Nicholas Sparks – CozyRom Books & Coffee

Title: Counting Miracles
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Main Characters: Tanner, Kaitlyn, Jasper
Other Characters: Mitch, Casey
Location: Ashboro, North Carolina
Pets: Jasper’s dog Arlo
Rating: 5

I have read everyone of Nicholas Sparks’ books and this one does not disappoint. This story really touched my heart which seems to happen with all of My Spark’s books.

Tanner, a military brat, was raised by his grandparents abroad for the majority of his life. His mother passed away right after giving birth to him. He chooses to become an Army Ranger in order to carry on his grandfather’s legacy. When his grandmother passes away in Pensacola, FL, Tanner flies home. He has plans to head right back to his post until his grandmother’s last words to him are about his biologial father that he never knew. The only information she gave him was “Go where you belong” his dad’s name and where he might possibly find him. Tanner decides his post can wait and he heads to Ashboro, NC, where his grandmother said, he might locate his father. Little did he know that a car accident in the parking lot of a local bar could change his life.

The other story in this book, is about Jasper, An elderly man who lost his entire family due to a fire at their home. He struggles to carry on without them. He was severly burned by the fire so he stays to himself and rarely wonders out of the area where he lives. Jasper also is having some trouble with pouchers and can’t get law enforcement to help him so he takes things into his own hands which could get him killed.

Mr Sparks always has a way of making the reader feel like they are part of the story. The characters are very well developed and i could feel every emotion that they were going through. I am also a dog lover so Arlo, an elderly golden retriever, stole my heart.

If you are a fan of Nicholas Sparks other books, you will love this one. This is a great story of finding faith, family, heartbreak, a rare magical white deer and love in unexpected places.

“Romans 11:36.” (Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything for his glory.)

Happy Reading!

Title: Dreamland
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Genre: Romance
Takes Place: Florida & North Carolina
Main Character: Colby & Beverly
Other Characters: Morgan, Tommie, Page
Stars: 4

Review:

Two Journey’s, two hearts, two different stories to tell with an ending that I didn’t see coming. And since it is Nicholas Sparks I wasn’t surprised that there were tears at the end.

I have read all of Nicholas Sparks books and this one was different than any of his others. It follows two different stories throughout the book.

First there is Colby, a wanna be musician who was raised by his Aunt & Uncle and his sister, who is 6 years older than him. His mom died when he was 5 so he and his sister went to live with his aunt and uncle, who didn’t have kids and really wasn’t sure how to deal with kids. Most of his raising was done by his sister so they were very close. His sister got married young and moved away. Then Colby’s world was turned upside down when his uncle died. He found out his aunt and uncle’s farm was going under and they were deeply in debt. He helped his aunt turn that around and stayed to help her run her farm. Through circumstances out of her control, his sister also moves back to the farm.

Colby seriuosly needed a break from the farm and his aunt and sister convinced him he should go to Florida for a few weeks and take a short term job playing and singing at a bar. Then he meets Morgan. Morgan is 21 and has dreams of moving to Nashville to become another Taylor Swift. She just finished college so this Florida trip is a celebration of sorts before she moves to Nashville to hopefully make her dreams come true. Colby and Morgan have music in common so they bond and there is a story there to be told.

Now Colby has a big decision to make and he struggles with this until a tragedy happens and his world is rocked upside down once again.

Then there is Beverly’s story. She is mom of a 6 year old boy who is running from her abusive husband. She takes several buses and rides from people until she decides to settle in a town far away where hopefully her husband won’t find her. She sees danger around every corner and will do anything to protect her child.

All through the book, I felt like I was reading two books instead of one and I kept wondering how these stories could be related in any way. I actually had a hard time finishing and was hoping it would end soon so it all made sense.

It all came together in a way that I didn’t expect. It took me on a roller coaster ride till the end and it all made sense.

This wasn’t my favorite book by this author but I did like it and I am very glad a read it. I gave it 4 stars because I found the first of it a bit slow and wondered if I should just quit reading but I am so glad I didn’t give up.

Don’t give up. Read it to the end, you will be glad you did. Have your tissues ready for the ending.

“Hold on to Dreamland
Forever, not just today
Someday Dreamland will be ours
Hold fast, don’t fall away”