Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I am a big fan of Nicholas Sparks so I was excited to read this new book. This story made me feel a whole range of emotions and I certainly wiped away a few tears. A brilliant group of characters that all had their own stories and came together so beautifully in the end. I felt as though the characters had more to say and the story just skimmed the surface. I would love to read a sequel to this book to find out how their lives progressed. A beautifully written story as always. 4 stars.

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 1 August 2024

Tanner, a nomad accustomed to never belonging, embarks on a journey to Asheboro after learning the identity of his estranged father from his dying grandmother.

Meanwhile, Kaitlyn has found her sense of belonging in Asheboro, having built a fulfilling life for herself and her children after a tumultuous divorce. Their paths intersect, stirring unexpected feelings in both of them.

Jasper, haunted by a tragic accident from his past, lives a solitary existence with his loyal dog Arlo, feeling disconnected from the world.

As Tanner, Kaitlyn, and Jasper navigate their own sense of belonging, their lives intertwine in Asheboro, where they confront their pasts and forge new connections.

Honestly, I found myself struggling to connect with Jasper, finding his storyline slow and unexpected due to its religious aspects. The abundance of Bible verses overshadowed the romance plot, leaving me, as the reader, disappointed. I did feel the romance between Kaitlyn and Tanner was forced and rushed, lacking the emotional depth typical of Nicholas Sparks novels. However, I enjoyed the portrayal of Kaitlyn's children, finding them engaging.

Despite contemplating giving up on the book, I ultimately found satisfaction in the second half's emotional release, although I wished for more focus on the romance side of things.

I believe the novel may appeal more to a conservative audience, and while I appreciated the research behind it, I found the excessive military detail distracting.

Overall, “Counting Miracles” was a solid but not exceptional fiction novel for me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Little Brown Book group UK | Sphere, and the author, Nicholas Sparks, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

NICHOLAS SPARKS – COUNTING MIRACLES****

For me, this is an oddity. Nothing wrong with the prose – how could there be? The man is an expert. It’s very well written, in a page-turning sort of way. It’s the premise that seems odd. As though he created two totally different stories at different times, and then wondered what to do with them. You can imagine him sitting there, wondering how to combine them into another of his multimillion selling novels.

One concerns Tanner Hughes who moves out of his grandparent’s home with nothing more than a duffle bag and a garment bag containing his funeral suit and a scrap of paper written by his dying grandmother saying Asheboro.

In said town he defends a young woman being pestered by a man and ends up with her friend reversing into his car. The girl is the daughter of Kaitlin, the town’s doctor, with whom he starts a relationship. End of chapter one.

Chapter two starts a totally different story, about an old man called Jasper with the most terrible burns. Gradually we learn about him and his history.

The novel continues with long chapters alternating between these two stories. The tenuous connection is that Kaitlin’s son is taught how to whittle animal shapes. There are all sorts of nasty (wealthy!) people in the town who hate the old man and his obsession with protecting nature.

You have chapters of each story and not until virtually the end are you told the connection. Personally, I found this annoying as the connection seems contrived only to join two disparate stories together. There’s nothing wrong with either on their own. But they are so different that they could appeal to totally different readerships. Like blending chalk and cheese and expecting a tasty souffle.

Not one of his best. Though a darn sight better than most authors out there.

Title: Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks

Release Date: September, 24th, 2024

3.5 Stars

They say miracles happen when you least expect them, and "Counting Miracles" by Nicholas Sparks is a testament to that belief.

In this emotional and powerful novel, we follow Tanner Hughes, a rolling stone who's happiest when on his next adventure. Raised by his grandparents and following in his grandfather's military footsteps, Tanner has lived his life abroad as an Army Ranger.

But when his grandmother passes away, her last words “find where you belong”send him on a quest to discover the father he never knew in Asheboro, North Carolina.

What I Enjoyed:

* Engaging Character Development: Sparks weaves a compelling story with well-developed characters whose lives are intricately intertwined. Tanner's journey of self-discovery and Kaitlyn Cooper, a single mom and doctor, facing her own challenges, are relatable and heartfelt.

* Unexpected Connections: The immediate connection between Tanner and Kaitlyn is both exciting and genuine. Their chemistry leaps off the page, making you root for their romance from the moment they meet.

* Touching Storylines: The subplot featuring Jasper, an elderly man living alone with his dog Arlo, adds depth to the narrative. His obsession with protecting a legendary white deer in the forest brings a sense of magic and mystery to the story.

* Life Lessons and Deep Meanings: The novel is rich with true-to-life lessons and deep meanings. Sparks' writing has always had a way of touching the heart, and this book is no exception. It explores themes of belonging, healing, and finding one's place in the world.

