Denise every day and every night, Taylor uses work as an excuse for not coming by. He shuts her out, just as he did with every other girlfriend he's had. But, the difference between the other women and Denise is that Taylor really loves Denise, and he had felt that she was someone special in his life. So, why the change in behavior? Denise spends many nights in tears, wondering what had happened to the relationship that she so hesitantly opened her heart to. After years of not trusting any man to come into her life, she decided to trust Taylor.

Obviously, there was a reason for Taylor's turnabout behavior. No one knows why he is unable to commit to any woman, but Denise eventually finds out. It's a tragic past that has held Taylor a prisoner, and it is up to those around him to set him free.

I thoroughly enjoyed THE RESCUE. I've read a number of books by Nicholas Sparks, and I have to say that this is one of my favorites so far. For those of you who enjoy a good romance and tearjerker, this one is for you.

At twenty-nine in Edenton, North Carolina, single mother Denise Holden wonders how her dreams turned into nightmares. Currently, she lives in the home of her mother struggling to raise her four-year-old son Kyle who suffers with central auditory processing disorder.

While driving in a torrential storm, Denise crashes. Firefighter Taylor McAden rescues her and leads the search for the missing Kyle. When Taylor finds Kyle, the two hit it off in a way that the child has never done before. Soon Taylor and Denise fall in love, but he has demons that reject the concept of a lasting, loving relationship, which leaves Denise and Kyle wondering if soon they will become excessive baggage.

THE RESCUE is an emotional love story starring three damaged individuals. The story line is extremely powerful when the characters ride their feelings into activities that they normally would avoid. The two lead adults, supported by a child with a learning disorder, are incredibly drawn and their respective "interfering" mothers provide the sparks that inspire the story line. Nicholas Spark's tale is must reading for those fans that cherish a deep-rooted love story like the author,s previous works (see MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE and A WALK TO REMEMBER).

Harriet Klausner

I've read all of Nicholas Sparks's books and for Sparks' fans,this one will be no dissappointment. He has a way of making his characters come alive. You can't help but empathize with them as you feel their pain, their loniless, their joy, and even their love. I especially enjoyed reading about little Kyle and could picture this sweet little boy with his speech impediment and language problem. What a special joy he was to his mother.

I didn't think the plot (if there was a plot) was all that well constructed and the fire and rescue chapters seem almost disjointed with the rest of the book. However, it did not stop me from enjoying the book and the heartfelt sentiments that always come through in Sparks writing style.

I'm already looking forward to Spark's next book.

First off, if I could give this book TEN stars, I would!!! But, the highest we can go, in actuality, is 5... so, it's definitely a "5 Star" read!!! I've read Sparks' other novels, through the years, and have enjoyed them all. They have all touched my heart/life in some way. "The Rescue" touched me more deeply than the others, combined. A storm... a deer... a little boy... a single mother... a man who only lives to punish himself... are all elements that create the setting for an incredible tale of love. As I turned the pages, getting to know all the characters, I found myself lost in emotions... At times, I was nervous -- rocking back n' forth in my seat! Later, I was curious -- wondering what secrets Taylor held within himself. Deeper into the story, I found myself angry -- at Taylor's reluctance to love. And finally, as the relationship came full-circle, I had tears in my eyes. Literally. This is an incredibly written drama. Nicholas has the uncanny ability to make you love his characters. You see them as "real" people, and their emotions become your own. This book will make you feel. This book will teach you that saying "I love you" isn't that hard after all. Enjoy!!!

This novel by Nicholas Sparks is breath-takingly genuine. It has everything that a good book needs; it will make you smile, laugh, and cry page after page, and it will keep you hooked till the very end.

I couldn't put it down... not for a second! I was totally engulfed in its amazing and tauntingly realistic story line.

I loved this book, along with the rest of Nicholas Sparks' novels. And I'm hoping that it will make it to the big screen sometime in the near future as did "A Walk To Remember", "The Notebook", and "Message In A Bottle".

While driving in heavy rain storm, Denise Holton, a single mother, crashes her car on the edge of a swamp. She wakes up to find that her little boy Kyle is missing. A volunteer firefighter Taylor McAden rescues her and leads the search for the missing child. Our hero finds Kyle and this leads the child to bond to Taylor. The two soon fall in love, but our hero has a flaw that does not allow him to maintain a lasting, loving relationship.

THE RESCUE is a well written love story that revolves around the three main individuals. We have our flawed hero dealing with his demons, a mother who has devoted her life to her son and a child with a learning disorder. The character's are developed and believable. You will find it to be a fast read as well as you get caught up in the story. If you liked Sparks' other books, then this one is a must read.

I've read and loved all the books by Nicholas Sparks, but this one was a little disappointing. First, it took a while to get in to (the beginning dragged on). After that, it picked up, but the ending was very predictable and very cheesy. Whatever you do though, DON'T READ THE EPILOGUE! That was what really ruined it for me. The story between Denise and Taylor was pretty realistic, but there were still some gaps there. It's a quick read and fairly enjoyable, so pick it up if you have a chance.