Near & Far

Lost & Found #2

by Nicole Williams

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.

Can two people with such tragic pasts and different presents expect a promising future together? Whatever the answer, they’ll need a lot more than love to make it.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, College, Westerns, Young Adult

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 28, 2013

About the author

Nicole is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author who got her humble start dictating books to her parents at the age of three and her big break nearly three decades later when she signed her first publishing deal. She grew up an avid reader and writer who majored in Economics because a Creative Writing degree was lofty and impractical, not to mention a pipe dream. Irony, you wily fiend.

When she isn’t embroiled in a book, she spends her time playing wife and mom to her two favorite people in the world, and referee to their three rescue pets/wildlings. Nicole lives in the Evergreen State on the quieter side, ideal for an admitted recluse who enjoys the diversity of outdoor endeavors the Great Northwest offers.


Nicole loves hearing from her readers. You can connect with her on:

Facebook: Author Nicole Williams
Instagram: author_nicole_williams
Twitter: nwilliamsbooks

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Cowboy lovin’ stars!!!!


Near and Far starts off where Lost and Found left off. Rowen and Jesse are together. Jesse is still at his family’s ranch in Montana, and Rowen is in art school at Seattle. Long distance relationships aren’t easy, but they are making it work. Every few weeks Jesse drives to Seattle, or Rowen takes the Greyhound to Montana. It’s not ideal, but it’s okay.

Rowen lives with roommate Alex, works at a donut shop and goes to school. She is finally doing it. She is happy. She is succeeding in school, her art is fabulous, and she has Jesse... what could be better. Rowen has come a long way. She is stronger now than she has ever been.

I fell for Jesse Walker while reading Lost and Found. I was happy to see that I loved him just as much in this book. He wasn’t quite as perfect, but he was still amazing and real. Jesse is just a lovable charming guy. He is sweet, sexy, honest and caring. He’s just that type of guy.

“Do you always have to see the good in everyone”

“No, I don’t have to. I choose to.”

Jesse really struggles with his past in this book. He may seem like he has it all together, but when his nightmares start to surface, plus the distance between he and Rowen is starting to get to him... it is a recipe for disaster.

"I realized that our past never leaves us. We might think we've left it behind, but that's when it sneaks up and beats the hell out of you. Our past is always a part of us..."

Hearing about Jesse’s past really just broke my heart. I know that the author touched on it in book one, but to hear the details... it’s intense. He wants to shield Rowen from it.

“I don’t want her to know. I don’t want her to be a part of it. I don’t want her near it. I want her as far away from the poison flowing through me as I can keep her.”


Jesse has always been there for Rowen. Been her calm, her constant, her strength. Now its time for her to return the favor.


It’s a toll on their relationship. The distance. The fact that Jesse isn’t opening up to Rowen...

Sometimes the only way we can protect the ones we love is to protect them from ourselves.


Even though it killed me to learn about Jesse’s past, I was glad it was out there. This perfect man is a little broken as well.

“I always knew I would be the one responsible for tearing us apart because that’s what I did and that’s what I was good at. No matter how hard I tried to be something else, something better, I couldn’t keep the destructive part of me fully contained.”


Jesse isn’t the savior any more. He is the man that needs saved.



So in this series we have two broken people saving one another... yes please! The change from book 1 Rowen to book 2 Rowen was incredible. I loved seeing her growth, her strength. Jesse’s venerability was beautiful. I loved seeing this real side of him. All our old favorite characters are back, and we also meet four new people who all play a pretty large part in the story... Alex, Rowen’s roommate(LOVED her), Jax, Rowen’s TA (Meh), Jolene, Josie’s cousin and the ranch’s summer help (couldn’t stand her!) and Mar, a homeless woman Rowen befriends (not even going there...). There was one character that bugged me a little more than the rest, well, the whole situation in general. I thought the way Rowen handled herself was great, but Jesse seemed far too oblivious for too long about the situation.

With the exception of Rowen and Jesse, Garth is my favorite character in this series! I am more than a little excited for a Garth book! Woohoo! I just love him and his crass attitude. He is funny, and kind of a mess, but he really does have a sweet side. He is pretty amazing. I loved how he was there for Jesse and Rowen. You wouldn’t think it, but he gives good advice...

"I don't know much about these kinds of things, but it seems like you don't fall out of love with someone because of their fuck ups. It seems like if you really love someone, you love them in spite of their fuck ups."

“So you messed up. Big time. So you messed up big time. We all do. It’s time to start practicing what you preach and forgive yourself. If any guy deserves a second chance, it’s you, Jess.”

“Thats what I would have done. I’d keep the truth from someone if I thought it would save them some pain.”


Overall, this was a great sequel. Very much enjoyed the story and the ending was fantastic. Love Jesse and Rowen together! I really enjoy Nicole Williams writing and her characters are amazing. Cowboys aren’t usually my thing, but she makes me cowboy crazy!!! 4.5 stars!

[Natasha is a Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“For you, I’m a weak, weak man. I’m so weak for you that you could break me with one word. You could end me with one look. You could ruin me with one touch.”

If you’re looking for a series written with heart, impeccable skill and capable of turning you into a gushing mess over a gentle cowboy whose mere presence on a page will make you grin ear to ear, look no further than the Lost and Found series. Unlike anything else I’ve ever read before, the truly uplifting love story of Rowen and Jesse captured my heart from the very first page and instantly become a favourite of mine.

Although Lost and Found did not end on a nail-biting cliffhanger and it left us in a rather happy place, content with the steady bond these characters managed to forge and the difficulties they rose above, I was ecstatic to have their story continue and to see what other obstacles they would have to overcome both personally as well as a couple. We find them navigating the tricky waters of a long distance relationship, their love and devotion to one another being a constant beacon for their young relationship, but the miles between them and the long periods of time apart keep feeding the demons inside them and making them fearful of losing the one thing they cherish the most in life – each other.

“Loving someone as much as I did Jesse meant the darkness of the world seemed so black I never wanted to walk out the front door. Around every corner was some terror threatening to take away what I held most dear.”

Rowen is now in a new city, pursuing her passion in art and slowly making a name for herself in this new world far away from the only place she ever considered home – Willow Springs. Her love for Jesse grounds her, keeps her from reverting back to the scared and angry little girl that she once was, but knowing he has been and always would be the light at the end of the tunnel she used to live in, makes her constantly fearful of losing him, of him finding someone better than her, almost expecting it to happen sooner or later. She loves him with all her heart, but her self-destructive tendencies resurface at times, convincing her that she would eventually end up destroying the little piece of heaven she has found with Jesse.

“I always knew I would be the one responsible for tearing us apart because that’s what I did and that’s what I was good at. No matter how hard I tried to be something else, something better, I couldn’t keep the destructive part of me fully contained.”

Jesse is secretly fighting his own demons while away from Rowen. His self-control is failing him, nightmares from his childhood have returned and his anxiety and fear of losing the love of his life are rearing their ugly heads at night, when he’s most vulnerable, and torturing him with flashbacks from his abuse-ridden childhood. His mind has equated the fear of losing Rowen to the fear he experienced as a little boy at the hands of two cruel parents, and the more they struggle as a couple with distance and time apart, the more Jesse’s mind turns against itself and convinces him that the woman he adores is better off without someone as unstable as him in her life.

“I don’t want her to know. I don’t want her to be a part of it. I don’t want her near it. I want her as far away from the poison flowing through me as I can keep her.”

Once more, this story makes us feel so many emotions, at both ends of the spectrum, without becoming too dark or too gritty. Jesse’s childhood memories are gruesome, heart-shattering and I needed to take a break while reading them as they were sometimes too hard to bear, but they were necessary if we were to understand this beautiful person, the emotional hardship he had overcome and the miracle of a man he had become given his horrible past. His every smile became that much more precious, his every positive outlook on life that much more awe-inspiring. His selfless heart, his ability to love others unconditionally and need to protect them, shelter them even from himself, made Jesse a sight to behold.

“A woman like her was every man’s dream. A woman who couldn’t be shaken and would stand shoulder to shoulder in the face of a storm. I’d found that kind of woman and, beyond all belief, she loved me. And I had to let her go.”

They both make mistakes in their relationship, purely due to inexperience and their young age, but their love for each other never fades, never gives up, never makes them doubt each other. It’s the one constant in their life they can depend on and eventually the one thing that conquers ever the darkest and more vicious of demons from their pasts.

“When Jesse and I were close enough to share the same breath, confusion and uncertainty were distant memories.”

It is impossible for this story not to affect you one way or another. There is such inherent positivity in every word, every concept, every bit of her heart that the author has woven into this beautiful story. Ms Williams has a very unique way of communicating with the reader, making us feel so much, so deeply and so quickly, without using overtly detailed descriptions or wordy scenes. She takes aim with her words and hits the bull’s-eye every single time. She can make you laugh and cry on the same page, and walk away from that same scene with the biggest grin on your face.

“She’s managed to bust free from the weight of her past to get on with her life. She’d grown, evolved, and was setting the world on fire. I, on the other hand, was digressing, shrinking, and setting myself on fire.”

I am selfishly unprepared to say goodbye to these characters and as happy as their ending is, I am hopeful that we will get to see more of them in the future, even through someone else’s story… a cowboy with a proclivity for smartass comments and the colour black, perhaps? Either way, bravo, Ms Williams, and thank you for everything this story has made me feel and for this silly grin that I do not seem to be able to erase from my face. This will always be one of my favourite stories ever and Jesse Walker will forever be my favourite book boyfriend.

“Our priorities aren’t what we say they are. They’re what we show they are.”

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[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ***I cannot believe I waited a year to read this*** stars!

"Thank you for saving me Rowen."
"I didn't save you, Jesse. I just helped you remember how to save yourself."

I am literally kicking myself. I cannot believe I held off reading this sequel for a year!

Near and Far picks up fairly soon after Lost and Found. Rowen has moved to Seattle and been going to school for her art, and her and Jesse have been making it work long distance. As time goes by, different issues and people begin to get in the way of Rowen and Jesse's relationship, and they must decide if staying together is the right thing.

"I should have known better than to assume that once I'd found the woman I wanted to spend my life with, everything would just fall into place."

I absolutely adored this book. It started off fairly slow, and at times was a bit predictable. The added plot of Jax and Jolene creating a love triangle (wait, if it's 4 people it's a love square right? Whatever, I don't know). It felt a little unnecessary, but it did help to drive a wedge between Rowen and Jesse.

I was fairly surprised at how much darker this book was than the first one. Near and Far brings up Jesse's past life before he was adopted, and the things that were done to him were horrible! Watching him try to swim through the memories of his past was heartbreaking.

The biggest surprise was the development of Garth into a decent guy. After book one, I think we all suspected he was one underneath, but just like Rowen, Garth lets his past and his issues build up a wall between him and anyone else. I am really looking forward to reading his story!

"If you really love someone, you love them in spite of their fuckups."

The thing that brought this up to a 4 star rating for me? The angst. OMG THE ANGST. I love good angst, and I will take decent angst over a well-written steamy scene any day. And boy did this book deliver.

This was a great book about two people who need to overcome their past in order to have a happy future, and I loved every minute of it.

"I'll love you either way. Just the way you love me."

[Lisa]

More Jesse and Rowen??? Umm...yes please!



Review to come!

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

“For you only,” he whispered into my hair. “For you, I’m a weak, weak man. I’m so weak for you that you could break me with one word. You could end me with one look. You could ruin me with one touch.”

What I liked
1. Dual POV's
2. Scenes with Garth & Jesse
3. Garth- I really liked him by the end. He had good advice and he was funny. Sometimes I wanted to kick him though. And at others he broke my heart.
4. I had a near tear up moment with Garth at the end of a certain chapter when he's talking to Jesse.
5. Humor- I liked the banter played out with most of the characters
6. When the story was back in Montana at the ranch
7. Garth & Josie spark some feelings out of each other for each other. (I really hope they get together in his book.)
8. The ENDNG!
9. I love the cover...mainly b/c of the guy. lol.
10. Fast paced story that can be read in one day. Depending on how fast of a reader you are.

Jesse is still working on his families' ranch. He's forced in to working with his semi best friend Garth while his girlfriend Rowen is in Washington at a community college. They are trying to do the whole long distance relationship thing however, that is starting to take a toll on them. But Jesse, the guy who chooses to see the good in everything, or sometimes has rose color glasses on, tries to be a strong backbone and strength for Rowen and tries to keep a positive outlook on it all. He does all he can to make sure he gets out to see her in WA from MT.

Meanwhile, Rowen is busy in school, has a sex-fiend crazy roommate of a friend, who she also works with at a doughnut shop, and is busy with her art besides work. She's finding out that this long distance thing is tougher than she thought as life is keeping her from dropping and going to see her man at the ranch whenever she wants to hop on a bus.

Life seems all hearts and flowers but Nicole Williams decides to throw three people in to their lives that will: 1. mess with one of their heads ...and... 2. try to wedge their way in to Jesse and Rowen's relationship. These people will not be people who can add anything good to their lives as they are only someone who should be subtracted out of their lives.

In this book we will see that loving someone isn't always easy from a distance even with compromises. Sometimes love isn't enough when you let your head mess with you. People aren't whom they seem to be. Sometimes Jesse and Rowen are their own worse enemies. Friendship and advice come from those you least expect it from. And lastly, there's a surprising little twist I didn't see coming.

At the end of the day, when it's all said and done, is the love and bond these two have strong enough to stand the test of time, others who threaten their relationship, their own demons, long distance, but ultimately: themselves?

This book had me laughing in parts, pretty dang mad at times, annoyed a lot, irritated and sad a time or two.

This book didn't get to me like Lost and Found did. I felt like I lost some of the specialness I felt in book 1. Jesse didn't feel the same to me; like he was missing a piece to him that I liked in book 1. Jesse was also blatantly oblivious and clueless to some things that it was down right annoying. Sometimes I felt like Rowen was selfish on her part towards Jesse's needs. We also had to wait so long for Jesse's demons to come out.

Look for GARTH's book coming out this fall.

Content: language and some sexual situations.

[Lisa (Two Bookish Brits) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh goodness me, I forgot how hard I loved these characters. Jesse and Rowan and the most perfect couple I've ever come across. The cowboy and the city girl, a match that most wouldn't think would work but they prove just how well it works for them.

This second book to the series is just as much fun to read as the first. Whilst the first book showed us Rowan's back story this book is worked around Jesse and his back story. The horrific abuse he went through in the hands of his birth mother and father. It's heartbreaking and just shows you how much that can affect a person, how it never goes away. We see Jesse battle through everything he feels and how heartbreaking it is for the others in his life. It's emotional but you'll be hooked on reading more and won't ever want to put the book down until you're at the last page and even then you'll want MORE.

Garth Black is fucking amazing, I love his role in this book and it's good to see him and Jesse being friends. Who knew Garth could be so wise lol.

Rowan and Jesse's relationship is one that most people wished they could have. It's strong and pure even through the hard times it's clear that their love for each other will never weaken and will forever be there.

Nicole is an incredible writer, this series is extra special to me, it's one of the first ever series I ever read and it stuck with me always. Her writing has a way of hooking you in, capturing your mind and taking you to a fantasy world of sexy cowboys lol.

This book deserves more than a 5 star rating that I truly wish I could give. I can't wait to re-read the next book in the series.

[Markéta · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!****

Jesse's POV!







