This was a light, easy read. There were some sad parts, but I didn't find them to be soul crushing. Tanner is an Army veteran who never met his father. He ends up in Asheboro, NC in search of him, at the advice of his dying grandmother. In true Nicholas Sparks fashion, a romance is involved, but it's not over the top or even the main storyline. Other things I enjoyed were the Bible verses woven throughout Jasper's story (Jasper is another main character in the book. I liked how the verses were tied to the circumstances being discussed. I thought it was unique how Jasper's life was compared to Job's. I think the theme of the book could be summed up with Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. I give this 3 stars. Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this Advanced Reader Copy to me!

In his captivating novel, Counting Miracles, Nicholas Sparks weaves a heartwarming and poignant tale of love, loss, and the enduring power of human connection. The story revolves around three compelling characters whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways, leading them on a journey of self-discovery and healing. Tanner Hughes, an Army Ranger raised by his grandparents, embarks on a quest to find his long-lost father after his grandmother's passing. His search brings him to Asheboro, North Carolina, where he encounters Kaitlyn Cooper, a single mother and doctor. Despite their initial hesitation, they feel an undeniable connection and find solace in each other's company. Meanwhile, elderly Jasper, living alone in a cabin near a national forest, is haunted by a tragic accident from his past. When he hears rumors of a legendary white deer spotted in the forest, he becomes determined to protect it from poachers. As these characters' paths converge, they find themselves caught in a web of emotions, secrets, and life-altering choices. Sparks masterfully blends the individual narratives of Tanner, Kaitlyn, and Jasper, creating a tapestry of interconnected lives. With his signature storytelling prowess, he explores themes of love, family, forgiveness, and the transformative power of human connection. Through their trials and tribulations, the characters learn to confront their pasts, embrace new opportunities, and find healing and redemption. Counting Miracles is a beautifully written and emotionally charged novel that delves into the depths of human nature and the resilience of the human spirit. Sparks' vivid prose and intricate character development bring the story to life, leaving readers captivated and deeply invested in the characters' journeys. With its poignant exploration of love, loss, and the search for meaning in life, Counting Miracles is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the human capacity for hope and resilience.

Another excellent book by Nicolas Sparks, his writing is like an old dependable friend- always there, no surprises, just steady and constant. I appreciate the opportunity for an ARC, our library will purchase this book for our shelves when it's released.

Nicholas Sparks' latest literary offering, "Counting Miracles," serves as a profound odyssey delving into the intricate dynamics of kinship – whether discovered, acknowledged, or cultivated. Following the passing of his grandmother, Tanner Hughes, an ex-serviceman, embarks on a journey fueled by the revelation of his unknown father. Venturing to Asheboro, a quaint enclave in North Carolina, Tanner's path intertwines with Kaitlyn Cooper, a dedicated physician deeply entrenched in communal affairs. Their serendipitous encounter, catalyzed by a vehicular mishap involving Kaitlyn's daughter, sets the stage for a tapestry of poignant connections. Amidst the backdrop of familial complexities and societal intricacies, Sparks deftly weaves a narrative replete with both discord and redemption. Within this framework, bonds are forged, conflicts resolved, and the essence of Christian virtues permeates the narrative with a delicate, and graceful touch. Sparks infuses the narrative with wry humor, adding depth and levity to the unfolding tale. "Counting Miracles" emerges as a literary gem, exuding a rare blend of profundity and warmth!

Having read all of Mr. Sparks books (Three Weeks With My Brother is my favorite), I was looking forward to reading his latest book and I was not disappointed. The plot centers around a man’s search for his birth father in a small town in North Carolina. The major characters are well defined and are interesting people brought together by a chance encounter. It is a throwback to a simpler era where doctors make house calls, wood carvings of animals are whittled and a frisbee is a new diversion. My only reservation is the almost constant references to Bible passages and verses, which I considered completely unnecessary.
I thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.

A modern day love story with flashbacks to the past. I liked this book but didn’t love it. I felt like the details of Jasper’s thoughts were a little boring (other than the flashbacks to his love story with his wife). The dynamic between Tanner and Kaitlyn and her kids was well done. I loved the Scripture references and the impact Jasper’s father had on his life.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this book!! The best part about a Nicholas Sparks book is starting it feels like coming home! The story within these pages was beautiful! I fell in love with Jasper, and Mitch stole my heart. This story was a return to the Sparks style that made me a fan. Those that have loved him from the early days of the Notebook will find similar heart moments in this one!!!

I was given the chance to read this book prior to its release date and I loved it. Nicholas Sparks has the best lobe stories. Tanner is looking for his biological father.. will he find him? Kaitlyn is a doctor and single mom of two children. Her path crosses with Tanner and after a just three dates she realizes she is in love. But is she enough for Tanner to finally put down roots and stay? Then there is Jasper, an old widow, with his dog. He isolates himself at home. How does he fit into this love story? The book is a little slow but push through and you will find the how these characters all tie together for a great love story.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I never thought that I would say this about a Nicholas Sparks book but I did not finish it. I slowly made it to 56 percent and couldn't go on. I was so excited to be approved to read this book as he is definitely one of my favorites but this was so boring. I found myself skimming the parts about Jasper as they were so long and detailed. I absolutely loved the scripture references. I will not give up on this author .

