A wounded navy doctor moves into his late grandfather's cabin in North Carolina and finds love, a mystery and a teenage girl connected to the past
Bees, a cabin and a second chance
Trevor Benson, a navy doctor injured during his service overseas, moves into his late grandfather's ramshackle cabin in New Bern, North Carolina, to recover and plan his future. He tends the old man's beehives and takes stock. He soon meets Natalie Masterson, a guarded local deputy he cannot stop thinking about, and Callie, a withdrawn teenage girl who knew his grandfather. As Trevor tries to learn the truth about his grandfather's final days, he uncovers secrets that change everything.
Who will enjoy it
Nicholas Sparks fans, readers who enjoy gentle small-town romance with a mystery thread, and anyone drawn to stories about healing and new beginnings.
What you will get
A gentle Nicholas Sparks novel about a recovering doctor in a small North Carolina town, a guarded romance and the secrets of his late grandfather's life.
The Return Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Romance · New beginnings · Small-town North Carolina · Family secrets
Length
368 pages · ≈ 11 h
More about this book
Sparks returns to New Bern, his familiar setting, and the town's creeks, porches and quiet streets are lovingly described. Trevor's recovery, including his work with the grandfather's bees, gives the book a calm, reflective rhythm, and the details about beekeeping are a charming touch. Trevor's voice is wry and self-deprecating, which keeps the reflective passages from becoming heavy.
The romance with Natalie develops slowly, held back by her mysterious reserve, and the reason behind it gives the story an emotional twist. Callie's storyline, which gradually connects to Trevor's grandfather, adds a gentle mystery and some of the book's most touching moments. Trevor's efforts to look after her are kind and believable. Trevor's own struggle with the after-effects of his injuries is treated seriously but gently, and his slow steps towards recovery add depth to the quieter chapters.
The pacing is leisurely, and readers wanting high drama may find the first half slow. The revelations are somewhat predictable for seasoned Sparks readers, and the ending is bittersweet rather than purely happy. Fans of his quieter novels will find it warm and satisfying. About 368 pages in the Grand Central hardcover.
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The Choice
True Believer
The Wedding
The Rescue
The Lucky One
Message in a Bottle
Dear John
A Walk to Remember