The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks

Some FACTS:
It is #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list

It’s Copyright  © 2000

Warner Books, Inc.

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

http://www.twbookmark.com

visit www.ipublish.com

Nicholas wife is Cathy

He has three sons Miles, Ryan and Landon

His Agent is Theresa Park of Sanford Greenburger Associates

His Editor is Jamie Raab of Warner Books

This book took place in  1999 when  North Carolina had the worst storms in history.

The main Character is Denise Holton whom was traveling to Edenton, North Carolina with her son Kyle (age 4) in the back seat.

Denise dedicated her life to her son Kyle and he was a full time job for her as he required special attention for a “speech”/”language” disability.  As a single mother she set out to do her best.  She worked four nights a week, five hours a shift earning enough to get what she needed to.  She became a master of budgeting, a master of cutting corners.  She had 238.00 in the bank and her car is 19 years old.

The reason why she was a single mother is that the father is Brett Cosgrove, and he was the type of man who attracted attention.  She was 23 and in her second year of teaching, Susan introduced Denise to Brett who was in town for a short investment banking business deal and they basically had a “one night stand” that led to her pregnancy of her wonderful son Kyle.  The father did not want anything to do with her or the baby.

On page 24-25: “She worried about Kyle all the time, and though all mothers worried about their children, she knew it wasn’t the same.  Sometimes she wished she knew someone else who had a child like Kyle.  At least then someone would understand.  At least then she’d have someone to talk to, to compare notes with, to offer a shoulder when she needed to cry.  Did other mothers  wake up every day and wonder whether their child would ever had a friend?  Any friend? Ever?  Did other mothers sooner whether their children would go to a regular school or play sports or go to the prom?  Did other mothers watch as their were ostracized, not only by other children, but by other parents as well?  Did their worries on on every minute of every day, seemingly without an end in sight?”

As Denise was traveling a doe, fully grown on this stormy night froze in front of her car-she knew she would hit it!  As she swerved to hit the deer she hit a tree and her head hit the steering wheel and scaring pain in her forehead and fell unconscious.

The next thing she hears is “Hey, Lady, are you all right?” All she could say is KYLE!  Where is my son?  He was not in the car!  Taylor McAden was the man from the fire department who found Denise first.  This led to a community of fireman and volunteers to find Kyle in a swampy area who Taylor found Kyle’s blanket, in the swampy areas about 50 years from the spot where Denise had crashed.  It took hours when Kyle was found by Taylor and brought to the hospital where Denise was taken for her injuries.   Since Kyle could barely speak this task of finding him was harder than a normal case.

Taylor’s mother  Judy always wanted him to find a wife and settle down.  But for some reason “love” was just not his thing.  His relationships would start off wonderful and then he lost interest.  But this is not the case for how he felt for Denise as the relationship develops.  In the end they end up happily ever after with  Taylor adopting Kyle as his son.

Quote I love:  Page 131: “You are going to come across people in your life who say all the right words at all the right time.  But in the end, it’s always their actions you should judge them by.  It’s actions, not words, that matter.”

I could identify with this book on so many levels.   I was a single mom for 11 years.  I had all the same feelings as Denise did.  My daughter was ADHD and I had to work full time too.  The hardest part is getting help form the schools when she was younger.  She always had to stay after school to “get more help.”  This was hard on her and on me.  Every day I had to wake up and have a routine with my daughter, rush to the daycare or schools to drop her off, then rush to work, then rush back by a certain time to pick her up.  These type of events went on for 11 years.  If my daughter was sick, I had to bring her to work with me.  I was thankful to have a job that would allow it.  I cannot tell you how many times I wished someone would come rescue me and my daughter from the every day struggles.  Either way she is now 17 years of age and I am 44.

I loved “The Rescue” and it brought back memories for me.  I would love to help single mothers get through their hard times as it is something that I did first hand, mostly alone.

 © 2011 By Jackie Paulson