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On Dublin Street #4
Fall from India Place
The New York Times bestselling author of On Dublin Street and Down London Road returns with a story about letting go of the past and learning to trust in the future...
When Hannah Nichols last saw Marco D’Alessandro, five long years ago, he broke her heart. The bad boy with a hidden sweet side was the only guy Hannah ever loved—and the only man she’s ever been with. After one intense night of giving into temptation, Marco took off, leaving Scotland and Hannah behind. Shattered by the consequences of their night together, Hannah has never truly moved on.
Leaving Hannah was the biggest mistake of Marco’s life, something he has deeply regretted for years. So when fate reunites them, he refuses to let her go without a fight. Determined to make her his, Marco pursues Hannah, reminding her of all the reasons they’re meant to be together.
But just when Marco thinks they’re committed to a future together, Hannah makes a discovery that unearths the secret pain she’s been hiding from him, a secret that could tear them apart before they have a real chance to start over again...
When Hannah Nichols last saw Marco D’Alessandro, five long years ago, he broke her heart. The bad boy with a hidden sweet side was the only guy Hannah ever loved—and the only man she’s ever been with. After one intense night of giving into temptation, Marco took off, leaving Scotland and Hannah behind. Shattered by the consequences of their night together, Hannah has never truly moved on.
Leaving Hannah was the biggest mistake of Marco’s life, something he has deeply regretted for years. So when fate reunites them, he refuses to let her go without a fight. Determined to make her his, Marco pursues Hannah, reminding her of all the reasons they’re meant to be together.
But just when Marco thinks they’re committed to a future together, Hannah makes a discovery that unearths the secret pain she’s been hiding from him, a secret that could tear them apart before they have a real chance to start over again...
370 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2014
335 people are currently reading
13949 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Young
108 books28.3k followersSamantha is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and a Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee. Samantha has written over 60 books and is published in 31 countries. She writes emotional and angsty romance, often set where she resides—in her beloved home country Scotland. Samantha splits her time between her family, writing and chasing after two very mischievous cavapoos.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,841 reviews
July 1, 2014
One-A Play a Game of Marco Polo Stars??
A nice fun game of course, Ready??
Marco?
POLO!!
Marco?
POLO!!
Is it obvious I hated Marco with a fire of a thousand suns? Lets talk the basics. Marco and Hannah meet in high school. Marco has a rough life and Hannah has a big ole crush on this poor, tortured boy from the start. One things leads to another, he pops her cherry and splits…for FIVE YEARS!!!
He sees her at a wedding 5 YEARS later and is immediately just enamored with our dear Hannah again. We come to find out he escaped to the US for a year, but has been back home for 4 years with a not a peep to Hannah. No phone call, email, hey missing that hymen baby? Nope notta word.
Damn I gotta spoiler this.
If you are going to go the route of trying to redeem your asshole hero, you have to make him actually not an asshole, perhaps?? Maybe grovel just for like a chapter or 12?? Couldn’t take it anymore, DNF at 84%. The last 2 books from this author have really been sub par. I will probably check out Cole’s book, but at some point I think we are going to have close the chapter here with this series. Not really much you can do to top Nate or Braden.
A nice fun game of course, Ready??
Marco?
POLO!!
Marco?
POLO!!
Is it obvious I hated Marco with a fire of a thousand suns? Lets talk the basics. Marco and Hannah meet in high school. Marco has a rough life and Hannah has a big ole crush on this poor, tortured boy from the start. One things leads to another, he pops her cherry and splits…for FIVE YEARS!!!
He sees her at a wedding 5 YEARS later and is immediately just enamored with our dear Hannah again. We come to find out he escaped to the US for a year, but has been back home for 4 years with a not a peep to Hannah. No phone call, email, hey missing that hymen baby? Nope notta word.
Damn I gotta spoiler this.
If you are going to go the route of trying to redeem your asshole hero, you have to make him actually not an asshole, perhaps?? Maybe grovel just for like a chapter or 12?? Couldn’t take it anymore, DNF at 84%. The last 2 books from this author have really been sub par. I will probably check out Cole’s book, but at some point I think we are going to have close the chapter here with this series. Not really much you can do to top Nate or Braden.
June 6, 2014
3-3.5 Stars...
Fall from India Place is set about five years later than the last ODS book. I have been waiting for Hannah’s book for a while now. I really liked her in the other ODS books. It was that much more heartbreaking that she was the main reason the story didn’t work for me.
It’s been five years since Hannah Nichols last saw her first love, Marco D’Alessandro. Five long years since her heart was shattered. After years of friendship and one passion filled night, Marco took off. Never to be seen or heard from again. This changed Hannah. She’s no longer the girl she once was.
Out of nowhere, Marco comes back into Hannah’s life. He runs into her and can’t seem to stay away. It’s clear Marco knows he made a huge mistake the night he left Hannah. He wants a chance to explain, a second chance with her. She isn’t sure if she can do that, but Marco is persistant. He needs her to remember who they used to be.
Just as Hannah is finally starting to open up to the possibility of more with Marco, a secret comes out. One that changes things for her. It brings back the awful pain and secret she’s keeping from him. This is the point in the story that most of my issues started to surface.
A lot of readers seem to have a big issue with Marco. I didn’t love him like the other ODS heroes, but I liked him. I felt like he was a genuine person and a good guy who made a mistake. A mistake that he repeatedly apologized for, and a mistake that he did everything in his power to rectify. This ‘secret’ he kept from Hannah was something that was fairly obvious. It was also something he told her he would talk about when he was ready. I understood his reasons for waiting. I felt like he handled it the way most adults would. Before opening that door, he needed to know this wasn’t temporary. That Hannah felt the same way as he did.
The best part of this story? Catching up with the rest of the ODS gang! I love these characters! Seeing them all grown up with families of their own was fantastic. Some of the kids gave some laugh out loud moments…
This story wasn’t all bad. There were scenes I really loved and even things about Hannah I loved . I hate that I wasn’t able to give it a higher rating than this, but there was just too much that didn’t work for me. Overall, this is still an amazing series, even if this book missed the mark. I do see a lot of mixed reviews on this. A lot of people felt the same as me, but many of my friends loved it. If you are a fan of the series, it might be worth giving it a shot. Even though I wasn’t in love with this book, I’m very much looking forward to Cole’s story and whatever else this lovely and talented author puts out.
Fall from India Place is set about five years later than the last ODS book. I have been waiting for Hannah’s book for a while now. I really liked her in the other ODS books. It was that much more heartbreaking that she was the main reason the story didn’t work for me.
It’s been five years since Hannah Nichols last saw her first love, Marco D’Alessandro. Five long years since her heart was shattered. After years of friendship and one passion filled night, Marco took off. Never to be seen or heard from again. This changed Hannah. She’s no longer the girl she once was.
I’d felt lost for a long time after he left. It had taken a while to find my strength and independence again. It had meant hardening my heart and creating little locked doors in my soul so that only the people I trusted implicitly could ever make it inside to touch it.
Out of nowhere, Marco comes back into Hannah’s life. He runs into her and can’t seem to stay away. It’s clear Marco knows he made a huge mistake the night he left Hannah. He wants a chance to explain, a second chance with her. She isn’t sure if she can do that, but Marco is persistant. He needs her to remember who they used to be.
“I’m your best friend. You’ve just forgotten. My fault, I know. I can help you remember.”
Just as Hannah is finally starting to open up to the possibility of more with Marco, a secret comes out. One that changes things for her. It brings back the awful pain and secret she’s keeping from him. This is the point in the story that most of my issues started to surface.
A lot of readers seem to have a big issue with Marco. I didn’t love him like the other ODS heroes, but I liked him. I felt like he was a genuine person and a good guy who made a mistake. A mistake that he repeatedly apologized for, and a mistake that he did everything in his power to rectify. This ‘secret’ he kept from Hannah was something that was fairly obvious. It was also something he told her he would talk about when he was ready. I understood his reasons for waiting. I felt like he handled it the way most adults would. Before opening that door, he needed to know this wasn’t temporary. That Hannah felt the same way as he did.
“I’m in love with you. There is no one else for me and I don’t know how I know, but I do know that there never will be.”Now on to the more difficult part of the review. Hannah. Where did my sweet and fun bookworm go? I understand Hannah is in a lot of pain. What happened to her would scar anyone. But to treat the person you supposidly love like she treated Marco, it completely turned me off . I did have some sympathy for her, I understood partiallly where she was coming from, but still. It wasn’t cool. Not at all.
The best part of this story? Catching up with the rest of the ODS gang! I love these characters! Seeing them all grown up with families of their own was fantastic. Some of the kids gave some laugh out loud moments…
“Beth, eat your greens. They’re good for you. Come on, eat your peas.”I bet you can’t guess who’s child that is! Then there was Cole. Cole was wonderful. Such a great friend and person. I loved catching up with him and seeing him all grown up.
“I don’t want to,” she whined, and we turned to watch her push her plate back. “They’re little fuckers.”
This story wasn’t all bad. There were scenes I really loved and even things about Hannah I loved . I hate that I wasn’t able to give it a higher rating than this, but there was just too much that didn’t work for me. Overall, this is still an amazing series, even if this book missed the mark. I do see a lot of mixed reviews on this. A lot of people felt the same as me, but many of my friends loved it. If you are a fan of the series, it might be worth giving it a shot. Even though I wasn’t in love with this book, I’m very much looking forward to Cole’s story and whatever else this lovely and talented author puts out.
August 13, 2014
Samantha Young's books are instant one-clicks for me, and I had such high hopes with this one but sadly it did not meet my expectations. I mean it's On Dublin Street series and it's Samantha Young's writing, it should be great, right? But arghhhhh...
I didn't like this story at all, I didn't like the twists (pretty predictable must say, too much unnecessary drama), I didn't like characters and I didn't believe in their love story. I found nothing romantic here and sex between those two wasn't panty dropping. Well, lets just say that Marco is no Braden or Nate, in fact he falls short in the aspect of being hot, sexy, alpha, swooning hero.
Marco was the douche, I mean it. He leaves Hannah after the event that I hated and never looks back, for five years he does not try to contact her. When they accidentally meet, he somehow reminds himself that she's the love of his life, he wants a second chance with her and literally becomes a stalker. And his excuse for not searching for her before? Puh-lease, it was lame. One comment on that, time to put your big boy panties on and grow up already. But there's more.... Although he didn't have courage? strength? guts? to find her earlier, he managed to do other stupid thing along the way and surprisingly be the man then, but he couldn't be the one for Hannah. I felt like he needed some groveling after the shit he put her through, and there was none. Contrary, he seemed so sure of himself and was angry when Hannah couldn't make a decision about their relationship. "Babe, you come to your senses, you know where I am. But I'll only be waiting there for so long." What a cheeky bastard!!!
Hannah might have been a little annoying with her hesitancy and lack of trust in Marco, but I couldn't really blame her after all he did. Seriously, this guy told her he always loved her, but do you leave someone you love without a word after , no matter how fucked up your confidence is? No, you don't! No wonder she had a lot of issues with giving him another chance.
Nonetheless, there were few things that I liked.
First, that would be snippets about Braden, Adam, Cam, Nate and their ladies. At some point I found myself only looking forward to them, to see how they lived their happily ever after. And boy did they deliver:) kids especially, it was like kindergarten on their Sunday lunches.
Second was Cole. I adore him, I do, I adore Cole!!!. We met him as a boy in Down London Road but now, this boy is all grown up and oh so wonderful. I fell in love with his character. His book is next and if the author destroys him I think I might just shoot someone. But since every second book in this series was a blast for me, considering it as a pattern, I'm strangely calm about next installment.
Third, one scene really cracked me up. When baby Beth called grean peas little fuckers and the explanation why she did that. That was actually my favorite scene in the book and that's saying something.... So, guess whose daughter was it, heh? I don't like to eat those little fuckers too:)
That being said, if I were to rate the book as a whole not just Hannah's story, that's 3 weak stars from me.
June 9, 2014
The timeline for the series has been fast forwarded five years so we could get Hannah's story, Ellie and Braden's little sister. Hannah's moving forward with her life but she hasn't moved on. She hasn't been able to get over her high school crush, Marco. Little does she know, he hasn't gotten over her either.
