Review- Echoes of Scotland Street by Samantha Young

Summary-

Shannon MacLeod has always gone for the wrong type of man. After she drifted from one toxic relationship to the next, her last boyfriend gave her a wakeup call in the worst possible way. With her world shattered, she’s sworn off men—especially those of the bad-boy variety.

Cole Walker is exactly the sort that Shannon wants to avoid—gorgeous, tattooed, charming, and cocky. But his rough exterior hides a good man who’s ready to find “the one.” He’s determined to pull Shannon from her self-imposed solitude and win her heart.

As Shannon opens up in the face of Cole’s steady devotion, the passion between them ignites to blazing levels. But when Shannon’s past comes back to haunt her, her fears may destroy the trust Cole has built between them—and tear them apart for good…

Release date: October 7th 2014

Published by: NAL

Page numbers: 331

Review-

I have been following the On Dublin Street series by Samantha Young since the beginning. Cole Walker has easily been one of my most favorite characters in the series so I was really excited for Echoes of Scotland Street. I will say the book was good but it wasn't brilliant like some of its predecessors. 

Shannon has had a horrible past where relationships are concerned. She always goes for the wrong man. She's here for a new start in Edinburgh but what she doesn't expect is to come face to face with Cole Walker at her work place. I really didn't like Shannon. She was very judge mental in the beginning and I  didn't like her behavior towards Cole.

It did improve as the misunderstandings between them got cleared but I didn't love her like say Joss or Olivia. Cole works as a tattoo artist where Shannon has just got a job. I found Cole to be a really nice and genuine guy. He was still the sweet guy we'd met before, just the grown up version. But I did feel at the end Cole should have been more understanding of Shannon's situation.

The chemistry between Cole and Shannon is present from the moment they meet. Samantha Young has a certain charm while writing romance and it comes through in the book. The book goes from Shannon's point of view and I really wish we'd get the guy's pov too for a change. It would make understanding things much better. Also, I felt it was necessary here and I felt restricted reading only from Shannon's point of view.

We also get to meet the whole gang in this book. It was a  little weird looking at a 42 year old Braden from Shannon's point of view. I am not liking the huge time gaps in this series. We also get to meet Logan, Shannon's brother who looks like he'll be getting the next book. Echoes of Scotland Street was a good read, if not the best.

Review- Moonlight on Nightingale Way by Samantha Young

Summary-

Logan spent two years paying for the mistakes he made. Now, he’s ready to start over. He has a great apartment, a good job, and plenty of women to distract him from his past. And one woman who is driving him to distraction…

Grace escaped her manipulative family by moving to a new city. Her new life, made to suit her own needs, is almost perfect. All she needs to do is find her Mr. Right—or at least figure out a way to ignore her irresistible yet annoying womanizer of a neighbor.

Grace is determined to have nothing to do with Logan until a life-changing surprise slowly begins turning the wild heartbreaker into exactly the kind of strong, stable man she’s been searching for. Only just when she begins to give into his charms, her own messy past threatens to derail everything they’ve worked to build…

Review-

I have been a Samantha Young fan since she wrote On Dublin Street. I just love her writing style and the way she portrays her characters. That is why it was a bit bitterweet saying goodbye to her On Dublin Street series with Moonlight on Nightingale Way. This is Logan and Grace's book and I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading this.

Logan is Shannon's brother from the last book who has spent two years in jail. Now he's out and ready to start over. In the beginning I thought Logan was an asshole. Plain and simple. Grace is his neighbor and because Logan thinks she'll judge him harshly, he's mean to her. But soon things change and Logan needs to grow up fast. I liked seeing the protective and unsure side of Logan. He was slow to understand his feelings for Grace but he got there.

Grace was a truly sweet heroine. Having left her rich family behind she is full of insecurities and just wants to be loved for who she is. She is very attracted to Logan and goes above and beyond to help him and his daughter out. Her goodness was a perfect balance to Logan's cynical attitude at times. I really enjoyed Grace as a heroine and that was good because the whole book goes from her pov.

Logan and Grace had the whole opposites attract thing down pat. They definitely shared chemistry and I liked how they became friends first, then lovers. The trust between them was slow to build and Logan does mess up but he makes up for it. I love the way Samantha Young writes intimate scenes and I liked them very much in Logan and Grace's case.

We also get to meet ALL the other couples from all the previous books with their kids. They welcome Logan and Grace into their fold with open arms. We get tiny epilogues for each couple as well which was very cute. I enjoyed Joss and Braden and Nate and Liv's the most. If you like Samantha Young, Moonlight on Nightingale Way should not be missed.

Review- Down London Road by Samantha Young

Summary-

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.

Review-

I have read and immensely loved On Dublin Street and Until Fountain Bridge by Samantha Young. I was super excited to get started on Down London Road even though I hadn't liked Johanna in On Dublin Street. I really enjoyed Down London Road but I couldn't help but compare it to On Dublin Street and that is where I found it slightly lacking.

