The Bookworm says... YES!! The Lucky One by Nicolas Sparks was an absolutely stunning book. It was one of those books where you just stop for a minute and... cry. Logan Thibault lived in Colorado. His family wasn't wealthy enough to send him to college, so he enlisted in the marines. He went to Iraq three times. He tried his hand at poker while over-seas, and lost an equivalent to all the money he had made so far in the army. One night, walking back to his tent after a bad loss, he spotted the glossy edge of a photograph peeking out through the dirt. He posted it on a message board, and no one claimed it, so he took it back. His best friend Victor convinced him that it was his good luck charm, and not to let go of it. After surviving many close calls, Logan and Victor decided their time in the army was done. Victor went back to California, and Logan to Colorado. A few months later, they met up for a fishing trip on a small lake. Victor convinced Logan that he owed something to the woman in the picture. Shortly after, A speedboat crashed into their rowboat, and Victor was dead instantly. Logan walked away unscathed. So Logan set out to find her. He noted the fair in the back of the picture, the boy with the Hampton, NC t-shirt, and the three evergreen trees. Also, the note on the back that said "Keep safe!E". After narrowing down many google searches, he chose Hampton, in Hampton County, North Carolina. He set out the next morning on foot. After about a month, he and his German Shepard Zeus, arrived in Hampton. He flashed the photo around, and managed to find her quickly enough. Her name was Elizabeth. He applied for a job at the kennel she ran and got it. Gradually, they became closer, and closer. He also became close with her son Ben, and came to be aware of her ex husband Keith Clayton. He did not however, tell her about the photograph. He learned that her brother Drake was a marine, and it was his photo that he found. After Keith did some snooping through Thibault's home, he found out about the photo. He told Elizabeth, and she ordered Logan out. Later, after they made up (Or she forgave him for the stalker like behavior) Logan was heading back to the kennel. There was a large rainstorm going on, and the creek in the backyard was swelling, the current rapid. Ben had overheard Elizabeth and Keith fighting, and ran out to his "hideaway" or the tree house his grandfather built him. It was gradually decomposing, and the storm was not helping. Zeus, Logan, Beth, and Keith rushed out. But it was too late. Ben was hanging on to the rope of the bridge, holding for dear life. All but Beth went in after him, as she had injured her ankle. In the end, only three of the four came out alive. The Lucky One was a heartwarming story, and was amazing. I would recommend this book for anyone with time to kill :)
(Note: The Lucky One was made into a movie, starring Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling rated PG-13. I have never seen it, but heard great things!)
