Review & Giveaway: Fight or Flight by Samantha Young

Fight or Flight by Samantha Young

Publication Date: October 9th 2018 by Berkley

Pages: 384

Purchase Links: 

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Nook | Books a Million |Indiebound | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play

A series of chance encounters leads to a sizzling new romance from the New York Times bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series.

The universe is conspiring against Ava Breevort. As if flying back to Phoenix to bury a childhood friend wasn't hell enough, a cloud of volcanic ash traveling from overseas delayed her flight back home to Boston. Her last ditch attempt to salvage the trip was thwarted by an arrogant Scotsman, Caleb Scott, who steals a first class seat out from under her. Then over the course of their journey home, their antagonism somehow lands them in bed for the steamiest layover Ava's ever had. And that's all it was--until Caleb shows up on her doorstep.

When pure chance pulls Ava back into Caleb's orbit, he proposes they enjoy their physical connection while he's stranded in Boston. Ava agrees, knowing her heart's in no danger since a) she barely likes Caleb and b) his existence in her life is temporary. Not long thereafter Ava realizes she's made a terrible error because as it turns out Caleb Scott isn't quite so unlikeable after all. When his stay in Boston becomes permanent, Ava must decide whether to fight her feelings for him or give into them. But even if she does decide to risk her heart on Caleb, there is no guarantee her stubborn Scot will want to risk his heart on her....

My Thoughts:

Caleb was such a total dick at the beginning and I seriously wanted to smack that guy at first! But there was a definite attraction from the start, in between the all loathing and murderous thoughts. Maybe these two would’ve parted ways just thinking “wow, that guy was a total ass” and “wow, that woman was a shallow, self-absorbed Barbie” but they were thrown together so much revealing the real person underneath all that bluster, changing their feelings of hate into desire.  Thinking they’ll only have one night they give in to the pull between them only to find out later their paths are not yet separating. 

Their encounter is out-of-this-world good, so when it’s apparent they’ll be around each other more, Caleb and Ava agree to “just sex”, which, of course, ends up leading more complex emotions.  Caleb continues to pretend to not want anything more, but his actions say something else entirely, and Ava can’t deny the intensity of her growing feelings.  Painful pasts make taking a chance difficult.  Ava’s is revealed early on, and boy could I sympathize! What shitty friends!   Caleb’s is revealed later on; partly because that’s how the story went, and partly because we don’t get his POV.  I really would’ve liked his POV included.

Caleb’s Scottish accent is written in the story and I have to say it was distraction and a bit annoying. I did finally just skim over those bits, and after a while it became easy to ignore.  Still, I highly recommend Fight or Flight!  It was a lot of fun, clever banter back and forth with plenty of sniping at first, and the irresistible attraction a-brewing was delightfully delicious!  

4 Suns

Connect with Samantha Young:

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Berkley has generously provided A Paperback Copy of Fight or Flight to one lucky reader.  Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Please fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win.  Good luck!

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young-Updated E-book Cover Reveal

I've loved the On Dublin Street series from the beginning so I'm excited to be able to share the new cover and the first chapter from Braden's POV! Yum! See below for his perspective, along with links to buy the book.  If you've never picked up the series you're missing out! Each book focuses on a new couple and all are addictive, funny, emotional, and super hot! 

Buy links:  

Kindle, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play

Also, COMING SOON by Samantha Young:

Can't wait to read what sounds like a fun antagonistic romance!

Pre-order links:

Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Nook, Indiebound, Books a Million, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play

Connect with Samantha Young:

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Review, Giveaway & Excerpt: On Hart's Boardwalk by Samantha Young

On Hart's Boardwalk (On Dublin Street #6.7, On Hart's Boardwalk #2.5) by Samantha Young

Publication Date: March 20th 2018 by Intermix

Purchase Links:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

One of New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young's most beloved couples returns for the first time in a brand new novella set ten years after her blockbuster bestseller Before Jamaica Lane ...

Nate and Liv have a great life together but they miss the spontaneity and freedom they enjoyed early on in their romance. Careers and their children have inevitably kept them busy, so when Nate discovers Liv is feeling disconnected from him, he plans an anniversary trip to the idyllic seaside town of Hartwell, Delaware. There he hopes they will have the opportunity they've been craving--a chance to reinvent themselves and fall in love all over again.

With each new day comes a new adventure, from wedding crashing at the five-star boardwalk hotel to pretending they are two strangers having a chance encounter at the boardwalk bar. In the midst of this daring, sexually-charged game of romantic rediscovery, Nate and Liv discover the only constant they need is each other.