I thought I would be a bit put off with Hannah's story, still feeling like she was too young but SY was able to let us see how she has grown up and shown her in a more mature light. I really felt for what Hannah went through. I think the only problem is that she couldn't let go of the hurt.
I also wasn't sure I would be able to resonate with Marco because in the last book, we know he wouldn't be Hannah's boyfriend. We just didn't know why and so we sort of come into this story with Marco having points against him. I was really impressed with him for the most part. Granted, he was allowed to get a little frustrated but overall he wouldn't let Hannah push him away.
These two are really sexy together. I guess it's all that pent up sexual frustration! And nothing like all the emotional drama giving you all different kinds of scenes...Angry Marco was HOT!
So...the emotional drama, pretty easy to figure out. I get where Hannah is coming from but it just took a really l-o-n-g time for her to let it go and that bogged down the story a bit. I wasn't too happy with Marco's drama either but these things happen. I was just surprised that Hannah couldn't figure that out especially with her being so smart.
I did really love getting the updates on everyone but at the same it, it's A LOT and it's hard to keep straight...with who belongs to whom. But I did like how all the kids added to the story.
Cole, Cole, Cole...I cannot wait for his story. His will definitely be easier to take because we got to know the older Cole in this book. I loved what a great best friend he was to Hannah and I'm sure she will have a big part in his story.
The Epilogue was wonderful...heck, I'm just happy there was one! I loved the happily ever afters...I just wish things were mixed up a bit and not everyone ended up the same way.
Favorite quotes
♥ “Because,” he whispered back, “when I’m with you it feels like everything’s going to be okay. I can’t explain it.”
♥ "They're little fuckers."
♥ “Because now I have leverage against you anytime I screw up. I’ll just remind you of the past forty-eight hours where you acted like a petulant schoolboy because I accidentally gave your Borg T-shirt to charity.”
“It was the T-shirt I was wearing when we met,” he told her quietly.
♥ "Seriously," I continued, "I've worn out, like, three vibrators."
♥ "I might have to piss you off more often."
♥ “The length of teasing should be in proportion to the magnitude of the incident. Babe, you just took out five people simultaneously on an ice rink. I’d say that’s at least the first five years of our lives together. One year per person.”
♥ “You were this precious, beautiful gift that came into my life when I needed it the most.”
♥ "I want to protect you, I want you to know that for me there’s no one else like you. That you make my universe turn.”
♥ I’m in love with you. There is no one else for me and I don’t know how I know, but I do know that there never will be."
I thought I would be a bit put off with Hannah's story, still feeling like she was too young but SY was able to let us see how she has grown up and shown her in a more mature light. I really felt for what Hannah went through. I think the only problem is that she couldn't let go of the hurt.
I also wasn't sure I would be able to resonate with Marco because in the last book, we know he wouldn't be Hannah's boyfriend. We just didn't know why and so we sort of come into this story with Marco having points against him. I was really impressed with him for the most part. Granted, he was allowed to get a little frustrated but overall he wouldn't let Hannah push him away.
These two are really sexy together. I guess it's all that pent up sexual frustration! And nothing like all the emotional drama giving you all different kinds of scenes...Angry Marco was HOT!
So...the emotional drama, pretty easy to figure out. I get where Hannah is coming from but it just took a really l-o-n-g time for her to let it go and that bogged down the story a bit. I wasn't too happy with Marco's drama either but these things happen. I was just surprised that Hannah couldn't figure that out especially with her being so smart.
I did really love getting the updates on everyone but at the same it, it's A LOT and it's hard to keep straight...with who belongs to whom. But I did like how all the kids added to the story.
Cole, Cole, Cole...I cannot wait for his story. His will definitely be easier to take because we got to know the older Cole in this book. I loved what a great best friend he was to Hannah and I'm sure she will have a big part in his story.
The Epilogue was wonderful...heck, I'm just happy there was one! I loved the happily ever afters...I just wish things were mixed up a bit and not everyone ended up the same way.
Favorite quotes
♥ “Because,” he whispered back, “when I’m with you it feels like everything’s going to be okay. I can’t explain it.”
♥ "They're little fuckers."
♥ “Because now I have leverage against you anytime I screw up. I’ll just remind you of the past forty-eight hours where you acted like a petulant schoolboy because I accidentally gave your Borg T-shirt to charity.”
“It was the T-shirt I was wearing when we met,” he told her quietly.
♥ "Seriously," I continued, "I've worn out, like, three vibrators."
♥ "I might have to piss you off more often."
♥ “The length of teasing should be in proportion to the magnitude of the incident. Babe, you just took out five people simultaneously on an ice rink. I’d say that’s at least the first five years of our lives together. One year per person.”
♥ “You were this precious, beautiful gift that came into my life when I needed it the most.”
♥ "I want to protect you, I want you to know that for me there’s no one else like you. That you make my universe turn.”
♥ I’m in love with you. There is no one else for me and I don’t know how I know, but I do know that there never will be."
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June 3, 2014
2 stars
After years apart Hannah has reunited with her first love Marco. But with both of them holding back secrets, will they survive a second chance romance?
I didnt like Marco. Hannah was frustrasting, dragging out her secret and then her mixed signals. I wasnt getting their connection. The double twists did not surprise me one bit and I really disliked Marcos twist. I was actually skipping some sex scenes. I could go on with what didnt work but Id rather not.
I think if you are a fan of this author and series I would still encourage you to check out other reviews. One thing I did like was sweet Cole all grown up. This book was just not to my liking, doesnt mean it wont suit other readers.
Pre-release
hmmmm
Hannah's second chance romance with a "secret". We all know what that is codename for. I hope I can be proved wrong or at least it will have a good spin to it x
December 7, 2020
4/5 stars. Review to come.
I read a lot of bad reviews about this book, I really hope I’ll enjoy it...
I read a lot of bad reviews about this book, I really hope I’ll enjoy it...
November 15, 2017
This was an adult contemporary romance story, featuring Hannah and Marco.
Hannah was an okay character in this, but she kept pushing Marco away and couldn’t seem to forgive him for what he had done. It was nice the way that Marco didn’t give up on her though.
The storyline in this was about Hannah meeting Marco again at a wedding, and finding out that he had been back in Scotland for 4 years without contacting her. Marco wanted to start a new relationship with Hannah, even after everything they had been through, but Hannah wasn’t so quick to forgive and forget, and eventually we learned all about their backstory and why she was having such a hard time. This story did start off a bit slow, but it did get more interesting as it went along, and even though I guessed a couple of the twists I didn’t guess them all.
The ending to this was a happily ever after.
7 out of 10
Hannah was an okay character in this, but she kept pushing Marco away and couldn’t seem to forgive him for what he had done. It was nice the way that Marco didn’t give up on her though.
The storyline in this was about Hannah meeting Marco again at a wedding, and finding out that he had been back in Scotland for 4 years without contacting her. Marco wanted to start a new relationship with Hannah, even after everything they had been through, but Hannah wasn’t so quick to forgive and forget, and eventually we learned all about their backstory and why she was having such a hard time. This story did start off a bit slow, but it did get more interesting as it went along, and even though I guessed a couple of the twists I didn’t guess them all.
The ending to this was a happily ever after.
7 out of 10
November 8, 2014
“When we were kids, I was in love with you … That never went away, Hannah.” He rested his forehead against mine. “And now that I know you again, I’m even more in love with you.”
HOLY. FREAKING. SWOON!
I am a mad, mad fan of this series, and with this book set 5 years after the ending of the last one, I feel like this book signifies the changing of the guard – with Joss & Braden, Ellie & Adam, Jo & Cam and Liv & Nate all loved up and happy together (with babies – squee!), it’s now time for the younger generation to have their stories told, and it’s starting with Hannah.
A presence in the series since On Dublin Street, Hannah is Ellie’s younger sister. Now 22 years old, Hannah is a mature, confident, sensible and responsible young woman. She is a high school English teacher with a loving family, good friends and an organised, happy life. Her peace starts to crack when a random reminiscence of the only boy she has ever loved, Marco, drags up memories from the past that she has long ago tried to forget.
The story of Hannah and Marco’s past unfolds early in the book as Hannah reminisces about her first love and how he broke her heart. Hannah’s attraction to a troubled teenage Marco was explored a little bit in the last book of the series, and that same period is explored further here, this time from Hannah’s POV, showing us the intensity of feeling, and the depth of the bond between her and Marco.
Her life takes a huge turn when back in the present, five years after Marco abruptly left Hannah shattered and forever altered, he is suddenly back in her life. The broody teenager is now a confident, self-assured man who is comfortable with himself, knows what he wants, and isn’t afraid to go after it. And what he wants is Hannah.
Hannah is understandably angry, and terrified of letting Marco back into her life - scared of opening herself up to him and making herself vulnerable again. So even though she still has strong feelings for him, she puts her walls up and pushes him away.
It may sound like a cliché storyline, but the way it’s done is so honest and open, between two very mature and level-headed characters. It is refreshing and captivating. They show so much strength of character in opening up to each other, letting all of their anger, fear, and passion out. Each little encounter between them had me on the edge of my seat. And of course, it leads to all kinds of hotness…
Samantha Young writes incredible leading men, and Marco is a worthy addition to her already awesome line up! He knows he made the biggest mistake of his life letting Hannah go the way he did, and with his dedication and commitment to winning Hannah back, his openness with his feelings and his sexy swooniness, the man is absolutely perfect!
But they are both hiding secrets from their pasts, and when those secrets not only come out, but collide, it has the power to shatter their blissful reconnection.
My heart broke for both Hannah and Marco as they confronted all that had happened in the past, and realised where it left them in the present. With Samantha Young’s gift for storytelling, I could understand both of their perspectives, and could feel their pain. So. Many. Feeeeeels! I thought the drama did start to drag on a little bit, and my palm started to get a bit twitchy with the need to slap someone, but it is resolved just in time, and in absolutely beautiful style, leaving me happy and sappy.
Along with Hannah’s coming of age, Jo’s younger brother Cole is also all grown up, and OMG, I love him! I loved him when he was younger earlier in the series, and I love him as an adult! A gorgeous, inked-up tattoo artist, he is Hannah’s best friend and an absolute sweetheart, and their friendship is gorgeous! With a bit of a glance into his romantic life, I’m sure that we’ll see him get his own story at some point, and I can’t wait! The other up-and-coming character is Dec, Hannah’s younger brother. Their immature arguments and bantering is gold, and I’m hoping that we get to see more of him.
And, of course, all of the characters from the previous book are involved. Hannah sort of ‘belongs’ to everybody, so it’s like she has four big brothers and four big sisters all being protective and sharing her life with her, along with her family - and this is a very close-knit group so they are all over each other all of the time. It was fantastic catching up with them all five years down the track, and there is a lot of opportunity to see some real development for everybody (Braden and Nate still make me swoon *dreamy sigh*), and those Sunday lunch scenes are getting way out of control with a bunch of kids involved now, and are even more sensational because of it!
I loved this book! It fits beautifully into the series, and provides further proof of why Samantha Young is one of my favourite authors.
4.5 stars.
HOLY. FREAKING. SWOON!
I am a mad, mad fan of this series, and with this book set 5 years after the ending of the last one, I feel like this book signifies the changing of the guard – with Joss & Braden, Ellie & Adam, Jo & Cam and Liv & Nate all loved up and happy together (with babies – squee!), it’s now time for the younger generation to have their stories told, and it’s starting with Hannah.
A presence in the series since On Dublin Street, Hannah is Ellie’s younger sister. Now 22 years old, Hannah is a mature, confident, sensible and responsible young woman. She is a high school English teacher with a loving family, good friends and an organised, happy life. Her peace starts to crack when a random reminiscence of the only boy she has ever loved, Marco, drags up memories from the past that she has long ago tried to forget.
The story of Hannah and Marco’s past unfolds early in the book as Hannah reminisces about her first love and how he broke her heart. Hannah’s attraction to a troubled teenage Marco was explored a little bit in the last book of the series, and that same period is explored further here, this time from Hannah’s POV, showing us the intensity of feeling, and the depth of the bond between her and Marco.
“When I’m with you it feels like everything’s going to be okay. I can’t explain it.”
Her life takes a huge turn when back in the present, five years after Marco abruptly left Hannah shattered and forever altered, he is suddenly back in her life. The broody teenager is now a confident, self-assured man who is comfortable with himself, knows what he wants, and isn’t afraid to go after it. And what he wants is Hannah.
