Mini-reviews: On Dublin Street and Until Fountain Bridge by Samantha Young

Title: On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street #1)
Author: Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 Stars

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.

MY THOUGHTS

My high expectations will be my death one day. This is what happened here. I liked this book, but I didn’t love it as I expected. It seems like all of my friends have read On Dublin Street ages ago and loved it. Since I’ve read Samantha Young’s Hero and it’s now on my favorite shelf I decided that it’s finally time for me to give On Dublin Street a go.

The romance was so delicious, with slow build-up, amazing sexual tension and explosive sex scenes.

I didn’t expect Braden to be such an alpha-male. He was so possessive; probably I just wasn’t in the mood for such character in the moment. But I loved his persistence toward Jocelyn, only such man could make her open up; and he was caring and protective toward her.

As for the Jocelyn, I can see why some readers couldn’t connect with her. She had such high walls around her heart and her unwillingness to open to anyone and get close to people was sometimes frustrating. But I can understand why she was the way she was. On Dublin Street is not just romance, it’s also a story about a girl, grieving loss of her family.

I’m sure I’m the last person here to read On Dublin Street, but if you were under the rock like me, I recommend this book.

Title: Until Fountain Bridge (On Dublin Street #1.5)
Author: Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS

This mini-review is a little spoilerish if you haven’t read On Dublin Street.

Until Fountain Bridge is a sweet novella, perfect for those who wanted more of Ellie and Adam after reading On Dublin Street. It focuses only on Ellie and Adam’s relationship. We see them through Ellie’s diaries as Ellie and Adam (a couple now) peruse through them and read some entries.

Samantha Young as always writes wonderful romance.

My only complaint, I find unbelievable that someone would write their diary in such manner. Ellie’s diary sounds like a novel, something a writer wrote for his readers. It doesn’t sound like something a person (especially a teenage girl) would write in her diary. Perhaps it would be better if the author made memory flashbacks instead the diary.

Aside from this I really enjoyed Until Fountain Bridge. I recommend it, especially if you loved On Dublin Street.

Review: Coming in from the Cold (Gravity #1) by Sarina Bowen

Title: Coming in from the Cold (Gravity #1)
Author: Sarina Bowen
My rating: 5 of 5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS

“A deeply romantic story that warms with slow-burn eroticism and genuine insight into loss and love. Sarina Bowen’s debut glows with intelligence and a lovely sweetness.” —Mary Ann Rivers

I completely agree with this praise from Mary Ann Rivers. Actually Coming in from the Cold reminded me Mary Ann Rivers’s The Story Guy. It had the same overwhelming effect on me, when I felt too much, when I was so connected with characters that it’s almost painful.

This book surprised me a lot. I’ve read Sarina Bowen’s The Ivy Years series and I liked it. So I had positive expectations about Coming in from the Cold. But it was so much more than I expected. I loved this book. It was a very emotional and deep story.

Willow Reade got stranded in the car with ski racer Dane Hollister during a blizzard. Their instant mutual attraction, closeness in darkness in the car led to a night of passion. But what next? Willow is recovering from her breakup and trying to adjust to unwanted farmer life. Dane doesn’t do relationships because of his secret.

From the first sight Dane has it all: he is handsome, famous and rich; he is surrounded by beautiful and willing women. But no one knows the real Dane, no one knows his secret.

Members of his family suffered and died from genetic disease and he is the next.

So he doesn’t make friends, he doesn’t do relationships, only one-night stand. Sarina Bowen made an amazing job by portraying Dane. I could feel his longing for normal relationship, his desperation. He is so lonely and he is angry and he is afraid of his future. As a woman I usually connect more with a female character, but in this case I felt for Dane, I desperately wanted him to be ok, to be happy. I loved this other side of him: kind, caring, vulnerable.

Willow was a very likeable character. I loved her interactions with her chickens.

Another aspect that surprised me was how sensual writing was. After reading The Ivy Years series I knew that Sarina Bowen can write great steamy scenes, but her writing in Coming in from the Cold blew me away. Before I thought that the author who writes the most sensual romance is Cara McKenna. Now I’m not so sure. Sarina Bowen did something special here. I especially loved the scene with raisins.

I can’t believe I’m saying it, but my only complaint is that there was a little bit too much sex in Coming in from the Cold. Not that I’m against sex scenes in my books. I’ve read and enjoyed a lot of erotica. But in this book sex was a way to show readers emotional turmoil and it helped to understand characters better. So I think it would be better if there were a couple of sex scenes less.

As always I can’t write a proper review on a book I loved. So I just say this: Coming in from the Cold is a sensual and emotional romance, which will make you think and feel. Read it.

Mini-review: Last Will and Testament (Radleigh University #1) by Dahlia Adler

Title: ast Will and Testament (Radleigh University #1)
Author: Dahlia Adler
My rating: 2 of 5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS

Last will and Testament could be so much better. Despite it being the forbidden love story and I’m a sucker for this kind of stories, this book didn’t work for me at all.

The life of Lizzie Brandt, college student is spiraling down. She is partying, drinking and on top of that she is sleeping with Trevor, who has a girlfriend. Sudden death of her parents brings a jarring stop to her life. Now Lizzie is a guardian to her two little brothers and she needs to keep her scholarship which means to straighten her grades. Here comes Connor Lawson. He is TA in Lizzie’s class. Unexpectedly Connor helps Lizzie to find an apartment and helps her to study. The more time they spend together the more difficult it is to stay apart.

The first thing that didn’t work for me was writing style. Actually it remained me of Price of a Kiss (Forbidden Men, #1) by Linda Kage. The same upbeat style with swearing, which made very difficult for me to connect with Lizzie. I wanted to feel her feelings, but she came as this shallow, too optimistic person.

My next complaint is how grieving was portrayed. Lizzie just lost her parents, so I expected to feel for her loss, her pain. But I didn’t. The same was about her brothers.

The romance didn’t work for me either. There was no chemistry between Lizzie and Connor. This was a forbidden romance: he is a teacher, she is a student. There was so much at stake for both of them. I wanted a big conflict; I wanted turmoil of emotions… But there was none of that.

Also there was all that unnecessary angst. As I’ve told not once I like angst. But, and it’s a big BUT, I don’t like angst for the sake of angst. I want my angst to have some purpose in the book. I don’t like when the author brings some bitchy ex-girl who makes unbelievable stuff to tear apart our couple.

All in all this wasn’t a book for me.

Review: Hero by Samantha Young

Title: Hero
Author: Samantha Young
My rating: 5 of 5 Stars

SUMMARY (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…

MY THOUGHTS

I’ve seen a lot of positive comments and reviews about Samantha Young’s On Dublin Street series. But there are five books with the sixth on its way in this series, so I’ve got a little intimidated, because for me a series is always more commitment than a standalone. So when I heard about the release of Samantha Young’s standalone I was quick to pick it up. I didn’t expect that I would like Hero so much.

This book was so addictive that I stayed until the wee hours in the morning reading it. And I don’t regret it though I was really sleep-deprived the next day. I don’t remember when the last time I was so immersed in a book was.

I think Hero worked for me so well because of the romance. It was so intense and overwhelming. Samantha Young did such a great job with the build-up and anticipation. There was so much sexual tension between main characters and the author kept it rising by their every interaction. So when they finally give in to their feelings it was like an explosion and sex scenes were scorching hot.

I guess I should admit that I like angst. And there is a lot of angst in Hero. But even if you don’t usually like angsty books don’t let this stay on your way to this one. Samantha Young knows her job. Several of my GR friends opposed to angst liked Hero.

Aside from steamy and swoon-worthy moments there is a lot of good stuff in Hero. The characers are well-written. I especially have a soft spot for Alexa. She is very likeable. And Caine… What can I say? Swoon…

There is also a great cast of second characters. My favorites are Caine’s best friend Henry and Caine’s neighbor Effie, though she is more of a grandmother to him.

I also liked banters and dialogues between Alexa and Caine.

My only complaint is the epilogue. I like HEA, but it was so sappy, I think this book would be better without it.

So I really loved this book. If you like angsty, passionate and steamy romance with funny banters and well-developed characters, look no more. Hero by Samantha Young is perfect for you.