This book hooked me in from the first chapter. I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

It has been a while since I read a Nicholas Sparks book. It was as lovely an experience as I remembered. Parallel story lines intercept in a touching way that brings everything together. This book is very heartwarming, poignant and spiritual.

This book was such a spiritual and well written story. The characters were easy to understand and the author wrote with such emotion.

Another good book from Mr. Sparks. Kept me reading until the end to find out what happened to the characters. All are very likeable and you are rooting for each of them throughout the book.

Tanner Hughes is headed to Cameroon soon but decides to take a trip to Asheboro, North Carolina on a personal mission before he leaves. Tanner has been raised by his grandparents. He is told on his grandmother's deathbed the name of his father and where the man was from. Tanner heads to Asheboro to see if he can find him or information about him. In the process of his search, Tanner meets Kaitlyn Cooper, a doctor and single mom. A relationship starts to develop between Tanner and Kaitlyn but Kaitlyn breaks things off. Tanner re-enters their lives when Casey (Kaitlyn's daughter) calls him to help find Jasper (their eighty-three year old neighbor) who has gone missing in the woods. Is Tanner able to find Jasper? Do Kaitlyn and Tanner end up together? Does Tanner find his father? You'll have to read the book to find out the answers.

I’ll start by saying I was over-the-moon excited to read this book. As a loyal Nicholas Sparks fan, I’ve read and loved all of his novels. This unfortunately was a very different read that I struggled through.

I had a really hard time connecting with the elderly man, Jasper, as a character. He was a sweet old man who’d been dealt an extremely difficult hand, but his storyline was so slow for most of the book (the exception: a few intense scenes that I won’t spoil) and the flashbacks to his childhood caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting the religious aspect to this book. The multitude of Bible verses were an oddity for a NS book. The Biblical stories really overtook the storyline and put the romance to the back burner. There were no indications prior to reading this book that it would have such a strong Christian tone.

The spark between Kaitlyn and Tanner felt forced and rushed, not the ‘feel it in your soul, tear-jerking’ connection you’ve come to love from NS novels. However, Casey & Mitch (Kaitlyn’s children) were enjoyable to read about, and their personalities jumped off the page.

Jasper had my heart from the get go in this novel. This was an emotional and beautifully written story, as Sparks so commonly writes. The Biblical stories or references were not overwhelming and did not distract from my opinion of the story. Tears flowed, smiles came abundantly, heart tugged, and I thoroughly enjoyed all of it! 4.5 ⭐️

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for the ARC.

🌟 Looking for a heartwarming read that will touch your soul? Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks is an absolute gem! I can't get enough of the incredible characters like Jasper and Arlo. The found family trope in this book is my top favorite, creating such a special bond between them. Highly recommending it to everyone who loves a beautiful story about love, hope, and connections that transcend time and distance! ✨ #CountingMiracles #NicholasSparks #FoundFamily #BookRecommendation #HeartwarmingRead #BookReview #FictionFriday #MustReads2024

I love anything he writes it just sucks me in and I feel like I’m right next to the character seeing it all happen. This book does not disappoint I’m so happy I got to read this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tanner Hughes has just been home to care for his grandmother before she passed. He’s supposed to be headed back to Cameroon in a few months for another security assignment. But, before his grandmother passed, she gave him the name and hometown of the father he never knew. He’s intent to track him down before he goes on his next assignment.

Casey is a teenager who ran into (literally) Tanner’s car at a pub. When he takes her home in her mom’s suv, he meets her mom, Kaitlyn. He immediately finds her attractive. When she offers to take him back to his hotel, he asks her out for a drink.

Jasper is an elderly man who lives in a cabin alone. He has no family. Kaitlyn is his physician and he’s teaching Mitch, her son, how to whittle.

When an albino deer is spotted in the forest, Jasper is intent to keep it safe. Even if he’s not doing a great job of keeping himself safe in doing so.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tanner Hughes has just been home to care for his grandmother before she passes. He’s supposed to be headed back to Cameroon in a few months for another security assignment. But, before his grandmother passes, she gave him the name and hometown of the father he never knew.

Casey is a teenager who ran into (literally) Tanner’s car at a pub. When he takes her home in her mom’s suv, he meets her mom, Kaitlyn. He immediately finds her attractive. When she offers to take him back to his hotel, he asks her out for a drink.

Jasper is an elderly man who lives in a cabin alone. He has no family. Kaitlyn is his physician and he’s teaching Mitch, her son, how to whittle.

When an albino deer is spotted in the forest, Jasper is intent to keep it safe. Even if he’s not doing a great job of keeping himself safe in doing so.


This was lovely. The romance between Tanner and Kaitlyn was nice. But, I feel in love with Jasper. His story. His mannerisms. His story broke my heart. He reminded me of my grandfather, not necessarily in his story but just in the way he made you feel. But the ending - chefs kiss.
Fairly predicable, but I’m okay with that. Definitely typical Sparks tear jerker. 🩷

I have been a fan of Nicholas Sparks for what feels like forever. Counting Miracles felt a little different from his past romance novels and maybe this is the new direction he is moving. I enjoyed all of the characters and the way their stories entwined.
I could have done without all of the bible references, but I understand it was part of one of the character's lives, but I did not care for them.
Overall, a good read with strong character development that flowed from the first page to the last.

I've been a fan of Nicholas Sparks for years. There are two stories in Counting Miracles and the plight of the old man was my favorite. I loved the ending and the connection with all of the characters. Arlo, the dog, and Casey the typical teenager with more wisdom than her mother thinks, were favorites. I received this book from Net Galley and would recommend it.

I loved this book! This is a story about great loss and finding your way back. You never know what life will throw at you and what you will get in return. Definitely a great read. Another great book from Nicholas Sparks.

While I have watched a few of Nicholas Sparks’ movie adaptations, this is the first Nicholas Sparks book I have read and I now understand why so many of his books gets turned into movies. A fresh and powerful message about family, old and new, Counting Miracles was a joy to read that had me tearing up at the end. I am so grateful and honored to have been given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of work from one of the best romance authors of our time. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley as well!

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.