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. 

2014 Audiobook Challenge Update

It's been two months since I last updated you on my audiobook challenge progress, and I've taken a few business trips since then. Business trips for me usually mean some extended time in the car, since most of my trips are to either Philly (1.5 hours away), Baltimore (2 hours away) or Pittsburgh (3.5 hours away). That's some good quality time spent with my iPod there.

Challenge Level:  My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) - 30+

1. Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer
2. Unbroken (Beachwood Bay #1) by Melody Grace
3. The Perfect Game (The Perfect Game #1) by J. Sterling
4. The Game Changer (The Perfect Game #2) by J. Sterling
5. Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer
6. Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts #1) by Stacia Kane
7. Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts #2) by Stacia Kane
8. City of Ghosts (Downside Ghosts #3) by Stacia Kane
9. Night Broken (Mercy Thompson #8) by Patricia Briggs
10. Through the Zombie Glass (White Rabbit Chronicles #2) by Gena Showalter
11. The Naturals (The Naturals #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
12. Not a Drop to Drink (Not a Drop to Drink #1) by Mindy McGinnis
13. Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs (Jane Jameson #1) by Molly Harper
14. Sacrificial Magic (Downside Ghosts #4) by Stacia Kane
15. Sixth Grave on the Edge (Charley Davidson #6) by Darynda Jones
16. Winter's Heat (Titan #1) by Cristin Harber
17. Real (Real #1) by Katy Evans
18. Mine (Real #2) by Katy Evans
19. Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men (Jane Jameson #2) by Molly Harper
20. Nice Girls Don't Live Forever (Jane Jameson #3) by Molly Harper
21. Chasing Magic (Downside Ghosts #5) by Stacia Kane
22. Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors (Jane Jameson #4) by Molly Harper
23. Suddenly Royal (Suddenly #1) by Nicole Chase (currently listening to) 

Over the past few months, I've kind of stuck with what I know. I finished off both the Downside Ghosts series and the Jane Jameson series. Bahni Turpin and Amanda Ronconi continue to be among my most favorite narrators ever. Their work on the Downside Ghosts and Jane Jameson series, respectively, has blown me away, book after book after book.

Now that those two series are taken care of, I have a few new series I'm so excited to start, starting with Nicole Chase's Suddenly series. I only just started this book today, so I'll be able to report on this one more next time. I also have the first book in the Drew & Fable series by Monica Murphy waiting on deck.

I'm torn as to what to spend this month's Audible credit on. There's the next Charley Davidson book, Seventh Grave and No Body. That comes out later in October. The Young Elites by Marie Lu is a book I've had my eye on for awhile now, but it may be tough for me to find the time to get to read it anytime soon. And then there's Tangled by Emma Chase. I've been wanting to read this book for AGES, but haven't gotten to it yet. On top of that, I've heard amazing things about the narrator of Tangled, Sebastian York.

So, which one should I choose? Help me decide!

REVIEW: Reaper's Stand (Reaper's MC #4)

Reaper's Stand (Reaper's MC #4), by Joanna Wylde
To Be Published October 7, 2014
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult erotic romance/suspense
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) As Reapers Motorcycle Club president, Reese “Picnic” Hayes has given his entire life to the club. After losing his wife, he knew he’d never love another woman. And with two daughters to raise and a club to manage, that was just fine with him. These days, Reese keeps his relationships free and easy—he definitely doesn’t want to waste his time on a glorified cleaning lady like London Armstrong.

Too bad he’s completely obsessed with her.

Besides running her own business, London’s got her junkie cousin’s daughter to look after—a more reckless than average eighteen-year-old. Sure she’s attracted to the Reapers’ president, but she’s not stupid. Reese Hayes is a criminal and a thug. But when her young cousin gets caught up with a ruthless drug cartel, Reese might be the only man who can help her. Now London has to make the hardest decision of her life—how far will she go to save her family?

Sexy, dangerous books are fun for me because they take me away from my normal, humdrum life and put me in the shoes of people who are much more interesting, more daring, and more attractive than I am in real life. The problem I am finding myself facing more and more, though, is an increasing difficulty being able to relate in any way with these hot, young people. I'm 38 and dealing with encroaching wrinkles, stray gray hairs and steadily sagging body parts (I'm depressing myself more and more with every word I type!).

So, for me, REAPER'S STAND was the best book so far in the Reaper's MC series because Joanna Wylde, goddess that she is, decided that it was time that Picnic get his own story. Picnic - the leader of the Idaho Reapers chapter. The one with the grown daughter. The guy who is 43-years-old.

Things are heating up with the Mexican drug cartel that is slowly encroaching on the various MC clubs' territories along the west coast. The Reapers and a few other clubs get together and decide to band together to do something about it. Around the same time, through a very circuitous route, Picnic enters into a relationship with local businesswoman London. Though no one - especially not London and Picnic - could've ever guessed it, that relationship ends up threatening all the clubs' efforts, and even their lives.

The overarching theme in Reaper's Stand is all about second chances. All of the main characters have an opportunity to seek out a second chance, but different things hold them back. For Pic, London is his second chance at love. He lost his wife to cancer six years earlier, and he had resolved to never take another one again. But, as he learns more about her - both her life and her body - he can't help feeling things about her that scare the crap out of him. And, who could blame him? The moments when he has quiet conversations with his wife were so bittersweet. It was like she continued being his sounding board, even when it came to another woman.

London is 38, has never been married or had children of her own, and yet, she's spent the past six years raising her junky cousin's daughter with special needs. She owns her own cleaning business. She has no life. Pic has a way of drawing her out of her shell and having her ask for things she never imagined, including a life with him. London has a second chance to live her life to the fullest, but her committment to giving Jessica the best life she can has prevented her from doing that in the past.

Jessie was absolutely infuriating. I get that her actions are not entirely intentional. Yet, her lack of accountability made me want to throw something. Jessie makes bad choice after bad choice after bad choice. She's given second, third, and fourth chances, and blows them all. And, then, because of that, she puts her life and London's in jeaopardy. It's hard to forgive a character when they do stuff like that (but, we better try, since it seems like Jessie will get her own book soon...).

The passion between London and Pic was absolutely nuclear. These "older" characters are just as sexy, just as virile and just as adventurous as their younger counterparts. The explosive sex was tempered by sweet moments between these two, especially as Pic comes to terms with letting the memory of his wife fade a bit.

As with the other Reapers we've met, Pic has his moments. You know what I mean - those times when he acts like a complete and utter asshole, and you want to absolutely strangle him for it. Wisdom and good judgement doesn't necessarily come with age, and thank goodness. Where would be the fun in that? London makes some equally stupid decisions, which causes Pic to make some really hard choices, and in the aftermath, I was so proud of both of them.

The action and danger in Reaper's Stand is ramped up as the various MCs (Reapers, Devil's Jacks, Silver Bastards) engage the cartel in a turf war. There's a lot more violence in this book than in the other books in the Reaper's MC series. We meet some new characters and new MCs that I think we'll be seeing a lot more of in the future (*cough*thenextbook*cough*).

Joanna Wylde is doing some incredible things with the relationships featured in her Reapers MC series. I can't wait to see what comes next.