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On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street #1)

by Samantha Young (Goodreads Author)

4.38 of 5 stars 4.38 · rating details · 47,627 ratings · 4,252 reviews

All she wants is the present. But tomorrow is waiting…

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...more

ebook, 336 pages

Published October 12th 2012 by Penguin Group (USA) (first published July 2nd 2012)

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May 08, 2013 Blacky *Mistress of doom* rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-contemporary, favorites, read-contemporary, best-of-the-best, mine, oooooooooooooooooooooooo, bestest-of-the-best, 5-stars-for-quality, 5-stars-for-enjoyment

“Gentlemen are gentlemen in bed. They make sure you’re having a good time.”
“I’ll make sure you’re having a good time, and that you’re okay with everything we’re doing. I just won’t be well-mannered about it.”

My brain is in shock by the pure awesomeness of this book and characters. I really wish I knew all the English words for something amazing, I'd put them here, really.
It had me hooked from the first page, in love with Braden some 20 pages after that, getting a few cold showers in the middl...more

388 likes · like · see review

Nov 01, 2012 Jill rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance

2.5 stars

IT'S NOT YOU, IT'S ME....REALLY!

description

“It’s not you, it’s me…. You’re giving me the ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ routine? I invented ‘It’s not you, it’s me.’ Nobody tells me it’s them, not me. If it’s anybody, it’s me.”
— George Costanza

I've come to the conclusion after reading On Dublin Street (and a number of other contemporary romances recently) that CRs and me are just not meant to be together.

description

With statistics like these for On Dublin Street -

Goodreads
nearly 12 400 ratings and an av rating o...more

110 likes · like · see review

Oct 05, 2012 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, steamy, angsty-emotional, exhausting-read, fabulous-characters, fabulous-hero, frustrating-heroine, great-ending, obstinate-annoying-heroine, playboy-womanizer, strong-willed-heroine, thought-provoking, troubled-heroine, very-emotional, wishy-washy-heroine, scrumptious-hero, big-ol-misunderstanding, 5-star, lots-of-drama

41/2 to 5 stars with a caveat

Oh my gosh, what an emotional, angsty, and enthralling read! I won't go into plot detail considering many reviews have already done a good job explaining what this book is about, but I will share my overall impressions.

On Dublin Street owned me from the first page to the last. It had my emotions all over the place–from tremendous frustration to pure elation. Most of my jumbled emotions were due to the heroine, Jocelyn, and her understandable yet exasperating behavio...more 41/2 to 5 stars with a caveat

Oh my gosh, what an emotional, angsty, and enthralling read! I won't go into plot detail considering many reviews have already done a good job explaining what this book is about, but I will share my overall impressions.

On Dublin Street owned me from the first page to the last. It had my emotions all over the place–from tremendous frustration to pure elation. Most of my jumbled emotions were due to the heroine, Jocelyn, and her understandable yet exasperating behavior. My heart truly ached for all that had happened to her throughout her young and impressionable years. That said, her constant negative outlook on personal relationships, her fickleness, and her unwillingness to commit to the hero throughout the book drove me crazy! I found it difficult to like or even admire her character because of the way she treated those who cared so deeply for her. Like I said before, I understand why she felt the way she did; she had good reason. Still, I didn't enjoy her dismal and sometimes hurtful attitude. In fact, I found myself desperately wishing for more happy and positive interactions between her and the other characters to help counterbalanced all the angst.

On the other hand, Braden, the hero, completely swept me off my feet. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of his flirty, cocky, and beguiling character. His bluntness and arrogance was shocking at times. It didn't take him long, however, to completely win me over and have me rooting for his happily-ever-after. His devotion, compassion, and loyalty to the ones he loved–not to mention his overwhelming sexiness–earned him a place as one of my favorite heroes.

The secondary characters were delightful and gave this book, in my opinion, its heart and soul. Especially Jocelyn's roommate and Braden's sister, Ellie. She was such a fantastic and vibrant character. I adored everything about her charismatic and endearing character. If only everyone could be so fortunate to have a friend like her.

On Dublin Street is an emotional, angsty, passionate, sexy, and captivating read. The ending was perfect and made all the angst and heartache worthwhile. Although I struggled deeply with Jocelyn's attitude and behavior, I truly loved so much about this book. I highly recommended this story to anyone looking for a realistic, emotional, and memorable read that's overflowing with heart and soul.
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111 likes · like · see review

Oct 20, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult

My thought process in stages as I was reading this book :

Starts out strong...okay, this is interesting...nice, he's pretty smokin' in that alpha male kind of way...hell yeah, this is some hot sex...wow, I like how this story has different layers to it...hold up, he did not just - SIGH...and I think I'm going to start skimming now...okay, the end was sweet.

3.5 stars I'm sure people will be surprised that I even went as high as I did because there were a few things in this book that would normall...more

77 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2012 Auntee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of Kristen Ashley, I know you'll love this; any romance fans who like a good, steamy story

Recommended to Auntee by: KarLynP, Blacky, Kristen, and many others

Shelves: contemporary-romance, erotic-romance, 2012_reads, e-books, for_my_kindle, made_me_cry, keepers

This book has ruined me for others...I haven't been able to read anything since.

Until then...Braden...

