Book Review: On Dublin Street by Samantha Young.

Product details:
Publisher: Originally Self-Published. Now published by Penguin.
eBook, 414 pages.
Release date: August 31st 2012.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Ages: Adult
Source: Purchased.

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.

Totally addictive and all-consuming, On Dublin Street by Samantha Young is hands down the hottest book I’ve read all year.  As touching and heartfelt as it is totally sexy, I can pretty much guarantee that once you start reading this book you won’t put it down again until you are done!

Everybody has a past. Secrets they want to keep hidden, stories they’ll never share. But for Jocelyn Butler, the secrets of her past dictate her life to the point that she’s no longer really living at all.  Joss exists in world that is devoid of true connections.  Hers is a solitary existence, and that’s fine by Joss, because if she never lets anyone in, then at least she can never get hurt.

Joss doesn’t expect her life will change a whole lot when she moves into a fabulous new apartment on Dublin Street.  Her flat mate, Ellie, seems to instinctively know to keep her distance and not ask too many questions, but Ellie’s brother Braden is a whole different story.  A sexy Scot, Braden is a very successful business man, and as such, he’s used to getting what he wants.  And what he wants is Joss.  The chemistry between Braden and Joss is almost palpable, and it’s only a matter of time before Joss gives into temptation, but as Braden and Joss start to grow closer, and her walls start tumbling down, Joss knows she must retreat into herself again before Braden gets to close.  The only problem is that Braden has no intention of letting her go when he knows that deep down she feels the same for him as he does for her.

In running from her past and denying who she is Joss jeopardizes everything in her life, from friendships and relationships to any future happiness she might have. Braden is patient, Ellie understanding, but when darkness enters her new friends’ lives, Joss has a decision to make. Can she be there for her friends and allow herself to care, or will she stay stuck in the past as she has always done, shutting off her emotions and denying herself the life she truly deserves?

On Dublin Street took me right out of my reading comfort zone, and I couldn’t get enough! I had no great expectations going into this book as I rarely, if ever, read Contemporary Adult Romance* but I picked this one up because of all the buzz surrounding it when it first released a few months back. Samantha Young originally self-published On Dublin Street, but it’s no surprise to me that since then traditional publishers have snapped it up.  

 Beautifully written in Young’s engaging style, On Dublin Street is a book with heart, and is clearly written from the heart too.  Young deals with some pretty heavy topics in this book with care, sensitivity and an authenticity that makes the book a joy to read.  One of my favourite books of the year, I’m so glad I read On Dublin Street, and I can’t wait to read more from Samantha Young!

*Note: On Dublin Street is most definitely Adult 18+ romance – it’s not New Adult/Mature YA.)

On Dublin Street has been given a cover makeover for its UK release. Check it out below. What do you think of the new look?