We’ll find each other somehow. We’re not lost anymore...
All it took was one phone call to tear Owen's life apart. His father is dead and his mother is in critical condition. Even though he feared his abusive father and despised his family, losing them hurts in a way he never expected. Just weeks ago, Owen was terrified that he'd have to go home. Now, there is no home.
All it took was one phone call to shatter Maria's happily-ever-after and bring her nightmares back to life. Maria's estranged brother is coming up to see her graduation and he isn't coming alone. He's bringing Maria's parents, as she expected, but he's also bringing along an old friend from college—someone who's haunted Maria's nightmares for seven years. Now, she's about to come face to face with the man who ruined her life.
Will the love and happiness Maria and Owen found be enough to hold them together as their lives fall apart around them, or will their relationship slip away and be lost forever?
Nadia Simonenko is a scientist and author currently living in Pennsylvania with her husband, two cats and a dog. When she isn’t writing, she develops new drug compounds and dreams about someday painting her office to look like a forest.
Want to connect with her? E-mail her or contact her at any of the sites below!
Found picks up right where Lost left off. Maria and Owen are happy together and they seem to have settled into the relationship. In Lost, Maria was the broken one, who needed Owen to help her heal, they had both gone through tragic experiences that had shaped them into the people they were.
Having Owen in her life has changed Maria, where she was once fragile and weary of everyone, she now feels safe and accepted with Owen by her side.
But unfortunately Owen's life begins to unravel or rather catch up with him. He gets terrible news from home, and begins to blame himself for what happened. It doesn't help that it seems everyone is against him. Not knowing how to react to the situation he pushes Maria away, a decision he immediately regrets.
Maria is not willing to let Owen retreat into himself, she's there for him every step of the way. Helping him when he has to make the most difficult decision he's ever made in his entire life. Even when this is all over it seems Owens pain is still not over, his dream, his education might be at risk.
Owen goes on a downward spiral, his thoughts are in a dark place. He sabotages his relationship with Maria and she's not there to help him when he needs her most. But she ultimately pulls him out of it and they both realise how much they need each other.
This was a great ending to the series (at least I think it's the end), I'm glad it wasn't dragged out. Found is a story about loss, pain and healing and I like reading books like this even though it doesn't always seem like I do. I got really attached to the characters. It was great to see how Maria had blossomed into a stronger person, she was always there for Owen when he needed her.
I really felt like this was Owen's book, and Lost was more Maria's book, although both books were written in dual POV's. The letter at the end was a great a touch, I have to say this was a very satisfying read. Thank you to the author for allowing me to read and review this story.
ARC courtesy of author Nadia Simonenko in exchange for an honest review!
After intense and emotional first book Lost I was looking forward to reading this sequel. Maria and Owen grew on me and I needed to know how will their story continue. And let me tell you, it was one heartbreaking ride...
My Owen and Maria:
After quite depressive first book, I thought I was ready for everything. I was wrong. Author shocked me within first couple of chapters.
This book follows the story of Owen and Maria right where we left them in previous book. Still in their last semester, Owen and Maria struggle to overcome their nightmares, while worrying about real life and what they are going to do after graduation. But they have each other for support, right?
"All it took for everything to fall apart again was one phone call."
How are they going to deal with their nightmares? Will they be able to face and than burry their demons once and for all?
My heart broke for Owen in first book and it was totally shattered in this sequel. He is probably the most broken character I have ever read about and his story is extremely painful. I wished I could have reached through my kindle, hugged him and just make him better.
Writing in this book has a personal feel to it. It seemed like author was just re-telling someone's true story. And it definitely made my reading experience more intense and powerful. If you enjoy reading emotional New Adult stories, definitely read this series, it is one of the best within its genre. I personally cannot wait for next stories by this author!
*ARC provided by author as an exchange for honest review*
Found (Lost & Found #2) is coming out ten days early, on July 5th. Woohoo!
I hope you all enjoy it. Looking back at both books of the series, I see plenty of places I could have improved things. That being said, I'm very proud of my debut series and hope to only get better from here. :)
Stay tuned for something new in the fall! I'll post up a blurb and cover as we get closer.