I'm soo glad that we've got more of Jesse and his side. He's just so sweet, incredibly caring, hardworking cowboy with a nicely shaped ass.

Rowen is in Seattle at university and Jesse stayed back at the farm. Long-distance relationship isn't easy. They have to deal with separation, miscomunication, loneliness.. And know that they are by themselves, each of them has to fight their own demons on their own.

Lost and Found dealt mostly with Rowen's insecurities and problems. Near and Far is focused more on Jesse's past and his issues.

It was good to see that Jesse is not so perfect like he seems. He's got his own demons and sometimes he let them win. That even he can fuck things up, that Rowen is not the only one the relationship who is damaged by her past.

We've also seen Garth's gentler side and he finally showed us that he'll be a hero worth reading about.

I liked NEAR AND FAR a little less than LOST AND FOUND, but it was still really good. I can say that this series will belong to my favourite ones.

For more reviews visit my blog.

[amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A todos los autores: si hacen un segundo libro de una pareja, muestren avance y no retrocesos con other woman/other man o miscommunication, that's disgusting.

[Jo - •.★Reading Is My Bliss★.• · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Lost & Found I just had to read more about Jesse and Rowen :) I listened to the audio version and the narrator did a great job.

After falling in love on the Walker ranch last summer, Rowen is now in Seattle at community college studying art. Jesse is back at Willow Springs working on the family ranch, missing her every day. They are working hard on their long distance relationship and usually see each other every 2-3 weeks.

Things seem to be going well but the long distance is a bit tiring. When Rowen comes to the ranch for Spring break she is surprised to meet the new person helping out in the kitchen, Jolene is an ex-pageant queen and peace core worker who is drop dead gorgeous. Rowen’s jealousy claws come out when she realises how much time this girl spends with Jesse. He is completely oblivious to anyone but Rowen though.

After getting back to Seattle they slip back into their long distance routine but hit a few speed bumps when there are occasions that they have to cancel or postpone some visits. They are both struggling with the distance between them and it seems to be more than just geographical now. However, the curve balls are about to fly in...

This second instalment is more focused on Jesse’s life story and it’s pretty bloody awful to know what he went through before he was adopted. Garth Black has huge character development during this story and it will no doubt set things up for book three. There is a lot more that happens that I haven’t even touched on so saddle up and enjoy!

[Autumn Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it came to Jesse Walker, it was tight jeans or no jeans.-Loc 635

What can I possibly say to express my love for these characters??? I can tell you that the minute I got my ARC, I dropped what I was reading to read this one. I'll tell you that Jesse Walker is possibly one of the best book boys ever! And Rowen...she's pretty darn fabulous! NEAR & FAR was clearly one of my most anticipated reads. I loved every minute of this book!

I'm going to start with Jesse. I feel like this was Jesse's book. He's still solid, charming, reliable, sexy, and one of the most honest guys you'll ever meet. But, Jesse has a really dark past. One that he's managed to overcome with the help of his family. While things seem to be going great for Jesse and Rowen, there are pressures and stress that surface that cause some of his darker side to reappear. Trying to manage a long distance relationship is hard enough, but suffocating by memories of his past are nearly debilitating. However, Jesse and Rowen make sure to figure out ways to see each other regularly. The problem is, Jesse wants Rowen to see him as the sturdy, positive guy she fell in love with. He doesn't want her to see the wounded soul beneath.

"...Men like him weren't put on this planet so that women could keep their hands to themselves."-Loc 161

Rowen is awesome. In Lost & Found, we met a girl who was ignored and mistreated her whole life. She had some pretty dark secrets of her own. She was distant, appeared to be indifferent, and she was most definitely self destructive. Not only was Jesse a great support for her, but his family was too. She was able to open up and let people care about her. In this book, we see a more confident Rowen. She's at art school pursuing her dream of becoming an artist. And honestly, she's doing great. She getting interest in her art and she's met some good friends. But, she really misses Jesse and his family. What stood out the most for me in this book with Rowen was how solid she has become. She has become the one to stay strong. Rowen was really there for Jesse, once he let her in, and I felt proud of her and the woman she's become. I know that might sound cheesy, but Rowen has come a long way. It's always nice to see a character's growth.

While Jesse and Rowen are battling demons and trying to find a way to get through it together, we also have Garth Black. Ok, here's the thing about Garth; I wasn't all that impressed with Garth in the first book. He wasn't exactly a likable character. But, the author let me post a teaser last week and it featured Garth. I loved his banter with Rowen! So, I said to the author "You're going to make me fall in love with Garth, aren't you?" Sure enough, I did. Garth and Jesse have patched up their relationship a bit. Garth still isn't very nice, but his intentions are actually good! He played an instrumental role in helping Jesse and Rowen with their issues in this book. He and Rowen are a lot alike. Garth Black certainly has a tale to tell and I can't wait to read it!

Overall, I absolutely loved this book! I was laughing, crying, swooning, and crying again. Basically, I was all over the board with the feels. I'm a bit sad that Jesse and Rowen's story has come to a close, but I couldn't have been happier with the ending. This couple truly was made for each other. They balance one another superbly. I feel like I'm forgetting something to share, but really all you need to know is that this is a must read series! Go get started on it now!

Quotes:
~"Really. Because whether supposed to be flies out of the window tonight, or tomorrow, or fifty years from now, I'm not going anywhere because I'll always want to be with you."-Loc 711

~"Thank you for saving me, Rowen. Thank you for coming and saving me."
I lifted my hand to his face and traced each fervent wrinkle until it disappeared. "I didn't save you, Jesse. I just helped you remember how to save yourself."-Loc 4204

~"There are high points, and there are high points. That was mine, having a man like Jesse Walker to love and love me back, and knowing that no matter what came our way, we'd be ready for it.-Loc 4204

[Jacqueline's Reads]

I'm not gonna lie, who wanted this to be about Garth? I mean, I kind of did. Well, I am all for Jesse, so YAY!!!



There’s optimistic. And there’s Jesse Walker.

If he wasn’t so charming, his sunny disposition and incessant grin would get annoying. Fast.

Falling in love with the girl who had at first seemed immune to it, was the best thing to happen to Jesse since the Walkers adopted him into their family when he was five. But loving the girl who has her fair share of secrets is about as easy as that same girl loving the boy who seems to have none.

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

As push comes to shove and choices aren’t only needing to be made, but forced to be made, Jesse and Rowen have to face what their lives might look like without the other.

Can two people with such tragic pasts and different presents, go on to expect a promising future? Whatever the answer, they’ll need a lot more than love to make it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm excited for this book because I loved the first one. But like always with 2 parts, I worry about what will happen to cause drama between Jesse and Rowen :(

Ps: I love the cover! sooooooo pretty ♥

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Jesse Walker might be the perfect fictional guy out there….sigh! At least for the moment he is. :) I loved Lost and Found and was a little sad and disappointed with the ending to it. So when I heard Nicole was writing a sequel to it I broke out my happy dance. I was excited and nervous when I started Near and Far because you never know what you will get when you start a sequel to a book you love. I loved Near and Far and I think I might have fallen in love with Jesse Walker a little more. The book started out pretty much where Lost and Found left off. Rowen is working and going to school in Seattle and Jesse is still working on the family farm in Montana. Even though they didn’t live in the same state, they still managed to see each other a couple times a month. The first half of the book was pretty drama free besides the ever annoying Jax and Jolene. Every heard of the song by Dolly Parton, Jolene….if so, enough said. About halfway is where things started to go south for Rowen and Jesse. Demons from Jesse’s past started coming back to haunt him and pull our sweet lovable cowboy into a dark place. I don’t want to say too much about what happens after that because I don’t want to give anything away. I will say that I loved the ending! It definitely left me with a smile on my face. I can’t wait for the next book in this series which will be Mr. bad boy cowboy himself, Garth Black, Jesse’s best friend. It should be a lot of fun to get inside his head.


