Николас Спаркс - The Longest Ride

The Lucky One

Ex-soldier Logan knows how fortunate he is to be home. He believes that a photograph he carried with him of a smiling woman he’s never met, kept him safe, and he resolves to find her. Beth, the woman whose picture he holds, is struggling with problems of her own: her volatile ex-husband won’t accept their relationship is over. And, despite a growing attraction between them, Logan has kept one explosive secret from Beth: how he came across her photograph in the first place…

The Last Song

Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Miller is angry at being forced to spend the summer with her father in a quiet beach town in North Carolina. But what unfolds is an unforgettable story about love – first love and the love between parents and children – that demonstrates the many ways that relationships can break our hearts… and heal them.

Safe Haven

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet unassuming, Katie is determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard. But even as Katie starts to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts her…

The Best of Me

They were teenage sweethearts from opposite sides of the tracks – with a passion that would change their lives for ever. But life would force them apart. Years later, the lines they had drawn between past and present are about to slip. Called back to their hometown for the funeral of the mentor who once gave them shelter when they needed it most, they are faced with each other once again and forced to confront the paths they chose. Can true love ever rewrite the past?

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With over 80 million copies of his books sold, Nicholas Sparks is one of the world’s most beloved storytellers. His novels include eleven No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. All Nicholas Sparks’ books have been international bestsellers and have been translated into more than forty languages. Eight of his novels have been adapted into major films: Safe Haven , The Lucky One , The Last Song , Dear John , Nights in Rodanthe , Message in a Bottle , A Walk to Remember and The Notebook .

Nicholas Sparks lives in North Carolina with his wife and family. You can visit him and sign up for the Nicholas Sparks eNewsletter at www.nicholassparks.com, and follow him on Twitter: @SparksNicholas.

Also by Nicholas Sparks

The Notebook

Message in a Bottle

A Walk to Remember

The Rescue

A Bend in the Road

Nights in Rodanthe

The Guardian

The Wedding

Three Weeks with My Brother (with Micah Sparks)

True Believer

At First Sight

Dear John

The Choice

The Lucky One

The Last Song

Safe Haven

The Best of Me

COPYRIGHT

Published by Sphere

978-1-4055-1750-8

All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright © Nicholas Sparks 2013

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

SPHERE

Little, Brown Book Group

100 Victoria Embankment

London, EC4Y 0DY

www.littlebrown.co.uk

www.hachette.co.uk

Acknowledgments

T he Longest Ride , my seventeenth novel, could not have been written without the support of many wonderful people. At the top of my list, as always, is my wife Cathy, who has remained after all these years the best friend I’ve ever had. My life has been enriched by her presence on a daily basis, and part of me knows that every female character I’ve ever created is in no small way inspired by her. It’s been a joy to share with her the longest ride, this thing we call life.

I must also thank Theresa Park– my literary agent, manager, and now producing partner – yet another extraordinary blessing in my life. It’s hard for me to believe that we’ve been working together for nineteen years now. Though I’ve told you many times before, it’s time for me to put it in writing: I’ve always considered myself to be the fortunate one.

Jamie Raab, my editor, is priceless when it comes to making my novels as good as they can possibly be. She has been my editor since the very beginning, and working with her has made me one of the luckiest authors around. She deserves my thanks not only for all she does, but also because I consider her a cherished friend.

Howie Sandersand Keya Khayatian– my film agents at UTA – are quite simply the best in the business. More than that, they’re creative geniuses in all aspects of business. Add in kindness, honesty, and enthusiasm, and the more time I spend with them, the more thrilled I am to consider them friends.

Scott Schwimer, my entertainment attorney, is yet another member of my team who has been with me since the very beginning, a man who has gifted my life with his wisdom and advice. Add in friendship and laughter, and my life has been enriched by his presence.

Elise Hendersonand Kosha Shah, who run my television production company, are two amazing people, gifted with motivation, intelligence, and humor, and I’m fortunate to consider them part of my team. Also thanks to Dave Park, for his guidance and support in my early TV endeavours, and to Lucinda Mooreheadfor her enthusiastic efforts at UTA.

My thanks also go out to Denise DiNovi, who has produced – with style and quality – any number of films adapted from my work, including Message in a Bottle , A Walk to Remember , and The Lucky One . I very much enjoy working with you and look forward to seeing The Best of Me on the big screen. I’d be remiss, of course, if I didn’t thank Alison Greenspanfor all she does as well.

Marty Bowenis yet another producer with multiple films adapted from my work to his credit, and I’d like to thank him for the work he did on both Dear John and Safe Haven . Along with Theresa and me, he’ll be producing The Longest Ride , and there’s no doubt that it will be an amazing film. Thanks also to Wyck Godfreywho works with Marty on all their endeavors.

I also have to thank Emily Sweetand Abby Koonsat the Park Literary Group. Emily not only works with my foundation and the website, but handles all those jobs that fall into the gray areas of my ventures with energy, enthusiasm, and efficiency. Abby, who is responsible for all things foreign, is fantastic at her job. I consider both of them my friends, and I don’t know where I’d be without them.