GIVEAWAY: THE ONE REAL THING (Hart's Boardwalk #1)

It's time for my fourth Apollycon author giveaway!

When the author list for Apollycon 2017 was released, I had a few fangirl moments. I'm going to have a chance to meet authors that I assumed I'd never get to meet because of logistics. There are quite a few authors on the list that will be joining us from countries like Australia, England and Scotland. The author who wrote the book I'm giving away today hails from the last country I mentioned.

Ever since I read On Dublin Street by Scottish author Samantha Young in early 2013, she has been a favorite of mine. Now, she's getting ready to release a new series, and today's ARC giveaway, THE ONE REAL THING, is the first in that series. If you live in the US, good luck!

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REVIEW: Moonlight on Nightingale Way (On Dublin Street #6)

Moonlight on Nightingale Way (On Dublin Street #6), by Samantha Young
Publish Date: June 2, 2015
Publisher: Berkley Romance/NAL
Format: paperback, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) 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…

I can't believe this series has some to a close. No more Braden. Or Cam. Or Nate, Marco, Cole or Adam. It's a sad, sad day. But, first, one last story from the gang and one hell of an epilogue. 

Logan has just gotten out of prison and is living it up. His neighbor, Grace, who works from home, isn't too thrilled with his methods though. Women and parties in his apartment keep her up when she needs to be sleeping or working. But, when Logan needs someone to help him through something really tough, Grace is there. And, as she helps him, she starts to see all the wonderful things about him that she missed the first few times they met. Except, both their lives are not so simple, and it makes having a relationship seemingly impossible. They may have to keep each other in the friend zone, but do they really want to? 

Logan and Grace's story is a melding together of two of my favorite tropes - enemies to lovers and friends to lovers. This is the enemies to friends to lovers story, and it was perfect for them. Man, they really did not get along at all in the beginning. They antagonize each other to extremes. Logan sees Grace as uptight and high strung. Grace sees Logan as a womanizing, inconsiderate ass. And they can't seem to find a middle ground, until the middle ground smacks them in the face. 

I won't go into all the details because... HUGE spoilers. But, suffice to say that Logan's life changes on a dime, and he is ill equipped to handle it. Initially, Grace gets dragged into the situation simply because she was physically there at the right time. But, helping Logan seems to become her purpose after that, and she embraces it wholeheartedly. Grace and Logan become very good friends as she lends him her ear during this difficult time in his life. It's clear that Grace has a huge heart, and she opens it willingly to Logan when she sees the kind of man he really it. 

And... that sort of blows up in her face. Grace falls for Logan pretty quickly, and when they finally have that moment where everything comes together for them, it's kind of perfect. Until it's over. And Logan opens his mouth. And ruins it, like men do sometimes. It shakes Grace's self-confidence to the core, and it's not an easy thing for Logan to get around. Particularly since they had grown to become very good friends. And, we all know what happens when friends sleep together. Nothing good. Well, at least, at first. 

To his credit, Logan really is going through a lot. He just got out of prison for nearly killing a man - a man who raped and attacked his sister. So, he hasn't yet adjusted to life again, when another bomb is dropped on him. He's not exactly of the clearest head at the moment. And it takes him awhile before all the pieces fit together, and he realizes there is a huge hole where Grace belongs. That moment of clarity is always my favorite part in books, and it definitely was great here too. 

But, favorite part? No - my favorite part was the epilogue. We've watched all the characters in this series meet, fall in love, break up, get back together again, get married and have babies. The epilogue chooses one moment in time and we visit each couple wherever they are to see what they are doing. We obviously start with Joss and Braden, since it all began with them, and we end with Grace and Logan. It was poignant and perfect. I am so glad I read this series. I'm even more glad that I own them all, because I can go back and experience them all again whenever I want. 
  

REVIEW: Hero

Hero, by Samantha Young
To Be Published February 3, 2015
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Pre-order: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Alexa Holland’s father was her hero—until her shocking discovery that she and her mother weren’t his only family. Ever since, Alexa has worked to turn her life in a different direction and forge her own identity outside of his terrible secrets,. But when she meets a man who’s as damaged by her father’s mistakes as she is, Alexa must help him.