Here are a few of my favorite lines from Near and Far:

“When it came to Jesse Walker, it was tight jeans or no jeans.”

“I don’t know much about these kinds of things,” Garth started, his voice a few notes quieter. “But it seems like you don’t fall out of love with someone because of their fuck ups. It seems like if you really love someone, you love them in spite of their fuck ups.”

“Promise me that when you’re done telling me what you need to, that we’ll be okay. Promise me nothing’s going to change between us. Promise me that, and I know I can deal with anything.”


“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.” Jesse’s eyes lightened with every word, his face a plane of confidence. “Will you marry me?”

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful book!!
I personally preferred book one, but I still enjoyed this one a lot :D

'Rowan Sterling had every last piece of me, and I didn't want any of them back.'

I fell completely in love with Jesse and Rowan in the first book and I could not wait to see them again.
Jesse is working his butt off on his family's ranch and Rowan has gone away to College, over 500 miles away. It's a complete understatement to say that being apart is hard on them both.

Being away from Rowan for weeks/months at a time hits Jesse so much harder than he expected. It broke my heart to see him struggling so damn badly. He's been such a wonderful, strong, inspirational man so far, so to see his past come back to haunt him was devastating. The tiny cracks in their relationship bought back all of the insecurities and feares that Jesse had fought so hard to overcome.

"But look at us now. You've moved on from your past, and I'm drowning in mine. And Rowen, mine's the kind that will take us both down if we let it."

No matter how deeply you love each other, how many relationships end because of long-distance? Not being close to each other can have such a huge negative effect on anyone...

'I didn't know how I was losing him, just that I was. Bit by tiny bit. If I lost Jesse Walker, I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep myself from the same fate.'

Anyhoo. I loved it and cannot wait to read more of the series :)

"I was made to love you."

[Nancy❤The❤Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~4.5 HEARTS~~

BR with Linda ~ Sassy, Classy && a Little Bit of Nasty

Wow! This book took me on a ride. It pulled all kinds of emotions out of me. I was happy, giddy, sad, shocked, mad, frustrated. This book had more drama and angst then Lost & Found. I didn't like where the book was heading at the beginning but it redeemed itself. I kinda felt like Rowen could have fought a little harder for their relationship when shit hit the fan. Jesse was still his sexy, caring, sweet self. You learn about Jesse's dark past. And boy let me tell you, be prepared because it's not pretty. Nobody should have to go thru what 5 year old Jesse had to endure. But instead of letting his past mold him to be what "statistic" said what he could become, he chose to mold himself into a fine respectable person with the help of The Walkers.



I love The Walkers and everything about them.



You also get more of Garth in this book and I love getting to know him a little better. He turns out to be a really great guy underneath that dark exterior. I can't wait to read the next book and hopefully see Garth get p-whipped by a girl.

[Akanksha❤ Søren♰]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! :D :D :D

Loving the cover and the blurb :D :D :D
Cannot wait for this book; I really loved the first one :D

There’s optimistic. And there’s Jesse Walker.

If he wasn’t so charming, his sunny disposition and incessant grin would get annoying. Fast.

Falling in love with the girl who had at first seemed immune to it, was the best thing to happen to Jesse since the Walkers adopted him into their family when he was five. But loving the girl who has her fair share of secrets is about as easy as that same girl loving the boy who seems to have none.

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

As push comes to shove and choices aren’t only needing to be made, but forced to be made, Jesse and Rowen have to face what their lives might look like without the other.

Can two people with such tragic pasts and different presents, go on to expect a promising future? Whatever the answer, they’ll need a lot more than love to make it.

[Julia's Book Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 Stars* cause of that anti-climactic ending.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes love was about compromise, and sometimes it was about sacrifice. Most times, it was a little of both...

Near and Far begins the journey of Jesse and Rowen after the bittersweet conclusion of Lost and Found. The are doing their best to handle their long distance relationship while Rowen is in Seattle at Art School and Jesse is at home on the ranch. After their life altering romance, they are still opposites but still very much in love.

I was hers, she was mine, we were each other's. It was powerful stuff that hit me in moments like that. I knew it was the kind of profoundness that would get me labeled as whipped sap, and I didn't give a damn.

I wouldn't let the self-destructive person I'd locked up months ago out of her cage, and would do everything in my power to make sure I never ran out of luck when it came to Jesse. Whatever came, whatever obstacles we faced, one thing was certain: he was there now. he chose to give his love to me, and that had left me forever changed, not matter what happened.

Her life at school includes some new character additions...some good like her crazy, outspoken room mate Alex and some not so good. The ranch has a new resident as well named Jolene. Oh Hell no! I hated her from the first introduction. So there are a few new people in the mix adding to the dynamics.

In the first book the Jesse and Garth situation was more like the Old West white cowboy hat and black cowboy hat in a show down of good vs. evil. Jesse is obviously the white hat wearing cowboy in all of his swoony positive goodness and Garth is the black hat with his jaded, sarcastic, dastardly ways.

Bad boy Garth is back in all of his obnoxious glory. He is freaking hilarious, but it is obvious he is deeper than he initially appears and he feels more than he lets on. I love that he and Jesse have tenuously mended fences in this book. Garth has a unique way of looking at the world and his own way of protecting those he cares about. The more I read about him, the more I like him and the more intrigued I am. I still want to know more about what happened with him and Josie in the past. He obviously has unresolved feelings and issues.

Jesse and Rowen are perfect together and their feelings are all consuming and run very deep. But distance, communication, and past demons threaten to intrude on their happiness. Life living apart is complicated and not as easy as being together on the ranch. As they feel themselves pulling apart, can they keep it together?

"I realized that our past never leaves us. We might think we've left it behind, but that's when it sneaks up and beats the hell out of you. Our past is always a part of us..."

The first book was really more about Rowen's journey from a bad place to a good one. This book really digs deeper into Jesse's past and his repressed issues. My heart hurt as Jesse struggled. And I found myself hoping that Rowen was strong enough to help Jesse just as he had helped her when she tangled with her own dark past.

"Fixed. Broken....I'll love you either way. Just the way you love me."

But when everything they know is tested, can they find their way out of the darkness together or will it ultimately break them apart?

This book exceeded all of my expectations and they were set pretty high. Immediately after reading an ARC of Lost and Found, I pmed Nicole and begged for a sequel for Rowen and Jesse and a book for Garth. She told me she had initially written it as a stand alone and was unsure at the time, but it was so obvious to me that these stories needed to be told. I guess others felt the same way and I am so glad she decided to continue the series. She delivered more than I ever imagined... more depth, more pain, more emotion, and more intensity from these characters. And twists, turns, and surprises...

As much as I love Jesse and Rowen happy, it is hard times that really define them and allow us to see down into their souls and what makes them tick. This series explored the places where their deepest fears and true essences lie. Jesse has so much more to him that we saw in the first book and it is not all good And we know of Rowen's darkness, but we see her light too. And best of all, we see the positive light in Garth Black. Yes, the foul-mouthed, self centered, egotistical Garth Black. He is such an important part of this story. I loved his interactions with Jesse and Rowen and that we got to see a depth were were not privy to before. And I know he has more to reveal and I cannot wait the next book featuring him. It is now a toss up for me on who is my fave: Jesse or Garth.

This book made me anxious, happy, sad, tearful, frustrated, broken hearted, cry like a big baby, and sigh with contentment at various times. My emotions were all over the place. Rowen and Jesse feel so deeply and I felt it all along with them. I was totally invested in this couple and the other characters. Nicole has created two people who on the surface appear to be opposites in every way, but have a connection and a powerful need that transcend their differences. And despite outward appearances, they have more in common than anyone would expect. These characters (Garth included) are not perfect. They have pasts that haunt them, they have flaws, and they make mistakes. But they also have caring and giving hearts. They strive to determine what is best for the other because with all of them, they look out for those that they care about sometimes to their own detriment. And that is true love, loyalty, and friendship.

