The Lucky One

By Nicholas Sparks

I have to admit...I heard about this book because I saw the preview for the upcoming movie starring Zac Efron. For those of you who don't know, I have a serious crush on Zac Efron and I had to know the plot of the movie before it comes out this spring! I ordered this book on my Kindle (thanks mom, dad, Emily and Lee!!) and was able to start reading it over Christmas break. I've only read one or two Nicholas Sparks books before due to the fact that they are always made into movies (i.e., Dear John, The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, Nights in Rodanthe, and Message in a Bottle).

The novel follows a marine through combat in Iraq and then as he tries to adjust to life back home in the United States. While on tour, the marine found a photograph of a young woman and comes to believe that the photo brings him luck. After his tour is over, he vows to find the woman in the photo. The story that follows is one of love, fate, and redemption. I highly recommend reading this novel BEFORE the movie comes out. Trust me...its worth it!!

Similar Novels: Last Song by Nicholas Sparks and The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Length: 336 Pages

Copyright: 2008

Change in Altitude

By Anita Shreve
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I think I've said it before, but I'll say it again...Anita Shreve is one of my most favorite authors!! Each one of her novels keeps me enthralled and waiting with ever fiber of my being for her next novel! This most recent novel is no exception. Shreve delivered a novel that not only pries into the very heart of a relationship but also deals with the power of love to overcome loss and desperation.

The story centers around a couple living in Africa who are new in their relationship and struggling to get used to their marriage. After befriending another couple, they decide to summit Mount Kenya together. When an unforeseeable accident occurs and a life is claimed, the couple is left to deal with the fallout. The rest of the novel centers around their struggle to maintain their marriage with feelings of betrayal and mistrust.

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Similar Novel: All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreve
Length: 307 Pages
Copyright: May 2010

The Christmas List

By Richard Paul Evans

Well, I always have to read a Richard Paul Evans novel around Christmas time and this year he released a new novel. This novel embraces the "true spirit of Christmas" and gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling. Although this novel seems familiar (movies and other novels follow similar story lines), the story line is refreshing and perfect for those looking for good holiday reading material. I mean, come on, who hasn't wondered what it would be like to attend their own funeral?

The antagonist/protagonist in the novel is James Kier, a ruthless real estate developer. At the very beginning of the novel, he opens the local paper and reads his own obituary. After reading the comments section of the article, he comes to the realization that he's not a very well-liked person, and that's putting it lightly. James, with some unexpected help, makes a Christmas list and decides to right some wrongs he's committed against people in his life. James is met with some hilarious and heartbreaking results.

Similar Novels: Grace and Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans

Length: 351 pages

Copyright: 2009

The Third Angel

By Alice Hoffman

As you well know by now, Alice Hoffman is one of my favorite authors. She has been ever since I read two of her books in high school. I waited for this new novel for months and then had to reserve it at the library because it was never in! Hoffman didn't let me down, although she did take a new approach in her writing style with this novel. Hoffman actually divided this novel into three separate stories that are so intermingled, it's hard to tell where one starts and the other begins.

One of the main characters in the novel is a doctor who believes there are three angels that watch over humanity. One is the angel of death and another is the angel of life. Both of these angels he has a chance to view frequently in his career. He explains to his daughter that there is another angel that accompanies us through life. This angel isn't as visible as the other two and could even be disguised as humans among us. This angel could be the beggar on the street corner or the lonely widow living next door. The purpose of this angel is to remind us of the connection in life we all share.

Similar Novels: Second Glance by Jodi Picoult and Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman

Length: 304 pages

Copyright: March 2009

The Gift

By Richard Paul Evans

I decided since I loved Finding Noel and Grace so much that I'd check out a few other Evans novels. This book was very similar to the others. It was an easy read and I finished it in about four hours. The story line was intriguing and thought provoking. I'm now a Richard Paul Evans fan and will wait excitedly until next Christmas for his new novel.
The novel starts out with a story from the past and then weaves it into the present story the narrator is trying to tell. It involves Tourette's Syndrome, divorce, cancer, and most of all, a love story. It reminded me of Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult, except without the contraversy. I recommend this to anybody who loves the holiday seasons and needs a good cry!

Similar Novel: Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult
Length: 332 pages
Copyright: 2007