WOW! This sequel/conclusion to Owen and Maria's story was just as good, if not, better than the first. And I LOVED Lost! I thought Found was heartbreaking, yet uplifting. Raw and brutal, yet real. The issues that arise during this book, for both of our main characters were downright terrible. I felt every emotion that Maria experienced deep in my bones and I cried as I learned the full extent of Owen's past. I absolutely love these characters and will miss them dearly. However, ever story has to come to an end, and this ending left me feeling warm, fuzzy, and full of hope!
Huge THANK YOU to the author for providing me with an ARC of this amazing story! You totally rock, Nadia!
REVIEW: The story: We pick up Maria & Owen's story where we left off in Lost. They have both made huge progress in their lives, however they still have a long way to go. As Maria's graduations nears, she faces the realisation that she will have to confront her family, most importantly her brother Micah. Her relationship with him has been strained ever since his college roommate raped her when she was 15 and she never told him. Every time she sees him she is only reminded of what happened that day, when all she want to do is forget. To add more pressure to the situation, Micah is bringing his old roommate to the graduation as his own sister is graduating from a near by college the same week.
As for Owen he is facing his own family issues that resurrect the demons from his childhood. He struggles to deal with them at first, drinking and hiding away from his friends. He pushes Maria away in fear of dragging her down with him just as she's beginning to find happiness. But Maria never gives up on him and together they continue to break free from their pasts.
The characters: I love watching characters grow throughout a series, and we get to see that happen with Owen & Maria. They both have so many things to deal with, but I could see the changes in how they dealt with them by the end of the book. You don't realise how far they've come until you look back at where they started in Lost. Maria was so timid & scared, while Owen was withdrawn, but they are so much stronger now and confront their issues rather than hiding from them.
Tina & Craig are always fun, Tina made me laugh with her attitude and pink fluffy slippers. I also really liked Maria's brother Micah. He was only in a couple of scenes, but I really liked him and am kind of hoping he might get his own book - I think there could be a really interesting story there.
The romance: What I love about the relationship between Owen & Maria is that it's never suggested that being together magically resolves all their problems. Together they support each other is overcoming their pasts, which for me made their romance so much more believable. They are are the sweetest couple and respect each other so much - their scenes together are always so sweet and tender.
The Writing: Nadia has a way of evoking emotions in almost every scene. I felt so connected with Maria & Owen that everything they went through hit me so hard.
I also absolutely applaud Nadia for having both Owen & Maria seek help to talk about their issues. There is no shame in asking for help and with so many books out there with characters that are dealing with similar issues, very few even mention therapy. Owen & Maria are nervous about it but realise that this can help them move forward in their lives.
FINAL WORD: This was the perfect ending to Maria & Owen's story. While I feel sad to say goodbye to these characters I feel happy to leave them in a place in their lives where they are finally able to just be happy. For a story that addresses such serious and heavy issues, Nadia has written a story with an uplifting message - to never give up, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
CONTENT: Sexuality: medium-strong / sex scenes Violence: strong / graphic descriptions of domestic violence & sexual assault Language: medium / regular use of sh*t, f*ck Drugs & alcohol: mild-medium - a character drinks & uses cough syrup to pass out Other: suicide is addressed throughout the story
4.5 stars!!! Two broken souls trying to make it in life and end up stumbling into each other both skittish and both with tragic pasts .... come to find each other!! Absolutely beautiful!!!
Nadia Simonenko has found a fan in me. She is now on my must read and watch for author list. Her first book in the Lost and Found series, Lost, absolutely blew me away. It was incredible and powerful and I was at a loss for how to adequately express my love of the book. I could not wait to read the sequel, Found. And I have to say, Found had some pretty big shoes to fill. And it totally delivered. Lost ended up with a temporary happily ever after for our couple, Maria and Owen. Which made me so happy because they truly seemed like they were perfect for each other. But at the end of Lost the author warns us that it is going to still be a bumpy road for the two love birds and that made me nervous. And indeed there were a few bumps in the road in Found, but honestly it would have been a pretty boring book if there wasn't.
