In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, in which book bloggers post about the books they’ve bought, borrowed or received in the past week.
In my inbox:
Rock Bottom – Jade C Jamison
Because of Lucy – Lisa Swallows
I’ve bought:
Smash into you – Shelly Crane
Girl on Tour – Caisey Quinn
Adam, Enough Said – Lynda LeeAnne
Synopsis
Johanna Walker is used to taking charge. But she’s about to meet someone who will make her lose control….
It has always been up to Johanna to care for her family, particularly her younger brother, Cole. With an absent father and a useless mother, she’s been making decisions based on what’s best for Cole for as long as she can remember. She even determines what men to date by how much they can provide for her brother and her, not on whatever sparks may—or may not—fly.
But with Cameron MacCabe, the attraction is undeniable. The sexy new bartender at work gives her butterflies every time she looks at him. And for once, Jo is tempted to put her needs first. Cam is just as obsessed with getting to know Jo, but her walls are too solid to let him get close enough to even try.
Then Cam moves into the flat below Jo’s, and their blistering connection becomes impossible to ignore. Especially since Cam is determined to uncover all of Jo’s secrets even if it means taking apart her defenses piece by piece.
My review of On Dublin Street can be found HERE
My review of Until Fountain Bridge can be found HERE
5 / 5 Stars
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My Review
I was so privileged to have receive a copy of Down London Road and I literally cannot wait for all of you to get your hands on this when it is out… I NEED someone to talk to about it and no one can yet 😦 BOO! I guess I’ll just have to wait for you all to read it and fall in love with Cam and rekindle your love for Braden…because you sure as hell will, for both of these!
We all fell in love with Samantha Young during On Dublin Street and now you will fall even more in love with her. Down London Road had me hooked. I took the book everywhere with me and read it when I could. I even did the whole clichéd ‘sit in starbucks with a hot chocolate reading a book whilst it rained outside’. My first proper cliché! Samantha definitely knows how to keep you captivated, if it’s not with the sexual chemistry, it’s the dialogue to the journey each character takes to the drama in the book. You can mark my words at times I had to walk away from the book to take a breather as I couldn’t handle the things that were happening.
So when Down London Road comes out, can someone read it ASAP so we can talk about it please? It’s already killing me to keep everything locked up inside when I just want to scream that I loved this book so much.
Anyway enough of my fangirling for Samantha Young and Down London Road, here’s what you are waiting for…the review!
Johanna Walker has always been there for her family, or more importantly, her little brother Cole. Her father is absent and her mother is literally useless, so it’s up to Johanna to provide for Cole and make decisions on what is best for both of them. Dating men who have money and being the ‘best’ girlfriend is what is important. Knowing that they can provide for both her and Cole, regardless of if there are any sparks.
But enter Cameron MacCabe. The attraction between them is sizzling, but they get off to a rocky start. Although they don’t see eye to eye, Jo can’t help but eye him up every opportunity at work and for once, she is tempted to put her needs first. But can she give in?
When he moves into the flat below, it’s then that he learns about Jo’s home life and there that they become friends who have this amazing connection that Jo tries to ignore. Cam is obsessed with wanting to know her and be with her but he knows she had her walls built too damn high. Yet Cam is determined to break down and smash every brick to make her see that letting someone in and being loved isn’t the end of the world.
Before reading Down London Road, I had this preconception of Johanna, from On Dublin Street where all she did was use guys for their money. Ohh how wrong was I? Okay, so she picks guys who have money, but each to their own, shes doing it so she and her brother have a future, so they can be cared and provided for. Everything she does, she does it with the mindset of making sure her brother has everything she never when she was younger.
That is how she is with Malcolm now. She cares for him, he has money but she’s not in love with him. One night at an Art Gallery showing for Malcolm’s ex-girlfriend is where she links eyes (and souls) with a gorgeous, tattooed guy across the room. The attraction is immediate but before long, she finds out he is going out with Malcolm’s ex.
From the get-go, Cam is horrible to Jo, judging her before he knows her. Jo is used to this and so she doesn’t bother correcting him, letting him think what he wants. If he wants to think shes this false bimbo gold digger, shell let him, because there’s no way she is telling him about her mother and Cole. She knows the truth and that’s that. Although Cam was a little bastard, she still helps him out with getting a job at Club 39.