A little Garth inspiration to get us ready for his book....

"...what are you going to do when you find a girl who's able to miraculously, see past the piece-of-shit facade you keep up?"~Jesse

"I'm going to run, Walker. And I'm not going to stop. Guys like me weren't made for settling down."~Garth

Thanks to Nicole Williams and AToMR tours for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Will be posted at Reviews by Tammy and Kim.

[Yvette ~ Nose Stuck in a Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m officially a huge fan of Jesse Walker. I loved him in Nicole Williams’ Lost & Found, where his irresistible charm and sunny disposition perfectly balanced the snarky and aloof persona of love interest, Rowen Sterling. The follow-up novel, Near & Far, conveys a darker side of Jesse, simmering just beneath the surface of his golden boy façade and threatening his relationship with Rowen. Unlike the first book in the series, Near & Far is told through dual narratives, switching between Rowen and Jesse as they cope with the struggles of a long-distance relationship. Readers are subjected to both protagonists’ vulnerabilities and insecurities, although it is Jesse’s horrific past that forces its way to the forefront of the story, with each shocking revelation being the emotional equivalent to a swift punch to the gut. The carefree cowboy from Lost & Found is nearly unrecognizable and I spent a good portion of the book eagerly awaiting his return.
If I have one complaint about this series, it’s that these two characters are so damn impressionable. It seems as though anyone and everyone has an opinion about Rowen and Jesse’s relationship and I wanted to yell at them to stop taking the unsolicited advice to heart. There is so much overanalyzing of every thought, action, or lack of action between both Rowen and Jesse that I was a nervous wreck, alternating between not wanting to reach the inevitable boiling point and wanting to get it over with. Both Rowen and Jesse have their fair share of psychological issues and Near & Far is a bombardment of drama from two different directions, transferring the characters’ fears into my mind and setting an overall tone of uncertainty. I soaked in the few moments of peace when the two were reunited, unsure when the next obstacle in their relationship would emerge.
Lost & Found is a sweet story in which two opposite individuals experience falling in love for the first time. My heart melted at Jesse’s conviction in his relationship with Rowen – a conviction that slowly unravels as his past comes back to haunt him in Near & Far. I was in tears upon learning some of Jesse’s closely guarded secrets, which are more destructive than I could have possibly imagined. There are many moments of heartache and despair but the ending more than makes up for them.
I love this series but I sincerely hope that Near & Far is the final book featuring Jesse and Rowen as the main protagonists. I honestly don’t think I could handle it if they’re inflicted with any more pain and suffering, especially knowing that nothing could top this ending. If Nicole Williams continues with Rowen and Jesse, I’d rather they appear in the background of Garth’s story. As much as I didn’t care for his character in Lost & Found, Garth redeemed himself in book two and I’d love to see him get his happily ever after.

[caren · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed the first book in this series, Lost & Found, mostly because: Jesse. Which is rare for me. It was predictable, and cliche. But at least it wasn't riddled with errors and mistakes like most New Adult books, for which I was thankful.

But let's get back to Jessee, okay? In the first book, he was sweet, swoony...and come on, hot cowboy? Yes, please. I mean...



Besides that epic cliffhanger (grr), I still would have picked up the second book no matter what for the promise of more Jesse, because Rowen was the big thing that killed the first book for me. I thought she was way over dramatic and whiny. But I have to say that in this one, Jesse was the one who bugged me the most. And I wasn't expecting that at all. The entire thing kind of felt like 250 pages of unnecessary everything. Really. I read romance to get to the actual romance part, not to read 225 pages of angst/drama/bullshit and only 20 pages of stuff I actually care about. Which is what I feel like I just suffered through.

Both characters claimed to be so in love after all their previous hiccups the previous summer, yet neither was being honest. All for the sake of protecting the other. Which we all know means protecting themselves. I am so not a fan of that. Add in the drama of a dude who wants Rowen, a girl who wants Jesse, Jesse's past and it just fell short. I was looking for less angst and more sweet. I was looking forward to actually liking Rowen, which I'll admit--she wasn't nearly as annoying this time around, but really, there's not much I can say that I didn't dislike except for maybe the return of the Walker family. Oh, and Garth and Josie (when are those two going to admit they love each other already?) and the additions of Alex (she was amazing) and Sid.

So overall, I'd say if you're going to read this series: stick with book one and don't continue. Just write your own epilogue, because this one was 250+ pages of the most dramatic, drawn out epilogue I've ever read.

[Aimen · Rating 5 out of 5]

How beautiful! I'm a mess here, you guys. That ending could not have been more perfect.

5 COWBOY LOVIN' PAINTED ON PANTS JESSE WALKER SWOOON-WORTHY STARS

My casting:

Jesse


Rowen


Review to come!

[Vilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Nicole Williams when I first met Jude and Lucy (Crash series). I fell in love with Jude Ryder for his intensity and his passion. And then I met Jesse . . . and I fell in love with him for his goodness and his heart. But what strikes me even now is how Nicole Williams is so adept at reaching inside of me -- heart in hand -- and with her words, clenching it with consuming uncertainty, breaking it in two at moments you feel like you can't even take it any more, and then infusing it with some kind of love, so special and potent that always seems to leave a permanent imprint. Her characters are just so special and unforgettable and with this sequel, Jesse, Rowen and even Garth, have solidified their mark. This was an amazing read with so much heartfelt emotion. No one does the chemistry of forevers quite like she does.

"Sometimes love was about compromise, and sometimes it was about sacrifice. Most times, it was a little of both."

At the end of Lost & Found, Rowen goes back to school and Jesse and her begin a new phase in their relationship, one that is threatened by feelings of uncertainty and loneliness, cultivated by the miles between them.

"I ached -- a deep, throbbing pain -- whenever we were apart."

But from the beginning, we are reminded of how deeply they love each other. Both of them have had pasts that could have been their permanent undoing, but instead, they each chose to have the courage to turn their life around. And for Rowen, she couldn't have done it without Jesse. Whereas Rowen had an affinity for pessimism, Jesse was all goodness and optimism, and it was him who showed Rowen that she was more than good enough. It was heartwarming to see the transformation in Rowen once again.

"Did Jesse and I make sense on paper? Probably not. Were Jesse and I about as different as two people could get? Probably. Was I worried? Hell to the no. What bound us together couldn't be seen or put into words. It was invisible. No word had been created for it. Fate, destiny, true love, soul mates were glorified, commercial terms that fell flat. I ascribed few words to what we shared, but one word I could, one word I felt the moment his fingers laced through mine, and that was... eternal."

I loved that about this book (and once again, all NW books), the connection between our hero and heroine is this beautiful, intense, soul-deep forever kind of connection. And I totally feel it. They are so meant to be, you can't even begin to entertain the notion of them not being together. And Jesse, well, other than being the world's best, most honest and kind cowboy ever, is heart-meltingly romantic in this book.

"Let me get it on record that I am -- one hundred and twenty percent of the time -- putty in Rowen Sterling's hands. No matter what she does, or what facial expression she makes or what words she chooses, my steady state around her is putty, pliable, gooey putty. I never thought I'd be so damn happy to be a glorified form of Play-Doh in a girl's hands."

But as insecurities intensify both at the ranch and at school, the most dangerous threats are taking shape inside themselves. Jesse is warring with the ghosts of his past. The haunting memories which had lain dormant, suddenly had been aroused and were tearing him apart. My heart really hurt for Jesse, because it seemed like all this bad stuff was just consuming him bit by bit, one day at a time. It was shadowing that brightness he always seemed to emanate. And for someone so good to be struggling with stuff that is just so bad, well, it was heartbreaking to watch. Learning more about his past was crushing to read, really and truly horrendous. But I appreciated his goodness and his beauty so much more for it.