Caine Carraway wants nothing to do with Alexa’s efforts at redemption, but it’s not so easy to push her away. Determined to make her hate him, he brings her to the edge of her patience and waits for her to walk away. But his actions only draw them together and, despite the odds, they begin an intense and explosive affair.

Only Caine knows he can never be the white knight that Alexa has always longed for. And when they’re on the precipice of danger, he finds he’ll do anything to protect either one of them from being hurt again…

Samantha Young has this uncanny knack for creating these super hero guys that are larger than life. Caine Carraway is infuriating, antagonistic and damaged. But, when it matters, he becomes this blazing white knight willing to take on the world to save the woman he loves. How can you not love a guy like that?

I know Samantha Young from her On Dublin Street series, which I love so much. It all started with Braden Carmichael, the original white knight. He's kind of set the standard, you know. They're big shoes to fill. Luckily, Caine is packing some pretty big feet. About halfway through HERO, I was saying to myself, "Braden who?"

Caine Carraway's life was destroyed when the man who his mother had been having an affair abandoned her in a hotel room to die of an overdose when he was only a young teenager. Twenty years later, he comes face-to-face with that man's daughter, and he's at war with himself. He's taken by her, but he hates everything she represents too. When her circumstances cause her to grovel for a job, Caine thinks this will be the perfect opportunity to torture her. He didn't expect for her to grow on him so quickly. And then when Alexa is in danger, Caine realizes how much he needs her. 

I can appreciate Caine's hatred of Alexa in the beginning. He has all this displaced anger over the awful things that happened to him when he was a child. He's learned to rely only on himself as he was pushed through the system and then remade himself to be a success. Alexa is a threat to his carefully erected facade. She represents all the bad things to Caine. She's a wild card. 

The one thing Caine didn't count on was how resilient and persistent Alexa could be. She too has faced all the bad things and lived to tell about them. She, however, is not rich and successful. Her only remaining family can't let on that they know her because of the stigma her last name carries with it. She is alone. She has nothing to lose. 

I loved that Alexa sought out Caine in an attempt to rectify the sins of her father. It's not really her responsibility to make things right, but she tries anyway. To me, that shows that Alexa has a good heart. She feels so badly that the actions of her father caused Caine so much pain, and she wants to try and make it better in any way she can. She becomes his personal assistant both out of necessity - hey, it's a nice paycheck and she needs the money - and out of a perceived obligation. She knew it would be rough, but she was willing to stick it out. 

Rough isn't even in the ballpark. Caine was relentless. He was awful to Alexa at first, and it made me loathe him for a time. But, it seemed like once he got all that initial ire out of the way, he became someone softer. And, then when he gave into their attraction, things really got interesting. Caine eventually comes to realize that the sins of the father should not be visited upon the son, or in this case, the daughter. Alexa's life was destroyed as well. Caine has his millions to keep him warm and the adoration of an entire city. Alexa barely has her apartment and is a pariah. Yet, she stays in an attempt to grow some roots and make a life. Once Caine sees all this, his respect for Alexa grows. 

Caine is your typical alpha male type. He's gorgeous and brooding and ridiculously over protective. He bosses Alexa around, not only on the clock, but off it as well. When Alexa's safety is compromised by an unknown person, Caine is in his element, assigning security and sending transportation and telling her when she can and can't leave. And Alexa is just so thankful that someone finally gives a damn. 

Caine and Alexa are amazing together. Their passion and love is almost a tangible thing. Once Caine got over himself, they were such a fantastic couple, complementing each other perfectly. Where Caine is hard and demanding, Alexa is soft and forgiving. But, they're both very strong and very strong willed. I loved that about both of them. 

I'm almost sad this is a stand-alone. I would have loved to read more about this couple. For now, though, it's good enough that I had one book with Caine Calloway. But, if Samantha Young ever wants to write a follow-up novella, well, I wouldn't be upset.  

REVIEW: Echoes of Scotland Street

Echoes of Scotland Street (On Dublin Street #5), by Samantha Young
To Be Published October 7, 2014
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult contemporary romance/suspense
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) 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.

