A novel about a shattered family, broken hearts, and healing love by Rachel Van Dyken, the number one New York Times bestselling author of Stealing Her.Coming out of a coma was one hell of a wake-up call. While I was in the dark, my estranged twin brother, Bridge, had replaced me in the company I owned and swept up my fiancée in the takeover. With my ruthless reputation, can I blame them for … reputation, can I blame them for falling in love? I have to look long and hard at where I’ve been and where I’m headed. Alone time? The universe has other plans.
Our family’s secluded Vermont cabin comes with a gorgeous—if at first, unwelcoming—surprise. She’s renter Keaton Westbrook, a social media superstar struggling with her own private grief. As a winter storm bears down, we’ve found something to keep us warm—an intimacy neither of us expected and both of us need.
After we say goodbye, what happens then? Keaton and I are longing to reconcile with our painful pasts. I can’t bear to do it without her. Is it too much to ask of fate to give us a second chance at life and love?
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5 tear-filled stars
By 20% in, i was already in the “feels” of this story. My heart was hammering and I knew I’d be crying be the end. How true was that feeling. So many times the words started to blur as tears formed. The emotional levels for both Julian and Keaton was high at all times. Boy, was this a doozy of a beautiful and emotion-filled love story. In my opinion, it’s one of Rachel Van Dyken’s BEST so far.
I was captivated with the Tennyson twins when I read Stealing Him. Though Julian spent all that time in a coma, we learned about the person he’d become through Bridge and Izzy’s eyes. He’d spent so many years trying to gain his father’s approval, that he lost himself and the person his mother would have been proud of. Now she’s gone and he’s no longer in a come, he’s realizing the life he was living was nothing worth praise. He lost his fiancée to his twin brother and he’s alone. Feeling sorry for himself and grieving the mother he didn’t spend enough time with.
He never would have expected to fall for a woman that just lost the love of her life. Both for some reason their shared grief actually helps them heal. They actually become a support system for the other and amidst all the pain and emptiness they’re dealing with, they find a love truer than they could have hoped for.
The tears just kept coming. But not all of them were filled with sorrow. In the end, my tears were tears of joy for the happily-ever-after that Bridge, Izzy, Julian and Keaton all found as they became the family they were meant to be.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**
Finding Him is the second book in the Covet series and while you don’t have to have read Stealing Her, it will help to put some things in perspective for you. What I can say about this one is I was drawn in from the beginning due to both main characters, but also due to the emotions it seemed to bring out in me.
Julian has recently woken up from a coma to find his whole world turned upside down. His twin brother has not only taken his place in the family business, but he has also fallen in love with Julian’s former fiancee. Couple that with another personal blow and Julian is having trouble dealing. He heads off to the family cabin in Vermont for some downtime hoping that the peace and quiet will help him. Little did he expect to find someone at the cabin!
Keaton is also grieving. She’s recently lost her boyfriend to cancer and while it was an epic love story, losing him was as excruciating as she thought it would be. She has agreed to write a memoir about their love story and so the secluded cabin in Vermont seems like it will be the perfect location.
When Julian and Keaton first come face to face, it isn’t all sunshine and roses. They are both grieving and both are looking for solace and solitude, but in reality, finding one another might just be the best thing for them. The two connect on a level that others would not have been able to due to the experiences they’ve gone through. Being stuck in a snow storm for a couple of days helps to solidify their bond, however when they are able to go back to the city, will they ever see one another again?
I absolutely loved how both characters went about finding themselves again in this book. Just because you think you should do certain things doesn’t always mean that is the best thing for you. The pressures that they both were feeling from the outside also played into their healing which was interesting to see play out as well. I really enjoyed this book, and RVD brought it once again!
Title: Finding Him
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Genre: Contemporary romance
My rating: 5 Stars
Wow! Well, that was an emotional well-written read. What a great surprise Julian and Keaton were!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Truthfully, I knew anything Rachel Van Dyken, was going to be a hit, and this was. This story is about loss, regret, pain…and how to move on from that. Julian and Keaton bare two different kinds of pain and learn to navigate solely; till they find each other. Can Keaton and Julian put their pasts behind them, and explore their budding attraction? Find out yourself. You won’t be disappointed. Happy reading!
