The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
Title: The Lucky One
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publication Date: September 30, 2008
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Rating: * * * * *
Summary
Three tours in Iraq. Twelve IED explosions. One picture.
Young Marine Logan Thibault managed to survive some dangerous missions during his time in Iraq. Upon his discovery of a photograph of a young woman, Logan escapes numerous deathly situations that had fatal results for fellow soldiers. At the suggestion of his best friend, Victor, Logan comes to believe that the photo is a source of safety and luck.
A few years after his return to the states Logan’s thoughts are consumed by the woman in the photograph and he is determined to find her to pay his debt. Logan is able to identify some clues in the photo and begins a journey on foot from Colorado to North Carolina with his faithful dog, Zeus.
The mysterious girl turns out to be a gorgeous woman named Beth. Beth lives with her ailing grandmother and has a young son, Ben. The attraction between the two is imminent and Logan finds the last thing that he expected to encounter on his journey – love. As Logan builds relationships with Beth, Ben, and Nana, the secret photograph is constantly in the back of his mind. To make matters worse, Beth’s ex, police officer Keith Clayton, is determined to drive Logan out of town. Will Keith find out what Logan is hiding and ruin their happiness, or will fate intercede?
Review
This was my first time reading a Nicholas Sparks novel. I have seen many of his books as movies and made the decision to read The Lucky One before I went and saw the movie adaptation.
I am very glad I did! The Lucky One is a perfect combination of excitement, romance, and reality. Sparks used the Southern charm of North Carolina as a separate character, utilizing everything from homemade ice cream and rainstorms to trigger plot points throughout the novel.
The character of Logan is very complex. It was insightful and heartbreaking to read about what he went through during his time with the Marines in Iraq, but it provided the reader with a great base for the character. The ‘flashback’ method employed by Sparks was very effective and provided a great contrast for life in North Carolina vs. Logan’s time in Iraq. I really enjoyed watching his character grow and form strong relationships with Ben, Beth, and Nana.
What will I tell my friends? This book is definitely worth the read! The characters of Beth and Logan are woven together seamlessly to create an amazing love story and you’ll find yourself not able to put the book down – especially when you get to the last 40 pages!
To get your copy of The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks, buy it on Amazon.com.
