She survived Earth's worst global pandemic. In the city she learned how to cope with the roaming dead. Tucked away in the mountains she struck down the living who tried to kill her. Now Riley fights a new battle - the one within herself. Wracked with survivor's guilt and an almost crazed sense of duty that takes her out of the solitude of the Southern California mountains and into the heart of Orange County, she makes a series of choices that can lead to the destruction of everything she's managed to save.
In the end, will it all be worth it? What will be lost? What will be found? And which questions will be left unanswered?
I just read the last line of Lost and Found with so many emotions running through me, I don't know whether to be happy or sad, frustrated or excited. Part of me wants to refrain from discussing anything with the lovely Trish Marie Dawson, while the other part of me wants to curl my fingers and scream for all it's worth.
Lost and Found was a roller coaster ride of all things emotional, thrilling, grotesque and even sad. There were a few moments where I laughed out loud, but not many where I was just extremely happy. It kept me turning the pages well into the night past 3AM, then I finally decided hit the bed and pillow, rather than turning the pages to finish. Being a tad bit sleep deprived doesn't help emotional moments while reading a book. So here I am now writing this review as I just finished and still I'm not sure what to say that will show how I'm feeling without giving the entire story away!
I love the way Trish keeps the story moving forward, the way she makes you feel as though you are there with the main characters throughout the entire story. I love the way the pages seem to turn on their own at a devouring pace. The characters are so well written that I feel a pull and connection to each and every one of them. Moments where I just want to cry with them, other times where I want to throw the book across the room (knowing I would not since I read on a Kindle Keyboard) and say to hell with finishing this book. I kept reading and kept reading, and through it all I kept hoping and held on to that hope through the entire story.
I have yet to read the little bit Trish has wrote at the end of the story going into Book 3 of the Find Me Series. As I didn't want to know till after I wrote this review of what it is I have felt while reading Book 2. I wanted to give the readers of this review everything based off of my thoughts on this book as it was awesome and frustrating, emotional and sad, and just everything you want in a book and more. I just want to scream once again as not everything I had hoped for came true by the ending. So I will be awaiting Book 3 to hit the shelves so that I may continue the journey with Riley in hopes that things will all turn out eventually...
Book 2 finds Riley is determined to find Mariah, Connor is against it but goes along with her plans. Zoey, Riley and Connor head to look for Mariah. Along the way things awry. We meet new people good and bad. Riley learns alot about who she is now and what she is capable of. This book is full of twists and turns I wasnt expecting and at times not happy with lol. Everything needed to be done/said to make the book worthy of the 5 stars! I am addicted to all things Trish Marie Dawson!
The sequel to I Hope You Find Me picks up several weeks after the cataclysmic events which closed the first book. Riley is slowly recovering from her injuries and trying to overcome the trauma she suffered both physically and mentally. Once again Trish Marie Dawson has the ability to draw you right into the minds of the characters and you can picture yourself sitting on the deck of the lodge looking out over the lake. Tranquil and perfect in every way you would think until you notice the shadowy figure who appears on the edge of the forest and eventually even in Riley's bedroom. As Riley and Connor make preparations to undertake a probably foolhardy mission with Kris they are troubled by unsettling visions and beset with doubts. Only Riley seems convinced that their journey into the heart of Orange County will succeed and has to push hard to get others to accept her decision. What I love about these books is the attention to detail. There is an abundance of tiny little vignettes as the trio ride horses (Riley has the unfortunate habit of falling off a motorbike so horses seem a safer option) towards their destination that brings the book to real life, whether it describing finding fresh fruit in an abandoned garden or the horror of a mass grave containing thousands of only partially buried bodies, you can share their joy or horror at each new scene. The story truly explodes into a full blown cinematic epic upon their arrival in L.A as they discover once again that it is not the dead they need fear; it is the living! The closing third of this book as Riley pursues an increasingly hazardous attempt to save a girl she feels responsible for is a helter-skelter thrill ride that had me literally perched on the edge of my seat! Riley's journey from grade school teacher to kick-ass heroine is believable and compelling from the first to last and you will find yourself cheering one moment and biting back tears the next. Trish Marie Dawson has to be congratulated for once again producing a first class read that captures the reader with the power and assurance of Stephen King's The Stand in its scope and atmosphere. I heartily recommend this book to all fans of post-apocalyptic fiction and have no hesitation in rating it 5/5!