*I received this wonderful ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This story was absolutely perfect!! I have been waiting for Julian’s story because I knew it would be great!! I really just can’t put all the words together properly to express my love for this story. It’s the perfect mix of angst, sexual tension and humor.
Rachel Van Dyken has reminded us of why she will forever have a top spot in the book world with Finding Him. She proves once again that she was meant to share her love of story telling with the world. Julian is so selfless and doesn’t even realize how amazing he is because he is a broody alpha who is navigating finding his new normal after living such a crazy, demanding life. Keaton is perfect for him, but she is stuck in the past of her tragic, but beautiful first love. There is so much passion, heartache and hope woven in these pages you won’t be able to put this book down. If you aren’t changed by reading this, I would be shocked because the unique way this story was written is spectacular. RVD, this masterpiece will go down as one of the best books/ duets of all time and will forever be carved into my heart.
Tracey, Life Reads With Friends
I couldn’t wait to read Julian’s story. What a great conclusion to this series. Julian and Keaton, dealing with loss, find a way to help each other through the healing process. I absolutely loved their banter, it will definitely make you laugh out loud. Their chemistry is smoldering. Totally worth the read.
Oh my gosh, this book was everything!!!! I thought I loved the first book, Stealing Her, but I think this is my new favorite in the series. Finding Him was emotional, hot, and funny. I didn’t think I would like Julian very much but he had me hooked from the first page. I did cry a few times….gosh that first page!!! One of my absolute favorite quotes is in this book but I know I can’t post it yet since I did receive an advanced copy for an honest review. I enjoyed reading about Keaton, sometimes I wanted to shake her and be like..ahhh!!! Overall, I really great read from Rachel Van Dyken.
Amazing in every way. This book will make you cry and laugh a bit. Julian will make u want to just into this and wrap him up in your arms. Both of these 2 characters will touch your soul.
Finding Him is a sequel to Stealing Her. This book is about Julian and his journey after watching his twin brother marry his ex-fiancee. Julian is forced to take a vacation from the business and goes to the family cabin in the mountains. Little does he expect for the cabin to have been rented for a month to Keaton Westbrook, Instagram influencer and Hollywood royalty. These two are in a crazy situation when the power goes out and Julian is acting like a jerk. Keaton becomes injured and Julian has to help her until they are able to get off the mountain.
Keaton is writing a book about her love story with her first love, Noah. Now that she’s injured, Julian offers to help her by typing her story. She’s not ready to move on even though it’s been almost a year. As her story with Noah is told, her new story with Julian begins. Julian is still devastated over the loss of his mother. He relies on Keaton as much as she does on him.
I liked this story. It really shows a side of how people seem to care too much about what other’s think on social media, and how that shouldn’t keep you from living your life. This book was a little harder for me personally to get through, but that is only due to personal loss in my own life.
As always, Rachel knocked it out of the park with her story telling. I personally like the dynamics between the characters.
Finding Him continues where Stealing Her ended but this is Julian’s Story this time, as opposed to Bridge’s, his twin brother. I do believe you would have a greater understanding of what these men have been through if you have read the first book in the series, but the author does mention the history between them if you have yet to do so. I however, have really enjoyed reading both books and would urge you to do the same.
What I loved about this book is the change we see in Julian. What he has been through would be enough to shake anyone. His initial reactions to past events are understandable and after being told to take a break to reflect and recover, he meets Keaton who is actually going through a pretty tough time herself.
The attraction between Julian and Keaton when they meet is instant, yet they have so much that they both need to come to terms with before they can consider moving on in their lives. Both of them are grieving and because of who they are, every move that they make is scrutinised by the press and followers, which I know Keaton in particular struggled with.
I loved the way in which Julian cared for Keaton. Seeing him put someone else before himself was unexpected but as I said before Julian has transformed himself in this book and whereas I really disliked him in Stealing Her, my feelings towards him have also changed and I would without hesitation gladly hand over my heart to this new version of that man.
This book is quite emotional at times and I had to wipe the tears away on more than one occasion. There were a few laugh out loud moments and I smiled lots too. Finding Him earns 4.5 stars from me and a recommendation for you to read this.
