I enjoyed reading this book. It was a journey through the trails of life that restores faith. Life doesn’t come with guarantees and it will test your faith. This story tells of a man who seems to have lost all he holds dear and feels as if God has stopped blessing him only to realize God saved him for a true miracle that restores his faith in God’s love for him.

In Counting Miracles, Nicholas Sparks weaves a beautiful, emotional tapestry of love, loss, and the unexpected connections that change our lives. Tanner Hughes, a free-spirited Army Ranger, finds himself drawn back to his roots after the passing of his beloved grandmother, who leaves him with a parting message that sets him on a path to uncover his past and find where he truly belongs. What he doesn't expect is to find it in Asheboro, North Carolina, where he meets Kaitlyn Cooper, a doctor and single mother, who seems to have a past of her own that she's not yet ready to share.

Sparks expertly crafts the bond between Tanner and Kaitlyn, highlighting the complexities of love and commitment, especially when both characters are haunted by their own uncertainties and pasts. Tanner's journey to uncover his father’s identity intertwines with the poignant story of Jasper, an elderly man living alone in a cabin, obsessed with protecting a legendary white deer. As the threads of their stories weave together, the sense of fate and interconnectedness becomes undeniable, culminating in a miracle that none of them expected.

The novel is quintessential Sparks, balancing heartwarming romance with moments of deep introspection and tragedy. The setting of Asheboro is charming, with a small-town atmosphere that feels like a character in itself. The story also touches on themes of healing, forgiveness, and finding peace in unexpected places.

Counting Miracles is a tale that will resonate with readers who enjoy poignant, slow-burn romances, with the added intrigue of a deeply woven mystery. Sparks once again proves his ability to craft stories that are both tender and uplifting, reminding us that miracles often come when we least expect them. This book is perfect for those who enjoy an emotional journey, filled with heart, hope, and the possibility of redemption.

Nicholas Sparks has never let me down. I loved that this book was set in Asheboro and that the white deer was spotted around the area. I live in the general area of the state and we do have a lot of white deer so that was a fun little connection. I also loved the emphasis on the zoo. The attention Nicholas Sparks brings to North Carolina makes my North Carolinian heart so happy. I do think this book was wrapped up too nicely whereas I preferred the ending of "The Wish" more.

I have never picked up a book by Nicholas Sparks and not fallen in love, Counting Miracles is no different.

Tanner Hughes, was raised by his grandparents, and always has been an adventurer with no plans to settle down. Curious about finding out the identity of his father, he travels to North Carolina, where he meets Kaitlyn Cooper, a doctor, and single mom, and they form an instant connection.

Meanwhile, Jasper, an elderly man, is haunted greatly by a past tragedy, and is currently fixated on protecting a white deer.

When their stories converge they will make you believe in miracles.

Sparks has a way with words, that moves your soul and makes you believe in magic and the goodness of people. I think it is impossible to read this book and not get out of it, hope.

I can not recommend this book enough- it is a must read for anyone who is looking for love, looking for a read to lift your spirits, or just wants a good heartfelt story.

Counting Miracles is everything I love about Nicholas Sparks’ books—deeply emotional, beautifully written, and filled with characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. This story tugs at the heartstrings in the best way, blending love, hope, and fate in a way that feels both magical and deeply real.

The romance is touching, the emotions run high, and there are plenty of those signature Sparks moments that make you tear up (or full-on cry). It’s the kind of book that reminds you why love stories matter. If you’re a fan of his work, this one is an absolute must-read!

4.5🌟

I loved this book!!! Just like all of his other books, I felt all emotions while reading this one. Do I believe in love at first sight? Absofreakinglutely!!

Have I ever fell in love at first sight? Surprisingly, yes. I liked the chemistry between Tanner and Kaitlyn. I loved all the characters, especially Jasper and his dog Alto. I’m a sucker for a doggy in a book. It’s an instant swoon and makes the book 10,000x better haha. Did I want to smack a couple of the characters (Kasey and the sheriff)... ABSOFREAKINGLUTELY!!!!!