I'll admit - I thought I might have a hard time getting into Cole's story. I mean, I still think of him as the 14-year-old sweet kid from book #2. Even though we caught a glimpse of grown-up Cole in Hannah's book, it wasn't the same as him being front and center. And sexy. And a dirty-talker. 

I think Samantha Young knew that we might still have a remnant of teenage Cole in our minds when we started Echoes of Scotland Street. Which is why she eases us into it. The first scene in the book is between 15-year-old Cole and 15-year-old Shannon. They have this awesome conversation outside his grandmother's house. Shannon likens him to a Tony Stark, Clark Kent or a Peter Parker. She says Cole Walker is a super hero name. So true.

Flash forward a bunch of years and Cole is all grown up. He's put his drawing talents to good use as the star tattooist at a well-renowned shop in Edinburgh. He's been surrounded by people who love him and are interested in him. Shannon, on the other hand, has been in one failed relationship after another. And, after the disastrous end of her last one, her family has pretty much written her off as a lost cause. Shannon is seriously in need of a super hero. But, she sees Cole as the villain with his tats and his piercings - just like all her other boyfriends. 

There is one thing about Echoes of Scotland Street that I loved more than anything. It might surprise you. For a bit, this book goes along like many others. Cole pursues Shannon. She blows him off. On and on we go with only Cole's persistence and confidence and Shannon's inane stubbornness to pull them through the story. I have to tell you - so many times, I sit here and think that there's no guy who would put up with so much crap from a girl. 

The best thing is, Cole doesn't. He truly is one of the best book boyfriends ever. Because, when Shannon's words and actions prove to be too much, he tells her so and writes her off. I loved it. It proved how comfortable he is in his own skin. And that he has a strong moral compass and isn't a doormat. All necessary qualities in a good man. 

And, as it turns out, Cole's stand was exactly the kick in the pants that Shannon needed. Once she saw beneath the false mask she herself had constructed on him, she was able to see Cole's inner hero. And it was then that he was able to do things for her she didn't even dream of. 

Your mind went right in the gutter, yeah? I meant That Cole was able to help Shannon conquer the demons of her past and to start to work through a lot of the guilt she was harboring. But, truthfully, grown-up Cole is a sexy beast who knows his way around the bedroom. Samantha Young doesn't let us down - this book is super hot and super satisfying in every way. We see lots of our favorite couples from previous books too. 

And, we get to meet the subject of the next book in this incredible series. It's a brand new guy - I'll keep it a surprise, but suffice to say, I'm already jonesing for his story. In the meantime, Echoes of Scotland Street will tide you over. It's everything you love in the On Dublin Street series. 

REVIEW: Fall From India Place (On Dublin Street #4)

Fall From India Place (On Dublin Street #4), by Samantha Young
To Be Published June 3, 2014
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: e-ARC, obtained from the publisher
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads)  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….

I've been jonesing for Hannah and Marco's story ever since it was introduced waaaaay back in On Dublin Street. Samantha Young delivers just what I wanted in this emotionally-charged addition to the Dublin Street series.

Hannah and Marco were best friends for years, even though she always wanted more, and he didn't. One fateful night, her deepest wish was granted, and they finally got together in every sense. But, the aftermath was anything but what Hannah expected. Marco immediately left her, not only in that bedroom on India Place, but he left the entire country to get away from her. Five years later, Hannah is a different person because of that humiliating and devestating event. So, when she runs into Marco unexpectedly, she's surprised to find out that Marco changed too. The question is, is it too little, too late?

Fall From India Place was full of twists and turns and secrets. It soon became obvious that Marco leaving Hannah five years earlier was not the end of Hannah's story. It wasn't the only bad thing that happened to her. It was fairly easy to guess what else was going on, but when the story finally comes out of Hannah's lips (way too late, I might add), it didn't matter that I had pretty much figured it out already. The telling of the story was powerful and emotional. And, really sad too.

Fate dealt both Marco and Hannah a craptastic hand, and where Marco had made the decision to try and do something good with it, Hannah withdrew and closed herself off from the world. In the previous books, she had always seemed bubbly and vibrant, and it was obvious right away that 22-year-old Hannah was very different from 17-year-old Hannah.