Well, what can I say that hasn't already been said? There's over 1,500!! reviews for this book, the author has just signed a 7-figure, 2 paperback book deal with a major publisher, sold 150,000 downloads of this self-published book in one month, and I'll bet movie rights might be next. So I doubt my little review will make much difference in its success...but I'll add my 2-cents anyway. I love...more

166 likes · like · see review

May 09, 2013 Ash ~ The Book Snob rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amazing, best-love-story, couldn-t-put-it-down, favorite-books, favorite-moments, heartbreaking, holy-rusted-metal-batman, i-heart, insert-curse-word-here, omg, quick-witted, refreshing, sexiest-guy-ever, sexy, sugar-bites, swoonworthy-characters, too-damn-good, will-definitely-be-continuing-this, wow

Seriously: my cheeks hurt from smiling so much!

And there are dishes in my kitchen that are about, I kid you not, ten feet high because I just haven’t been able to get to them in the last day. The same goes for my laundry. And there’s a distinct *butt* print in my favorite chair, because that damn thing really is a little too comfy for its own good.

And you wanna know what caused this?

THIS DAMN BOOK!

That’s what.

Gah, guys… it’s SO FUGGIN’ good!! Like, finger-lickin’ good. :)

♦ “No human relation g...more

64 likes · like · see review

Oct 09, 2012 Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: if you absolutely must read what everyone else is reading

Recommended to Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) by: still talking to her

Shelves: ebook, contemporary-romance, erotica, peeves-wanky-wangst, wtf-is-wrong-with-u-guyz-srsly, overrated, oh-look-another-50-shades-knockoff, because-i-am-an-asshole, boring-as-batshite, bataan-death-march-of-boring, baa-baaaa-said-the-sheeple, written-to-get-da-big-bucks, hero-heroine-fall-instantly-in-love, hero-heroine-meet-in-chapter-1, hero-jealous-possessive, heroine-annoying-and-way-annoying, heroine-dumb-as-a-post, heroine-feisty-stupid-optional, my-ereader-cried-at-my-cruelty, ciphers-allow-reader-projection, blatant-obvious-wish-fulfillment, sex-was-not-hot, nothing-fucking-happens-but-fucking, hot-thing-like-that-last-hot-thing, you-need-an-editor, cast-of-millions, puke-word-count-and-publish, why-i-dont-read-contemps-they-suck, characters-with-no-dimensions, spoonfed-psychology, navel-gazing-overload, spinning-wheels-for-300-pages, double-dog-dares, 1-stars, i-regret-nothing, token-subplots-that-suck, lifetime-movie-of-the-week, hot-mess, the-bottomless-pit-of-leonidas, pandery-panderingness, i-had-no-idea-it-would-be-this-bad, redefines-banal-and-bland, beige-vs-taupe, so-vanilla-i-got-drunk, i-got-ur-money-now-suckas, oh-the-suspense-well-no-not-rly, its-not-a-tumor, self-pubbed, this-fad-is-sign-of-the-antichrist, el-james-u-have-much-to-answer-for, the-latest-panties-creaming-sparkly, yeah-im-contemptuous, and-im-supposed-to-care-because-why, not-helping-my-anti-contemp-bias, read-a-harley-its-shorter, you-know-i-learned-something-today, cheesy-emotional-epiphany, south-park-sermon, author-watches-too-much-tv, cliche-cliche-cliche, 1st-person-pov, my-iq-just-barfed-100-points, brain-cell-diarrhea, things-are-doing-things, excessive-twauma-and-wangst, flat-characters-are-flat, an-eyeroll-or-four, other-woman-is-a-bitch-slut-whore, heroine-is-a-speshul-snowflake, shame-the-sluts-shaaaaame, deep-and-complex-not-so-much, exhibitionist-chutzpah, author-self-inserts, your-grammar-makes-baby-jesus-cry, that-wascally-waptor, inner-dialogue-that-is-moronic

Letting my shelves and updates state my case for this one.

Although....if you want a short version:

Heroine: I haz problems.

Hero: *sexy eyes*

Heroine: *feminine core immediately melts & nipples pebble* But...I haz problems. No sexx0ring with this stud for me.

Hero: *constantly offers Cock of Healing™*

Endless Supporting Cast of "I-Don't-Give-A-Fuck!" Doom: We might just be names on paper with no personalities whatsoever, but we're adorably quirky with interesting personal lives! Everyone likes to...more

99 likes · like · see review

Oct 03, 2012 Karla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1st-person-pov, awesome-alpha, bossy-alpha-male, erotic, heartbreaking, intense, made-me-rawrrrr, passionate, overcoming-tragedy, scorching-hot, scrumptious-hero, sea-world-misting-fan-worthy, sensual, seat-squirmer, strong-willed-heroine, terrific-dialogue, the-dust-bowl-stirred, tragic-death, witty, wonderful-secondary-characters, yummy-men, scrumptious-scot, secondary-romance, angst-filled, favorites

5 Stars! RAWRRRRRR! I am in LOVE with Braden Carmichael, my bags are packed and I'm moving to Dublin Street!

Aside from some repetitiveness with Jocelyn's dialogue, it was almost the perfect book! There was tragedy, drama, lust, passion, love, humor, fun, fantastic dialogue and it was SSSSSSSSSIZZLING!

I'm not going to get into the story too much, but this book had two of the best and most realistic scenes I've ever read. One had me laughing so hard, I had tears running down my face. We always fea...more
5 Stars! RAWRRRRRR! I am in LOVE with Braden Carmichael, my bags are packed and I'm moving to Dublin Street!

