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On Hart’s Boardwalk (On Dublin Street 6.7 Hart’s Boardwalk 2.5) by Samantha Young-Review and Excerpt

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ON HART’S BOARDWALK (On Dublin Street 6.7 / Hart’s Boardwalk 2.5) by Samantha Young-Review and Excerpt

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ABOUT THE BOOK: RELEASE DATE March 20, 2018

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.

•••••••••••

REVIEW: ON HART’S BOARDWALK is instalment 2.5 of Samantha Young’s contemporary, adult HART’S BOARDWALK romance series that in turn is a spin-off from the author’s ON DUBLIN STREET series. ON HART’S BOARDWALK is a continuing look at Nate and Olivia Sawyer (Before Jamaica Lane) as they approach Olivia’s fortieth birthday, and the celebration of ten years of marriage. ON HART’S BOARDWALK can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines (in either series) is revealed where necessary.

Told from first person point of view (Olivia Sawyer) ON HART’S BOARDWALK is a heartbreaking story that fast forwards ten years in the life of Nate and Olivia, as our heroine struggles with the approach of her fortieth birthday, and the apparent loss of affection from the man that she loves. Nate and Olivia’s love life has lost the spontaneity and romance with the birth of two children, busy lifestyles and busier jobs but Olivia has always battled issues of low self-esteem that are currently exacerbated by her husband’s apparent disinterest, and the approach of her fortieth birthday. Nate will overhear Olivia talking to her friends, and in this Nate struggles to accept Olivia’s concerns. What ensues is the couple’s battle to move forward, and bring the romance and spontaneity back into their lives as they head to America and Hartwell Delaware to celebrate their ten year anniversary.

ON HART’S BOARDWALK is both a heartbreaking and heart warming story; an emotional roller coaster ride as one man struggles with the loss of a friend, and one woman battles issues of the past that continue to affect her self-esteem and ability to let go. The secondary and supporting characters are familiar, colorful and fun; the romance is sexy, provocative and inspiring. ON HART’S BOARDWALK is an uplifting and spirited look at a rekindling romance that had yet to completely fall apart.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Although Nate had agreed to wait to have sex until we played out our little strangers in a bar fantasy, I could tell he was disgruntled. For some reason his irritation made me want to torment him even more. After we showered (separately) and dressed, I grabbed his hand when we walked down to breakfast, trailing the fingertips of my free hand over the skin on his forearm exposed by his T-shirt.
Walking down the stairs he frowned at me. “You’re doing that deliberately.”
“Are you saying I don’t get to touch you at all until tomorrow night?”
“No.” He suddenly stopped and pressed me up against the wall of the stairwell, his mouth inches from mine. His hand, the one not holding mine, slipped under my sundress, his fingertips caressing their way up my inner thigh.
“Nate,” I gasped, looking down the stairs to make sure the entrance was empty.
“You tease me, babe…” His hot breath whispered against my lips. “I tease you tenfold in return.”
I fought with the desire flooding me and the concern over disrespecting our very nice inn owner. My concern won out and I reached for his wrist under my dress and forcefully removed his hand with a flash of ire in my eyes that made him smirk in triumph. “Not here.”
“Just playing your game.” He stood back and then began leading me down the stairs like nothing had happened.
There was only one other couple in the dining hall that early in the morning, an older couple who smiled warmly at us and greeted us ‘hello’ as we grabbed some coffee from the buffet area.
We’d just taken a seat at a table when Aydan came out of the kitchen and beamed at us. “You two are up early. Jetlag?”
“Yeah,” I said, fighting off a yawn. “I’m still kind of feeling it actually. But this will help.” I raised my coffee cup.
“So will some food.” She handed us each a menu. “I’ll be back in a minute to take your order.”
We were looking over the small menu and I was trying to decide between scrambled eggs, potatoes, and bacon; pancakes, maple syrup and bacon; or waffles. “I forgot how good breakfast is here.” I glanced over at my husband, who seemed less excited than me about breakfast. “You’re getting the egg white frittata, aren’t you?”
Nate used to indulge more food-wise but he’d found, as we all found, that he couldn’t metabolize crappy food as well as he used to. So, he only indulged every now and then.
“Aye.” He nodded, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He knew it bugged me that he had more willpower than I did.
“I’m getting the waffles,” I immediately decided.
Nate laughed and leaned over to caress the top of my ass, which thankfully was hidden by the back of my chair from anyone else’s few. “You eat whatever you want, babe. We’ll both enjoy the fruits of that labor.”
I should have glared at him for feeling me up in the breakfast room of this quaint inn, but I couldn’t, because it felt like I had my old Nate back. The guy who made me feel sexy and wanted no matter what. So instead I gave him a soft smile.
For some reason my reaction made his gaze turn liquid with heat and he impulsively leaned over, cupped my face in his hand and kissed me. Hard. Deep. Quick.
When he let me go I couldn’t even think long enough to be embarrassed that he’d just Frenched me in front of an elderly couple who were trying to eat their breakfast. I could only blink, dazed, my lips wet and waiting for more. “What was that for?”
“Because I love you.” He shrugged, like it was most obvious answer in the world.
Before I could say anything else the sound of Bailey Hartwell’s raised voice met our ears from somewhere near reception. “It’s ridiculous that’s why!”
Nate and I shot each other amused looks, and pretended to peruse the menu even though I knew were both listening in. Nosy buggers.
Her voice was lower now, and the fact that we hadn’t heard another voice reply suggested
she was on the phone. “Vaughn, we have a house,” she hissed. “We don’t need another… why would you sell it? It’s beautiful… we don’t need to buy a house together to be together… it’s a waste of money…” there was a longer stretch of silence. “Okay, if you’re that intent on wasting money why don’t we just strip the house out and make it the way we both want it… it sits right on the water…. Stop being romantic when I’m trying to be practical, you know it confuses me… Stop it, I’m at the inn.” Her voice dropped even lower. Her breath seemed to catch. “You’re going to pay for that, Tremaine… no… no… Vaughn… okay, fine…. I love you too, you, handsome bastard.”
That seemed to be the end of the conversation, and I turned to Nate, laughter bubbling in my throat. “That sounded familiar.”
He grinned. “Didn’t it.”
“I don’t think our inn owner is going to Scotland anytime soon.”
“No?”
“No. If she’s got what I’ve got, she’s staying put.” 


