In the romantic tradition of Dear John, an injured Navy doctor meets two extremely important women whose secrets will change the course of his life in this #1 New York Times bestseller. Trevor Benson never intended to move back to New Bern, North Carolina. But when a mortar blast outside the hospital where he worked sent him home from Afghanistan with devastating injuries, the dilapidated … Afghanistan with devastating injuries, the dilapidated cabin he’d inherited from his grandfather seemed as good a place to regroup as any.
Tending to his grandfather’s beloved beehives, Trevor isn’t prepared to fall in love with a local . . . yet, from their very first encounter, Trevor feels a connection with deputy sheriff Natalie Masterson that he can’t ignore. 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. 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 to uncover the true nature of Callie’s past, one more intertwined with the elderly man’s passing than Trevor could ever have imagined.
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.
enage girl, Callie, who lives in the trailer park down the road. 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 to uncover the true nature of Callie’s past, one more intertwined with the elderly man’s passing than Trevor could ever have imagined.
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.enage girl, Callie, who lives in the trailer park down the road. 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 to uncover the true nature of Callie’s past, one more intertwined with the elderly man’s passing than Trevor could ever have imagined.
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.enage girl, Callie, who lives in the trailer park down the road. 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 to uncover the true nature of Callie’s past, one more intertwined with the elderly man’s passing than Trevor could ever have imagined.
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.st 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.more
A violent explosion in Afghanistan blew away Trevor Benson’s career as an orthopedic surgeon. His extensive injuries—blinded in one eye, missing fingers, and a missing ear—required several surgeries. Trevor also suffers from PTSD, though he now has a pretty good handle on that. He plans to go back to school to study psychiatry.
The Return, a novel by Nicholas Sparks stirred my heart. I am generally not a romance reader, but was in the mood for a change of pace. The Return is not your standard romance, though there is definitely a thread of romantic interest throughout the story.
The hospital staff notifies Trevor that his beloved grandfather is dying and that the old man hasn’t long to live. His grandfather’s last words are a plea for help, but the conversation is so jumbled, Trevor can’t understand what his grandfather is trying to tell him.
He temporarily stays in his grandfather’s old house in New Bern, North Carolina, and tends the old man’s bees. While there he meets two women: Callie, a girl who looks to be in her late teens, apparently lives alone in a close-by trailer park. She mentions to Trevor that she and his grandfather were friends. The other woman, Natalie, is a deputy sheriff who stops by to see if the person staying at the old man’s house is doing so legitimately. Both Callie and Natalie have their own stories, their own heartbreaks.
The Return held many threads of interest to me. By now, we’re all familiar with PTSD, but the author revealed new insights of the condition, how it cannot be cured, but at least managed. I was also fascinated to learn about the grandfather’s apiary and the details involved in the art of beekeeping. Then there’s the emotional side of the story involving a bit of romance and mystery.
Nicholas Sparks is a successful author of many books. The Return is the second of his that I’ve read and enjoyed. I appreciate his gentle humor, and he does a good job of instilling a sense of small-town life and values, and of showing characters’ personalities with their quirks and emotions. I enthusiastically recommend The Return.
The Return by Nicholas Sparks a four-star you will return too. This was like a story of two parts the first half I nearly didn’t finish multiple times, but the second half was all five-star read. The first half wasn’t a bad story, it was just so descriptive, and repetitive, normally I like a good description, but this just kept going. The thing I did enjoy so much was Carl Haverson a man we didn’t meet physically but a man who left a hole, big and dark and needing to be filled, ideally with the flowers like Roses and bees he loved so dearly. But mostly this is the story of his grandson Trevor Benson a convalescing, disabled veteran physician who has a story to tell and one that you should read, he brings some great characters to life and will show you different sides to people and he gets them to reveal themselves like petals from a flower opening. This does follow the typical Nicholas Sparks line, but if you enjoy his work then you will enjoy this as well.
I’ve had this one on my shelf since last year and finally decided to pick it up as a friend asked to buddy read it. I haven’t read a Sparks’ novel in a while and I’m glad I said yes.
I love a well-written, heartfelt romance with loveable yet at the same time frustrating characters. I also love the angtsy teen with a hidden past that you just want to shake straight. So, needless to say, this was an irritating and fun read
I really loved the ending of this one and felt it couldn’t have wrapped up any better.
This book moved slower than molasses in January. And let’s talk about Trevor, our hero. USNA grad. Doctor. Should be one of the smartest guys in the room, right? Nope. It takes him six months (and talking to a cop) to figure out solving the mystery of why grandpa was so far from hone should start by finding out where grandpas truck went. And then he can’t figure out which ambulance took grandpa to the hospital? In six months not one of grandpas bills came to HIS HOUSE? No mail at all? I don’t know, but that’s just dumb careless writing. I had no desire to even skim to the end of the book, which had a six month wait list at the library. So not worth the wait. I returned it early. Maybe the next person in line will enjoy it.
I loved this book from the beginning. It didn’t take long to fall in love with the characters. One of the fastest books I’ve read because I couldn’t put it down.
Touching
I found The Return by author Nicholas Sparks to be eloquent, inspirational, and impactful. All the characters were well developed and easy to appreciate. In New Bern, North Carolina, the setting is laid-back, alluring, and like an escape from the real world. The narrator, Kyf Brewer, did an excellent job.
The Return by Nicholas Sparks has such detailed descriptions of places and people that it felt like I was right there with them. It was beautiful watching Trevor as he was mentally healing and learning new ways to cope. There were definitely a few things in there I feel like could help me in day to day life and I don’t have PTSD.
Learning about bees was so much fun. They are fascinating. The events in the book are so unique and it kept me wanting to know what was next.
Trevor was confusing to me at first but as I got to know him I found he was caring, thoughtful and overall full of love to give. He shows a care and concern for others and will not be pushed aside. It was enjoyable to join him on his journey of love in a variety of ways.
This book not only has a beautiful cover but also a beautiful story!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.
Trigger Warning – PTSD
Nicholas Sparks is the master of the bitter sweet romance and unlike most romance novels, one never knows if you will get that HEA or tears.
Orthopedic surgeon Trevor Benson walked out of the hospital in Afghanistan a minute too early, and ended up losing some fingers, an ear, vision in his right eye and a lot of internal damage, making him a disabled veteran with PTSD. No longer able to do surgery, he has decided to go back to school to become a psychiatrist, so he can work with veterans with PTSD. While still recovering he is notified that his grandfather, his only living relative, had a stroke. He gets to the hospital barely in time, and has a very peculiar conversation before the old man dies. His grandfather left him his property and Trevor comes to place where he had his happiest childhood memories. In New Bern NC, he also meets the beautiful but sad deputy sheriff, Natalie Masterson and a solemn teenager going by the name Callie. While he goes through his grandfather’s things, trying to decide whether to fix the place up or sell it, he tries to unravel the mystery of why his grandfather had been in SC, and tries to elicit the help of Natalie and Callie, both who have secrets of their own.
Not only is one drawn into the story, but it is also educational, about PTSD, CBT, DBT, bees, their hives and honey and a wonderfully accurate description of Helen, Ga.
Not your typical Sparks novel ending. A good story with a good heart.
Always enjoy books by Nicholas Sparks. Never a disappointment.
I rated it
I really liked this book. It’s the first of Nicholas Sparks’ books that has a happy ending. Yes there are parts that spark tears but not at the end.
great book
I hadn’t read one of his books in a while and really enjoyed this story. He kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next, and the mystery surrounding Callie kept the pages turning. Natalie was also an enigma for most of the book which kept the tension between her and Trevor growing. The author has such an easy-going style and before I knew it, the story was over and I wished it had been just a bit longer.
Oh I love reading Nicholas sparks books! I would have given this book a five star rating, but I thought the ending was too abrupt. I thought the reunion of the two main characters should not have ended so quickly. Otherwise I loved this book.
Wonderful read, just like all his books!
Another home run from Nicholas Sparks! If you enjoy his books, you won’t want to miss this one.
I look forward to all of his books and this one did not disappoint me. Wonderful love story. Just right for a Summer read.
Not one of his best. Nicholas Sparks can do better than this read.
Sparks is a creative story teller with heart, kindness and reality! His books are rea
Istic with heart and soul…by today’s standard may be considered corny! Worth reading!