Synopsis:
In the romantic tradition of Dear John and The Lucky One, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks returns with the story of an injured Navy doctor — and two women whose secrets will change the course of his life.
Trevor Benson never intended to move back to New Bern, NC. But when a mortar blast outside the hospital where he worked as an orthopedic surgeon sent him home from Afghanistan with devastating injuries, the dilapidated cabin he inherited from his grandfather seemed as good a place to regroup as any.
Tending to his grandfather’s beloved bee hives while gearing up for a second stint in medical school, Trevor isn’t prepared to fall in love with a local . . . and yet, from their very first encounter, his connection with Natalie Masterson can’t be ignored. But even as she seems to reciprocate his feelings, she remains frustratingly distant, making Trevor wonder what she’s hiding.
Further complicating his stay in New Bern is the presence of a sullen teenage girl, Callie, who lives in the trailer park down the road from his grandfather’s cabin. Claiming to be 19, she works at the local sundries store and keeps to herself. When he discovers she was once befriended by his grandfather, Trevor hopes Callie can shed light on the mysterious circumstances of his grandfather’s death, but she offers few clues — until a crisis triggers a race that will uncover the true nature of Callie’s past, one more intertwined with the elderly man’s passing than Trevor could ever have anticipated.
In his quest to unravel Natalie and Callie’s secrets, Trevor will learn the true meaning of love and forgiveness . . . and that in life, to move forward, we must often return to the place where it all began.
Rating: 5-stars
Review:
The Return by Nicholas Sparks is the first book I have read by the famous writer. I have seen his previous books in movie format and I enjoyed them. This book is well-developed and well-written. Instantly, I had the urge and desperate need to know who the young girl, Callie, really was and her whole story. Plus, the deputy woman, Natalie, added more mystery and emotion to plot. Callie was a deep mystery within herself. She is a well-behaved girl and easy to like. But she kept her distance from the hero of this story. Trevor feels a call to care for Callie and a pull towards Natalie. Both women end up saving him in a way as well. I loved how the whole thing connected and felt real. Trevor lost his grandpa, patched up his grandfather’s home, and is still dealing with internal injuries caused from serving his country. I fell in love with them all. Themes of hope, forgiveness, and love come together on every page. I definitely recommend this to all contemporary and women’s fiction fans. Especially, those who love a good heartwarming tale.
Urban Book Reviews 