 

Samantha Young is the New York Times,  USA Today  and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows.  Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us was published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook & hardback June 2017. Play On is an adult contemporary romance and the first in a brand new series set in Scotland. Villain is a companion novella to the New York Times bestselling romance HERO.

Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.

Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.

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One King’s Way (On Dublin Street 6.5) by Samantha Young-a review

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ONE KING’S WAY (On Dublin Street 6.5) by Samantha Young-a review

One King's Way

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 3, 2015

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…

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: ONE KING’S WAY is the latest adult, contemporary novella from Samantha Young’s On Dublin Street romance series. This is bartender Craig Lanaghan, and online business owner Rain Alexander’s storyline. Craig was first introduced to the reader in the introductory storyline On Dublin Street where he was presented as a manwhore and over-sexed, fun loving male bartender at Club 39 who had attempted to seduce Joss.

Told from first person point of view (Rain) alternating with third person perspective (Craig) ONE KING’S WAY follows the building relationship between Craig and Rain. Rain is on a mission to avenge her sister against a man who posted a sex tape that all but destroyed her sister’s life. While Rain sits and waits at Club 39 for her sister’s ex boyfriend to show, Craig will find himself drawn to the most beautiful woman he has ever seen- a woman right out of a 1940s pin-up calendar. Night after night Rain will return to the bar hoping to catch a glimpse of the man who ruined her sister’s life, but what she doesn’t expect to find is her future happiness with a man who has no ambition to settle down.

ONE KING’S WAY is a bit of a flash back storyline as we get reacquainted with Joss and Braden at Club 39. J & B are still in the early stages of their romance and relationship, and therefore the timeline for ONE KING’S WAY falls somewhere in the past.

The relationship between Craig and Rain is one of immediate attraction but Craig isn’t looking to settle down, and Rain wants nothing to do with a one-night stand, or a friends with benefits relationship. As the storyline progresses, we come to learn that Rain is as a romantic at heart; and Craig is a realist with no lofty ideals for the future. The $ex scenes are provocative and seductive.

The secondary and supporting characters include Braden and Joss, Jo, Alistair, Ellie and Adam, Rain’s sister Darcy, and Darcy’s ex boyfriend Angus. We are also introduced to Craig’s mother, and his sister Maggie who push Craig to go after the one that got away.