My Thoughts:

Loved Nate and Olivia’s story in Before Jamaica Lane, so I was all over revisiting them ten years later with this novella.  Yet, Nate and Olivia, are at a point where they’re having some trouble.  I think most married people would agree, it isn’t all smooth sailing and there are ups and downs. It’s all in how you deal with and move on that makes all the difference. 

My heart hurt for Olivia as she struggled with loneliness, hurt and insecurity; I don’t think there’s a woman out there who wouldn’t relate on some level.  Olivia’s pain was vivid, and intense.  When you love someone so powerfully they have the ability to really hurt you, whether they mean to or not. I wasn’t sure what was up with Nate, but I wanted these two to get things squared away. 

A trip to the States, on Hart’s Boardwalk helped with their road to healing, and man, oh man did things get so very hot and dirty!  Nate and Olivia continue to be one of my all-time favorite couples in the On Dublin Street series!  They had a bit of a crisis, with some angsty bits, but it made the making up so much sweeter, with lots of sizzle, of course!  On Hart’s Boardwalk wasn’t very long, but it was well done and oh-so-wonderful!  This one definitely goes on the favorites shelf!

4.5 Suns

Excerpt:

The lovely people of Berkley Books have generously provided a Paperback Copy of Every Little Thing (Hart's Boardwalk #2) by Samantha Young to one lucky reader!  Just fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win.  Giveaway is open to US Residents only.

Giveaway: The One Real Thing & Every Little Thing by Samantha Young

Happy Friday readers! I thought I'd celebrate that the weekend is just about here by offering up a giveaway.  As most of you readers know, I'm a fan of Samantha Young's romances so I'm excited to offer up the first two books of her new series Hart's Boardwalk: The One Real Thing and Every Little Thing (my review), just released earlier this month. The giveaway is provided by the lovely people of Berkley and open to US and CA residents.  Just fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

Connect with Berkley:

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Connect with Samantha Young:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Review & Giveaway: Every Little Thing by Samantha Young

I've long been a fan of Samantha Young's romances so I'm thrilled to share my review of Every Little Thing as well as an awesome giveaway of ALL SIX On Dublin Street series generously provided by Berkley and the giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY!! Awesome, right?!

Every Little Thing  (Hart's Boardwalk #2) by Samantha Young

Publication Date: March 7th 2017 by Berkley

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

Hartwell, Delaware—the perfect place to get away from it all, and find what you never knew you needed…

Bailey Hartwell has many reasons to feel content—her successful business, a close circle of friends, and her steady boyfriend…even if their romance feels staid after ten years without a serious commitment. The only challenge in her life comes in the form of sexy businessman Vaughn Tremaine. She thinks the ex-New Yorker acts superior and that he considers her a small-town nobody. But when Bailey’s blindsided by a betrayal, she’s shocked to discover Vaughn is actually a decent guy.

Vaughn admires Bailey’s free spirit, independence, and loyalty. As his passion for her has grown, his antagonism toward her has only worsened. Every little thing Bailey does seduces him. But when Vaughn’s painful emotional past makes him walk away in fear he will hurt her, it opens an old wound in Bailey, and she uncharacteristically retreats.

Once Vaughn begins to realize he’s made the biggest mistake of his life, he has no choice but to fight like he’s never fought before to convince Bailey that the love they’ve found together only comes around once in a lifetime.

My Thoughts:

Bailey and Vaughn have had an antagonistic relationship since Vaughn built his hotel on the Bailey’s beloved boardwalk.  They verbally spar and snark, and could be pretty terrible to each other, but everyone around can sense the underlying attraction there.  That’s been a moot point since Bailey’s been with the same guy for the last ten years, a lackluster relationship to anyone with eyes, but it’s safe and comfortable to Bailey.  Tom is reliable and would never break her heart, or would he?  That question is answered leaving Bailey on her own and ready to move on.  She’s attracted to Vaughn, and can finally acknowledge it, but should she when she barely likes the man?

They dynamics in their relationship have changed and Vaughn finds himself drawn to Bailey over and over, and even though he hates that he’s attracted to her, there’s no use in denying it.  He’s not interested in settling down, so it would be a waste of time to act on his feelings, but still, he can’t stay away from Bailey.

Both Bailey and Vaughn hate that their attracted to each other for different personal reasons.  For one, Vaughn acts like a jerk pretty much every time Bailey runs into him, and Bailey isn’t very nice either.  One hurt turns into another snipe, and they just keep the animosity going, until Bailey runs into some trouble with the notorious Devlin’s and Vaughn makes it his business to defend her. Seeing Vaughn in a new, positive light changes Bailey’s initial opinion and both let their guard down for a steamy night of passion.  Of course, this is where Vaughn turns into a bigger ass and screws up everything.  There was push and pull, and these two keep circling, because they can’t stay away!  The heart wants what the heart wants! For the most part I was wrapped up in their story, getting to the whys for Vaughn’s reluctance, and Bailey’s trust issues, because they do each have their reasons.  I did roll my eyes a time or two when the drama was a bit predictable, and annoying, but thankfully it wasn’t drawn out.  

