Nicholas Sparks is one of the greatest storytellers of our time. When you see his name on a book, you know it won't disappoint. The characters feel like friends and neighbors. Tanner Hughes, a former Army Ranger, is on a journey trying to find his roots and that journey leads him to Ashboro, NC. An accident leaves him stranded in the town for longer than he planned, and roots start to develop, but is he ready to allow that to happen?

Tanner Hughes has been on the move his entire life, first under the care of military grandparents and then as an Army Ranger. He's had no desire to settle down until his grandmother's last dying words to him are the name and location of his biological father. Determined to find him, Tanner sets off to Asheboro, North Carolina. He's in town less than a day when he meets Kaitlyn Cooper. He can tell she has a story to tell and he's set to hear it. Meanwhile, Kaitlyn's neighbor, octogenarian Jasper, lives in an old cabin bordering a national forest with his dog, Arlo. When he hears of a white deer being spotted, he's determined to save it from poachers.

Told from the perspective of Tanner, Kaitlyn, and Jasper, these seemingly separate stories intertwine as the plot unfolds. Truths come out and maybe miracles really do happen.

My thoughts:
I've read plenty of Nicholas Sparks books over the years and I've enjoyed them all! This one was different though. Jasper's story leaned more heavily on the Bible and Christianity than any other Sparks book I've read and as someone who is not religious and who doesn't read religious-based books, that really threw me off at first. I did really enjoy Jasper's story, more so than Tanner or Kaitlyn's, however I don't think the bible verses really added anything.

Tanner and Kaitlyn's story honestly felt predictable and unrealistic to me. They had this insta-love thing going on and it just seemed really far-fetched. I did like the addition of Kaitlyn's children as side characters and I do think they added to the story.

Overall, definitely not my favorite Nicholas Sparks book and a bit disappointing in the end. But a nice story with a happy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for the digital ARC. My review is honest and voluntary.

Counting Miracles is the newest book by Nicholas Sparks. There are two intersecting storylines. First is the story of Kaitlyn, her two kids, and a potential love story with Tanner. This storyline is why you read Nicholas Sparks. The second is the storyline of Jasper, an older man who has suffered a lot of loss and he is teaching Kaitlyn's son to carve wood animals.

When you read Sparks you are expecting a romance with heart and some depth to the storyline and typically it's a page-turner that has you wanting to see what happens next. In Counting Miracles, it feels like Sparks is trying to be more literary and serious. If this was my first book by him I might have enjoyed it more. Instead, I found myself pushing to go back and work through the Jasper storyline, which sometimes felt belabored, to get back to Kaitlyn and her family. Her son and daughter were both interesting, and I appreciated the real family dynamics there.

All in all, Counting Miracles is a good read, it just depends on what you are looking for.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another classic Nicholas Sparks book. You always know what you are getting in his books. This story is the perfect mix of romance, mystery, and suspense. I have enjoyed all of his books.

This book felt too much like many of his other books. It was still a good, emotional read, but maybe in the future he needs to try something a little different.

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks
Publishing date - 09/24/24
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Being a fan of Nicholas Sparks books; I was thrilled at the opportunity to receive an advance copy of his newest book , Counting Miracles.

This story, like all/most Sparks’ novels, takes place in North Carolina. It also has a love story.
The story is told by three different characters and how their lives are intertwined. A must read! I read this book in less than 24 hours! I could not put it down!!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.

If you’re a fan of Sparks’ other works, I definitely recommend you read this one!

What a wonderful story. As with most Nicholas Sparks books I can just see this one up on the big screen & truly hope it gets adapted into a movie...soon. I loved the characters, the storyline, and how it all intersected at the perfect time. There aren't many of Sparks's books that I don't love, but this is some of his best work. My only complaint is Casey & Kaitlyn are such similar names for mother and daughter and it took some time before I quit getting them confused. Thank you to Random House for an early peek at this wonderful book. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc!

As a Nicholas Sparks fan, I was so excited to get an advanced readers copy of this! I have to admit that it’s been a while since I’ve picked up one of his novels, but after this, I’m definitely going to read more!

Tanner is mourning the recent loss of his grandmother, who raised Tanner along with his grandfather. With his grandparents now both gone, Tanner is left without any family. His mother passed giving birth to him, and he never knew his father. Tanner was in the military and took related jobs afterward, so he’s always been traveling and hasn’t set down any roots, something that worried his grandmother. In her last days, his grandmother writes him a note with some information about his father on it. Now, Tanner is off to North Carolina to see if he can find his only family left.

Tanner has plans to go back to Africa after he finishes his business in North Carolina. He thinks he will only be there for a short time, but his plans are derailed when teenager Casey backs up into his beloved car, keeping him in the area for a few weeks regardless while the car is fixed.

Casey’s accident ends up being a blessing, as Tanner realizes when he meets her mom, Kaitlyn. He knows Kaitlyn is pretty, but there’s something different about her. He has a need to get to know her better, something that she is interested in as well- however, she needs to keep her guard up, as Tanner is planning on leaving shortly.

Meanwhile, Kaitlyn’s neighbor, Jasper, spends his afternoons whittling with Kaitlyn’s son, Mitch. Jasper’s family is all gone, and he lives in a rather secluded cabin near the woods with his dog, Arlo. Jasper mostly keeps to himself, but when he hears about a rare white albino deer in the woods near his house, he can’t help but worry about poachers. While foraging in the woods for a particular type of mushroom, Jasper discovers the carcass of an ordinary but young deer. It’s not the white deer, but it makes Jasper more nervous about the fate of the white one. When Jasper comes face to face with some teenage boys he suspects of poaching, things get ugly quickly. Jasper is determined to protect the white deer at all costs, even if it puts him in danger.