The result of Marco leaving Hannah when she wanted and needed him the most was a bitter, distrustful woman who pissed this reader off again and again with her actions. Marco was an absolute dream, and his efforts to woo her and win her back were admirable and sweet and totally above and beyond. But, Hannah's intense fears of rejection continued to thwart both of their attempts at happiness. It resulted in that kind of bookish frustration that makes you want to scream at fictional characters and look like a crazy person because of it.

Marco has secrets of his own that take way too long to come out. He comes clean about where he has been the past five years and why he left in the first place. But, there's another bomb just waiting in the wings to be dropped, and when it does, my heart broke a little for both Hannah and Marco.

I do like books where mistakes are made, groveling occurs, and lessons are learned. What I do not like is going to extremes in any of those areas. Marco well exhausted my limit of groveling. He put up with Hannah running away from him, telling him it was over and ignoring his calls FAR longer than I thought he should have. Definitely far longer than any guy in real life would have. It was irritating. I was mad at Hannah for treating him like crap for so long, and I was mad at Marco for putting up with it.

One of the really delightful parts of Fall From India Place was the glimpse into the lives of the four couples already known and loved from the series. Catching up with Braden and Joss, Jo and Cam, Ellie and Adam, and Liv and Nate was awesome. Of course there are children running all over the place, and it's so fun to see the relationship dynamics of these couples haven't changed.

One character that has changed A LOT was Cole, Jo's younger brother. He's now a strapping, gorgeous, tatted man and Hannah's best friend. We see a lot of him in Fall From India Place, and I am so so hopeful that the next book Samantha Young writes in this series will be about him. Cole is such an amazing character. I need to know more!

I also liked how Samantha Young turned the spotlight on the problem of adult literacy in the UK. Hannah volunteers as a teacher for an adult literacy class, and the scenes with her in that class were poignant and thought-provoking.

Fall From India Place might not be my most favorite in this series (that's still reserved for Down London Road), but it was a good addition, nonetheless. Marco was incredible, and once Hannah got her head on straight, so was she. The ending was happy and satisfying. I can't wait for the next book in this series!

NEW ADULT MONDAY: Out of the Shallows (Into the Deep #2)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

Out of the Shallows (Into the Deep #2), by Samantha Young
To Be Published April 15, 2014
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre:  new adult contemporary romance

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) LIVE YOUNG. LIVE HARD. LOVE DEEP.
 
Charley and Jake’s story concludes in Out of the Shallows…

Somehow, after everything they’ve been through, Jake Caplin and Charley Redford made their way back to one another. But finding each other and staying together are two completely different things.

When Charley’s world is flipped upside down, she begins to question the choices and decisions she’s made since her arrival in Edinburgh, and in an effort to grip onto what she holds most dear she believes she must sacrifice her love for Jake.

Returning to the States for her senior year, Charley struggles to find peace and happiness. While everyone else seems to be finding themselves in college, Charley is terrified that, along with almost everything else that’s important to her, she’s lost herself.

While friends and family deal with their own tumultuous lives, there is one person resolved to uncover the reason behind Charley’s sudden defection and unhappiness. Refusing to give up without a fight, Jake believes he is the only one who can truly understand what Charley is going through, and this time he’s determined to prove he’s there for her no matter what obstacles are thrown in their way.

However, as Charley strives to make it through the biggest personal journey of her life thus far, there is no guarantee that the woman she is becoming will still need Jake as much as the girl she once was did...
 
Out of the Shallows made my heart hurt. Jake and Charley's story began in Into the Deep, and it was a tumultuous story to say the least. They had an intense connection and a crazy powerful love when they were teens. Then, a tragic accident tore them apart. Four years later, they reunite unexpectedly at college, except Jake has a girlfriend and Charley's never gotten over him. Their history can't be denied, though, and finally, they find their way back to one another. You'd think that would be the end of their story. Their happily ever after, so to speak. You would be wrong. 

"... you against my fallow heart. There'll be no sympathy from me, my friend. I lost you out in the shallows..."

My loyalties have flip flopped. In Into the Deep, I was totally Team Charley. Jake was a jerk to her when they were teenagers. He dumped her, left her and stopped talking to her. She's trying to move on when he shows back up - with a girlfriend, no less - and starts messing with her head. Although I was, of course, rooting for them to get back together, I really wanted her to make him suffer a bit for being such a jerk. 