On a side note, I found Bailey’s sister, Vanessa so very irritating I wanted to reach into the book and smack her! Bailey didn’t just lie down and take her antics, but she was much nicer in the end than I could’ve been.

I enjoyed Every Little Thing far more than the first book in the series and I’m very interested in the next story to come.  It seems like Jack Devlin and Emery might be next.  I wonder how Jack will redeem himself.  Can’t really say I’m over here swooning, but I haven’t heard his side of the story yet.

4 Suns

Berkley has kindly provided a giveaway of  all six of the On Dublin Street series! The giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY!!!  Yay!! Simply fill in the rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

Spotlight & Giveaway:The One Real Thing by Samantha Young

I've enjoyed Samantha Young's romances for quite some time now, so I've been looking forward to the first in her Hart's Boardwalk series, The One Real Thing, which released Tuesday! I have a juicy excerpt as well as an INTERNATIONAL giveaway to share below!

The One Real Thing (Hart's Boardwalk #1) by Samantha Young

Publication Date: September 6th 2016 by Berkley

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | BAM | Kobo

About the book:

Welcome to Hartwell, a quiet seaside escape where uncovering old secrets could lead one woman to discover the meaning of a love that lasts…

While Doctor Jessica Huntington engages with the inmates at the women’s correctional facility where she works, she’s always careful to avoid emotional attachments in her personal life.  Loss and betrayal taught her that lesson long ago. But when she comes across a set of old love letters in the prison’s library and visits the picturesque town of Hartwell to deliver them to their intended recipient, she finds herself unable to resist the town’s charm—and her attraction to the sexy owner of a local bar proves equally hard to deny.

Since his divorce from his unfaithful ex-wife, Cooper Lawson has focused on what really matters: his family and the boardwalk pub they’ve owned for generations.  But the first time Jessica steps into his bar, Cooper is beyond tempted to risk his heart on her.

Yet as their attraction grows hotter and Jessica remains stubbornly closed off, he begins to realize it will take more than just passion to convince her there’s only one real thing in life worth fighting for…

 Excerpt: 

Why did it feel like having sex had complicated things so much? Usually sex was complication-free for me.

But before that night I’d been completely sure that Cooper was interested in exploring something more with me, and now I was freaking out that his interest would wane now that he’d had me.

I shook my head slowly. “No. It was good.”

He scowled, his arms tightening around me so much there wasn’t an inch of space between us. “It was better than fucking good, Jessica.”

I scowled back and pushed at his chest for some breathing space. “Well, I’m sure you’d know all about that.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“You use the word ‘fuck’ a lot.”

“It’s a good fucking word.”

I was tempted to laugh at how disgruntled he sounded and he seemed to catch my amusement because his hold on me eased.

“What’s going on in your head, Jess?”

I thought about evading this conversation. I’d never had to have an adult, open conversation with a man about sex. However, I realized, somewhat reluctantly, if I wanted something more with Cooper Lawson I was going to have to give him more than I was used to giving.

I couldn’t change his past, but I could figure out what it was he wanted in the future by just being honest and asking the question.

“You still want something with me, right? This”—I gestured behind me to the table—“it wasn’t just about sex.”

“No,” he said. “It’s not just about sex.”

As I heaved a sigh of relief, he let go of my waist to cup my face in his hands, dipping his head down to mine so our noses almost touched. He stared deep into my eyes and I shivered. I felt like he was trying to see right into my soul.

“I’m in this for the long haul, Doc. I was before you walked into my bar tonight, but now, after the best fucking sex of my life, after how wild that was, there’s no way I’m letting you walk out of here without me.”

And there he went doing it again.

His words resonated deep within me along with giving me that deep, sexual belly flip of arousal.

My fingers curled into the top of his biceps. “Best sex of my life, too,” I murmured. “It stunned me a little. Confused me . . . I thought maybe . . . you . . . this was old hat for you . . .”

He gave me a crooked grin. “You think I make a habit of fucking women in my bar.”

“You could,” I said. “You are definitely a man who could pull that off.”

Cooper threw his head back in laughter and I pressed my body deeper into his to feel his joy.

And then he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me.

Just as I’d suspected, he was a really good hugger.

When he pulled back he was smiling gently at me. “You’re the only woman I’ve had in my bar.” He let me go only to take my hand in his. “No one sits at that table anymore.” He gestured to the scene of the best sex we’d both ever had. “It’s now a shrine.”