I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This was an awesome second book in the Find Me series. It starts off right where book one ended without skipping a beat. I actually liked book two better. There was so much going for it, action (fighting, gunfights and car crashes), romance, old friends showing up, new friends showing up, and new pets being found. Sensory overload of goodness! During all of that, there was still mystery surrounding everything and I can't wait to find out the "real" story of what is going on. In this book Riley is more of a daredevil queen, doing crazy stunts even if they could kill her. She also tries to be very Maytr like. Connor is stil the resident hottie, but in this book he grows more of a backbone towards Riley which leads to a few fights, but also some great make- up sex lol. Kris is still a big mystery but she does open up a bit which aides in a rescue mission of sorts. I am loving this series quite a bit for it being in the "adult" age category. I have a feeling that each new book with outdo the previous and I can't wait. I would receommed this series to most readers but especially those who love post- Apocolyptic reads.
The first thing I can say about Lost and Found is, "When is the next book in the series coming out? I'm ready; like right now!" Once again Trish has sucked me into her story and left me waiting impatiently for the next and the next. I can't wait to see what will happen in Book 3. Awesome, Trish!
After waiting on pins and needles for this to come out, I was NOT disappointed. More suspense and intensity that kept me glued to my chair until I finished. The story is written so well I felt like I was with Riley as she went through her journey. Looking forward to future books in this series. I just have to know what happens to Riley and her friends!
Great follow up to I Hope You Find Me!! I actually like book 2 even better then book 1 and I cannot wait for book number 3! Keep it up Trish Marie Dawson!!
I am terribly anxious for the last in this series of books. It awaits me on my reader. This book, much like the first made me cry, feel anger, discouragement, and in some cases, all at the same time. Trish Marie Dawson is an author you will hear about more and more. The scenes she sets up for the mind's eye will have you smelling the smoke and feeling the devastation.
Many reviews mentioned that this book has a really slow start but I enjoyed the first 1/4 of the story more than I expected. After that though it really picks up the pace with action and it kept me guessing what would happen next. This was an emotional one and I was happy, sad, excited, worried, scared and nervous for the characters. I’m very interested to see what happens next.
I enjoy near futuristic books, and this series is disturbingly realistic given our current pandemic. I lived in Southern California for many years, and it was so easy to visualize the geography. Good character development. A little bloody here and there.
As with the first book, this one is ripping my heart to shreds as well. I have already bought the third book and plan to start it soon enough. I need to know more of Riley's story.
This book my god what a story I laughed and cried and didn't want to turn the next page sometimes. Some deserved there fate and more didn't sad sad. But so exciting.
I always appreciate a good book, especially one you can't put down. I felt like I was right there with Riley. When I laugh and cry it means it is a good book. Trish Marie Dawson thank you for writing because I don't know what I would do without books!
I was glad I got through the first yucky romantic part of this book, because the middle was written as well as the first book; but then it ended on a very melancholy note, and that saddened me. Characters return from the first, some questions were answered; Riley figures out who she truly loves; but getting there was not as fun this time around. Like I mentioned, a lot of sex and romance in the first part [Note: I don't see romance listed as a "Similar Items by Category," so I'm put off by that. I like romance books, but I want to know up front that "romance" is a major element to the story...and this book, there is a lot right away, and a lot more there than needs to be...atleast for me.] However, I really like how this author writes, so I will continue to read her books. Once you get past all the gush, there is a well written, fast paced story here. I see flashes of real potential in her writing, and that says a lot, considering I read a lot of books!