But Johanna is conflicted. She has this instant attraction to Cam the first time she meets him, but he’s judged her already, making her out to be something shes not, but then even through the attraction she thinks he’s an absolute dickhead the way he talks to her.
Jo had been told all her life she will never amount to anything. She’s a high school dropout who had worked hard to keep her family afloat and housed with food on the table. No thanks to her mother. She will do whatever it takes to make sure her brother Cole is safe and secure, that he never goes without. She is one protective sister and will beat anyone who hurts him. Despite not thinking she is good enough, being told that enough times in her life, which is one reason she goes for men who are wealthy, so she and Cole will be cared for.
She tore at my heart at her low opinion of herself, because truly, everything she was doing was all for Cole and his future and making sure he was happy, even with the situation of their mother. She doesn’t want anyone to know about her home life, embarrassed over what is really going on under the roof of London Road. No boyfriends have ever been inside, let alone met Cole or her mother and she prefers it that way.
As much as I felt so sorry for Jo, she was a strong character, standing up for herself, protecting her and Cole and working hard to provide. But she had a vulnerable side, she didn’t like opening herself up to other people, she didn’t accept their help and she was a stubborn soul. But despite all of this, she really goes on a journey, into accepting herself and letting her walls slowly crumble around her, for the better good of herself. It was a long journey, but no less important as it grafted her into the person we fall in love with along the way to the very end.
Although Cam starts out as an asshole to Jo, he does redeem himself and truth be told, I forgave him for the way he acted as he does tell Jo why. He’s not Jo’s usual type but their attraction to one another is on another scale. Although he was a douchebag, the more he finds out about Jo and the more he understands her and learns about her family situation, the more he admires her strength for what she is doing and falls in love with her.
He is the sweetest, kindest guy and completely embraces Jo and her brother Cole into his life, hell he’s more than happy to. He knows how stubborn Jo is, so peeling away her insecurities and wall piece by piece, it was so nice to see Cam wanting to help Jo out, loving her and protecting her. Have I mentioned how much I love him and how much reading about him and Jo and of course, his relationship with her brother Cole…uh it literally melted my heart.
It was plain and simple to see how much these two were attracted to one another and it was lovely to see them fall in love along the way. The sex, well, it was steaming and there was one sex scene where I wanted to be Jo so badly!! I’m going to put this on my list for when I get a boyfriend so we can go and do it haha. I’m not going to say what or where it was, but it definitely was fun and sexy to read about!
There was a point in the book where my heart couldn’t handle it…I had to put the book down and walk away. Okay two points. One was a soppy part, which I loved and another, I just couldn’t take it because I had a feeling something was going to happen and I really didn’t want it to.
The epilogue, oh god, it had me crying and squealing like the emotional wreck I am when I read books that really capture me. I wrote on Twitter when reading Down London Road that I get emotionally involved when reading books, and that is exactly what I was when I was reading this. So much so, I was feeling every emotion Jo was, from her insecurities to her love for her friends and family to her questioning over a certain thing that happens – I literally was feeling her emotions and feeling panicky over the next few pages – even when I hadn’t even come to them yet because I was this wreck. Books that evoke that reaction, to me, are the greatest kind around. But got to be said, you will cry your eyes out whilst giggling when you read the end, because it is THE best way to end the book and the best way to end the story of Cam and Jo.
Joss and Braden are still the people and couple we all adore! They are waaay more cuter in Down London Road. The things Joss came out with had me in stitches, the way she handles Braden, the both of them together and the way they are fiercely protective are what made me love them even more. They were always there for Jo and Cole. Although they aren’t in it a lot, it was great to see them involved in the important parts that occur.
You really do see all the characters come together for one another and they are really are a family. They help one another out, they bicker, they throw comments to each other but they really do protect and love one another to pieces, as you will see when things happen throughout the book. Everyone is fiercely protective and it made my heart clench at them all. After everything that Jo has had to go through on her own, to know she had so many people to fall back on when things get tough, it really did bring a tear to my eye and a smile to my face.
I know this review is realllllly long and trust me, there is a whole lot more I could write about and gush about Cam and Braden but I have forced myself to stop otherwise I would be writing an essay and you really don’t want that. I will leave you on the fact I totally absorbed this book. It made me happy, giddy, frustrated, cry but most of all, end on such a high. So when it’s out, can someone PLEASE read it asap so I can talk about it with you! I will repay you in pictures of hot, semi-naked males in return!
