Lost and Found: Emi Lost & Found Series : Book One Paperback – March 24, 2011

4 STARS[First half is 3.5Second half is 4.5]This review will be short because I’m in a hurry to start the next book but first I need to say that the prequel is now a must-read before this first book. I’ll be honest, without having read the prequel first, there’s a very good chance I would’ve put down this book. You really do see how events that happened when Emi and Nate were younger impacted the decisions they made in this book so if you haven’t read it yet, just stop and go grab your FREE copy of Not Today, but Someday now.___________________________________________Lost and Found takes place nine years after the prequel. Both Emi and Nate are the closest of friends but they’re not together. They’re upholding a pact they made when they were younger – to be best friends and nothing more.The next part of the book was tough for me. I really did not like reading about Nate sleeping with other women and Emi dating others, but at the same time I understood. There’s plenty of sexual tension but with Emi drawing the line at becoming more than just friends, it made perfect sense for Nate to move on and not wait for something that might never come. Once again I must say that I’m so glad I read the prequel first or else if I walked into this book blindly I wouldn’t have understood why the two of them couldn’t be together.I really felt sorry for Nate. As this book is his story and told from his perspective, I got a first-hand glimpse at his thoughts and feelings and let me tell you, some of them are not pretty. It’s painful to see this gorgeous, wonderful, all-around great guy going through so many meaningless relationships, fully aware that his heart lies with Emi but never feeling worthy of her. He’s willing to take whatever he can get from her, and if the most is friendship, then so be it. She is just that important to him.“I consider my life without her. There is no color in that world. No beauty. No life at all.”As for Emi, I wasn’t really sure how to feel about her. My feelings were so mixed and it ranged from fury, frustration, sympathy, and a reluctant acceptance. She was letting one failed relationship in the past dictate what could be a bright and beautiful future with Nate and that made me both angry and sad. I mean, the two of them have been through so much together so why can’t they just be together?“We’ve been friends for nearly thirteen years. We’ve been there for each other through good and bad times. We’ve fought and we’ve made up, normally with out friendship getting even stronger. We never seem to get sick of each other. We’re miserable without one another. It’s like we’re already together…like we have been for a long time.”But thankfully, this part of their lives doesn’t continue forever and there is a point where both take a leap of faith and commit to a relationship. I have to say here that nothing felt rushed. Everything that happens occurs at a very natural, believable pace. This is Nate’s book, but in the second half, I also felt it was Emi’s as well. She grew up a lot and was willing to take charge, pursue, and work for their relationship, which felt long-overdue but nevertheless I couldn’t have been more ecstatic to see it happen. And so with them together, both their friendship and relationship truly blossomed.“One transcendent kissThat later makes lovers takeSoft breaths, holding hands”Now for the next part...I’ve read spoilers (just the appropriate amount) so I knew what was going to happen next. I’m the kind of reader who likes to know things ahead of time so I can prepare myself, and for me, it doesn’t lessen the emotional impact at all. But nothing I’ve read beforehand or seen ahead of time could’ve prepared me for the gigantic mountain that just crushed my heart with that last word on the last page. My face turned ashen and I couldn’t breathe but here I am, ready to move on and advance to book 2.

"Like ya, Nate.""Like ya, Em"I have reviewer's block. I literally just finished, and I just don't even know what to say! I want to scream. Loud! I want to read book 2 (it's probably going to keep me up all night), but I promised myself that I would try to review all my books before I start another. I'm dying over here! So, in case you didn't pick up on this yet, it's a cliffhanger! It's all good though because Time Stands Still (Emi Lost & Found #2) is out, and you can dive right in!Hmm... so how can I sum this up? I went into this book completely blind. I had no idea what I was in for, but I had heard "It's emotional, but it'll put you back together in the end." This book is about two best friends that have thoroughly friend-zoned themselves for many years. The first chapter is told in Emi's POV, so I knew right away that Emi had it bad for Nate. Nate was a little more complicated though. I wasn't sure what he wanted for much of the book. He was a little a lot frustrating at times. Total playboy. The rest of the book is told through his POV, which kind of surprised me! I was expecting alternating POV's after the first couple of chapters, but was pleasantly surprised when I kept reading and it was all Nate. I think I needed to see it from his POV so that I could get him, love him, and cherish him with Emi (even though he was pretty boneheaded at times)."I'm not a placeholder, Nate. I'm not the bookmark that waits for the next chapter of your life to come along. I'm a human being. I thought I was your friend."There were a few places in the book in which I was completely furious with Nate!! I decided that maybe they just shouldn't be together at one point. Nate was right in saying that Emi deserved better. She deserved for him to be better for her on multiple occasions. This is definitely a different kind of romance. Both characters have other relationships in the book. For much of the book Emi and Nate are just friends."I don't want to be the girl in the periphery. I want to be the one you always see."Needless to say, if you are a reader that likes instant gratification, this may not be the read for you. However, if you are like me and you relish slow, character building romances, I just struck gold! When I say 'slow' I don't mean that the book was slow -- for me anyway. I couldn't stop reading this one, and when I had to take a break, it was still on my mind. The way I see it -- the more build up, the more intense in the end. And it got better for both Nate and Emi in the end. So much better. All those little moments that broke my heart made everything so much sweeter. This next quote sums up my biggest fear though!"Everything was too easy. It's too perfect. Everything just coming together like this? Can you believe it?"No I couldn't believe it!! I was scared -- just like Emi. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I was just hoping it wasn't a very heavy shoe. That ending has left me feeling like it's going to be a pretty heavy shoe though. I can't be sure because I won't know until I start book two. I've been wallowing in my own misery through this whole review while sipping on my rum and coke. Yep, the stress made me skip the wine and jump straight to the liquor. I need to wrap this review up so I can dive into book two (before I lose my mind).P.S. I loved this book and am so, so impressed with the writing. It's slow to build but incredibly engaging. I can't wait to finish the series!5 Stars

