John Tyree met Savannah Lynn Curtis in the summer of 2000 and it was love at first sight. This was in Wilmington, North Carolina, when John was home on leave from the Army and Savannah was in the area working with Habitat for Humanity. They knew each other for such a short time, but they felt they were meant for each other.

When John came home about a year later on another leave, their relationship had slightly changed. Savannah's life had continued with school and a very busy social life. They didn't have much time alone and ended up spending most of it with her friends. However, the love was still there and the marriage plans were still on. When John returned to his unit, no one expected September 11th and how it would change everything. John decided to re-enlist and Savannah did not know how to handle that. Her letters to him changed, and then John received the dreaded "Dear John" letter that ripped his heart out. Savannah had fallen in love with someone else.

On another leave, John discovers Savannah has been married for about two years and is living on a ranch near her parent's home. He draws enough courage to go see her. During the visit, something doesn't feel right. Her husband is not around and his name is not spoken. When she finally does mention his name, John's not surprised who it is. He'd met him the same summer he first met Savannah. When John has a private conversation with Savannah's husband, he doesn't expect the requests that are asked of him. He must now come to terms with his true feelings for Savannah and make one of the hardest decisions of his life. Will it be the right one?

DEAR JOHN by Nicholas Sparks is a beautifully written, moving story about lost love. I have read a few of Sparks' books and found this one hard to read. Yet once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. John and Savannah are two very compelling and complicated characters. I found John to be not only caring and gentle, but his patriotism is admirable.