Aside from some repetitiveness with Jocelyn's dialogue, it was almost the perfect book! There was tragedy, drama, lust, passion, love, humor, fun, fantastic dialogue and it was SSSSSSSSSIZZLING!

I'm not going to get into the story too much, but this book had two of the best and most realistic scenes I've ever read. One had me laughing so hard, I had tears running down my face. We always fear the embarrassing happening when we get involved in a new relationship...well it happens here...I'm chuckling as I'm writing this, no...actually I'm LMAO just thinking about it! The moment and what occurs afterwards is very funny, or at least it was to me. Then the author brings us right into a heartbreaking moment, one second your laughing, then your heart is pounding...the author knows how to toy with the readers emotions. What ensues after that with Braden and Jocelyn...had me gritting my teeth and wringing my hands...again very real and well-written.

For a character who initially came off as an egotistical ass, Braden was amazing, caring and loving...what a man. What I enjoyed about him most was his playful side, he got angry, but he also knew how to get even and push Jocelyn's buttons. He was just what she needed to push her full circle and deal with her family's death and other tragic moments in her life. Jocelyn was on a path to self-destruction, then built a wall around herself to protect her from bonding and caring about anyone. Braden didn't just knock that wall down, he annihilated it!

There was also a lovely secondary romance with Braden's sister, Ellie, who was also Jocelyn's roommate. I'm hoping the author considers making this a series. There were so many interesting characters that I would love to see featured in a book of their own. Whatever happened to Nicholas? I felt bad for him, even though we barely got to know him. Please Samantha Young, give him somebody to love!

Oh and there is a lovely HEA!! *grinning like mad*

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50 likes · like · see review

May 13, 2013 kristina rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary

I have one question .

WHY??
WHY??
WHY??

I was so excited to start this book because of all these amazing reviews and its high rating.Unfortunatelly it turned out to be a nightmare for me.

The prologue was amazing and quite promising.The fact that she (view spoiler) added a dramatic tone in the story which I really liked.

The first chapter described the first time they met each other.

Guess what???Everything was OK until Braden opened his mouth.

"I have a...more

54 likes · like · see review

Nov 11, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, give-me-just-one-night, crushing-hard-on-the-cover, worth-having-in-paperback-and-ebook

Jesus C!

Braden Carmichael has got to be one of the hottest book boys I've read since Kellan Kyle AND Christian Grey. Yes. You read that correctly. Braden Carmichael had my "knickers" in a twist from the moment his sexy Scottish accent entered my life...

"Most women would be taking advantage of my imprisonment in the taxi with them-chew my ear off, shove their phone number in my face...as well as other things."
"Wow, you really think a lot of yourself."
He grinned back at me, his teeth white but im...more

82 likes · like · see review

Oct 21, 2012 Rachel (BAVR) rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: abusive-love, angst-city, attack-of-the-mary-sues, blame-bavr, boring, constanticrap, contemporary-romance, feisty-heroine-nitwits, heroine-with-a-bad-attitude, insulting, rape-is-not-love, screw-this-world, squick, things-that-don-t-make-sense, walking-a-fine-sue-line, when-stupid-things-are-stupid, worst-person-ever-hero, worst-person-ever-heroine, longshanks-mcgiantwang

Some spoilers ahead!

Oh, good grief. Before I even get started, let's just establish a couple of facts about this review:

1) I know my opinion is not the popular one (at the moment).
2) I do not feel guilty about Fact #1.
3) Therefore, I am going to be brutally honest.

If I could go back in time one week and erase the crazed idea I got to read On Dublin Street, I would. Even though I'm an avid romance reader, I have incredibly shitty luck with contemporaries, mainly because I expect modern characte...more

166 likes · like · see review

Oct 24, 2012 KatLynne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to KatLynne by: Katrina

Shelves: scottish, 2012-reads, g-contemporary-romance, hero-alpha-warrior, hero-favorite-smokin-hot-sexay, hero-hottie-billionaire, hero-totally-hot, heroine-tormented-flawed, intensely-emotional, keeper, scotland, sensual-steamy, smokin-hot-steamy, 2012-best-this-year

There are so many things Amazing about this book making it a winner for me. A few of my thoughts...

• It has a conclusive, happy ending!! Yay!! There are no cliffhangers that left me gasping and somewhat annoyed waiting around to find out more. I’m getting somewhat tired of the “installment” reads and find myself searching for those with closure. It is a beautiful, passionate, emotional and totally sexy Contemporary with the heroine suffering severe trust and commitment issues; and rightly so fro...more There are so many things Amazing about this book making it a winner for me. A few of my thoughts...

• It has a conclusive, happy ending!! Yay!! There are no cliffhangers that left me gasping and somewhat annoyed waiting around to find out more. I’m getting somewhat tired of the “installment” reads and find myself searching for those with closure. It is a beautiful, passionate, emotional and totally sexy Contemporary with the heroine suffering severe trust and commitment issues; and rightly so from the loss and trauma she endured as a teenager.

• She is seeing a therapist! Oh, I loved that. I didn’t have to yell at my Kindle and advise Joss that she possibly needed professional help. The author included those sessions and they added to my overall enjoyment and understanding of this complex character! I liked her and wanted her to move forward and enjoy life once again.

