SOLVED. Soldier story, finding the girl in the photograph [s]

[Melissa]

A soldier finds a photograph of a young women with some writing on the back in the sand while on tour. Something happens while he is in the war that makes him feel and think the women in the photograph is his guardian angel and he needs to find her. After his tour ends (or heals from injury???) He walks miles and miles on foot. He does find her, she is living with her son and mother??? they board dogs??? There is a local cop that doesn't like him. The main character ends up renting a local home and working in the family dog business. There is a feud between him and the cop. The girl in the photograph and the main character (soldier) fall in love. Her brother died in the war, so it hits home pretty hard when she learns the new man in town is a soldier. If I remember correctly her brother is where he ends up recognizing in family photos from his crew in the war and he links that all to how he came across the photo. For the life of me I can not remember the name of this book. Thanks for all your help.

[Ngozi]

I'm pretty sure that's the Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks!

[Ann aka Iftcan]

The Lucky One for Ngozi's suggestion--and can I just say--sure looks like the right one to ME.

[SparksofEmber]

Yes - and there's a movie, too, of course.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Calling this Solved.

From a review:
"Iraq war veteran Logan Thibault is our hero and alongside his dog Zeus has walked (yes walked) from Colorado in an obsessive search for the unknown woman from a photograph he found during his three harrowing tours of duty in Iraq. He believes the picture to be his good luck charm and directly responsible for keeping him alive..."

"...a divorced mother with a young son who along with her no-nonsense Nana run a dog kennel in their small North Carolina town..."

[Joyce]

The lucky one? Nicholas Sparks? Or is it the lucky ones? Not sure, but Zac Efron starred in the movie adaptation...i think...