Owen and Maria both go through their share of trials and tribulations in Found, and each of them have to learn how to face their own demons. Maria is so there for Owen. Owen is great for Maria too but he does that guy thing of pushing people away when things get hard. He made me want to slam my head into a wall a few times in the book, but eventually he learns. I think that Owen had the most character growth in Found. I felt like Maria grew a little more in the first book, and in this book she was already a pretty strong person. What I loved about both of the books was that it alternates point of views between Owen and Maria so that it really is both of their stories, but I think Lost focused a little more on Maria and her inner demons and Found focuses a little more on Owen and his demons.
The romance in Found was great. Maria and Owen really do complete each other. The bond that they share is incredible. They always seem to know exactly what the other person needs and when they need it. It was so sweet to see. But just like with any couple, they do face a few hiccups and fights along the way. But it just made them seem more realistic in my opinion. Nothing can be perfect all the time. But there are no love triangles, which I really liked because in my mind Owen and Maria belong together and I didn't want to see anyone come between them. The ending of the book is very satisfying as well. It made me smile. I'm not sure if there will be a sequel or not, but it ended at the perfect place in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see more of these characters but I was just so darn happy with the way everything turned out that I would be content with the way things were wrapped up.
The writing in Found is every bit as powerful as it was in Lost. Nadia Simonenko does such a fabulous job evoking emotion with her descriptions. I am in love with her writing. She really has the gift of story telling. I think that the lost and found series is a must read for everyone. (and I don't say that a lot, but I really think that there is something in these books that everyone can relate to and everyone will fall in love with.) Both Lost and Found top my favorites list. Found is one of the best books that I have read this year. (maybe only topped by the first book in the series, Lost.)
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
First off, I'd like to thank Nadia for having the strength and courage to share this story. One thing I've learned through the years is that as much as you think you're alone and that no one would ever understand the pain you've gone through, you're not. There are so so many stories such as this that go untold; whether it be from fear, humiliation, or shame. So if you are like me, or the characters in this story, I hope someday you find the strength to let go; accept the past and move on. You're not alone, I promise. ------
Maria and Owen have a long journey ahead of them. Just as they start to rebuild their shattered lives together, Owen gets a call that changes everything. His world shatters all over again as the sheriff's words sink in. His dream has come true! But he can't help but feel empty inside. He should be happy, he should be free. But unfortunately that just isn't the case. He never expected to feel this way, he me he expected to feel anything…
Maria is just beginning to feel happy for the first time since her life changed forever. She is well on her way to graduating and starting her career. She's overcome so much since finding Owen; her saving grace. Owen fears that if he tells her, all of her progress will be flushed down the drain. He can't stomach the thought of hurting her, she's been hurt too much already. He's too broken, he can't bring her down this death spiral with him.
They were lost until they found each other. Together they can conquer anything. Apart, they will shatter all over again.
Again, grab tissues and hot cocoa. Strap in for an emotional rollercoaster. I read both in 24 hours and honestly, I think these were the best books I've read in a very long time! It's raw, gut wrenching, and in your face. Nadia didn't sugar coat anything, thank God! Seriously, I'd give this a bagillion stars if I could!
I love stories where there is a balance of the main characters helping each other. In this story we have two damaged protagonists, Maria and Owen, who help each other find themselves and happiness. But this tale isn't too sugary sweet... I LOVE that the author tied up the story with both of them seeking additional assistance for their traumas in the form of therapy. It is insulting when an author creates the idea that love alone can do all the healing.
The only downside was I thought this second book dragged a bit. I think Lost (book 1) and Found (book 2) could have been condensed down into one longer book. However, the love story was still enjoyable to read.