Nicholas Sparks latest book, Counting Miracles, is an exploration of finding, recognizing, or creating family. Tanner Hughes, a military veteran, has just lost his grandmother. She along with his grandfather, career military, raised Tanner on a succession of military bases. One of the final things his grandmother gave him was the name and possible location of the father he never knew. Tanner heads for Asheboro a small town in North Carolina that she had named. He becomes involved with Kaitlyn Cooper, the town doctor, when her daughter backs into his fancy car. Kaitlyn, a single mom, is deeply involved in the community. Her young son spends time with an elderly neighbor learning to whittle. Jasper, the neighbor, is something of a recluse after being badly disfigured. There is conflict and tension here as well as kindness and rescue. Relationships grow and are sorted out. There is a strong Christian element, but it is lived and practiced with grace rather than anger and condemnation. And the guy think parts are kind of funny. Strongly recommended.

3.5 ⭐️ In true Nicholas Sparks fashion, Counting Miracles is all about the characters. There were chapters where very little to nothing actually happened, but I’d find myself unable to put the book down because of the attachment to the characters that develops early on.

Counting Miracles follows Tanner Hughes, a young veteran determined to find his birth father based solely on two names scribbles on a piece of paper: Dave Johnson and Asheboro, North Carolina. On his journey in the small southern town, a blossoming romance quickly develops between Tanner and Kaitlyn Cooper, the town’s doctor who happens to be a divorced mother with two kids. The book switches between the perspective of Tanner/Kaitlyn and Jasper, an elderly man with a mysterious past who is something of the town hermit.

I think it would’ve been a higher rating for me if not for Jasper’s POV for most of the book. I loved the Tanner and Kaitlyn storyline, but found myself bored with the Jasper perspective, except for when it revealed flashbacks of his past. Otherwise, those parts were a bit too slow-moving for me and read a tad juvenile. Overall, another heartwarming Nicholas Sparks story!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Nicholas Sparks for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I love Nicholas Sparks and was thrilled to read this!
A incredible Christian based plot that follows the lives of multiple characters with dual timelines.
Wonderful story with incredible characters and an ending to touch your heart & soul, Have tissues ready! Highly recommend!

I received an advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I have read and own every Nicholas Sparks book published and was excited to read this one.
The story is excellent but with it fluctuating between being too much plot/character development it becomes tedious at times and difficult to fully engage the reader. With that being said it was still a beautiful, touching story with an incredible, tear-filled ending.
There is no mention of this book being Christian based even though there are religious references throughout and the title hints at religion. I believe it should be considered Christian fiction, which targets a specific audience, as well as Romance.
Definitely will recommend to others and look forward to his next novel.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I will start by saying that I have loved every Nicholas Sparks book I have read, but this one is not one of my favorites.
The book is about Kaitlyn, a single mother and doctor, raising her children in the small town, Asheboro, NC.
She meets a handsome stranger named Tanner, when he has a car accident with her daughter, Casey. Tanner comes to Asheboro looking for someone his grandmother told him about on her death bed.
Tanner and Kaitlyn are drawn to each other, but struggle with commitment and different times in their lives.
The old recluse in the town ultimately brings them together to rescue him in the forest.
The book left me with a sad feeling that I do not usually feel with Nicholas Sparks.

Wow, did not expect to have a 'did not finish' on a major author's newest work but this one definitely was. When I signed up to receive an advance copy from #Netgalley, I was expecting a book about intergenerational friendships, a possible friendship/potential love story between two adults and maybe a bit of small town drama. Maybe buried deep inside there was a gentle, tasteful love story but, to me, the book was overwhelming 'Christian" and chock full of New Testament scriptures on nearly every page, both of which made me very uncomfortable. I did like the characters, except the spoiled bullies/teenage boys. The little boy and the old man special friendship was especially nice. As others have stated, this just wasn't the book I thought it would be and I never got past 30%.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC of Counting Miracles.


Unfortunately I ended up DNFing this at 50%, I did try to push through, but I could not get myself super invested in the story. I enjoyed the sibling relationship between Casey and Mitch, their personalities were great together. I also liked Tanner’s character, but he seemed to need a little more personality. I felt as though the romance was rushed and there seemed to be no build up like in previous books Sparks has written. I also did not enjoy reading the chapters with Jasper’s character because he did not really add anything to the plot. Before starting this book, I was unaware that this would be very religious as the description did not mention it. Had I known beforehand I would have not chosen this book for myself.

"Find where you belong and make that place your own."

I am a sucker for Nicholas Sparks' books. This one is no exception.

I loved the small-town aspect of it. The characters were very easy to love and root for. Mitch and Casey were such fun characters that brought some light-hearted humor to the book.

At the beginning I found it difficult to connect with Jasper but the more I read about his history and past, the easier it was to connect with the old man. It was bittersweet to read about his life and what he has endured during the course of it.

I did think that Tanner and Kaitlyn's relationship was a little quick and forced but they were very cute and sweet together. They did feel a little unfair to each other in certain parts of their relationship but all is well that ends well.

Overall this was a very cute and well thought out book. Another very well done novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an eARC of Counting Miracles in exchange for my honest review!

You really can't go wrong with any Nicholas Sparks book and Counting Miracles was no different. A sweet, quick read with all the feels.

This man could make me cry at any point. I swear Nicholas sparks has the magic sauce the way he weaves the characters stories together it incredible and always gets me in my feels. I loved this book just like I loved all of his books,

I wanted to love this book, I really did. I grew up reading Nicholas Sparks. I have a copy of The Last Song that could be showcased in a museum of well-loved books. But this just was not my cup of tea. I ran into quite a few issues that put me off from it as far as plot holes, and everything felt rushed. I only connected with one of the characters throughout. Super sad about this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to review this ARC. All opinions are my own.