On Dublin Street 18+

The following review is for 18 + readers

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

Sometimes we come across a book that strikes a chord deep within us, one that we can relate to on a personal level. When that happens, you find yourself so much more involved with the characters and the storyline stays with you for days and days. Well it does with me and that is what happened to me when I read On Dublin Street.

As a sufferer of panic attacks I am well aware of the fear that is a constant companion in your life. For some people they cannot understand the things your mind will do to you and what you do in your mind to rationalise certain situations to make you "safe". Because of this I felt I had an immediate connection with Joss, I felt like I understood her, even though the reasons behind her decisions were altogether different from mine.

This book was quite slow building and I don't mean it was not well paced or I was bored. I mean you were given a little bit of time to understand characters; you were waiting with keen anticipation for more, but definitely not bored. I like this a lot, especially after reading books where the “instant love” relationship happens within the first few chapters, this was a lovely change of pace.

I was really interested in Joss's healing process, I loved her meetings with Dr Pritchard, and I wanted her to get past her pain. My heart really broke for all that she had suffered.

Because of that, I absolutely loved Brendan and Ellie. What wonderful people to have come into your life when you have purposefully isolated yourself. I believe Joss understood that too, and maybe realised her relationship with Rhian wasn't helping her move forward like the ones with Ellie and Brendan.

Brendan was great for her, patient but sneaky, he didn't put up with a lot of her denial and all her wall building, which is what she needed.

 I spent last night going over and over the last six months in me head and I  know that you're lying to me. I know you love me, Jocelyn, because there's no fucking way I can be this much in love with you, and not have you feel the same way. It's not possible.

GAH!!! He is brilliant.

To me this book had a fantastic romance with a heart wrenching story intertwined within, it is special. I am not going to get over it anytime soon. Special characters, special story, loved it!

Post by: 

Blood Past (Warriors of Ankh 2)

 

 

 All Eden wants is redemption... but the road to redemption is never an easy one.
Travelling to Scotland to find her mother’s bloodline, Eden is soon embroiled in the politics and training of the Scottish Warriors of Neith. It is a world where some stand with open arms ready to welcome her as family, while others keep a wary distance, conspiring against her. Through it all Eden learns of love, friendship, and what it means to be a warrior. Her future has promise... that is until a man she thought forever gone from her life returns to threaten it all.
When the one person Eden loves above all else is endangered, she will have to make a choice. Him... or her?
YA Paranormal Romance recommended for ages 16 years and up

Review

I know in my previous review I noted that I think young adult is for 16+, I still believe that and I am really happy to see that it was noted on the book, I just had not seen it. Ok now onto Blood Past the second book in the Warriors of Ankh trilogy, I loved it just as much as the first book. There are many new and interesting characters introduced in this book as well as several new threats to Eden. At the beginning of the book Eden is still a soul eater and she while she know she can trust the Ankh she still does not feel like she can.Eden loves Cyrus and she is very close to Valeria, but she is still mad at Noah for lying to her and she feels like he has betrayed her. They go to Scotland and we meet Eden’s mothers Neith family. The grandmother gives blood and Eden gets it transfused into her and then she starts changing to full Ankh. She has to die to do this and this is the first time that we really see how much Noah loves Eden.Eden wakes up and starts adjusting to her new status as an Ankh. She becomes friends with Tobe and starts to learn how to fight. She is still mad at Noah and trying to get over Romany killing Stellan. Then Noah and Eden’s grandmother get kidnapped by Eden’s cousin and they fly back to the states. Her cousin gives her the choice of killing Mhairi or Noah; she doesn't have to make the decision because Darius shows up and kills all the soul eaters. You got to give Samantha Young some series kudos, she knows how to write. The characters are again very believable and have a lot of depth and personality. Emotions are higher in this book than the last one and we get more romance but it does not over power the story. The book is not just a copy of the previous book with a few new problems thrown in; Eden and Noah have grown a lot and changed. An old problem gets resolved but since its not the focus of the book it does not seem repetitive. New problems keep it fresh and unpredictable. I love the book; anybody looking for a good solid read should pick this book up. 

Post by:

Blood Will Tell (Warriors of Ankh 1)

 

   

What would you do if you were born to be a predator? Would you fight your natural instincts or give in to your nature?
Eden is a soul eater closing in on her awakening. Her family has convinced her that soon she will have to take a life in order to save her own. It’s a decision Eden doesn’t want to deal with even as her hunger for souls grows stronger every day.
To complicate her impossible position, new guy in school Noah Valois’ determination to befriend her puts Eden in touch with a humanity she’s never known. Addicted to his company, his friendship and affection, she becomes more and more terrified that giving into her hunger will mean losing him forever…
… But when she discovers that Noah is not what he seems, his betrayal forces her to face two choices. One will offer her revenge and the destruction of a boy she loved. The other may offer her a life of eternal redemption…
YA Paranormal Fiction for mature teens+ (some content may not be suitable for younger readers)

Review

 First of all my opinion of what a young adult book and what other people think a young adult book is, is totally different. I think a young adult novel is for people 16+ maybe 15 depending on their emotional maturity level. So yes I believe that this book is a young adult book, even with the prologue describing the naked tortured woman, the screams that Eden continually hears from her fathers and cousins "play room" and the graphic descriptions in the fight scenes. Ok that being said I loved this book, yes I know after listing those things is sounds twisted, but this book was really well written. I loved how Young spent a lot of time describing the feelings of all the characters. She didn't make any of them perfect, the flaws she gave the characters made the story better. There was none of the boy meets girl and falls in love and the girl doesn't know why but she just can't live without the boy. No Eden and Noah are friends and when she finds out that he lied to her she gets pissed. She doesn't forgive him because he says he is sorry and was doing it for her own good. No she says frick you, leave me alone. Even though she is mad at Noah she still does not kill him, but its more her fighting her nature than actually forgiving him for what he did. I can't wait to read the next book to find out what happens next.

Post by: