Hello Book Lovers!
So Before Jamaica Lane is the third book in the On Dublin Street series by Samantha Young. And It is by far my favourite out of the three. Which seems to be a theme with the sequels I have read this month. January seems to be a month with nothing but good sequels, I mean really good sequels.
So I have been excited for this book for MONTHS! Ever since I finished Down London Road, because Olivia's character intrigued me. Plus Samantha Young is just a phenomenal writer and her books are always can't put down.
So this book is about the relationship between a "painfully insecure" Oliva who has a crush on someone at work and needs to learn the art of seduction. She turns to her BGF (best guy friend) Nate for seduction lessons. So to start out the plot seems very similar to Seducing Cinderella by Gina L. Maxwell. Which I am totally okay with because I absolutely loved SC and the plot is one that I love. Especially because it ends up becoming all dramatic, and just makes a really awesome story.
What really stands out about this series and Samantha Young's writing is the group dynamic, they seem like such a strange assortment of friends that have made it work and formed their own make shift family that is closer than a lot of blood families. I like that you get to look back at the other relationships (Joss and Braden and Jo and Cam) without it being another sequel just on them. You get to see how the relationships are progressing and it just adds to the story line.
What I loved most about the book is Olivia, she is a character that I can really relate too, she is very shy and insecure, likes to hide in a book and is more comfortable at home. Out of all the leading ladies in this series, she is the one most relatable to me and that made for a more interesting story because it was like I was reading my HEA, and I think it gives hope to women who are very shy and insecure. Each of the women in the series are so different and so scarred from their pasts, and they end up finding their perfect match. And I think every women can relate to one or more of the leading ladies in this series and it just makes it more compelling.
As for description it was fantastic as always, a great balance between too much and too little. I would have liked a little bit more description on Olivia's flat just to get a better feel of it, but as it was it was very impressive.
And the steam factor was high, but it was very emotional and captivating, there was something about the dynamic between Nate and Olivia, their friendship somehow made it so much more romantic and passionate even under the circumstances. I liked the insecurity that Olivia presented, and the strength that Nate brought to the table, it made for a better story I think. Olivia has all of this inner strength and passion, she just needed someone to help her access it. So once again Samantha Young manages to write a hot, very steamy romance yet remains tasteful and classy.
Now to possibly my favourite part of the book, the Adam and Ellie Novella!
UNTIL FOUNTAIN BRIDGE
So this was a great surprise when I got to the end of BJL, it is the story of Adam and Ellie's relationship. It was always there across the three books but it was really on the back burner. In Until Fountain Bridge we got to see the progression of the relationship between these two headstrong lovers from Ellie's perspective. Basically how it is set up is Adam and Ellie are looking through her old diaries and Adam is reading about her thoughts and experiences of their relationship from when Ellie first had a crush on him, to the moment where Adam got his shit together and made his move. I liked the diary set up, it allowed Samantha Young to jump years and months without seeming like she was skimming through their relationship. And it was a great way to see Ellie and her progression.
Basically it was a great treat that was included and really added to the whole On Dublin Street universe.
This series is an absolute MUST READ! It is captivating, it is romantic, it is steamy, it's passionate and above all it's just interesting. I give Samantha Young 5 sparkle covered stars with a bonus star for including Until Fountain Bridge.
So if you haven't read it yet, get your lovely bum over to amazon, or kobo or your local bookstore. Just buy all three, seriously you won't be able to read just one.
Also if you haven't read Castle Hill yet, head over to Amazon or Kobo and read it now! It is the continuation of Braden and Joss's story which I absolutely loved reading because we got little tidbits throughout books 2 and 3 but this really has it all from Joss's perspective.
Okay I am officially done rambling, thank you for reading this review, I hope you enjoyed it! Tell me your thoughts on this series if you have read it or if you haven't!
Peace, Love, and Awesome Sequels!
Lady Literary <3
So Before Jamaica Lane is the third book in the On Dublin Street series by Samantha Young. And It is by far my favourite out of the three. Which seems to be a theme with the sequels I have read this month. January seems to be a month with nothing but good sequels, I mean really good sequels.
So I have been excited for this book for MONTHS! Ever since I finished Down London Road, because Olivia's character intrigued me. Plus Samantha Young is just a phenomenal writer and her books are always can't put down.
So this book is about the relationship between a "painfully insecure" Oliva who has a crush on someone at work and needs to learn the art of seduction. She turns to her BGF (best guy friend) Nate for seduction lessons. So to start out the plot seems very similar to Seducing Cinderella by Gina L. Maxwell. Which I am totally okay with because I absolutely loved SC and the plot is one that I love. Especially because it ends up becoming all dramatic, and just makes a really awesome story.
What really stands out about this series and Samantha Young's writing is the group dynamic, they seem like such a strange assortment of friends that have made it work and formed their own make shift family that is closer than a lot of blood families. I like that you get to look back at the other relationships (Joss and Braden and Jo and Cam) without it being another sequel just on them. You get to see how the relationships are progressing and it just adds to the story line.
What I loved most about the book is Olivia, she is a character that I can really relate too, she is very shy and insecure, likes to hide in a book and is more comfortable at home. Out of all the leading ladies in this series, she is the one most relatable to me and that made for a more interesting story because it was like I was reading my HEA, and I think it gives hope to women who are very shy and insecure. Each of the women in the series are so different and so scarred from their pasts, and they end up finding their perfect match. And I think every women can relate to one or more of the leading ladies in this series and it just makes it more compelling.
As for description it was fantastic as always, a great balance between too much and too little. I would have liked a little bit more description on Olivia's flat just to get a better feel of it, but as it was it was very impressive.
And the steam factor was high, but it was very emotional and captivating, there was something about the dynamic between Nate and Olivia, their friendship somehow made it so much more romantic and passionate even under the circumstances. I liked the insecurity that Olivia presented, and the strength that Nate brought to the table, it made for a better story I think. Olivia has all of this inner strength and passion, she just needed someone to help her access it. So once again Samantha Young manages to write a hot, very steamy romance yet remains tasteful and classy.
Now to possibly my favourite part of the book, the Adam and Ellie Novella!
UNTIL FOUNTAIN BRIDGE
So this was a great surprise when I got to the end of BJL, it is the story of Adam and Ellie's relationship. It was always there across the three books but it was really on the back burner. In Until Fountain Bridge we got to see the progression of the relationship between these two headstrong lovers from Ellie's perspective. Basically how it is set up is Adam and Ellie are looking through her old diaries and Adam is reading about her thoughts and experiences of their relationship from when Ellie first had a crush on him, to the moment where Adam got his shit together and made his move. I liked the diary set up, it allowed Samantha Young to jump years and months without seeming like she was skimming through their relationship. And it was a great way to see Ellie and her progression.
Basically it was a great treat that was included and really added to the whole On Dublin Street universe.
This series is an absolute MUST READ! It is captivating, it is romantic, it is steamy, it's passionate and above all it's just interesting. I give Samantha Young 5 sparkle covered stars with a bonus star for including Until Fountain Bridge.
So if you haven't read it yet, get your lovely bum over to amazon, or kobo or your local bookstore. Just buy all three, seriously you won't be able to read just one.
Also if you haven't read Castle Hill yet, head over to Amazon or Kobo and read it now! It is the continuation of Braden and Joss's story which I absolutely loved reading because we got little tidbits throughout books 2 and 3 but this really has it all from Joss's perspective.
Okay I am officially done rambling, thank you for reading this review, I hope you enjoyed it! Tell me your thoughts on this series if you have read it or if you haven't!
Peace, Love, and Awesome Sequels!
Lady Literary <3