Monday, September 16, 2013

BLOG TOUR: FINDERS KEEPERS (LOST AND FOUND #3) by NICOLE WILLIAMS, REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY




Today is my stop on the Finders Keepers Blog Tour! The tour is hosted by AToMR; go  to the tour homepage to find all the participating blogs. My stop includes a review and tour giveaway.



Finders Keepers (Lost and Found, #3)Series: Lost and Found #3
Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 9/16/13
Format: eARC
Source: Received from author for review
Rating: 4 stars



There’s tortured. And there’s Garth Black.

His life has been a constant carousel of tragedy and disappointment, including his love life. Of course, applying the term “love” to Garth’s conquests is a gross misuse of the word. Some people were made to give and accept love, and others weren’t. Garth Black redefines the “others” category. He’s made a vow that the day he meets a woman who could sucker him into falling in love will be the day he runs away.

Garth’s plan has one flaw. What happens when he’s already fallen hard for a girl before the warning signs and red flags go up? What happens when the love he’s avoided his entire life brings him to his knees? What happens when Garth Black lets the dirtiest four letter word he’s ever known into his dark, lonely life?

This cowboy’s about to find out he can control some things, and he can’t control others. Number one on the what he can’t control list?

Love.



There's self-loathing yet lovable jerk. And then there's Garth Black.
 

It's no secret that I have major love for Jesse Walker and Rowen Sterling. Major love. But the Lost and Found series has a dark horse, and that stallion's name is Garth Black. I was lucky enough to meet author Nicole Williams the day after I read Lost and Found. The third thing I said to her, after "Hi, so nice to meet you" and "I loved Lost and Found so much" was "Will Garth Black get his own book?!" So needless to say, I was fairly freaking pleased when his book was announced. 

Finders Keepers was the book I hoped it would be. In it, we get Garth in all his self-destructive glory. It's not pretty, nor fun. But it was a well-told story of a boy who was born without love, lived his life believing he never deserved it, because, if your own parents don't love you, who will? The only love Garth has ever known was from his two best friends, Jesse and Josie. Garth isn't an easy person to love. Actually, that's not true. I love smart alecs, and Garth is world class in that department. He's just a person who incessantly pushes buttons. It's not too hard to see that it is all in the name of self-preservation. Only three people truly get to Garth: Jesse, Rowen (his female counterpart) and Josie. 

Now, about Josie. She was the sweet and thoughtful ex-girlfriend that Rowen wanted to hate. It's not possible to dislike Josie Gibson. It's just not. She's a sweet girl who made a mistake that cost her two best friends, but she never stopped loving them. Though she's made a mistake, it's clear that it really was for the best, on all accounts. Josie really has herself together, and that aspect made me happy. She's a strong girl, knows what she wants in life, and will not stop until it's hers. Once life, through terrible circumstance, puts Garth firmly back in her path, Josie just might find the opportunity to show Garth that he is worthy of love. He is loved. 

It's really hard for me to review Finders Keepers without going into the details of the story. Naturally, these details are better left to be read, so I won't do you the disservice of summarizing the story. What I will say is, Finders Keepers is a great addition to the series. If you loved Garth and Josie in the first two books, you'll love this book. If you love Nicole William's writing, you will love this book. And if you love a story of redemption and the unbelievable power of family, friends, and love, then you will undoubtedly enjoy Finders Keepers.

Favorite Quotes:
 
  I'd turned into a giant ball of questions and conflicts and desires. I'd pretty much become my biggest nightmare. I was a rougher version of Jesse Walker. But a better looking one. A far better looking one.    ~eARC, 43%
 
 
  Josie gave a small laugh as the anger drained from her face. From hot to cold, breathing fire to soft laughs in five seconds. We were so much alike I sometimes felt like I was dealing with a female me. And yes, I know that being hardcore attracted to someone I felt was me with tits and a vagina said a shitload about my psyche I didn't even want to skim the surface of.   ~eARC, 49%
 

  "My whole life, I let people tell me what I did and didn't deserve, and my whole life, I believed them. But here's what I learned from Jesse." I squeezed his shoulder again before letting go.
  "Who we choose to love, and who chooses to love us has nothing to do with being deserving or undeserving. It has to do with who you simple have to love and who simply has to love you. It took me years to realize that my two best friends didn't love me because I did or didn't deserve it or that I loved them because they did or didn't. We loved each other because we wanted to. We chose to." 
 
The Lost and Found Series
 Lost and Found (Lost and Found, #1) Near and Far (Lost and Found, #2) Finders Keepers (Lost and Found, #3)
(click on cover for GoodReads page)


My Reviews:
Lost and Found  |  Near and Far
Purchase Near and Far
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble
GIVEAWAY
  • 2 Print copies of Finders Keepers - International
  • $50 Gift Card from Amazon.com - International

About the author: Nicole  Williams

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.
Connect with Nicole:





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33 comments:

  1. So, I started reading Lost and Found, and then I found out that it's a cliffhanger. So, I wanted to wait to read it until the second one came out. Then when I heard there was a 3rd one, I decided to wait until that one came out. I reeeeaaally want to read Lost and Found and then the others too. So, do you know, is there going to be a 4th? Thanks!
    MImi
    miminbennett(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. I haven't heard if there will be a 4th book. I wouldn't mind!

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  2. Garth and Josie are great! Glad you loved it.

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  3. I really loved this one! Nicole did a fabulous job and I loved getting inside Garth's head. Great review Andrea.

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  4. havent read this series yet but cant wait to.

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  5. Sounds Fabulous and I really hope I win!!! Love this blog as well!

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  6. So many reviews for this book this week!! I still haven't started the series, but really need to!!

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  7. I can't wait to read this series

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  8. I can't wait to read this series

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  9. Wonderful review, I have this series on my wishlist thanks to previous reviews..so glad you got Garth's story!

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  10. My heart felt a little pinch over this -- Who we choose to love, and who chooses to love us has nothing to do with being deserving or undeserving. It has to do with who you simple have to love and who simply has to love you.

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  11. I just read this over the weekend and I absolutely loved it. Nicole captured Garth's voice fantastically. I was completely surprised by how much more I loved him.
    And you're right. It's impossible not to like Josie. She's the sweetest thing ever which is why she and Garth make a good couple.
    I'm so glad you enjoyed this too, Andrea!
    Lovely review! :)

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  12. Wow Andrea! You have a real reviewing talent! Your review was beautiful and spot on! I love the quotes that you shared, especially the last one :) I love this series so much! My review goes up on Saturday :)

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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  13. Really nice review. I seriously need to start this series soon. Thanks for the quotes too :)

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  14. I really need to tackle this series like ASAP!!

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  15. I have been eyeing her work for a while

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  16. I can't wait to read this series!

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  17. One good thing about a blog tour is that I see the same book over and over and when it's rave reviews it definitely catches my attention! I just heard a bunch about these books at another blog and they sound like must reads!

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  18. After loving Lost & Found so much I can't wait to continue on with the series!! :) So glad you enjoyed it, Andrea!

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  19. Sigh. Oh Andrea! I'm so glad you loved this too! And that last quote? Yeah, I freaking melted. It was difficult to write this review without giving away spoilers, but you did a great job!

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  20. From the first time Garth made an appearance in Lost & Found I wanted to know more. It takes a really great author to make you love someone who was such an ass. I love his friendship with Rowen, considering the harsh things he said to her in book one. I loved this book! And the first quote you picked is so Garth!

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  21. nice review- I haven't read any of these but Garth sounds awesome. I do love a smart aleck guy in books, especially when there is so much more to them.

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  22. I've heard really great things about this series, so I really need to get on this so I can meet this dark stallion, Garth! Jesse is a drool worthy cowboy (or so I hear) so I must get acquainted! Wonderful review, Andrea. I have the first book in this series, but I would love signed copies, so thanks for the giveaway! :)

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  23. Fantastic review, Andrea. I was already swooning over Garth from your teaser...now I really want to meet him!! And Josie, too. ;) Yeah, that's right...I haven't yet read this series. But I'm gonna, I promise! :)

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  24. Garth Black sounds amazing! I really need to get started on this series. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  25. Yay, I can't wait for a Garth book! I just started Near and Far recently and already Garth has grown on me from lost and found. =)

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  26. I so love that you called Garth a stallion! hehe

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  27. Great review! This, and the rest of the series, have gone straight to my TBR list.

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  28. I love your review - especially your opening sentence, " It's no secret that I have major love for Jesse Walker and Rowen Sterling. Major love. But the Lost and Found series has a dark horse, and that stallion's name is Garth Black." I could not imagine a more perfect description. I ended up reading all three of these back to back and I must say I totally fell in love with Jesse and Rowen, and then Garth. I hate to see it end.

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  29. Great post :)
    Thank you for the review and the giveaway!

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  30. Thanks for the great review!!! I can't wait to read this!

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