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Showing posts with label Samantha Young. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Samantha Young. Show all posts

A Glimpse Into Life After The Happily Ever After & A Gambling Historical Heroine


Happy Tuesday, everyone!

How are you guys doing? I hope you've been reading lots of romance! In today's post, I have two reviews for you guys, one is a contemporary novella, and the other is a historical romance, that I wasn't entirely into. I also share some other books I read recently at the end of the post. I hope you find something to add to your TBRs!



ON HART'S BOARDWALK
by Samantha Young
Series: On Dublin Street #6.7
Genres: Contemporary
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Publication Date: March 20th 2018
Source: ARC received for review purposes
Rating: ★★★★

I don't think I've talked about it enough, but Samantha Young's On Dublin Street is one of my all-time contemporary romance series. I have such fond memories of reading those books and discovering the OTPs that lay within. So, I was very happy to hear that she had written a novella, years into the future, featuring one of my favorite couples from the series. I loved this glimpse into Nate and Livia's relationship. They are both busy with their jobs, have two lovely daughters, and are leading a rather monotonous life. To make matters worse, Livia feels that Nate just isn't present in her life anymore as she would like. After the death of a friend, he's receded into himself, and doesn't open up to her. I'm not going to lie, it was a little hard to read about Nate and Olivia having marriage troubles, but it was also incredibly realistic. Let's face it, what marriage is ever 100% happy 24/7? So, I appreciated this look into the life after a happily ever after. Nate and Livia have to work hard to restore their marriage, and the first step towards that is going away from home to Hart's Boardwalk. This is the setting in Samantha Young's newest series, so this novella was a crossover. Besides loving reading about Nate and Livia mend their fractured marriage, I also loved meeting some of my favorite characters from that series. I particularly loved seeing Bailey and Vaughn! Anyways, this is a short novella, so I won't give everything away, but know that it's an emotional, beautiful and sexy story, just as every other book by Samantha Young.


by Caroline Linden
Series: The Wagers of Sin #1
Genres: Historical
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: February 27th 2018
Source: ARC received for review purposes
Rating: ★★★

I usually really love Caroline Linden's historical romances, but I was quite disappointed by My Once and Future Duke. Let me get to the positive aspects first. I really loved the idea of the heroine being a gambling queen. Sophie is a pro at cards, and is absolutely unapologetic about it. It was refreshing to have a heroine who wasn't part of London high society. She's fiery, independent, and does not let people walk all over her. I admired her absolute tenacity and strength throughout the book. Sophie was absolutely a character that I easily found myself rooting for. I also really enjoyed the friendships here. Sophie's friends could not be more different than her, but their dynamic was so interesting to me. I'm certainly looking forward to reading more about them in the subsequent books. Now, the hero himself, Jack, the Duke of Ware, wasn't the easiest for me to warm up to for some reason. For most of the book, he wasn't very comfortable showing his true self, and part of me felt like we never really got to see the man behind that tough exterior. I also think a reason why I wasn't entirely enamored with Jack was that he didn't stand out to me in any way. My attention was one hundred percent on Sophie. I just thought she deserved someone better. The chemistry was definitely there for me between the two of them, but like I think my lack of connection to Jack made it difficult for me to become invested in this ship. I wanted to see more banter, more scenes of them communicating and being themselves. I was expecting more from them because Caroline Linden has written some AMAZING romances in the past. Sophie and Jack's relationship simply didn't live up for me. All that being said, I still found the book to be quite entertaining since I managed to finish it, and I am quite eager to read the next book featuring one of Sophie's friend. Just the synopsis of An Earl Like You has me buzzing with excitement!
More Books I've Read
Brooklynaire The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient, #1) A Princess in Theory (Reluctant Royals, #1) Hello Stranger (The Ravenels, #4)

I'll be reviewing these closer to release date, but I had to quickly share my thoughts about them over here. These were all part of my most anticipated romances of the year and they were just so great. Brooklynaire was a book I've been waiting for for like ever - the romance between Nate and Becca has been building up since the first book in the series, and omg it was so worth the wait! The Kiss Quotient was also another book I was highly anticipating and it was just wonderful. It was sweet, sexy, a little awkward, but just absolutely perfect. I can't wait for it to be out in the world. A Princess In Theory was also absolutely wonderful. I'm not usually one for royalty romances because I think they tend to veer into cheesy territory, but this was lovely and smart and made me very happy. Hello Stranger was another hit for me from Lisa Kleypas. I swear, this woman can do no wrong in my eyes!

Have you read any books feature in this post? Tell me about some of your latest 4 or 5 star romance reads!

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Blog Tour Stop: Villain by Samantha Young

by Samantha Young
Series: Hero #1.5
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Samantha Young
Publication Date: December 5th 2017
Source: ARC received for review
Rating: ★★★

The sexy and emotional companion novella to the New York Times bestselling romance HERO.

Nadia Ray is not just a broadcast meteorologist. She’s Boston’s morning television It Girl. Successful and independent, she’s put a past she’s ashamed of behind her and is forging a future she can be proud of. However, when her new boss discovers her secret he blackmails her, intent on using Nadia’s popularity to make them the number one morning show in Massachusetts. He wants her to be part of uncovering the city’s biggest scandal – a secret billionaire Caine Carraway is hiding.

Soon Nadia is thrown into the path of Caine’s best friend: sexy, wealthy bachelor Henry Lexington. But she doesn’t encounter the dashing high society gentleman Henry is purported to be. Instead she’s faced with an insulting and defensive villain who misjudges her at every turn.

When Henry finally realizes the truth, and decides to make amends, Nadia wants nothing to do with him. But she underestimates his determination and charm and soon they find themselves embroiled in an intense, passionate affair.

An affair Nadia knows must come to an end before their feelings grow any deeper and he discovers her secrets.

After all, Henry Lexington isn’t the only one who played the part of a villain once...

I'm a huge fan of Samantha Young's On Dublin Street series. I always reread them every now and then. While Hero isn't my favourite, Henry made an impression on me and I was excited when I found out that Samantha's releasing a novella with him and Nadia as the main characters.

Villain is set in Hero's timeline, but you don't need to read Hero to enjoy Villain. The story is told solely from Nadia's POV. I admire Nadia's character a lot for her strength and determination to prove that she's more than just her looks. The first couple of chapters were hard to read considering Nadia was being harassed and blackmailed by her good-for-nothing boss (trigger warning for attempted sexual assault). I was as frustrated as Nadia was with the treatment she received from her male superiors, but luckily it didn't last very long.

Henry and Nadia didn't get off on the right foot the first time they met each other, since Nadia was supposed to write an exposé on Caine Carraway's sordid past, and Henry as Caine's best friend would do everything in his power to not let that happen. I enjoy seeing the overtly smooth Henry failing to charm the cynical Nadia, but kept trying anyway. There were some issues they need to overcome to be together--mainly Nadia's insecurities and Henry's flirtatious nature. I would have liked Villain to be full-length so that Henry and Nadia's relationship can be fleshed out a little more, but overall it was an entertaining read. I recommend it especially if you're a fan of Samantha's Hero; Lexie and Caine had quite a few scenes in Villain too.




Out December 5th in digital edition.


Preorder Links:

AMAZON US - http://amzn.to/2giFLfF 

iBOOKS UK & US, & GOOGLE PLAY Links Coming Soon!

About the Author

Samantha Young is the New York Times,  USA Today  and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows.  Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us was published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook & hardback June 2017. Play On is an adult contemporary romance and the first in a brand new series set in Scotland. Villain is a companion novella to the New York Times bestselling romance HERO.

Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.

Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.


