A Review for On Dublin Street + Author Interview with Samantha Young

Posted by Donna
Release Date: January 17th, 2013
Finished Date: January 19th, 2013

Publishers: Penguin 
Source: For Review
Format: Paperback

Pages: 414
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo
 

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.

The Review: “I know you love me, Jocelyn, because there’s no f*****g way I can be this much in love with you, and not have you feel the same way. It’s not possible.”

I've never been so thankful for a snow day in all my life and because of it, I managed to devour On Dublin Street, a 400 plus page book within around 24 hours and it's something I probably wouldn't have been able to do if I had to go to work. On Dublin Street definitely lived up to all the hype and it's a very unputdownable book.

Based in Edinburgh, On Dublin Street opens up your eyes to the wonderful attractions that Edinburgh has to offer. Being based in the UK myself, it's pretty easy and actually pretty cheap for me to hop on a plane to visit and now, I intend to do so. While reading this book, I felt like I was actually there with the characters walking the streets of Edinburgh. It was almost magicial.

Jocelyn and Braden are two strong and feisty characters. There was an immediate connect and attraction to them and how they managed to fight their attraction for so long was beyond me. It was scorching hot at time and even gave me little butterflies too. It was fascinating to watch their relationship grow because they are such an entertaining couple. I also loved - and I mean loved the secondary characters, Ellie and Adam. I kind of wished they get their on little book. I'd love to see more from them, especially from the past. 

On Dublin Street does not lack emotion nor does it lack fun, actually this story really didn't lack anything. Samantha Young wrote perfectly and I honestly wouldn't change a thing. Adult contemporary romance at it's best right here. 

Author Interview with Samantha Young

 

When did you first start writing?

I began writing when I was very young, about eight years old. My obsession began after I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. It was just so magical, and I wanted to imagine somewhere as equally magical as Narnia. 

 

 Do you have a favourite place to write?

 I have a balcony that has a great view of Wallace’s Monument in Stirling. I love to sit out there, cozied up, with my earphones in while I scribble out notes for my latest book.

 

What’s the best part about writing a story?

 The characters are definitely the best part of writing a story. I never start writing until I’ve worked out who my characters are. Once I start weaving them into the plot they become these three dimensional beings I can’t get out of my head, as I add layers to what’s already there—quirks, foibles, all the things that make them more real to the reader.

 I love when a reader tells me they related to a character I’ve written. That’s most definitely the best part of writing a story.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about what you’re working on now?

 Right now I’m working on Down London Road, the second book in the On Dublin Street series, as well as Darkness, Kindled (Fire Spirits #4), the fourth installment in my young adult urban fantasy series.
 

Questions relating to On Dublin Street.

What was your inspiration for writing On Dublin Street?

 Edinburgh, very quickly followed by Jocelyn. I wanted to write a contemporary novel set in a location I knew so well it would be a secondary character in the book. And once I’d decided on Edinburgh as my setting, Jocelyn quickly came to me. Most of my readership at that time was based in the U.S, and I wanted my heroine to be American so they’d identify with her. Her personality, her past, her story, was all inspired by the people around me, and as soon as I had Edinburgh and Jocelyn, the rest of On Dublin Street quickly fell into place.

 

Can you tell us how you chose Jocelyn & Braden names?

 I had this idea in my head that the character of Jocelyn would have a name that most people would shorten to a nickname, and that the only people who didn’t were her parents. So upon suffering their loss, her full-name was a painful reminder of their loss and from then on she’d introduce herself with the nickname. Having Braden’s character insist on using her full name was a subtle step toward Joss dealing with her grief. I chose Jocelyn because I appreciated how different it was to the nickname Joss, and I thought it mirrored the two contradictive parts of her that intrigue Braden - the confident, self-possessed young woman, and the prickly, almost tomboy-ish commitment-phobe girl. 

As for Braden… I’ve always loved it, and it fit the character. It’s Celtic and it’s masculine. 

 

Who would play your dream cast if your book was optioned for a film?

 My dream cast… probably Jennifer Lawrence as Joss, Chris Hemsworth as Braden, James McAvoy as Adam and Rosamund Pike as Ellie.

 

Do you have a favourite character?

 Joss is my favourite character. I love how complex she is as a person and her journey in the book was wonderful to write.

What’s your favourite quote from On Dublin Street?

My fav quote: “Babe, nice lingerie is for seducing a man. I’m already f*****g seduced.” - Braden Carmichael. 

About Author: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Samantha Young, is a 26 year old writer from Stirlingshire, Scotland. After graduating from the university of Edinburgh, Samantha returned to Stirlingshire where she happily spends her days writing about people she's keen for others to meet, and worlds she's dying for them to visit. Having written over ten young adult urban fantasy novels, Samantha took the big plunge into adult contemporary romance with her novel 'On Dublin Street'. 'On Dublin Street' is a #1 National Bestseller and has been re-published by NAL(Penguin US).

 

For more info on Samantha's adult fiction visit:

http://www.ondublinstreet.com

For info on her young adult fiction visit:

www.samanthayoungbooks.com