Suffer he did, so their reunion was hard won and well deserved. However, their happiness didn't last long. Soon, Charley's family, who had very long memories when it came to Jake and the pain he caused Charley after leaving her the first time, starts voicing their issues with Charley and Jake getting back together, and Charley thinks she has to make a choice between her family and Jake. At first Charley chooses Jake, which causes a major rift in her family. After a major event, Charley changes her tune and chooses her family over Jake, which causes her to lose the man she loves more than any other, only this time by HER actions, not his. 

Go Team Jake. I spent much of Out of the Shallows feeling intensely frustrated. Nearly every character spends 95% of the book completely miserable. Charley and Jake are apart, but neither wants to be. Beck is still denying his feelings for Claudia, causing both of them to be upset nearly all the time. Charley's parents are mad about her career and boyfriend choices. Charley's sister won't speak to her because she's back together with Jake. And I wanted to shake all of them and tell them to focus on what's important!

Charley seems to think she needs to choose between her family or Jake. Granted they don't like him because of how he treated her. But, they won't listen to reason. The thing is, Charley shouldn't have to split her loyalties. No one should ask her to do that. Her parents, although they mean well, treat her horribly. They make her feel guilty for wanting to work in a dangerous profession, and then play upon that guilt to get her to do what they want. Even worse, they know full well what they are doing, and are okay with it. 

The strong, snarky Charley from Into the Deep was missing. She was replaced with someone indecisive, whiny and cruel. I didn't like the Charley of Out of the Shallows very much at all. It took a lot of council from her friends (most of which seemed to fall on deaf ears) before Charley decided to take action, but once she does, it was like coming home. To see my confident, Supergirl Charley back was awesome.

Jack was completely amazing in Out of the Shallows. Despite being hurt and upset, he seems to have learned his lesson from the first time around. He talks to her about how he feels (seriously - who IS this guy and why aren't there more like him out there?!), he gives her space when she needs it, and most importantly, he never gives up on her.

There was also the story within the story - the continuing saga of Beck and Claudia. In Out of the Shallows, we see something awful happen to both of them, and we see how the other helped. But, it became apparent in Into the Deep that Beck has some serious commitment issues. It was also clear that he loves Claudia very much. Watching the change in Beck was pretty cool. 

We see all the awesome side characters from Into the Deep, including my favorite - Lowe. I'm really hoping Samantha Young will write about him next. He still seemed to care a whole lot about Charley in Out of the Shallows, and I'd love to see him get his happily ever after. 

Out of the Shallows was intense and emotional. It was hard to read at times, but the ending was pretty amazing. It made all the stress and angst worth it.   

DOUBLE ARC REVIEW: Castle Hill: A Joss and Braden Novella & Before Jamaica Lane

Castle Hill: A Joss and Braden Novella (On Dublin Street #2.5), by Samantha Young
To Be Published December 3, 2013
Publisher: NAL (Intermix)
Format: e-galley, provided by NetGalley
Genre:  Adult Contemporary Romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) 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.

Castle Hill was, like, the PERFECT novella. It overlapped events in other books in the series (and, therefore, we see characters we know from those other books too), and enriched and added so much to Joss and Braden's story at the same time. It packed a powerful, emotional punch in a short package.

Castle Hill takes us from Braden's proposal through the wedding and honeymoon and into the weeks following. We've seen bits of this story in On Dublin Street, Down London Road and in the upcoming Before Jamaica Lane, and now they're all coming together to paint this tumultuous and romantic picture.

It only took me a few hours to read the entire thing, and I was completely lost in the story the entire time. The best part about Castle Hill is that it knocked Braden down from the pedestal on which I had set him. Trust me - that's a good thing. Guys that are too damn perfect are a fallacy - they don't exist, and therefore make stories seem less believable. For once, Joss isn't the one to make some bad choices. I was so mad at Braden for a good half of the story, and I LOVED THAT. It humanized him and made him come to life even more. Now - NOW - Braden really is the perfect guy. Bravo, Samantha Young.

