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Paradise Lost & Found
Falling hurts . . . even falling in love.
What happens if you meet the perfect person, in the perfect place, and then the holiday ends?
Paradise Lost & Found is the perfect beach read, exploring an LGBT romance set in a tropical paradise.
Honeymooning alone after being left at the altar, Adam Callaghan is hoping two weeks in a tropical paradise will clear his head and soothe the ache in his heart. But with the romantic setting weighing on him, Adam soon realises he’s made a mistake. He’s about to throw in the towel when fate—and a mix up with the hotel’s reservation system—brings him together with the charismatic Kip Carter, a guest at the resort for his sister’s destination wedding. Sparks fly, and as they enjoy the island together, bringing out the best in each other and exploring emotional baggage they’ve both tried to bury deep, Adam grapples with the possibility of letting himself move on. But with the clock ticking on their time together, what will become of their burgeoning romance once their two weeks are up?
If you’re looking for a ‘slow burn’ summer romance with ‘only one bed’, elements of fake dating, and idiots in love that will make you want to dip your toes into the ocean, then this is the book for you.
(Content warning for adult themes and mentions of depression / PTSD / dissociation.)
What happens if you meet the perfect person, in the perfect place, and then the holiday ends?
Paradise Lost & Found is the perfect beach read, exploring an LGBT romance set in a tropical paradise.
Honeymooning alone after being left at the altar, Adam Callaghan is hoping two weeks in a tropical paradise will clear his head and soothe the ache in his heart. But with the romantic setting weighing on him, Adam soon realises he’s made a mistake. He’s about to throw in the towel when fate—and a mix up with the hotel’s reservation system—brings him together with the charismatic Kip Carter, a guest at the resort for his sister’s destination wedding. Sparks fly, and as they enjoy the island together, bringing out the best in each other and exploring emotional baggage they’ve both tried to bury deep, Adam grapples with the possibility of letting himself move on. But with the clock ticking on their time together, what will become of their burgeoning romance once their two weeks are up?
If you’re looking for a ‘slow burn’ summer romance with ‘only one bed’, elements of fake dating, and idiots in love that will make you want to dip your toes into the ocean, then this is the book for you.
(Content warning for adult themes and mentions of depression / PTSD / dissociation.)
- GenresRomance
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2022
1 person is currently reading
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 8, 2022
For more of my reviews, check out my blog.
Paradise Lost & Found is a cute story, it really is. Adam has been left at the alter by Vanessa. Instead of losing money on the honeymoon, Adam goes on his own. While there he meets Kip, who is there for his sister’s wedding. There’s a whole debacle with a room — they end up sharing one — and well, they fall in love over the course of a two week vacation. It’s adorable. The premise is solid.
Unfortunately, think it could have used another pass by an editor before being published. The book clocks in at a little over 400 pages, which felt much, much longer while reading. Paradise Lost & Found is dual POV, which I normally like. However, each time the book changed POVs, there was a rehashing of what had just gone on. This was completely unnecessary and made the book much longer than it needed to be. There were also frequent UK-isms in the text, which was slightly jarring as both Adam and Kip were from the US. A few examples off the top of my head: cooling box = cooler, tin = can, whilst = while.
On the romance side of things, Adam and Kip were steamy together, with rock-solid chemistry. You couldn’t help but feel how attracted they were to each other. This part of the book was top-notch. But I do wish the steamy scenes had actually been steamy, instead there was a lot of vague references, and some fade-to-black.
Overall, Paradise Lost & Found is a cute book. Cute, but not something I’ll probably pick up again for a long while.
Paradise Lost & Found is a cute story, it really is. Adam has been left at the alter by Vanessa. Instead of losing money on the honeymoon, Adam goes on his own. While there he meets Kip, who is there for his sister’s wedding. There’s a whole debacle with a room — they end up sharing one — and well, they fall in love over the course of a two week vacation. It’s adorable. The premise is solid.