"I simply couldn't admit all that I was struggling with: the ghosts of my past, my fears of one day not being enough for Rowen -- would she outgrow me? ... insecurity, after insecurity, fear after fear. The obstacles were so thick around me, I hadn't been able to move -- to breathe -- in weeks. Nothing came easy anymore. Everything was a struggle."

Rowen, too, is working through self-doubts of not being good enough for Jesse. And as her art begins to garner more attention, it begins to take time away from spending time with Jesse . . . times which seem to be rejuvenating for the relationship. With more time apart, all that bad stuff inside begins to thrive and consume.

Some surprising twists happen that have the whole situation escalating to an all-time high and their love is put to a painful test.

“A woman like her was every man’s dream. A woman who couldn’t be shaken and would stand shoulder to shoulder in the face of a storm. I’d found that kind of woman and, beyond all belief, she loved me. And I had to let her go.”

In the end, we do get a happy ending and frankly, their troubles were almost necessary for them to come to some realizations and make some decisions about their future. And let me tell you who was of vital importance in this story... our favorite bad boy cowboy Garth Black. I LOVED GARTH BLACK. With his unrelenting proclivity for cursing, he actually delivers some of the book's most poignant messages.

"You don't fall out of love with someone because of their fuck ups. It seems like if you really love someone, you love them in spite of their fuck ups."

I can't exactly pinpoint what makes this series so special. It's a combination of things... the connection I feel with the characters, the skillful writing, the engaging flow, the unique story, and even the well-developed character arcs... but regardless, it leaves me feeling completely happy. I love this series, I love Jesse Walker and I can't wait to read Garth's story, because I love me some of that bad boy too :)

"Win, lose, on top of the world, or at rock bottom... I'm with you, Rowen Sterling. To the very end."

For more reviews, connect with me: Vilma's Book Blog | Facebook | Twitter

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

**RATING CLARIFICATION :: 4.5 YUMMY COWBOY STARS**

Let me start off by saying that I LOVED this book, so much so that it kept me up until 3am to finish it. I couldn't put it down. I had to know how it all turned out. I will say that I LOVED LOVED book 1 Lost and Found, so I was a little nervous when I heard Nicole Williams was writing a sequel to Jesse and Rowen's story. While I was also excited to get more Jesse and Rowen, I was scared of what the author would put them through or if I wouldn't love the characters as much as in the first book. Well let me tell you I am so happy to say that this book was almost just as great as book 1. There is one spot towards around like the 30% where a new character is introduced and I will say that had this one character not been brought into the story this would've been a 5 star read for me. The reason for the small deduction is because I really didn't like how Jesse and Rowen handled this character/situation. The author made Jesse so oblivious and I felt that the Rowen from book 1 wouldn't have let Jesse get away with how he handled things. I realize that Rowen loves Jesse with all her heart but she made her look a little weak because Rowen kind of swept things under the rug just because Jesse would give her a look. To me in real life if my loved one was acting like Jesse was, I would for sure call him out on it. But enough about that, I just wanted to explain why this wasn't a 5 star read for me.

I loved the storyline of this book. Near and Far takes off right where Lost and Found ends. Rowen has left Montana to go to art school in Seattle and Jesse is still helping his family on the Ranch in Montana. This book shows how everyday life can really play havoc on a relationship that has that many miles in between each other. It shows how Jesse and Rowen struggle to keep their relationship strong when some outside forces are trying to tear them apart, but in the end Jesse and Rowen ended up being their own worst enemy. Rowen was still a fabulous female character. She has grown so much as a person, with Jesse help, that it was wonderful to read about. Jesse.....well he is still one of my favorite Book Cowboys!!!!! He was still very swoon worthy in this book, even with that small section, that I wasn't happy with him. Another great thing about this book was we got to see some reoccurring characters, like Garth, Josie, Rose and Neil. I felt Rosie and Neil are amazing parents, they were there when Jesse needed them and gave some really great advice, to help him through things he was working on in his head. Josie was her same old self in this book, except she was a little oblivious also when that new character comes into play. I kind of wanted to smack her and say Wake Up!!!!! Then we have Garth.....I fell in love with Garth in Lost and Found and this book just solidified those feelings. He was amazing in this story. He made me laugh, but I was also in awe of his character. Who knew he would turn out to be such a great support for Rowen and Jesse. The advice he gave them two was astounding. I was also really glad to see that his friendship with Jesse was repaired in this book. I can't wait to read his story next, I am hoping he gets his HEA.

Near and Far also introduced us to 4 new characters...Alex (Rowen's Roommate), Jax (Rowen's TA/art friend), Jolene (summer help on the ranch) and Mar (homeless woman Rowen befriends). I'm really not going to say a whole lot about these characters, because I think it would give to much information to the storyline away. Just know that the ONLY character I liked was Alex. She was hysterical. I loved her and Rowen's banter. Plus she was also a great support to Rowen throughout the book when it came to Jesse. The other three characters I couldn't stand. I understand they were all pivotal to the storyline but I wanted to drop kick each one of them in this story. I will say that I was quite proud of myself, because Ms. Wiliams put a little twist in this book regarding one of the new characters that you don't see coming, but I actually guessed what it was before it was revealed. I love when that happens.

I would DEFINITELY recommend this book/series to anyone looking for a great love story with a very sexy cowboy. This book had all the makings of a 5 star read for me. It evoked so many different emotions from me, I laughed, I smiled, I swooned, I was angry, and I cried, I love when a book opens up all those different emotions. If only that small section of the story had been left out. My only other negative about this book would've been that I wish it had an epilogue, just a small little chapter maybe set a couple years down the road. Just to finish Jesse and Rowen's story. Well maybe we get that information in Garth's book.


Favorite Lines :

Sometimes love was about compromise, and sometimes it was about sacrifice. Most times, it was a little bit of both.....Jesse

"For you, I'm a weak, weak man. I'm so weak for you that you could break me with one word. You could end me with one look. You could ruin me with one touch.".....Jesse

I wasn't losing myself to him; I was finding myself in him.....Rowen

"Part of loving someone is letting them do their own thing and trusting them. And part of loving someone is protecting them from the dark places and people."....Garth

"Win, lose, on top of the world, or at the bottom.....I'm with you, Rowen Sterling. To the very end.".....Jesse

"That was just one bad day out of thousands of good ones you've lived, Jesse. One weak day to countless days of strength. Don't let one day set the backdrop for the rest of your life.".....Rose ( Jesse's Mom )

"I don't know much about these kinds of things, but it seems like you don't fall out of love with someone because of their fuck ups. It seems like if you really love someone, you love them in spite of their fuck ups.".....Garth




*Reviewer for www.bookbitchesblog.com*

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

"No se mucho de estas cosas, pero creo que cuando amas a alguien por encima de todo, lo amas hasta con sus meteduras de pata."

AMÉ LOCAMENTE ESTE LIBRO. Lo ame con rabia, con dolor y con mucho, mucho cariño.
Maldición, Nicole, una vez más me hiciste enfurecer, reír, amar y llorar.. mucho.



Bueno, volvemos a la preciosa relación de Rowen y Jesse, que fue muy intensa y llena de inseguridades en el primer libro, pero culmino en un precioso amor.

Ahora ambos están lidiando con lo que la distancia y nuevas personas llegando a su vidas están haciendo en su relación, pero no hay duda para ninguno de los dos que están locamente enamorados el uno del otro.



