Name: Near & Far
ISBN: 9781940448015

Nicole Williams

**NEW YORK TIMES & USATODAY Bestselling Series** 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. *Recommended for mature readers due to moderate content and language.*

Near & Far

Lacey

Also posted at Booklovers For Life

Sigh. I just love Jesse. He’s my favorite nice boy/cowboy (okay, so he’s the only nice boy/cowboy I know, but whatevs). I had just finished reading book 1, Lost and Found, when luck would have it that Near and Far was released! I was so, so glad that Jesse and Rowen’s story wasn’t quite over yet. And I love that in Near and Far, we get alternating chapters of Rowen and Jesse’s POVs. WE GET TO BE IN JESSE WALKER’S HEAD!!! AHHH!!! *SWOONS*

Ahem, where was I… yes, so you can be sure that I was SO excited to be reading Lost and Found’s sequel, because I LOVED that book, and I needed more Jesse! And I knew that I wouldn’t wouldn’t be disappointed, because it’s Nicole Williams (whom I adore) and hello, Jesse! I am definitely not one to turn down a sweet and sexy cowboy. And while I can’t say that I LOVED Near and Far (at least as much as the first book), I absolutely enjoyed reading it and thought it was a great way to end Rowen and Jesse’s story.

So summer is over and Rowen has to leave the ranch and Jesse, and has to start college. Jesse is still working at the ranch, and rarely has time to visit Rowen, so they have to deal with having a long distance relationship. Throw in a TA who might have a thing for Rowen from her art class and a new working girl at the ranch who definitely has her eyes on Jesse, and the drama unfolds.

Most of the book is about the main couple dealing with their long distance relationship. It’s not easy. As much as they love each other, and they do, very much, time away from each other takes its toll on both of them. Both Jesse and Rowen become a little insecure about themselves and about their relationship. Neither of them thinks they are good enough for the other. They don’t see that they are perfect for each other, and their relationship gets a little strained. It was mostly because of this that I couldn’t put my full attention to Near and Far. It’s not that I was bored-more like the book just couldn’t hold my attention. And because of that, I couldn’t love the book fully.

The best thing about Near and Far, besides Jesse of course, is seeing how much love Jesse and Rowen have for each other. No matter how much their relationship gets battered, their love for each other is strong and unwavering. I was swooning so hard every time Jesse talked about Rowen, because you just know that that girl is everything to him. And the same goes for Rowen.

We never really got to read about Jesse’s past in full detail in Lost and Found, but it’s all out there in Near and Far. And it was horrendous. We finally find out the full extent of how neglected and abused Jesse was during his childhood, and my heart went out to him. But it just makes it all the more incredible that despite Jesse’s terrible upbringing, he has found the ability to love and is loved in return, and he has such a heart of gold. He tries to see the good in everyone even knowing that some people are so bad they are unredeemable.

The second best thing in the book was GARTH! I totally fell for this dark, bad boy, his sarcasm and his inner goodness. Because underneath his bad boy facade lies a good guy underneath. He cares about Jesse and Rowen, as much as he pretends he doesn’t, and I absolutely CANNOT WAIT for his book, Finders Keepers.

I loved the ending of Near and Far. It was so sweet and heartfelt, and even a bit sad since Rowen and Jesse’s story has come to its end. But I’m hoping we get to see glimpses of them in Garth’s book! I highly recommend reading this series, or anything by Nicole Williams. Her books are just fantastic, and never disappointing!

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