• It is incredibly sexy and hot! The air fairly sizzles with electrifying chemistry and sexual build up between the H/h. It’s palpable! With the issues Jocelyn carries, what starts off as friends with benefits quickly turns into so much more.

• The sex is off the charts hot and wrapped up in emotion. For those who need to know, it’s all vanilla, incredible, need driven at times with those intimate moments included that reveal a deeper emotion than merely friends with benefits. It was refreshing to read and feel the intimacy here.

• Braden Carmichael is all alpha, Scottish, sex on a stick, and utterly delectable! He understands Jocelyn’s issues and loves her in spite of them. Braden reads her, he gets her, and the patience and care he shows during her panic attacks only endeared him more. He is demanding and somewhat bossy. He’s the jealous kind (in a normal way:) and possessive and lets her know she's his. I loved him.

• The secondary characters are woven into the story and fit perfectly. I fell in love with them too and Ellie, Braden’s half sister, had me in knots wanting good things for her. There's also a secondary love story going on between Ellie and Braden's best friend, Adam.

• There’s an Epilogue that I loved.

The author had me with the Prologue and I could not stop until the very end. The main setting is beautiful Scotland which only added more to my enjoyment. As a teenager, Jocelyn suffered tremendous losses that concluded in her burying all the pain deep inside. Building a protective shield around herself, she has refused to let herself care enough about another person, hoping to ward off this kind of pain in the future.

All this changes on Dublin Street as the healing journey begins. It is a poignant love story that is arousing, exciting, passionate, tender, and sexy. The author's lesson on loss, grief and living life to the fullest shines. There are so many warriors that I admire in RL whose courage gets them through each day, allowing them to find happiness again. Jocelyn's story reminded me to cherish those I love and live each day to the fullest.

Thank you Katrina for leading me to this one:)!(less)

42 likes · like · see review

Oct 19, 2012 Becs - Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Becs - Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews by: Debb

Shelves: alpha-hero, contemporary-romance, dark-angsty, mind-f-ckery, shower-smexin, super-rich-hero, tragic, favourites

I read a lot of contemporary romances, most of them really very good, but every now and then a book comes along that just WOWS you and you know that what you’re reading is really very special. This is THAT book. I loved every second, stayed up way too late to finish it and then couldn’t sleep because it consumed me with its emotional intensity and I couldn’t get it out of my head.

Braden is an incredible hero – I loved him so much. There are book heroes that you like, some that you really love an...more I read a lot of contemporary romances, most of them really very good, but every now and then a book comes along that just WOWS you and you know that what you’re reading is really very special. This is THAT book. I loved every second, stayed up way too late to finish it and then couldn’t sleep because it consumed me with its emotional intensity and I couldn’t get it out of my head.

Braden is an incredible hero – I loved him so much. There are book heroes that you like, some that you really love and then there are those mind-blowing, pantie-wetting, exploding ovaries kind of heroes that just make you melt. Braden is one of those! I fell hook, line and sinker for him – from the first moment that he crouched down in front of Jocelyn when she suffered a panic attack at a family dinner and just stared deep into her eyes, brow etched with concern and quietly asked ‘Better?’ without prying or pushing or judging all the way to the incredibly passionate sex scenes, I was his and he was mine!

Oh sure, he’s not without fault – he’s arrogant, possessive as hell, has severe caveman tendencies and is very bossy but all this just makes me love him more. He’s definitely been inducted into my Harem of Fictional Boyfriends Hall of Fame.

Even the prologue stunned me. We have Jocelyn as a High School teenager in class, kicking back in her chair, not really concentrating on the lesson, thinking more about what boy she fancies –it’s a moment frozen in time. Everything is about to change, nothing will ever be the same again –fate is about to intervene in the cruellest way possible. It’s an incredibly atmospheric scene – Jocelyn’s last moment of normality.

She’s about to get the news that her family has been killed in a road accident. This loss, and another incident not long after, cause unimaginable pain that radiates out from her centre to tarnish and darken all aspects of her life for years to come. Pain is threaded through everything and Jocelyn never stops fearing tomorrow, the future and what it can take from her. She locks down her feelings, walls herself off emotionally and never allows anyone to get close – the pain of loving and losing being more than she could possibly cope with again.

Then she moves in with Ellie in her flat in Dublin Street and meets her older brother Braden and begins to get close to them which reignites the panic attacks she’d long considered buried in the past. Braden, sensing her reluctance to allow herself to ‘feel’ but knowing beyond doubt that they share a very strong attraction, proposes a sex-only no-strings affair with no commitment and no emotions and Jocelyn agrees. They embark on an incredibly passionate affair and the sex scenes are intensely steamy and delicious but there’s an ambient sadness that pervades the whole story – true happiness and redemption from all her pain is so close but Jocelyn refuses to reach out and grasp it. Her fear of loss is still holding her back.

So, this is an incredible journey, so very hard to put down, as the words washed over me like smooth, velvety chocolate. Every character is vividly and consistently drawn and they lived in glorious technicolor in my imagination as I lived every second with them. I smiled at them, laughed with them and most definitely cried what felt like oceans of tears with them – it’s an all-consuming, deeply soulful and emotional story. I’d much rather see this book made into a film than Fifty Shades of Grey.

This book is special. You must read it.

