This book was great! I have passed it on to my reading friends and they are all loving it too. It would make a great movie!

I absolutely love every book that Nicholas Sparks has ever written. Although I cannot say this is his best because I love them all the same. I will be reading this book over and over!!! You can't go wrong with a Nicholas Sparks Novel.

The Lucky One is another great love story by Nicholas Sparks. In this book, Sparks creates a love triangle between Beth, the single mom, Logan, the Iraqi war vet, and Clayton, the ex-husband to Beth.

Clayton is a horrible man and father, and when he thinks Beth might become involved with Logan, he threatens to destroy them. The ending is quite suspensful and satisfying. I do think too much of the middle is associated with Logan and Beth falling in love. At times it became quite tedious.

Overall, this is one of Sparks' best books and I recommend to anyone.

"The Lucky One" was actually a pretty good book. It took me about a chapter to get into it. I don't know why I think that he will ever top "The Notebook" because it is not possible, and I have all these expectations of Nicholas Sparks since that book, and he never exceeds them. I can't really blame him, that love story is like no other. But this new story was good. It was easy reading; I wasn't bored. It actually seemed like a book that a man could enjoy as well. Sparks main male character had been in the marines, so he spoke of war often. I don't necessarily enjoy reading about it, but I know a lot of you would. It was worth reading for sure.

I could not wait to read "The Lucky One". I bought it as soon as it was released. The premise of the book was an interesting idea, but the book fell flat except for the last 8 pages. I kept thinking I was missing something, but my sister read it with the same exact sentiment. My favorites are still "A Walk to Remember" "The Rescue" and "The Notebook". Not one book he has written since has come close. This book was plain boring and seemed rushed and amateurish in the writing. Nicholas Sparks has talent just not in this not so Lucky One!

An excellent story by a very good story teller. I have only missed one of his books.

An excellent story by a very good story teller. I have only missed one of his books.

I loved Nicholas Sparks. I have twelve of the fourteen books he has written. That being said, he does something that irks me and this book was the last straw.
Characters who are not the leading lady tend to have their looks sacrificed. Do I need Sparks to write about how the clerk at the police station is three hundred pounds because she eats donuts? Not really. Do I need to hear how a chauvinist male character in this book refers that a woman he just had sex with needed to leave because she had "bad teeth and pockmarked skin"? And how the leading lady is "The most beautiful woman he's ever seen?" Again, no. This gets me to thinking... am I unworthy because I have glasses and eczema. (Among many other flaws. I am far from physically perfect.) I depend on Jennifer Weiner for my entertainment, her books are full of depth, but Sparks is supposed to be the writer of my adult fairy tales, and I am going to finish this book, because it's good, but my love for books by Sparks is quickly diminishing and I probably won't pay for any more.

I love Nicholas Sparks' writing style immensely. However, I am getting a little bored with his stories. They are great love stories as individuals, but after reading book after book of his, you come to realize that all the stories will follow one simple theme. He is trying to be different but it all ends up the same. My favorites so far have been The Notebook, A Walk To Remember, and Nights in Rodanthe for their unexpected-ness. A tear jerker this was not, but again and easy read if you are looking for something to fill your time.

This is a very sweet page turner. The story line is well thought out. Sparks really captures the beauty of two people falling in love. It's a little predictable in some respects, but there are some surprising elements. If you are a dog lover, I challenge you to not be moved by the ending. I listened to the audio version. I don't know if I agree with the way the reader emphasized the dialogue in some conversations, but he still did a great job varying his voice for each character.

I gave this book to my father-in-law. He is 94. He told me HE COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!!!!! He stayed up all night to finish it! He told me it is wonderful and that Nicholas Sparks has done it again.... written with compassion and hope. I can't wait to get me hands on it!