The only problem with Castle Hill is, it left me wanting even more!! :)

********************

Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street #3), by Samantha Young
Published January 7, 2014
Publisher: NAL
Format: e-galley, provided by NetGalley
Genre:  Adult Contemporary Romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) 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.

I think I will buy anything that Samantha Young writes. Seriously. Before Jamaica Lane is yet another homerun in the sexy, emotionally-charged On Dublin Street series. The men she writes about are complex and hot and... oh yeah. SCOTTISH. Yum. Their women are damaged, love-starved and desperately in need for someone to open them up and scoop their insides out. Before Jamaica Lane is a bit lighter than its series mates, but no less angsty and emotional.

Liv, having had to take care of her dying mother during her teenage years, missed out on the wild and craziness that goes along with being young. Now 26, she's terribly shy and inexperienced when it comes to guys. There's one guy in particular that she has her eye on, but she freezes every time she sees him. Liv decides to enlist the help of her man-whore BFF, Nate, to help educate her on the dating game. The lessons, though. go further than either of them had initially planned, and when commitment-phobe Nate finally puts the brakes on things, he becomes the personification of the saying, "you never know what you have until you lose it."

Olivia is slightly pathetic. She's painfully shy. I mean, PAINfully. It was embarrassing to even read at times. Hiding under restaurant tables, hanging with her boss to avoid the hot guy at the library - she is the queen of avoidance. But, when she's with Nate, she's totally different. Their banter is sweet and hysterical and endearing. They're super comfortable with each other. It's obvious that they're the very best of friends. But, it's also obvious that there's something else there too, ever since they first met.

Nate lost his first love to cancer, so he's determined that superficial hook-ups are the way to go from now on. The only real relationship he has with a girl is the one he has with Olivia. It's so obvious that he loves her, despite his efforts to keep her in the friend zone. But, when she propositions him. the temptation was too much. Soon, he and Liv are essentially boyfriend-girlfriend. But, when she points that out to him and confesses her true feelings, he freaks and this foreign, awful douchebag takes over. Gah - that scene between he and Liv was so emotionally-charged and sad. And incredibly frustrating.

Samantha Young has this uncanny ability to create these characters that just stay with you, you know? You have real feelings for them and you cheer for them and you want to throttle them and you cry with them. The characters are multi-dimensional and amazing on so many levels. Nate and Olivia were incredible characters, and their relationship with each other was so special.

Before Jamaica Lane is told from Olivia's POV. You know, I think this is my only complaint about Samantha Young. I love dual POVs, and most of her books are told from our female MC's POV. I love knowing what's going on in both MCs' heads. And I really would've loved to know what was going on in Nate's head during most of this book.

Although you could definitely get away with not reading Castle Hill: A Joss and Braden Novella (On Dublin Street #2.5) before reading Before Jamaica Lane, I really think it adds a lot to the backstory if you do. Events definitely do a lot of overlapping. And, there was one very important, pivotal scene in Castle Hill that we didn't get to see in its entirety. That complete scene is in Before Jamaica Lane, and I am so glad it was.

The sex is pretty hot, but there's not as much of it as there was in previous On Dublin Street series books. The story was the real star here. Make sure you block out a good chunk of time when you sit down to start Before Jamaica Lane. Because, once you do, you are not going to want to put it down.

NEW ADULT MONDAYS: Into The Deep (Into The Deep #1)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

Into The Deep (Into The Deep #1), by Samantha Young
Published August 9, 2013
Publisher:  self-published
Format: e-copy, purchased
Genre:  new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Live young. Live hard. Love deep.

Charley Redford was just an ordinary girl until Jake Caplin moved to her small town in Indiana and convinced her she was extraordinary. Almost from day one Jake pulled Charley into the deep and promised he was right there with her. But when a tragic incident darkened Jake’s life he waded out into the shallows and left Charley behind.

Almost four years later Charley thinks she’s moved on. That is until she takes a study year abroad in Edinburgh and bumps into none other than Jake Caplin at a party with his new girlfriend. The bad-boy-turned-good attempts to convince Charley to forgive him, and as her best friend starts spending time with Jake’s, Charley calls a truce, only to find herself tumbling back into a friendship with him.

As they grow closer, the spark between them flares and begins playing havoc with their lives and relationships. When jealousy and longing rear their destructive heads, Charley and Jake struggle to come to grips with what they mean to one another.