I really adored the first book in this duet but this one I totally fell in love with. Julien wasn’t quite my favorite in the last book but by the end of it, I really wanted his HEA. And this one didn’t disappoint. Keaton is the most perfect person for Julien. Her story was heartbreaking. Their stories meshed together though, perfection. This story was sweet, romantic, emotional and beautifully written.
WOW! Rachel, you rocked this duet! I laughed, I cried, I cried some more, and I most importantly, fell in love with these characters. I really didn’t want to put this down! 5 amazing stars for this but it truly deserves more!
Meet Julian, trying to move on with his life after his coma, when he meets Keaton, he feels things differently for the first time in his life.
Read along and enjoy their story, I would say more but feel this one is best experienced as you read along!
Thank you Rachel Van Dyken for pouring your heart out in this story and giving them the best life ever!
I read an advanced copy for an honsest review.
Keaton is “America’s Sweetheart”. She is a social media celebrity, who has lost the “Love of her life” and with the public is still mourning. She has promised to write a book about their story and and has rented a secluded cabin to do it.
Julian has been paid back from Karma big time. After being in a coma, having his brother impersonate him and then marry his fiance (who he cheated on), his mother has just passed away. He just got to reconnect with her (parents were divorced). He is one breath away from “popping his cork”. His brother suggests he go to the old secluded family cabin to regroup.
Keaton and Julian both find themselves at the same cabin! A blizzard comes in and leaves them stuck with each other. They are literally at each other’s throats until an accident causes them to work together. They let down their walls a bit and let the other person in.
In some ways I thought this book was a love triangle. It was Julian, Keeton and the Ghost of her late boyfriend/the fans. It’s also a story about being brave enough to move forward for both of them.
Keeton has to decide what she truly wants. (Move forward or stay locked in the past) Julian has decide if he is ready to let go of all the anger he has been carrying.
This book has some nice surprises and was a satisfying read.
Four months after Julian Tennyson finally has awoken from his coma, he still struggles with how his world was turned upside down. Now, trying to deal with the aftermath and have a relationship with is twin again he decides to get away to his cabin to regroup. Sadly, renter, Keaton Westbrook, is already there and now they have to try and get along and cohabitate. Can they without killing each other? They are both trying to escape their personal emotional situations. Maybe they can find the healing they need within each other. “When I touch you, I don’t feel so alone.” Ugh, my heart! A beautiful story of two broken people trying to move on. Their banter and chemistry with each other is perfection. I wasn’t a fan of Julian in Catching Him until the end of that book so I’m glad we got to meet the real man and his story. We were introduced to Julian in Catching Him (covet series #1) which is his twin, Bridge’s story, but it is not necessary to read prior as this is a stand-alone. Told in dual POV
“Knowledge of pain is knowledge of life . . . it’s like cutting off your blood circulation, suddenly you feel nothing, you just watch the blood—life itself—leave a part of your body. The pain you feel later, the tiny prick of needles attacking your skin, is the side effect of healing, it must happen for healing to take place. The pain gives life, and one day, the pain . . . it will stop. Today . . . isn’t that day, princess.”
Have you read the first book in this series called Stealing Her? If you haven’t you need to go check that one out, not because you need it before you read this one, but because it’s a fantastic story. It’s so original in a world where a lot of books are versions of every other book. It’s not easy to find something so fresh, unique, and captivating.
“For one hour. I just want one hour where—” I stopped myself.
“Where what?”
“Would you believe me if I told you that you’re the eye of my storm? The calmest part of my life when everything around me is chaos?”
I had a little bit of a hard time getting invested and interested in Julian in the first book. I loved Bridge the moment I met him in Stealing Her. With Julian though, it took me getting to know him in this book to adore him as much as I did Bridge. These two brothers had so much healing to do, I’m glad that they did not give up on each other.
I hesitated then asked, “Why a kiss?”
His lips pressed into a smile. “Because it’s the only thing that exists in this universe that tells you everything without saying a word.”
Julian and Keaton were perfect for each other. I don’t think anyone else could have understood the other more than they did. One of my favorite things was how vulnerable Julian was, and having Rachel show us that from his POV. I think that helped us understand him so much more.
