The Lucky One Audio CD – CD, August 11, 2009

Nicholas Sparks has been known for his amazing love stories, like "The Notebook" and "Dear John". His novel "The Lucky One" is no different from the others. It is a great love story like "The Notebook", but also shows the military aspect of how many service members deal with their experiences and life after war like "Dear John". This novel shows how friends can influence decisions that we ourselves would not have made otherwise and how love can be found in the most unusual places. Initially, the story seems a little farfetched because how can someone seek a complete stranger out simply because he is lead to believe that the stranger's picture is his lucky charm. I think that any military member will tell you that a simple picture can make a difference when they are placed in a war zone and that is the only thing that they have that is close to their heart. In the novel "The Lucky One", a prior Marine named Thibault seeks out a woman whom he has never met simply because he finds her picture in Kuwait and then somehow survives several missions in Iraq. This alone does not influence Thibault's decision to seek Elizabeth out, but when his close friend is killed in a boating accident in front of him, it changes everything. I think that one situation changed Thibault even more than all the experiences from war and several deployments. Thibault follows his friend Victor's advice to seek the woman out to pay her back for simply "saving his life" through the many deployments and missions. The description of how Thibault walked from Colorado to North Carolina to find Elizabeth is amazing about how he walked through many obstacles with his dog Zeus simply to find her. This devotion and dedication alone would make anyone to know about how this man that is lost and in need of something he cannot put his finger on, find his way. This novel is not only about the love story that develops between Thibault and Elizabeth, but about how each of us as individuals require certain things to rediscover ourselves and who we are. Thibault figures out how to deal more with the loss of his friend and Elizabeth finally discovers what she needs to become herself again after many years. Sparks shows that after the discovery of why Thibault is actually in Hampton, Elizabeth is reminded of her brother and his strange attachment to that very picture. Thibault feels he needs to keep Elizabeth and her son safe from her ex-husband since he "owes" her his life. The ending is very surprising how the picture eventually keeps Elizabeth's son safe, but allows for the "bad guy" to be removed from the story for a happily ever after ending. I think the way Sparks describes this situation and the events that follow, makes the reader feel like it could actually happen. The way Sparks describes how love can come out of a strange situation and overcome many things, makes any reader feel that love does conquer all. The main idea about a man seeking a woman in a picture he found and is lead to believe is his lucky charm seems a little strange, but Sparks does a wonderful job making me feel it could actually happen. I think that anyone that is put in a very stressful situation such as war can be lead to believe that a simple picture could be a lucky charm and keep them safe. Thibault's walk from Colorado to North Carolina is strange, but given the situation can be found normal as a form of therapy to help him cope with the loss of his friend. Sparks does a great job showing how love can easily develop when two lonely people finally find that person to share silence with and is easy to talk to. He also shows how many service members today deal with many things post war that most of us that make up the population can never fully understand. I think this book is a great addition to the Nicholas Sparks collection and should be read by those that love his books and new readers that love a good love story.

I loved the concept and Logan's character. The conversations were authentic and not trite. It was a plausible story with just the right amount of a great romance.

For me to truly love a book, I must first love the style of writing, the prose. And I absolutely loved Nicholas Sparks' storytelling in The Lucky One. I have only read one other Sparks' book, A Bend in the Road, which I also liked a lot, but The Lucky One is my favorite of the two.What I liked/loved most:*It is a great story. It may not be the most original storyline, but what makes it unique is the way Sparks tells this story. It is a story that I can relate to because it felt real, like something I could easily encounter or deal with in everyday life. I appreciated the sensitivity with which Sparks interweaves the story of war and its effects on the men and women who serve so faithfully. I was almost brought to tears, and when I am emotionally touched like that when reading, I know it's a good read.*I like the themes of luck, fate and destiny, which is central to the story. It made me grapple with my own understanding of and belief in the terms.*The characters seem real. I could relate to them. The developing relationship between Logan (Thibault)and Elizabeth (Beth)was plausible, and they had great chemistry. And the secondary characters fit the story perfectly. I loved the grandmother's (Nana)wit and wisdom. And I fell in love with Zeus, the faithful German shepherd. I even learned a little about dogs and kennels -- to the point of considering the adoption of my own dog! How's that for effective writing.What I found lacking -- for lack of a better term:*And this may be a spoiler, so SPOILER ALERT. In the end, during the fatal storm, I could not understand how Ben, a child, could struggle through the elements of the storm and make it to the tree house, when Beth, Logan, and Clayton had such difficulty. I also found this particular scene a bit drawn out and dramatic.*Nor did I quite understand the redemption of Clayton. It seemed a drastic change in his character to at one moment be threatening his ex-wife and the next sacrificing his own life to save his son -- a son whom he had never shown any great affection for in the story. I suppose as a reader, I am to take a leap -- to somehow believe that deep down in his soul, Clayton...well, had a soul and it revealed itself when most needed. And left a legacy for his son, Ben, that would transcend the lack of love he failed to show during his life. Well, at least that what I assume. But I wish Sparks had given me a glimpse of Clayton's goodness, so that I could believe such an conclusion.End of "possible" spoiler.Nevertheless, these minor "flaws" don't detract from my still considering this a good read, an excellent story and one that I would highly recommend. Last night I saw a trailer for an upcoming movie based on this book. I didn't know when I was reading that it would be a movie. Based on the the little I saw, I'm not sure if I want to see the movie, for it might not live up to what I've just finished reading. And I simply don't want to spoil the experience.