OMG I am still blown away and I think I shall remain that way thank you very much Ms Otti I just become one of your biggest fan.I have read may book that was breathtaking but non has ever kept me that way for the entire book, (and series plus it gets better) I was thoroughly blow away good and proper. Every single page brought something new, new twist, turn, sweetness, love, just everything. Nothing that happened in this book I was expecting.The writing is what I really want to talk about. When I say exquisite I meant something flawlessly exquisite...truly. That and the character were the best thing about this book.Nate Nate Nate I love him he is so sweet, sexy, caring, and a wonderful friend and lover."Your the sexiest women I've ever know, Emi. In my wildest fantasies, you weren't this beautiful, this alluring."Miss Emily (Emi) Hennigan loved her too"Nate, please know I feel the same about you. You've always been my best friend... And I had a feeling you'd be a good lover , but I didn't know things could be like this"My EmiTheir story was not always so romantic they started as friends even thought they always deeply loved each other."My curiosity was piqued, but Nate and I were never going to be anything more than friends. He was hot but we had an arrangement"Their journey had so may ups and downs, at some points I just wanted to bang their heads together and tell them the wake up just see what is right in front of you.The start of this book have me a headache Because I tried to predict what was coming next and Nate was rising my blood pressure, once I gave up and lost myself truly in the story and characters, I had a better experience.Nate, I love that this book is from his POV because we get to understand him and why he did some of the things he did. (Still don't make it better or Ok I still did not like him at the start. but at least I understood this taught process and motivation)This review is all over the place because that is exactly how this book left me completely Shattered and scatters. The ending was something else altogether.Nate and Emi story is no fairy tale it's real with real devastating emotions. They make the wrong choices and decision, like the rest of us.Once you start this book you will not be able to put it down and when it's finished you will need to read the next one, IMMEDIATELY I just could not wait to find out what happens next.Please please please read this book it's AMAZING and so is the rest of the series.

In some respects, I felt the story was a little to drawn out, but then when you truly consider it, the story is frighteningly real. The characters are so engaging and you can't help but fall in love with them both and the supporting characters. A lot of support characters in romance books tend to be fleeting, wooden and a little pointless, but in these pages you really can feel the connections that they all have, and they feel very real and convincing, I truly adored this story, and I am already starting on the next one. The themes address are convincing and very true to how normal people would react, I know if I was emi, I would have reacted in exactly the same way. The progression between there friendship, the ending and rekindling, I will admit, made me cry. I thought how could such a glorious friendship break like that. The mark of a true story teller is making the reader fall in love, feel part of the story and cry out when it ends, and Lori is one such person. Thank you for sharing such a fantastic book with us. I'm off to read the next one.

I've had this book downloaded for a while but stupidly the cover put me off, lesson learnt - DO NOT judge a book by its cover!!!!I was drawn in immediately, I love a guy/girl friendship, who's the author trying to kid, you know they'll end up together - well not in this book - Nate and Emi are individually nightmares, there are so many twists and turns in their story, at times I felt sick, I've told the author that I think she part sadist, so many obstacles are put in this couples way it's unreal, I cried, screamed, gritted my teeth, I don't trust the author at all, she threw so many curveballs I was dizzy and then a CLIFFHANGER!!!!! However, that's what defines a 5 star read for me.I swung between loving and hating Nate & Emi, I've settled on, that I love & hate them in equal measure, I just hope the rest of the series makes up my mind for me because I'm definitely off to buy book 2.If you love roller-coaster rides of emotions and to expect the unexpected then I would highly recommend this book. 5 stars all the way 😃

At last, two very emotionally damaged people just about manage to accept their true feelings about one another after umpteen years of denial. Why didn't' Nate, who is loaded. just pay for them both to go to counselling so they could both understand what was holding them back from doing the painfully obvious. I was getting very frustrated with them both!!

I cant wait for the next book! This series just keeps me wanting more... with the will they? won't they? They definately should!I love how nate's character is developing, I love his protecting and caring nature towards Emi, which makes us forgive his womanizing ways.I can't wait for Emi to make the leap from friendship to more...It's certainly going to be a fascinating read.I dare anyone to start one of these books and not be hooked!