So I got an email about a week ago from the lovely Katie Sheldrake at Penguin UK inviting me to ask Samantha Young some questions. Seeing as I love Samantha and her books and because I have never interviewed an author yet, and to be invited to interview one, well I jumped at the chance.
I’ m not going to take credit for all the questions, my friend and fellow author Karli Perrin chipped in with some questions of her own, so in the run-up to the release of Down London Road, here are the Q&A’s with the lovely Samantha Young.
Look out for my review of Down London Road coming tomorrow on my blog too!
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Questions for Samantha Young
1. I know you probably get asked this question a lot, but what made you start writing? Did you always want to be a writer?
When I was little I read the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and it sparked my imagination so much. From then on I always had a pen and paper in hand, whether I was writing worlds or drawing them.
2. You write both Young Adult and Adult/Contemporary Romance, which do you prefer?
I love writing young adult because I get to create these young heroines that teens can relate to and throughout the book or series I develop them into young woman who readers hopefully can look up to and admire. Writing adult fiction is wonderful too because there are less limitations, and with contemporary romance it really is all about characterisation which is my favourite part of writing. Hmm… I don’t think I can choose a genre. I love both!
3. How do you come up with the plot of your books? Do the storylines just come to you?
My inspiration is usually sparked from something—whether real events, a setting, or even song lyrics. Once I get that first little ember of an idea I sit down with pen and paper in hand, music on in the background, and the plot for a new book usually builds quite quickly from there.
4. How do you pick the names of your characters? And do you spend time thinking of the ‘right’ names for your characters?
I do spend time thinking about the right names for my characters. Their name has to fit their personality and often, not always, have some kind of significance, whether major or minor. Sometimes I scroll through baby name websites to help me out, but most of the time the name comes to me quite organically as I write character profiles.
5. Do the names come to you before or after you plot out the storylines? And what about the names of the novels? I know they are the streets in which the characters live on, but what made you pick those streets?
The names come to me after I work out character histories and plot. Usually. The titles for this series are street names because it’s the place setting that has an important role in the turning point in the main character’s lives. A series also needs continuity in the titles so the street names are all Edinburgh street names of cities or countries in other parts of the world.
6. With On Dublin Street and Down London Road, did you have a process of how you wrote them? For example, did you start at chapter 1 and work through or did you write random scenes then bring them all together?
I wish I could write out of chronology but I need to write from beginning to end. Piecing scenes in here and there like a puzzle would probably confuse me. I need to let the development of the characters and the plot unfold naturally in order to catch any mistakes or tweak scenes that aren’t working toward the overall development.
7. As someone who cannot pick a favourite character, from both the guys and girls, can you? Who is your favourite guy and girl? And who was your favourite character to write about?
I don’t know if I can pick a favourite guy and girl because as couples I love both their dynamics, but I think Jo was definitely my favourite character to write. She was the most challenging heroine I’ve ever written and by the end of the story I absolutely adored her. I think she’s an incredibly relatable and likeable heroine.
8. Out of the three books – On Dublin Street, Until Fountain Bridge and Down London Road, what were your favourite scenes to write from all of them?
On Dublin Street – my favourite scene to write was a scene at the end when Joss and Braden are clearing up their misunderstandings. After having gone through so much it was such a passionate and heartfelt encounter. I loved writing it. For Until Fountain Bridge I loved the scene when Ellie’s going on her first date and Adam and Braden are overbearing but really funny. And for Down London Road my favourite scene to write was the “kitchen spider” scene. It’s a pivotal moment between Cam and Jo and I loved building their chemistry to sizzling.
9. When I read On Dublin street, I was impartial to Johanna, but when I read Down London Road I became to admire her strength and determination. What made you write a book about Johanna? I know many fans were hoping for a sequel for Joss and Braden.
I love that readers wanted more from Joss and Braden but a sequel from them would have been about throwing angst and drama at them for the sake of plot and I try to make my novels more natural than that. The important element of their story had been told and I really felt I needed to move onto someone else’s story. However, that didn’t mean I wouldn’t keep Joss and Braden around so readers could still catch up with them. Choosing Johanna seemed like the natural next step. When she was introduced in On Dublin Street readers were introduced to her in a way that most people in her life are — completely misunderstanding her. This is partly Jo’s fault of course, but that made her interesting. I loved the idea of taking a character that appeared to be one thing on the outside but was in fact so much more on the inside. The challenge was getting who she really is across to the reader and I hope I definitely did that.