I loved this sequel to Lost, this 2 book series was fantastic, that word doesn't describe how great these books are. Right from the start of the book a huge incident occurs that is shocking, it makes me feel sick and furious, man this is going to be life shattering for Owen. Like we didn't already despise his father, now he becomes a coward and runs from his sins. I still love the connection Maria and Owen have, you can feel it deep in your heart by the words the author uses. Throughout this book they both stress about what is going to happen after graduation, how are they going to stay together, where are they going? Where can they go? I love how Maria always tries to show Owen how beautiful he is, scars and all and Owen is so gentle and always checking with Maria to make sure she is okay when they are together sexually. It is a special relationship that the author has created here, they help each other all of the time, when something happens that jars them back to the past it is the other one that brings them to the present and shows that person that they are safe, it is a wonderful thing to read, the love is so overwhelming that I can't help myself and I begin to cry. I cried so much through this second book, both happy and sad tears. The same horrible DA that stopped Owen's father from getting in trouble 7 years ago for his daughter's murder is now trying to turn things on Owen's mother and make her out to be the bad guy when his father is to blame. The DA is so terrible and the only way Owen knows how to make this guy believe that he has been beaten all of his life is to take his shirt off and show his scars, he does and he begins to tell the stories attached to each and every scar, I am bawling at this point and sick to my stomach that this actually happens everyday to children around the world. It seems like Owen gets through to this man but weeks later he is still fighting Owen on who is to blame for all of this mess. Owen has to make a huge decision regarding his mother and it is one of the hardest things he has ever done, after he makes this choice he is plagued with nightmares about it and cannot sleep for days. Owen misses a mid term exam because of returning home to see his mother and his professor does not allow him to take the exam, Owen is devastated, he is already in a bad place because of the visit home and now he sees his future gone in an instant. He begins to drink and I think, really can this guy get a break? Then Maria gets news about her parents, her brother and his college roommate coming to her graduation, this take Maria back in her progress quite a few steps, she does not know how she is going to face Darren. Not only is Owen dealing with more issues connected to his past now Maria has the past catching up with her present. Then Owen makes a mistake that hurts Maria terribly and send Owen over the deep end but this one incident actually saves them both because she saves his life and they both realize they need help from outside providers not just each other so they can remain strong as a person and a couple. Then it is graduation day and it is supposed to be one of the worst days for Maria because Darren is coming, well many surprises come out on this day and it brings a much needed relationship back on track and it solidifies their relationship even more. In the end once again shocking and surprising things happen, things line up perfectly, and Owen and Maria get to start their forever together. I can't say enough about this book and the first book Lost, these are must reads.
After the first book I was really looking forward to reading Found and I am glad I did. In this book our main characters continue on the journey of growth and love. There are a few set backs along the way but I have to say that this book ended with one of the most satisfying endings I have read in quite some time. It had me grinning for a while after.
What I appreciated about this book was that the characters had depth. They had issues they needed to overcome and it wasn't an easy process which added elements of reality into the story. These characters felt real, their problems issues were tangible and instead of the relationship feeling forced or rushed, it moved at a reasonable speed. I genuinely cared about Owen and Maria and wanted to give them both hugs and wanted to see them as happy as they could be in the end.
Not only were the two main characters well rounded and lovable so were the cast of supporting characters. Tina and Craig really cared about their friends and wanted to help. It was refreshing to see a cast of supportive, friendly, and unselfish secondary characters. They mattered in the story, they drove the plot in occasions and forced Owen and Maria (albeit gently) to do things that they were a bit uncomfortable with. They were integral to the story, not just added for the sake of adding people. Tina was always there for Maria with crazy ideas, chocolate, and a sharp tongue. Craig steps up in this book even if his character is not fleshed out as much as Tina's. Speaking of characters who are talked about in the book but hardly seen until the end, Micah makes an appearance and I have to say (it's not much of a spoiler) just like Owen I liked him the instant he stepped foot into the world.
I can't really call this book gut-wrenching as some people have because to me that means that some how I have gone through physical pain reading it and that is far from the truth. Owen and Maria have faced very real and horrifying problems. The trauma they suffered is evident throughout this book as well as Lost. It is a pain that I can't even begin to fathom; however, I believe that the issues of abuse are handled with respect. But what we have with this book is that sliver of hope that starts to peer through in Lost and continues to punch holes until the sliver turns into a full beam. That in essence is what the story is about to me. Not the pain that they went through, but the growth that occurred for both Owen and Maria. The steps they took, how they handled situations, and came out on the other side is admirable and shows that with the right support and love people can change.
