Counting Miracles by Nicolas Sparks - ARC review ✨

If you know me at all you know Nicholas Sparks is my all time favorite author. Counting Miracles is his best work yet, in my honest opinion. The way he writes his stories.. there is just something that pulls you in and makes you feel like these characters are your own friends/family which is why all of his books have made me emotional in one way or another and this book was no exception.

In this story we follow the lives of Tanner, Kaitlyn and Jasper. Tanners life choices and troubles were realistic, therefore he was lovable and relatable. Kaitlyn is an amazing mother, you can literally feel the love through the pages when reading about her children Casey & Mitch. Jasper’s past is heart breaking, I just wanted to crawl through the book to give him a big hug.

I felt every single emotion reading this book and I know you will, too if you decide to read it. I truly felt myself growing in my faith as I read this story and by the end I was a blubbering mess even though I predicted how the story would end very early on.

Counting Miracles releases September 24th - you can preorder now!

Infinite ♾️💫stars for this one! Thank you @netgalley & @randomhouse for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Do you believe everything happens for a reason? Jasper did, once. Now, after an insurmountable tragedy he’s convinced God has abandoned him. He hasn’t lost his faith entirely though, because when a white deer shows up in the forest surrounding his property, he takes it for the symbol it is: a harbinger of change.

A veteran named Tanner is on the search for his father-a man he's never known, nor known anything about until his grandmother's deathbed confession, when she left a note with his name & the town he lived in. He's a drifter, never staying in one place too long or committing to anything but his job. On his first day in Asheboro North Carolina his brand-new sports car is backed into by a teenaged driver and changes the trajectory of his trip. He'll be in town far longer than anticipated, and the young girl's mother is one of the more interesting women Tanner's ever met. Kaitlyn is her name, and her young son is friendly with Jasper, the old man living nearby who teaches him to whittle.

This tale weaves these characters together in interesting and emotional ways. The narrative bounces between Tanner, Kaitlyn, and Jasper's voices. There is mystery, tragedy, hope, parenting struggles, romance, and a whole lot of facing reality thrown in too. There are real family relationships, and a religious throughline that is, if not convincing, at least something to make you ponder.

For most of the book the prose felt quite calming to read. It has a nice steady rhythm that kind of lulls you as you read into this serene sort of interest. I haven't read many characters like Tanner. He's a middle-aged bachelor who is just cruising through life to whatever the next opportunity may be. He doesn't seem to have a destination in mind, just enjoys the ride along the way. And Jasper, sweet Jasper. His only companion is his beloved dog and Mitch, Kaitlyn's son. He lives in a cabin built by his father's hands living out his days in as much peace as he can manage. Until that dang deer shows up.

For Kaitlyn, who is divorced, the romantic fling that begins to develop with Tanner is a risk. He's just visiting, and she has a lot to lose. I really enjoyed reading this romance from her perspective.

I've never read a Nicholas Sparks book before, though I've seen a few movies based on his writing (The Notebook, obviously). While I wasn't blown away by its brilliance, the experience of reading it was really nice, and I'll certainly read more of his backlist!

Sparks is BACK baby!!!!!!!!!!
This is such a heart warming story of faith and family with a little bit of the usual Nicholas Sparks romance that we all know and love.
Two stories collide in the best way as our MMC Tanner goes in search of family and his roots in Asheboro, finding both his family ties and a place to call home. Loved loved loved!!!!!

Counting Miracles was a beautiful story. Sparks did an excellent job at drawing me in. I especially loved Jasper and his dog, Arlo. They were my favorite characters in the story, more so than Tanner and Kaitlyn. I also loved how Sparks wove the story to connect the characters together...wonderfully done!

I especially loved the Bible references throughout the book - quite impressed with that aspect. On the other hand, I was not impressed with the many incidents of alcohol consumption and the lapse of judgment when it came to a one-night fling. Why is it such scenes have to be included? There is such a thing as wait-until-you're-married for intimacy, and I would like to see more authors go that route. For these reasons, I did deduct points in my rating of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Family, connection, finding your home, faith, and a white deer....

Tanner Hughes is happiest when he is off on an adventure overseas as an army ranger. When his grandmother dies and tells him to find where he belongs and the name of his father, he heads to Asheboro, North Carolina. He hopes to find answers there when he has a fender bender with a teen driver and meets her mother, Dr. Kaitlyn Cooper.

Jasper is an 83-year-old-man who lives with his dog near a forest. He is no stranger to heartbreak and trauma. When he learns of a white deer, he vows to protect it from poachers.

This book is about connection and how people orbit around each other. How connections are made, how trauma affects one's life, and the journey of the three main characters’ lives. All of them likeable and I rooted for each of them.

I enjoyed the POV's and the story. I enjoyed how Sparks combined love, loss, grief, hope, connection, and faith. Sparks continues to be a great storyteller who focuses on the characters, their emotional and physical lives, and their relationships.

Well written, well thought out and moving.

A sweet, slow-moving book, this story did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships to one another.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital copy in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tanner was raised by his grandparents. His grandmother on her deathbed, tells him the name of his father and where to look for him. So off he goes to Asheboro. While he’s there, he meets Kaitlyn. A single mother of two and a doctor that spends time every Sunday making house calls.
Her son spends time with one of her elderly patients, Jasper, learning how to whittle. Jasper lives a haunted life from a tragic event from his past with his dog Arlo.

While I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Jasper and the difficulties he endured throughout his life, the majority of his parts were rooted in religious beliefs. That is not an issue for me but I can see that it may be for some people.
Tanner and Kaitlyn’s stories were romance based. Both had different stories to tell but did it in a way that that felt natural. It was fun to see the way their lives entwined with Jasper’s.

Overall, I found the story enjoyable and had a good time getting to know each character. There were sad, difficult, happy, and funny parts of the story. While it’s not going to be for everyone, it was perfect way for me to spend a cold rainy day.

If you have never read a Nicholas Sparks book you don’t know what you’re missing. I absolutely loved this book. If you’re a crier get your tissues ready, I’ve never cried but this book truly made my eyes well up. Counting miracles is exactly as it sounds, it is rare to find a book that truly matches its title.

In this book that’s told in dual storylines, MPOVS the characters in this book has so much depth, emotions, and are absolutely lovable in every way.
First we have Jasper Johnson old small town recluse that lives with his dog Arlo in a cabin outside of town. Jasper has some body disfigurements that makes people scared of him and they think of him as the creepy old man in the cabin.
Next we have Tanner Hughes nomad, ex-military trying to find his place in the world. Not sure if staying or going is the right thing to do. Tanner was raised by his grandparents, he’s spent the last few months taking care of his grandma until she passes away. Right before she does she drops a bombshell confession onto tanner. His grandma reveals information about his past that he wanted to know growing up. Tanner goes out in search of this new information to see what he can discover. Which leads him to the small town of Asheboro.


Next we meet Katlyin the town doctor and her children Casey who’s a teenager and Mitch who is the little brother. Katlyin has been a single mom to two kids for a while now and she’s just doing what he can to get through the day to day. Mitch becomes friends with the town recluse Jasper and they begin to spend time together and grow a bond.

Things start to heat up after Tanner and Katlyin meet. Will things work out between them or will they go their separate ways. After all tanner is a nomad who’s only ever known the open road and military life. Will he make a choice to settle down? Will he find what he is looking for and be happy with the results.


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Penguin Random house for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion of this book. Due to release tentatively September 24, 2024

