In "Counting Miracles," Nicholas Sparks returns to his hallmark domain of heartfelt storytelling, weaving a narrative that explores themes of belonging, redemption, and the unexpected ways lives intersect. The novel introduces Tanner Hughes, an Army Ranger with an unquenched thirst for adventure and a newfound quest to discover his roots, prompted by his grandmother's dying wish. Sparks's narrative skillfully takes us to Asheboro, North Carolina, where Tanner's path crosses with Kaitlyn Cooper, a resilient single mother with her own compelling story.

Sparks excels in creating deeply human characters whose vulnerabilities and yearnings are palpable. The instant connection between Tanner and Kaitlyn is depicted with Sparks's characteristic sensitivity, highlighting the complexities of forming new bonds while being wary of the future. Their budding relationship is a testament to Sparks’s ability to capture the nuanced dance of new love.

The character of Jasper, an octogenarian living in the shadow of past tragedy, adds a poignant layer to the narrative. His quest to protect a legendary white deer weaves a magical realism element into the story, symbolizing hope and the pursuit of redemption. Sparks masterfully uses Jasper's journey to explore themes of legacy and the healing power of nature.

"Counting Miracles" is as much a story about finding one's place in the world as it is about the serendipitous moments that lead us there. Sparks navigates the intertwining lives of his characters with grace, leading to a narrative crescendo that is both surprising and deeply satisfying. The novel is a reminder that miracles often lie in the connections we forge with others and in the unexpected turns our lives can take.

Nicholas Sparks once again proves his prowess in crafting narratives that resonate with authenticity and emotion. "Counting Miracles" is a compelling addition to his oeuvre, offering readers a moving exploration of the human condition and the power of love and forgiveness. It's a must-read for anyone who believes in the magic of everyday miracles and the beauty of finding where one truly belongs.

I felt like this book was a little hard to get into at the beginning. I really wasn't sure invested in it until half way through, but that was when it got really good. I loved how Sparks was able to create a story around Bible verses. That was super unique and well done. I understand why the two stories were in the book together, but I almost wish that they were their own. I could've done more of each, and I wanted more of each. Overall a super compelling well written story.

A special thanks to Nicholas Sparks, Netgalley, and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book overall but I found the story of Jasper to be a little slow and it really pulled me out of the book. I love Nicholas Sparks normally but this wasn’t my favorite of his! By the end it became a page turner but definitely took a while to get me interested which isn’t normally the case. I would still recommend it to people but not above his other novels

The message in this book was great. I actually enjoyed how sparks used the Bible verses to correlate to the story. I loved learning the tragic history of jasper but then when finishing the book with a happy ending.

While this book was confusing and disjointed for the majority, Nicholas Sparks works his magic in the end. The two stories were good on their own, and it felt like they would have been better as their own books. Both stories drew you in and you wanted more of them. At the end, he tied up the story beautifully true to a Nicholas Sparks book.

I want to preface this review with saying that Nicholas Sparks was my very first favorite author and I’ve read every single book of his. While I did enjoy this book, it is not a typical NS read, due to the multitude of biblical references and scripture. I personally thought it was a beautiful story and that only amplified it, but I’m just throwing this out there because I know that it’s not for everyone.

Counting Miracles follows Tanner Hughes, who was raised by his maternal grandparents after his mom died of birth complications. When a secret is revealed in his grandmothers death bed, Tanner sets out on a journey to link missing pieces together. While he’s trying to piece together his past, he falls in love with Kaitlyn but their love story is NOT the main plot of this book. It’s very quick and almost painless.

Jasper is a sweet old-man who has lived quite the traumatic life as an adult, and his story is where the biblical references come into play. He is Kaitlyn’s neighbor, and enjoys the presence of her little boy named Mitch.

If there was more to Tanner and Kaitlyn I would rated it 5 stars. You read Nicholas Sparks for the tear-jerking, heart-shattering love stories and this was not a typical NS book. It reminded me a lot of his other novel, “The Wish” in certain aspects and I was still able to appreciate the story line here.

Very good read. Set in Ashboro NC where Tanner, retired military guy, goes to find someone. He hasn’t set a place to call home so he travels a lot. Kaitland is a Dr and a single mom who meets Tanner. Jason is an elderly man in the town. These are the main characters in the story. This book is a good clean romance which is what Nicholas Sparks is known for.

In true Nicholas Spark fashion, the story transforms and responds with a heartbeat of love and healing. This is a journey readers will enjoy and become fans of.

This may be my favorite book to date!! The stories intertwine beautifully! Beautiful characters with depth and complexity but also with love and loss and heartache! Sparks has truly delved into the love that only God can give!

This story unfolds a long list of not worthy, never accepted, and lack of true self worth turned around by finding that one person that sees everything you are capable of being. Being able to find that love that slips on like your favorite comfy shirt! The heart knows what it wants and watching it unfold is an eye opening, life changing experience we all hoped for. This new novel is sure to be a movie just like this author's previous great books!