“I’m not going to hide that I want to get to know who you are now. I’m also not going to hide the fact that I think you’re still the classiest, most fucking beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, or the fact that I remember the taste of you and it still makes me hard.”
Hannah is understandably angry, and terrified of letting Marco back into her life - scared of opening herself up to him and making herself vulnerable again. So even though she still has strong feelings for him, she puts her walls up and pushes him away.
“I don’t care if you’ve changed. I don’t care who you are now. I don’t need or want your explanations because what you did, you didn’t do it to me, you did it to that girl you left behind. And I’m not her anymore. You made certain of that. She might have needed answers and an apology, but me…I don’t know what you’re talking about.
It may sound like a cliché storyline, but the way it’s done is so honest and open, between two very mature and level-headed characters. It is refreshing and captivating. They show so much strength of character in opening up to each other, letting all of their anger, fear, and passion out. Each little encounter between them had me on the edge of my seat. And of course, it leads to all kinds of hotness…
“I know you still care.” His words whispered across my lips, his mouth almost touching mine. I shivered, my breath stuttering. “And, baby,” he continued, “I don’t think I can pretend any longer that I don’t think about being inside you nearly every hour of every day.”
His words were almost the equivalent of his mouth between my legs.
Samantha Young writes incredible leading men, and Marco is a worthy addition to her already awesome line up! He knows he made the biggest mistake of his life letting Hannah go the way he did, and with his dedication and commitment to winning Hannah back, his openness with his feelings and his sexy swooniness, the man is absolutely perfect!
“I’m your best friend … You’ve just forgotten. My fault, I know. I can help you remember.”
But they are both hiding secrets from their pasts, and when those secrets not only come out, but collide, it has the power to shatter their blissful reconnection.
My heart broke for both Hannah and Marco as they confronted all that had happened in the past, and realised where it left them in the present. With Samantha Young’s gift for storytelling, I could understand both of their perspectives, and could feel their pain. So. Many. Feeeeeels! I thought the drama did start to drag on a little bit, and my palm started to get a bit twitchy with the need to slap someone, but it is resolved just in time, and in absolutely beautiful style, leaving me happy and sappy.
“I’m in love with you. There is no one else for me and I don’t know how I know, but I do know that there never will be.”
Along with Hannah’s coming of age, Jo’s younger brother Cole is also all grown up, and OMG, I love him! I loved him when he was younger earlier in the series, and I love him as an adult! A gorgeous, inked-up tattoo artist, he is Hannah’s best friend and an absolute sweetheart, and their friendship is gorgeous! With a bit of a glance into his romantic life, I’m sure that we’ll see him get his own story at some point, and I can’t wait! The other up-and-coming character is Dec, Hannah’s younger brother. Their immature arguments and bantering is gold, and I’m hoping that we get to see more of him.
And, of course, all of the characters from the previous book are involved. Hannah sort of ‘belongs’ to everybody, so it’s like she has four big brothers and four big sisters all being protective and sharing her life with her, along with her family - and this is a very close-knit group so they are all over each other all of the time. It was fantastic catching up with them all five years down the track, and there is a lot of opportunity to see some real development for everybody (Braden and Nate still make me swoon *dreamy sigh*), and those Sunday lunch scenes are getting way out of control with a bunch of kids involved now, and are even more sensational because of it!
I loved this book! It fits beautifully into the series, and provides further proof of why Samantha Young is one of my favourite authors.
4.5 stars.
January 1, 2015
3 Second Chance Stars.
This book happens five years after the previous ones.
Hanna always had a crush on Marco and thought he would never notice her. But one night everything changes and she thinks her dream had finally become real. Except that Marco bails on her leaving hurt and scarred for the next five years.
Now Marco is back, and knowing that leaving her was his biggest mistake, he’s decided to do whatever it takes to get her back.
But how do you make someone love you and trust you again, when you were the one that broke that trust in first place?
Rating: 3 Stars.
Storyline: Wow, I never thought I would say this, especially after completely loving all the previous book on the series, but this one missed the mark for me. The “great secret” was obvious from the beginning and all the rest of it, didn’t quite grabbed my interest. In general, it was all a big “meh”.
Writing Style: First person. Female POV. As always, Samantha Young writes wonderfully!
Character Development: Hanna… oh Hanna! Where did my little and sweet bookworm go? She is now bitter and cold and I only saw glimpses of the sweet girl she used to be. I know she was hurt, but that wasn’t a complete excuse for the way she sometimes treated Marco. And Marco? I hated him for what he did and while understanding why he kept “the big secret”, I couldn’t completely forgive him.
The great thing about this book? Seeing the previous couples after some years, with their families and I loved to see more of their lives after the happily ever after.
Steam: Hot scenes.
HEA:
This book happens five years after the previous ones.
Hanna always had a crush on Marco and thought he would never notice her. But one night everything changes and she thinks her dream had finally become real. Except that Marco bails on her leaving hurt and scarred for the next five years.
Now Marco is back, and knowing that leaving her was his biggest mistake, he’s decided to do whatever it takes to get her back.
But how do you make someone love you and trust you again, when you were the one that broke that trust in first place?
Rating: 3 Stars.
Storyline: Wow, I never thought I would say this, especially after completely loving all the previous book on the series, but this one missed the mark for me. The “great secret” was obvious from the beginning and all the rest of it, didn’t quite grabbed my interest. In general, it was all a big “meh”.
Writing Style: First person. Female POV. As always, Samantha Young writes wonderfully!
Character Development: Hanna… oh Hanna! Where did my little and sweet bookworm go? She is now bitter and cold and I only saw glimpses of the sweet girl she used to be. I know she was hurt, but that wasn’t a complete excuse for the way she sometimes treated Marco. And Marco? I hated him for what he did and while understanding why he kept “the big secret”, I couldn’t completely forgive him.
The great thing about this book? Seeing the previous couples after some years, with their families and I loved to see more of their lives after the happily ever after.
Steam: Hot scenes.
HEA:
June 5, 2014
3.7 stars!
I was lucky enough to win an paperback ARC for this book that I read it immediately once it arrived in the mail.
In Fall from India Place, we see Hannah all grown up. The last time we saw Hannah from Before Jamaica Lane, she was in a not-altogether healthy relationship with Marco. They played the whole 'I want you but I don't want to want you game' for a long time. Readers know about Hannah's feelings about Marco and we see him push her away time and time again. I was a little apprehensive to read this because I hate it when heroes push the girl away for some asinine reason only known to them but I liked it in this book.
That said, Marco's reason was still asinine but once he finally accepted his feelings for Hannah, he was really into her 100%. But Hannah wasn't quite as receptive to Marco's advances in light of their past. I kinda suspected early on what her secret was for me it still worked. I am usually a vindictive bitch when it comes to my heroes doing something awful, albeit unknowingly, to my heroine but in this case, I could totally understand since they were both so young. So yeah, I could totally see why it happened to them.
While I liked the book, I didn't really love it the way I fell with Before Jamaica Lane. Don't get me wrong, I loved these characters. Marco and Hannah had great chemistry. But there was something a bit off for me in this book. I was thinking maybe because of the timeline? Hannah was 23 (I think) in this book and I was used to seeing her as this smart awkward teenager throughout the series. It didn't help that ODS, BFB, DLR, BJL were all set during present time and then suddenly, for the next book Hannah was all grown up and it's year...God, I don't even remember what year was this book set in now. I felt that it made too much of a substantial leap forward into the future that it messed with the timeline in my head a little bit.
Other than that, I still enjoyed this book. I wasn't bothered with the info dump in the beginning of the book. I feel that it was important to give an overview of the characters since this was marketed as a standalone. New readers wouldn't get lost because they're given a snippet of who these characters are. But I can understand why it would bother those readers who've read all the books in the series. We know these people already and we've read all about them, so we really don't want the author to recall previous details about them. But as I've said, for new readers, the info dump can be very helpful.
Still love this series and I'm definitely looking forward to Cole's story, which would probably be set in the future. Just kidding. I hope not.
I was lucky enough to win an paperback ARC for this book that I read it immediately once it arrived in the mail.
In Fall from India Place, we see Hannah all grown up. The last time we saw Hannah from Before Jamaica Lane, she was in a not-altogether healthy relationship with Marco. They played the whole 'I want you but I don't want to want you game' for a long time. Readers know about Hannah's feelings about Marco and we see him push her away time and time again. I was a little apprehensive to read this because I hate it when heroes push the girl away for some asinine reason only known to them but I liked it in this book.
That said, Marco's reason was still asinine but once he finally accepted his feelings for Hannah, he was really into her 100%. But Hannah wasn't quite as receptive to Marco's advances in light of their past. I kinda suspected early on what her secret was for me it still worked. I am usually a vindictive bitch when it comes to my heroes doing something awful, albeit unknowingly, to my heroine but in this case, I could totally understand since they were both so young. So yeah, I could totally see why it happened to them.
While I liked the book, I didn't really love it the way I fell with Before Jamaica Lane. Don't get me wrong, I loved these characters. Marco and Hannah had great chemistry. But there was something a bit off for me in this book. I was thinking maybe because of the timeline? Hannah was 23 (I think) in this book and I was used to seeing her as this smart awkward teenager throughout the series. It didn't help that ODS, BFB, DLR, BJL were all set during present time and then suddenly, for the next book Hannah was all grown up and it's year...God, I don't even remember what year was this book set in now. I felt that it made too much of a substantial leap forward into the future that it messed with the timeline in my head a little bit.
Other than that, I still enjoyed this book. I wasn't bothered with the info dump in the beginning of the book. I feel that it was important to give an overview of the characters since this was marketed as a standalone. New readers wouldn't get lost because they're given a snippet of who these characters are. But I can understand why it would bother those readers who've read all the books in the series. We know these people already and we've read all about them, so we really don't want the author to recall previous details about them. But as I've said, for new readers, the info dump can be very helpful.
Still love this series and I'm definitely looking forward to Cole's story, which would probably be set in the future. Just kidding. I hope not.
October 27, 2015
Edited review: 6/4/2014
2.5 stars
Fall from India Place opens with Hannah all grown up, now a young woman of twenty-two, teaching high school English, has a loving family, and good friends. Her life is good, but there is someone missing in her life that she loves greatly – Marco, our hero, and the boy she fell head over heels in love with while in high school, but abandoned her when he abruptly leaves her after taking her virginity, leaving her broken hearted. Which eventually turns into anger and resentment that has left her with the inability to form any kind of connection or emotional ties with another man.
So, even though it’s been years since she’s seen Marco, he continues to consume her thoughts. Thinking she will never see him again, imagine her surprise when Marco suddenly shows up in her life out of the blue, all grown up, a changed man, still in love with her, and wants her back in his life. And will do anything to have her back. But Hannah is furious when she finds out he’s been back in Scotland for four years and is unsure she will be able to forgive him for the way he left things between them. But Marco is determined and persistent. He’s a force to be reckoned with as he relentlessly inserts himself back into Hannah’s life to gain her love, respect, and trust again.
I’ve loved Hannah ever since she was introduced in On Dublin Street, with her book smarts and sassy attitude. I was very intrigued and excited to get her and Marco’s story, which started when they were just teenagers. Their story has been building for a while. But the reader never truly knew what was going with them until now. I enjoyed how this story explores Hannah and Marco’s past from when they met in high school up until they reunite as adults. And, while I think this book should've worked for me, since I love second chance at love stories, this one did not.
Marco may have his reasons for leaving, but I was still miffed with the way he left things with Hannah. Although I did like Marco once I got to know the man he had become. He definitely changed from a dark, broody teenager with secrets and became a very sweet and sexy hero that I swooned over.
Unfortunately, I had big problems with Hannah. I didn't really like her. Hannah is understandably very unhappy with Marco. He broke her heart and she felt abandoned by him. She was never the same after he left. She carried around a terrible secret for years, which developed into a huge grudge against Marco – a huge ridiculous grudge that made her look very immature, petty, and selfish, especially when Marco’s secret is revealed.
At this point, I kept wondering what happen to the Hannah I grew to love in the beginning. This Hannah created a lot of unnecessary drama that could’ve been avoided right from the beginning. She became the kind of heroine that would cut and run when the going got tough. And she fought Marco on everything. What it boils down to is that me and Hannah just did not mesh well.