This novel is one of the best I have ever read and a stellar character study of the three main characters. Kaitlyn Cooper is a doctor who is a single mom yet she still finds time to make home visits to her patients who need her. Tanner Hughes is a man seeking his purpose in life and trying to find a father whom he has never met. And Jasper is an elderly man who can be compared to Job since he lost his job, his family and his health and is now living alone in a ramshackle cabin near Kaitlyn. The lives of the three are well woven together in an intricate and riveting tale of the backstory of their lives and their current hopes for the future. This is a book about self-discovery, expanding your expectations and the hope that things will get better. I really enjoyed the story of Kaitlyn and Tanner’s relationship, one that seemed to end before it had even started. I was also fascinated by the story of Jasper and how he went from a successful businessman to losing everything and everyone that mattered to him. A faithful dog named Arlo was also an important part of the story, as were Kaitlyn’s precocious and precious children. I went from emotional highs to lows as I read this compelling story, laughing and crying a few pages later. With a plot that moves along at a moderate pace and then quickens as the lives of the characters become more interconnected, this is a perfect book to read, be entertained and then discuss with a book group.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Sparks never misses. He knows how to pull at your heartstrings and this book is no exception to that. I loved the multiple POVs we got. I especially liked the small town feel and found family elements we get from this story, too. Perfect read for fall!

Tanner Hughes was raised by his grandparents after his mother died in childbirth. He never knew who his father was. He had a successful military career, and then retired from that and went to work for USAID abroad. He has spent his life never settling down. Then, when his grandmother is on her deathbed, she leaves him a note telling him who his father was, and where he was from. He sets off for Asheboro, North Carolina to try to find him. He had been in town less than 24 hours when he meets Kaitlyn Cooper, a doctor and single mom. There is instant attraction on both sides. Meanwhile, Kaitlyn's eighty-three-year-old neighbor Jasper lives alone in a cabin bordering a national forest. With only his old dog, Arlo, for company, he lives quietly, haunted by a tragic accident that took place decades before. When he hears rumors that a white deer has been spotted in the forest—a creature of legend that inspired his father and grandfather—he becomes obsessed with protecting the deer from poachers. As these characters’ fates orbit closer together, none of them is expecting a miracle . . . but that may be exactly what is about to alter their futures forever.
I am still a little teary-eyed after finishing this one. It was so good. It started as a bit of a slow burn, but once the book picked up the pace, I couldn't put it down. I loved the entire cast of characters, well except for the Littletons that is, and who really loves a bully? I was really rooting for Tanner and Kaitlyn to wind up together, and I loved the bond between Jasper & his dog Arlo. If you are a fan of romance, or even just really good fiction, then you will want to put this at the top of your TBR pile. I highly recommend it!

Counting Miracles is one of Nicholas Sparks' better novels in recent years. While I always think the "romances" in his books are way to fast paced, I found Tanner and Kaitlyn's chemistry to be more believable than others I have read from this author. The character Jasper's story is a modern retelling of Job. I do wish that the reunification aspect of the story was longer and wasn't limited to just the epilogue.

Thank you to Random House Ballentine and NetGalley for this advanced copy. Counting Miracles is available on September 24, 2024.

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
368 pages
Releasing: September 24th, 2024

Tanner was raised by his grandparents & joined the Army like his grandfather. He lives a life where he travels constantly, not staying in one place for long. While his grandmother is passing, her last words were: find where you belong. Tanner goes to Asheboro, NC to find his absent father. In less than one day being there, he meets Kaitlyn, a doctor and single mother. The connection is immediate and quick. Nearby, Jasper is an older man whose story is told simultaneously. Nobody believes in miracles until they truly happen.

This book was bit of a slow burn for me. The multiple POVs took me a bit to get into & truly understand where he was going with them. I overall loved Jasper’s character and learning his past experiences that led him to where he is today. Overall, I was just wanting more with this book.

Read if you like:
✨Multiple POVs
✨Found Family
✨Small town

#nicholassparks #nicholassparksbooks #randomhouse #countingmiracles #booklover #bookstagram #book #bookcommunity #bookrecommendations

Another amazing book by Nicholas Sparks!! I absolutely loved this and cannot wait to see what else he writes. I am so glad the ending was how it was because I didn’t want to cry more than I already was!

I liked the story, but I didn’t love it. I ended up guessing the plot halfway through the book, which was kind of disappointing because I wanted to be invested in all of the characters.

Here’s what I liked: I really liked Jasper and his story. I liked his flashbacks and understanding who he was before the accident, what occurred, his previous life, etc. I also liked Mitch and Jasper’s friendship and found it really sweet. I also liked Arlo! Anytime a dog is in a story, it’s an automatic yes from me.