I enjoyed Lost quite a bit and was extremely surprised by how much more I enjoyed Found. I only wish that Amazon would allow me to give this book 10 stars, it deserves so many more than five. Once again the writing was extremely beautiful and the characters were perfectly flawed. Found drew out so many emotions from me: Anger, sadness, pain, joy, loss, happiness, hope and more joy. I can't even come up with enough words to describe the full range of how I felt reading this book. Owen and Marie were so broken and lost and so very perfect for each other. Both managed to come away from their past with love in their hearts and were such kind caring people which is no small feat even without their past. I admired both characters very much and I enjoyed the fact that every moment together wasn't a bed of roses. They had their share of ups and downs and both of them did things that they shouldn't have but in the end their love for each other kept them going. Without giving anything away I just want to say that I'm very glad that certain things happened with both characters. After a certain event they made a huge decision and much like in real life I believe that neither one of them would have been able to move forward or to truly learn about love without making that decision. Although love is all you need sometimes love isn't enough. Relationships where each partner has to constantly lean on the other for support and strength can turn quite toxic really fast. And although love can heal anything it's also very important for people to learn that they must love themselves before they can experience the true joys of love with other people.
I love the fact that the author took on such a hard subject as abuse without sugar coating it in the slightest way. Without relying on the whole "all we need is each other" because even though they took their first steps together and do need each other they also need to live in the world, around other people and be a part of society so kudos to Nadia Simonenko for giving proper justice to these issues the characters had to deal with. I wish I could say more, I want to so bad but I don't want to ruin anything for anyone. If you enjoyed Lost then you'll love Found. The ending was perfect, the story was great, the characters were so real that I wouldn't have surprised if I found out the book was actually a autobiography of the two of them at the end lol. Simply incredible and I cannot wait to read more from this author. Thank you for sharing such an amazing story of hope and love with us.
On to Found. We continue on Maria and Owen’s journey of healing in Found. This one is just as dark, as they are still living through the past and now have the present to contend with. Poor Owen. My heart broke for him. I explained in my Lost review that I have had my own situations in the past that I can use to relate to their stories, but there is honestly nothing I can use to compare with what Own is going through in this book. I honestly don’t know if I would have been strong enough to make some of these decisions and survive. To someone who doesn’t suffer from depression, that might sound strange, but others might understand that spiral downward to the dark place where you feel like it would just all be better if you gave up and ended it. I’ve been in that place and thankfully survived those moments but my darkness wasn’t nearly as dark as Owen’s. It takes a lot to pull yourself out of that place and continue on.
He has Maria though. She is still coming to terms with her own nightmare. Maria is who I can relate to most. What happened to her has happened to me twice. Like I said in my review of Lost, I don’t remember a lot of what happened to me. I assume that means after two and a half decades, I still haven’t worked through mine. I’m not just missing those nights, I’m missing whole sections of time around those nights. People will say do you remember this? We had so much fun! No. I don’t remember a lot from then. That’s how my brain dealt with the pain.
I think Maria is doing so much better in Found, she still had a long way to come, but in terms of dealing with the fallout, her brain’s way of protecting her from the damage, she has come a long way in what she can deal with and now she is helping Owen.
Honestly, it’s an amazing series and I’m afraid to say too much for fear of spoiling something.
If you’re a survivor (and can handle this type of book), I recommend this. If you’re someone who knows someone who can’t come to terms with their past, I highly recommend this book. If you’re someone who loves to read a heart wrenching story that sucks in you and won’t let you go, that stays on your mind after you’ve closed the book or swiped the last page over, I recommend this book. The series is hard to read. It is. But it is amazing journey from start to finish.
Nadia Simonenko I thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me read these two books. They were beautiful!
This takes place after lost ended, Owen and Maria are finally at a good place in there fucked up lives but just when Maria thinks she can finally be happy Owen suddenly tries to push her away. Owen is so troubled he's had a bad life with his family, and with him never letting go of the guilt of Samantha's death he's still just stuck in the past. He's tormented daily after his fathers death he thought once it happened he would be over the moon happy but it still hurts him. He also find out about his mom being in the hospital and that after his and his fathers fight, his father disowned him, which in detail means he can't even go and visit his mom in the hospital because his fathers will doesn't agree to it! He's become depressed and tries to isolate himself turning to the bottle to help him sleep but in the end justplunges him deeper in his depression.