10. Have you thought about who you would like to play each character if your books were made into movies?
I have thought about most of the characters. For Joss – Jennifer Lawrence. For Braden – Chris Hemsworth. For Ellie – Rosamund Pike. For Jo – Alexis Knapp. For Cam- Jamie Dornan. I’m still stuck on Adam. I like James McAvoy for Adam but many of my readers prefer Henry Cavill.
11. Are the streets in your book close together? This is for *street stalkers* such as myself who is planning a trip to Scotland to visit these streets.
The title streets Dublin Street and London Road are about a ten minute walk from one another. However, London Road is a very long road and Johanna lives at the lower end so it’s probably a twenty minute walk.
12. And lastly, is there a deep, dark secret that you would like to share with the rest of us 😉
I may be working on a new project…
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So there you have it! Many thanks to Samantha Young for answering my questions and I hope you all love Down London Road as much as I did. And hands up who is excited for this new project *Hands up*..Hmm i wonder what it is?!
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Author Bio
Samantha Young is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She’s been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestseller ON DUBLIN STREET.
For more info on Samantha’s adult fiction visit http://www.ondublinstreet.com
For info on her young adult fiction visit www.samanthayoungbooks.com
Synopsis
Ellie Carmichael had a crush on Adam Sutherland, her brother, Braden’s, best friend, for years, and although Adam treated her with proprietary concern he made it clear he thought of her only as a little sister.
Over the years, as Ellie’s crush develops into love, her romantic idealism makes it difficult for her to move on. To make matters worse, as she’s gotten older, Adam’s attitude has changed toward her. His affection for her is now joined by attraction, but his loyalty to Braden, and his fear of losing the only family he has, stops him from claiming Ellie the way she wishes he would.
But one night his attraction is put to the test, and as much as Adam would like things to remain the same everything changes between them in a simple brush of the lips.
Soon lust, love, jealousy and heartbreak combine to force change upon their relationship… and Adam discovers the hard way that life is too damn short to spend it on regret.
5 /5 stars
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My Review
“I want every piece of you. Even the stuff I missed without even knowing I was missing it.”
Ellie has been writing diaries since she was a kid. Shes documented everything throughout her life up until a couple of months ago. Ellie now lives with Adam, the love of her life since she was a child, and he finds her surrounded by her diaries one day.
Intrigued by them and wanting to know her versions of events between them over the years, he starts to read them with her and so this starts the beginning of their ‘relationship’ to the point in which they are at now. The diaries conveyed a lot of jealousy, heartbreaks and hidden attraction until a few pivotal points in their friendship happen changing it up.
Join Ellie and Adam throughout their history, to their present, where they are happy and in love. Life is definitely too short for regrets.
Even since I read On Dublin Street, Ellie just took over me. She was, is, an amazing character to read. She’s caring, loyal, a romantic; tries to see the good in people but she’s also got a spark in her which Adam seems to set off a lot. It makes her feisty, but causes her heartbreak every time.
So when Samantha Young mentioned how she had written a novella about Adam and Ellie which was a freebie for all of those who had pre-ordered Down London Road, I knew I had to email her and get my copy, because I wanted to know about their story. As we know, Ellie has been in love with Adam since a young age. But when did Adam realize he had feelings for her? It fills in the blanks for all the questions we had during On Dublin Street for these two.
As mentioned, Ellie has moved in with Adam and is sorting out boxes that she should have unpacked weeks ago. There she stumbles upon what she is looking for – her old diaries. Adam comes up to see what she is doing and that is how this novella starts. Adam wants to read them and know how much he affected Ellie when they were growing up. With Adam being seven years older, we follow Ellie’s journey of growing up, harbouring these feelings for her brother’s best friend, going through Adam’s over-protectiveness, being angered by Adam’s brotherly ways, to turning into an adult, dating, having her heart broken by boyfriends, being confused over Adam. You name it, Ellie documented every little detail and feeling in her diaries over the years.
Although many of us love Adam, he was a bit of an idiot throughout the diary entries, but alas, he didn’t actually know Ellie’s feelings and when he realized his feelings for her, he wanted her but couldn’t have her because he thought it would affect his friendship with Braden. When you read the novella, you will understand the pain and heartbreak that Ellie encountered time and time again by Adam. Sometimes not on purpose as he didn’t know that he was doing it, but others – he did. And these were the parts I literally wanted to sob for Ellie. (I couldn’t as I read this in the library.)
It was a great yet heartbreaking read. It was heartbreaking to see Ellie go through all the pain of loving Adam since her childhood but great to read the history of their story. I loved the journey of Ellie growing up, trying to forget her feelings for Adam by dating other guys but none of them seemed to match up to him. She never felt that spark when she kissed them but then everything changes when they brush lips one night. That was it then. She was in love.
I also liked how we got to see Adam’s side to what he was reading after every entry. You could feel his emotions once he read them, see the guilt, the pain, the anguish of how he was making Ellie feel, even if he didn’t know it. My heart really did go out to him because of it because he spent years being in love with her too, but didn’t do anything. You do seem him man-up though, as we also see in On Dublin Street, but we see exactly what happens in the bedroom.
I have to say, I sat in a quiet area of the library, only one person hidden behind the book cases. I had my Ipod in and normally when I read, the music doesn’t go in until I really listen to it and during some pivotal points in the book, two songs came on that just described those scenes brilliantly. So brilliantly that I wanted to burst into tears there and then, but I had to hold my tears back.
The first song is: Kelly Clarkson – My Life Would Suck Without you.
Not evening joking, this came on when it was Ellie’s illness scene. I am not going to spoil what happens but it kicks someone’s butt into gear. I sat listening to the lyrics, reading the words on my kindle, wanting to sob my little heart out. It truly was a fitting song to what was happening and what had happened previously.
And the next song was The Fray – Look After You.
This came on during the last diary entry where they talk about their future and then into the present, where it ends their journey to where they are at now. I am in love with this song so much, and it fits Ellie and Adam’s love perfectly. It fitted those scenes perfectly and it made my heart ache in a good way over the lyrics and reading what the two of them were talking about. I would highly recommend listening to this song during the last entry.
I command Samantha Young for this amazing novella. I am so happy to have read about Ellie and Adam’s history, to understand their relationship more, to how it all started to where they are at now. For those who haven’t had the chance to receive this freebie by pre-ordering Down London Road, you are missing out. But you won’t be missing out for long, as you will be able to buy this novella in June.
If you loved On Dublin Street, then you really need to read this. You will love Ellie and Adam even more than you probably do. (Then when Down London Road is out – which is amazing btw – you will see even more of these two!)
Until Fountain Bridge (an On Dublin Street novella) the story that follows Ellie Carmichael and Adam Sutherland’s romance will be available in ebook edition from NAL in the US June 18th!
I have this on my kindle as it was a freebie from Samantha Young if you emailed her proof you had pre-ordered Down London Road. I haven’t got around to reading it yet, but I am really excited to read Adam and Ellie’s story. I loved Ellie in both On Dublin Street and Down London Road and I know Adam is going to steal a piece of my heart when I read this. (PS. The guy looks like someone I used to work with. I would LAUGH so hard if it was…)
Synopsis
Ellie Carmichael had a crush on Adam Sutherland, her brother, Braden’s, best friend, for years, and although Adam treated her with proprietary concern he made it clear he thought of her only as a little sister.
Over the years, as Ellie’s crush develops into love, her romantic idealism makes it difficult for her to move on. To make matters worse, as she’s gotten older, Adam’s attitude has changed toward her. His affection for her is now joined by attraction, but his loyalty to Braden, and his fear of losing the only family he has, stops him from claiming Ellie the way she wishes he would.
But one night his attraction is put to the test, and as much as Adam would like things to remain the same everything changes between them in a simple brush of the lips.
Soon lust, love, jealousy and heartbreak combine to force change upon their relationship… and Adam discovers the hard way that life is too damn short to spend it on regret
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00071]](https://lovebookreviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/17449965.jpg)
Synopsis
Seduction. Infidelity. Blackmail. Scandal. It can all be bought for the right price and for Sienna Stevens, business is good.
Because she’s in the business of Great Exploitations.
She’s an Eve, a member of a secret society of women contracted by the wives of wealthy, powerful men for one reason and one reason only: to seduce their husbands. To ensure their pre-nuptial agreement will be null and void thanks to a little loophole known as the Infidelity Clause. To ensure that those wives don’t find themselves on the other side of a divorce without a penny to their name.
When it comes to the Eves, Sienna’s one of the best because she follows the number one rule of the Eves to the letter: don’t let it get personal.
When the job file of her wealthiest client yet falls into her lap, Sienna realizes that this case could be the one that’s impossible to detach herself from. The payout would lead to her independence, but will the cost be too high in the end?