ONE KING’S WAY is a short story that gives one of Samantha Young’s many secondary characters a shot at love and a happily ever after. But to be honest, the writing style seemed a bit choppy, as though an editor red-inked too much of the story. The dual conflict resolutions appeared rushed; and because ONE KING’S WAY is a story about compromises, it appears that compromise only went one way. Rain’s need for revenge against the man who destroyed her sister’s life, and the way she goes about ‘seducing her foe’ left me with a bitter taste-there were all kinds of issues with what she was trying to do yet she had no clear ideas or plans. Overall, ONE KING’S WAY is a bit of a disappointment for me; a filler storyline to appease fans who wanted something more.

READING ORDER
On Dublin Street
On Dublin Street Christmas (novella)
Until Fountain Bridge (novella)
Down London Road
Castle Hill (novella)
Before Jamaica Lane
Fall From India Place
Echoes of Scotland Street
Moonlight on Nightingale Way
One King’s Way

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Moonlight on Nightingale Way (On Dublin Street 6) by Samantha Young-Review and Giveaway

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MOONLIGHT ON NIGHTINGALE WAY (On Dublin Street #6) by Samantha Young-Review and Giveaway

Moonlight on Nightingale Way Banner

Moonlight on Nightingale Way
On Dublin Street 6
by Samantha Young
Release Date: June 2, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

Moonlight on Nightingale Way

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository

About the book: Release Date June 2, 2015

Last in the Series

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

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: MOONLIGHT ON NIGHTINGALE WAY is the sixth and final full length installment in Samantha Young’s adult, contemporary On Dublin Street romance series focusing on a tight knit group of family and friends from Scotland. This is bartender Logan MacLeod and freelance editor Grace Farquhar’s storyline. We were first introduced to Logan in Echoes of Scotland Street-Logan is Shannon MacLeod’s older brother.

The storyline follows the building relationship between Logan and Grace. Grace’s new neighbor is a man-whore. The nightly racket and noises of $ex play next door have become tiresome and aggravating, and Grace has had enough. When she finally confronts her new neighbor the animosity and distaste between our couple is obvious and painful to watch. Logan thinks Grace is a shrew, and Grace believes there is nothing redeeming about a man whose parade of women is less than respectable or quiet. When Logan’s life takes a dramatic turn, Grace is there to pick up the pieces, and the pieces begin to fall, over and over again.

The relationship between our couple is fraught with issues of trust, anger, and preconceived notions about one another. Grace works from home and the noise levels in Logan’s apartment have caused too much strain in their tepid friendship. As the storyline builds, so too does the friendship and love between our leading couple but a prior family history of betrayal, heartbreak and pain force Grace to protect her heart by pushing away the man with whom she is falling in love. Logan’s life has changed dramatically and Grace has found herself on the roller coaster ride of her life.

MOONLIGHT ON NIGHTINGALE WAY is an ensemble storyline. All of the series previous storyline couples play a secondary and supporting role. We are reunited with the cast and characters, as well as get a glimpse into their present and potential futures as the epilogue looks at each couple through the eyes of the individual series heroines. MOONLIGHT ON NIGHTINGALE WAY looks at Grace’s dysfunctional family dynamics and how the early years have affected Grace’s ability to trust and love. We also get a glimpse into the future for Grace and Logan, and how the past meets the present affecting the future for everyone involved.

MOONLIGHT ON NIGHTINGALE WAY is an emotional story of heartbreak and betrayal; falling in love and letting go. Grace’s past had destroyed her faith in relationships and love, and in this the tone was set for the fall out from a family history of neglect and emotional abuse.

Samantha Young’s ON DUBLIN STREET romance series is first and foremost a series about friendship and family. Family is not always the blood in your veins, but the people who love, support and stand beside you along the way. There are moments of joy and sorrow, laughter and love, moving forward and starting over but in the end, everyone will get their happily ever after –although the road is not always easy or kind. Samantha Young’s imagination gave us a series to love; characters with passion; happily ever afters that will captivate your mind. The intimacy between the couples is intense; their love addicting; and their futures hopeful and inspiring to read.