However, this book was not written as tightly as the first; (cover to cover, as it were,) and when the action really picked up, there was potential to learn more about other characters and for Riley to learn from them, but it did a 180 turn and instead a new character was introduced. And more bloodshed brought death. And that made me sad. In the end, I understood why these deaths came, but it's hard to know if I will read the next book in the series, because the things I love keep dying. Makes me wonder: who is going to die next? And can my heart take another death? In a book like this, one needs joy in the face of compete destruction, hope in the eyes of those that the light once went out. All of those in this series have so far met death. At this point, I'm not sure I can get through another death in this world. Which is probably why I keep getting sucked back into Trish Marie Dawson's worlds: she makes me love her worlds; makes it so real in my mind that I can feel these characters emotions and depths. And that makes a truly great writer, all things considered.
I must start with stating just how much I truly enjoyed reading this novel...I just couldn't put it down. Every time I went to set my Kindle down I had to pick it back up for fear that something would happen whilst away that I'd miss. I know that sounds ridiculous due to this being a book and not a movie that had to be resound, but that's exactly what it felt like. A movie playing in my head as every word seemed to leap off of the pages and form into this epic event that put you on the edge of your seat. I don't know how Trish Marie Dawson does it, but she seems to make every book better and better. In book 2 of the Find Me series it picks right up where they left off....the tragic death of Fin. But, has Fin truly left camp or is he still there....hiding in the shadow...awaiting the perfect moment to reveal himself? Or is something else altogether more horrifying happening? There are also other things to consider here....Riley 's guilt of everything that's happened...Fin's death, Matt's death, the loss of Mariah and the ever present pain of her being still alive though her children died. She tends to take a lot of responsibility for everything and everyone...enough to make a person lose their mind. So she decides to do something about at least one of her problems....she's looking for Mariah...with or without anyone's help. From there so many twists and turns s occur that will leave you baffled, hurting, angry, but still having to persevere in your reading expedition to find out what happens next. I won't give anything else away due to spoilers, but be ready to hang on to your seats because this book is about to take you on a ride to remember. I will end with this one last statement...job well done Trish Marie Dawson. ~ AC Wright (WaAr)~
In a world where everything has seemingly been done before/ everything I read and watch is predictable, this was refreshingly NOT -and impossible to put down all at the same time. AN amazing read and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment. The ONLY thing wrong with this series is that I WANT MORE ! Seriously, you've gotta check this out. Go back, read "I Hope You Find Me", then this one. When you finish the first, you will NOT be able to not read this one. I don't bother writing reviews usually, but this book was amazing and I cannot say enough about it or it's author. Trish is amazing..I "introduced" myself to her via social networking and she immediately checked out my own works (blog and photography) and gave me feedback. She has a true interest in her fans, which only serves to make her more amazing. If you haven't checked her out, you are seriously missing out. I would LOVE to see this series made into movies... one of the few that has NOT been done before, as I stated above.
I wish I could give book two five stars. Maybe I went into it with such high expectations because I absolutely loved book one. The first half of the book dragged, I found it hard to stay focused. Then they're trip to find Mariah begins and I couldn't put the book down. Trish does have a very creative, imaginative, action filled mind and I love that about her. I don't want to give anything away but I wasn't happy no information was given about Kris & Connor after the shooting. We should've atleast had a flash of Connor describing what happened, giving us some kind of explanation. The second half of the book was filled with lots if action, definitely kept me entertained. I thought Mariah's goodbye was very fitting, worked perfectly into the book. I do love Drake, just seems like a great guy, I do hope Riley gives him a chance eventually. All in all, it was good and i do look forward to book three.
This book picks with Riley still hell bent on going to LA to save Mariah. Connor is against it, for all the right reasons. Before they can go the ghost of Fin is tormenting Riley, she knows he wants something, but what? Kris, Connor, and Riley leave for LA, saddleback. For a while the trip is uneventful and then things take a turn for the worse!
Can she make it to Mariah in time? Is Mariah still alive? What about Kris and Connor? Is it just her now? Riley struggles on. It’s in her struggles that she realizes that Fin and the others want released and there is only one way. Burn the bodies. Leaving LA, Riley sets it on fire in her wake and heads home to the mountains. Returning home she finds no one there. Where did they go? Are they dead too?
I really enjoy this series. Love that the lead character is female. There were some errors in this book, but nothing major. Anxiously awaiting book #3 in the Find Me series!
