Any person who has read a book written by Nicholas Sparks knows that they are going to be immersed in a wonderful story; one where you can lose yourself and enjoy immensely. His books are full of wonderful descriptive passages about the geographical settings of the stories. In this book, “The Lucky One”, the reader is again transported right into the setting, as though the characters are familiar and feeling everything the they are feeling and experiencing. The reader also feels the range of emotions experienced by the characters, laughing, missing, cheering and crying right along with the people in the Nicholas Sparks book and the feeling stays with you long after that last page is read.

Recently I was in search of a new book to read and decided to try Sparks’ “The Lucky One” and I will say it was a lucky decision as I was mesmerized from the first page right through until the end. This is definitely a book you will want to add to your collection of Nicholas Sparks novels.

This Nicholas Sparks novel is a love story but also a story which deals with destiny, fate, and a blind belief in the wisdom of a true friend.

The Story

While stationed in Iraq, Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph lost in the sand of a beautiful young woman. He posts the photo on the bulletin board there but nobody claims it so he retrieves it and subsequently carries it with him during his three tours of duty. His best friend, Victor, firmly believes that the photo is a good luck charm, something Logan isn’t so sure of. But it seems as if Logan is the lucky one as both he and Victor survive and return home to begin their lives again.

After a series of defining events after leaving the Marines, a few years later Logan decides to find the young woman in that picture and return it to her. Looking for distinct clues within the photo itself, he narrows down possible locations where the picture was taken and decides on looking in Hampton, SC first. He sets out on foot from Colorado, with his amazing companion, a German Shepherd named Zeus. The walk seems to be part of a journey of healing for Logan himself as well.

From the picture Logan knows the woman’s name begins with an E along with a few other details so when he finally arrives in Hampton he decides to show the picture at a local bar, to people around her age. Her name is Elizabeth, called Beth, and she lives in town with her grandmother, her son Ben, and together they run a dog training and kennel on the property and are looking for a kennel worker. Logan gets the job but Beth is suspicious of Logan, why did he walk from Colorado, why did he settle in Hampton, and why was he content to work a minimum wage job at the kennel. He doesn’t talk much about his past, demons from Iraq and she is leery of men in general after divorcing Keith, a man whose family practically owned and ran the town.

As Beth’s grandmother approves of and her son befriends Logan and especially his dog, Beth finds herself drawn to him as well. Slowly a relationship begins, both of them discovering trust, finding themselves believing in fate and destiny. Beth’s ex husband, a town policeman and a bit of a bully, plays a role in the novel, trying to control and manipulate Beth and her destiny. You’ll find yourself cheering for Logan and admiring his quiet strength.

During the novel Logan and Keith continually encounter each other and Keith is left feeling threatened by Logan’s presence and his role in Ben’s life. Logan himself, falling for Beth, questions his decision to find Beth and the role the photograph plays. Life becomes precious to all of them when an accident threatens to change everything.

This book is both a feel good and exciting one you owe to yourself to read. Be prepared to curl up and read page after page as the story of Beth and Logan unfolds, twists and turns, and carries you through a hot South Carolina season, porch swings, homemade ice cream, and the promise of love, new beginnings, and demons being put to rest. Fate, Destiny, and what is mean to be truly becomes real in this story.

I live in upstate New York with my family including a 2 year old granddaughter. My most important activity during the day is caring for the most amazing little one.