Counting Miracles, Nicholas Sparks newest book, is a little different from his other books. This book focuses less on a love story and more on the spiritual journey of Jasper, the book's main character. Jasper’s life story is shown through flashbacks of memories of his life and family and the hard times he has faced.

I am a big Nicholas Sparks fan and have read all of his books so I read this book without reading the description. I was not aware this book would have such a heavy emphasis on religion as none of Sparks other books have. There are many bible verses used throughout the book to tell Jasper’s story and even though I am not a religious person, they did not distract me or take away from the book as others have mentioned in reviews. It reminded me of a mix between The Longest Ride and The Wish with a Christian viewpoint.

The ending was very predictable, but I am a sucker for a happy ending and I like when everything is wrapped up neatly with everyone happy. I teared up at the end and that is a sign of good Sparks Novel for me.

#52bookclub #netgalley #RandomHouse #Ballantine

You can always count on Nicholas Sparks to give you a feel good ending. Unlike most others, this book felt like I was reading about two separate stories, and I did not understand why. One story I felt more interested in than the other and was not really intrigued with the other until 3/4 a way in. I'm glad I stuck with it to have it come together.

Nicholas Sparks does it again!! Sometimes I feel like his books can be predictable but that’s the beauty of it…happy endings always! I loved this main character and his story, I definitely didn’t see the twist at the end coming!! Loved it!!

Nicholas Sparks has been a favorite author of mine since the Notebook so I was ecstatic to be approved for this arc!

The book follows three characters , Tanner, Kaitlin, and Jasper, that end up together in an unexpected way. It has hints of The Lucky One sprinkled throughout. There are biblical references so if that isn’t your thing you can just skip ahead or pass on this read. At first Jaspers character doesn’t seem to fit in but it all makes sense by the end.

I will be leaving reviews on Goodreads and Amazon as well!

Let’s start off with the fact that I was extremely excited to receive a copy of Counting Miracles! I’ve been a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks for years and years, so getting to read and ARC from my favorite author was such a pleasure.
Counting Miracles was, what I feel like, nothing like any other books Sparks has written. Not sure if that is necessarily a good thing or not. I got about 40% through the book and started realizing that I wasn’t connecting with any of the characters, maybe slightly with the children, but other than that I was just kind of along for the ride.
I did have to put the book down several times because I felt I may DNF the book altogether; although I did end up finishing it just much slower than I had anticipated.
The biblical references were strong and I wasn’t expecting that when starting the book. I don’t mind biblical references but it felt to be a tad too much.
I also felt that the main charters fell into their relationship way too quickly. I get books going with the instant attraction route but this just seemed way too rushed and kind of ruined the reading experience for me.
I do appreciate how the characters all come together and were connected; like many of Sparks’ books I fall in love with that twist or turn of events and appreciate a nicely tied up ending.
I am planning on purchasing the physical copy as a gift for a family member when it is released and will be sharing as a recommendation with the caveat of this review and warning that it is not like a typical Nicholas Sparks novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC of Counting Miracles. When a new Nicholas Sparks book is published I can't wait to read it as he is one of my favorite authors.. This book was not a favorite of mine, but I enjoyed the story it kept drawing me back in as I wanted to know the rest of the story. I figured out who Tanner was looking for early on and what connection there was with the other characters in the book. I wish Kaitlyn had more character development as Tanner and Jasper have very full character development. I still enjoyed this book and am happy I was allowed to read it and review it.

This book was a quick read, and honestly just ok. The romance part of this book was basically any hallmark movie which I just don’t enjoy. Cheesy and just cringey. The saving grace of this book was jasper. I felt like he was the only truly developed, interesting and real character. All strings were tied at the end in a happy predictable way. I can’t hate on that, i enjoy a happy ending.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc

Listen- in my mind Nicholas Sparks does no wrong... ever... this was no exception. I was sooo stoked to find out I was approved for this ARC- I did not even know he was writing something new. I have read his books since High School and I have never been let down. This story has it all.

⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks-
I read a lot of books and this is honestly the first time I’ve read a @nicholassparks book! Counting Miracles follows 3 characters and highlights their personal histories, connecting them in a magical, romantic way, with an ending that brings the trio together as family. If you’re a fan of The Notebook, you’ll adore this book! I give it 4/5 stars simply because it was such a slow burn. I loved that it wasn’t predicable- it didn’t have the ending I thought it would! Overall I LOVED it, I’m a sucker for a good romance.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s a classic Nicholas Sparks novel that’s wholesome and the story comes full circle, which I always love.
The jumping between characters POV & backstory is tied together very well. I would have liked to see some POV from the younger characters but they played a sufficient role in the book.