Pero entonces comienzan los problemas después de que Rowen va por unas vacaciones cortas al rancho de los Walkers (donde nos encontramos con una muy desagradable sorpresa, ugh). Después de su corta estancia y de haber aprovechado estar al lado de Jesse esos días, sus inseguridades y temores comienzan, y por otro lado, Jesse comienza a ahogarse en su oscuro pasado y no quiere arrastrar a nadie con él.

No saben la mierda que llore con el pasado de Jesse.. mi bebé, mi pobre bebé.. no puedo creer que sea esta hombre amable, bueno, encantador y tan perfecto que es ahora.. y lo amo tanto por haber superado tantisimo.



Oh, y bueno, joder, el egoismo de Rowen sobrepasa barreras, muchas veces quise abofetearla, porque ¡maldición! tienes al jodido hombre mas impresionante y atento del mundo, y tú simplemente le das mas prioridad a tu trabajo y vida que a tu novio, cuando él conduce unas malditas y jodidas ocho horas cuando puede solo para verte, ¡QUIZÁS SE MEREZCA EL MISMO TRATO, JODER!



Y a pesar de eso, Rowen no hizo nada malo tampoco (la sigo adoroando), además de no compartir con Jesse sus inseguridades o sus mierdas, de todas maneras, Jesse también se encerró un poco respecto a su pasado.. pero lo que sea.

Ahora hablando un poco más de los personajes secundarios. ¡Garth! El hombre mas divino, sexy (además de Jesse) y jodidamente idiota que he conocido en mi vida, como lo amo por favor, COMO LO AMO. Es uno de esos personajes secundarios que dejan marca en tu vida, que te hacer reír, amarlo, y saben como hacer reflexionar a esos cabezones que tenemos como protagonistas y además ayudan un poco a calmar la tensión del ambiente o.. a crearlo.

"Oh, tu debes de ser la Rowen de la que Jesse habla a todas horas."
"Esa soy yo, y no se nada de ti porque Jesse nunca me hablo de ti."
"Meeeow", soltó Garth y trató de ocultar una sonrisa.

Oh si, Garth es así, y lo amo. NECESITO SU LIBRO.



Y también hablemos de Josie. Oh por fa, chica, yo casi te odie en el primer libro solo por ser la ex de Jesse, pero cariño, eres lo mas lindo de la vida y una gran amiga para Rowen. Oh si.

¡Y nuevos personajes!

Alex, la compañera de piso de Rowen, me saco mas de una carcajada, la adoré. Es una locura con patas, aw.

Jax... oh por favor, es el T.A (tutor de arte) de Rowen y un jodido dolor en el culo, Dios, quise tantas veces darle una jodida bofetada.

Y por último, pero no menos importante pero si mas molesta: Jolene. Oh, la bonita rubia que trabaja ahora en la casa de los Walkers, ¿qué puedo decir? Quise tantas veces arrancarle el pelo y darle un par de bofetadas. ERA INSUFRIBLE. UGH. Como la odié a la perra esa. Perra. Cada vez que hablaba o hacía algo solo quería sacar su mierda a golpes.



Y por supuesto se hacía la jodida mosca muerta, pero a mi no me engañaba, conozco a zorras cuando las leo.



Y en fin, el final, oh el final, fue lo mas bonito que pudo haber escritor Nicole para un amor como es el de Rowen y Jesse. Un amor que consume, arde, no se apaga y no cae aun con los golpes que reciba.

Absolutamente LO AMÉ, así que sus merecidos 5/5. Porque lo amé, lo amé jodidamente, jodidamente demasiado.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

"For you, I'm a weak, weak man. I'm so weak for you that you could break me with one word. You could end me with one look. You could ruin me with one touch."

So we met this cowboy who has such a beautiful way with words and the purest and kindest of hearts in Lost & Found and now, we get the hance to get to know him and his story on a much deeper level. Just when I thought I couldn't fall harder for my dear philosopher-cowboy-with-a-hippie-heart Jesse Walker, hearing his POV this time around just made me fall so much deeper in love with him and made me more amazed with the man he became given his truly tragic past.


I didn't care how much I had to compromise or sacrifice to be with Rowen Sterling. I'd do whatever I could to make her happy. To let her live her dreams. To feel fulfilled. To recognize she was so damn special to me, I ached--a deep, throbbing pain--whenever we were apart.

She was sacred to me.

Yeah and just when I thought I've swooned enough over him in the first book, the first few pages of this book melted my heart to the core. I swear his love for Rowen is just so consuming and knows no bounds that you know that what they have is truly forever. But this time, he's the one in need of saving as his tragic past that he kept buried for so long suddenly reveals itself to him after all these years of moving past it. And believe me, Jesse's past was seriously one of the most twisted and painful back stories I've ever encountered. I think there even came a time when I couldn't stomach all the things that he suffered through as he enumerated some of them. +__+



Rowen Sterling has also come a long way from her former self-destructive and self-deprecating ways with the love and guidance of Jesse and his family. I really liked how she clearly has become more matured in this one and how she's hell bent on becoming the person Jesse was for her in the first book.


I knew that no matter what came at us, good or bad, we'd always figure out a way to weather it together. Smooth sailing and easy breezy wasn't our destiny. But we had one, and for me, that was enough.

But then of course, all hell still broke loose and Jesse's inner demons got the best of him, which in turn forced Rowen away. I think it's refreshing that what they were up against were their inner issues and not outside people and the temptation to cheat because believe me, both temptations were present in Jesse and Rowen's lives. Thank goodness their love was much stronger than that and thank heavens for... Garth Black. Yep, he's pretty much the hero in this story and was the main trigger in fixing the all the bad shit between Jesse and Rowen.

I did have some slight qualms with the believability factor of some aspects of the story because for the longest time, I really loved the fact that it was so grounded and well... believably real. But then some parts turned into like some episode of a CW series. But nevertheless, all in all, the story was still came together beautifully. There were still a lot of funny moments and that ending was just so sweet that makes me want to demand for an epilogue because I need more of their happy ever after ♥

P.S. So with all the build up on his part and how he's basically the main reason that Jesse and Rowen finally came to their senses and got back together, I think it's safe to assume that our resident misfit badboy Garth Black is getting his own book? I swear I could've given him a standing ovation with all the work he put into talking a whole lot of sense to both Jesse and Rowen, especially with Jesse. And thanks to this book, my previous suspicions that he was really in love with Josie seems to be just about right and that Josie actually feels the same way for him.

Needless to say, I am sure to await his own book because he's just one remarkable fella underneath all that cocky and snarky asshole-ish ways of his. Bravo, Garth Black, bravo!!!

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog.

Overall rating : 3.5/5

Earlier this year, I read and enjoyed Nicole Williams' Lost and Found and while I was satisfied with the ending of the book and did not think a sequel was necessary, I was still excited to hear that Near and Far was a continuation of the first book because I could not wait to go back to swooning and fan-girling over Jesse!

I really liked Rowen as a main character in the previous book. She was troubled, but she had a passion for art that made her a genuine character with depth. I was glad to finally see Rowen letting go of her troubled past and focusing on her passion instead. I loved how driven she was and her enthusiasm for art really shined through her voice. There were times in this book where I was frustrated with her, more specifically, when she began to hide important things about her life from Jesse, but she did it because she was afraid of hurting Jesse. Still, I didn't think that was an OK reason for her to hurt poor Jesse. (I might be a little biased here, because I do have a giant crush on Jesse!) I feel like devoting this entire review to Jesse! He was so unlike any NA love interests who are usually bad boys/man-whores. Jesse was a genuinely a sweet guy with this big heart. I couldn't help but fall in love with him even more in this book. He too had a terrible past, but he never let that affect the kind of person he was in the first book. In Near and Far though, his demons started to make an appearance and watching him battle these demons just broke my heart. By the end, Jesse had truly undergone some growth and he was better than ever. I was a little sad that Jesse's family didn't make that big of an appearance, but I was pretty surprised by the big role, Garth, the jerk from book one, played. We also got two new characters, Jax and Jolene, who were meant to incite jealousy in Jesse and Rowen respectively, but I honestly didn't care much for them and didn't think they were necessary to the story.