“You can’t do that!” I was mortified at the possibility of people finding out why there was a table in Cooper Lawson’s bar that no one was allowed to sit at.

“I can. It’s my bar. I think I’ll even carve ‘Coop and Doc were here’ on it.”

Finally getting that he was joking, I made a face. “Funny.”

“You’re slow on the uptake tonight,” he teased.

“My brain was just frazzled by the orgasm to beat all orgasms.”

He squeezed my hand. “You up for more brain frazzling?”

I shivered at the thought. “Definitely.”

His eyes darkened. “Let’s go back to my place.”

Exhilarated by the prospect, I followed him, and it wasn’t until we’d stepped outside the bar into the cool night air that I said, “I don’t suppose you know where my panties are?”

“I do, actually.” He led me to the back of his bar to the parking lot. A dark-colored GMC was the only truck there.

“Um . . . could I have them, please?”

He stopped me at the passenger side of the truck, pressing me up against the car. “Why?” he whispered against my lips before he kissed me deeply. He came up for air a few seconds later. “You’re not going to need them where we’re going.”

The nagging pressure between my legs increased. “You are so very, very good at stringing the exact right words together.”

He kissed me again.

“You’re just good with your mouth in general,” I murmured.

Cooper grinned and brushed his lips over mine. “In the truck, Doc.”

About the author: Samantha Young is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series, including Moonlight on Nightingale Way, Echoes of Scotland Street, and Fall from India Place, as well as the standalone novel Hero. She resides in Scotland.

Connect with Samantha Young:

Website           Facebook         Twitter             Instagram

Cover Reveal: Every Little Thing by Samantha Young

Samantha Young has captured my heart with her sexy romances for some time.  I'm eagerly looking forward to her newest series, Hart's Boardwalk, so I'm excited to be part of the cover reveal for the second book, Every Little Thing, the second book in the series!

About the book:

Hartwell, Delaware—the perfect place to get away from it all, and find what you never knew you needed…
 
Bailey Hartwell has many reasons to feel content—her successful business, a close circle of friends, and her steady boyfriend…even if their romance feels staid after ten years without a serious commitment. The only challenge in her life comes in the form of sexy businessman Vaughn Tremaine. She thinks the ex-New Yorker acts superior and that he considers her a small-town nobody. But when Bailey’s blindsided by a betrayal, she’s shocked to discover Vaughn is actually a decent guy.

Vaughn admires Bailey’s free spirit, independence, and loyalty. As his passion for her has grown, his antagonism toward her has only worsened. Every little thing Bailey does seduces him. But when Vaughn’s painful emotional past makes him walk away in fear he will hurt her, it opens an old wound in Bailey, and she uncharacteristically retreats.

Once Vaughn begins to realize he’s made the biggest mistake of his life, he has no choice but to fight like he’s never fought before to convince Bailey that the love they’ve found together only comes around once in a lifetime.

I can’t wait for Bailey and Vaughn’s story! But in the meantime, I'm looking forward to the first book, The One Real Thing, that goes on sale September 6^th!

About the book:

Welcome to Hartwell, a quiet seaside escape where uncovering old secrets could lead one woman to discover the meaning of a love that lasts…

While Doctor Jessica Huntington engages with the inmates at the women’s correctional facility where she works, she’s always careful to avoid emotional attachments in her personal life.  Loss and betrayal taught her that lesson long ago. But when she comes across a set of old love letters in the prison’s library and visits the picturesque town of Hartwell to deliver them to their intended recipient, she finds herself unable to resist the town’s charm—and her attraction to the sexy owner of a local bar proves equally hard to deny.

Since his divorce from his unfaithful ex-wife, Cooper Lawson has focused on what really matters: his family and the boardwalk pub they’ve owned for generations.  But the first time Jessica steps into his bar, Cooper is beyond tempted to risk his heart on her.

Yet as their attraction grows hotter and Jessica remains stubbornly closed off, he begins to realize it will take more than just passion to convince her there’s only one real thing in life worth fighting for…

Pre-order links:

Amazon           Barnes and Noble       iBooks             BAM               Kobo

About the author: Samantha Young is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series, including Moonlight on Nightingale Way, Echoes of Scotland Street, and Fall from India Place, as well as the standalone novel Hero. She resides in Scotland.

Website           Facebook         Twitter             Instagram

Review: Fall from India Place (On Dublin Street #4) by Samantha Young

Fall from India Place (On Dublin Street #4) by Samantha Young

Published June 3rd 2014 by NAL 

The New York Times bestselling author of On Dublin Street and Down London Road returns with a story about letting go of the past and learning to trust in the future…

When Hannah Nichols last saw Marco D’Alessandro, five long years ago, he broke her heart. The bad boy with a hidden sweet side was the only guy Hannah ever loved—and the only man she’s ever been with. After one intense night of giving into temptation, Marco took off, leaving Scotland and Hannah behind. Shattered by the consequences of their night together, Hannah has never truly moved on.

