I have been a Nicholas Sparks fan since the 2000s, and after finishing this I can say he still hasn't lost his touch! ✨ His books touch your heart and soul in a way that is rare and precious. This was such a beautifully written book, I laughed and I cried. This is a touching story that tugs at your heartstrings. I will forever be a fan of his work and I am so thankful I was chosen to receive an arc of this one! 🩵📚

Thank you to the author and to the publisher for this ARC of Counting Miracles, in exchange for an honest review.

Good book. This story centers on three people; how fate has a funny way of bringing people together when you'd least expect it.

Jasper was a religious man his whole life, until the day he lost his whole family. He came from nothing and made himself a successful businessman. He had money, yet he gave most of it away to food banks to feed others, and kept enough to support his family. He had married his childhood sweetheart, Audrey, and they had 4 children. Then a freak tornado swept into Asheboro and he lost his tree business. His youngest son lost control of a bonfire and set the family home on fire. Jasper woke up in the middle of the fire and tried to save everyone, but it was too late. Paul was tried and convicted while his dad was still in a coma. On his first night in jail, Paul hung himself; unable to live with his mistakes. Jasper underwent many more surgeries, suffering tremendous pain from the third degree burns all over his body. He never rebuilt his home, he moved into his family cabin away from the town, near the forest.

Tanner Hughes was raised by his mother's parents after she died giving birth to him. His grandfather was in the army his whole childhood and they lived all over Europe throughout his life. When Tanner enlisted at 18, he too traveled the world; but he never settled down in one place. When his grandma was dying, he came back and stayed with her. She was worried about his nomad existence, and told him what he'd always wanted to know when he was a boy; his father's name and where he lived. Hoping that would help settle his wandering soul.

After the funeral, Tanner drives to Asheboro to search for the missing man from his life. There he meets Dr. Kaitlyn Cooper after her 17 year old daughter, Casey, hits his classic car by accident. The two adults have instant chemistry, but Kaitlyn is hesitant about going further with Tanner. He's made it known that he's in town looking for someone and then he's off for good, back to Cameroon. After some thinking, she gives in and decides to spend as much time with Tanner as she can until he leaves. But he leaves out a few crucial details and she loses some respect for him; ending what they had.

When Jasper tries to protect an endangered white deer from being shot at in the forest by some entitled teenagers, he gets hurt in the process, and is unable to move. He's stuck in the cold for almost 3 nights, nearly dehydrated and in terrible pain. His dog, Arlo, comes to Kaitlyn's house alone, which is unusual. So the family goes to Jasper's house several times to check on him, but the house is empty. So Casey, reaches out to Tanner and asks him to help find Jasper.

What Tanner finds when he locates Jasper is more than he ever expected. Jasper is Tanner's grandfather. They both have the family they've always wanted. Now can Tanner make things right with Kaitlyn?

A good read!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Beautifully written story written by one of my favorite authors. I was really drawn in to the characters and loved how this evolved. Super emotional and a bit heavy at times but I loved the mystery and romance intermixed in this one. Released earlier this week, let me know if you read it!

HUGE thanks to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the early copy!

Wow, this was a great story! I read a lot of books but I think this is one of my favorite reads this year. Nicholas Sparks has always been one of my favorite authors, I have all of his books and I even buy the ones made into dvd movies. But Counting Miracles seemed a little different from his others. They usually are love stories and they tug at my heartstrings but this one was even more special. There was still some romance involved but there was another element to the story. It had more meaning and depth. There was loss and tragedy but there was also happiness from stumbling upon something unexpected. There were verses/passages from the Bible included that added to the meaning of the story. It was an emotional read for me, I cried towards the end but they were happy tears. This is a book I’ll be recommending to all my reader friends and I can’t wait to hear how they liked it. I know I loved it and I’m giving it a 5 star rating. I’d like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for accepting my request to read an early copy and NetGalley for the arc. I think Nicholas Sparks outdid himself with this one!

I have always loved Nicholas Sparks and even though many people find him formulaic, I am one that loves the formal. This one did vere off the traditional path and the main focus wasn’t on the love story. That was secondary to the themes of loneliness, abandonment and finding your place in the world. Tanner is on a pit stop in Ashboro before he heads back overseas to continue working. He’s hoping to find some information about his biological father. Meanwhile, Kaitlyn, I just trying to find herself again and balance being a single mom with finding her own personal happiness and satisfaction. Jasper is the old man neighbor with the adorable dog that needs a bit of TLC. He becomes involved in a dangerous situation when a rare white deer is spotted in the woods around his house and he takes it on as his personal mission to save the deer from hunters. This book does take on a biblical/religious tone at time so if that’s an issue for you, now you know. It is not preachy though and is alignment with the characters in the storyline. I would say this one was intriguing but I wanted a little less insta-love in the romantic portions of the storyline. And the ending did feel a bit rushed. I never like when a story is dependent on the epilogue and this one was definitely a culminating ending in the epilogue. That being said, if you typically like Nicholas Sparks books, you will like this one too.

Thank you to @netgalley and @ballantine books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the story of Jasper a widowed father of four children in his eighties. He lives alone in cabin with his old dog Arlo on the edge of a popular forest hunting spot. Jasper stumbles upon some young hunters during his search for his late wife Audrey´s favorite mushrooms. The hunters are looking for the famous white deer that has been spotted in the area and in the process make an enemy of Jasper. Meanwhile Tanner Hughes is in town looking for the father he never knew. Tanners'mother died in childbirth and he was raised by her parents and in her dying days the grandmother reveals the name of his father. Counting Miracles By Nicholas Sparks is a thoughtful and meaningful story about how lives intersect unexpectedly and just at the right moment.
I have loved Nicholas Sparks books and this one did not disappoint. I always find myself truly invested in his characters and their stories my only negative of this book is I wanted more from this story. I think he ended it beautifully but I am only left to speculate what happens in the lives of these characters. But ultimately that is the beauty of a Nicholas Sparks book he always leaves you wondering.

I typically love Nicholas Sparks books and this one was OK, but it wasn't great like some others of his. I think it was the hunting aspect of the book that I just couldn't get behind.

I don’t even know where to begin. This book broke my heart and repaired it over and over again. Tanners mother died while giving birth to him and he was raised by his grandparents. Kaitlyn is a divorced mom raising two kids alone. Jasper is a lonely old man. The white deer is a myth, or is it? How Nicholas Sparks brings all their stories to intertwine is beautiful and perfectly done. I would pay to wipe my mind and read this again and again. 5 stars. An absolute must read.

DNF 20%

I just can't. Nope. I've been trying to finish books as I'm way behind on my GR challenge. But I'm not forcing myself this round. For a couple of reasons.

I'm on Jasper's chapter and I am BORED out of my ever loving mind. There is nothing interesting about this man. I also don't enjoy listening to him preach for pages and pages about the bible and God.

No where in the description did it say I would get beat over the head with religion. I don't like going into books that are HEAVY on the religion. At 20%, I came to see if this is a one off for this chapter and I saw that it is not. The book is filled with it. When I asked to review this book I didn't know this was what I was signing up for. So I'm out.

Please authors and publishers, state if your book is heavily themed with religion. Not everyone is religious or even practices your religion. If I had bought this book at $15 I would be extremely fucking pissed off. Advertise to your targeted audience. We could have saved us both time and this review.

I've watched a lot of Sparks movies/read a couple of books, and while they do hold some religious aspects, it isn't to the extreme of Counting Memories. So if this type of read isn't your cuppa, I would find something more fitting.

1 Star only because NetGalley requires a rating.

Nicholas Sparks’ latest novel masterfully intertwines the lives of three compelling characters. Tanner Hughes, an ex-Army Ranger, travels to Asheboro, North Carolina, searching for the father he never knew, guided by his late grandmother's final words. There, he meets Kaitlyn Cooper, a single mom and doctor, sparking an instant connection that challenges his plans to leave. Meanwhile, Jasper, an elderly recluse, is on a mission to protect a rare albino deer in the nearby forest, haunted by his past. Sparks expertly blends these stories into a heartwarming tale about love, family, and the miracles that can change our lives when we least expect it. A touching exploration of belonging and redemption, this book is truly unforgettable.

Nicholas Sparks makes memorable books and brings characters to life that we will continue to think about for years to come. This story pulled all the feelings, even if it took me a while to get into. Sparks does a great job of weaving the different storylines together and building the back story into the forefront. Enjoyed the book and anyone who loves a Nicholas Sparks story will enjoy this one.

Nicholas Sparks is my go to for a book that will touch every emotion. This was another five star read for me and I'm so thankful to have gotten the opportunity to ARC read it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-copy of Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks.This is another gem by Nicholas Sparks that follows 3 storyline..Tanner is an ex Army Ranger whose mother died giving birth to him and never knew his father..Raised by his grandparents, his grandmother reveals his father’s name to him on her deathbed.. When he arrives in Asheboro, North Carolina in search of himhe has an accident with a young girl whose mother Kaitlyn is a divorced doctor trying to raise her family and cater to her patients who include her neighbor Jasper, an elderly man who has undergone unimaginable tragedy losing his whole family to a fire and leaving him horribly disfigured.When Jasper hears there is an albino white deer seen in the nearby forest he makes it his mission to save it from teenage poachers..It will take an accident to draw them all together and help them each find what they are searching for. .A religious awe-inspiring book.Highly recommend.

I thought this was such a cute book! It had me on the edge of my seat like always! Thank you for the opportunity!