READING ORDER
On Dublin Street
On Dublin Street Christmas (novella)
Until Fountain Bridge (novella)
Down London Road
Castle Hill (novella)
Before Jamaica Lane
Fall From India Place
Echoes of Scotland Street
Moonlight on Nightingale Way

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

giveaway

The Reading Cafe and Samantha’s publisher are offering a paper copy of MOONLIGHT ON NIGHTINGALE WAY to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE and Follow Samantha Young on Facebook

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

5. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

7. Please FOLLOW us on TSU for an additional entry.

8. Giveaway open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from June 1 to 5, 2015

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Echoes of Scotland Street (On Dublin Street #5) by Samantha Young-Review and Giveaway

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Echoes of Scotland Street (On Dublin Street #5) by Samantha Young-Review and Giveaway

Echoes of Scotland Street Banner

Echoes of Scotland Street
On Dublin Street #5
by Samantha Young
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance,

Echoes of Scotland Street

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 7, 2014

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.

••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: ECHOES OF SCOTLAND STREET is the fifth full length storyline in Samantha Young’s adult, contemporary On Dublin Street romance series focusing on a tight knit family and group of friends from Scotland. This is tattoo artist Cole Walker (Jo Walker’s brother from Down London Road) and Shannon MacLeod’s story. Although Echoes of Scotland Street is part of the continuing series, it can be read as a stand-alone without any problems but why would you want to!!

We were first introduced to Cole as a fifteen year old young man in the first book of the series- On Dublin Street. In Echoes of Scotland Street the storyline begins around the same timeline when Cole and Shannon first met years before. Fast forward nine years where Cole and Shannon will be reunited at Inkarnate-a tattoo shop in Edinburgh, Scotland –where Cole works and manages, and Shannon comes looking for a job. But the previous nine years have destroyed Shannon’s faith and trust in men, and seeing Cole again, brings back too many painful memories.

The focus of the story is a second chance-of sorts- for Cole and Shannon. With only a brief conversation between the pair nine years earlier, Cole has never forgotten the cute and tiny redhead that captured his eye. As Cole tries to win over Shannon, he will be constantly pushed away until he has been pushed too far. Shannon’s distrust of everything male has left a bitter and broken heart that has yet to mend. Her past is rife with heartbreak, abuse and loss.

Shannon’s past experiences with men have left her in a perpetual state of jumping to conclusions and building up walls. She is quick to judge based on appearances; she does not give anyone the benefit of the doubt; and in this she was a difficult character to like. Everyone has some sort of emotional and physical baggage but Shannon has had a more difficult time than most recovering from the pain of the past. Every encounter with Shannon, Cole would be on the receiving end of preconceived notions, sarcastic and rude comments. It will take a number of people to show Shannon that Cole is not the person she believes him to be-but it may be too late because Shannon may have destroyed any hope of forgiveness and love. Shannon’s continuous need to push people away will result in a self-fulfilling prophecy when she can no longer trust the man with whom she has fallen in love.

The sex scenes are provocative, sensual and passionate. The relationship between Shannon and Cole is emotional and intense.

The world building continues with the inclusion of many of the previous storyline characters including Cole’s sister Jo and her new family, Joss and Braden, Olivia and Nate, Marco and Hannah. We will be introduced to Cole’s colorful co-workers and employees as well as Shannon’s dysfunctional family. Sometimes the family that loves and accepts you is not the family by blood. Shannon’s brother Logan is in desperate need of a happily ever after, so I am looking forward to Logan’s story in the future.

Samantha Young’s ON DUBLIN STREET series continues to captivate the imagination of her readers. The friendship, love and camaraderie between the characters are something everyone should aspire to in real life. The storylines are seductive; the characters are colorful, heartbreaking and sometimes aggravating but everyone will get his or her happily ever after.

READING ORDER
On Dublin Street
On Dublin Street Christmas (novella)
Until Fountain Bridge (novella)
Down London Road
Castle Hill (novella)
Before Jamaica Lane
Fall From India Place
Echoes of Scotland Street

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

Giveaway

Samantha’s publisher is graciously offering a paper copy of ECHOES OF SCOTLAND STREET to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and remember to click GET NOTIFICATIONS.