Maria thought no matter what happens she would be fine as long as Owen was there, they could face anything together but that was harder done than said. She gets pushed away from Owen and them gets a phone call from her brother saying he's coming to her graduation with his old roommate, she thought she would die. Her fears were coming back to haunt her again and this time she didn't know if she could make it. Maria and Owen are so strong in there own way, they both argue with each other about shit that had to deal with there pasts, but luckily realize they can't move forward without dealing with the past and putting it to rest.
This book was good I enjoyed it,I do have to admit that there were a few times I skimmed through but the storyline and the meaning behind it was great. There is so much more to this book than what i'm saying and its definetly worth reading to conclude Owen's and Maria's story.
Received a copy in exchange for an honest review Wow. Wow.
I never thought he broken Owen really was! He was beyond broken. When the sheriff told Owen that his dad died, he didn't know what he felt about it. Yes he was free but still it hurted him. And here in "Found" I learned how Owen was just so abused. It's like I'am the one that's hurting. Being abused as a child was so wrong and heartbreaking. Her mom was hospitalized and needed life support by machines. I adored Maria even better here. She was still overcoming her fears and problem and yet he was there for Owen. She stayed strong for him,
"I'm part of the problem. We both are. Owen and I may have found ourselves in each other, but we need to complete on our own before we can be complete together"
They hold onto each other, fought their fears and saved both of them.
"The truth is that I've known Maria my entire life. it just didn't start until we finally found each other"
I would say that this couple is just... beautiful. They are still in the process of healing and yet they ended up in each other's arms.
"Found" is a story about moving on, forgetting memories that hurted you emotionally and physically, acceptance, and change. Find your key and break free from your past and start a new beginning.
And maybe in the future you'll find someone and have your "Foreverday"
I was proved with this book by the author to provide an honest review.
This is the second in the series and begins where Lost ended... Maria and Owen are actually in a relationship and for once in their lives things are actually going right for both of them, however that doesn't last for long.
On the outside Owen looks like he is dealing with the demons of his past, but one phone call from the sheriff of his home town shatters all the progress he has made.
Maria is also finally coming to terms with her own horrific experiences and just in time for graduation, but when her brother Micha calls after not speaking with her for 4 years telling her that he is coming with his parent to her graduation and is bringing an old college roommate, Maria's world spirasl back into the pits of hell, which she's not sure she can cope with this time.
They are both trying so hard to be strong for each other but the past is trying to split them up and as Owen struggles to deal with yet another set back in life and pushes away the one person in the world that he would risk everything for Maria he sees only one light at the end of the tunnel, somewhere that Maria will not be able to follow.
This book is so well written I felt every emotion that both Owen and Maria were dealing with and could completely understand where they were coming from they just wanted to protect the one they loved but sometimes you have to heal yourself first.
Really enjoyed this book and would highly reccommend this!!
This book will be hard for for some to read. It deals with domestic violence at its worst, rape, suicide and lots and lots of nightmares and heartache.
Maria was raped when she was 15 by her brothers college roommate when she went to visit and seven years later she is no better than she was after it first happened. Afraid to tell her family, she has had to deal with this on her own and unfortunately still deals with nightmares every night. If it weren't for her amazing best friend and roommate Tina, there is no telling where she would be. Maria has barely spoke to her brother in 7 years.
Owen was beaten by his alcoholic father for most of his life. Since he was 7 he's dealt with it so much that his body is riddled with scars and each one tells a story. He has not been back home for 5 years.
When Owen first meets Maria, she reminds him of his little sister. She has the same sad eyes. The same eyes that have seen and knows too much. Apart they are both lost but together they find they are both stronger.
This is really a great book but I couldn't give it more than 4 stars because I felt that parts were carried out a little too long at times and also because of the few times that sentences were repeated when switching between POV. That always drives me crazy.
I was sent this by the author in exchange for an honest review
Found picks up right where Lost left off. Owen and Maria are together and slowly healing from everything they've been through. Everything seems to be going so well for each of them until Owen find out his father's dead and his mom isn't in much better shape. Finding this out sends him spiraling back into his “dark place” and he struggles to find himself again and in the process pushes Maria away. While Maria is trying to cope with trying to help Owen and dealing with the terror of facing Darren again after all these years.