I really enjoyed Counting Miracles and I recommend it to anyone that enjoys romance books or Nicholas Sparks. It also made me think of Virgin River while reading it, so I would recommend this for those fans too!

However, I do want to say that while this does have romance in it, I was very interested in all of the back stories about the characters, especially Jasper. This novel has lovable and genuine characters, and it is so much more than just a love story. I couldn’t stop reading this one!

Nicholas Sparks has written another heart-touching story. This is about a widower named Jasper Johnson and the people he touches who lived in the small town of Asheboro, NC.
Sparks writes with the gentleness of a soulful Southern man about Jaspers's love for his family, the surrounding Uwharee National Forest, and his family doctor's family who still does house calls.
When life throws so many curve balls you can begin to doubt your beliefs.
Where Jasper is familiar with Counting Miracles.
Expect a miracle in this new Nicholas Sparks book.
#CountingMiracles
#NicolasSparks
#NetGallley

I have always been a Nicholas Sparks fan and was excited to read this one. The book was enjoyable although I felt it dragged in some spots. There were a lot of religious references and a lot about the white deer which seemed a bit out of place. Overall, an easy good read.

This book was not what I was expecting, it was way better. I loved the character development of Tanner, Kaitlyn and Jasper! The twists and turns and emotions I felt reading this book were incredible. I loved the Biblical references that the story had and how closely he compared it to characters within the Bible. I keep going back to the incredible story of Jasper and how his life story was a whole part of the entire book. I've teared up a few times thinking about the ending. What a beautiful story.

Another great work of art by Nicholas Sparks! Romance, mystery, and suspense all wrapped up in one great book! Please keep up the good work sir!

What a beautiful story. ❤️ I have yet to find a Sparks book that doesn't shatter my heart yet remind me that love is very much alive within the heartbreaking world we live in.

I believe in miracles! Being a fan of Nicholas Sparks work I was delighted at the opportunity to receive an advance copy of his newest book Counting Miracles.

This was a beautiful story that showed how God can give you beauty for ashes. Each of the main characters Tanner, Kaitlyn, and Jasper had experienced heartache in some way. I love how the author allowed their lives to intersect in unexpected ways. This book was so encouraging.

I recommend this book to readers that enjoy inspirational fiction and heartwarming stories. Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley giving me a chance to read this book. Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorite authors and he did a wonderful job writing this book
Kaitlyn is a single mother to two children and is a Dr. They are friends with Jason and she is also his Dr. On his grandmother death bed. (Who raised Jason as his mother died giving birth) tells him his fathers name and where to find him, Jason sets out to find him. Kaitlyn’s daughter backs into Tanners car and that is how the two meet. Jason lost his family years ago and tells of his life and struggles. This is a wonderful story

Thank you to NetGalley, Nicholas Sparks and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.


This story, like all/most Sparks’ novels, takes place in North Carolina. It also has a love story.
The story is told by three different characters and how their lives are intertwined.

First there is Jasper, an 83 year old man who has lived a long and hard life. Trauma haunts Jasper which inturn makes him reclusive. Jasper lives near the Uwharrie in a cabin with his dog, Arlo. Jasper bonds with 9 year old Mitch and teaches him how to whittle wood. Mitch is the son of a nearby neighbor Kaitlyn Cooper.

Kaitlyn is a single mother and her job as a physician consumes her. Her oldest child, Casey, reminds Kaitlyn that she needs to put herself out there. Kaitlyn has only gone on a few dates since her divorce, which was 4 years ago. Casey was involved with a fender bender with a passerby named Tanner Hughes. Tanner is a retired army ranger and is on a quest to find more information about his birth father whom he never met. Tanner was raised by his grandparents and moved around his entire adult life.


My thoughts:
I enjoyed the storyline revolving around Kaitlyn and Tanner. I was not a fan of Jasper’s infatuation with the white tailed deer and a lot of his backstory. I understand the reasons for it (and it was a bit obvious right away) however it didn’t draw me in as much. I also felt that the chapters were very long. I felt they could have been broken into smaller chapters and specified at the top who was narrating. Overall, I liked the story and have enjoyed all the books by Sparks, but this wasn’t my favorite.

Side note: I did find a couple errors I would like to point out... in chapter three- I: "I didn't think so. My mom told me it was a lie and she that you were actually a nice man." Also in chapter eight- x , "But I do think I understand now why your grandmother were so worried about you."

A heartwarming book with good values. A true Nicholas Sparks gem. Loved the story and the ending.. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Nicholas Sparks is known for his romance. Counting Miracles is a slow, but predictable build, set in North Carolina. While the characters are interesting and their history compelling, there is more Bible verse throughout than absolutely necessary. Sparks builds a strong backstory for two of the main characters, Tanner, an army veteran, and Jasper, an old man who has faced a lot of tragedy. The follow through on his female protagonist, Kaitlyn, a divorced mom of two, leaves the reader wanting more - of everything. Of all the Sparks novels, this was my least favorite, but hit on a wide array of topics, as always.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. I've read many of Nicholas Sparks books and this one is true to his style with romance and a little danger. I was interested in the story and liked the main characters. There are a lot of Bible quotes with one of the characters, but I wouldn't characterize this as a religious book.

A must read! I read this book in a couple of hours. I could not put it down and neglected all of my household duties to finish. My husband was not pleased with me, but this was a great read. I even cried at the ending.