Unfortunately, think it could have used another pass by an editor before being published. The book clocks in at a little over 400 pages, which felt much, much longer while reading. Paradise Lost & Found is dual POV, which I normally like. However, each time the book changed POVs, there was a rehashing of what had just gone on. This was completely unnecessary and made the book much longer than it needed to be. There were also frequent UK-isms in the text, which was slightly jarring as both Adam and Kip were from the US. A few examples off the top of my head: cooling box = cooler, tin = can, whilst = while.
On the romance side of things, Adam and Kip were steamy together, with rock-solid chemistry. You couldn’t help but feel how attracted they were to each other. This part of the book was top-notch. But I do wish the steamy scenes had actually been steamy, instead there was a lot of vague references, and some fade-to-black.
Overall, Paradise Lost & Found is a cute book. Cute, but not something I’ll probably pick up again for a long while.
December 17, 2022
This is a great summery romance, I got hooked into Adam and Kip's story and found it an easy read. The main characters are well developed and the supporting cast are detailed enough that none feel flat.
The premise is that they meet by chance on an idyllic tropical island, where one has been jilted at the altar and the other is a guest at their sister's wedding. They end up spending two weeks getting to know each other and exploring the island.
This book has a nice lighthearted feel, but does touch on some heavier themes such as depression, anxiety and PTSD from trauma. I thought these were handled well and sensitively by the author within the context of the story.
This book is pretty long, so at times I did find the story dragged a little. I also found it annoying when the character perspective changed, it was often not signposted so I would suddenly find the story had gone back to a certain point and was now being told from another character's viewpoint. This spoiled the flow of the story at times, for me anyway, and also led to quite a bit of repetition. I am unsure if it was necessary to have so much told then re-told in the two perspectives? I think the story could have been told just as effectively with alternating perspectives, this would also reduce the length a bit.
There were some unfinished/unexplained things in the story which niggled at me and were never resolved. Kip had a blackout episode related to his PTSD - suggestion that his symptoms were getting worse then nothing else came of it. Also, what was the reason for his parents divorce and why does he feel responsible for it? No explanation given. We also don't find out why Adam's ex-fiancee's parents didnt like him - he seems to be wealthy and a lovely person as well as a successful businessman, so this seems strange. The backstory with his parents is also briefly mentioned but never filled out, so we have no idea why his mum travels all the time and is never home while his dad doesnt seem to be around at all. No idea why.
Lastly, there are several mentions of Kip's medication impacting his libido - yet he never has any issue with Adam. But we also don't get any action! There is great chemistry and build up, then the story cuts away - which is disappointing. I wanted more development and detail of the actual sexy times too.
Overall, this is a great read and a nice bit of escapism with some good chemistry and romance - definitely worth a look.
The premise is that they meet by chance on an idyllic tropical island, where one has been jilted at the altar and the other is a guest at their sister's wedding. They end up spending two weeks getting to know each other and exploring the island.
This book has a nice lighthearted feel, but does touch on some heavier themes such as depression, anxiety and PTSD from trauma. I thought these were handled well and sensitively by the author within the context of the story.
This book is pretty long, so at times I did find the story dragged a little. I also found it annoying when the character perspective changed, it was often not signposted so I would suddenly find the story had gone back to a certain point and was now being told from another character's viewpoint. This spoiled the flow of the story at times, for me anyway, and also led to quite a bit of repetition. I am unsure if it was necessary to have so much told then re-told in the two perspectives? I think the story could have been told just as effectively with alternating perspectives, this would also reduce the length a bit.
There were some unfinished/unexplained things in the story which niggled at me and were never resolved. Kip had a blackout episode related to his PTSD - suggestion that his symptoms were getting worse then nothing else came of it. Also, what was the reason for his parents divorce and why does he feel responsible for it? No explanation given. We also don't find out why Adam's ex-fiancee's parents didnt like him - he seems to be wealthy and a lovely person as well as a successful businessman, so this seems strange. The backstory with his parents is also briefly mentioned but never filled out, so we have no idea why his mum travels all the time and is never home while his dad doesnt seem to be around at all. No idea why.