5 wonderfully emotional stars

For more reviews, please visit Sinfully Sexy Book Blog

Thanks must go to Debb for the awesome rec!
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Nov 30, 2012 Angie's Dreamy Reads rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

5 DELICIOUS BRADEN STARS

"I can't get the thought of you beneath me, and that hair spread out across my pillow while I move inside you, out of my head.
" Oh. God. "
But I think mostly it's your eyes. I want something from them no one else gets from them." "And what's that?" I asked, my voice low, almost hoarse. His words had affected me as deeply as any aphrodisiac.
"Soft." His own voice had deepened with the highly sexual atmosphere. "Soft the way only a woman's can be after she's come for me."...more

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Oct 04, 2012 ✿Alyssa✿ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: EVERYONE!

Shelves: favorites

This review was posted at My Secret Romance

To sum it up: Four years ago, Jocelyn Butler left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Edinburgh. Burying the grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without any real attachments has worked well for her so far but when Joss moves into a fantastic apartment on Dublin Street, her carefully guarded world is shaken to its core by her new roommate's sexy older brother.

Braden Carmichael is a man who always gets what he wants. And wha...more

27 likes · like · see review

Sep 20, 2012 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to ♥Rachel♥ by: Smut Monday Club

Shelves: favorites

It was like someone had lassoed a rope around the two of us and was tugging and tugging, trying to draw us closer together.

Jocelyn lives in Dublin, Scotland after fleeing America on her eighteenth birthday, four years ago. She’s left nothing behind, being in a foster home since she was fourteen, her parents and little sister were killed in a tragic accident. When she came into her money at eighteen, she left and didn’t look back. Since then Jocelyn has turned her emotions off, she can’t be hurt...more It was like someone had lassoed a rope around the two of us and was tugging and tugging, trying to draw us closer together.

Jocelyn lives in Dublin, Scotland after fleeing America on her eighteenth birthday, four years ago. She’s left nothing behind, being in a foster home since she was fourteen, her parents and little sister were killed in a tragic accident. When she came into her money at eighteen, she left and didn’t look back. Since then Jocelyn has turned her emotions off, she can’t be hurt if she doesn’t let anyone get close. She considers her college roommate of the last four years a friend, yet neither one of them shared any personal details of their past. This is all about to change when Jocelyn has to find another place to live when her roommate moves back to London. Her new roommate, Ellie, is unlike any other girl she’s met. She’s unorganized, energetic and sunny. Her positive attitude is infectious. Unfortunately, (in Jocelyn’s opinion) Braden, Ellie’s older brother is part of the package, and he wants Jocelyn.

Braden’s rich, handsome, charismatic, what’s not to like? Jocelyn is definitely attracted to him ”All I could think about was him shirtless with me wrapped around him like a tortilla.” but she’s scared to let anyone in, so she resists. I loved the delicious push and pull between these two in the beginning! Can you say SMOKING HOT sexual tension?! Knowing Jocelyn’s background and sensing her hesitation, Braden offers an arrangement between them: sex only, no strings attached. Braden never plans on honoring the “no strings attached” part though. He’s going to wiggle his way into her heart whether she likes it or not. I love how he kept breaking Jocelyn down bit by bit. Loved this quote:

I heard his footsteps quicken behind me and felt his arm come around me, his palm flat against my stomach as he pulled me back against him, my head resting on his chest. I was quickly getting used to Braden’s tactility. The man liked to touch me. All the time. I’d thought it would be harder to get accustomed to since I wasn’t really an overly affectionate person myself, but Braden didn’t really ask me whether I wanted to be hauled into his arms every five seconds. And the truth was, I didn’t really mind.

Jocelyn was a tough nut to crack for both Ellie and Braden, but she really did have issues, and a sad story that made me forgive her reluctance. I appreciated that this author had Jocelyn doing the smart thing, by going to a therapist when she starts having panic attacks, instead of burying her head in the sand and pretending like there’s no problem. There is the inevitable drama at the end, you know when you hit the 75-80% mark of these types of books, and the usual breakup or obstacle comes up. But nothing that had me pulling my hair out. I really loved Braden and how he never gave up on her. There was a sweet and caring quality to this romance that made you feel it wasn’t just about the sex, but holy heck, THE SPICE, was amazing. I just loved this story so much, I have to say it’s in my top five favorite spice reads for this year. Here’s another quote I must share with you:

”I wasn’t judging you,” he continued as though I hadn’t said anything, skimming soft, teasing kisses along my jaw to my ear, where his voice rumbled sexily, “In public, you’re Joss Butler. Cool, self-possessed. In bed, you’re Jocelyn Butler—you’re hot, babe. Uncontrolled. Needy. Sweet,” he breathed. “I like that I know that. I don’t like the fact that other men do too.”

I’ll be checking out whatever else Samantha Young has written for sure!

Thanks to the Smut Monday Club ladies for another amazing pick!
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Sep 02, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-reads

Samantha Young, you can write! I knew this already. It’s really a simple fact. HOWEVER, YOU DEFINITELY WROTE THE HELL OUT OF THIS ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE!!! Damn!

On Dublin Street is Samantha Young’s first venture into the adult contemporary romance genre and it was superbly written, definitely a page turner that I could not put down. This amazingly poignant story had me invested right from the beginning. I laughed, I cried, my heart broke and then it was pieced right back together again!

“I w...more

90 likes · like · see review

Dec 30, 2012 Tammie (certified bed reader) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica-romantica

Sometimes the clouds weren't weightless. Sometimes their bellies got dark and full. It was life. It happened.