* Emotional Impact: I cried so much during the last several pages of the book. The story's emotional depth and the characters' struggles and triumphs are incredibly moving.

* Biblical Undertones: While different from some of Sparks' other works, the biblical lessons in "Counting Miracles" add an interesting layer, teaching valuable life lessons through the characters' journeys. Not something I’m used to, but I was still engaged.

"Counting Miracles" is a beautifully written novel that will resonate with anyone feeling lost, lonely, or like they don't belong.

It's a must-read for those seeking to find themselves and understand the true meaning of family and belonging. Sparks' ability to weave profound life lessons into his narrative makes this book a deeply impactful read.

If you're a fan of heartwarming stories with a touch of romance, mystery, and a whole lot of soul, this book is for you. You'll be wrapped up in the story from start to finish, feeling deeply connected to the characters and their journeys.

It's a stunning reminder that miracles, big or small, are always within reach.

Thank you to The Publisher Little, Brown Book Group UK | Sphere ,The Author Nicholas Sparks & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

I've never read a Nicholas Sparks book before, I have watched several movies based on his books though. This didn't disappoint, it had exactly the same vibes and emotions as the movies.

The characters are so well written, their stories and journeys are thought out so well. Their developments with one another and how they all became intertwined in each other lives was brilliant. The writing is beautiful with a straightforward, easy to follow plot. This was honestly such an easy read--I finished it in a day--and a well needed breather from all the fantasy, thrillers and murder mysteries that typically I read.

Another fantastic story by Nicholas Sparks. Having read his previous stories, the bar was already set high. Counting Miracles delivered on every count and I devoured it.

Sparks manages to detail two separate storylines that are interwoven delicately. You get a sense they are going to come together but the twist worked well. Tanner has long been moving from one part of the world to the next and has never laid down roots, Kaitlyn is settled with her family in Asheboro but has lost her own identity. Jasper, older in years, has seen and experienced many things in his life. His search deep in the forest provides some incredibly tense moments that made me so anxious for the character and turning the pages to find out his fate.

It is beautifully descriptive and captures the classic Sparks tale of passion and community set amongst the wilderness.

Having read Nicholas Sparks before I was happy to receive an arc copy of this book and excited to read it however I found this a different book to his previous ones and did not enjoy reading it as much.
The story begins with Tanner, an army child who is searching for his father. An accident in a car park brings him into contact with Kaitlyn, a doctor and single mother. A romance very quickly blossoms between them but I found it rather rushed and not entirely believable. Kaitlyn's children however, were well written characters and their reactions were more enjoyable.
Meanwhile, a reclusive and elderly man, Jasper, is trying to stop a white deer being hunted in the forest behind his property. There is a lot of Jasper's back story and it slows the book down. It is not all entirely relevant and there is some repetition but the bit that threw me most was the religious aspect with the constant quoting of bible verses and references to them in real life. This made me completely detach from the character.
The plot picks up in the last quarter and has the sort of ending you'd expect and which is inevitable really. Emotionally it is satisfying but plot wise left something to be desire.
Overall I was left rather disappointed by this book. I'm sure some people will appreciate it but I've read books I prefer by this author. With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

Brilliant. I started it and read it in one sitting. This book made me feel better for reading it. Tears of joy and happiness go hand in hand. Nicholas Sparks NEVER disappoints.

I always enjoy reading Nicholas Sparks books and I was delighted to receive a copy of his latest novel Counting Miracles.
This book had some wonderful characters and a great storyline about a man trying to find out about his past and reconnect with family.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sparks has done it again and created a sweeping, beautiful tale of love, loss and hope. The plot for this is simple but when it is executed so perfectly, this does not matter and I found myself gripped and immersed in this world and emotions that Sparks has created. The story contains an incredible amount of pain and loss and Sparks handles this sensitively and really captures the emotion. There is also a tremendous amount of love and hope, again this is all captured perfectly.
The three main characters are wonderful in this, they are all likeable in their own way and they all contribute to the plot threads. Everything in this book comes together to make for a stunning read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little for an advance copy.

You can count on Nicholas Sparks to bring you books that are unputdownable and this one certainly is that. Telling the stories of Tanner, Kaitlyn and Jasper in Asheboro their lives are woven together in this well written book by the best selling author. I love the writing on this, the story telling and it just has all of the warmth and storytelling that comes with Nicholas' books.

Another fantastic read from Nicholas sparks. When Tanner's grandmother is dying she tells him about the father he had never seen and he decides to go and try to find him.As he begins his search he finds himself being introduced to Kaitlyn after an incident involving her daughter and things start to change for Tanner and he starts to consider his future. This story has everything you would expect from this author beautifully written characters, interesting relationships and always a lovely twist that brings everything together perfectly. A wonderful warm hearted story