This book should 100% be marketed as a Christian book. The blurb does not mention that every chapter about Jasper would be overflowing with scripture. For those of us with religious trauma from our youth…..this book is a tough read.
I actually chose the book as one of my 52 books in 52 weeks choices as I had never actually read any of this author’s books even though I have watched some of the movies based off his books. This was definitely not the book for me to choose for that.
The love story felt rushed as did the connection to jasper which I saw from about the second chapter. If you’re looking for a quick, Christian filled read then go for it…..otherwise I would say give this one a pass.
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine for the book #CountingMiracles by #NicholasSparks. I absolutely loved this book and the author. It gave me all the feels and I highly recommend it. Tanner was raised by his grandparents because his mother died in childbirth and he never knew his father. On his grandmothers deathbed, she tells him who his father is. As he goes searching in a town called Asheboro, he meets a girl named Kaitlyn and an elderly man named Jasper. These three people’s worlds intertwine in a way you can never imagine.

I’ve always been a big fan of Nicholas Sparks. This book is another winner.

Tanner travels to Asheboro, NC following the death of his grandmother in search of the father he never knew. Tanner meets Kaitlyn and they have a bit of a love story - albeit a small part of the book. Story also follows Jasper, an old man in Asheboro, NC and his dog Arlo. He's concerned about a rare white albino deer, very illusive and always in danger of poachers.

This heartwarming story concerns family and finding your place in life. There was a touch of suspense that kept me reading just one more chapter. I highly recommend this book.

Loved reading the inspirational and wonderfully written story. When Kaitlyn's daughter, Casey, crashes into Tanner's car, Tanner meets Kaitlyn, a single mom with two children, and wants to get to know her more while he's in town looking for someone. Read the highly recommended and a must read riveting story with captivating characters.

Title: Counting Miracles
By: Nicholas Sparks
Pub. Date: September 24, 2024

Genre:
Fiction, Romance, Family Chick-lit, Drama

Trigger Warnings:
PTSD, Loss, Grief, Heartache, House Fire, Death
(*Chapter 8* Open door - mild situation)

Favorite Quotes:
“Find where you belong and make that place your own.”

“Monday is the perfect day to start being the best version of yourself, since you’ve got six more days to practice. Or, every week should begin with generosity, don’t you think? Wouldn’t the world be a better place?”

“Burying her face in the pillow, she began to cry, knowing that it was over before it ever had a chance to begin.”

Summary:
Masterfully weaved in the unique Sparks way….

Tanner Hughes is a reliable, dedicated army ranger who is taking a break to be with his grandma after an unfortunate diagnosis. On her deathbed, she reveals a long lost secret to Tanner creating a yearning and desire for Tanner to take a road trip.

Kaitlyn Cooper is a divorced, single mom, juggling various priorities in her life. She has a reputation as an altruistic caregiver, seeing to all the medical needs in the community, and even making house calls.

Jasper is the next door neighbor to the Coopers. He is an 83 year old man, who chooses mostly isolation, while living with his dog Arlo in his family's country cabin.

These deeply sympathetic characters collide unexpectedly, engaging the reader in a raw and compelling emotional storyline. Beautifully Orchestrated in the unique Sparks way!

Review:
Told in multiple points of view, Counting Miracles is another unforgettable read with Sparks at his finest! The beautifully orchestrated plotline, deeply empathetic characters, and the raw roller coaster of emotions are highlights of his masterful work! Nicholas Sparks is an automatic author for me, I love all his works. I was elated to receive this advanced reader's copy. With elements of love, hope and forgiveness, Counting Miracles is inspirational and compelling… One of my new favorite novels by Sparks. You will not be disappointed!

Authors writing similar to:
Maeve Binchy
Anna Quindlen

Thank you Nicholas Sparks, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#NicholasSparks
#CountingMiracles
#RandomHousePublishingGroup
#Ballentine
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

‘Counting Miracles’ is a multi-POV/multi-storyline romance with a sort of “mystery” sub-plot. The story follows Tanner, Kaitlyn, and Kaitlyn’s two kids, Casey and Mitch. The story also follows Jasper and his dog, Arlo.

While I enjoyed Tanner and Kaitlyn's story, Casey and Mitch really stole the show for me. Their relationship with their mother, especially Casey, was absolutely beautiful. This book navigated split-families and untraditional upbringings in a beautiful way.

Jasper's chapters felt like sipping coffee on the front porch with your grandpa, listening to him tell stories from his past. And while his story is absolutely heartbreaking, the way it intertwines with Tanner and Kaitlyn's story leaves a mark on your heart.

I am a huge Nicholas Sparks fan. My favorite (5-star) works of his are: 'Nights in Rodanthe', 'Message in a Bottle', and (of course) 'The Notebook'. Keeping those stories in mind, I rated ‘Counting Miracles’ 3.75/5 stars.

Thank you so much to the author, Nicholas Sparks, and Random House for providing me with a NetGalley ARC of this book.