With that said, I can’t say that I was entirely on Marco’s side either. I never did buy into the half-ass explanation from Marco as to why he left five years ago and never got back in touch with Hannah. I was frustrated. And I wanted a better explanation! But he does own up to what he did and spends a good majority of the book trying to convince Hannah to be with him. I give him credit where credit is due, he didn't run from Hannah, when I wished he did many times. I’m not sure that Hannah really deserved him.
I have mad love for this series. But this book was weak and left me feeling unsatisfied and frustrated. I really liked the writing style and visiting with the couples from the other books. And Hannah and Marco didn’t always get on my nerves while reading this story. They had some really sweet and sexy moments that made me smile and laugh. But there were just too many other things (Hannah!) that kept me from enjoying this book as much as I would have liked. Samantha Young truly is a talented writer and I still plan to continue to read her On Dublin Street series. I’m very much looking forward to Cole’s book. He’s been a favorite of mine since book two.
Happy Reading!
Paula <3
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review
2.5 stars
Fall from India Place opens with Hannah all grown up, now a young woman of twenty-two, teaching high school English, has a loving family, and good friends. Her life is good, but there is someone missing in her life that she loves greatly – Marco, our hero, and the boy she fell head over heels in love with while in high school, but abandoned her when he abruptly leaves her after taking her virginity, leaving her broken hearted. Which eventually turns into anger and resentment that has left her with the inability to form any kind of connection or emotional ties with another man.
So, even though it’s been years since she’s seen Marco, he continues to consume her thoughts. Thinking she will never see him again, imagine her surprise when Marco suddenly shows up in her life out of the blue, all grown up, a changed man, still in love with her, and wants her back in his life. And will do anything to have her back. But Hannah is furious when she finds out he’s been back in Scotland for four years and is unsure she will be able to forgive him for the way he left things between them. But Marco is determined and persistent. He’s a force to be reckoned with as he relentlessly inserts himself back into Hannah’s life to gain her love, respect, and trust again.
I’ve loved Hannah ever since she was introduced in On Dublin Street, with her book smarts and sassy attitude. I was very intrigued and excited to get her and Marco’s story, which started when they were just teenagers. Their story has been building for a while. But the reader never truly knew what was going with them until now. I enjoyed how this story explores Hannah and Marco’s past from when they met in high school up until they reunite as adults. And, while I think this book should've worked for me, since I love second chance at love stories, this one did not.
Marco may have his reasons for leaving, but I was still miffed with the way he left things with Hannah. Although I did like Marco once I got to know the man he had become. He definitely changed from a dark, broody teenager with secrets and became a very sweet and sexy hero that I swooned over.
Unfortunately, I had big problems with Hannah. I didn't really like her. Hannah is understandably very unhappy with Marco. He broke her heart and she felt abandoned by him. She was never the same after he left. She carried around a terrible secret for years, which developed into a huge grudge against Marco – a huge ridiculous grudge that made her look very immature, petty, and selfish, especially when Marco’s secret is revealed.
At this point, I kept wondering what happen to the Hannah I grew to love in the beginning. This Hannah created a lot of unnecessary drama that could’ve been avoided right from the beginning. She became the kind of heroine that would cut and run when the going got tough. And she fought Marco on everything. What it boils down to is that me and Hannah just did not mesh well.
With that said, I can’t say that I was entirely on Marco’s side either. I never did buy into the half-ass explanation from Marco as to why he left five years ago and never got back in touch with Hannah. I was frustrated. And I wanted a better explanation! But he does own up to what he did and spends a good majority of the book trying to convince Hannah to be with him. I give him credit where credit is due, he didn't run from Hannah, when I wished he did many times. I’m not sure that Hannah really deserved him.
I have mad love for this series. But this book was weak and left me feeling unsatisfied and frustrated. I really liked the writing style and visiting with the couples from the other books. And Hannah and Marco didn’t always get on my nerves while reading this story. They had some really sweet and sexy moments that made me smile and laugh. But there were just too many other things (Hannah!) that kept me from enjoying this book as much as I would have liked. Samantha Young truly is a talented writer and I still plan to continue to read her On Dublin Street series. I’m very much looking forward to Cole’s book. He’s been a favorite of mine since book two.
Happy Reading!
Paula <3
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review
July 7, 2014
So, I've finally read this book!
Suprisingly it didn't was 5 stars :(
I expected Hanna's book since On Dublin Street, she was this outspoken, smart and super sarcastic girl, really kind of awesome, but Hanna changed as the years had passed.
The book advances 5 years in the timeline, and we are presented for a 22 year old Hanna, now a school teacher.She still is smart and make the funniest comments, but we can see that something is off with her, and as the book progress we see what happened between her and her high school sweetheart Marco D'Alessandro, and guys the thing with them had ended very ugly, but Hanna don't think about it anymore,IT MAY BE A SPOILER
until at a wedding he burts into her life again.
I liked the book, but some things that was in the other books wasn't in this one, at least for me:
- First, the hero.I knew it, when I don't quite like someone from the start I rarely change my opinion.I don't know, I found Marco too demanding... some of his atitudes was too much for me, like he was giving Hanna ultimatums all the time.Sure, she didn't make it easy for him, but he was too persistent in annoying ways, especially in the beggining.
- I was kind of dissapointed with Hanna, I've never expected her to play games in relationship area, and some of her atitudes can be seen as childish, but when I stopped to think about what she'd had to been through at such a young age and she had never felt truly lost before the thing that happen (major spoiler area), so... I kind of understood her.
- And somehow I didn't feel the explosive chemistry between them like I felt between the couples from the previous books.
But, a plus in this book of course are the second characters, as awesome as usual on Samantha Young's books.And I must say, Cole Walker, you really steals the show
He really has grown up to be a hot, loyal, funny and awesome guy (CAN'T FREAKING WAIT FOR HIS BOOK)
And man, there are SO many kids in this book, all the couples from the previous book has children now, I couldn't even follow the name of the children and who are their parents, just that Ellie is pregnant of her and Adam's second child and Jo is pregnant of her and Cam's first.
And with the addtion of Marco and... other people the Sunday lunch is exploding, I must say.
Now, the part of the book wich I liked the most was near the end, Hanna comes back to her senses, and there's a really sad part wich somehow helps her to not be scared of living anymore.The end itself it's really sweet and I loved it, we can see that Hanna finally is happy again ( too bad I still didn't get to grow fond of Marco)
Even though Fall from India Place didn't reach that part of me that the others had reached, still is a must read for us, lovers of this series.
Update 12/01: In Before Jamaica Lane we see a little glimpse of Hanna and Marco, and Olivia while watching they talking, thinks that Marco it's a broody guy, hmm... I kind have a thing for this :) looking forward even more!
Update 12/13: COVEEER REVEAL
I really liked it, except the color of the name...
And I'm still not buying this Marco guy, sorry, I really shiped hard Hanna and Cole, I don't even know why :(
OMG!!!!
We'll have two books of On Dublin Street Series next year, that just made my day!
And it's Hannah's book, I've loved her since 1st book, but... I kinda always shiped her and Cole (Jo's brother) so, I'm a little disappointed:(
But, I will get over! Because I know that Samantha Young makes impossible to dislike any of her heroes.And more of the other characters, YAYY, I love them all!
Soo, I guess now it's just wait...
Suprisingly it didn't was 5 stars :(
I expected Hanna's book since On Dublin Street, she was this outspoken, smart and super sarcastic girl, really kind of awesome, but Hanna changed as the years had passed.
The book advances 5 years in the timeline, and we are presented for a 22 year old Hanna, now a school teacher.She still is smart and make the funniest comments, but we can see that something is off with her, and as the book progress we see what happened between her and her high school sweetheart Marco D'Alessandro, and guys the thing with them had ended very ugly, but Hanna don't think about it anymore,IT MAY BE A SPOILER
until at a wedding he burts into her life again.
I liked the book, but some things that was in the other books wasn't in this one, at least for me:
- First, the hero.I knew it, when I don't quite like someone from the start I rarely change my opinion.I don't know, I found Marco too demanding... some of his atitudes was too much for me, like he was giving Hanna ultimatums all the time.Sure, she didn't make it easy for him, but he was too persistent in annoying ways, especially in the beggining.
- I was kind of dissapointed with Hanna, I've never expected her to play games in relationship area, and some of her atitudes can be seen as childish, but when I stopped to think about what she'd had to been through at such a young age and she had never felt truly lost before the thing that happen (major spoiler area), so... I kind of understood her.
- And somehow I didn't feel the explosive chemistry between them like I felt between the couples from the previous books.
But, a plus in this book of course are the second characters, as awesome as usual on Samantha Young's books.And I must say, Cole Walker, you really steals the show
He really has grown up to be a hot, loyal, funny and awesome guy (CAN'T FREAKING WAIT FOR HIS BOOK)
And man, there are SO many kids in this book, all the couples from the previous book has children now, I couldn't even follow the name of the children and who are their parents, just that Ellie is pregnant of her and Adam's second child and Jo is pregnant of her and Cam's first.
And with the addtion of Marco and... other people the Sunday lunch is exploding, I must say.
Now, the part of the book wich I liked the most was near the end, Hanna comes back to her senses, and there's a really sad part wich somehow helps her to not be scared of living anymore.The end itself it's really sweet and I loved it, we can see that Hanna finally is happy again ( too bad I still didn't get to grow fond of Marco)
Even though Fall from India Place didn't reach that part of me that the others had reached, still is a must read for us, lovers of this series.
Update 12/01: In Before Jamaica Lane we see a little glimpse of Hanna and Marco, and Olivia while watching they talking, thinks that Marco it's a broody guy, hmm... I kind have a thing for this :) looking forward even more!
Update 12/13: COVEEER REVEAL
I really liked it, except the color of the name...
And I'm still not buying this Marco guy, sorry, I really shiped hard Hanna and Cole, I don't even know why :(
OMG!!!!
We'll have two books of On Dublin Street Series next year, that just made my day!
And it's Hannah's book, I've loved her since 1st book, but... I kinda always shiped her and Cole (Jo's brother) so, I'm a little disappointed:(
But, I will get over! Because I know that Samantha Young makes impossible to dislike any of her heroes.And more of the other characters, YAYY, I love them all!
Soo, I guess now it's just wait...
May 23, 2015
3 Stars
This is the much anticipated story of Hannah and Marco.
If you have read the other books, you have seen peaks of these two…
Unfortunately for me I think that may have set this up to fail. I have waited forever, read 6 books, to find out what the deal is with Hannah and Marco…only to learn their issues (both) were...
I feel I should say I wasn’t expected a mystery or suspense book so the predictability didn’t really bother me. What really bothered me about this book is the flow…
I mean really?!? This book is less than 300 page but felt so long. Hannah’s indecisiveness drove me crazy!! Marco was great, but after a while lost some respect for him…I mean really??
I may be being harder on this book then it deserves because I expected so much after the glimpse and speculation. I love Samantha Young and so wanted to love this one too. I will continue to read her books and hope that she gets some of that magic back for Cole’s book.
In the end this one just didn’t live up to the hype…
This is the much anticipated story of Hannah and Marco.
If you have read the other books, you have seen peaks of these two…
Unfortunately for me I think that may have set this up to fail. I have waited forever, read 6 books, to find out what the deal is with Hannah and Marco…only to learn their issues (both) were...
I feel I should say I wasn’t expected a mystery or suspense book so the predictability didn’t really bother me. What really bothered me about this book is the flow…
I mean really?!? This book is less than 300 page but felt so long. Hannah’s indecisiveness drove me crazy!! Marco was great, but after a while lost some respect for him…I mean really??
I may be being harder on this book then it deserves because I expected so much after the glimpse and speculation. I love Samantha Young and so wanted to love this one too. I will continue to read her books and hope that she gets some of that magic back for Cole’s book.
In the end this one just didn’t live up to the hype…
June 3, 2014
4.5 Stars
I know when I pick up a Samantha Young romance I’ll be in for an addictive and hot story, but I also know she’s going to tear at my heart with some angst. Fall From India Place was no different, and as usual I loved it!
Hannah the sweet little sister we all grew to love in the previous books is all grown up, at twenty-two but she’s changed. No longer is she open and outgoing, she’s more cautious and guarded. Having Marco, her first love, crush her heart and leave her with no explanation is one thing, but the repercussions made the heartbreak almost unbearable. Thankfully, she had her friends and ever growing family at her back to help her get through those dark days.