Leaving Hannah was the biggest mistake of Marco’s life, something he has deeply regretted for years. So when fate reunites them, he refuses to let her go without a fight. Determined to make her his, Marco pursues Hannah, reminding her of all the reasons they’re meant to be together.

But just when Marco thinks they’re committed to a future together, Hannah makes a discovery that unearths the secret pain she’s been hiding from him, a secret that could tear them apart before they have a real chance to start over again...

My Thoughts
Fall from India Place is a great addition to the Dublin Street series! Amazing former secondary characters that get a moment in the spotlight and find a place in my heart.

In Fall from India Place, we get to know Hannah and Marco a bit more as they share their story. Up until know, I've only known Hannah as Ellie's younger sister that loved to read books and hung out in the periphery of several former story lines. In this installment, Hannah is all grown up and teaching at a local Edinburgh high school. She really has her life together, but there is one part of her past that seems to keep her from forming any sort of meaningful relationships. When Marco comes back into her life, we discover what exactly happened between these two that shaped who they became and how they decide to move forward.

I must have cracked some sort of subconscious literary code because as of late, I seem to predict outcomes and turn of events too soon in the story. I saw the twist coming a mile away, but that didn't stop me from enjoying Hannah and Marco's journey. I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between Hannah and Cole that proved they have a solid friendship between each other. What a great pair of friends. It was also nice to revisit old characters as their families grow and prosper.

Overall, Hannah and Marco had a lovely story to share. One that's filled with a painful past, a struggling present and a hopeful future. Samantha Young makes her characters work for their happy ending... As it should be.

4 Suns

Review: One King's Way by Samantha Young

One King's Way(On Dublin Street #6.5) by Samantha Young

Publication Date: November 3rd 2015 by InterMix

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book:

The New York Times bestselling author of On Dublin Street returns to the bar where it all began with Braden and Joss for a white-hot new novella full of passion and drama.
 
When he’s not working at the club, Craig Lanaghan looks out for his mother and little sisters. So when it comes to women, all he wants is a good time. But once Rain Alexander walks into his life, there’s no denying that this woman could be worth much more than a one-night stand….

Rain’s lifelong regret is having left her sister Darcy alone years ago with a guardian who turned out to be abusive. So when Darcy’s boyfriend publicly humiliates her in a cruel way, Rain’s overprotective instincts kick in and she follows him to Club 39—where she meets a guy who just might be her perfect match.

The chemistry between Rain and Craig is explosive, but Rain is out for revenge, and refuses to be sidetracked by flirtation. As things between them heat up, she’ll have to make a heartbreaking choice between giving in to the man of her dreams or putting her sister’s happiness first….

Praise for the On Dublin Street series
 
“Really sexy.”—USA Today
 
“Young writes stories that stay with you long after you flip that last page.”—Under the Covers

My Thoughts:

Rain has been frequenting Club 39, hoping to meet up with her sister, Darcy’s ex-boyfriend, and make him pay for the pain he put her through.  She plans to seduce and then humiliate him, but Craig, the sexy bartender and his magnetic pull distracts her from her mission. 

Craig has never had the desire to be in a serious relationship, flirting and hooking up has satisfied his cravings up to this point. That’s until he lays eyes on Rain Alexander.  She’s the epitome of a 1940s pinup girl, gorgeous with sexy curves, and he can’t stop drooling over her. Rain brushes off his advances, but Craig can’t let her be.  When he finds out the reason for her hanging around the bar, he’s determined to foil Rain’s ridiculous revenge plot.

I can appreciate Rain’s motives, who doesn’t want to exact revenge on the jerk who humiliates your sister?  Yet, I don’t think trying to seduce your sister’s ex as part of that scheme would make any sister happy.  What rational thinking woman would come up with that kind of plan? I found it a bit unbelievable, and I don’t really care for revenge plots, anyhow.  I mean, yeah, thinking of revenge, ways to make a creep pay, sounds satisfying, but actually going through with it? To me it’s a waste of time and energy.  The best revenge is living well.  On top of that, Darcy wasn’t even in the picture until the end, so I never felt a strong sisterly bond that would make the emotions behind Rain’s intentions feel real for me. 

I never really connected with or actually liked Rain, so I found it hard to believe that Craig would be any more than superficially attracted to her.  Craig didn’t really push my buttons either, I mean I liked that he was devoted to his mother and sisters, and I definitely liked him more than Rain, but there wasn’t really anything that made me swoon.  