Lastly, there are several mentions of Kip's medication impacting his libido - yet he never has any issue with Adam. But we also don't get any action! There is great chemistry and build up, then the story cuts away - which is disappointing. I wanted more development and detail of the actual sexy times too.
Overall, this is a great read and a nice bit of escapism with some good chemistry and romance - definitely worth a look.
September 6, 2022
Thanks so much to BookSirens for providing me with a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Paradise Lost & Found is about two men who meet on a tropical island after one of them decides to go on his honeymoon alone after being left at the altar, and the other is attending his sister’s wedding. They hit it off almost instantly and decide to spend the next two weeks enjoying one another’s company, whether that be as friends or something more, while they explore what the island has to offer. And while mostly light-hearted in nature, this book also has some more serious themes concerning topics such as PTSD and depression.
This was cute! I enjoyed the island holiday aspect of it a lot and the way the characters helped each other to heal from their respective traumas(?). It felt like a really cute summer romance read which honestly I wish I could have read sat on a beach because the vibes would have been fantastic.
I think the primary change I’d choose to make would be regarding the length. Paradise Lost & Found is over 400 pages, and it did drag a little for me about 60% of the way through (Maybe? It’s been a week since I finished but around there). That said, it did pick up again for me near the end after the time skip, when I was actually surprised by how much I liked seeing Adam and Kip interact in a different environment.
The characters were sweet (especially Adam - bless his soul) and I thought they worked really well as a couple. However, while I like a dual-POV romance just as much as the next person, in this book it became sort of repetitive. I think one hallmark of what makes a great dual-POV romance is being able to decide which scenes should come from which perspective as the author - the consideration given in any specific moment about which character’s point of view is going to have the best impact on the story? In this book, basically every time the perspective changed we got a complete recap of the previous scene(s) from the other MCs point of view. I understand really big moments being somewhat rehashed but it was just kind of tiring in this instance when I finished a chapter and knew I was about to spend the next few pages reading about exactly the same things as I had already read. These pages added no new developments to the story for the most part - hence that feeling of repetitiveness. I’m guessing this made up for a decent proportion of the 400 pages and is why I think the same story could have been told even better in more like 300 pages.
Paradise Lost & Found is about two men who meet on a tropical island after one of them decides to go on his honeymoon alone after being left at the altar, and the other is attending his sister’s wedding. They hit it off almost instantly and decide to spend the next two weeks enjoying one another’s company, whether that be as friends or something more, while they explore what the island has to offer. And while mostly light-hearted in nature, this book also has some more serious themes concerning topics such as PTSD and depression.
This was cute! I enjoyed the island holiday aspect of it a lot and the way the characters helped each other to heal from their respective traumas(?). It felt like a really cute summer romance read which honestly I wish I could have read sat on a beach because the vibes would have been fantastic.
I think the primary change I’d choose to make would be regarding the length. Paradise Lost & Found is over 400 pages, and it did drag a little for me about 60% of the way through (Maybe? It’s been a week since I finished but around there). That said, it did pick up again for me near the end after the time skip, when I was actually surprised by how much I liked seeing Adam and Kip interact in a different environment.
The characters were sweet (especially Adam - bless his soul) and I thought they worked really well as a couple. However, while I like a dual-POV romance just as much as the next person, in this book it became sort of repetitive. I think one hallmark of what makes a great dual-POV romance is being able to decide which scenes should come from which perspective as the author - the consideration given in any specific moment about which character’s point of view is going to have the best impact on the story? In this book, basically every time the perspective changed we got a complete recap of the previous scene(s) from the other MCs point of view. I understand really big moments being somewhat rehashed but it was just kind of tiring in this instance when I finished a chapter and knew I was about to spend the next few pages reading about exactly the same things as I had already read. These pages added no new developments to the story for the most part - hence that feeling of repetitiveness. I’m guessing this made up for a decent proportion of the 400 pages and is why I think the same story could have been told even better in more like 300 pages.