Having graduated from college Hannah’s on her probationary year as a high school English teacher, and she’s put those events behind her, mostly. The reappearance of Marco in her life throws her for a loop bringing back all the memories and heartache. What throws Hannah even more is the fact he wants another chance. She’s not sure if she can open herself up to him and the utter devastation she’d feel if things go wrong again. But Marco has changed and he’s determined, because he knows what they could’ve had if he didn’t muck things up. He’s not about to let Hannah go again.
“I know you still care.” His words whispered across my lips, his mouth almost touching mine. I shivered, my breath stuttering. “And, babe,” he continued, “I don’t think I can pretend any longer that I don’t think about being inside you nearly every hour of every day.”
Hannah was definitely damaged by her past and you can easily see the contrast through flashbacks cluing us in slowly to exactly what happened. Ms. Young skillfully conveys Hannah’s emotions so you feel them profoundly, and it was painful. It made it very easy to understand why she was so hesitant to let Marco back in. And I certainly understood the betrayal Hannah felt over one revelation, even though it wasn’t entirely rational. I would’ve felt exactly the same! Yet, Marco is so determined to make things right that I couldn’t help but love him! I loved that he didn’t hold back his heart or his feelings.
“I want to protect you, I want you to know that for me there’s no one else like you. That you make my universe turn.”
Cole and Hannah’s father impressed me with their supportiveness. The whole family was, but Hannah was more honest with these two. I was a little disappointed Hannah held back with them, a fault she comes to realize and tries to correct.
The ending was lovely and did not disappoint, especially since I know I’ll get more of Hannah and Marco in Cole’s book. Fans will be pleased to catch up with the past couples several years into the future, and it was nice to see their continuing HEA’s and the new little additions. The On Dublin Street crowd is growing bigger and bigger with cute personalities everywhere. I can’t wait for Cole’s book!
A copy was provided by NAL in exchange for an honest review.
I know when I pick up a Samantha Young romance I’ll be in for an addictive and hot story, but I also know she’s going to tear at my heart with some angst. Fall From India Place was no different, and as usual I loved it!
Hannah the sweet little sister we all grew to love in the previous books is all grown up, at twenty-two but she’s changed. No longer is she open and outgoing, she’s more cautious and guarded. Having Marco, her first love, crush her heart and leave her with no explanation is one thing, but the repercussions made the heartbreak almost unbearable. Thankfully, she had her friends and ever growing family at her back to help her get through those dark days.
Having graduated from college Hannah’s on her probationary year as a high school English teacher, and she’s put those events behind her, mostly. The reappearance of Marco in her life throws her for a loop bringing back all the memories and heartache. What throws Hannah even more is the fact he wants another chance. She’s not sure if she can open herself up to him and the utter devastation she’d feel if things go wrong again. But Marco has changed and he’s determined, because he knows what they could’ve had if he didn’t muck things up. He’s not about to let Hannah go again.
“I know you still care.” His words whispered across my lips, his mouth almost touching mine. I shivered, my breath stuttering. “And, babe,” he continued, “I don’t think I can pretend any longer that I don’t think about being inside you nearly every hour of every day.”
Hannah was definitely damaged by her past and you can easily see the contrast through flashbacks cluing us in slowly to exactly what happened. Ms. Young skillfully conveys Hannah’s emotions so you feel them profoundly, and it was painful. It made it very easy to understand why she was so hesitant to let Marco back in. And I certainly understood the betrayal Hannah felt over one revelation, even though it wasn’t entirely rational. I would’ve felt exactly the same! Yet, Marco is so determined to make things right that I couldn’t help but love him! I loved that he didn’t hold back his heart or his feelings.
“I want to protect you, I want you to know that for me there’s no one else like you. That you make my universe turn.”
Cole and Hannah’s father impressed me with their supportiveness. The whole family was, but Hannah was more honest with these two. I was a little disappointed Hannah held back with them, a fault she comes to realize and tries to correct.
The ending was lovely and did not disappoint, especially since I know I’ll get more of Hannah and Marco in Cole’s book. Fans will be pleased to catch up with the past couples several years into the future, and it was nice to see their continuing HEA’s and the new little additions. The On Dublin Street crowd is growing bigger and bigger with cute personalities everywhere. I can’t wait for Cole’s book!
A copy was provided by NAL in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2018
AUDIOBOOK
What a wonderful surprise! I put off continuing this series because the next one was about Hannah and I watched her grow up. She’s become like a wee sister to me. I didn’t think I could stomach reading about her sex life. But Samantha Young did a great job with creating a strong, independent woman.
I struggled through the beginning because of all the flash backs. I was rolling my eyes very hard when each one appeared. Just start the story at the beginning and tell it all the way through. UGH!
I have one major issue with this story...HUGE
Every time men and women have sex, they run the risk of creating life because no contraceptive is 100% effective. Women cannot escape this responsibility. This story upset me because Samantha perpetuated societal normalcy of men leaving sexual responsibilities.
SPOILER
Marco and Hannah had sex without a condom. It was her first time, definitely not his. He left her and didn’t contact her for years. He knew the probable outcome of unprotected sex, but not once did he check to see if their ‘mistake’ resulted in anything. Nothing Samantha wrote to make his actions redeemable worked for me – “he didn’t know, Hannah,” “he had a lot of family issues” etc. doesn’t make up for him knowing he had unprotected sex and not checking in. Not Cool.
What a wonderful surprise! I put off continuing this series because the next one was about Hannah and I watched her grow up. She’s become like a wee sister to me. I didn’t think I could stomach reading about her sex life. But Samantha Young did a great job with creating a strong, independent woman.
I struggled through the beginning because of all the flash backs. I was rolling my eyes very hard when each one appeared. Just start the story at the beginning and tell it all the way through. UGH!
I have one major issue with this story...HUGE
Every time men and women have sex, they run the risk of creating life because no contraceptive is 100% effective. Women cannot escape this responsibility. This story upset me because Samantha perpetuated societal normalcy of men leaving sexual responsibilities.
SPOILER
Marco and Hannah had sex without a condom. It was her first time, definitely not his. He left her and didn’t contact her for years. He knew the probable outcome of unprotected sex, but not once did he check to see if their ‘mistake’ resulted in anything. Nothing Samantha wrote to make his actions redeemable worked for me – “he didn’t know, Hannah,” “he had a lot of family issues” etc. doesn’t make up for him knowing he had unprotected sex and not checking in. Not Cool.
August 20, 2014
I was really excited when I finally got to read Hannah's story, but now that I'm finished, I can't say I liked it. I am disappointed. This was not the book I'd thought it would be. There were parts when I felt I was gonna like it, but then something happened that made me change my mind.
Hannah was really annoying! I didn't like her because fo her insecurities. I get it, Hannah: you felt in love with Marco, but then he broke your heart, so now you feel like you can't have a relationship with anyone because you're afraid of loving. She needed to get over Marco. I understand why she was afraid of falling for someone, but it became hard to read the book because I couldn't stand the main character. She was sweet, though. I liked the relationship between her and her students.
I didn't fell for Marco. I found him boring and dumb. I hated him because of what he did to Hannah. He had sex with her and left her right after. Years later, he comes back begging for her forgiveness. He was and idiot. Hannah went through a bunch of stuff and he wasn't there for her. Instead, he was having a baby with another girl. You want me to like him, Samantha? He is a jerk! I couldn't keep myself from rolling eyes at every stupid thing that came out of his mouth.
I enjoyed seeing Braden, Joss and the other couples together. There were so sweet together as a family. I could not control my excitement when they showed up. Els and Jo were pregnant! That made me happy. I have to say that Braden and Joss' daughter was the cutest and funniest thing in the whole book. Little Beth made me laugh out loud.
I did not expect to cry when I started reading this book. I laughed, smiled and rolled eyes. But the last thing I thought I'd happen happened: I cried. A lot. I didn't see that coming. It broke my heart. And also pissed me off; because of that, Hannah decides to get back with Marco cause she realized life is too short to stay mad at him forever. Are you kidding me? That was so stupid! They spent the whole book mad at each other, and then they get back and it's all done. Too much drama.
To sum up, Fall From India Place has everything the other books of this series have: tons of drama, sexiness and a happy ending. However, that was not enough to deserve more than 2 stars. It was disappointing. A tedious and repetitive novel.
Hannah was really annoying! I didn't like her because fo her insecurities. I get it, Hannah: you felt in love with Marco, but then he broke your heart, so now you feel like you can't have a relationship with anyone because you're afraid of loving. She needed to get over Marco. I understand why she was afraid of falling for someone, but it became hard to read the book because I couldn't stand the main character. She was sweet, though. I liked the relationship between her and her students.
I didn't fell for Marco. I found him boring and dumb. I hated him because of what he did to Hannah. He had sex with her and left her right after. Years later, he comes back begging for her forgiveness. He was and idiot. Hannah went through a bunch of stuff and he wasn't there for her. Instead, he was having a baby with another girl. You want me to like him, Samantha? He is a jerk! I couldn't keep myself from rolling eyes at every stupid thing that came out of his mouth.
I enjoyed seeing Braden, Joss and the other couples together. There were so sweet together as a family. I could not control my excitement when they showed up. Els and Jo were pregnant! That made me happy. I have to say that Braden and Joss' daughter was the cutest and funniest thing in the whole book. Little Beth made me laugh out loud.
I did not expect to cry when I started reading this book. I laughed, smiled and rolled eyes. But the last thing I thought I'd happen happened: I cried. A lot. I didn't see that coming. It broke my heart. And also pissed me off; because of that, Hannah decides to get back with Marco cause she realized life is too short to stay mad at him forever. Are you kidding me? That was so stupid! They spent the whole book mad at each other, and then they get back and it's all done. Too much drama.
To sum up, Fall From India Place has everything the other books of this series have: tons of drama, sexiness and a happy ending. However, that was not enough to deserve more than 2 stars. It was disappointing. A tedious and repetitive novel.
June 9, 2014
BR with Aly!!
2,5 stars
It's been 5 years since the old Hannah Nichols died. Hannah used to be a happy, sweet, open girl until the night that changed her forever. She is still a nice person but more reserved, more afraid and she doesn't let people get too close. The reason behind her change, Marco D'Alessandro is now back and he wants into her life again. Although she still wants him, he's the only guy she ever wanted, she is afraid to try again with him. What if he hurts her again? Maybe Marco is 5 years too late...
I'm gonna do something I rarely do and start with the plot and then move on to the characters. I have to admit that I honestly don't know what to think here. On Dublin Street is one of my favourite three contemporary series and I admit I expected more from Samantha Young. I don't know if it was because of my high expectation but I was really disappointed in the book.
The story was completely unoriginal. There are supposedly 2 great secrets in the book, one from Hannah's side and one from Marco's. When there are secrets the reader is supposed to feel some tension, some curiosity to know what they are. In this case though they were painfully obvious. I've read this freakin' story a hundred times already. There was zero originality to be found through the whole book. I wouldn't know the scenario better if I'd written myself.
That being said, I still enjoyed the authors writing style and the book was pleasant enough that I didn't feel any need to drop it because I knew what was about to happen.
And now I move on to the characters...
“When we were kids, I was in love with you … That never went away, Hannah.” He rested his forehead against mine. “And now that I know you again, I’m even more in love with you.”
I'll start with Marco because I have less to say about him. Marco the teenager/Young adult is not a great person. He is brooding and quiet, doesn't hang out with the best people society has to offer and has no self-esteem at all. The young Marco makes many mistakes, the worst of which is abandoning Hannah the night he took her virginity because he thinks she deserves better. But I really can't blame him because he grew up being told he is trash that deserves nothing.
Marco the adult is a very different and much improved model. He has come to believe in himself, he is responsible, he is sweet and nice. He is also very determined to win back the heart of the girl he hurt 5 years ago. I liked Marco and I easily forgave him what he did to Hannah. I especially liked the fact that although he did keep a secret from her he never tried to lie to her. He told her that he would reveal it to her when he was ready. I can appreciate honesty. Which brings us to our heroine...
What the hell happened to Hannah? Hannah the girl is great. She is a geek and proud to be one, kind of shy but only in her head, she is funny, loving, sweet and brave. Her favourite movie is Finding Nemo and she isn't ashamed to own it. You can't beat shit like that.
Hannah the woman is awful. She has become this closed off, scared person who is at complete odds with who she once was. Yes, bad stuff happened to her but how the hell did she become so...well, bitter. I like my heroines brave, not afraid of feelings and indecisive. She says she forgives Marco but never really does and when she finds out about his secret she makes him feel worthless, something that he's fought with his whole life. I didn't like the older Hannah at all and trying to make her likeable by making a person who does volunteer work and is always available for her family just doesn't work for me. By the time she gets her head out of her ass it was already too late and I couldn't really invest on her. I honestly thought that Marco deserved better than trying so hard just to get his face smashed again and again.
My favourite part of the book was catching up with old characters. I admit that I was a little lost by the time I sorted out which kids belonged to each couple but seeing characters you loved still have a nice, happy life 5 years later is precious. Makes the HEA more... tangible. Of course in RL half of them would be divorced or cheating on each other 5 years later but that's the good thing with fiction.... It's not real.
2,5 stars
It's been 5 years since the old Hannah Nichols died. Hannah used to be a happy, sweet, open girl until the night that changed her forever. She is still a nice person but more reserved, more afraid and she doesn't let people get too close. The reason behind her change, Marco D'Alessandro is now back and he wants into her life again. Although she still wants him, he's the only guy she ever wanted, she is afraid to try again with him. What if he hurts her again? Maybe Marco is 5 years too late...
I'm gonna do something I rarely do and start with the plot and then move on to the characters. I have to admit that I honestly don't know what to think here. On Dublin Street is one of my favourite three contemporary series and I admit I expected more from Samantha Young. I don't know if it was because of my high expectation but I was really disappointed in the book.
The story was completely unoriginal. There are supposedly 2 great secrets in the book, one from Hannah's side and one from Marco's. When there are secrets the reader is supposed to feel some tension, some curiosity to know what they are. In this case though they were painfully obvious. I've read this freakin' story a hundred times already. There was zero originality to be found through the whole book. I wouldn't know the scenario better if I'd written myself.
That being said, I still enjoyed the authors writing style and the book was pleasant enough that I didn't feel any need to drop it because I knew what was about to happen.
And now I move on to the characters...
“When we were kids, I was in love with you … That never went away, Hannah.” He rested his forehead against mine. “And now that I know you again, I’m even more in love with you.”
I'll start with Marco because I have less to say about him. Marco the teenager/Young adult is not a great person. He is brooding and quiet, doesn't hang out with the best people society has to offer and has no self-esteem at all. The young Marco makes many mistakes, the worst of which is abandoning Hannah the night he took her virginity because he thinks she deserves better. But I really can't blame him because he grew up being told he is trash that deserves nothing.
Marco the adult is a very different and much improved model. He has come to believe in himself, he is responsible, he is sweet and nice. He is also very determined to win back the heart of the girl he hurt 5 years ago. I liked Marco and I easily forgave him what he did to Hannah. I especially liked the fact that although he did keep a secret from her he never tried to lie to her. He told her that he would reveal it to her when he was ready. I can appreciate honesty. Which brings us to our heroine...
What the hell happened to Hannah? Hannah the girl is great. She is a geek and proud to be one, kind of shy but only in her head, she is funny, loving, sweet and brave. Her favourite movie is Finding Nemo and she isn't ashamed to own it. You can't beat shit like that.
Hannah the woman is awful. She has become this closed off, scared person who is at complete odds with who she once was. Yes, bad stuff happened to her but how the hell did she become so...well, bitter. I like my heroines brave, not afraid of feelings and indecisive. She says she forgives Marco but never really does and when she finds out about his secret she makes him feel worthless, something that he's fought with his whole life. I didn't like the older Hannah at all and trying to make her likeable by making a person who does volunteer work and is always available for her family just doesn't work for me. By the time she gets her head out of her ass it was already too late and I couldn't really invest on her. I honestly thought that Marco deserved better than trying so hard just to get his face smashed again and again.
My favourite part of the book was catching up with old characters. I admit that I was a little lost by the time I sorted out which kids belonged to each couple but seeing characters you loved still have a nice, happy life 5 years later is precious. Makes the HEA more... tangible. Of course in RL half of them would be divorced or cheating on each other 5 years later but that's the good thing with fiction.... It's not real.
August 16, 2016
Fall From India Place is the fourth book in the On Dublin Street series. Since I have such a bad time reviewing romance books, purely because of the fact I have close to nothing to really say, I'm going to keep this review short and sweet with none of the usual structure I seem to have.
This book tells the story of two characters who were previously featured in the stories. Hannah and Marco. Their story was a sad one and I admittedly found myself crying at one stage. I really enjoyed this story and the characters but it did have one of my least favourite tropes in fiction, the characters not communicating. Apart from that Fall From India Place was a super light and super fast read that I definitely enjoyed.
This book tells the story of two characters who were previously featured in the stories. Hannah and Marco. Their story was a sad one and I admittedly found myself crying at one stage. I really enjoyed this story and the characters but it did have one of my least favourite tropes in fiction, the characters not communicating. Apart from that Fall From India Place was a super light and super fast read that I definitely enjoyed.
February 4, 2022
This is a very generous 3 stars considering that I hated every one of the hero's choices, actions, and explanations. What I liked about the book were the patterns of behavior (not the specific patterns, which were all damaging, but the fact that there are patterns) plus the big, irresolvable angstball at its core.
Hannah's a nice, middle-class Scots girl with two wealthy half-siblings who were protagonists in earlier books in this series. As a teenager, she fell in love with and ardently pursued Marco, a broody boy a couple of years older from a rough background who ran off immediately after the first time they had sex. Wait, let's let bitter Hannah tell the story:
They meet again five years later at a wedding for a couple they're separately acquainted with from their respective jobs. When he reveals he's been back in Edinburgh for four years, her mask of indifference slips into anger. Four years, and he never contacted her. (The hero adding insult to injury is pattern #1.)
Now that he's seen her again, Marco wants to explain the past. Hannah is NOT interested. He begins to stalk her. He gets her phone number from the bride. He shows up at the school where Hannah teaches, at her gym, at her book group. (The hero imposing himself on the heroine is pattern #2.) This is the point at which the hero irrevocably alienates me, because his desire to explain/apologize is all about him. She's very clear that she doesn't need his explanations and she wants him to leave her alone. He's visibly amused that he's thwarting her efforts to ignore him. Ugh.
The heroine's male bff (who doesn't know the extent of the hero's offense) and her father (who does) both urge the heroine to give the hero a chance to explain. (The heroine's friends and family encouraging her to give the hero a second, then third, chance is pattern #3. This one drives me crazy. The only person who shares Hannah's antipathy for Marco is her former college roommate, and she's portrayed as an unworthy partygirl who hasn't matured since college. Everything is stacked in Marco's favor; this isn't how a support system is supposed to work!)
So Hannah listens to his explanation: Marco was abandoned by his parents to an emotionally (and occasionally physically) abusive grandfather and felt worthless as a teen. He literally felt unworthy of her. Though he gained a sense of self-worth over the years (for spoilery reasons we'll get into in a minute), he didn't attempt to contact her after that because he feared she would now look at him like he was worthless and send him spiraling back.
Hannah accepts this kind-of apology and the two begin a relationship, though Hannah insists they can only be friends now. Of course, Marco wants more and soon they slip into a sexual relationship, but then more truths are revealed that shatter their rapprochement and we repeat the stalking/explanations/frenemies-with-benefits pattern all over again (pattern #4, aka the über pattern).
The cynic in me jokes that once again an innocent bystander is collateral damage so the protagonists can enjoy a happily ever after, but the message in romance frequently seems to be that forgiveness is most often achieved by a change in perspective -- through time or tragedy -- for the injured party. I see the real-world sense in that, but I keep reading these books because I'm looking for a different forgiveness cocktail.
Hannah's a nice, middle-class Scots girl with two wealthy half-siblings who were protagonists in earlier books in this series. As a teenager, she fell in love with and ardently pursued Marco, a broody boy a couple of years older from a rough background who ran off immediately after the first time they had sex. Wait, let's let bitter Hannah tell the story:
"What do you think about my latest story? It's about this brooding, issue-riddled American boy who slept with this nice Scottish girl. She told him she loved him and it disgusted him so much he flew across an entire ocean to get away from her, leaving nothing behind but a broken heart and virgin blood on the sheets."
They meet again five years later at a wedding for a couple they're separately acquainted with from their respective jobs. When he reveals he's been back in Edinburgh for four years, her mask of indifference slips into anger. Four years, and he never contacted her. (The hero adding insult to injury is pattern #1.)
Now that he's seen her again, Marco wants to explain the past. Hannah is NOT interested. He begins to stalk her. He gets her phone number from the bride. He shows up at the school where Hannah teaches, at her gym, at her book group. (The hero imposing himself on the heroine is pattern #2.) This is the point at which the hero irrevocably alienates me, because his desire to explain/apologize is all about him. She's very clear that she doesn't need his explanations and she wants him to leave her alone. He's visibly amused that he's thwarting her efforts to ignore him. Ugh.
The heroine's male bff (who doesn't know the extent of the hero's offense) and her father (who does) both urge the heroine to give the hero a chance to explain. (The heroine's friends and family encouraging her to give the hero a second, then third, chance is pattern #3. This one drives me crazy. The only person who shares Hannah's antipathy for Marco is her former college roommate, and she's portrayed as an unworthy partygirl who hasn't matured since college. Everything is stacked in Marco's favor; this isn't how a support system is supposed to work!)
So Hannah listens to his explanation: Marco was abandoned by his parents to an emotionally (and occasionally physically) abusive grandfather and felt worthless as a teen. He literally felt unworthy of her. Though he gained a sense of self-worth over the years (for spoilery reasons we'll get into in a minute), he didn't attempt to contact her after that because he feared she would now look at him like he was worthless and send him spiraling back.
Hannah accepts this kind-of apology and the two begin a relationship, though Hannah insists they can only be friends now. Of course, Marco wants more and soon they slip into a sexual relationship, but then more truths are revealed that shatter their rapprochement and we repeat the stalking/explanations/frenemies-with-benefits pattern all over again (pattern #4, aka the über pattern).
The cynic in me jokes that once again an innocent bystander is collateral damage so the protagonists can enjoy a happily ever after, but the message in romance frequently seems to be that forgiveness is most often achieved by a change in perspective -- through time or tragedy -- for the injured party. I see the real-world sense in that, but I keep reading these books because I'm looking for a different forgiveness cocktail.
August 11, 2015
Hannah was first introduced to us as a teenager who was quirky, smart, funny bookworm with a quietly strong backbone…an inner strength. So I was excited to read about Hannah as a more grown up young woman. We learned about Marco – her crush and how this usually standoffish troubled boy had saved her from bullies and a friendship ensued which of course leads to deeper feelings. But something happens and all we know is he’s gone. That’s really all we get until this book.
Fast forward 5 years and Hannah is different. She’s still an intelligent capable young woman and I love that she became a teacher, enjoys her book club, and volunteers as an adult literacy teacher. This story bridges the gap of what happened to her and Marco during some of their time together when they were younger. It shows glimpses of the past and I thought the past stories were so compelling. I felt their special connection and their bond. I was enthralled with the unfolding of their back story.
Then Marco disappears from her life.
At a fellow teacher's wedding reception...who does she run into????? Yup – Marco! She runs away from him when she sees him and he runs after her. He wants to apologize and explain. I had a big problem with this….I really did! Here are my issues. Was he ever going to find her and apologize? What if she didn’t go to the wedding reception? Would she have heard from him…like ever? I’m sorry but I totally understood her reaction and her vehemence to not hear him out. I mean he left her for crying out loud and never heard from him again! I would have been a hard ass about it too so I was feeling her on that one. Then when she lets him finally explain why he left and immediately abandoned her, never to be heard from again until the opportune reception, the excuse was a bit flat for me. I mean for years you had this best friend and you know you felt more for each other and then....nothing...especially after a momentous event. Even if you had to leave the country, you couldn’t reach out and just make sure she was okay???!!!
Hannah sums their story up best: "What do you think of my latest story? It's about this brooding, issue-riddled American boy who slept with this nice Scottish girl. She told him she loved him and it disgusted him so much he flew across an entire ocean to get away from her, leaving nothing behind but a broken heart and virgin blood on the sheets?" Ouch (winces)
I did appreciate Marco’s attempts to prove to Hannah that he’s different and won’t let her down again.