I’m a huge fan of Samantha Young’s writing. Her romances usually have my emotions running from one extreme to another, all the while lighting my panties on fire, but I just couldn’t drum up much enthusiasm for this romance.  I don’t expect to love every book from a particular author, so I’m just going to consider this a fluke; an exception to Ms. Young’s usually brilliant work. 

2 Suns

Review: Echoes of Scotland Street (On Dublin Street #5) by Samantha Young

Echoes of Scotland Street (On Dublin Street #5) by Samantha Young

Published October 7th 2014 by NAL

Shannon MacLeod has always gone for the wrong type of man. After she drifted from one toxic relationship to the next, her last boyfriend gave her a wakeup call in the worst possible way. With her world shattered, she’s sworn off men—especially those of the bad-boy variety.

Cole Walker is exactly the sort that Shannon wants to avoid—gorgeous, tattooed, charming, and cocky. But his rough exterior hides a good man who’s ready to find “the one.” He’s determined to pull Shannon from her self-imposed solitude and win her heart.

As Shannon opens up in the face of Cole’s steady devotion, the passion between them ignites to blazing levels. But when Shannon’s past comes back to haunt her, her fears may destroy the trust Cole has built between them—and tear them apart for good… 

My Thoughts 

Echoes of Scotland Street is a good addition to the On Dublin Street series. Each installment has its own flavor and pace, and it's always nice to revisit with old cast members as new characters get their turn in the spotlight.

In Echoes of Scotland Street, we get to meet Shannon MacLeod who has recently come off of a bad relationship. She’s trying to get her life back on track, and eventually lands a job at INKarnate, a popular tattoo parlor as a receptionist. There she meets Cole Walker, her soon to be manager, who nine years earlier when they were just teenagers had a chance meeting that left an impression on both of these characters.

Shannon knows what happens when you get involved with a bad-boy. She has the bruises and emotional scars to prove it, but what she doesn’t know is that beneath all of the ink, Cole is far from what she believes him to be. After a shaky start, these two finally succumb to the attraction they feel for one another. However, their insecurities stemming from their past threatens to destroy what they have even before it starts.

Out of all of the installments I’ve come across so far, I have to say EoSS is probably my least favorite. It wasn’t bad by any means, but it was clear I liked Cole much more than Shannon for most of the novel. What I struggled with the most though, was about 80% into the story, the ‘go beg or go home’ motto was enacted. UGH!! NO! NO! Just NO!! I found it cringe-worthy that Shannon did some massive groveling and begging at the end. Not something I enjoyed, and overall it just didn’t sit well with me. I don’t feel she deserved Cole’s treatment that led up to the groveling when she was just trying to sort out how to handle a bad situation.

Clearly these two characters had some past issues that ran deep in the emotional scale, but grovel-fests are tricky situations that should be executed with precision, otherwise the reader, myself in this case, is face-palming all over the place!

To pull something good from this novel, I enjoyed hearing about the rest of the gang and how their flock has grown. It’s always nice to revisit the Dublin gang and that keeps me diving into each installment book after book. Somewhat enjoyable book, with only a few minor hiccups. I’ll definitely jump into the next book!

3 Suns

Mini Review: Castle Hill (On Dublin Street #3.5) by Samantha Young

Castle Hill (On Dublin Street #3.5) by Samantha Young

Published December 3rd 2013 by NAL (Intermix)

A Joss and Braden Novella

Braden Carmichael never imagined he’d fall as hard and as fast as he did for Jocelyn Butler. He also could not have anticipated how difficult it would be to convince her to give in to love. But now that he has her, he’s never letting go. He’s got it all planned—the passionate proposal, the dream wedding, the sexy Hawaiian honeymoon—even the perfect family they’ll start.

After trying to flee from her painful past, Joss is finally allowing herself to embrace the future. But when things start moving faster than she anticipated, she finds herself panicking over something Braden can’t understand. After everything they’ve been through, Joss is sure that their love can survive even her worst fears. But, this time, she may push Braden too far—and risk losing everything all over again… 

My Thoughts

It was fun revisiting Joss and Braden who were the original couple of the series. In Castle Hill we journey with this chemistry fueled couple through their engagement, wedding, honeymoon and pregnancy.

A few parts had me tsking Braden for some of his reactions, but at the end of the day this passionate and slightly alpha male is hard not to love.

I enjoyed hearing Joss's voice again. She's real, sharp and brave. Very likable character!

Overall, great installment to this series!

4 Suns

Review: Until Fountain Bridge (On Dublin Street #1.5) by Samantha Young

Until Fountain Bridge (On Dublin Street #1.5) by Samantha Young

Published June 18th 2013 by Penguin Publishing

Ellie Carmichael had a crush on Adam Sutherland, her brother, Braden’s, best friend, for years, and although Adam treated her with proprietary concern he made it clear he thought of her only as a little sister.

