The Last Song - Nicholas Sparks

TITLE: The Last Song

AUTHOR: Nicholas Sparks

SUMMARY: Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller''s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alientated from her parents, especially her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone''s best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie''s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church.

The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels--first love, love between parents and children -- that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them. - From Publisher

REVIEW: Nicholas Sparks once again writes a strong book that spins you around and makes you hit all the emotions. That's something I love about his work and I feel like throughout his book he's gotten strong and more refined.

His characters are always so vivid and within moments I often feel like I already know the cast and understand their reasoning's for their actions. All of them become alive and Sparks seems to consistently add nice little details that round them out even more and give the beginning glimpses of their characters.

Reading how Ronnie & her father interacted throughout the summer was brilliant, especially with the Sparks-twist that he enjoys torturing us with.

With his books it's all about the journey and with this one especially I thought he captured a young girls journey into adult hood. While I know some readers don't enjoy the pain that Sparks seems to drag his readers through, I'd highly recommend reading this one. Sure you may have to reach for the kleenex but it's worth it.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The Choice - Nicholas Sparks

TITLE: The Choice

AUTHOR: Nicholas Sparks

SUMMARY: #1 New York Times bestseller Nicholas Sparks turns his unrivaled talents to a new tale about love found and lost, and the choices we hope we''ll never have to make.


Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life - boating, swimming , and regular barbecues with his good-natured buddies -- he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door.


Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage and family, THE CHOICE ultimately confronts us with the most heartwrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive? - From Publisher

REVIEW: Now this is a classic Sparks book and just what I love. Happiness before pain and then wondering if he, Sparks, can fix it or not.

I can, at times, be a hard person to please (just ask my husband). I want my characters to talk more like normal people, do some rambling and make assumptions and at times look like a fool, because in real life we do all those things. At the same time when I read that in a book it sounds off and non-book-esque. This is problem I discovered with Travis's sister Stephanie. She rambled and talked like an actual person would and while I loved that I didn't. It didn't take away from story, which was good, but it also read funny. Yeah, hard to please.

The story itself was beautiful. I love the journey and the theme. I feel like Sparks writes a classic romance that never goes near the smutty that most straight romances do. And while you get the romance you also get a few beautiful stories in one book. I never find myself getting bored while reading his works he does well writing real life.

If you enjoy romances or Sparks' movies/books you'll enjoy this. Just be sure to have some Kleenex.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The Lucky One - Nicholas Sparks

TITLE: The Lucky One

AUTHOR: Nicholas Sparks

SUMMARY: In his 14th book, bestselling author Nicholas Sparks tells the unforgettable story of a man whose brushes with death lead him to the love of his life.

Is there really such thing as a lucky charm? The hero of Nicholas Sparks''s new novel believes he''s found one in the form of a photograph of a smiling woman he''s never met, but who he comes to believe holds the key to his destiny. The chain of events that leads to him possessing the photograph and finding the woman pictured in it is the stuff of love stories only a master such as Sparks can write. - From Publisher

REVIEW: When ever I pick up a Sparks book I know I'm in for an enjoyable journey. This was one book that I found to be a bit different from other books I've read of his. I'm always expecting a tragedy and some sort of unhappy pain, with this book I didn't get that. Some would say that's good but I felt like I was missing out and that perhaps Sparks missed the mark, slightly with one character.

Keith Clayton, Elizabeth's ex, was written from the start as someone you weren't suppose to enjoy. I never felt sympathy for him and found his attitude of superiority to be a bit over the top and off from Sparks usual style. As the story unfolded and events happened I felt like Sparks wanted me to possibly have some sympathy for him, yet I never could muster it up. That aspect didn't sit well with me and, like I said, it didn't have that Sparks twist to it.

The rest of the characters were just what I've come to expect for Sparks. They were all well developed with lives that felt realistic and lots of depth and layers to them. That's one thing I love about his writing, is how we get lots of history and people connections in his books. A character is never really wasted or just plopped in for fun. I find this allows you to really focus in on the characters and get to know them.

Logan and his dog Zeus won over my heart instantly. Makes me want to fly to Germany when I eventually get my own German Shepard. The story of Logan's journey was laid out well and I enjoyed the flashbacks we got. I dislike when authors use flashbacks inappropriately but I find Sparks always uses his to the books advantage. You never feel lost nor overwhelmed, he's got a good balance with them.

All around I enjoyed the book. It sat more on the romance side, but was a nice reprieve from some of his more heartbreaking tales.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Dear John - Nicholas Sparks

TITLE: Dear John

AUTHOR: Nicholas Sparks

SUMMARY: An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love--and face the hardest decision of his life. - From Publisher

REVIEW: Sparks is one of the few authors I've read that can move you in so many ways and in the end, whether it's the ending you wanted or not, you're left with a tale that leaves an imprint on your heart.

I was suppose to get lots done the day I started to read this and instead of working out or doing laundry I sat and read. I couldn't put this book down and it totally messed up my day of productiveness, which I'm okay with because when you're lost in such an inspiring book laundry really can wait, sadly there are no such things are laundry gnomes.

John Tyree was a brilliant character and his personal growth was what made this book so addictive. Watching him change from a rebel to a really deep and carrying gentlemen was beautiful. While the book is plugged as a romance I think what always sets Sparks apart from others is all the small storylines he incorporates. "Dear John" is so much more than just John & Savannanh's romance.

The tale of John reconnecting with his father after so many years of separation is often what had me grabbing for the kleenex. Their journey, that was first nudged by Savannah, was heart breaking and beautiful and will especially move those that have had a parent with a disability, strong or mild. Even the story of Alan, Tim's younger autistic brother, left its mark and he was a minor-minor character. Somehow Sparks' makes every single character compelling.

As always, there's so much content and layers to the plot and characters. They feel tangible to me and their journeys, while often breaking your heart at some point, are honest and real. It's life and life is never perfect, there are flaws and mistakes and regrets but you push through and make the most of it.

A true journey of love and what it means to love and at times, what it costs.

RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

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