Blog Tour: Lost and Found by Nicole Williams.

Follow the rest of the tour here.

There’s complicated. And there’s Rowen Sterling.
After numbing pain for the past five years with boys, alcohol, and all-around apathy, she finds herself on a Greyhound bus to nowhere Montana the summer after she graduates high school. Her mom agreed to front the bill to Rowen’s dream art school only if Rowen proves she can work hard and stay out of trouble at Willow Springs Ranch. Cooking breakfast at the crack of dawn for a couple dozen ranch hands and mucking out horse stalls are the last things in the world Rowen wants to spend her summer doing.
Until Jesse Walker saunters into her life wearing a pair of painted-on jeans, a cowboy hat, and a grin that makes something in her chest she’d thought was frozen go boom-boom. Jesse’s like no one else, and certainly nothing like her. He’s the bright and shiny to her dark and jaded.
Rowen knows there’s no happily-ever-after for the golden boy and the rebel girl—happily-right-now is a stretch—so she tries to forget and ignore the boy who makes her feel things she’s not sure she’s ready to feel. But the more she pushes him away, the closer he seems to get. The more she convinces herself she doesn’t care, the harder she falls.
When her dark secrets refuse to stay locked behind the walls she’s kept up for years, Rowen realizes it’s not just everyone else she needs to be honest with. It’s herself.

Why?
I love Clash and Crash so I was looking forward to reading one of Nicole's stand alones!

First Impressions!
Rowen was not what I expected much more self-loathing and hesitant. Willow Springs Ranch was also not want I was expecting. I was thinking reform harsh ranch and Willow Springs was everything but! I could not put this book down!

What I loved:
Rowen- Rowen was such a conflicted character who really evolved during her time at Willow Springs. I liked how beneath it all she was simply just a misunderstood girl who had made a few bad decisions and been unlucky in the parent lottery. I loved how she slowly learnt that she needed to be honest with herself and that she deserved love and trust.  The gradual shift in her outlook in response to the kindness of the Walker family and Josie was realistic and exactly what Rowen needed.
Walker Family- I loved this family! The whole family were so welcoming and accepting from the start! Jesse, wow! Jesse was literally perfection, from his tight jeans, to his way with words to how perceptive he was to his surprise past! Rose was so maternal and loving towards Rowen straight away, I knew I'd love her! I liked how tactfully she approached Rowen's fashion choices, making it clear that she loved her style  and giving her the option of sticking with her clothes or changing for work hours. I did not get how she was ever friends with Rowen's mother but I loved how she adopted Rowen and really nurtured her over the summer. Lily was obviously excited for Rowen's arrival and I loved how that didn't really diminish when Rowen wasn't exactly what she expected! Rowen and Lily bonded so well, I loved how Lily brought out a sisterly side to Rowen with the makeovers and advice. I would love to read more about Lily! I also adored Hyacinth, Clementine and Nell who were all just as warm, welcoming and non-judgemental as the others!
Setting-  I loved the difference between Rowen's home of Portland and Willow Springs. It took her so far out of her comfort zone! I liked how 'small town' it was and how remote it felt.
Plot- I liked how the characters really drove the book forward. I loved all the situations Jesse and Rowen got in to and their subsequent interactions. I really enjoyed all the hidden plot points like Garth Black, Jesse's past and Rowen's mother. They all surprised me in their own way and moved the plot on well

What I didn't love as much:
Rowen's mum- I did not understand this character at all! She could not care less about Rowen's feelings and treated her so awfully I'm surprised she cared enough to send her away. I have no idea what made her friends with Rose who how on earth the friendship lasted so long! Awful woman!

I loved the setting and the characters. I just enjoyed pretty much everything in the whole of the book!

Giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you a Nicole Williams fan?
Can you recommend any other ranch setting books?
Much love!
Lettie
Xxx