Over the years, as Ellie’s crush develops into love, her romantic idealism makes it difficult for her to move on. To make matters worse, as she’s gotten older, Adam’s attitude has changed toward her. His affection for her is now joined by attraction, but his loyalty to Braden, and his fear of losing the only family he has, stops him from claiming Ellie the way she wishes he would.

But one night his attraction is put to the test, and as much as Adam would like things to remain the same everything changes between them in a simple brush of the lips.

Soon lust, love, jealousy and heartbreak combine to force change upon their relationship… and Adam discovers the hard way that life is too damn short to spend it on regret.

My Thoughts
Great installment for this series. It was fun to experience Ellie and Adam's romance from their perspective. This short novella takes us through the budding romance between these two characters as Ellie shares her journal entries with Adam. Long time friends that eventually turn to lovers is always a heartfelt approach to any romance. I enjoyed witnessing these two characters struggle with their feelings with one another, but ultimately giving in to chemistry and love. Well done!

4 Suns

Review: Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street #3) by Samantha Young

Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street #3) by Samantha Young
Published January 7th 2014 by NAL

One simple lesson in seduction between two friends can turn into so much more…


Despite her outgoing demeanor, Olivia is painfully insecure around the opposite sex—usually, she can’t get up the nerve to approach guys she’s interested in. But moving to Edinburgh has given her a new start, and, after she develops a crush on a sexy postgrad, she decides it’s time to push past her fears and go after what she wants.

Nate Sawyer is a gorgeous player who never commits, but to his close friends, he’s as loyal as they come. So when Olivia turns to him with her relationship woes, he offers to instruct her in the art of flirting and to help her become more sexually confident.

The friendly education in seduction soon grows into an intense and hot romance. But then Nate’s past and commitment issues rear their ugly heads, and Olivia is left broken-hearted. When Nate realizes he’s made the biggest mistake of his life, he will have to work harder than he ever has before to entice his best friend into falling back in love with him—or he may lose her forever…

My Thoughts
Another great installment to the On Dublin Street series! At this rate, I’ll finish all of the novels in lightening speed because they each carry a heavy dose of chemistry, enjoyable dialog and hot as hell moments that make this series addictive!

Before Jamaica Lane is the third installment in the series, and as with the other novels, we get to read a spin-off of one of the previous characters. The stage light in this novel was given to Olivia Holloway and Nate Sawyer, who happen to be very close friends and eventually closer companions… ~wink wink~

Olivia recently moved to Scotland with her father, and quickly became close friends with the Dublin gang. However, she had a comfortable connection with Nate who took on the task of offering Liv a friendly education in the art of seduction. As their lesson elevated in intimacy, they couldn't deny the chemistry and attraction between each other. However, events of the past had them both skeptical of what a relationship could lead to. When Liv took a leap of faith and declared her growing feelings to Nate, their friendship took a turn down Heartbreak Avenue.

I really enjoy this series as each character gets their own installment. Slowly but surely this series is starting to feel like an episode of Friends because we never lose sight of the previous couples.

I really loved Olivia and Nate in this book. Their friends-to-lovers shift was fun to witness. After a long stretch of denying their feelings and possibly destroying their friendship, I enjoyed watching Nate grovel for the girl. Always fun to see a man brought to his knees in the name of love!

I can’t wait to finish off the other books in this series because the cast keeps growing and developing in a way that you can’t help but want more of each character. Really enjoyed this one!

4 Suns

Review: Down London Road (On Dublin Street #2) by Samantha Young

Down London Road (On Dublin Street #2) by Samantha Young 

Published May 7th 2013 by NAL (first published January 1st 2013)

Johanna Walker is used to taking charge. But she’s about to meet someone who will make her lose control…

It has always been up to Johanna to care for her family, particularly her younger brother, Cole. With an absent father and a useless mother, she’s been making decisions based on what’s best for Cole for as long as she can remember. She even determines what men to date by how much they can provide for her brother and her, not on whatever sparks may—or may not—fly.

But with Cameron MacCabe, the attraction is undeniable. The sexy new bartender at work gives her butterflies every time she looks at him. And for once, Jo is tempted to put her needs first. Cam is just as obsessed with getting to know Jo, but her walls are too solid to let him get close enough to even try.

Then Cam moves into the flat below Jo’s, and their blistering connection becomes impossible to ignore. Especially since Cam is determined to uncover all of Jo’s secrets... even if it means taking apart her defenses piece by piece.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed this one quite a bit, especially because we got to see a complete transformation of a character that was first introduced On Dublin Street.