September 17, 2022
Get jilted, then find your true love on your 'honeymoon'
This is a lovely holiday romance from a debut author. The blurb tells you what you're getting but doesn't give any indication of how much warmth and affection and laughter there was between the two main characters, and how beautiful the island locations that contributed to their love story were.
Adam and Kip were meant to meet, meant to be together. The attraction was instant, their chemistry sizzling. Everything between the two men was comfortable and easy and natural, things neither had ever felt with another before. I loved them as a couple, so open, so touchy-feely, so sweet, so wonderful.
There were things that I would have liked more information about, in particular, parts of each of their backstories that concerned family members that were mentioned but not explained and things related to Kip's medication that were inconsistent.
As I said, the chemistry was off the charts but on page the sex was non-existent. Yes, they spent a lot of time in bed but it was so fade to black. There was a lot of kissing and cuddling and snuggling, which I thoroughly enjoy in books, but Jennifer left the details so vague that it was impossible to tell most of the time if they actually had sex and it was just odd and confusing.
Despite those points, it was a well-written book, impressive for a debut novel and the epilogues gave me the very happy ever after I needed for them. I would definitely read more by Jennifer Kingsley.
This is a lovely holiday romance from a debut author. The blurb tells you what you're getting but doesn't give any indication of how much warmth and affection and laughter there was between the two main characters, and how beautiful the island locations that contributed to their love story were.
Adam and Kip were meant to meet, meant to be together. The attraction was instant, their chemistry sizzling. Everything between the two men was comfortable and easy and natural, things neither had ever felt with another before. I loved them as a couple, so open, so touchy-feely, so sweet, so wonderful.
There were things that I would have liked more information about, in particular, parts of each of their backstories that concerned family members that were mentioned but not explained and things related to Kip's medication that were inconsistent.
As I said, the chemistry was off the charts but on page the sex was non-existent. Yes, they spent a lot of time in bed but it was so fade to black. There was a lot of kissing and cuddling and snuggling, which I thoroughly enjoy in books, but Jennifer left the details so vague that it was impossible to tell most of the time if they actually had sex and it was just odd and confusing.
Despite those points, it was a well-written book, impressive for a debut novel and the epilogues gave me the very happy ever after I needed for them. I would definitely read more by Jennifer Kingsley.
June 25, 2022
So, if I’d had the time I would probably have devoured this all in one go - I absolutely got sucked into Adam and Kip’s world, and I felt like I was on holiday right along with them!
The premise is that Adam gets left at the alter by his bride-to-be and decides not to let a good and paid for honeymoon go to waste. Immediately on arriving however, he realises it might be a mistake… until he meets Kip.
I adored each and every twist and turn this took, and during the sad part (and there is one, though to me it showed character realism and eventual development) I genuinely felt gutted for both of them and cheered when it got resolved!
The chemistry is probably one of the best parts of this, the whole thing leaping off the page and sizzling to boot, but the other part I personally liked was the representation and the fact that the characters ere realistically flawed and that this had actual effects on their personalities and decisions.
If you’re looking for a perfect beach read (or little slice of escapism) with plenty of hot romance with two great (and gorgeous sounding) guys, I totally recommend 💛
The premise is that Adam gets left at the alter by his bride-to-be and decides not to let a good and paid for honeymoon go to waste. Immediately on arriving however, he realises it might be a mistake… until he meets Kip.
I adored each and every twist and turn this took, and during the sad part (and there is one, though to me it showed character realism and eventual development) I genuinely felt gutted for both of them and cheered when it got resolved!
The chemistry is probably one of the best parts of this, the whole thing leaping off the page and sizzling to boot, but the other part I personally liked was the representation and the fact that the characters ere realistically flawed and that this had actual effects on their personalities and decisions.