WOW -- this is the kind of book that makes me a happy reader! I loved that it's written in first-person; it made me feel so much closer to Jocelyn and to really understand her thought process. This is a woman who's struggling to overcome a traumatic past. Her fears run so deep that she refuses to let anyone in. She projects an air of snarky coolness that should turn people off, but ins...more
Sometimes the clouds weren't weightless. Sometimes their bellies got dark and full. It was life. It happened.

WOW -- this is the kind of book that makes me a happy reader! I loved that it's written in first-person; it made me feel so much closer to Jocelyn and to really understand her thought process. This is a woman who's struggling to overcome a traumatic past. Her fears run so deep that she refuses to let anyone in. She projects an air of snarky coolness that should turn people off, but instead it draws them to her. Even so, she keeps them all at arms length and her emotions locked up in an impenetrable box. Then she moves to Dublin Street and everything changes when she finds herself growing closer to her roommate, Ellie, and Ellie's devastatingly sexy brother, Braden.

Oh, Braden. Braden, Braden, Braden! He's like a cross between Kristen Ashley's über-alpha heroes and EL James's Christian Grey. But I draw the comparison hesitantly because Braden Carmichael deserves his own classification and not to be held in the shadow of other literary hunks. Thank heaven's Braden isn't as tortured as CG because two supremely tortured characters would be overkill (ie. Bared to You). Braden's super-hot and possessive; however, he allows Joss room to breathe, to make mistakes, to work through her shit all while showing her he's not going anywhere. I love that about him!

Towards the last third of the book, when the angst really hit the fan, I grew increasingly frustrated with Joss. Here's the thing: it had to happen that way! If she'd acted any differently then the entire story would've been a farce. I needed to see that the hours Joss had spent talking to her therapist (finally a heroine smart enough to realize she has problems that needed professional help!) hadn't been for nothing; that there was some true, honest to God, emotional growth that I could be satisfied with. When Joss finally opens up to Braden and then gives him ultimate trust by telling him her true feelings, I cried. I couldn't help it. I felt the eight years of pain she'd lived with seep out of her as she placed it all in Braden's capable hands. He took it for her, supported her through it, and he gave her every thing she needed just by loving her.

Absolutely beautiful. Breathtakingly wonderful. One of the best, definitely the most emotionally-fulfilling books, I've read all year! (less)

19 likes · like · see review

Oct 07, 2012 ♡KarLynP♡ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

5 big stars! ON DUBLIN STREET is easily one of the best books I read all year!!! I was blown away by this story.

What started off as just another typical girl-meets-boy type romance story, ended up being so much more. The emotions I went through reading this was a roller-coaster ride. I cried, laughed, screamed, swooned, worried, and even got pissed off. I wanted to shake Joss at times, and tell her to let go and just trust Braden. But it was her story, and she had a lot to overcome. In the end,...more 5 big stars! ON DUBLIN STREET is easily one of the best books I read all year!!! I was blown away by this story.

What started off as just another typical girl-meets-boy type romance story, ended up being so much more. The emotions I went through reading this was a roller-coaster ride. I cried, laughed, screamed, swooned, worried, and even got pissed off. I wanted to shake Joss at times, and tell her to let go and just trust Braden. But it was her story, and she had a lot to overcome. In the end, I was a wreck of emotions. And I absolutely loved it.

Joss suffered some great tragedies in her young life, first with the deaths of her family and then later a best friend. Realizing her life was spinning out of control, Joss relocated herself from the United States to Scotland where she completed her college education. She got her panic attacks under control. Now a graduate, she hopes to become a writer. When circumstances require her to move and find a new roommate, she finds a beautiful place on Dublin Street and a great roommate named Ellie.

Braden and Joss first meet when sharing a taxi cab, and then later she realizes the hot guy is her roommates older brother. The attraction between them sizzles, but he has a girlfriend and Joss is not interested in a relationship. She is just too scarred from some past mistakes of her own, and not ready to get close with a guy.

Joss and Ellie become fast friends, despite Joss’s reluctance. There is something about Ellie that makes people just like her, and Joss finds herself opening up for the first time in years. Her friendship with Ellie is just one part of this story that I so admired. It was important for Joss to learn to trust and to allow herself to become close to others.

Joss has a part-time job bartending at a local pub, which brings in more fun characters. Braden, Ellie and their mutual friends tend to stop in when she’s working just to say hello. In time, Joss begins to hang out with the gang when she has time off. The attraction between Braden and Joss continues to grow, and soon she learns he has broken it off with his girlfriend.

Braden is one of the BEST romantic heroes I have read in a long, long time! He is such a complex person. We watch him try to understand his own attraction to Joss. He wants her physically with a passion, but he also wants her heart. He wants her trust. He simply just wants her -- completely. His devotion to her was swoon worthy stuff!! And boy, can the man talk dirty!! Yummmmmm!!!

The romance story starts off as a rocky one, but the heat is turned up to SIZZLE! I loved these two together. But when things seemed to finally work between them, unexpected news hits that shatters their fragile relationship. It nearly broke my heart!

The only bit I can complain about is that Joss did get a bit annoying at times, but it was absolutely understandable considering her past. She sees a therapist to help with panic attacks, and we learn much about her progress through her sessions. Her recovery is slow but steady, and I enjoyed watching her come to terms with her past so she can embrace her present and future.