What a disappointment!!! Beth; a weak, whiney female character, Logan; just not interesting, the ex-husband a whack job with no real purpose in the story. This book is just a hodge podge of rambling sentences. Trivial detail that goes no where. The book jumps around from past, present, to Logan's past after his first past. I thought this was a terrible story.

the first part is good the middle boring and reduntant the end is exciting and satisfying.would be a better short story.

I never received the item. However, the seller did return the money and sent me a $20 gift card, which more than made up for it.

I am a huge Nicholas Sparks fan. I have all of his books and normally find him to be a wonderful writer. I was very excited to get my new copy of The Lucky One. I have to say once I started reading the book, I really couldn't get into it. The Lucky One was based on a good plot however seemed to be poorly written and predictable. It did not keep me interested at all. Through most of the book I was very bored and thought about not finishing it but I kept trudging and finally finished the book. It was not worth the time and effort I put into reading it.

Sparks fly in this wonderfully romantic novel that makes a reader think that anything is possible, that fate or destiny may have other plans for each of us, and that if we follow our hearts we may just end up being The Lucky One.

Nicholas Sparks creates a deeply emotional story of a battle-worn marine who holds most dear a photograph of an unknown woman. Throughout tours of duty, he clings to the belief that the photo is responsible for keeping him safe, and he later sets out to find the woman in the photograph.

The Lucky One makes you believe in true love and fate. In some ways, I am reminded of how I felt in my early 20s when I read dozens of Danielle Steele novels. For me, she was the queen of romance. In this case, I'd say Sparks is the king of romance. He certainly creates intriguing characters and seemingly impossible odds.

If you enjoyed The Notebook and Message in a Bottle, you'll love The Lucky One! No other male author does romance quite like Nicholas Sparks!

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
bestselling author of Whale Song: A Novel

I have read all of Nicholas Sparks books and this one was better than his last few (true believer and first sight) in my opinion. The pages kept turing but all in all the book was just okay. I never really got into the characters so it made it hard to care what really happened. I certainly didnt even come close to crying the way I used to with his books. The end was predictable and it seemed very familiar to a story I read as a child. I would say which one but that would give the end away as it is a popular book that was also recently made into a movie. If you are looking for something to read go ahead and read it but dont expect to be wowed, care about the characters or to feel any sort of emotion.

I am not one of those raving Nicholas Sparks fans that talk about how his books are the end all and be all of the modern romantic tale. At times, I find his books to be a bit corny and hokey and this one was really no exception. Unlike his earlier novels (The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, A Walk to Remember), this book just does not seem to have the same zing. In fact, it's almost more of a zud...lol.

The story itself is told through the eyes of three main characters: Elizabeth, Thibault, and Clayton. All the characters are connected in different ways, and their actions with eachother are the true center of the story. At the beginning of the novel, we learn that Thibault is an Iraqi War Veteran, who has walked across the country looking for a woman he has never met. The woman is from a picture that he found half buried in the sand in Kuwait. Thibault views the picture as his "lucky charm," saving him from death many times throughout the war.

Thibault's first meeting with anyone his new town is with Clayton, a self centered, immature, ANNOYING cop from a famously rich family. It is easy to say that this character continually grated on my nerves. Every chapter that was from his point of view made me a bit queasy and I couldn't wait to finish them. Plus, he treats women as nothing more than sexual objects and that totally turned me off from his character.

I don't want to give anymore of the plot away because it will ruin the story for those who want to read it. I'm not saying it was a bad story, it just wasn't Sparks' best and I found it to be a bit far fetched. Who honestly walks from Colorado to the Carolinas with a back pack and a dog? If I were to do it all over again, I would have waited for the MMPB to come out and saved myself some money.

I'm a huge Nicholas Sparks fan and the storyline was great...until the last chapter. It gets to a predictable turning point and abruptly ends, with a 3 page epilogue to fill you in. But be sure to reread the last few pages because you can miss details. Again, still a great story, just not to happy with the ending.