And even if they work it out, there is no guarantee Charley will ever trust Jake to lead her back into the deep.

I think Samantha Young could write dirty limericks on a diner napkin and I would buy them without even reading them first. Because I'm sure they'd be the most awesome smutty poetry I've ever read. I've read her On Dublin Street series and am on her street team. When she announced that she was going to be releasing a new adult book, I one-clicked that sucker right away.

These new adult books about couples who split, then reconnect several years later only to find one of them is now in a relationship with someone else absolutely KILL me. Into The Deep is no different. From the very beginning, I was very emotionally invested in what happened to Charley and Jake. The heartbreak these two felt every time they were around each other - especially Charley - was palpable and real.

Into The Deep is told from Charley's POV. Flashbacks to four years earlier were interspersed with events from the present day to help the reader form a clear picture of what happened to drive these two kids apart when they were so obviously happy and perfect together. In this way, not all the secrets were revealed all at once - it was more like putting together a puzzle. The whole picture was formed a little at a time until we see exactly what's been going on at the very end.

Lots of girls can relate to Charley. She has to live with seeing the love of her life on campus every day knowing that he's with someone else. That sucks with a capital 'S'. The writing was so filled with emotion and description that feeling her pain and frustration with the situation was easy. I almost wish this had been a dual POV, because I would've loved to know what was going on in Jake's head the whole time. The chemistry between then was amazing.

“I knew after weeks of meeting you that I was never going to love another girl like I love you. You’re it for me. They write books about what we have.”

The side characters were equally as vibrant. Charley's best friend Claudia was a piece of work - I loved her craziness and supposed carefree attitude. Beck, Jake's best friend, is an enigma. He's super mysterious and very cool. Plus, he's in a band (with Lowe, who is another awesome side character). I love guys in bands. I'm hoping that soon Beck and Claudia will have their own book, because I think their story will be a good one.

There is no cliffhanger in Into The Deep, and most situations were resolved to a point. But, things were definitely left open and it made me want more. Like, NOW. Samantha Young - you wicked genius. I really loved this new new adult book.

COVER LOVING: The King, Into The Still Blue and Before Jamaica Lane

Just this week I've seen three new covers from three of my favorite series, and I'm just beside myself with all the gorgeousness. You ready for this?

1. The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood #12), by J. R. Ward

I know. Shut. Up. Although that's not exactly how I pictured Wrath, I still think this cover is so powerful and dominating - just like Wrath. I am so deliriously excited for The King to come out (and, we have such a long time to wait!). And, I think it's just going to keep getting better and better, too, because I hear through the blogosphere that the book that The Warden is working on now (#13) is going to be about... wait for it... Rhage and Mary. I KNOW!!

And, is it just me, or does he not look a lot like Alexander Skarsgard??

2. Into The Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3), by Veronica Rossi

The Under the Never Sky series is my most favorite dystopian series of all time. I like it better than The Hunger Games. Better than Divergent. I think this world that the incredible Veronica Rossi has created is so alive and vibrant and scary and beautiful. And, Perry, Aria and Roar have completely captivated me and stolen my heart. Under The Never Sky's cover featured Aria, and for good reason. It was really her story of how she came out of her pod-created shell and really came alive. Through The Ever Night's cover showcased Perry, and as expected, it was all about how he took charge of his life for the first time ever and became the leader he was born to be. The fact that both Perry and Aria are on the cover of Into The Still Blue is very telling, isn't it?

I'm super sad to see this series end but super excited to see how they get Into The Still Blue.

3. Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street #3), by Samantha Young

On the heels of the release of Down London Road (On Dublin Street #2) last month, Samantha Young just released the cover for Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street #3) yesterday. The characters featured on the cover are Olivia and Nate, a couple who were introduced in Down London Road. One of the things about Samantha Young's books that I've loved so far is that characters are not forgotten when the story moves to a new couple. We saw lots of Joss and Braden in book #2. I expect to see plenty of Jo and Cam in Before Jamaica Lane - especially since Nate is Cam's BFF and Olivia is Jo's cousin. I can't wait to read their story!

