Showing posts with label Nicholas Sparks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nicholas Sparks. Show all posts

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks

 

Counting Miracles  by Nicholas Sparks  350 pages

Tanner Hughes was raised by his grandparents, following in his grandfather's military footsteps to become an Army Ranger. His whole life has been spent abroad, and he is the proverbial rolling stone: happiest when off on his next adventure, zero desire to settle down. But when his grandmother passes away, her last words to him are find where you belong. She also drops a bombshell, telling him the name of the father he never knew -- and where to find him. Tanner is due at his next posting soon, but his curiosity is piqued, and he sets out for Asheboro, North Carolina, to ask around. He's been in town less than twenty-four hours when he meets Kaitlyn Cooper, a doctor and single mom. They both feel an immediate connection; Tanner knows Kaitlyn has a story to tell, and he wants to hear it. To Kaitlyn, Tanner is mysterious, exciting -- and possibly leaving in just a few weeks. Meanwhile, nearby, eighty-three-year-old Jasper lives alone in a cabin bordering a national forest. With only his old dog, Arlo, for company, he lives quietly, haunted by a tragic accident that took place decades before. When he hears rumors that a white deer has been spotted in the forest -- a creature of legend that inspired his father and grandfather -- he becomes obsessed with protecting the deer from poachers. As these characters' fates orbit closer together, none of them is expecting a miracle... but that may be exactly what is about to alter their futures forever.


I love Nicholas Sparks books, but this one especially appealed to me because it involved Christian people and Bible verses within.  I loved the way the story intertwined the characters with one another.  I would love to read this one again!

Saturday, January 15, 2022

 


The Wish by Nicholas Sparks-387 pages

Typical Nicholas Sparks.  Well written but predictable.  Some happy moments but a lot of sad ones.  Back and forth between the past and present.  I really cannot say much more without giving it all away.  Those of you that are Sparks fans will enjoy it very much.

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

 Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks-Audiobook, 6 CDs (340 pages in print)

I listened to this in my car on a recent road trip. It's a good listen. Katie Feldman (aka Erin Tierney) arrives in a small seaside town in North Carolina (called Southport). She has a hidden past and tries to keep to herself. However, with a little pushing from her new neighbor, Jo, she starts to fall for the local general store owner (and widower), Alex. He has two young children, Josh and Kristen. Katie falls for them, too. Katie ran from her abusive husband, Kevin Tierney and ended up in Southport. I won't say anymore, except that I liked this book. It's my favorite Nicholas Sparks novel so far (I haven't read nearly all of them, though). 


Monday, December 21, 2020

The Return by Nicholas Sparks

 


The Return by Nicholas Sparks-355 pages


Very typical Nicholas Sparks.  Excellent story, heartwarming romance and a stray teen that pulls them all together.  I enjoyed it very much.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Dear John by NIcholas Sparks

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks-276 pages

I decided to read this one next and this is the last Nicholas Sparks novel I am going to read for now. I have seen the movie and, in many ways, I like the book better. I can't decide which ending I like better (the endings are different, for those who haven't both read the book and seen the movie). I am conflicted about the book ending just as John Tyree (the male protagonist and title character) is. Overall, I am glad I have read the book and I am glad that this month's romance challenge has led me to read some Nicholas Sparks novels. I think my favorite of the three I have read this month is The Notebook, though. It's such a great love story (even though I am not really into romance that much).

Thursday, February 16, 2017

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks-214 pages

This is the next Nicholas Sparks novel I have decided to read since I have already seen the movie. I liked this one better than A Walk to Remember, although that one was pretty good, also. The Notebook film is also more closely aligned with the book. The love and heartbreak (but, ultimately, love) described in this novel is touching and something that I have always dreamed about. Overall, I think this is probably my favorite Nicholas Sparks novel (although I have only read two so far, so I could change my mind!).

Monday, February 13, 2017

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks-240 pages

Admittedly, I do not usually read many romance novels, but since that is this month's challenge, I decided I could read some of Nicholas Sparks' novels of which I have previously seen the film. In this case, the book is better than the film although the film isn't bad, either. Landon Carter falls in love with the unlikeliest of girls named Jamie Sullivan, the preacher's daughter who is different (in a good way, I think). She has a secret, however, that Landon doesn't learn until near the end of the novel. Overall, A Walk to Remember was an easy, good (albeit somewhat sad) read.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks, 398 pages

The Longest Ride is Nicholas Sparks most recent novel.  I have read all but two of his novels, so I was anxiousl to read this one. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.  This book took me a while to get into.  Unlike most of his other novels, I was not real interested in the characters in this story and felt it was very slow moving and boring. Usually, in his books, I feel like there is some big twist.  In this novel, I kept waiting for the unexpected, but it never happened.  I thought the whole story was corny.  The book flashes between two couples, Ira and Ruth and Sophie and Luke.  Ira is a ninety year old man who has driven off the road and is trapped in his car in the snow.  While trapped, he sees images of his deceased wife Ruth.  The book bounces back and forth between Ira's life story, and college student Sophie and rodeo star Luke's blossoming romance.  The ending is predictable, if not, corny.