For years Nicholas Sparks has been happily pumping out love stories on a yearly basis. His body of work has made him one of the most recognizable authors out there. The Lucky One is one of his better books in a while and shows just how Nicholas Sparks has grown as a writer. Fans of his work will enjoy it save for a few slight hitches.

The Lucky One focuses on Logan Thibault. While serving in Iraq he comes across a photo of a beautiful woman. As soon as that happens his luck begins to change. In moments where he should've died he lives. In the poker games he has with his buddies he's suddenly winning. Things turn in his favor. His friend comes to the conclusion that the photo must give him luck. After he's done serving in Iraq, he eventually decides to find this woman. His search leads him to North Carolina where he meets the woman in the photo. A woman named Elizabeth. The love that blossoms isn't without its own little secrets and dangers, however, and Logan and Elizabeth will both discover that.

One of the things Nicholas Sparks has been able to do really well is create good characters. The characters really come into their own and show their personalities. Sparks does a great job because each chapter is from a different point of view. This makes it easier to get to know the main characters throughout the novel. Each chapter begins with a number and the name of the character whose eyes we are seeing through. This lets the focus really narrow in on character thoughts and motivations. It brings the characters to life a lot more.

The story is also fairly well paced, each and everything falling into place rather well. If there was anything bothersome about the story it would be the book's final moments. After such an intense build up the final moments fly by in a flash. There's nothing wrong with a swift climax. It's how it all comes together that makes little sense. The final chapter, and the epilogue might take a reread just to make sure you didn't miss anything.

It doesn't stop The Lucky One from being a great read. It keeps up the momentum for the most part. While the ending doesn't fall flat, it's hard not to desire a little more after such a strong build up given the actions of the characters throughout.

The Lucky One is a good novel with lovable characters and a well paced story. It is among Sparks best books, even if it isn't one that'll drive you to tears.

A little predictable, but very entertaining. Definately a chick book. Im not an avid Nicholas Sparks reader, so I can't compare, but it's a good clean book.

As I read Nicholas Sparks' newest novel THE LUCKY ONE, I, as usual, found myself drawn into the characters, the love story and the conflict. As I neared the last 70 pages, I thought, this could be one of the best novels I'v read, not just from Sparks, but from anybody. Sparks had set up everything perfectly, but could he create a satisfying ending?

For reasons that will be explained later in the novel, Logan Thibault decides to walk from Colorado to Hamtpon, North Carolina with his German Shepard, Zeus. He is on a journey to find a woman in a photo. While serving in Iraq, Logan found the photo half buried in the sand. Unable to find the owner of the picture, Logan kept it. And through three tours of duty, he survived many brushes with death. He didn't want to admit it, but he believed the picture may have been why he survived.

Beth is a single mom. Her ex-husband Keith is a jerk who is dissapointed that their son Ben isn't the athletic adventurer type. Logan shows up in Hamton and begins working at the dog kennel where Beth lives and helps out her grandma. This is a Sparks novel, so of course you're going to see a romance develop. But there is a lot more. All the characters have secrets, and the revealing of the secrets has the potential to do a lot of harm. A highlight for me was the relationship between Ben and Logan.

So, did the ending of THE LUCKY ONE uphold the promise of the beginning? I believe it did and I highly recommend this novel. Sparks is on record saying he writes "love stories" and not romances, meaning readers aren't always guaranteed a happy, tidy ending. This novel has more of suspense element than other Sparks novels, stemming from the fact that the conflict comes from the immature, irrational Keith Clayton. The conflict in this book is notable in that it doesn't come from a natural disaster or a sickness, but from the characters.

This is one Sparks book I'd love to see made into a movie.

This was the first time I have ever bought anything off of Amazon.com and it was the best experience I could have had! I even put in the wrong billing address and was able to contact the seller to have them help! Also, the product did not even look used at all! I bought "The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks and it looks like I bought it off the self at a Barns and Noble! Thank you so much!

Nicholas Sparks has done it again! This book was absolutely incredible and was worth every penny! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves his books or anyone who appreciates a good love story. As always, I couldn't put this book down and was so sad that it had to end. I cannot wait for his next book!