So, now it's your turn! What do you think? Any new covers you've seen lately that have captivated you? I'm a total cover whore, so tell me about them!

REVIEW: Down London Road (On Dublin Street #2)

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Down London Road (On Dublin Street #2), by Samantha Young
Published May 7, 2013
Publisher:  NAL
Format: paperback - I own
Genre:  Adult Contemporary Romance
To Buy:  Amazon  * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository


Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) 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.

I love feisty, take no crap heroines. One of the things that endeared me to Down London Road right off the bat is that Jo's first meeting with Cam goes very badly. And, she gives him one of the best kiss-off lines ever.

"Well, I guess that makes us a pair. I'm a brainless, morally corrupt, money-grabbing bimbo and you're a jumped-up, pretentious, artsy-fartsy, know-it-all dickhead... See, I can judge a book by its cover too."

Jo is one of my favorite adult contemporary characters. She has incredible strength of character, is so brave and goes after what she wants. I don't agree with all of her choices - sacrificing her own happiness in order to snag a rich man who will take care of her and her brother is almost akin to whoring yourself out to the highest bidder. Her intentions were in the right place, but her actions were sorely lacking.

Cam was no prize at first either. Thinking Jo was cheating on his friend (she wasn't), he is a complete jerk to her. Several times over, in fact. But, when he realizes the error of his ways, he makes up for it in big ways. Cam was amazing. I mean, UH-MAZING.

"What I feel for you... It's all-consuming," he breathed, leaning his forehead against mine again. "It's almost debilitating. It's too much. It's... I can't even describe it, but being with you is... There's this intensity inside me all the time, this... constant pull, desperation... it's like you're branded on me or something. And it bloody well burns."

I thought Down London Road was a really tight story. We see Jo and Cam both go from being one person in the beginning to someone different at the end as a result of their experiences both individually and together. It's the way it should be in a really good story. There doesn't seem to be a lot of veering off into tangents or stalling in the middle. The story moves from one place to the next to the next with fluidity. I was never bored or wondering if it was close to being done yet.

Another thing I loved about Down London Road is that we still saw plenty of Joss and Braden from On Dublin Street. I absolutely LOVE it when authors do this for us. They endear us to characters in book one, and then realize that, even though their story is largely done, that doesn't mean that we're done spending time with them. So, thank you, Sam, for giving us plenty of face time with Joss and Braden (but not so much that I forgot who the main story was all about). It was great seeing them again.

Things were set up perfectly for Nate and Olivia's story, Before Jamaica Lane, which will be out in January 2014 (NO! TOO FAR AWAY!). I can't wait!

REVIEW: On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street #1)

On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street #1), by Samantha Young
Published August 31, 2012
Publisher:  NAL
Format:  e-book - own
Genre:  Adult Contemporary Romance

Rating:  4 STARS

(From 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.

This was my first Samantha Young book. I actually own several, but I chose On Dublin Street to read first based on recommendations from some good friends. I definitely think that my first Samantha Young experience was a good one. 

I gotta tell you - Jocelyn was a really difficult character to like. I get that the events in the beginning of the book scarred her forever. That they affected who she ended up becoming. All I have to say is that Braden was a VERY patient man. Because, well, frankly, Jocelyn was a bitch most of the time to him. I'm really not quite sure why he was so persistent. Or, maybe I do...

It's obvious that Braden's initial attraction with Jocelyn was pretty physical in nature. What I don't get is, usually, in order for someone to fall in love with someone else, there has to be something else there besides great sex. Right? So, what is it that Braden saw in Jocelyn that made him want more than the great sex? I'm still trying to figure that out. But, it does appear that the sex was really... great, actually. (I'm not kidding about that!)

Braden is the real hero in this story. He takes care of his family, even those that aren't technically his family. He loves the woman that was unlovable. He's hot and rich and has good taste in architecture and design. Oh, and he's Scottish. Accent and everything. 'Nuff said.

Despite my distaste for Jocelyn as a character, I really did enjoy this book. It sucked me in from the first page and kept me there until it was done. I wanted to know how it would end for Joss and Braden - how she intended to conquer her demons and when she planned to admit to herself that she was being an idiot. The last chapter was the best part and made the entire book worth the read.