This was a powerful story about found family, faith, and love.

What I liked:

- The story was told from multiple perspectives, and I enjoyed exploring the different viewpoints and backgrounds of each character. I felt a deep connection to Jasper and his heartbreaking life story, yet I admired the hope he maintained throughout.

- The plot was engaging, and I really enjoyed how it was driven by the characters.

- The message I got when reading this was, we are all dealt a really difficult life, but how you react, having faith and hope that it will ge better, will lead you to where you need to be in life.

- This had the feel of a Mitch Album book, which is one of my other favorite authors.

- I enjoyed Tanner. He was a gentleman, came with his flaws, but did the WORK.

- I didn't see the plot twist coming, and it was actually really enjoyable ❤️


What I didn't like:

- The romance was tough for me to buy into because they knew each other for such a short period of time.

- The ending felt somewhat rushed, leaving me with a sense of incompleteness when I finished the book.




thank you to net galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review *

I’ve loved every Nicholas Sparks book I’ve ever read and this is no exception. Can’t wait for his next book!

I have been a Nicholas Sparks fan for quite some time (both the books and the movies), and some of the stories that instantly come to mind when someone says "true love" have been penned by him. This just proved to me that Nicholas Sparks still can always write a story that has so much heart, even when you're least expecting it.

While I wasn't necessarily prepared for the religious aspect of this, it fit with how our MC was characterized, so I wasn't upset by it, nor did I necessarily feel like it was being pushed down my throat - it just felt like it had its own place. I do feel like the romance took a bit of a sideline seat in this, but I loved Jasper and his story so much that I honestly didn't mind too much.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks. I am one of his biggest fans and he is an author that made me fall in love with reading as an adult. However, this one just didn’t leave much of an impact on me.

The story follows Tanner, a former Army Ranger who comes back to his hometown in North Carolina after his mother’s death. He’s trying to piece together his past and find out who his biological father is. He meets Kaitlyn, a local doctor and single mom, who’s kind and also dealing with her own struggles. We also meet Jasper, an older man with a complicated history who ends up playing a bigger role in the story than I expected.

It has all the classic Sparks elements — small-town setting, emotional backstories, slow-burn romance, but something about this one just didn’t land for me. The pacing felt slow and I didn’t feel as emotionally connected to the characters as I usually do. I saw most of the twists coming, and while there were definitely a few sweet and thoughtful moments, it didn’t quite have the heartache or emotional depth I’ve come to expect.

That said, it’s still written in that easy, comforting Sparks style, and if you’re a longtime fan, it might still be worth picking up. Just not one I’d put at the top of his list.

Nicholas Spark has done it again! This is a breathtaking story about a man on the search for his father and the things that he discovers along the way like love and family. Will you cry throughout this book? Absolutely, but it will be 100% worth it!

Once again, Nicholas Sparks knocks it out of the park with a tender, touching, and heartwarming story. True to his signature style, this novel follows three characters across alternating points of view, gradually revealing how their lives intertwine in meaningful and emotional ways. It’s a clean, closed-door romance with no explicit content or strong language—perfect for readers who enjoy wholesome love stories with emotional depth.

I listened to the audiobook while reading my ARC, and while the narrator wasn’t my favorite, his delivery occasionally grated on me, it was still a decent performance overall.

The story centers around themes of family dynamics, long-held secrets, belonging, forgiveness, and second chances. I found each character compelling in their own way, and the romance subplot offered some truly sweet, tender moments. On the flip side, there were also heartbreaking scenes, particularly those involving Jasper, the older gentleman. His backstory was emotional and layered, and the bullying he endured was difficult to read at times. These moments tugged at my heartstrings and even brought me to tears.

Though not labeled as Christian fiction, the story includes strong spiritual undertones, with references to God, faith, and biblical themes. I appreciated these moments—they added depth and offered some thoughtful reflections on life and personal growth.

The pacing starts off slow, and I did have trouble getting into the story at first. But around the halfway point, I found myself more engaged and eager to see how everything would come together.

While this isn’t my absolute favorite Nicholas Sparks novel, it’s still a beautiful and worthwhile read. It’s filled with heartfelt moments, meaningful life lessons, and characters you’ll root for. Sparks continues to be a go-to author for cozy, emotionally resonant stories—and he hasn’t let me down yet.

Highly recommend!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

There is a reason Nicholas Sparks is a NYT # 1 best seller. This is an emotional story about a man finding the true identity of his father and then searching to find him. But on his journey he finds so much more.

Wow, what can I say about this book? I’ve been voraciously reading every Nicholas Sparks book for the past 25 years, since I was in high school. Nicholas Sparks outdid himself once again. This book was beautiful, raw, and heartbreaking in the most glorious way. This book is a 5 star read and one of my favorites of the year.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing and the author for a copy of this book!