This was the first time I have ever bought anything off of Amazon.com and it was the best experience I could have had! I even put in the wrong billing address and was able to contact the seller to have them help! Also, the product did not even look used at all! I bought "The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks and it looks like I bought it off the self at a Barns and Noble! Thank you so much!

Nicholas Sparks has done it again! This book was absolutely incredible and was worth every penny! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves his books or anyone who appreciates a good love story. As always, I couldn't put this book down and was so sad that it had to end. I cannot wait for his next book!

For me this is the worst book that Sparks has written. Having read of his other books and loved them, I could not get past the third chapter. I know others loved the book but it just isn't for me.

As always, Nicholas Sparks has written another novel that is very difficult to put down. I look forward to his next.

This book is great---you'll end up having to re-read the last few pages over again. I sat down to read this around noon and had to finish it the same day! Kudo's to Sparks---I don't know how he keeps cranking 'em out but he keeps doing a great job!

This book is great---you'll end up having to re-read the last few pages over again. I sat down to read this around noon and had to finish it the same day! Kudo's to Sparks---I don't know how he keeps cranking 'em out but he keeps doing a great job!

Lucky One is a much better read than Spark's last book and the story was smooth and touching. The characters were well described and believable. It took me a week to get through it part time, but kept me quite interested.

Nicholas Sparks does not disappoint you with this book. It was a very easy read just like all his books.

You can't go wrong with a Nicholas Sparks book. I can never seem to get enough of his books. If I am reading something else I always put that book on hold until I am finished with Nicholas. I really liked this book, I didn't have to shed alot of tears, it was different but a very good ending.

As always, Nicholas Sparks has provided his readers with another nail-biting, romantic story. I loved it!

After 2 dogs (At First Sight and True Believer) and 1 so-so book (The Choice), Sparks is back in fighting form. This book rocks! It has all the elements of a great story...the dastardly villain, the scruffy hero, and the beautiful princess. Throw in an ailing grandmother and a gangly,nerdy son and you've got yourself a bonified page-turner. I couldn't wait to go to bed each night so I could crack open The Lucky One. That's the ultimate in praise from me because I usually hate going to bed. I gave the book to my brother yesterday because I thought he would like it. He's read about 3 books in his life, and he said he, too, was glued to it. He especially liked reading about the war in Iraq and he appreciated all the military references. One thing that bugged me, however, was Sparks' use of the word "pull" whenever anyone took a drink of beer. He would say "Thibault took a long pull of beer." For some reason I would cringe each time that term was used (6 times in this book.) I mean c'mon, who says that? Aside from that little issue I thought The Lucky One was one of the most enjoyable books I've read in several months. Highly recommended for men, women and teens. A great classic tale of good versus evil.

As always Nicholas Sparks writes another great book. Keeps one wondering what will happen next, and yes there is a love story to go with it.

I loved the newest Nicholas Sparks book. He kept me wondering about the outcome until the very end. A great book that I would love to see considered for a movie along with his other great stories.

While serving in Iraq, US Marine Logan Thibault finds a photo of a woman. His best friend, Victor, believes this photo is Logan's good luck charm and what's kept them safe. When he returns back from the states, this friend convinces him that he owes the lady in the photo a debt for keeping him safe. Dealing with personal loss and the inability to deal with life away from combat, he sets out on foot from Colorado to North Carolina in search of a lady he found in a photo, not sure if he'll find her or not.

The story opens with Deputy Keith Clayton, who will be Logan's adversary. He's also the ex-husband to the woman in the photo, Elizabeth. Although he didn't plan for it to happen, they fall in love. But that's not the end of the story as readers will find. Logan's roll in Elizabeth's life is much larger than either could have predicted.

The characters were rich and full with a Thomas Kinkade feel to the story. I absolutely loved the book from cover to cover.