Here’s what I didn’t like: I didn’t really understand the point of Kaitlyn and Tanner. It felt rushed and unnecessary and I think her feelings were valid to be upset with him, but it also hadn’t been a week. I think that a more slow burning relationship where she helps him find his long lost relative instead of a “fling” would’ve contributed better to the storyline. That’s what it seemed was going to happen until it didn’t. It also felt like the story was a little drawn out and I wasn’t sure if I cared about the characters, aside from Jasper.

Overall, I think this book was good, but personally not for me. I’ve read other books by Nicholas Sparks and really enjoyed them, but I just didn’t with Counting Miracles. I think my mom will like this book though, as she’s read every book he’s written!

Classic Sparks that will please his fans. Tanner, retired from the Army and now orphaned, has set out to find the father he never knew and an accident with a teen in a parking lot changes his life in more ways than one. Jaspar is more or less a hermit, living in the cabin he built with his father. His chance encounter with another set of teens in the forest changes his life as well. Kaitlyn, the divorced mom of Casey and Mitch, is a physician who finds a spark in Tanner. Can they build a relationship when he's planning to leave to work in Africa? Will Jasper be able to protect the white deer that's been spotted in the forest? His back story comes out slowly and you'll find yourself rooting for him and for his dog Arlo as well. You, like me, might see how the subplots come together but it's got some tension and it pulls at the heartstrings. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This is good storytelling that engaged even a cynic like me.

In this soul-searching romance from Nicholas Sparks, Tanner Hughes travels to the small town of Asheboro, North Carolina, to try to find the biological father he never knew about. While on his search, he meets some of the townspeople including Kaitlyn, a divorcee with 2 children, and Jasper, a hermit living on the outskirts of town. Will Army vet Tanner be able to find the answers he's looking for and a place to finally call home, or will be continue his vagabond lifestyle, flitting off to the next adventure?

True to form, Nicholas Sparks wrote another heart-wrenching story where each of the main characters finds themselves at a crossroads in life, deciding to continue living half a life or . The characters were lovable and I was kept wondering if they'd be able to choose the happy for themselves. Nicholas Sparks writes plots similar to fans of trending author Colleen Hoover, but will, for me, always be the original writer who tells stories about lovable and relatable people struggling with real-life situations. His stories hit me in the feels every time.

** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***

5⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an advanced copy of Counting Miracles.

Tanner was raised by his grandparents, his mother passed away during childbirth and he never knew his father. On his grandmother’s deathbed she gives him his father’s name and where he lives. She also wants Tanner to settle and find where he belongs. Tanner goes to North Carolina in search of his father, while there he meets Kaitlyn a doctor and single mom of two kids. Tanner and Kaitlyn are instantly drawn to one another but Kaitlyn knows that he will be leaving soon so she tries not to get too attached but that becomes more and more difficult the more time they spend together. Kaitlyn also takes care of her neighbor Jasper who is kind of a recluse but her son loves spending time with him. Jasper has been through extremely tough times and he starts to search for a very rare white deer. He is hoping for a miracle!

This book was so good! I literally could not put it down. Nicholas Sparks always hits me with all the feels! The characters were so relatable and the story was fantastic.

Readers who enjoy nice and easy stories with likeable characters will love this book. I really enjoyed Jasper’s backstory and his love for his late wife. His spiritual wellness was amazing. Tanner, with his background seemed a little too perfect. The story was predictable but very enjoyable. Except, what happened to the Littletons? Recommended.

Nicholas Sparks never disappoints!
Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks is a touching and heartfelt story.
Sparks' storytelling prowess shines through the emotional depth of the characters and the poignant exploration of themes such as family dynamics, self-discovery and love.
The author's vivid descriptions and compelling narrative make "Counting Miracles" a truly immersive and thought-provoking read.
He has a writing style that just pulls you in right from page one and holds your attention until the very last word. This book is fantastic and will keep you up way past your bedtime as you will not be able to put it down. Do yourself a big favor and read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.