There’s complicated. And there’s Rowen Sterling.
After numbing pain for the past five years with boys, alcohol, and all-around apathy, she finds herself on a Greyhound bus to nowhere Montana the summer after she graduates high school. Her mom agreed to front the bill to Rowen’s dream art school only if Rowen proves she can work hard and stay out of trouble at Willow Springs Ranch. Cooking breakfast at the crack of dawn for a couple dozen ranch hands and mucking out horse stalls are the last things in the world Rowen wants to spend her summer doing.
Until Jesse Walker saunters into her life wearing a pair of painted-on jeans, a cowboy hat, and a grin that makes something in her chest she’d thought was frozen go boom-boom. Jesse’s like no one else, and certainly nothing like her. He’s the bright and shiny to her dark and jaded.
Rowen knows there’s no happily-ever-after for the golden boy and the rebel girl—happily-right-now is a stretch—so she tries to forget and ignore the boy who makes her feel things she’s not sure she’s ready to feel. But the more she pushes him away, the closer he seems to get. The more she convinces herself she doesn’t care, the harder she falls.
When her dark secrets refuse to stay locked behind the walls she’s kept up for years, Rowen realizes it’s not just everyone else she needs to be honest with. It’s herself.
After numbing pain for the past five years with boys, alcohol, and all-around apathy, she finds herself on a Greyhound bus to nowhere Montana the summer after she graduates high school. Her mom agreed to front the bill to Rowen’s dream art school only if Rowen proves she can work hard and stay out of trouble at Willow Springs Ranch. Cooking breakfast at the crack of dawn for a couple dozen ranch hands and mucking out horse stalls are the last things in the world Rowen wants to spend her summer doing.
Until Jesse Walker saunters into her life wearing a pair of painted-on jeans, a cowboy hat, and a grin that makes something in her chest she’d thought was frozen go boom-boom. Jesse’s like no one else, and certainly nothing like her. He’s the bright and shiny to her dark and jaded.
Rowen knows there’s no happily-ever-after for the golden boy and the rebel girl—happily-right-now is a stretch—so she tries to forget and ignore the boy who makes her feel things she’s not sure she’s ready to feel. But the more she pushes him away, the closer he seems to get. The more she convinces herself she doesn’t care, the harder she falls.
When her dark secrets refuse to stay locked behind the walls she’s kept up for years, Rowen realizes it’s not just everyone else she needs to be honest with. It’s herself.
Title: Lost and Found
Author: Nicole Williams | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: May 7 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 358 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK
Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Cute and quite fitting
Point of View: 1st person, following Rowan
My Rating: 4 Stars
“Sometimes we just have to cut off the dead branches in our life. Sometimes that's the only way we can keep the tree alive. It's hard and it hurts, but it's what's best.”
What a wonderful, positive book Lost and Found turned out to be. I tend to read a lot of books without ever even looking at the synopsis, and this was no exception. I had noticed this book showing up on Goodreads, saw some other bloggers giving positive reviews, and decided to give it a go. I really didn't know what to expect going in, but I have to say I came away feeling very happy with what I had read. The stories and the characters touched my heart.
“I'd been labelled a goth, an emo, a druggie, a loser, and my personal favorite only because it showed just how ignorant people were: a freak.”
I fell in love with Rowan. Her pain and disappointment in the life she has been forced to live was palpable. She has built up so many walls, that she herself doesn't even know who she really is any more.
“Lily gave me a nod and a smile. "I wish I could be more like you. You're so confident in who you are."
I had to look away from her eyes full of admiration. "I don't know who I am, Lily. I'm just really good at pretending.”
I had to look away from her eyes full of admiration. "I don't know who I am, Lily. I'm just really good at pretending.”
However, it doesn't take her long to start taking those walls down. All it takes is for her to see how a real family should treat someone they care about. She has been so used to her absentee mother paying her no attention. So, when the Walkers show her the respect she deserves, she opens up and starts to remember the Rowan she really is.
“Why don’t you want to know that I like you, Rowen? Why don’t you want me to tell you I’m so damn attracted to you, I almost don’t trust myself to be alone with you like we are right now? Why don’t you want to know that I care about you so much…?”
I will get to the Walker family in a minute but first I must talk about Jesse. Giddyup cowboy... I love me a book with a bad boy, but there is so much to be said about the good guys. The down to earth, sweet, romantic, innocent, would do anything for you, good guy. This is exactly what Jesse is, and I loved him. He is not without his own difficult past, but he has refused to let his past define who he is now. He is a constant rock for Rowan to lean on, and you never once doubt his intentions with her.
“When you open yourself up to people, you let the bad in with the good. I can't promise I won't ever hurt you, Rowen. But it won't be on purpose. I will never hurt you intentionally. I can promise you that.”
Now, on to the whole Walker family. They are simply perfect. They are caring, sweet, kind, patient, and exactly what Rowan needed to find her way. Rose, Jesse's mother, was my favorite. Completely down to earth and so very real. That is the only way to really describe it, she is real. There is no sugar coating the situation with her, and she will tell you exactly how she sees it.
“Every morning we get a chance to be different. A chance to change. A chance to be better. Your past is your past. Leave it there. Get on with the future part, honey.”
This is a one off novel, so there is in fact a conclusion. But, with that being said I kinda wish there was a dreaded cliffhanger... because that way we would get more Rowan and Jesse. I liked where they ended up, and have no doubts for their future, but there is room there for their story to continue. I would love nothing more than to see one day that Nicole Williams has decided to turn this into a series. And that is the highest form of praise, the wish to see more of the same characters even though it wasn't originally planned. I will keep my fingers crossed for this to happen...
**Added Note** A huge thanks to Chelsea from Starbucks & Books Obsession for pointing out that Nicole Williams has officially announced that there will be a second book for Rowan and Jesse. This makes me beyond excited. As of the time of this added note, Near and Far is due to be published on July 30th, 2013. Not a very long wait at all.
“He can take a few pain relievers when he gets back to the ranch. You're not dealing with your wussy city boys, Rowen."
"That's right," I said, rolling my eyes even though he had his back to me. "I forgot you all are invincible gods."
Garth looked over his shoulder, "Nope, we're even better than that." I could see his smile gleam. "We're cowboys.”
"That's right," I said, rolling my eyes even though he had his back to me. "I forgot you all are invincible gods."
Garth looked over his shoulder, "Nope, we're even better than that." I could see his smile gleam. "We're cowboys.”
Great Review! I loved this book too. I agree with you on there being something said about the good guy and this book made me want to go to a ranch in Montana for a summer :-) I loved that she opened herself up so much to the Walker family even after all she had been through. There is going to be a second book, Near & Far, with expected publication date of 7/30/13. You can find it on Goodreads now. :-)
ReplyDeleteChelsea, you have SO made my night!! That was not there when I wrote this review. YAY!!!! Thank you so much. :) Have added it. x
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