4. FOLLOW us on Twitter

5. LIKE us on GOODREADS 

6. LIKE Samantha Young on FACEBOOK.

7. Giveaway is U.S. only

8. Giveaway runs from October 8 – October 12, 2014

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Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street #3) by Samantha Young-a review

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Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street #3) by Samantha Young- a review

Before Jamaica Lane

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

BEFORE JAMAICA LANE (On Dublin Street #3) by Samantha Young

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 7, 2014

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…

••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: BEFORE JAMAICA LANE is the third full-length instalment in Samantha Young’s contemporary, new adult, erotic ON DUBLIN STREET series focusing on a close knit group of family, friends and lovers in Edinburgh, Scotland. This is American-born Olivia Holloway and Nate Sawyer’s storyline-one that made me cry for a woman who considered herself less than worthy of a man’s love. When Olivia approaches her best friend Nate for help in the seduction department he jumps at the chance to help-but of course-when two people are attracted to one another, playing with fire will only get them burned.

The storyline focuses on Olivia’s reluctance to approach a sexy postgrad who is her current crush. Her lack of self-esteem and negative self image perpetuates the belief that she is unattractive to the opposite sex. Asking her best friend Nate for help in seducing the object of her affections begins to backfire when their friends with benefits policy and instructions becomes something more. Not only does Olivia realize she is in love with Nate but Nate’s heartbreaking rejection throws Olivia into a depression that will be difficult to overcome. Nate is a player and his inability to commit to one woman will bring pain and sorrow to two people who need to overcome the past to more forward.

The relationship between Olivia and Nate begins as best friends to lovers when Olivia’s lack of confidence forces her to ask the impossible of the one man in her life that has always been there. You know that the ‘lessons in sexual seduction’ involve the physical act of sex but the heart doesn’t know what the mind has been told. Keeping the relationship from growing into something ‘more’ is impossible when the heart wants what it can never have.

Samantha Young brings together all of the previous storyline characters. BEFORE JAMAICA LANE slightly overlaps the events of the novella CASTLE HILL where Joss and Braden get married and the epilogue continues eighteen months into the future. The series will fast forward into Hannah and Marco’s storyline-FALLING FROM INDIA PLACE in June 2014.

This is a friends to lovers storyline that will break your heart for two people afraid to open their hearts to the possibilities of finding their happily ever after –together. Nate will push away the woman that he loves only to realize he may have pushed too far.

BEFORE JAMAICA LANE is a seductive, sexy and heartbreaking storyline about two people who are perfect for one another but past losses prevent each from moving forward. Samantha Young pulls the reader into an emotional tale about love and loss; heartbreak and sorrow; friendships and family. Keep the tissue box near by –you are going to need it.

READING ORDER
On Dublin Street
On Dublin Street Christmas (novella)
Until Fountain Bridge (novella)
Down London Road
Castle Hill (novella Dec 2013)
Before Jamaica Lane (Jan 2014)
Fall From India Place (June 2014)

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Castle Hill: A Joss and Braden Novella (On Dublin Street 2.5) by Samantha Young-a review

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Castle Hill: Joss and Braden Novella (On Dublin Street 2.5) by Samantha Young-a review

Castle Hill

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO

ABOUT THE BOOK: December 3, 2013

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…

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: CASTLE HILL follows the first storyline of Samantha Young’s On Dublin Street novel at a time when Jocelyn (Joss) and Braden’s life is beginning to fall into some semblance of order. But life and all it has to offer is about to become complicated as Joss and Braden enter the next phase of their relationship-engagement, marriage and beyond. Castle Hill is part of a series and the information revealed will be lost on anyone who has not read On Dublin Street-the first book in the series of the same name.

Samantha Young pulls the reader into a story about two people who have overcome great obstacles and relationship issues and fears surrounding commitment, betrayal and loss. Castle Hill will follow Joss and Braden from engagement to wedding then on to the honeymoon where everything seemingly falls into place for a couple who have struggled to get where they are today. They both still have issues of jealousy and control, but Joss has yet to overcome her greatest fear and together they will have to face the reality that will be their future. Only this time, a lack of communication and misunderstandings may force the couple to take a hard look at what they want and what they expected from each other- and it looks like they each may want something different.

If you are a fan of Samantha Young’s On Dublin Street series, Castle Hill is a must read as it pulls the reader into the emotional turmoil surrounding one of the biggest decisions and directions in Joss and Braden’s life-their marriage may not survive if the couple is unable to get past the issues that many couples must face a time or two in their lives.

Castle Hill is a short story about misunderstandings; lack of communication and emotional withdrawal between two people who have given their hearts and their souls to one another, but in the end must learn that not everything is about what you want but what you want and need – together.