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Review: The One Real Thing by Samantha Young

THE ONE REAL THING
by Samantha Young
Series: Hart's Boardwalk #1
Genres: Contemporary, Adult
Publisher: Berkley Publishing
Publication Date: September 6th 2016
Source: ARC received for review
Rating: ★★★★
Amazon - Barnes & Noble
Welcome to Hartwell, a quiet seaside escape where uncovering old secrets could lead one woman to discover the meaning of a love that lasts…

While Doctor Jessica Huntington engages with the inmates at the women’s correctional facility where she works, she’s always careful to avoid emotional attachments in her personal life. Loss and betrayal taught her that lesson long ago. But when she comes across a set of old love letters in the prison’s library and visits the picturesque town of Hartwell to deliver them to their intended recipient, she finds herself unable to resist the town’s charm—and her attraction to the sexy owner of a local bar proves equally hard to deny.

Since his divorce from his unfaithful ex-wife, Cooper Lawson has focused on what really matters: his family and the boardwalk pub they’ve owned for generations. But the first time Jessica steps into his bar, Cooper is beyond tempted to risk his heart on her. Yet as their attraction grows hotter and Jessica remains stubbornly closed off, he begins to realize it will take more than just passion to convince her there’s only one real thing in life worth fighting for….

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Week in Review #10




Hi everyone!

I hope you all had excellent weeks. It was another busy week for me with shopping, packing and weddings. I'm starting to feel sad that this is going to be my last week at home with my family. I won't be able to return home until at least next December and I don't know how to handle that. I am looking forward to spending the rest of the month with them while traveling though.

This will also probably be my last week in review for a while. These posts don't take me a long time to write up, but I'm not sure what my WiFi situation is going to be like. I will have posts scheduled for the whole time I'm gone, so please stop by if you have some time. Once I'm all settled in, I'll return all your comments.

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Cover Reveal: Every Little Thing by Samantha Young



Happy Monday everyone! 

I'm really excited to bring to you the cover reveal of one of my favorite author's upcoming book. If I haven't exclaimed my love for Samantha Young enough, let me do it again. Her On Dublin Street series is one of the best adult contemporary romance books I have ever read, and if you haven't picked up any yet, then I don't know what you are even doing! 

Her newest series is set in a small beach town and the first book is scheduled for release next month. I, for one, can't wait to pick up the series and meet all these new couples.

 EVERY LITTLE THING
by Samantha Young
Series: Hart's Boardwalk #2
Genres: Contemporary, Adult
Publisher: Berkley Publishing
Publication Date: March 7th 2017
Amazon
Hartwell, Delaware—the perfect place to get away from it all, and find what you never knew you needed…

Bailey Hartwell has many reasons to feel content—her successful business, a close circle of friends, and her steady boyfriend…even if their romance feels staid after ten years without a serious commitment. The only challenge in her life comes in the form of sexy businessman Vaughn Tremaine. She thinks the ex-New Yorker acts superior and that he considers her a small-town nobody. But when Bailey’s blindsided by a betrayal, she’s shocked to discover Vaughn is actually a decent guy.

Vaughn admires Bailey’s free spirit, independence, and loyalty. As his passion for her has grown, his antagonism toward her has only worsened. Every little thing Bailey does seduces him. But when Vaughn’s painful emotional past makes him walk away in fear he will hurt her, it opens an old wound in Bailey, and she uncharacteristically retreats.

Once Vaughn begins to realize he’s made the biggest mistake of his life, he has no choice but to fight like he’s never fought before to convince Bailey that the love they’ve found together only comes around once in a lifetime.
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Upcoming 2016 Swoony Books I'm Dying To Read



Happy Tuesday everyone!

I hope your weeks are going well so far. I'll be low-key taking part in Top Ten Tuesdays, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, as from today because it's my favorite meme out there, but oddly, I've never participated myself.

Today's topic is one I'm very excited about: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For The Second Half Of 2016. Because this is an adult romance book blog, I decided to add my twist to it and make it about all the swoony releases I'm dying to read coming out this year. I did fail at just sticking to 10 though and ended up with 14, but I couldn't narrow it down because I'm so so excited for ALL of these!

I hope you guys are able to find some books to add to your TBRs! :)

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