If you’re looking for a perfect beach read (or little slice of escapism) with plenty of hot romance with two great (and gorgeous sounding) guys, I totally recommend 💛
September 3, 2022
A lovely romance; two adorable flawed MCs with alot of baggage meet by chance on an island paradise. Adam has decided to take advantage of his prepaid honeymoon after his fiancee ditched him at the altar; Kip's sister has come to the resort for her own destination wedding. The two wounded souls meet and connect. The sea and the stars being them together--though it takes some time and some issues on Adam's part to realize that they are meant for each other.
You really do root for the Kip and Adam--and it if it weren't for their chemistry, the book's length might have been a bigger problem than it is. It probably still could have used a good editor who could have tightened the plot and writing. It's probably about 25% too long. Still lots of cry-worthy moments and no painfully drawn out sex scenes (Thank You!). I would probably say this is a medium to low on the steam scale which worked for me. I do prefer MM romance where the emphasis is on the romance. Read this one for the feels--and escaping to an island paradise is also not a bad incentive.
You really do root for the Kip and Adam--and it if it weren't for their chemistry, the book's length might have been a bigger problem than it is. It probably still could have used a good editor who could have tightened the plot and writing. It's probably about 25% too long. Still lots of cry-worthy moments and no painfully drawn out sex scenes (Thank You!). I would probably say this is a medium to low on the steam scale which worked for me. I do prefer MM romance where the emphasis is on the romance. Read this one for the feels--and escaping to an island paradise is also not a bad incentive.
September 3, 2022
I loved the two MC's from the very start of this book. I loved how deeply Adam cares for people and how strong Kip is despite his past. I just wish them all the happiness. All the joy. They deserve it. ❤️❤️
Hear me out. I only had one issue with this book. ONE. Okay maybe two. But considering how many things there are that can turn me off from a book so easily, I think only two is pretty fantastic. It was fade to black, which I didn't love. But I know that's not everyone's jam. And the POVs were kinda weird. Like one chapter would be Adam's POV of a conversation, then the next chapter would be Kip living through that same period of time. Idk, I guess I just thought third person omniscient might've worked better than skipping around in time.
Hear me out. I only had one issue with this book. ONE. Okay maybe two. But considering how many things there are that can turn me off from a book so easily, I think only two is pretty fantastic. It was fade to black, which I didn't love. But I know that's not everyone's jam. And the POVs were kinda weird. Like one chapter would be Adam's POV of a conversation, then the next chapter would be Kip living through that same period of time. Idk, I guess I just thought third person omniscient might've worked better than skipping around in time.
September 16, 2022
Thank you to BookSirens for allowing me to read an ARC of "Paradise Lost and Found", written by Jennifer Knightley. It is being released today, September 15th, 2022. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Overall, I rated this novel a 4/5 stars!
The novel centers mainly around Adam, who has been recently left at the altar on his wedding day and is now treating himself to his honeymoon on his own - or so he thinks. When a hotel room mix-up goes awry, he finds himself rooming with the handsome Kip, who is there for two weeks to celebrate the wedding of his sister Becca, to Rob, her fiance' and soon-to-be husband.
This was really a sweet summer-y, slow-burn romance that has an LGBT theme to it. It is set on a tropical island which makes it a perfect end-of-summer read!
Overall, I rated this novel a 4/5 stars!
The novel centers mainly around Adam, who has been recently left at the altar on his wedding day and is now treating himself to his honeymoon on his own - or so he thinks. When a hotel room mix-up goes awry, he finds himself rooming with the handsome Kip, who is there for two weeks to celebrate the wedding of his sister Becca, to Rob, her fiance' and soon-to-be husband.
This was really a sweet summer-y, slow-burn romance that has an LGBT theme to it. It is set on a tropical island which makes it a perfect end-of-summer read!