2.5 ⭐️

Honestly, Nicholas Sparks just doesn’t hit the same anymore as it once did when i was in middle school. Now this story is not really a romance, so it’s hard to compare this to his romance novels. I mean the sorry was okay, I feel like there was a lot of things I wanted to dig into a little deeper and other things I didn’t really care too much about. Overall though i was honestly just bored. It started to pick up a bit when Jasper’s family history was revealed, but then it went right back to boringness. Tanner was blah, Kaitlyn was blah, their romance was blah, and Casey was an annoying little shit who just did a complete 180 in the middle of the book with no explanation. Just not my fave Nicholas Sparks

Keep that box of tissues handy!! Wow, what an emotional roller-coaster ride!! I have always loved Nichols Sparks books and this one didn't disappoint. Tanner Hughes is a man on a mission. He grew up never knowing his parents, his mother dying after giving birth and raised by his grandparents. A death bed confession sends Tanner on a quest to find the father he never knew. Hoping for a quick end to his quest, Tanner's plans are derailed by an accident which leads him to a chance for a life he never knew he was searching for. Throw in a legend of a white deer and you have a tale of miracles and faith that God is always there. I wish I could've given it more than 5 stars! Highly recommend and keep those tissues close!

Wow, Nicholas Sparks writes some beautiful stories and this one was just that. I don't have many words, but I was heartbroken and speechless. Jasper was one of those characters I will not forget, he was my favorite part of this story. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for the chance to read this story, I am just sorry it took me so long!

I loved this book so much. One of his best yet, and memorable. Heartwarming. All the things. Jasper is one of my favorite characters ever.

"Counting Miracles" by Nicholas Sparks is another novel where Sparks reaches out from the page and rips your guts out. Be prepared to sob. It's heartbreaking and beautiful. Everything you are looking for from Nicholas Sparks.

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks is a beautifully written novel. This author writes consistently strong novels. Even having read many of his novels, I still enjoyed this one quite a bit. The author’s writing style is consistent from other books and this story is filled with tragedy and redemption. Great book overall. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Three lives connected, three lives changed with the help of a miracle. The reader is taken on journey with Tanner as he travels to find the father he never met and meets Kaitlyn, a single mother of teenagers. Meanwhile, the reader also meets Jasper, an older man living along with no one but his dog Arlo for company. True to this authors style, there is romance and there is a twist, and the character development, connection and overall writing style is beautiful.

This is a Dual POV book, with Katelyn, Tanner, and Jasper. Jasper is an elder male trying to protect a rare white deer from poachers with his trusty friend and pup Arlo. Katelyn is a single mom and doctor who is patient, kind, giving, and even does many home visits. Tanner is a retired war veteran and bachelor, looking for his father in the town of Asheboro, NC and he stumbles into Katelyn's daughter due to a car accident. Upon meeting Katelyn his plans are turned upside, and he has to decide if he wants to stay or go, and what really matters in life.

I gave the book 3 stars because although I enjoyed the writing and tend to enjoy Nicholas Sparks books, and the romance between Tanner and Katelyn was well written I'm not super religious and there was quite a bit of mentioning of the bible/and religion which is fine, but just not my cup of tea.

“Then I remind myself that my broken heart also means that there was a time when it wasn't broken, when my heart was light and full. Loving Audrey and my kids brought joy and meaning to my life, and I wouldn't trade that love for anything else in the world.”

Thank you NetGalley for letting me Arc read this book!

This was my first Nicholas Sparks book I have read and I absolutely loved it!

This is such a good story that talks about grief and trauma even if it isn’t the novels main plot point.

All in all, such a good story that talks about religion and grief and love all wrapped together in a plot that works well.

I will continue to be reading Nicholas Sparks novels in the future!

I absolutely loved reading this book, as it was set in my hometown. This was actually my first book by this author but I definitely found my love of his writing.

Spectacular book. But every book he writes is amazing. One of my few insta buy authors. I love the character growth and storyline. Can’t wait to read more by him.

Nicholas Sparks is an author I’ve enjoyed since I was a teenager, when I was captivated by “The Notebook” and “A Walk To Remember.” He’s an auto-read author for me because I know that I’ll find joy in reading his books. They’re filled with life, love, emotion and experience. Counting Miracles was a beautifully woven story of how our lives can intertwine in the most miraculous ways.

Tanner grew up raised by his grandparents, then set off to follow his grandfathers footsteps of joining the army. After training with Delta, multiple deployments, working for USAID, and other jobs overseas, Tanner finds himself back in the US to care for his grandmother before her passing. She leaves Tanner with a piece of information regarding the father he never knew. Tanner decides to venture to Asheboro, NC and see what he can find out about his biological father.

As Tanner is on this journey of finding out about his family, we’re introduced to a few more characters along the way. Watching their lives unfold in this small town and how they connect to each other is truly heart warming. The character development throughout the book is what makes it so incredible. The way Sparks evokes emotion and thought is what draws readers into his writing. While there are religious references to the Bible, God and faith, it’s also about suffering and overcoming.

“I remind myself that my broken heart also means that there was a time when it wasn’t broken, when my heart was light and full.”

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group Ballantine & Nicholas Sparks for this arc.