READING ORDER
On Dublin Street
On Dublin Street Christmas (novella)
Until Fountain Bridge (novella)
Down London Road
Castle Hill (novella Dec 2013)
Before Jamaica Lane (Jan 2014)
Fall From India Place (June 2014)

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

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

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Down London Road (On Dublin Street #2) by Samantha Young-A Review and Giveaway

Down London Road

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DOWN LONDON ROAD (On Dublin Street #2) by Samantha Young

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 7, 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.

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REVIEW: DOWN LONDON ROAD is the second storyline in the contemporary romance series On Dublin Street by Samantha Young. Although this is the second novel in the series, and most of the characters from the first storyline are present and play secondary roles in this particular novel, Down London Road can be read as a stand alone without too much difficulty. There are a few references to events from On Dublin Street, but Samantha Young blends the information so that the reader is not totally lost and grasping for purchase.

From the outset, we learn that our heroine Johanna is a down on her luck, hard working twenty something woman who knows what it is in life she wants. Working two jobs to support her alcoholic mother and younger brother, Johanna has made some poor choices when it comes to the men in her life. Looking to escape the poverty and lower class stigma, Johanna’s relationships have all been with men who are no strangers to money, wealth and prestige. But at a recent art exhibition with her boyfriend Malcolm, Johanna will be introduced to Cameron MacCabe, who is more than willing to call it like he sees it. And to complicate matters, her best friend sees through Johanna’s relationship choices and the men in her life, as well. And it doesn’t help when Johanna’s lack of self-esteem takes everything Cam says to heart.

Cameron was and is a giant a$$ through much of the storyline until he accidently discovers the truth behind Johanna’s troubled life both present and past but that does not excuse his behavior and lack of respect towards the woman with whom he is falling in love. With both Cam and Johanna in relationships with other people, part of the storyline is spent with the couple dancing around each other’s attempts to ignore the elephant in the room. Their attraction to one another is immediate, the sexual tension is tight, but Johanna has a hard time forgetting that Cam equates her to a whore who will spread her legs for money-every time.

Johanna has spent much of her life protecting her younger brother Cole ensuring that he is safe, fed and loved. Sacrificing her own education, we learn about the hardships and struggles befalling Johanna throughout her life and she is reluctant to ask for help fearing rejection and a broken heart; but there will come a point when she finally needs help, and true to her belief, betrayal and heart break will follow. I shed a few tears at this point, knowing how badly damaged her already fragile self-esteem had developed, but to come face to face with her worst nightmare, only made the trauma that much more painful. This is a contemporary romance storyline, so a happily ever after will follow but not before some damage and issues of trust must be addressed.

There is one soul who deserves a HEA and I am hoping Samantha Young will give Malcolm a chance at love. He did not deserve to lose the woman with whom he was falling in love, but if not for that, there would not have been a story.

DOWN LONDON ROAD is a well-written, sometimes heartbreaking story of betrayal, struggle and the ability to overcome a painful past. But when the past comes face to face with the present, there is both an emotional and physical struggle that will pit the power of love against hatred and betrayal. If you love a storyline with an emotionally fragile but strong heroine, Down London Road will not disappoint. The reader will be pulled into a world of pain, sorrow, betrayal, heartbreak and above else, the ability to overcome a past fraught with abuse to find love where least expected.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

Excerpt

Excerpt from Down London Road by Samantha Young. Copyright May 2013.

I let myself quietly into the dark flat and slipped my heels off, tip¬toeing down the hall to Cole’s room first. I cracked open his door and from the light spilling in under his curtains I could make out his head buried nearly all the way under his duvet. The worry I always felt for him eased a little now that I could see with my own eyes that he was safe and sound, but that worry never ever completely disappeared— partly because parents never, ever stopped worrying about their kids and partly because of the woman who slept in the room across the hall from him.

About the Author Black and Orange

 

Samantha Young lo res c Mark Archibald

 

New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young is a 27 year old book addict who graduated from the University of Edinburgh.  She lives in Scotland.  Visit her online at:

samanthayoungbooks.com
Twitter.com/SYoungSFAuthor
www.Facebook.com/OnDublinStreet
Goodreads


Giveaway Black and Orange

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED-Thank you

Penguin Group Publishing is offering a paper copy of DOWN LONDON ROAD to one lucky reader at The Reading Cafe.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Giveaway is open to USA only.

4. Giveaway runs from May 27 to May 31, 2013

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