“And I would be sure to win that war. I just had to help her. And do something that I’d never been able to do in all of my years on this planet—make her fall in love with me.
And not fuck it up.
Make her fall in love with me.
And stay.”
Rachel delivers another book that had my full attention the moment I started it. These books are flat-out amazing. I hope you pick them up and fall in love with these brothers like I did.
“The power of the word depends on the presence of other words in the sentence, but nothing will ever be as powerful as a word. Nothing lasts forever and reveals more of itself over time as you mature—the written word does. These are Keaton Westbrook’s words. Some will hold power, some will take it away, but every single one will bleed with love. Because just like words—love lasts forever.”
I really liked reading about Julian. You get to see what he was thinking and everything that went on in his head as being the favorite brother. In finding him, he does just that. He finds himself and realizes he has become a better man. Keaton is just what he needed.
4.5 stars
After reading Stealing Her (spoilers for that book are coming so abort now if you have not read it!), I was so excited to get Julian Tennyson’s story! Julian awoke from a coma to find that his fiancee’ was now in love with his twin brother. And his twin also had been running the family company. And after one final loss, Julian is in a dark place and is encouraged to get away.
Keaton Westbrook is offspring to Hollywood elite and a social media influencer. But she had the ultimate love story that ended in tragedy. So she is sad, lonely, and grief-stricken. She is also overwhelmed by a deadline for the book she is supposed to be writing about it, so she needs peace and quiet.
When they both end up at the same cabin in a storm, sparks and barbs fly. The ruthless, moody, bad boy meets the goodie two shoes. But they are both broken and mourning in their own ways. And somehow find an unexpected way to connect. Neither of them usually let themselves be vulnerable and hide under their public images, but somehow they can see below the masks.
But their real lives are public and full of scrutiny. He is trying hard to be a new man, but he has made mistakes and has a reputation. She is stuck in limbo and the public does not want her to move on, even if she might be capable. They find it hard to break their connection. But being seen together could cause a media firestorm.
Can he only be a dirty little secret or will he ever be enough? Are they strong enough to let go of their pasts and face a new beginning together?
This is Julian’s story of forgiveness, growth, self-awareness, and redemption. I honestly really liked him in this one. We see more of his hidden heart and pain that he used to keep buried and it makes him a much more relatable character. I actually sympathized with him often. I enjoyed more with his brother, Bridge, and Izzy and their ongoing reconciliation. And Keaton was a media star and was pressured to follow standards and expectations. The situation was complicated, and they both had challenges to their healing. But I was rooting for Julian to win this one and find his little bit of happiness.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review
As usual Rachel Van Dyken pulled me in quickly and didn’t let go until the end of the book. It was an emotional ride with both Keaton and Julian. They each had traumatic events in their lives that they were dealing with and they helped each other pull themselves out of it. Book had some humor, tears, and steamy parts with a great ending.
This book was everything! Their love was everything! I devoured every second of the story. In all honesty I was very emotional, I’ve been sad, I have cried, I have laughed and I cheered for them. It was the perfect story for Julian and Keaton, the ending they deserved. I couldn’t wish better outcome for them.
They met, although somewhat inconveniently, each grieving their personal loss. What they haven’t expected was to find themselves snowed in and feel attracted to one another.
Keaton was supposed to write book about the loss of her first love but she couldn’t …..due to her broken heart and due to frost bite. When Julian offered his typing skills she was finally able to tell her story to slowly let go.
Unknowing, though their past entwined and they both could go through the grieve together while working chapter after chapter. He’s changed, he promised to become the one person who would made his late mother proud. She’s tried to avoid the influence of social media but it was hard to read the negative comments. One step forward, two steps back.
What they haven’t meant was to fall in love or were they destined for it to happen?
There are no other words except I immediately fell in love with both characters and absolutely adored the whole story.
Julian Tennyson wakes up from a coma to find that he had lost everything that mattered to him and he just wants to be alone. But when Julian arrives at his family’s cabin for a short vacation, he finds out the beautiful Keaton Westbrook has rented the cabin and he wants her out. What happens when Julian and Keaton get snowed in together?
Finding Him is a heart-breaking, drama-filled and fun read