This was a very touching story and I really enjoyed it. Yes, it had quite a bit of Bible passages, who cares!!! I know a lot of people didn’t like that about this one. I personally didn’t mind. I honestly expected it even, with the word “miracles” in the title. I felt like Nicholas tied in religious aspect very well into this story. It didn’t bother me at all.

There is only one issue I have with this book. I was counting on a tragedy with an unhappy ending. Nicholas Sparks does unhappy tragedies so well, and I expected this one to fall in line with his other works. That's the only reason I took half a star. All in all a great read, I would definitely recommend.

Tanner is a restless soul. He has spent years in the military and has never really built roots in one town. He meets Kaitlyn a single mom and doctor that’s recently went through a divorce. Meanwhile Jasper is an elderly man that is trying to protect a white deer from poachers.

I’m a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks. I have read and loved most of the books he has written. Unfortunately this one was not for me. I do respect that the characters were older and had been through some life. I felt that the storyline moved to slow and took a long time to come together. I also couldn’t connect with Tanner. He seemed afraid of any sort of commitment and it felt strange that him and Kaitlyn would start dating in this scenario. Although this book didn’t work for me I still whole heartedly love Nicholas Sparks and recommend you read it because a lot of people are enjoying it!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Pub. for an ARC of Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks

I will start by saying I do love all previous Nicholas Sparks books and thoroughly enjoy reading his books and will continue to do so but I had a difficult time getting through this one sadly. The pace was slow and I found myself bored. This wasn't a hit for me but still worth the read you just may love it!

This is the first Nicolas Sparks book I have read in a while but I loved his books back when they were making them into movies. I got out of reading, then got back into reading the last couple years. I seen this one as an Arc on NetGalley requested it and shockingly got approved.

This book does feel different than some of his other books I have read. This one follows two different men one younger and used to be in the military has had a rough life comes to town trying to find his biological father after finding out his name and wanting to know him. The other is and older man who has had a rough life also and mainly keeps to himself in his cabin with his dog until hearing about a rare white deer that has been wandering around the woods, he sets out on a mission to try to save it and protect it from poachers.

What I loved most about this book is the faith in it. the older man Jasper grew up in a house where going to church on Sunday’s/Wednesday’s, reading their bibles, and praying was part of their life. Recently after having so many tragic events happen to Jasper he finds himself older and struggling with his faith wondering why God caused all these things to happen to him and thinking that God was punishing him for something even comparing the way his life went to Job in the Bible. There was even in his parts where he would remember what his dad would say and quoting Bible verses to deal with different situations. I really enjoyed that but even more I enjoyed Tanner’s parts in the book cause his was the one with the little bit of romance in it. This was definitely more of a literary fiction with a side of romance and surprisingly I feel like it also while it has a lot of sad parts in it, it had a happier ending which I’m not used to in the previous books I have read by him. Overall this was a powerful story of found family, faith, love, and how these 2 men deal with grief. I enjoyed it and would recommend it!

Nicholas Sparks out does himself again with Counting Miracles. The was he intertwines the lives of Tanner, Jasper, Kaitlyn and her kids was what set this book apart for me. This was a strong storyline that made it hard to put the book down. Loved this book.

Counting Miracles is a stand-alone read. I struggled to finish this one. I generally like many of the previous books I have read by this author. This one did not pull me in. Sadly, it dragged me along. It is unfortunate, maybe it was the wrong book at a time I was looking for something else.

I have been a fan of Nicholas Sparks for many years, but have found that his earlier material is better than his recent material. This is another book that drives this point home for me.

