Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks
Tanner Hughes was raised by his grandparents, following in his grandfather’s military footsteps to become an Army Ranger. His whole life has been spent abroad, and he is the proverbial rolling stone . . . happiest when off on his next adventure, zero desire to settle down. But when his grandmother passes away, her last words to him are: find where you belong. She also drops a bombshell, telling him the name of the father he never knew—and where he might be found.
Tanner is due at his next posting soon, but his curiosity is piqued, and he sets out for Asheboro, North Carolina, to ask around. He’s been in town less than twenty-four hours when he meets Kaitlyn Cooper, a doctor and single mom. They both feel an immediate connection; Tanner knows Kaitlyn has a story to tell, and he wants to hear it. For Kaitlyn, Tanner is mysterious, exciting—and possibly leaving in just a few weeks.
Meanwhile, nearby, eighty-three-year-old 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.
Review: Tanner Hughes was raised by his grandparents and followed in his grandfather's footsteps to become an Army Ranger but has now retired after a career spent abroad. When his grandmother tells him his father's name on her deathbed, he decides to go to Asheboro, North Carolina to see what he can find out about the father he never knew. But a chance encounter leads him to meet Kaitlyn Cooper, a doctor and single mother and they both feel an immediate connection. Meanwhile, Kaitlyn's neighbor is an 83-year-old man who only has his dog as a companion after losing his whole family in a freak accident. When he hears that a white deer was spotted in the forest, he becomes obsessed with protecting the deer from poachers. As the novel progresses, the connection between the characters slowly begins to become clear.
There is a lot to appreciate about this book. I loved the North Carolina setting and even a visit to the Asheboro Zoo, with which I am familiar! I liked Tanner and was intrigued with the premise of a man without a family looking for a place to belong. I have read several books by Nicholas Sparks in the past and enjoyed them, but this was the first novel by him I have read since 2012! I was pleased that this didn't have the tragic ending that he is most commonly known for. In fact, I got emotional when the great revelation happens, and Tanner finally learns more about his family. It was extremely touching.
That being said, I just did not enjoy reading this as much as I had hoped. I did not develop a strong connection to the characters. I also did not fully understand why Jasper was so obsessed with the white deer. I understand it was a symbol for Christ and surrendering to Christ/reclaiming his faith, but I just did not understand why an elderly man would take physical risks in pursuit of the deer the way he did. It just did not meld with the rest of the plot either.
I enjoyed this! I was pleased with how Sparks tied the two storylines together. But there was just something about it that did not feel cohesive or finished enough for me.
Stars: 3
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