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My Review
I absolutely love that cover. It’s stunning and really reminds me of Eve, from Adam and Eve – which I suspect is exactly what it is. The rosy red of the apple has never looked so tempting and taking a bite? Ohh honey, such the wrong thing to do, but staying away, you just can’t. You have to take a bite. It’s too tempting.
That is exactly what Great Exploitations is about. Tempting the married man to have a one-night stand to ensure that the pre-nup they made their wives have, is now null due to the Infidelity clause. Not only do the wives get a share of the money, so does the Eve and the business.
Great Exploitations is the first in a novella series. The main character goes by Sienna in this book. She is a Eve – a member of a secret elite of beautiful woman hired by unhappy wives of cheating, rich men to seduce and sleep with the husbands who have made them sign a prenup. If they divorced them, they would get nothing, but catching them in the act? Well, they will get half of their husbands money due to a little thing in the prenup called The Infidelity Clause.
The agency is owned by ‘G’, who scouts for her Eves and transforms them into the seductive women they are today. G scouted Sienna five years ago, and turned her into the temptress she is today. ‘Sienna’ or whomever she is, is one of the top Eves. She puts a lot of effort into her job; from nitpicking every little detail about the Target, to transforming herself into his perfect woman, to making sure she has his complete and undivided attention on her so she can get the job done.
She’s good at her job and that’s how she wants to keep it. Sienna seems to have no emotions attached to her. She treats sex as sex. No feelings before or after. It’s like shes a robot. Programmed to do the steps to hook line and sink the Target. To make sure they are caught and the wives get the money that they deserve when they are shown the pictures the P.I’s take of her and the target.
The men are tagged by how much money they are worth by the number of zeros in their bank account. Eights and Nines are pretty great but a Ten? That is rare but if one does come around, it’s a complete goldmine. A Ten for Sienna would give her the freedom she is looking for and it would set her up for life having all that money in her account.
It’s a short book, at only 90 pages but there is so much information packed into it. Nicole Williams takes you through a journey about who the Eves are, what they do and how hard they work to make sure their job is done and dusted to perfection. There is a lot of hard work put into being an Eve.
It is a quick read, but one I thoroughly enjoyed. It was brilliantly written, and the concept was such an interesting one to read. You won’t want to put it down and from that ending? The rare Ten? Oh I cannot wait to read the next novel in the series. It really leaves you wanting more and wanting to know all about Sienna’s past and her ever-growing closeness to her freedom…whatever her freedom really is.
Synopsis
Alexis Sky Martine thinks of herself as the average girl-next-door that does what she has to do to get by, have fun and enjoy life.
She is madly in love with her sexy, drop-your-panties-at-first-sight, hottie boyfriend who is equally in love with her; more like downright obsessed. He treats her like she is his heart; like he needs her to exist; like he would do anything in his power to make her happy.
Lexi knows Landyn James loves her just as much as she loves him, if not more. Deep down, she also knows high school sweethearts aren’t expected to last, but their relationship is different. They are soul mates. Their connection is unbreakable.
What could possibly go wrong when you have love like that…?
Everything.
What will the future hold…?
Only time will tell.
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My Review
Lexi and Landyn are high school sweethearts. They are totally and utterly in love with one another. Or in Landyn’s case, he’s utterly in love and highly possessive of Lexi. He treats her like she’s the air he needs to breath and he would do anything in his power to make sure she is happy.
But one night at their last high school party before college, the night takes a turn for the worst and Lexi is left downright heartbroken at what has just happened and what she has just heard that she is left with a shattered heart and her trust for men tarnished. She moves away with her best friend for college but her life will never be the same again. Little does she know that years down the line, the stars have led her towards a path she never thought she would come across again…
I’ve been singing this since I finished the book – “Holy shit, holy shit, he is so possessive, he is so possessive, it’s so hot, it’s so hot.” If me singing this does not reiterate how AMAZING this book is, then I’m just a mental case! Grab your copy right now and start reading it because it had me captivated from the first to the last page. It took me – oh like 2 hours to finish it and this is the second book I have read today.
The synopsis is only a glimpse of what this book is about. There is so much in the plot that you will not want to put this book down for anything. I didn’t even put it down to pee that’s how good it was – and I know, too much information. Lexi and Landyn are deliriously in love with one another, but one stupid mistake from Landyn breaks everything they have built together, down. Lexi leaves him and tries to get over him and her heartbreak but 6 years later, and Landyn is back in her life and turning it upside down once again.