While Lost and Found focused on Rowen's healing and character growth, Near and Far concentrated more on the hardships faced by a couple in a long distance relationship. Nicole Williams did a good job at depicting the ups and downs of such a relationship and I thought she did it in a genuine way. The romance between Jesse and Rowen was as sweet as it was in book one and I enjoyed the cute moments they shared together. While I didn't love the characters of Jax and Jolene in Jesse and Rowen's relationship, I did like the way the couple handled the whole situation without feeling any envy despite knowing that Jax and Jolene were playing their moves on their significant others. Jesse and Rowen had eyes only for themselves. While the romance was great, my favorite relationship was the surprising friendship between Garth and Jesse. I loved their bromance more than the actual romance in the book. Garth, while an ill-mannered jerk, has some redeeming qualities too. I adored the advice that he gave Jesse throughout the book and how he stood by his best friend no matter what. I'm hoping that Nicole Williams gives him his own story because I grew to love him in Near and Far. While I didn't love this one more than Lost and Found, I enjoyed Nicole Williams' writing as much as in the first book. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from her.

While Near and Far had a darker tone and more angst than Lost and Found, it was a great addition to the series. If you enjoyed the first book, then I'm sure you'll enjoy this one as well. Well-fleshed out characters, a sweet romance and a fabulous bromance, Near and Far was an addictive book that will appeal to fans of New Adult.

[Sarah 'Oh how I LOVE a bad boy xx' · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was SO EXCITED when I realised this book was out ?!!

It just kind of crept up on me....I'd forgotten it was due for release ?

I was literally *jumping up and down on my bed * as I one-clicked !!!!

SO.... WHY do i feel a bit deflated ?? :-(

Don't get me wrong....this was a GREAT book ( in normal Nicole Williams style)....

BUT...it was so NOT what I'd been waiting for, when I begged for MORE of the incredible, headstrong Rowen Sterling and her *SWOONWORTHY* cowboy Jesse Walker !!❤

I was desperate to see them make a future together....for MORE if the fabulous banter... for MORE of the *heart melting* sweetness and SEXINESS....for MORE if that undeniable strength and feistiness.... For MORE Jesse and Rowen ❤❤

YES, I knew there'd be hard times and some possible heartbreak, I knew it would be a battle to keep their LOVE strong, with the distance and college between them !?
I knew there would be obstacles put in their way ?

BUT....I KNEW Jesse and Rowen's love was STRONG ❤....and I was SO looking forward to that heart pounding, melting....*oh sigh* HEA !!!!❤❤❤❤

"One thing I'd learned the trial-and-error way ? I didn't care how much I had to compromise or sacrifice to be with Rowen Sterling. I'd do whatever I could to make her happy. To let her live her dreams. To feel fulfilled. To recognise she was so damn special to me, I ached~a deep, throbbing pain~whenever we were apart."

WOW....I wasn't expecting THAT ?!!!

Nicole Williams...you just about tore my heart out...threw it on the floor....stamped on it a bit... tried to pick the fragile thing back up...and attempted to *sticky tape* it back together !!!!

I just wanted to HOLD that cowboy and NEVER let him go...his past, absolutely killed me !!!!
I wanted to be Rowen's BEST friend... Eat 'Rocky Road' ice cream with her and keep her heart ❤safe xxxx

I ALMOST gave this book 3 stars.... ALMOST !!
And then I realised...It was STILL an incredible book ?? I STILL couldn't put it down !!!
I was STILL undeniably sucked in and gripped by EVERY word....

It STILL had lots of GREAT chemistry, LOADS of *laugh out loud* moments...especially when Garth Black was involved !!!
LOTS of sweet, tender, deep, heartfelt moments....especially when Garth Black was around !!!!! Who knew THAT bad cowboy could be SO SWEET ?? ❤

LOVING Garth Black xxx

BUT....I'm STILL waiting and NEEDING that Epilogue....an 'OH MY, THAT was just SO PERFECT and completely melted my satisfied Heart' HEA for Jesse and Rowen....❤❤❤

PLEEEEAAAASSSSEEE XXX

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even better than Lost and Found! Wow. This book was wow.

I wasnt a huge fan of Lost and Found. I liked Jesse a lot, Rowen grew on me. Garth, I didnt really care for. He was so brooding and assholish.

But this book. I truly liked it. Jesse has stayed on the farm while Rowen is in college in Seattle. They travel back and forth at least once a month and so far so good.
Garth and Jesse have mended their friendship and I actually LOVE Garth. His is ridiculously funny! He really made this book, in my opinion.

Jesse and Rowen really love each other and are dedicated to making this work. They dont start out with trust issues, but when artsy T.A Jax is in the picture and new ranch helper girl Jolene is at the ranch and wants to sink her claws into Jesse, they both start to let doubts get to them.

As we learned in Lost and Found, Jesse was adopted by the Walker family at age 5. We know he had a less than stellar 5 years with his mom. What we dont know, but will learn in this book, is the type of life he lived with a monster of a mom for those 5 years. How he could ever end up the loveable positive Jesse is beyond me. His nightmares have started back up, but now they include Rowen, and he is scared to death. He becomes more withdrawn, things start to come up and they are unable to make some of their scheduled visits. Jesse is keeping all his demons and worries inside...
Rowen has her own insecurites. Jolene is hot on the trails of Jesse. And this girl has no shame! She flirts relentlessly with Jesse IN FRONT of Rowen! Skank much?? She's also applied for a internship that would take up the whole summer. The summer she already planned on spending at the ranch. The internship she never told Jesse she applied for. She's back to her logic of not being good enough...

Lots of stuff happens. Rowen makes a new friend, who she ends up wanting to cause bodily harm. Jax is a weasel. Garth is funny and is a true friend to Jesse (and Rowen). Jesse comes to his breaking point and makes a choice. Alex, Rowens roomie, is great. Wacky but great. The Walker family is steadfast strong in their love for Jesse.

Rowen and Jesse fall apart. I prayed they would come back together. After Jesse details his life for Rowen, I think as a reader, you fall in love with that guy as your wiping the tears off your face. Will some thinking and time apart do them some good?? This is a HEA, but you have to work for it.

Garth was great, that cowboy deserves his own book!

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicole Williams never ceases to amaze me with her writing. I mean she is like a mean writing machine and her stories always captivate me because there is so much emotion and raw realness to it that it grabs you and keeps you until the end. You may read her stories and say wow and some will say no but what impacts me the most when reading her stories is the raw emotions it invokes in me. I have to say I am loving the Lost and Found series and I am looking forward to Garth's book next.

In Near And Far we get to see Jesse and Rowan's story. If you have been following the series you know that Rowen came to the ranch because she had to prove to her mother she would stay out of trouble and become responsible. Instead what Rowen got at the ranch changed her life forever. She met Jesse sexy as sin Walker and his positive outlook on life. At first Rowen tried to stay away from Jesse but Jesse knew he wanted Rowen so he perused her and showed her she was worthy of love.

So now the summer is over and Rowen is off at college and Jesse is still on the ranch. They are determined to do the long distance relationship and stay together but even the best intentions are paved with bumps and down right holes in the road. As Rowen and Jesse try and navigate this neew bump in their road to love things change and people change and some people are hell bent on ruining them as a couple. Jesse and Rowen will have to fight like hell if they want to be together and stay together.

Will they be able to survive the long distance relationship? Will temptation tear them apart? Will they ever see there HEA? This is a must read if you are following along with the Lost and Found Series! Nicole all I have to say is that ending DAM I would have got on the Grey Hound Bus to! ;)