Caught my interest immediately. I little different from his usual writtings. I enjoyed it very much, however, I felt the ending was a bit predictable. Worth a read.

Only Nicholas Sparks could take a time-honored love triangle, have the hero and the maiden-in-distress meet under the most unlikely circumstances, and still turn out a terrific novel with a great love story.

Logan Thibault finds a picture of a lovely young woman lying in the dirt as he is serving in Iraq for the third time. After fruitlessly trying to find out who dropped it, he takes it back to his home in the States and tracks down the young woman. Her ex-husband is the villain in the piece but that's all I will say so that the story is not spoiled for the reader. Needless to say, Nicholas Sparks shows his usual talent for developing wonderful dialogue and characters that the reader can really care about. Enjoy!

I was very pleased with my order...It was exactly what I wanted, got it quickly & would order from this person again. Perfect!

I have read all of Nicholas Sparks' novels (except The Rescue and Three Days...), and his latest, The Lucky One, fails to stand out as being one of his better works. The story started off slow, and ended in a hurry. Sparks did succeed in writing a good background story, and the characters in this book were well portrayed. As I read this book, I realized that the characters and plots were very similar to Sparks' earlier novels (such as the dog-human relationship and the love obsession of The Guardian, the war background of Dear John, the storm sequence of Message in a Bottle / Notebook), therefore ruining the originality aspect of the novel. Also, as when I was reading the last 20 pages, I felt the story was a bit rush and it gave me the sensation that the story ended right after Sparks' got the story rolling. I also felt that the epilogue was a little bit forced and it was only there to make a final unnecessary twist to the story. Overall, The Lucky One is not a poorly written novel, but I expected a lot more from Nicholas Sparks than this since he is a veteran romantic genre author. I will still look forward to his next novel, and I hope that will turn out to be an epic love story.

This is a wonderful book if you're looking for something fast-paced, uplifting, and not too heavy. I think Sparks did a great job with character development and while the story was a bit predictable it wasn't always how I thought it would be.

Definitely recommend it.

Nicholas Sparks has done it again. Another great love story. Read the book in a short time as I wanted to see how it was all going to turn out. He makes his characters so real and you become so involved in their story, you really care about what is happening to each of them. You will not be dissapointed.

I love Nicholas Sparks. This book is pretty good, but not my favorite. I recommend it for a good read, but it didn't make me cry like most of his others have.

another great read from Sparks, I wanted it to go on and on.
you won't regret buying this book.

Love is in the air....
My hunky, romantic writer, Nicholas Sparks, is one of my all-time favorites and not because he's a Pulitzer Prize winner (at least, I think not ?!?). I like him because reading one of his books is like going to a good romantic comedy... or drama movie... I just get lost. I dream. I think that I could fall in love with that guy who just came to town, or that men really are as great as his heroes. Like I said... I just get lost. And, I don't care.. because I LOVE TO!

Now, I have to share... ever since I started blogging about Book Reviews, just a mere 2 months and 8 days ago (only that long?), my reading eye has changed. I'm almost ashamed to admit it. Before, I was just really happy to get an easy book... a fun book... something for the bubble bath or soccer practice. Now, after reading so many great works, my reading tastes are starting to change and my reading eye is becoming more discerning. How did that happen? Lisa did not warn me about that! So, after Shana reminded me that I had two "not so good" reads/reviews in a row.... I was determined to read A GOOD ONE!

Guess what happened? The first 4 chapters of my wonderful Nicholas Sparks' book, I yawned through. I was totally disconnected from. It forced me to take a look at myself. I am NOT the world's appointed book critic for literary perfectionism... no, I am Sher... who loves cheesy, fun, funny, romantic, and not scary books! So, for Goodness Sakes, Sher, snap out of it and FRIGGIN' ENJOY THIS BOOK!

Guess what?

I did!