Landyn. DAMN BOY! From the first description I was sucker-punched by your beauty and how attractive and utterly smoking you sounded. But when everything blew up at the party, holy moly you asswipe, why did you do it? I really tried to hate you for the pain you caused Lexi, but it was too hard. I saw the pain and anguish in your face, and although I don’t condone what you did, I felt so sorry for you. You really loved Lexi and knew what you did was stupid and wrong but I knew that no matter what, you’d never give up trying to win her back, even if it took years.
Fast forward 6 years later and HELLO LANDYN! It’s good to see you old chum. You’re still as possessive and sexy and dominating as you were at 18. Jump in my bed and abuse my body please? He was such an Alpha male it was literally a turn-on. He always said what he was thinking, even if it was blunt and he was never afraid to express his feelings, regardless of who was about, he would shout his feelings to the world which is what you definitely want in a guy – someone who isn’t afraid to express their emotions!
Sweet baby Jesus, the sex was steammmmmming! Holy hell, I need some dominating sex right now because all I can think about are how great Lexi and Landyn are together. I like dominating and possessiveness when the sex isn’t BSDM – Which thankfully, no BSDM was included in this book. You could see how in love Landyn was with Lexi. His love for her consumed him and he still loved her after all the years they were apart. She was a part of him that he just could never see being without – like a jigsaw puzzle. Even if he never found her again, it was like no other girl would be able to match up to Lexi that much you could see. I would really like him to say “Zoe Baby” to me, because every time he said that to Lexi, my heart skipped a bit over the endearment.
Lexi was left severely heartbroken when she heard what Landyn had done. She loved him with all her heart and really thought they were going to be together forever. Even with her heart shattered, she and her best friend Trish moved away to college but that’s when everything in her life changed. I don’t want to tell you what happened but Lexi has to grow up pretty darn fast and in a way, that’s okay with her. She has Trish to lean on for support through it all, even if it should have been Landyn. She’s learnt to grow a thick skin and she is fiercely independent and protective of her little family. She still thinks about that night 6 years ago but she’s still trying to get over it with the help of Ryan – her boyfriend. Although it seems like she loves him, I suppose there will always be a little reminder in her head that he isn’t Landyn – no matter how much she wants to forget, he was her first love and her only love. Lexi doesn’t take any crap off anyone too, especially Ryan and Landyn and she will definitely knows what and who she wants. I’m just glad she knew her mind when Landyn came back, even if she should have told him the news 6 years ago!
Oh swoon, I loved Trish. She was mouthy, independent, and ballsy and would protect Lexi from absolutely anyone. She wasn’t afraid to tell it how it is or try to kick some butt! But underneath her bravado is someone who keeps up appearances. You find out some information that makes you want to give her a massive hug.
HELLLLLLLO Adam you sexy beast. He was exactly like Landyn and I loved him too! He was sexy, flirty and a police officer who wanted to keep Lexi safe – not from Landyn I may add! But also underneath his bravado he has also been burnt by the love of his life and I’m just hoping that he gets a book so we can find out even more about his life.
Ryan. I never liked him from the get go. Sure enough he helped Lexi out the first time they met with a handsy customer but he seemed a little too weird for my liking. Work consumed him and although he loved Lexi he has a messed-up way of showing it. What he did was not excusable and to use verbal and physical abuse is not okay in any circumstances. I’m just glad that Lexi can hold her own and fight back and I’m glad that she had Trish around when shit hit the fan.
This book has everything in it. From drama, cuteness, sex, laughter, consuming love, possessiveness and friendship. It does deal with serious issues such as verbal and physical abuse, albeit the verbal is over a few chapters and there is one scene where it is physical, but still, it is handled carefully and sensitively by Lynda, and it added into Lexi’s character who took no shit from anybody. The ending is left on a cliff hanger, but a cliff-hanger for Trish – who the second book will be about. GIVE IT TO ME NOW! I need more of these characters in my life!
Synopsis
Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…
Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.
Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.
But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.
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My Review
“Gentlemen are gentlemen in bed. They make sure you’re having a good time.”
“I’ll make sure you’re having a good time, and that you’re okay with everything we’re doing. I just won’t be well-mannered about it.”