Down London Road starts off with us getting into Jo's head. The whole book goes from her point of view and it was good though I really wished we had Cam's pov too. Jo's situation is bad. She has an alcoholic mother and a teenage brother to take care of after her abusive father left them several years ago. That is why Jo always goes for a relationship with a strong financial partner so that she can provide for the family.

Jo was definitely a gold digger in the beginning but you couldn't help but sympathize with her situation. But everything goes down the drain when Cam comes into her life. Now Cam, he was an absolute judge mental ass. I hated the assumptions he made in the beginning. I hated his treatment towards Jo and I hated that he came off as a self centered prick. Thankfully, as the story went on things got much better. Cam came to his senses soon and that's when things finally started moving in the right direction. But I never really liked him.

Samantha Young writes really good romance. The intimacy between Jo and Cam was superbly done and the sex scenes were hot. The sparks start flying between the two of them since the moment they meet. The only thing that bothered me was that both Jo and Cam are in separate relationships for half the book and they both jump into each other moments after the other ends it. Still, what they have is true and it was well done.

I didn't find the conflict in Down London Road as significant as On Dublin Street. Jo has her insecurities and Cam makes an ass out of himself by assuming too much. They failed to pull me in or hold the same intensity like Braden and Joss did but it was a book worth reading. We get a ton of family time with Braden, Joss, Ellie, Adam etc and we get introduced to new characters whom I am suspicious will get the next book. I think all fans of romance should definitely check this series out.

Review- Until Fountain Bridge by Samantha Young

Summary-

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.

Review-

Until Fountain Bridge is an On Dublin Street novella. You can find my review of On Dublin Street here. Until Fountain Bridge is the story of Ellie and Adam who were a part of On Dublin Street. I loved their sub plot then, so as soon as I came to know that we were getting a novella for them I was super excited to get to it.

Until Fountain Bridge starts off with Adam and Ellie going through a box full of Ellie's diaries. Then we proceed to read their love story through a few of Ellie's diary entries. It moves from the present to the past and to the present again. I loved the way Samantha Young wrote the novella. It just seemed perfect for Ellie and Adam.

I loved Ellie just as much as I had in On Dublin Street. She was a sweet girl who always thought the best of everyone. Ellie's been in love with Adam since ages. She puts herself out there for him but he always finds one reason or another to shut her down while giving a hell lot of mixed signals.

Though we did not get Adam's point of view in this novella, his feelings came through all too clearly. Ellie was forbidden for him. Being his best friend, Braden's younger sister he'd always protected her and cared for her. But soon the simple relationship between them turns into more. Adam fears losing Braden and Ellie, the two most important people in his life if he goes ahead with Ellie.

I LOVED the romance between Adam and Ellie. Samantha Young knows how to put enough of angst and drama in a relationship to make it look real. I loved how Ellie stood up for herself and how Adam finally declared his love for her. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer. This is a must read for all fans of On Dublin Street. Now I can't wait for Down London Road.

Review- On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Summary-

Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…

Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.

Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.

But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.

Review-

I wanted to read On Dublin Street since a long time. A really long time. Pesky things like exams kept me from getting to it sooner but I wanted to savor it when I read it. And savor it I did. This book totally lives up to all the fabulous reviews its been getting. I thoroughly enjoyed myself getting to know Jocelyn and Braden's story. I couldn't stop reading it once I got started.

Jocelyn Butler has had a tragic past she doesn't want to think about. She left the States four years ago and started over in Scotland. But now her best friend is moving to London and she needs a place to stay so she moves to a new apartment on Dublin Street. Here we get to meet Braden who is Jocelyn's rommate Ellie's brother who's path somehow keeps colliding with Joss.

Jocelyn is not looking for love or a relationship now or ever but both Braden and Jocelyn can't deny the attraction which could spark fire between them. Braden Carmichael gets what he wants and what he wants is Jocelyn. He proposes an arrangement that would satisfy them both without getting their hearts tangled up in a mess.

But soon things start getting complicated. Calling Braden swoon worthy would be an understatement because he is so much more. With his charming Scottish accent and stubbornness he sweeps Jocelyn off her feet and shakes her world to the core. He wants more than just mind blowing passion and demands everything of her. Braden and Jocelyn had off the charts chemistry. I loved their witty banter.

I also loved Ellie and Adam and Braden's family. There were so many moments in the book which made me laugh out loud and which got a smile to my face. With just enough angst and drama On Dublin Street keeps you captivated. Samantha Young's writing is engaging and easy. I kept flipping the pages wanting to know what happened next. I am so looking forward to reading more from this author. If you're a fan of contemporary romance you shouldn't give On Dublin Street a miss.

 X5

Janhvi