Review: On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Posted on 11 December, 2012 by Christine in Samantha Young / 0 comments

Cover_On Dublin Street

This one we both gave 5 stars and loved!!!

Summary:

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.

Christine’s Review:

Joss Butler lost her family when she was young and grew up in foster homes. From a young age, she learned what it was like to be missing the love of her family while growing up alone and having to take care of herself making her the strong, independent woman that she is today. Leaving her tragic past behind and trying to move forward, she moves to Edinburgh Scotland to attend university and to write professionally while working at a bar.

She meets hottie Braden Carmichael while going to look at a new apartment and they share a cab together. Electricity sparks while they are together and Joss is more than happy to get out of the cab to never see this stranger again. But fate always finds a way, and Braden ends up being her new roommate’s older brother! What ensues is that Braden wants Joss and will do anything to be in a relationship with her including proposing a sexual agreement so that they can satisfy their sexual cravings all the while hoping that it will build into more.

Samantha Young did an amazing job writing her debut novel in the adult genre! I thought that the characters were very well developed – Braden, the rich, determined, handsome guy who always gets what he wants and Joss, the scared heroine who uses comedy when she is uncomfortable in situations and who is unknowingly beautiful both inside and out that she doesn’t even realize it. I fell in love with these characters – their scenes together were always so intense that you could literally feel the deep attraction that they had for one another. I felt for Joss because I could relate to her – I wanted her to find her strength, I rooted for her and hoped that by talking to her therapist that she would be able to accept the death of her family and really LIVE LIFE. Braden and Joss were smoking hot together – I laughed, I was frustrated but above all I wanted them to work and have their happily ever after. I think this is what makes Samantha Young a great author – she created characters that are hard to forget and keeps you wanting for more. Great read! Thank you Ms. Young!

Denise’s Review

I loved this book, On Dublin Street tells the tale of Jocelyn Butler a woman who lost her family when she was young.

Joss as she prefers to be called is a very believable character. In response to tragedy she has been to built up walls around herself to keep people at a distance, by doing so she thinks she can avoid being hurt again.

Joss has been able to pull this off for almost 8 years, well that is until she finds a new roommate (flatmate since the book is set in Scotland) Ellie and meets Ellie’s brother, Braden Carmichael.

Braden is sexy, charming, and is so intuitive when it comes to what Jocelyn is feeling. He often knows what Joss needs without her saying anything, even if it to not ask questions and give her space, Braden gets her.

Braden is a successful professional who until he meets Jocelyn appears to be the eternal bachelor. Truth is the only reason Joss agrees to Braden’s first arrangement (I do not want to give away the story) is because she thinks he is unable to committ.

Again, this builds with Ms Young believable story line. Braden has his own past to deal with and his opening up to Jocelyn is the start of their relationship moving to the next level.

Braden understands why Jocelyn is guarded, he does not try to fix her, he accepts her and wants to help her overcome her past (his helping her when she is having a panic attack will melt your heart).

The chemistry between the two of them is off the charts, you can really feel the connection between them, again excellent job by the author.

Joss pushes Braden back and hard at times; but since the author does such a good job with her story you understand why. Ms Young also uses some dialogue with Jocelyn therapist to try to outline her struggle, she also uses the therapist to push Joss, saying many of the things to her I think readers would want to say at some points during the story.

I enjoyed the small ways that Ms Young pointed out the things Braden were doing that were different than things he has done for other women in his past. She uses his words along with stories and words of other characters to highlight how Jocelyn has effected him in a way no other has. I truly loved seeing this; it really drove the point home that this was Braden’s soulmate and made it clear why he was willing to fight so hard for her.

I should also add the chemistry between these two made for some hot scenes; fun and hot, sexy and hot and emotional and hot. Ms Young used their desire for each other to push many buttons for the readers, so well done.

The use of Ellie’s family is a wonderful example of how the author builds a well rounded story with secondary character developing that pulls you into her literacy masterpiece. Ellie and her brother’s best friend, Adam get a bit of their own story that will keep you wanting more as well.

Grieve and loss can affect people in so many ways; Jocelyn’s journey is a heart wrenching and emotional read that at times will make you laugh, at times might make you cry, will definatly have you sweating for Braden and in the end will leave you loving this story.

It was delightful sharing their journey as they discovered each other, and surprisingly finding themselves individually along the way.

I do not want to give away the end but I feel like should say it was really well done. Their physical connection was their but the emotional connection took the relationship to a new level and it was amazing!

The author created two less than perfect characters who had real reasons for their flaws, this translated for me into a strong leading lady and an alpha male who made sense to me.

This almost 400 page book flew by, you will be compelled to keep reading. Ms Young will have you laughing, crying and wanting to know how the story unfolds.

My Mom would tell you I was a child who did not enjoy reading; well I am a woman who read this book in less than two days and if I could have sat and read it from cover to cover in one day I would have.

I truly hope this book is made into a movie one day; it is that good.

Thank you Ms Young for a wonderful read, for beyond believable characters and for a cast I want to read more about!

About the Author: Image of Samantha Young New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Samantha Young, is a 26 year old writer from Stirlingshire, Scotland. After graduating from the university of Edinburgh, Samantha returned to Stirlingshire where she happily spends her days writing about people she’s keen for others to meet, and worlds she’s dying for them to visit. Having written over ten young adult urban fantasy novels, Samantha took the big plunge into adult contemporary romance with her novel ‘On Dublin Street’. ‘On Dublin Street’ is a #1 National Bestseller and has been re-published by NAL(Penguin US).