I had seen everyone raving about this book for a couple of weeks, but due to the up-rise of books like 50 Shades, I was sceptical of reading this, thinking it was the same. But jeeze was I ever wrong in that!! I downloaded this book yesterday afternoon and I had finished it by the evening. I did have a 5 hour break where I had to go to work; otherwise I would have finished it even sooner. It drew me in from the first page and I just knew that I would fall in love with this book. I wasn’t mistaken at all. It’s nothing like 50 Shades, if you’re looking for something different to that whole BDSM stories that are now around.
Jocelyn Butler has gone through so much in her 22 years. She lost her parents and baby sister when she was 14 and then a year later she lost her best friend. To say she’s emotionally scarred by this is an understatement. She has serious trust issues and doesn’t let anyone close enough in fear that she will lose them too sooner or later. So after coming to university in Edinburgh and studying for four years, she is now looking for a flat as her best friend’s Rhian and James have moved to London. Whilst on the way to view a flat and meet its owner, she shares a taxi with a mysterious man (Who is absolutely oozing sex appeal) and they banter the whole way to her destination.
She then meets Ellie, the flat’s owner and after talking, Ellie decides she wants Jocelyn to move in. What Joss doesn’t know is that The Suit (The guy from the taxi) is Ellie’s brother and living there means she will see more of him. Because of this, she’s in a rut. Ellie is an outgoing, happy and funny girl and then there is Braden – The Suit – who is absolutely gorgeous and he can’t keep his eyes off her every time they are together. The attraction to one another is off the scale and although she tries to fight it at every corner, it’s impossible seeing as Braden wants her and he always gets what he wants.
Jocelyn, or Joss as she demands to be called, is a very complicated young woman. As I’ve mentioned, she’s been through a lot in her short years becoming a wild party animal to forget everything but four years ago she stopped everything and moved to Scotland to go to university. She’s a closed book – not letting anyone in fear of becoming hurt if they leave and not telling anyone about her past because she wants to keep it buried. But when she moves in with Ellie, her walls are slowly starting to crumble down. Her and Ellie become friends fast and Braden keeps pursuing and flirting with her. She doesn’t know what to do and it’s confusing her over how much she’s starting to care for these people when she doesn’t want to feel anything. She does start going to a psychiatrist and she begins to heal…slowly.
Braden stole my heart from the first moment he appeared. He oozes sex appeal and from the first moment he and Joss meet, there is an obvious connection between them. Braden isn’t the type of guy to stay with a girl longer than a few weeks after being burnt by a previous relationship, but there is something about Joss that he can’t get enough of. He seems to understand every little thing and feeling coming from Joss, which in turn frightens her. He’s possessive, bossy but cares for Joss immensely. They both know there is something between them, but because Joss doesn’t do relationships, he decides to take what he can get and proposes a ‘friends with benefits’ deal for three months to her and yes, you guessed it, she accepts. With much persuasive I must add. But this is just the beginning for the both of them and Joss’s feelings are starting to slowly change and its scaring her to let Braden in and he’s getting so close to her so when she keeps trying to break up with him because of her issues and freak-outs, he doesn’t let them issues affect their time together. They are just completely perfect for one another.
I really loved how much Brandan cared for Joss. When her walls did crumble, and they went through a rough patch, he gave her space, but he always wanted her back. He was with her throughout everything and when she told him her past, my heart fluttered. It was great to see him care so much and want to help her through her past and her pain. Going with her back to America to get closure was one of the best things he could have done. And it made me love him even more.
The only and only thing I did despise about Braden was what he said to her on one of the pages. I absolutely screamed at my Kindle and then the next page he said he was lying, just to get a reaction from her. I wanted to kill him for being so utterly horrid but then I suppose he was trying to see if she really did care about him like he did with her. He redeemed himself after that and he stole my heart again and all was forgiven.
Ellie, Braden’s sister is such a gem. She’s outgoing, fun, chatty and such a happy character. It was hard not to fall in love with her right away. She is the perfect flatmate and friend you could have. She does have a big storyline in this book and I was devastated when I found out what was going on, but she’s a tough girl and I knew she would get through it.
I love, love, love this book! It had everything. It’s a book about love, trust and passion. It takes you on a journey; Dealing with your inner demons, building friendships, letting people in and falling in love no matter how hard you try not to. It has something for everyone so what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy now and fall in love with all the characters, especially Braden and Ellie!
Here’s to looking forward to book two!!
Z. Elizabeth 