I found that this novel of his focused more on religion and the story of Jasper, rather than the love story that it had hited at between Kaitlyn and Tanner. When I pick up a Nicholas Sparks book, I am looking for that more traditional love story, such as The Notebook and A Walk to Remember. However, with this novel especially, I was not satisfied. While it was not a bad story, I felt it to be predictable, as well as something that I had not been looking for when I picked up another one of Sparks's books. I also felt that this book was pushing religion down the reader's throat, making it more of a Christain story, than a love story. Again, not what I was wanting when I picked up a Nicholas Sparks book. Due to this fact, I would not recommend this book to others. I would still only recommend hia earlier works. I also will most likely stop reading his new realeases if they continue down this path.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For more reviews and discussions, listen to my podcast The Honest Book Reviewers with Nate and Emma.

https://open.spotify.com/show/3H3ugH4xlzvjMXuUo1Lyvh?si=ewdzfkUnSVKyDmAvHMHIPQ

When I first got into reading about 15 years ago, I was a huge huge huge fan of Nicholas Sparks. The Last Song will always be my favorite by him, but honestly as I matured and my taste changed, I just wasn't as engaged and didn't find his books to be as good as they used to be. I think my taste has changed, but this is the perfect Nicholas Sparks book. The love is there, makes you want to cry every other chapter, the aspect of the old neighbor and becoming attached (like the Best of Me), the military aspect like the Lucky One). It definitely tugged on my heartstrings but I wasn't effected like his past books personally.

This book helped me remember that I love Nicholas Sparks' books. I get lost in his storytelling and feel as if I know the characters. The story was very predictable, but still enjoyable. I recommend for those who have enjoyed a Nicholas Sparks' book in the past.

Nicholas Sparks has an incredible ability to craft both deeply emotional and thought-provoking stories, and *Counting Miracles* is no exception. Drawing inspiration from the biblical story of Job, Sparks explores the themes of faith, loss, and redemption. For those unfamiliar with the story of Job, it's about a man who seemingly has everything, only to have it all taken away in a test of faith between God and Satan. Job loses his family, his wealth, his health, and is left utterly alone, yet he never feels abandoned by God and continues to praise Him. In the end, because of his unwavering faith, God restores and multiplies everything Job had lost.

*Counting Miracles* mirrors this narrative in its exploration of love and faith in the face of adversity. It’s a story about the painful moments when you feel like everything—and even God—has turned its back on you. But through a little faith, the story shows how the pieces of your life can fall into place, revealing how miracles unfold and transform in ways you might never expect.

I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s one of those stories that tugs at your heartstrings, and yes, I was definitely in tears by the end. But really, who doesn’t cry when reading a Nicholas Sparks novel? The emotional journey he takes you on is always worth it.

rom the very first page, you know you’re in for a heartfelt journey that might bring a tear or two but will ultimately leave you feeling warm and hopeful.

The story is told from the perspectives of Tanner, Kaitlyn, and Jasper, each with their own struggles and pain. Jasper’s story is particularly heartbreaking—he survived a terrible house fire that left him scarred and grieving the loss of his entire family. His physical pain and emotional scars make it hard for him to move forward, but Kaitlyn, his doctor, becomes an important part of his journey.

What I loved most was how well the characters were written. Each one felt real and relatable, and their individual stories intersected at just the right moments to create a beautiful, interconnected narrative. Sparks does an amazing job weaving their lives together in a way that feels both natural and meaningful.

The combination of well-developed characters, a touching storyline, and the way their paths cross so perfectly made this book a truly memorable read. If you’re a fan of heartfelt stories about resilience, healing, and connection, this one is a must-read!

Amazing book! Strong character development. Very good voice from the author. Love the plot and how it intertwines.

Wow! He does it again! This book made me cry and smile. I loved the characters and how they intertwined. My heart broke for Jasper. His storyline was so heartbreaking. He was such a precious soul. I also loved the love story between Tanner and Kaitlyn. It was so beautiful how he helped her with her kids. I truly have no complaints or dislikes about this book. It hits all the things you want to feel from a Nicholas Sparks book.

Unfortunately I haven’t loved any of Sparks’s last few books. :(

I found Counting Miracles to be slow and not very intriguing. I never really cared about any of the characters or different relationships. It felt kind of like meandering along a stream: sometimes I saw something interesting, but most of the time I was just on a slow walk, looking around and then moving on.

But I did adore the narrator!! Holter Graham was great.

Overall not my favorite book, but a nice audiobook if you want to listen to something simple and cozy.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.