He promised to never leave me. But when I needed him the most, that was exactly what he did… trying to forget the night he turned to his best friend in his darkest hour, only to find the young man who’d sworn to always have his back was turning his on Xander instead. Two thousand miles and fifteen years of building a new life in the quiet backcountry of the Rocky Mountains should have been enough to put the memory of Bennett Crawford out of his mind forever, but old wounds run deep and when Bennett suddenly reappears in his life as part of a wilderness expedition Xander is guiding, the scars he thought long healed break wide open.
I’d only ever wanted to protect Xander from getting hurt again. I never considered the one he needed protection from was me…
Bennett Crawford was faced with an impossible choice the night his best friend needed him.
He chose wrong.
As the only son of one of the wealthiest families in New England, he should have had the world at his feet, but losing his best friend at the tender age of fourteen changed everything. And even though Bennett’s managed to hide behind a mask of contentment as he takes his place at his father’s side in the family business, inside he’s searching for the piece of himself that’s been missing ever since Xander Reed walked out of his life. Bennett’s only saving grace is his work with a group of inner city kids, and when he’s given the chance to show the troubled teens that there’s a bigger world out there waiting for them if they just have the courage to reach for it, he takes it.
But when he steps off that bus for what was supposed to be a week of fun and adventure, he’s instantly returned to the past when he discovers their expedition guide is none other than the boy he let go so long ago. Only, the soft-hearted, insecure little boy Bennett once knew is gone, and in his place is a brooding, bitter man who isn’t interested in second chances.
People leave. I know that now and nothing Bennett has to say to me will change anything…
All Bennett wants is another chance to show Xander that friendship was only the beginning. But when a stubborn Xander refuses to even hear him out, Bennett realizes he’s going to need to fight dirty.
Because now that he’s found Xander again, he’s not letting him go a second time…
No Cliffhangers
more
This is the first book in the Twist of Fate series by this lovely author pair. The first story of four chance meetings that alter the fate of the men who happen to be the part of that encounter.
Lost and Found is about the second chance of Bennett and Xander.
.
Since they were five they were inseparable. They grew up together, they went on adventures together and they promised to never leave the other. But then… Fifteen years later when Bennett Crowford shows up with a bunch of big city teenagers for a wildlife hike in Colorado where Xander Reed happens to be the guide… well things turn really intense really quickly.
Xander still bares the scars of a night fifteen years ago and Bennett’s sudden reappearance throws him.
Bennett cannot beleive his eyes when he first sees his best friend after years. All he wants to do is patch things up and make up for the lost time.
How can two shattered souls reconnect? How can the unforgivable be forgiven? How can they move past their history to show seven kids the wonders of nature? Benett is in every way the goofball and sweet man who cares deeply for the kids he wants to help. Xander is a broken man, a little miserable and untrusting but he loves what he’s doing as a wildlife guide.
Aiden is a wonderful side character who sees what’s going on and tries to help… in his own way. And Lucky the sweet boy who seems as only a teenager who needs the hike to escape from the city but he becomes so much more!
This book was absolutely amazing!
Happy, sad, heartbreaking and funny! Such intense emotions through the whole book. The mistakes of the kids effect the adults they become and they need serious perspective to see clearly!
A truly lovely read! I already read it two times.
5+stars
Loved it!!
This book is about 2 young boys who lose themselves because of a death in their lives. They find each other again but their reunion wasn’t all shiny and rainbows but was hot!!
Their story is so heartfealt, touching, loving, emotional, hot.
I can’t wait to continue this series!!
Audiobook Review
This is book 1 in the Twist Of Fate series and each book can be listened to as a standalone.
This was a sweet hurt/comfort second chance romance.
A great start to a new series!
The characters are likeable, relatable, real and well fleshed out.
The relationship between Xander and Bennett was well developed and their reunion was handled well.
The storyline was interesting and tge writing was light and enjoyable.
Michael Dean’s narration was wholeheartedly perfect for this one.
He brought the characters to life and the steamy scenes were hot and passionate! His audio delivery was flawless as always.
This story just takes your heart and throws it around and around!
It’s like all the characters were put into a storm and came out needing someone to fix them. It is amazing that an author can have some many complex characters on one beginning story! They are necessary to the story. Without the friends and family there would be no story. This is what a story needs to be successful!
It’s no secret that Ms. Lennox and Ms. Kennedy are powerhouses in the MM genre. When you read what they create together, you see why!
This story definitely draws from the emotional compelling storylines that feel more like Ms. Kennedy’s strongest point, combined with Ms. Lennox’s natural comedic relief. The characters of Benny and Xander have so much connection, and you really feel for them in this story. They’ve obviously wanted each other since the very beginning but life has separated them for a good portion of their adult life. But the universe has given them a second chance, and it wasn’t without obstacles. I loved this so much! It’s compelling, it’s wholesome. The plot was on point. I honestly can’t find any complaints, which is rare! I highly recommend this story!
This book is longer than many I read but that just meant that I got deeper into the story! Xander and Bennett resist destiny as long as they can but their undeniable connection means they find their way to each other eventually. The longing and passion in this story is spectacular and secondary characters shine to make the depth of the story vivid and satisfying.
This second chance romance/friends to enemies to lovers was a whirlwind adventure set in the Colorado mountains. Xander and Bennett had a lot of their past to get over before they could start their new beginning. Happily they let go of their past and started their new beginning as a family. I love these two authors when they write separately however magic happens when they write together.
This was my first read by Lucy Lennox and I’m kicking myself for being under this rock for so long. Steamy AF and an emotional rollercoaster ride while these two men from two very different worlds learn to forgive and navigate their differences. Most of the book takes place will on a wilderness adventure so you don’t deal with all of the modern technology that you have interrupting today’s world so these two men have no choice but to connect on some level despite the hurt and pain of their past. I’m absolutely looking forward to more in this series and am already trying out the Made Marian series.
Even though first part of the book was a little slow going due to all the camping, I enjoyed getting to know all the teenagers as well as their chaperons. This was a romance with a measured tempo, many positive messages and approachable characters. There is a fair bit of angst till the moment Xander and Bennett figure out what happened in their past and actually talk to each other. Actually the most dramatic moment of the book happens right smack in the middle of it and then it’s happy, intimate, romantic and funny story. I was rather annoyed with Aiden, Bennett’s best friend, at the beginning but later I figured that his heart was in the right place but his help didn’t do much but ramp up the anger and jealousy in Xander.
This is friends to lovers story, class discrimination and finally standing up for oneself. I loved how everything turned out for both Xander and Bennett. I loved Lucky and how much he grew into himself. I recommend this book!
I was eagerly waiting for this book and let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Lucy Lennox and Sloane Kennedy make one heck of a team. You will cry, laugh, worry, and even get mad while reading it. At first you are so focused on Xander and his pain. But as the story unfolds you begin to feel for all the characters well except for two. One of which is hardly mentioned so it’s no big loss. I fell for all the boys here. Xander and Bennett were a given. But I didn’t count one the others carving their little nitch. I’m so glad we are getting Aiden’s story but forget Jake. That guy is hurting and hiding a lot. I loved this book so much. Time for me to stalk Sloane and Lucy so I can know when I’ll get my Aiden.