I really loved this book! It was real and you don't find too many of those around these days. Owen and Maria have a lot that they struggle with in this book and it makes them stronger for it in the end both together and separately. Its an intense story filled with emotion and heartache but it makes you believe that you can still find love and heal.
I loved this books so much! I'm glad it ended on a happy note. :)
Let me just start of by saying that I'm glad that both Lost and Found have a disclaimer before the story starts. This story had moments that were intense and hard to read, but the journey these characters go on is amazing!
Found starts off with such an intense beginning!!! And it takes place right where Lost left off. Maria and Owen are finally in a better place and then both of their worlds are turned upside down.......
I experienced so many emotions with Found and I'm kinda at a loss for words. It is so heartbreaking, the things that Owen and Maria had to go through. I was so proud of their growth throughout this story. They have come so far and learned to depend on one another and that they didn't have to face these nightmares alone. It wasn't always easy for them.
As far as the ending, you couldn't have asked for a more perfect and hopeful one! Owen and Marie really deserved to have a happy ending after everything they've endured :-)
Found is definitely worth checking out and you will have a very hard time putting this one down!
I read Found right after I read the first book in this series. The books flowed right into each other which is always nice in my opinion. As with the first book, this book continued to tell a beautiful love story with a sweet endearing romance that feels like genuine, true love. I enjoyed reading about the characters and each of their struggles to overcome past trauma. My review may make this book sound too sugary so sweet and, "vanilla" so I should clarify that there are some well-written sex scenes too! Somehow, this author is able to create classy, romantic and beautiful scenes of intimacy without them being dull or boring. In this second book, the characters get help for their past traumas which I was glad to read about after feeling frustrated over them not getting help in the first book. I still had some feelings of frustration over the way the characters handled some of their experiences (ex: Maria preparing to face her perpetrator). Overall though, it was an enjoyable book and if you liked the first book, you definitely have to read this one!
Loved it!!! It had me hooked so bad I stayed awake to finish one chapter even though I was exhausted. This book closes Maria and Owen's story perfectly. Immediately following the last book, it starts narrating about the dynamics of their relationship and the difficulties they have to face: his father's death, Darren's visit, etc. You can't help falling in love with Owen, he's just so wonderful and caring. I loved how he treated her, like she was his partner and the most precious thing on the world, (without taking into account one incident). In this book, we also get to meet Maria's family, something I'd been waiting for. Her mother and father aren't shown in a very good light but her brother, Micah, is different. Although the author doesn't tell us a lot about him, you feel like he's a very good brother, funny and outgoing. I'd would love to know her mother's reaction to Micah's girlfriend, that would be so hilarious.
After reading Lost (which ends in a huge cliffy) I was thrilled when I got Found free on Amazon.
I really enjoyed these books. They told the story of Maia & Owen, who both had horrible things that happened to them in the past, which left them both terribly damaged and afraid to trust or love.
Found is the conclusion to their story. I found both Maria & Owen very like-able and I really like the fact that the books are told in alternating POVs (and the fact that the author starts each chapter with the heading stating which character's POV you will be reading).
The books also deal with some heavy issues such as rape & domestic violence which I thought were handled very nicely by the author. The author also didn't feel the need to go into the nitty-gritty details which I appreciated.
This was an even more emotional read than the first one. Owen's story is just heartbreaking. The DA, who is looking into Owen's childhood, just made me want to strangle him! Ugh, what a selfish jerk.
Maria is a little stronger in this book, and for the most part is there for Owen as his life just keeps crumbling. Owen's flashbacks of his childhood are heart-wrenching, you just want to give him a hug.
When Owen and Maria finally (finally!!!!) realize they could benefit from some counseling, I was shouting hallelujah! It was beyond time for that to happen.
The epilogue was sweet, a good ending for them, but not an unrealistic "we're getting married" a few months after they started dating.
From what I can tell, Lost and Found are the author's first two novels and I am impressed. She's very talented and I look forward to future books.
I was given a copy of both books in Nadia Simonenko's Lost & Found series in exchange for honest reviews.