Wow! This series has me HOOKED! I listened to both book 1 and 2 on audio and they were amazing. The plot flows nicely, the writing is exquisite and the story was, well...perfect! Riley is such a strong character. I couldn't imagine ever having to go through what she had to endure, but the character knows she doesn't have a choice, so she makes the best of it and gives it all of her heart and soul. But she wasn't the only one I connected with. Drake, Kris, Winchester, Finn and of course the yummy Conner all felt like family from the moment I started this book. I can't really think of a part of the book that didn't move me. From beginning to the very end I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster. I was bawling like a baby by the end. I felt like I was there with each of the characters and feeling all of their emotions. The story definitely pulls at your heartstrings. Such an awesome read.
I feel unbelievable sad, although I really liked this second installment, I totally hated this ending because I'm a sucker for all happy endings, but that's what makes Trish Marie Dawson such a great writer she knows how to pull you in and totally fall in love with the characters in her books I love Connors character, that's why I'm left feeling sad but I truly. truly hope the third book will end on a happier note. I don't wanna to give too much away but Riley and Connor need to finish they're lives at the cabins and have baby's that would make for a AWESOME ending for book three!! HINT,HINT I hope you read your reviews Trish!! anyhow I totally recommend this book I absolutely loved the first one and the second book did not disappointment even if I didn't want the ending it had I totally understand why it did end so controversial it's going to make book number three that much better if the author does it right, and I have Faith she will (( ;
"I Absolutely Love This Book" I would definitely recommend this book to a friend. This was an amazing audiobook that I really enjoyed. It had a good story line and was exciting from beginning to end. I'm a horse person and all their adventures during the journey on horseback were so very well detailed. I like Riley, she's funny, serious, soft, and sometimes hard. One of my favorite scenes was whenever they set out on their big journey AND Conner. The one thing I'm missing that I want to get is the first installment of this book. It was an amazing book on its own but now I must read the first one. 'I Hope You Find Me'. If this book were to be made into a film, the tagline could be 'Coming Home'. Trish Marie Dawson is a wonderful author and I love the narration by Erin Spencer. She has a perfect voice. Very easy to listen to and can't wait to hear more! She is now one of my favorite narrators.
Narrator Erin Spencer brought Riley and the other characters to life while I was on my daily commute! Trish brought each character to life through her splendid storytelling! I grew up in Southern California so each step taken by the characters was imprinted in my mind, but even if I wasn't a native, I could see and feel each step thanks to the descriptions and back drop "painting". The story continues from where book one, I hope you find me, left off and propels us forward and out of the safety of their compound to look for a young girl who might be out there. She has nothing to go on but instinct and hope. I can't wait to continue this series! *I received the audio book for an honest review.*
The story continues from book 1, Hope You Find Me...if you haven't read it yet, you have to go read that first, otherwise this one makes no sense.
I really enjoyed the continuation and the way things built. Unfortunately I can't mention what I liked and what I thought wasn't needed...too many spoilers. ... Didn't shed a tear in the first book, this one I teared up a could times as Riley went along.
The book kept my interest ... And the characters are believable... Wondering where we're going now, the ending ...even though I guessed some of it, there's still a bit clifthanger to it.
I started this immediately after finishing book 1. Both had my emotions all over the place; sad, anxious, happy, spooked, and at times devastated. This book takes Riley back into the city. The decision to leave most of her new family behind to search for Mariah was difficult, but the fight to get back to them almost kills her physically and emotionally. By the end of this book I was a little drained and had to take a couple of days off before diving into book 3.
6 STARS! Wow, another cliff hanger. I am most definitely going to read book 3! If you're looking for a sweet romantic love story. This ain't it! Its gritty, depressing and full of harsh struggle. But it also is full of the beauty of human spirit and the resilience to carry on no matter how depressing the outcome might be! Then there's the love story that's wound in it. Yeah well worth the read folks!!
They just leave you hanging. Now I can't wait to read the third one which of course I don't have right now. These folks are just so interesting that they keep you hanging on you just have to turn the page and see what's coming next. This is the story of a great venture of course there's a lot of sorrow and and some good but you just don't know what's going to happen next.