The Review:
Title: The Lucky One

Author: Babe-A-Licious aka Nicholas Sparks

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group USA

Author Website: www.nicholassparks.com

Publisher Website: www.hachettebookgroupusa.com

Type: Fiction

Pages (Hardcover): 326

ISBN 10#: 0-446-57993-9

ISBN 13#: 978-0-446-57993-3

This is a typical, lovely, and heart-warming story, Nicholas Sparks' Style! The setting is in Hampton, North Carolina, a relatively small community. Our heroine is Elizabeth ("Beth"), a single mom who lives with her Nana on a farm-type property with a wonderful old house and a kennel. Nana is a dog trainer and has quite the customer base who bring their dogs for "Doggie Boot Camp" from as far away as Florida. Beth's son, Ben, is a wonderful kid who is intelligent and soft-hearted. His less-than-desirable father, Keith Clayton, is a P.I.T.A. for Beth and Ben. He is a local sheriff and is the grandson of the town's wealthiest man, also "Ben," who practically owns 1/2 the town, or at least the real estate in it. Beth and Keith met when they were young, had an unplanned pregnancy, married, and shortly thereafter divorced. That was when Beth and Ben went to live with Nana and the doggies!

We come to find out that Keith Clayton is a womanizer and a heavy drinker. He still, in some preverse way, is possessive over Beth and wants her to desire him again. Hence, he bullies everybody in town and ensures that any good candidates for her are shot down! So, she's single forever and has no idea that her ex is the mastermind behind it. In addition, Keith treats Ben like garbage and expects him to be a different kind of boy than that of who he actually is. He wants him to be some jock, over-testosterone'd boy... while Ben likes activity but also plays chess and the violin. Keith practically treats Ben like a cleaning person when he comes once a month to visit.

Our "hero" of the story is Logan Thibault ("Thigh-Bolt"). Logan... what a name! Anyway, he served in the desert wars and was deployed 3 times. Each time, he manages to escape death and return home. As not to "spoil" the book, I won't go into much about his history or why he ends up in Hampton... but, eventually he does. There, he meets Elizabeth.

As you can imagine, all sorts of calamities ensue as a result of his interaction with Beth, as far as Keith-the-Jerk-O-Haulic is concerned. It's nice to watch the development of that relationship.

The ending is saved for the die-hard Sparks Fans... who haven't gotten around to it yet!

Other Reviews & Author Interviews:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/09/12/DI2008091202569.html

Did You Know (From His Website):
He is a black-belt in Tae Kwon Do?

He is a black-belt in Tae Kwon Do?

He still holds a track and field record at the University of Notre Dame?

After selling The Notebook, the first thing he bought was a new wedding ring for his wife?

Nicholas Sparks and J.K. Rowling (of Harry Potter fame) are the only contemporary authors to have a novel spend more than a year on both the New York Times hardcover and paperback best-seller lists?

In a poll of Entertainment Weekly readers, he was selected as the favorite author?

He was selected by People Magazine as the "Sexiest Author?"

He is a major contributor to the Creative Writing Programat the University of Notre Dame?

On Sher's "One To Ten Scale:"
For the sheer "fun" of this book and it's ability to bring me back to ME, I give this book an 8! It isn't as wonderful as A Walk to Remember or The Notebook, and maybe not even as good as True Believer and At First Sight. But, it's good, old fashioned Sparks. And, it makes my tummy all warm inside!

I really enjoyed reading this book. Sparks made me care deeply for the characters and I wanted (needed) to know how the story ended, so it was hard to put it down - but I won't ruin it for others. I felt a connection with Logan's feelings and I found myself wishing I could meet 'him'. The other characters, even the secondary ones, were well rounded and interesting, and you can't help but to have feelings (good or bad) for them too. I think The Lucky One may become my favorite Sparks book and jump ahead of The Rescue, but I'll read it again before I decide. Happy reading!!

I loved this book. It may not have been my favorite Nicholas Spark's book but it is close!

Good product. Came exactly as advertised - good packaging and fast delivery. Very good book.