In this novel, Johanna Walker takes center stage as we learn about her back story and the hardships she's endured as a child. Coming from an abusive family where she currently cares for her alcoholic mother and younger brother, it's hard not to immediately care for Jo. She works two jobs and as a means of security, she dates rich men that offer her the sense of a possible future. However, her constant quests to land a man that she hopes will someday be her protector and provider seems to constantly fall flat.

That is until she meet Malcolm. He's rich, kind and older, and it's no doubt Johanna care for him despite the lack of chemistry. This becomes fully evident when she collides with Cameron and she begins the see the possibility of a fulfilling romance. However, is she willing to sacrifice the security of Malcolm that could mean a good future for her little brother in order to have a romance that will possibly leave her broken hearted?

I really liked Johanna from the beginning. I admired her strength and how protective she was of Cole. It was hard to immediately like Cameron especially when he judged her without knowing her. Throughout the novel, he said and did a few things that kept me from connecting with him all the way, but in the end, he proved worthy.

Great story that's filed with heated chemistry and a likable main character. I enjoyed it much!

4 Suns

Review & Giveaway: Moonlight on Nightingale Way by Samantha Young

Moonlight on Nightingale Way (On Dublin Street #6) by Samantha Young

Publication Date: June 2nd 2015 by NAL

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

About the book:

Logan from Echoes of Scotland Street is back with his own smoldering story, as the New York Times bestselling On Dublin Street series returns…

Logan spent two years paying for the mistakes he made. Now, he’s ready to start over. He has a great apartment, a good job, and plenty of women to distract him from his past. And one woman who is driving him to distraction…

Grace escaped her manipulative family by moving to a new city. Her new life, made to suit her own needs, is almost perfect. All she needs to do is find her Mr. Right—or at least figure out a way to ignore her irresistible yet annoying womanizer of a neighbor.

Grace is determined to have nothing to do with Logan until a life-changing surprise slowly begins turning the wild heartbreaker into exactly the kind of strong, stable man she’s been searching for. Only just when she begins to give into his charms, her own messy past threatens to derail everything they’ve worked to build…

My Thoughts:

Grace’s new neighbor, Logan, is basically a manwhore.  His sexual antics and loud parties have deprived her of sleep, and generally ticked her off.  Logan’s reactions to her complaints push her buttons even more so, accusing Grace of being an uppity snob.  Needless to say they are not on the best of terms when they first meet.  But Grace gets to know Logan a little and her opinion of him begins to soften, just a tad. 

When faced with something that changes his life forever, Logan is shocked and thrown for a loop, but he quickly abandons his party lifestyle to accommodate. Grace steps in to help, because she can’t help but admire the way Logan immediately accepts the change in his life with ferocity, and because the situation strikes at her heart for personal reasons. 

Samantha Young captures feelings so spot on that every time I crack open the pages of one of her stories I automatically put myself in the character’s shoes.  So of course I rooted for Grace and I felt her every hurt, all her longing and attraction, as well.  She was such a sweet, giving person, and her help to Logan cemented their closeness. In that closeness, Grace starts to fall for Logan even though she fears he’ll just break her heart in the end.  Grace doubts that she’s even Logan’s type when he paraded blond, curvy, scantily clad women in and out of his apartment for months, and Grace is pretty much the opposite.  Also, low self-esteem stemming from an absolutely horrid family further fuels her concerns.

Logan spent time in jail, almost two years, for severely beating the man who nearly raped and killed his sister.  So he didn’t feel worthy to take on the change in his life, but Grace helped him work through those feelings and be the man she knew he was.  Of course, I wanted to smack Logan a couple of times, but he proved time and time again what a good guy he was and I couldn’t help but fall for him.

Grace and Logan dance around their attraction, building up combustible sexual tension, so when they finally give in it’s so very HOT:

“The things I’m going to do to you, babe. I’m going to make you mine, every single piece of you.” Our eyes locked, his filled with sexual promise. “No holds barred, Grace. Not with me. I’m going to fuck you like there’s no tomorrow, and you’re going to let me.” 

I appreciated there was no last minute romantic drama to taint their relationship when they finally committed. It was Grace and Logan against the world, aka crappy family. 

I’m sad to say good-bye to this series, I’ve loved each and every book in the series, but Samantha Young gives us a good send off with short, but heartwarming epilogues for each couple.  You know these friends who’ve become like family, through their emotional bonds and unwavering support will live happily ever after, and that’s what every romance junkie, like me, craves! 

4.5 Suns

Connect with Samantha Young:

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The lovely people at NAL have generously provided a print copy of Moonlight on Nightingale Way to one lucky Waves of Fiction follower. The giveaway is open to US residents only. Simply fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win. Good luck!