Review: On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

 

Author: Samantha Young

Series: -

Pages: 415

Publisher: NAL

Genre: Adult Contemporary

Amazon: On Dublin Street

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Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…

Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.

Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.

But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.

Review: 4 ½ out of 5 stars

This book is Adult Contemporary Romance - Please be advised that this book is NOT YA friendly, not even in a New Adult category.

I absolutely love Samantha Young’s Fire Spirits series and after reading such high praise of On Dublin Street, I started this book with my expectations high and I am pleased to say they were certainly met.

Jocelyn Butler’s life changed in an instant at the age of fourteen and as a result of the traumatic and wild years that followed, she has closed herself off emotionally to everyone around her, never becoming attached or allowing people to get too close. But things quickly change when she meets siblings Ellie and Braden Carmichael.

Ellie is upbeat, caring and sweet and rents out her spare room to Joss; Braden is controlling, protective and definitely interested in Jocelyn so slowly begins wearing her down. I absolutely adored the sibling relationship Ellie and Braden shared and the way they slowly stripped away the outer layers of Joss to get her to reveal her inner self and pieces of her past to them.

The romance between Joss and Braden I would describe a electric; they were drawn to each other but played a cat and mouse game which lasted a tad too long, when they eventually gave in and came to a ‘physical compromise’ things really got scorching hot but so too did the emotional connection which scared Joss. I loved Braden’s persistence, Joss’s resistance and the way they came together. 

I loved all of the characters in this book; Jocelyn despite her attitude and behavior was upfront which I appreciated and I understood the reasoning behind her wariness, Braden was super smexy and even though he was overbearing and controlling (a caveman as he was described by Joss), he was still fun and playful but I think my favourite character was definitely Ellie who was a true delight; I want her as a best friend!

The engaging storyline kept me up until all hours. Ms Young’s writing is enthralling and I really hope she continues writing Adult Contemporary. This book left me thinking long after I had finished it, it was believable, poignant and thoroughly entertaining, and Ms Young writes amazing dialogue which I always enjoy.

Overall, On Dublin Street is a book with heart, filled with complications, drama, well-developed and likeable characters, a wonderful Scotland setting and a romance that’s smexy hot! I highly recommend it.