This book is better than the movie. Audible really brings the characters to life. I would recommend this book to all ages. It's a feel good read. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I don't tell what is in the books I read. It's for you to read and find out. This book doesn't disappoint. Off to my next adventure.

Nicholas Sparks seems to have carved a corner in the market for well written romance novels. This story has been made into a film starring Zach Efron & Taylor Schilling.This story is about a former US Marine soldier (Logan) who is coming to terms with life after losing friends and colleagues while on active service. He finds a photograph of a woman on the sand while serving in Iraq. He endeavors to return the photograph to it's owner without success - none of the combined forces at the base know who it belongs to. Time goes by without the photograph being claimed so he decides to carry the photograph with him and it becomes his "lucky charm" keeping him safe while on duty.After leaving the Marines the adjustment to civilian life proves difficult. Zach and his dog Zeus walk several hundred miles to track down the woman in the photograph and return it to her, and to explain the importance that it had in his life. The story unfolds when he eventually meets the woman, her son and grandmother at the dog kennels they run. Logan begins working at the dog kennels and discovers that the photograph belonged to her brother who was killed whilst serving in Iraq. The story unfolds as a romance develops with a few twists and turns along the way.I would describe this book as ideal holiday reading. Plenty to keep you interested but not a heavy taxing read.

At first i was a little skeptical, This is not the type of book I read so it was out of my comfort zone not to mention after reading other reviews I was pretty unsure. Some say it's chapters are confusing , hard to get in to and the ending was rushed. £4.99 for a book I may not read?! hmmm the clincher came when my sister said we were going to see ( I was not asked rather told i was going) At 3.21am I bought the book and figured a few pages might help me fall into the sleep that was evading me. I set my kindle down at 8am this morning on chapter 27. Absolutely Hooked. I didn't want to put it down but the dogs selfishly wanted out and fed!I returned to the last chapters and I must admit that I was growing a little sad at how quickly the black bar was moving along the bottom. I didn't want it to end that quickly Not because it had been rushed or even confusing. I found the book very simple to understand and far to easy to get engrossed in. I didn't want it to end as , dare I say it?, I loved the characters .....I loved Logan a bit more though :)The book keeps the same pace throughout and I felt with how everything else had fallen into place in the time line the end came about at just the right time, though I would not minded another few chapters about the way Logans shirt stuck to his chest with sweat or the way he strips down while running before diving into the flooded river to save her [Beth's] son.*swoon*The Characters are pretty easy to get attached to as I think we ( ladies) have all had that dodgey ex [Keith] that can border on the scary, I think we would all love a white knight on his steed sweep us of our feet, this time it just so happens that he's an ex war vet with a slightly troubled past and his steed takes the form of his loyal German shepard Zeus. Nana is a character in many ways but her straight talking but very confusing metaphors made her lovable from the offset. Ben is the kid we have all seen shying in a park, you know he's trying to keep everyone happy but he'd be happiest with a book or mental challenge. For me, Beth needed a little bit more depth as I didn't get an over all feeling for her but none the less she was still a valid strong character.I'm not going to give away the story line, the others have done a good job of giving you the gist of it. all I can do is tell you not to judge the book by it's cover and even if it is out your normal reading material to still give the book a chance. It was compelling , endearing and inspiring to the closet hopeless romantic that i am. It's an easy light read that will have you laughing and crying and thinking that the kids or dogs can go without tea for just one more chapter..or six. Treat yourself and get swept away in the love story that is pitted against , bombs ,snipers,deadly accidents and vindictive ex's. I doubt you will regret it :)

I was looking forward to reading this book because I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. However, I found that Nicolas Sparks writing lacks.. depth. The characters in the book seem lacking, there's no romance to the writing... very disappointing overall. I thought the book would add a lot more to the film but actually the film is a lot better in every way.

I was curious to find out what the book was like , because I loved the film. Excellent book.The book does hold alot of information that the Film did not portray, however on the whole the content was virtually the same. after all if the whole book was scripted into the film you would most probably be expecting a 3-4hr film , I do still think it is an excellent book , but near the end it did get a bit mangled and I needed to re-read a few pages to follow the story. I did do it in the wrong order though I should of read the book then watch the film but I did it the other way around.If asked would I recommend this book to anyone, Yes I would recommend it to book lovers. *****5 stars

Well, another great book from Nicholas Sparks. You get what you expect from this great author - a love story that will have you weepy by the end.Ill keep it short and sweet...this book is well worth the read (i finished it within 24 hours), although it pains me to say that the ending is a little predictable. none-the-less, as with all Sparks' books, i had to restrain myself from skimming the last 2 chapters as the tension had me gripped!Its an easy read, very much a chick-flick book and has left me wanting to see the film to see how well it is portrayed.definately reccomended for an easy, emotional, lovey type afternoon.