August 25, 2022
This book was way better than I was expecting. It was a slowish burn relationship at the beginning and then it became really fast paced and I loved it. Adam and Kip were so sweet together and you really got to see some mental health issues that’s not usually brought into romance books, but the way the author showed that these characters really understood the turmoil that the other was going through and helped them through it in a way that helped instead of made things worse, was really refreshing. I really enjoyed this book, and I even found myself laughing out loud at it a few times. I highly recommend reading this book. Plus it has a happy ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2022
I loved this book so much!! Adam and Kip are so adorable it hurts. I chuckled, I cried, I fell in love with these two. Although I’m not afraid to admit it. Unlike someone… Thanks to BookSirens for a copy of this book to read/review for free.
September 5, 2022
I just could not stop reading this story. This book has some emotional highs and lows but they are well worth the ride. It is a little long but I still absolutely loved it.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
June 15, 2022
Top 5 favorite book for this year! If it’s ever released as a physical book then I’d buy it again just to re-read and have on my shelf.
July 26, 2022
omg i love them so much 🥺
July 18, 2022
CW: PTSD, depression, and dissociation
In this story, we join Adam Callaghan as he decides to honeymoon alone after being jilted on his wedding day. There, a chance encounter brings him together with Kip, who has traveled to the same tropical resort to celebrate his sister’s wedding. Their blossoming romance is set against a vibrant island backdrop as they get to know each other and share their vulnerabilities. However, with their vacation ending in two weeks, the two must decide if their new romance is only a fling or will lead to something more. The story includes well-loved tropes like sharing a bed, fake dating situations, and a slow burn romance.
Kip is honestly one of my favorite parts of the book. I loved how charismatic and playful he is, even if his playfulness is sometimes a mask for deeper issues. I also loved his chemistry with Adam. I enjoyed their interactions and thought their banter was both sweet and funny. I thought the couple’s commitment to being honest and open with one another was heartwarming and refreshing, as well.
Another aspect that I enjoyed was the disability representation. Adam has asthma and Kip has mental health issues as well as mobility issues from a past accident. Whenever these themes emerge in the narrative, they are handled with compassion and care. It certainly meant a lot to me to see these themes emerge in a queer narrative and get treated with such gentleness. We certainly need more of these kinds of stories.
Overall, I loved this story! It is a really enjoyable, heartwarming read. The book makes for a lovely beach read - the island itself feels bright and vivid - but it is also emotionally satisfying without feeling too heavy as the couple navigates the tougher emotional issues. Highly recommended!
In this story, we join Adam Callaghan as he decides to honeymoon alone after being jilted on his wedding day. There, a chance encounter brings him together with Kip, who has traveled to the same tropical resort to celebrate his sister’s wedding. Their blossoming romance is set against a vibrant island backdrop as they get to know each other and share their vulnerabilities. However, with their vacation ending in two weeks, the two must decide if their new romance is only a fling or will lead to something more. The story includes well-loved tropes like sharing a bed, fake dating situations, and a slow burn romance.
Kip is honestly one of my favorite parts of the book. I loved how charismatic and playful he is, even if his playfulness is sometimes a mask for deeper issues. I also loved his chemistry with Adam. I enjoyed their interactions and thought their banter was both sweet and funny. I thought the couple’s commitment to being honest and open with one another was heartwarming and refreshing, as well.
Another aspect that I enjoyed was the disability representation. Adam has asthma and Kip has mental health issues as well as mobility issues from a past accident. Whenever these themes emerge in the narrative, they are handled with compassion and care. It certainly meant a lot to me to see these themes emerge in a queer narrative and get treated with such gentleness. We certainly need more of these kinds of stories.
Overall, I loved this story! It is a really enjoyable, heartwarming read. The book makes for a lovely beach read - the island itself feels bright and vivid - but it is also emotionally satisfying without feeling too heavy as the couple navigates the tougher emotional issues. Highly recommended!
June 14, 2022
This is a really lovely summer romance. There's plenty of romantic clichés, but that was exactly what I was looking for. Kip and Adam are adorable and I was so jealous of their time at the resort. I can't wait to take this book on holiday and read it again by the sea!
May 20, 2022
Brilliant beach read and a really heartwarming romance.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews