Review: On Dublin Street by Samantha Young
SYNOPSIS:
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.
REVIEW:
This book was absolutely delicious. After receiving high recommendations from several friends, I bit and read the first chapter on Amazon and immediately knew I had to have more. So I ordered the book and finally dove into the story. Now lets talk about the tantilizing sexual tension between Braden and Jocelyn because I think for the first 150 pages I was ready to combust. I definitely was a blushing, giggling mess because the tension between these two is palpable. I think the build up was better than the actual sex, it was just that steamy! From knowing glances, to pretending the attraction isn’t there, to the thrill of finally watching these two give in, I was captivated.
But the story is about so much more than Braden and Jocelyn finding each other. Jocelyn undergoes a complete discovery as she works through all the craziness in her head. From her childhood trauma, to opening up and building friendships, her character development is awe-inspiring. Don’t get me wrong, there were several instances where she buried her head in the sand and needed a swift kick in the arse, but she eventually came to her senses. And if she didn’t, Rhian and Ellie were there to talk some sense into her. Rhian and Ellie were the perfect best friends and complemented Jocelyn flawlessly. Their banter was authentic, fluid, and heartfelt. They not only helped Jocelyn grow, but they shed light to another lay of her personality.
The real star of the story for me though is Braden, the perfect book boyfriend. Braden is all the levels of swoon, rolled into one delectable, 6-pack, broad shouldered-package. Seriously, I am swooning hard, his perceptiveness and ability to read Jocelyn was giving me all the fuzzy feels. The icing on the cake though was how understanding he was, he just ‘got’ what Jocelyn was going through, and stood by her letting her ride the wave but also supporting her with his strength. Men need to take notes, because Braden is book boyfriend perfection.
The story line was seamless, and filled with plenty of drama. There was your typical relationship drama with Jocelyn and Braden but the book had so much more than that. Jocelyn helped both Rhian and Ellie with their relationship so in the end, you really get three happily ever afters instead of just one, which makes the book that much better. Overall, I am so happy I picked up this book and it was delightful read I will definitely re-read in the future…once my face returns to a normal color.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