Well alright then. So she finally accepts Marco back into her life but he has family obligations every other weekend. Well I saw that little secret from a mile away.
What I didn’t see coming is…that totally side swiped me...was her secret. Started to get little feelings that something happened to her but I was kinda hoping I was off mark and unfortunately I wasn’t AND it was way more dramatic and tragic than I thought it was going to be. It explains Hannah’s reaction to Marco’s secret. Again, I’m feeling her here. Like she said it was irrational cause he didn’t know but at the same time I felt that he should have definitely checked on her as her “best friend” and I was also irrationally mad that she went through what she went through without him being there for her and he was there for someone else. Sorry I don’t want to spoil it by putting spoilers even though I want to so badly but i liked that I didn’t know what was coming while I was reading it. I was upset for her and with her! I understood her hesitation and her fear of being with him again. What she went through and how it affected her life was sad. I wanted her to find that place of happiness again. She was special as a teenager and I wanted her to find that carefree, hopeful, happy Hannah again.
It was a tough road for Marco and Hannah with a lot of starts and stops but they have history and they have love and so it was hard fought finding their way together. But together they are finally.
There’s a beautiful tragic side story of one of Hannah’s favorite student. He was rough around the edges and hot headed but she found something special in him. She said he reminded her of Marco back when they were in school. She also has a special adult literacy student. Her innate goodness to want to make a difference with her students was heartwarming.
We also get updates and glimpses of the rest of the gang in this series. It’s a treat to check in with the gang. They all hold a special place in my book heart.
Oh and I can’t do this review ANY justice without mentioning Cole. Cole oh Cole. I already love you so much. What a great best friend he was to Hannah. I can’t wait until his story is told and to see who is worthy of my lovely Cole.
The formula for a SJ novel is a good bit of drama and she does drama very very well. I was hanging on for the ride and I was enjoying it…you know in an angst kind of enjoying.
There is an epilogue so that’s nice but I felt it was a bit hurried and it still manages to leave me wanting to know more. So as if I’m not already anxiously awaiting Cole’s story, I am also banking on finding out that all is good with Hannah’s condition.
Fast forward 5 years and Hannah is different. She’s still an intelligent capable young woman and I love that she became a teacher, enjoys her book club, and volunteers as an adult literacy teacher. This story bridges the gap of what happened to her and Marco during some of their time together when they were younger. It shows glimpses of the past and I thought the past stories were so compelling. I felt their special connection and their bond. I was enthralled with the unfolding of their back story.
”Why did you really ask me to meet you tonight, Marco?” I whispered.
For once he didn’t avoid the question. “Because,” he whispered back, “when I’m with you it feels like everything’s going to be okay. I can’t explain it.”
Then Marco disappears from her life.
At a fellow teacher's wedding reception...who does she run into????? Yup – Marco! She runs away from him when she sees him and he runs after her. He wants to apologize and explain. I had a big problem with this….I really did! Here are my issues. Was he ever going to find her and apologize? What if she didn’t go to the wedding reception? Would she have heard from him…like ever? I’m sorry but I totally understood her reaction and her vehemence to not hear him out. I mean he left her for crying out loud and never heard from him again! I would have been a hard ass about it too so I was feeling her on that one. Then when she lets him finally explain why he left and immediately abandoned her, never to be heard from again until the opportune reception, the excuse was a bit flat for me. I mean for years you had this best friend and you know you felt more for each other and then....nothing...especially after a momentous event. Even if you had to leave the country, you couldn’t reach out and just make sure she was okay???!!!
Hannah sums their story up best: "What do you think of my latest story? It's about this brooding, issue-riddled American boy who slept with this nice Scottish girl. She told him she loved him and it disgusted him so much he flew across an entire ocean to get away from her, leaving nothing behind but a broken heart and virgin blood on the sheets?" Ouch (winces)
I did appreciate Marco’s attempts to prove to Hannah that he’s different and won’t let her down again.
“Cole’s my best friend.”
He ducked his head, bringing us closer. “I’m your best friend,” he answered roughly. “You’ve just forgotten. My fault, I know. I can help you remember.”
And that feeling…I’ll make that go away. I’ll make that go away by proving to you that I’m not going away. I’m here, Hannah. And I want to be here.”
When we were kids, I was in love with you. That never went away Hannah. And now that I know you again, I’m even more in love with you.
I want to protect you. I want you to know that for me there's no one else like you. That you make my universe turn.
We'll see which one of us can be more obstinate, Hannah, because babe, I'm never giving up on us. If it takes a week, a month, a year, whatever, the future is us. I'm spending the rest of my life waking up in the morning with you beside me and getting through each day knowing that when the sky turns dark I'll be spending the night inside you.
Well alright then. So she finally accepts Marco back into her life but he has family obligations every other weekend. Well I saw that little secret from a mile away.
What I didn’t see coming is…that totally side swiped me...was her secret. Started to get little feelings that something happened to her but I was kinda hoping I was off mark and unfortunately I wasn’t AND it was way more dramatic and tragic than I thought it was going to be. It explains Hannah’s reaction to Marco’s secret. Again, I’m feeling her here. Like she said it was irrational cause he didn’t know but at the same time I felt that he should have definitely checked on her as her “best friend” and I was also irrationally mad that she went through what she went through without him being there for her and he was there for someone else. Sorry I don’t want to spoil it by putting spoilers even though I want to so badly but i liked that I didn’t know what was coming while I was reading it. I was upset for her and with her! I understood her hesitation and her fear of being with him again. What she went through and how it affected her life was sad. I wanted her to find that place of happiness again. She was special as a teenager and I wanted her to find that carefree, hopeful, happy Hannah again.
It was a tough road for Marco and Hannah with a lot of starts and stops but they have history and they have love and so it was hard fought finding their way together. But together they are finally.
There’s a beautiful tragic side story of one of Hannah’s favorite student. He was rough around the edges and hot headed but she found something special in him. She said he reminded her of Marco back when they were in school. She also has a special adult literacy student. Her innate goodness to want to make a difference with her students was heartwarming.
We also get updates and glimpses of the rest of the gang in this series. It’s a treat to check in with the gang. They all hold a special place in my book heart.
Oh and I can’t do this review ANY justice without mentioning Cole. Cole oh Cole. I already love you so much. What a great best friend he was to Hannah. I can’t wait until his story is told and to see who is worthy of my lovely Cole.
The formula for a SJ novel is a good bit of drama and she does drama very very well. I was hanging on for the ride and I was enjoying it…you know in an angst kind of enjoying.
There is an epilogue so that’s nice but I felt it was a bit hurried and it still manages to leave me wanting to know more. So as if I’m not already anxiously awaiting Cole’s story, I am also banking on finding out that all is good with Hannah’s condition.
July 21, 2014
Reglas que debe tener un libro de la serie On Dublin Street:
*Lo primero: El chico tiene que estar exageradamente bien construido. Porque es normal que todos los chicos por allí anden de musculosos y "duros como una roca"
*Dos: La protagonista tiene que ser siempre una mujer que se la de digna, pasará la mitad del libro no queriendo en lo absoluto ceder ante el tipo pero a la final ya sabemos que va a pasar.
*Tres: Junto con lo segundo: todos tienen que tener final feliz.
*Cuatro: Todas las chicas tendrán el orgasmo y el sexo más increíble de sus vidas. Por supuesto les cosquilleará la "entrepierna" sólo con verlos doblar un brazo y se les marque un músculo.
*Cinco: La línea de sucesos tiene que ser la siguiente: Se conocen, se atraen, la prota se la de digna (Regla 2 inminente), cede, tienen su juju, se pelean, se reconcilian, fin (feliz, regla 3).
*Seis: Será absolutamente predecible.
*Siete: El hombre tiene que mostrarse celoso hasta del aire que respirala prota, porque eso es sexy.
Eeeen fin... con respecto a India Place:
Marco es un idiota. Ya obviamente sabía toda la trama, las excusas, lo que iba a decir...
Por supuesto que Hannah esperó 4, 5 años, ya ni sé, como cuál martir ¿esperando? por él... Tienes que ser una sufrida Hannah. No existe hombre para ti sino ese Hanna. Sufre, sufre Hannah.
La familia de Hannah y todos los demás personajes eran todos unos tontos en esta entrega. No sé ni por donde comenzar... si por el hecho de que ninguno se daba cuenta que Marco era el mismo tipo del "problema de Hanna" o por el hecho de que todos apoyaban "muy enfáticamente" a un hombre sin conocerlo bien, o porque todos le preguntaban a Hanna ¿hey estas bien? a cada párrafo.
Lo único que me gustó de este libro fue Cole y la parte de las clases de Hannah con sus alumnos. Creo que fue un buen elemento el agregar esto, además de el twist que le da al final.
*Lo primero: El chico tiene que estar exageradamente bien construido. Porque es normal que todos los chicos por allí anden de musculosos y "duros como una roca"
*Dos: La protagonista tiene que ser siempre una mujer que se la de digna, pasará la mitad del libro no queriendo en lo absoluto ceder ante el tipo pero a la final ya sabemos que va a pasar.
*Tres: Junto con lo segundo: todos tienen que tener final feliz.
*Cuatro: Todas las chicas tendrán el orgasmo y el sexo más increíble de sus vidas. Por supuesto les cosquilleará la "entrepierna" sólo con verlos doblar un brazo y se les marque un músculo.
*Cinco: La línea de sucesos tiene que ser la siguiente: Se conocen, se atraen, la prota se la de digna (Regla 2 inminente), cede, tienen su juju, se pelean, se reconcilian, fin (feliz, regla 3).
*Seis: Será absolutamente predecible.
*Siete: El hombre tiene que mostrarse celoso hasta del aire que respirala prota, porque eso es sexy.
Eeeen fin... con respecto a India Place:
Marco es un idiota. Ya obviamente sabía toda la trama, las excusas, lo que iba a decir...
Por supuesto que Hannah esperó 4, 5 años, ya ni sé, como cuál martir ¿esperando? por él... Tienes que ser una sufrida Hannah. No existe hombre para ti sino ese Hanna. Sufre, sufre Hannah.
La familia de Hannah y todos los demás personajes eran todos unos tontos en esta entrega. No sé ni por donde comenzar... si por el hecho de que ninguno se daba cuenta que Marco era el mismo tipo del "problema de Hanna" o por el hecho de que todos apoyaban "muy enfáticamente" a un hombre sin conocerlo bien, o porque todos le preguntaban a Hanna ¿hey estas bien? a cada párrafo.
Lo único que me gustó de este libro fue Cole y la parte de las clases de Hannah con sus alumnos. Creo que fue un buen elemento el agregar esto, además de el twist que le da al final.
February 5, 2015
COVER REVEALED!
BLURB
When Hannah Nichols last saw Marco D’Alessandro, five long years ago, he broke her heart. The bad boy with a hidden sweet side was the only guy Hannah ever loved—and the only man she’s ever been with. After one intense night of giving into temptation, Marco took off, leaving Scotland and Hannah behind. Shattered by the consequences of their night together, Hannah has never truly moved on.
Leaving Hannah was the biggest mistake of Marco’s life, something he has deeply regretted for years. So when fate reunites them, he refuses to let her go without a fight. Determined to make her his, Marco pursues Hannah, reminding her of all the reasons they’re meant to be together.…
But just when Marco thinks they’re committed to a future together, Hannah makes a discovery that unearths the secret pain she’s been hiding from him, a secret that could tear them apart before they have a real chance to start over again….
BLURB
When Hannah Nichols last saw Marco D’Alessandro, five long years ago, he broke her heart. The bad boy with a hidden sweet side was the only guy Hannah ever loved—and the only man she’s ever been with. After one intense night of giving into temptation, Marco took off, leaving Scotland and Hannah behind. Shattered by the consequences of their night together, Hannah has never truly moved on.
Leaving Hannah was the biggest mistake of Marco’s life, something he has deeply regretted for years. So when fate reunites them, he refuses to let her go without a fight. Determined to make her his, Marco pursues Hannah, reminding her of all the reasons they’re meant to be together.…
But just when Marco thinks they’re committed to a future together, Hannah makes a discovery that unearths the secret pain she’s been hiding from him, a secret that could tear them apart before they have a real chance to start over again….