There was just soooo much to like in this book! It's the kind of story that sticks with you for a long, long time. What started off as a simple story grew into something very deep and complex. ON DUBLIN STREET was so much more than just a hot, sexy romance. The character development, especially between Braden and Joss, was so well done. And Ellie and the rest of the gang were great fun to read about too. The ending was so pitch perfect and realistic. I seriously recommend this to any romance contemporary fans who like some meaty stories. This was not a fluffy romance read, not by a mile.

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57 likes · like · see review

Sep 16, 2012 Lady Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: luvvas of Kick-Ass Uber Alpha males & broken women trying to find their HEA

Recommended to Lady Heather by: Spoiler Whore drops the F bomb

Shelves: adult, contemporary, contemporary-romance, domineering-alpha-lead, fiction, kindle, read-in-2012, romance, chick-lit, samantha-young

5 shiny stars!!

I finished this book a couple of days ago, and it has been with me in the back of my mind ever since. I wanted to take the time to ponder what this story meant to me, because I gotta tell you...I was on an emotional roller-coaster while reading it!

The characters were..well...AMAZING!
The author introduces us to Jocelyn at the young age of 14. Everything is 'perfect' in her life. She has loving parents and a beautiful little sister whom she adores, then suddenly tragedy strikes,...more

45 likes · like · see review

Sep 10, 2012 Lazy Jeff rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-read, contemporary, humour, for-all-the-times, erotica

Dear Santa, it’s me, Daria. How are you in there? I guess you’re fine but quite busy and cold, huh? I’m fine thanks. No, actually, I’m lying. I’m not fine, Santa. I’m unhappy and I’m desperate. You know I seldom ask for something. Do you remember the last time I asked for a gift? It was 20 years ago. Dear Santa, I’m asking you for a gift again. Please, make Braden Carmichael real…

5 stages of acceptance

DENIAL
Santa, I just can’t believe the guys like Braden don’t exist. That’s just can be true! I...more

138 likes · like · see review

Feb 11, 2013 Natalie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars

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
Ever since I finished On Dublin Street yesterday, have I argued with myself if I should give this 4 or 5 stars. I want to give this a five star rating, because i LOVE LOVE LOVED this book, but in the end this book gets 4,5++ stars from me. The reason is simply because the first 30% or so, I didn´t really know how I felt about this book. I liked it...more

17 likes · like · see review

Sep 03, 2012 Duchess Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-contemp-romance, e-pcs, highly-rated, read-in-2012, favorites, favorite-heroes, favorites-of-all-time

I had never even heard of this author before logging in to GR and seeing this cover splashed all over my update page. On a whim, I decided "What the hell?" and gave it a go.

Within five pages of the prologue, I was HOOKED!!! Jocelyn (Joss) meets Brendan on the streets of Edinburgh. Now, I have to admit I have a fascination with all things Scottish... blame it on those Highlander Historicals. But Braden, aaah, Braden! You rich, playboy, witty, accented dreamboat! I don't think I could dream up a b...more

31 likes · like · see review

Sep 03, 2012 Tough Critic Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I went into this book with absolutely no expectations, not a single one, I just wanted to read a book, any book. Well knock me flat on my ass because I didn't expect that. I didn't expect awesome on a stick (a really hot stick named Braden). Expectations be damned!

If we're talking cock full of awesome, then why not 5-stars? Well...the first 30ish percent I just wasn't sure. Do I like this book? Where's it going? Is more coming? Is it getting better? What do I think? I DON'T KNOW!! Then all of th...more

63 likes · like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Tom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I’m going 4.5 on a book that couldn't have come at a better time.

Joss leaves the states and a tragedy behind and moves to Scotland. Joss is detached and is hesitant to let anyone remotely close to her. She befriends Rhian in college and they become best friends and roommates for 4 years. Of course to Joss a best friend is someone that you don’t have to share feelings with or go on about personal stuff. Rhian has her own baggage that she is not willing to talk about so the relationship worked gre...more

21 likes · like · see review

Feb 14, 2013 Aure `Reading With The Dark` rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Real Huge 5 Stars!!!

"I would say it was nice to meet you, but I was naked so… it wasn't."

To say that I liked this book would be an understatement of the year!
I think it's one of the few contemporary novels that I really FELT this year.

It's a story about a young woman, who's trying to live her life as she know it after her family died in a car accident 8 years ago.
She's closed to everyone, don't lets anyone close enough to hurt her or that she could hurt them.
However, everything changes when sh...more

16 likes · like · see review

Sep 13, 2012 edzkie♥§*.*§♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-book-boyfriend, books-i-love-so-so-much, steamy-books

"I spent the last six months in my 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 you, and not have you feel the same way. It's not possible."

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I'm completely swept away by Braden. I know his an "arse" on the start but his a complete hottie. While Joss, another PTSD, was so fucked up. After her parents & baby sister death, followed by the her best friend accident which she blamed herse...more

14 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2013 Pavlina Michou rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hot-male, pavlina, adult-romance, favorites, favorite-boys

Amazing book!!!This was heartbreaking, steamy and addicting!!
On Dublin Street is a fun, steamy and sweet story.

description

Braden....oh Braden I loved him!!!
He made this book fantastic for me without a doubt!I actually could have just read about him alone and been happy!!
Braden Carmicheal was sexy, smooth and heart stoppingly delicious. He's a Scottish man that loves to be in control and is so sexy doing it.

description

A successful buisness man that always gets what he wants and he wants gorgeously broken Jocelyn But...more

23 likes · like · see review

Sep 06, 2012 Aestas Book Blog rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Almost 4 stars

"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."

I feel pretty torn about how to rate this book. The guy was FUCKHOT!! I loved him. He reminded me a lot of Gideon Cross. But that being said, to me, the heroine's actions and denial of their feelings for each other brought the story down for me. I still did like the story, but her issues and reluctance to commit to the relatio...more

67 likes · like · see review

Sep 01, 2012 Natasha is a Book Junkie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, all-time-favorites

It is superbly written books like this one that truly feed my reading addiction and keep me awake until the wee hours of the morning, glued to the pages, unable to tear myself away from the story. I was lost to it from the very first page and have loved every single one after that. This is a luscious yet poignant story that will seduce your senses, get you invested in the characters and make you hopelessly want to believe in happy endings.

Jocelyn is not your ordinary twenty-two year old woman. S...more It is superbly written books like this one that truly feed my reading addiction and keep me awake until the wee hours of the morning, glued to the pages, unable to tear myself away from the story. I was lost to it from the very first page and have loved every single one after that. This is a luscious yet poignant story that will seduce your senses, get you invested in the characters and make you hopelessly want to believe in happy endings.

Jocelyn is not your ordinary twenty-two year old woman. She has been through more loss and heartbreak in her young life than anyone should have to go through in the course of a lifetime. She lost her entire family in one tragic accident when she was a teenager and has had to look after herself ever since then. She keeps all those around her at arm’s length, never really allowing herself to care about anyone or others to care for her. Her troubled past has taught her that loving people only leads to heartbreak and she is determined to never again forge any lasting ties that would have the power of hurting her. No one knows of her tragic past and that denial of her pain has meant that she has never really had to deal with it.

“I might never stop fearing tomorrow ... The future and what it can take from me, scares me.”

Jocelyn craves to start a new life free of reminders of her past, she has been successfully “shoving her feelings down under the steel trapdoor inside of her” for eight long years and she has no intention of changing that. However, even the best-laid plans can go up in smoke when you meet a man whose mere presence makes you lose control of yourself, whose one look leaves you dazed and who makes your lower belly squeeze with lust at first sight. Enter Braden.

“Our attraction was nuclear. I had never known anything like it. It made Braden Carmichael extremely dangerous to me.”

Braden is her new roommate Ellie’s older brother and he is a man who doesn't hide his interest in her. Jocelyn’s initial reaction to him is to resist his advances but her body betrays her whenever she is near him. His persistence, coupled with her almost primal attraction to him, eventually wear her down and she agrees to having a purely physical relationship with Braden, one that she hopes would run its course and keep her heart protected. But while their initial attraction might have been based on lust, their ever-growing connection is so much more than that - soon they are both faced with emotions neither of them have any experience feeling and Jocelyn starts slowly giving herself away to him, bit by bit, unconsciously lowering her emotional wall, brick by brick.

“You know on those nature shows when the cute little meerkat is strolling along on its four cute little meerkat legs to get back to her burrow where all her little meerkat politics, drama and family await her, and this big-ass eagle comes swooping overhead…? The smart little meerkat runs for cover and waits that big-ass eagle out. Some time passes, and the meerkat finally decides the eagle got bored and went off to scare the crap out of some other cute little meerkat. So, the meerkat crawls out from her hidey-hole to carry merrily on her way. And just when that little meerkat thought she was home free, that big-ass eagle swoops down and catches her in his big-ass claws. Well… I know exactly how that little meerkat felt…”

This story has so many tremendously developed layers. Jocelyn’s character is brilliantly written, with hidden depths that make her both touchingly realistic as well as believable. It is conceivable for someone with her painful past to become the type of person that would “make an art form out of deflection and self-possession” and her emotional growth in the story is well-paced and natural. There are no out-of-character moments, no eye-rolling scenarios or rushed events. But Jocelyn is not a tragic character that we ever need to pity. She is an empowered young woman who is only too aware of the consequences of her traumas and she seeks help when she can no longer maintain the crumbling wall around her heart. She is a character we can’t help but admire. The little snippets from her sessions with her therapist give us an extra insight into her, showing us her vulnerabilities and completing our picture of Jocelyn. We feel her pain, we cheer for her, we feel protective of her. Her anxiety attacks devastate us and her newly found chance of happiness with Braden elates us. His persistent love for her and his unwillingness to give up on her even when she is pushing him away make him the perfect ‘hero’ for Jocelyn. He pursues her relentlessly, he shows his feelings for her proudly and openly, and he never sees her as “broken”. We can’t help but approve of him.

This is ultimately a story of finding the perfect balance in a relationship - a balance between the past and the future, a balance between trust and self-preservation, and a balance between friendship and love. A must MUST read.

~ N ♥

See this review on my blog! | Follow me on Facebook!(less)

24 likes · like · see review

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About Samantha Young

Samantha Young is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She's been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestseller ON DUBLIN STREET.

For more info on Samantha's adult fiction visit http://www.ondublinstreet.com

For info on her young adult fiction visit www.samanthayoungbooks.com

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An On Dublin Street Christmas (On Dublin Street, #1.5)

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“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.” — 500 people liked it

“Babe, nice lingerie is for seducing a man. I’m already fucking seduced.” — 309 people liked it

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