Lovin' los libros

Finders Keepers (Lost and Found #3)
    by: Nicole Williams

Publication Date: Sept. 16, 2013
Publisher:
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Mature YA/New Adult
Source: e-ARC received from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 298 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars



My Review:

I read this book last week and I can honestly say I am still suffering from a book hangover. I fell completely head over heels for Garth and his story and I am so glad Nicole decided to write his book! I loved getting inside his head and seeing the real Garth, not the cocky, arrogant Garth he has portrayed in the past two books. I actually won't lie- I didn't like Garth at all in Lost & Found. He used to be best friends with Jesse Walker until he betrayed him, damaging their friendship beyond repair. He is also a pretty big jerk to the girl Jesse has a thing for, Rowen. So no, he was not my favorite person- until the end of Lost & Found where he did redeem himself a bit. Then I began reading Near & Far and while he didn't play a huge role, it was quite significant. Garth and Jesse have gotten back on speaking terms and are working toward repairing their friendship. Garth really steps up in this book and offers advice to both Jesse and Rowen as they are overcoming their own obstacles.

I knew without a shadow of a doubt who I wanted Garth's leading lady to be, and I was SO glad she was who I wanted! She is a firecracker and I loved that she doesn't put up with Garth's nonsense. She's stubborn just like he is, but has such a big heart that you can't help but love her!

I knew all along Garth wasn't the asshole he was pretending to be. I knew deep down there was a good heart behind the self-destructive exterior he had constructed for himself. Garth has lived a difficult life. He hasn't had things handed to him, he doesn't have a stable, loving family life, and after one drunken night, he ends up losing his two best friends in one shot. Garth's book actually begins in typical Garth Black style. His mouth is a loose cannon and he has no problem shooting it off whenever he feels like it. He antagonizes others and really knows how to get under their skin. Garth is a tough guy and even when he's getting the shit kicked out of him- he doesn't yield. Yet, there is one person who manages to work her way through his tough exterior and it's the one woman he knows he can't have. He knows without a doubt she'd be able to break him and work her way in and he can't go down that road with her. Garth has lived his life keeping people at a distance and does not make him the easiest person to befriend.

It made me so sad to see how hard Garth was on himself. He truly feels he isn't deserving of a good woman or her love, which made me root for him and this girl even harder. I love how she is there for him through some really difficult times (and Garth really goes through some hard ones in this book) and how their friendship is so important. I love when relationships are built on a foundation of friendship and then turn into something more. While their particular foundation wasn't the most solid, it held a lot of meaning. She is such a solid presence in Garth's life at this point in time and I loved their scenes together. When she's not wanting to throttle him for doing something stupid, she finds herself falling for the boy who would always watch her back and would threaten others if they hurt her.

These two have such awesome chemistry! And when they finally stop fighting their feelings for one another, I almost died. Seriously. I had to reread a certain drive-in scene a couple of times it was *that* good! However, just when Garth starts to let himself believe that he can be worthy of this girl and her affection- the seeds of doubt have been planted in his mind by people who don't know how to keep their opinions to themselves. After years of emotional neglect and abuse by his father it's easy to travel down that path of self-loathing. He believes she can do better and doesn't feel he can live up to the standards her family and society have set for him. Yet, she has never cared how much money he's had, where he's come from- she only sees him and he is the only one she wants.

"I don't just want you to be my last right now. I want you to be my last forever. I want to live my last day with you being the last man I've been with."

Oh Garth. My heart broke for him over and over because he doesn't realize what a truly great guy he is. Thankfully, he has a woman who will remind him over and over just how much he means to her and that he is worthy of love.


About the Author:

I'm the New York Times and USATODAY bestselling author of the CRASH series (HarperTeen, S&S UK), LOST & FOUND series, UP IN FLAMES (S&S UK), The EDEN TRILOGY, and a handful of others. I write stories about everyday kinds of people who find themselves in extraordinary kinds of situations. I tell love stories with happy endings because I believe in making the world a better place, and that's one tiny way I can make it so. I'm one of those people who still believe in true love and soul mates, and would rather keep my head in the clouds any day over having my feet firmly on the ground. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway