Lost and Found: Twist of Fate, Book 1

**Possible Spoilers**Lost and Found is such a well-written book. The premise is not new, but the execution creates a story that is fresh and unique.I enjoyed the backstory that the authors created for Xander and Benny as quintessential boyhood best friends. You can feel their joy and excitement as, together, they discover the world as you watch through these young boy's eyes. Forever in each others' pocket and confident in the strength of their friendship, they are ill-equipped for the devious machinations of one father, and the heartrending loss of the other which, together, is the catalyst that destroys what should be a lifelong relationship.These authors take us through the beginning of the pain, devastation, and anger that is experienced at such a hard time in life and make it understandable to feel that way into adulthood still.The way they handle the loss of Xanders' father and subsequent final destruction of his and Benny's friendship is hard to read. As those circumstances color the way Xander views the world and relationships for fourteen years, I can picture the loneliness and pain he lives through as he tries to make a place for himself in the world. A place that will ensure that he will be able to protect himself from further emotional conflict. I experienced the gamut of emotions right along with him. The devastation and confusion from the loss of a parent are palpable, and the questions he had that accompany such a loss are unanswerable. The betrayal of someone who is supposed to always be there for him and with him through good times and bad, and the anger and bitterness that he feels for fourteen years, as a result, is, from an emotional standpoint, awful to read. The dismay he feels when he finally sees Benny again and knows that he still cares deeply for him had me anxious and unsure right along with him. There were so many emotions that forced me through the wringer. I just wanted to grab Xander and hug him till it was all better.Bennett is a lovable character. He is kind and generous and wants to make a difference in the world. His oh so human actions and reactions when he was a child are, in hindsight, understandable but no less devastating to both Xander and himself. Bennett is accepting of his role in the loss of Xander. He knows the wrong he has done and suffers from the pain of being unable to rectify the damage he caused. His issues with his upbringing played a major role in the decimation of their otherwise healthy relationship and the ongoing inability to be his own person caused me to project a bit of anger and disgust towards him. But as this is a normal human condition, I was patient. In the end, it was worth the wait. Through the author's words, I could feel the pride of accomplishment he felt as he leaped that final hurdle to becoming his own man.As the authors bring Xander past the pain of betrayal and into forgiveness, I found myself questioning how I would handle similar circumstances. Surely not with the grace of which Xander finally showed and the gratitude in Benny's reaction to it. They work hard to overcome the sins and pain of the past, and the outcome is beautiful, sweet and well deserved. The passion that tentatively came to their attention so many years ago morphed into an overwhelming drive to possess and be possessed by each other. Underlying these passions was the gentle foundation of abiding love.I could go on and on, and I guess I already have but the highs and lows are such that there are no right words to describe how this book made me feel.On to lighter notes...Lucky is a sweet and personable character that I would love to see get his own story, possibly with Calvin. With Sloan Kennedy's penchant for the long game, I can see this happening.Aiden's story should be interesting considering the snark and obnoxiousness he displayed in this book. Jake seems to be good fodder for the writing mill also. I'd like to know more about him. It's curious that they each had strong feelings for the main characters in this book.Aunt Lolly is just a good time. She is someone I would love to hang out with her, with clothes on of course, and just listen to her talk.Now, if anyone needed an example of "the best of both worlds," you have it here in this collaboration between Sloane Kennedy and Lucy Lennox.They bring their own unique perspectives to this beautiful tale of friendship lost and lasting love found. Lucy's sweetness pairs beautifully with Sloane's edginess. Sloane is not afraid to throw harshness at a character and then lead them back to happiness, bumps, bruises and all, while Lucy allows her characters to experience the unsavory and hard to deal with parts of life and then eases them back to a better, happier place to be.This first installment of the Twist of Fate Series is very well done, and I look forward to reading more from these authors, both together and apart.

I am giving this book a 4(5. It is a good book I will be looking for more by this author.

