Book Review: Near & Far

Title: Near & Far
Series: Lost & Found, #2
Author: Nicole Williams
Publication Date: June 28, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository

There’s optimistic. And there’s Jesse Walker.
If he wasn’t so charming, his sunny disposition and incessant grin would get old. Fast.
Falling in love with the broken girl who had at first seemed immune to anything resembling love was the best thing to happen to Jesse since the Walkers adopted him when he was five.

As Jesse’s life continues at the ranch and Rowen begins making her mark in the Seattle art community, they wonder where the middle ground is. Or if there even is one.

As push comes to shove, they’re forced to make choices neither are eager to make, and Jesse and Rowen have to face what their lives might look like without the other.

My Thoughts

“You know me at my best, and you know me at my worst. You know my past and my dreams for the future. You know me. I know the same things about you and I can say with absolute certainty that I will love you every minute of every day, Rowen. In this life, and our next, and our next if there’s such a thing as reincarnation. I was made to love you.”

Goodbye, world.

No, I'm still here. I just need to breathe a bit after that heart-stopping speech. 

I have loved every bit of this book. Well, except for this Jo girl but I'm really happy that Jesse's the man who wouldn't spare a single glance on someone who's flirting with him even though the said flirt knows he's in a relationship. Good one, Jesse.

I loved this as much as I loved Lost & Found. I think that in this book, there was so much more to know about Rowen and Jesse as individuals and as characters without being with each other together every day like in the first book. I like how the author made her characters face and get over their fears. Of course, with the help of someone because it's usually better if someone out there is able to understand you and is willing to stay by your side and help you with them. I admire how they were able to handle things through despite the distance and the other events that happened throughout the course of their relationship. 

I even managed to like Garth. I wasn't his biggest fan during the first book but in this one, I feel like he's such a great help to Rowen and Jesse and their relationship. Despite his irritating-kind of attitude, his words could actually shake in some sense. I'm glad that he grew on me and I'm relieved that Jesse still have him as a best friend. He's like silent cheerleader (or supporter) in this relationship.

What else to say... I just love it to pieces? Like the bantering and the support these two characters give to each other. And once again, the Walker family. Hands down to these wonderful family members. Oh and aside from Jo girl, I dislike Jax dude too. I won't give away who he is. I want to give Rowen two thumbs up for making him leave as quick as lightning. 

I'm just head over heels for this book and for Lost & Found. I was hoping for an epilogue though. It would actually be a nice thing to read what'll happen to them a few months or years later. But the ending was happy and I'm one happy reader.



My Rating:

Read More

Book Review: Lost & Found

Title: Lost & Found
Series: Lost & Found, #1
Author: Nicole Williams
Publication Date: May 07, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository

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.

My Thoughts

This book makes me want to go to a ranch, ride an old truck and fall in love. This was a quick read but this was one of those love stories that had me sighing happily because of the friendship and romance. It’s not cheesy for my taste and it didn’t frustrate me like some contemporary books there. The heroine, Rowen, was likable and I can’t help but swoon over Jesse and adore the Walker family.

Rowen Sterling had to spend her entire summer in Willow Springs Ranch to ‘straighten her life’ or something that would keep her less freaky before she step into college, as what her mother perceived. Then she met Jesse Walker, son of the family she’ll be staying at for three months, waiting for her at the bus stop and taking her to the ranch she’d be staying. A place she likely did not expect.

It wasn’t exactly the stuff fairy tales were made of, but it was my tale. And I’d never envy that Cinderella chick again.

Rowen and Jesse are just perfect for each other in my perspective. Rowen may be the girl who has a lot of issues when it comes to trust and taking a risk but while reading it through, I understand why she has those. She’s flawed and I love her for standing up for herself. I hate her mom, I just hate her mom with a passion along with her good-for-nothing boyfriend. It made me want to hug Rowen and protect her from them. But Jesse and his family, they are so likable and lovable all at the same time. His parents are cool and so nice, his sisters are just precious and all. I even like Josie (not gonna spoil who she is). I have mixed feelings for Garth though.

“What were you waiting for? Marriage?”

“No. I was waiting for you.”

I love how the relationship blossomed packed with sweet and funny moments. And of course, things also get hot in their relationship but it wasn’t rushed and overall, it was cute plus I believe they deserve each other. Plus a clueless and inexperienced Jesse is just so adorable! The breakfast talk after that night was epic. Uh-huh, I kind of want a Jesse Walker in my life.

“Now, why don’t you help me figure out how that whole rocking-your-world thing works?”

Oh Jesse…. *squeeeeeeals* haha :D

“Good morning.”

“Why, yes. Yes, it is.”

“How did you sleep?”

“I didn’t.”

“How do you feel this morning?”

“Like I lost something.”

*cackling*

This was a great read and I had fun. The two main characters aren’t perfect, they have their rough pasts along with their flaws in life. But having each other’s backs had made their future look bright. I love this book and I’m glad that I just read this now because it wouldn’t be painful to wait for Near & Far. Jesse’s POV, right? WANT. I SO BADLY WANT IT.

My Rating:

Read More