November 16, 2017
Well that was awesome! Emotional and angsty and messy and all around awesome.
I feel like I have a slightly different take on this book than most people. I like the messy and confusing and the hurting books. The heartbreak, the trust issues, all of that. These characters had so much going on and so many things to work through, I was hooked and loved it.
I can see where some people might have gotten frustrated with Hannah, but I think she might've actually been my favourite heroine of the series. She was true to herself. And knew what she could and couldn't handle. Even when her fears were irrational she owned up to it. Then comes Marco, and he was fantastic. The flashbacks were so important to see how he has grown as a character in the past several years, though he was still recognizable as the Marco Hannah knew as a kid. I loved these two together. Not even just romantically but as a pair, a duo, a team.
And remember where I mentioned messy? Yeah, this book gets messsssssyyyyy. You've been warned. But it's so worth it.
I feel like I have a slightly different take on this book than most people. I like the messy and confusing and the hurting books. The heartbreak, the trust issues, all of that. These characters had so much going on and so many things to work through, I was hooked and loved it.
I can see where some people might have gotten frustrated with Hannah, but I think she might've actually been my favourite heroine of the series. She was true to herself. And knew what she could and couldn't handle. Even when her fears were irrational she owned up to it. Then comes Marco, and he was fantastic. The flashbacks were so important to see how he has grown as a character in the past several years, though he was still recognizable as the Marco Hannah knew as a kid. I loved these two together. Not even just romantically but as a pair, a duo, a team.
And remember where I mentioned messy? Yeah, this book gets messsssssyyyyy. You've been warned. But it's so worth it.
March 4, 2017
2.5 Stars
Esto quise hacer a Hannah en la mayor parte del libro
Siii la quise matar, en todo el libro fue una idiota, cobarde, indecisa, hipócrita, la autora totalmente me la cambió, atrás quedó la niña dulce inteligente y con un humor sarcástico.
Fue fucking frustrante
La historia prometía mucho de hecho es de las mejores sinopsis y al principio dije no creo que sea tan malo pero después ella sale con sus babosadas infantiles que ni cuando tenía 17 años lo hacía pues se fue a la mierda, Marco no me desagradó pero no me convenció tuvo demasiada paciencia con ella, o sea el tipo si se equivocó pero ella lo PERDONÓ, para después decirle Sorry siempre no su historia es tibia sin emociones así sin más, sin chiste
Lo mejor del libro siempre Nate, a este tipo como lo amo mi sexy geek freak, siguió siendo el mejor cada ves que salía me brotaban los corazones de los ojos e hizo esta lectura más agradable, SIMPLEMENTE LO AMO Liv y él tan fucking lindos.
PD: Todavía el de Joss sigue siendo el peor libro de la serie.
Esto quise hacer a Hannah en la mayor parte del libro
Siii la quise matar, en todo el libro fue una idiota, cobarde, indecisa, hipócrita, la autora totalmente me la cambió, atrás quedó la niña dulce inteligente y con un humor sarcástico.
Fue fucking frustrante
La historia prometía mucho de hecho es de las mejores sinopsis y al principio dije no creo que sea tan malo pero después ella sale con sus babosadas infantiles que ni cuando tenía 17 años lo hacía pues se fue a la mierda, Marco no me desagradó pero no me convenció tuvo demasiada paciencia con ella, o sea el tipo si se equivocó pero ella lo PERDONÓ, para después decirle Sorry siempre no su historia es tibia sin emociones así sin más, sin chiste
Lo mejor del libro siempre Nate, a este tipo como lo amo mi sexy geek freak, siguió siendo el mejor cada ves que salía me brotaban los corazones de los ojos e hizo esta lectura más agradable, SIMPLEMENTE LO AMO Liv y él tan fucking lindos.
PD: Todavía el de Joss sigue siendo el peor libro de la serie.
August 4, 2016
Wieder ein sehr guter Teil der Reihe, würde ihn 4-4,5 Sterne geben weil er etwas schwächer war als die vorherigen beiden Teile. Bin gespannt wie es weitergeht.
September 9, 2017
If you haven't noticed, I am totally bingeing on the On Dublin Street series. Even though this book was my least favorite, I'm still having a lot of fun reading these books. For me, this book suffered from too much back and forth drama (more on that later). Because of that I got reader whiplash and didn't enjoy the story as much as the previous books in the series.
Fall From India Place is set five years into the future. This time it's Hannah Nichols's turn in the spotlight. Over the last few books we've gotten to know Hannah as Braden and Ellie's little sister. We've seen little pieces of Hannah's unrequited love story in the last couple of books and now Samantha Young fills in the cracks. At twenty-two, Hannah is a busy bee in her probationary year teaching high school English during the day and helping the illiterate at night. An outsider might think she's altruistic (and she is kind-hearted), but really she is keeping herself busy to mask the hurt from the past.
Hannah Nichols has loved Marco D'Alessandro since she was fourteen. In this book we learn just how close Hannah and Marco were as teens and find out what tore them apart. Years after Marco disappeared, he shows up in Hannah's life, determined to win her over. But Hannah isn't quick to forgive him for breaking her heart.
Out of all the On Dublin Street books and novellas, Fall From India Place has been my least favorite so far. I felt like the author tried to combine all of the elements from previous ODS books into this one. Marco was Hannah's first love but her love was not returned...or so she thought (like Ellie and Adam). Something tragic in her past prevented her from moving forward despite her feelings for Marco (like Joss and Braden). For awhile, she and Marco had a sex-only type of relationship while trying to remain friends (like Nate and Olivia).
Most of all, I didn't really care for all of the back and forth "I-want-you-no-I-don't-want-you" that went on far too long. Hannah and Marco sort of reconcile early on in the book which meant they needed to break up to create some kind of conflict. And they did break up...multiple times. All of the mixed signals she threw to Marco annoyed me and trust me, it takes a lot for me to be annoyed with heroes and heroines.
What I did like was seeing where all of the couples were in their lives and marriages years since we last saw them. Ellie and Adam, Joss and Braden, Nate and Olivia, and Cam and Jo are all extremely happy...and fertile. All of them have kids (and some have more than one!), which made the Sunday dinners at the Nicholses' so merry. I can't wait to read Echoes of Scotland Street because I have been DYING to get to Cole's story! Off I go!
* I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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July 19, 2014More from Samantha Young!?!?!?! YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!
So....Marco D'Alessandro? *shivers* Even his name sounds sexy. I already know he's going to end up on my list of favourite book boyfriends. It's always the trend with Ms Young's alpha male heroes.
Braden Carmichael.
Cameron MacCabe.
And now...
Marco D'Alessandro!!
And I freaking love Hannah!! I'm so stoked that she's got her own story!!
Why can't it be July 2014 now!?!?!?!?
So....Marco D'Alessandro? *shivers* Even his name sounds sexy. I already know he's going to end up on my list of favourite book boyfriends. It's always the trend with Ms Young's alpha male heroes.
Braden Carmichael.
Cameron MacCabe.
And now...
Marco D'Alessandro!!
And I freaking love Hannah!! I'm so stoked that she's got her own story!!
Why can't it be July 2014 now!?!?!?!?
August 10, 2016
4.5 estrellas.
El principio no me enganchó. Pero de repente cambió y no pude despegarme de sus páginas. Resultado: viernes noche leyendo hasta las 5 de la mañana; y sin apenas notarlo.
Se trata de una historia bonita.
Hannah se crea a sí misma y se convierte en una mujer luchadora. Centradísima. Solidaria. Silenciosa. Y me gusta todo de ella y me gusta las decisiones que ha tomado a lo largo de su vida. Me quedé impactada por su historia {algo de lo que no te enteras hasta muy avanzadas sus páginas. Los sospechas un poco, pero no sospechas esa magnitud}. Una historia, un momento, que puede hacer girar el eje de tu mundo. Y ella lo guió por el lugar correcto. He sentido y la he apoyado en momentos en los que sus amigos no la comprendían, porque yo sentiría lo mismo. Y todo me ha llegado.
Marco también se construye a si mismo,pero él tiene más miedos por criarse en un peor entorno, y eso hará que confíe en él mismo mucho más tarde.
Pero siempre estuvieron unidos. A años de distancia, a cientos de kilómetros, pero unidos por una historia. ¡Y se encuentran!!! No cuando se ven por primera vez, sino cuando todas las verdades se ponen sobre la mesa.
Una historia paralela me ha hecho llorar. Las palabras de Hannah a sus alumnos también.
Y Braden me ha hecho quererlo más, como en cada libro. Lo adoro.
Seguiré con la saga,en el futuro, y adelanto que me voy a olvidar de los nombres de los niños... Ya me hacen ejercitarme mentalmente para recordar quiénes son sus papás...
El principio no me enganchó. Pero de repente cambió y no pude despegarme de sus páginas. Resultado: viernes noche leyendo hasta las 5 de la mañana; y sin apenas notarlo.
Se trata de una historia bonita.
Hannah se crea a sí misma y se convierte en una mujer luchadora. Centradísima. Solidaria. Silenciosa. Y me gusta todo de ella y me gusta las decisiones que ha tomado a lo largo de su vida. Me quedé impactada por su historia {algo de lo que no te enteras hasta muy avanzadas sus páginas. Los sospechas un poco, pero no sospechas esa magnitud}. Una historia, un momento, que puede hacer girar el eje de tu mundo. Y ella lo guió por el lugar correcto. He sentido y la he apoyado en momentos en los que sus amigos no la comprendían, porque yo sentiría lo mismo. Y todo me ha llegado.
Marco también se construye a si mismo,pero él tiene más miedos por criarse en un peor entorno, y eso hará que confíe en él mismo mucho más tarde.
Pero siempre estuvieron unidos. A años de distancia, a cientos de kilómetros, pero unidos por una historia. ¡Y se encuentran!!! No cuando se ven por primera vez, sino cuando todas las verdades se ponen sobre la mesa.
Una historia paralela me ha hecho llorar. Las palabras de Hannah a sus alumnos también.
Y Braden me ha hecho quererlo más, como en cada libro. Lo adoro.
Seguiré con la saga,en el futuro, y adelanto que me voy a olvidar de los nombres de los niños... Ya me hacen ejercitarme mentalmente para recordar quiénes son sus papás...
April 9, 2019
Putting aside Hannah, I like everything about this book. The story is very very simple. Marco and Hannah has been friend since high school. They bonded over their loneliness. Their friendship very soon develop into lust. And on 1 magical night, they give in into their lust. Then Marco made a bad decision by leaving Hannah.
5 years on, they were given second chance. In Miss Young hands, the story is turning into a melancholic dramatic story. I do love the push and pull between Marco and Hannah. I like Marco. He is a very quite man but very passionate about his family. Now Hannah I have problem. She is very very immature. So immature that I feel she does not grow through out this book. I wonder why Miss Young makes Hannah so 1 dimensional while Marco is very lovable.
I secretly cheering for Marco and Lea. Wishing them to be together instead of Hannah. At least Lea cares so much for Marco.
Fall from India Place is really a fall out from Miss Young works.
3 stars
5 years on, they were given second chance. In Miss Young hands, the story is turning into a melancholic dramatic story. I do love the push and pull between Marco and Hannah. I like Marco. He is a very quite man but very passionate about his family. Now Hannah I have problem. She is very very immature. So immature that I feel she does not grow through out this book. I wonder why Miss Young makes Hannah so 1 dimensional while Marco is very lovable.
I secretly cheering for Marco and Lea. Wishing them to be together instead of Hannah. At least Lea cares so much for Marco.
Fall from India Place is really a fall out from Miss Young works.
3 stars
November 16, 2021
I first read this a couple of years ago and thought it was pretty meh (rated it 2 stars). Just reread it and everything about this book is hitting wrong. Hannah is nothing more than an afterthought, was never important enough to him, and she will always be second place in his life. She stayed celibate 🙄 while he had a kid with someone else. I found Hannah annoying and wanted her to grow the fuck up and move on with her life.
As for Marco, the situation annoyed me (that he caused) but maybe this book should have been about him and his baby mama. Maybe then it would have been believable.
Time to delete off my kindle so I don’t re-read it.
As for Marco, the situation annoyed me (that he caused) but maybe this book should have been about him and his baby mama. Maybe then it would have been believable.
Time to delete off my kindle so I don’t re-read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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