I loved this book so hard! My first disclaimer is that I am already a huge, gushing, sappy fan of Lucy Lennox. Every book/every couple in her Maid Marion series holds my heart. I have not, however, had the good fortune to have read a Sloane Kennedy book yet, despite owning several. Well, let me tell you that after reading Lost and Found, the books I do have are getting read right away. My second disclaimer, and testament to how much I love Lost and Found, is that I received an arc of this story but still paid for it the second I saw it was live on Amazon.There are so many awesome things about this story. Firstly, and most importantly, both MCs are wonderful, lovable guys. The beauty of the writing in this story is that despite the conflict they have to overcome, both men are likable from the get-go. Sometimes a story is written where the MC that was hurt comes off as a jerk and not really a sympathetic character. Other times, he's likable but the one who hurt him is less than desirable. In Lost and Found, I loved both Xander and Bennett immediately and throughout the whole story. Xander's anger toward Bennett is seen from page one, but despite his anger, it's easy to tell that it comes from a place of great hurt and my heart ached for him and I wanted to know what happened and I trusted that it was worthy of his emotions. And even though I knew that Bennett hurt Xander, his sweetness of person and remorse for the rift, shone through bright and clear and I couldn't help but love him and root for him while wondering what he did and knowing there must be more to the story as to why. Their reunion was hard won, and I loved that. There was no easy forgiveness because hormones controlled these men, or some other nonsense as happens in many stories. There was hesitation and resistance in order to guard broken hearts. But there was also persistence, true soul-mate love, and some wonderful secondary characters all combining to bring these two back together. So, I loved that they had to work for their HEA. I loved that both sides of the story were reasonable and understandable. Lost and Found had humor, depth, hotness, sincere and sweet love. I really couldn't be happier with it and I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the next story.The best way I can think to convey the sincerity with how much I loved this story, as well as Lucy Lennox's other stories, and I'm sure after this also Sloane Kennedy's stories, is to say, life has not been all that easy lately, but despite this, Lucy's books always manage to penetrate whatever life-funk I'm dealing with and take me to a happy, smiley, laugh out loud, heart-full-of-love place while I'm reading and for the rest of the day after. And that's really no easy feat considering. And that is the best way I know to honestly and fully express how much/why I loved Lost and Found.Did I fall in love? With both from the very start.Would I re-read? Absolutely! Over and over. Actually, I already have read it more than once :)Were there moments- sad, funny, sweet, fantasy fueling- that I replay? Oh yeah!Was it worth the money? I received this book for free as an arc, but I still paid full price for the final version to have on my Amazon bookshelf. I also plan to buy the paperback.

Enjoyed this book from start to finish, could not put it down. The chemistry between Bennett and Xander was off the chartLooking forward

Every single one of these books in this series has a fatal flaw. A horrible hero who does something awful to hurt the other for... reasons. Many many, often quite dumb, reasons. And then pays absolutely no price for it. Circumstances or life threatening yada yada conspire to usurp whatever grovel and apology is owed and I'm left feeling zero satisfaction and no vindication for the wronged party. I loathe that in books. This story was no different and the friend who was once more being in the middle and being a jerk making the wronged hero feel bad because he was hurt??? Yeah... that's a hard pass.Written well, and cohesive stories... just not my cuppa

Wow. From start to finish, this book kept me in my feelings. I loved the chemistry between out MMCs. Throughout the book we learn more about what happened on that fateful night all those years ago. These men finding their way back to each other really seemed believable and read really well. I'm hoping that in future books, we get to see more of them and the family they created. 4.75⭐️

Only by reading the summary of their story I got hooked.These reconnection plots are my favorites and Benny & Xander’s was nothing different.They are strong, they are successful and well defined men with their careers well established, but they could never ever get over the devastating sadness of the one heartbreaking night fifteen years ago when they simply lost each other.Forced, by a twist of fate, to coexist for a week, camping and navigating trails in the midst of the exuberant nature of Colorado, they will be forced to resolve their differences and recognize that the deep feeling that united them is still strong. And impossible to deny.Absolutely amazing book, very well written and full of emotion, as well as steam correctly balanced with sweetness.I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.

Such a sweet story that has friendship turning into something more before it’s crushed and lost. Heartache, disbelief and old grudges thankfully can’t keep them apart after they randomly meet again many yrs. later.

I libri M/M o F/F mi incuriosiscono, ma sono sempre causa nell'acquisto perché spesso sono scritti molto "a tirar via". Questo rappresenta una piacevole eccezione. È una bella storia, una "vera" storia, ben scritto e coinvolgente, insomma una lettura piacevole finalmente!

Lost & Found, book 1: see Xander and Bennett reunite after fifteen years apart. Childhood best friends, they shared much of their life growing up together closer than any best friends can be yet not be romantically involved. They virtually lived in each other pockets until the night Xander's father dies of a heart attack and everything that is held dear to them changes. Xander is taken in by his Aunt Lolly, and leaves believing Bennett willing cast him aside in his time of urgent need in favour of the wealthy lifestyle he'd been born into. Little does Xander know, Bennett is caught in a tangled web under the powerful influence of his cold and cruel father who coerces Bennett to turn his back on the one person he loves most in the world. The betrayal leaves Xander bitter and angry and completely devastated, and when they two men meet fifteen years later, there is a hellava lot of angry issues to sort out between them.As with all Sloane Kennedy books, she writes terrific troubled angst angry smoking hot Alpha men looking for some way to find love, acceptance and in this case forgiveness. Lucy Lennox is no slouch with writing strong alpha men who are looking for their forever soul mate either. The two talented authors together is simply sublime and this new series looks to be a cracker. Can't wait for Aiden's story, I don't doubt I'll be needing some Kleenex.