Today has been a day where I was fortunate enough to have several hours to devote to these books and as with Lost, I absolutely devoured Found.
I loved Lost so much that I didn't think it would be possible to beat, but I love Found even more. Nadia Simonenko did as great a job if not better with her sequel as she did with her first book, Lost. In Found their own pain intensified to the breaking point but together, even as broken as they are, they start to heal themselves and each other and it was beautiful to watch their relationship strengthen despite each and every setback that they encountered.
Owen and Maria give hope to anyone who has had to deal with their kind of demons that there is hope of coming out on the other side.
"Beautiful Inside" in Owen's atrocious, almost juvenile handwriting.
Aww! I'm a sucker for a love story! But man this one really got to me! The finality of Owen and Maria's conquest to forget and move on is just oppressing and brave.
From beginning to end, I felt a lot of different feelings when reading about Owen. There was something that was missing in his life and only Maria could help him with that, but everything else was just frustrating and fragile.
For Maria, her being a stronger person made her so much more likeable, but she also showed some flaws where she had the upper hand and was put in a position to hurt someone, and she did very unconsciously. I understand where she comes from, but ouch .
After everything they've been through a happy ending was in their stars and I'm a sucker for happy endings. So bravo!
It was a great ending to a really tough story between the characters. This one felt longer then Lost. I liked the story, it wasn't anything exceptional but i believe the author captured the loss each character had, either physical or emotional. There was a nice twist to her ending of the "problem" which i didn't expect but i'm glad it played out that way because it was heavy content to begin with. I will have to say maybe it was my mood upon reading this but i did skip over a few paragraphs, it felt at times there were too much repetitive actions...and not the italic ones...those broke me and were a great addition as a reader to see that ugliness written. Anyway it was a great story, heavy but with a HEA. Owen though flawed was definitely swoon worthy, i hope life after this book doesn't break them ;)
Got a free copy for an honest review Gave it a Emotionally fantastic 4.5 stars 2nd book of this series was great there was some much mix emotions just like 1st book.I tell you what this book make me cry there is a chapter on the book when Owen is re-thinking back when he was 5 or seven and it was the 1st time his father hit him that was so well written that I felt that I was there with him thru all that wow great job MS.Nadia by creating something so great, not many authors can make you have that feeling that you are there too.This book deal with the feelings you have to still deal with it even though the person that hurt so bad is no longer there how to break from that fear and be free for real for the first time .Love This HEA
What a great ending to a heartbreaking story. This is the second book in the Lost & Found series. After finishing Lost, I couldn't wait to read Found to see what happened to Owen & Maria. It will take you through all the emotions and then some. You will be glued to each page and it will be worth every minute of sleep you might miss. It is hard for a story to have me crying so hard that I have to walk away for a bit but this is one of them, Owen's emotions, the pain and guilt he feels will make your heart hurt and swell with love at the perfect ending. Read this series if you need a great story, it will tear you up inside but put you back together in the end. I LOVED IT! Great job Nadia Simonenko. Looking forward to reading more from you!
Lost was the book where Owen and Maria found each other, but they still had a lot of work to do on themselves. In this book, we continue to relive Owen and Maria's nightmares. Some of their shared memories were so painful to read about, but I had to keep reading, I had to find out if these two would get the happiness that they deserved. You can not help but root for Owen and Maria. I just wanted everything to work out for them. I have to give some props for that opening chapter -- whoa! I loved getting to know Tina better (she's a fierce friend) and seeing that there were actually some people on Owen's side. That boy deserved a break, and some good fortune. This book has lots of emotion and drama and I was quite pleased with the way it ended.
Im not really good at reviewing books, I never seem to find the words, i ll try. I loved the series, i found both of their stories really sad, and sometimes it was hard to understand their reactions to certain things, cause my life is really different from theirs, but i learned, and i think thats what matters. I fell in love with the characters, it was perfectly written and i extremely recommend for you to read them both, it took me 48 ours to do it! I couldn't stop! I hope to have a new book to read from you soon! Thank you for introducing me to this world, i might have a little book-hangover and it will be hard to let the characters go! Read you soon.