Interview, Review & Giveaway. On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

* * Warning, this book is NC17 * * 



Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Four years ago, Jocelyn Butler left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Edinburgh. Burying the grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without any real attachments has worked well for her so far but when Joss moves into a fantastic apartment on Dublin Street, her carefully guarded world is shaken to its core by her new roommate’s sexy older brother.

Braden Carmichael is a man who always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Jocelyn in his bed. Knowing how skittish Joss is concerning any kind of relationship, Braden proposes a sexual arrangement that should satisfy the intense attraction between them without it developing into anything ‘more’. An intrigued Jocelyn agrees, completely unprepared for the Scotsman and his single-minded determination to strip the stubborn young woman bare…to the very soul. *amazon.com*

Wow! Loved this book!! In the literary world that is overrun with adult contemporary romance books, it’s very refreshing when an author can create something new and unexplored.  That is exactly what Young has done with On Dublin Street.  From the first chapter I was hooked, and over 400 pages later I was just as pleased with the ending as I was throughout this book.

Young has created a very believable character in Jocelyn Butler (Joss) that is beautifully emotionally scarred.  Guarded and untrusting, Joss lives in her own world allowing no-one in, that is until she meets the Oh so sexy Braden Carmichael.  Braden as well has his own demons he keeps locked away, but the professionally successful eternal bachelor has just met his match!  The fact that he’s Scottish and HOT has absolutely nothing to do with it *winks*! Seriously though, Joss pushes Braden back just as hard as he tries to pull her in.  The chemistry between these two is undeniable and off the charts from their first meeting, in the back of a cab. It was such a delight sharing their journey as they discovered each other, and surprisingly finding themselves individually along the way.

As I said, I loved that the guy was chasing the girl in the book but what Young has done is make him just that much more desirable due to said chasing.  Making this book all the more enticing is Young’s ability to create these two less than perfect characters and still translate a strong leading lady and an alpha male.  Joss is head strong, flawed and emotionally unavailable.  Braden is brooding, sexy and used to getting what he wants; and what he wants is Joss!  When these two forces collide what we have is a Fantastic love story unfolding with some oh so sexy, steamy bedroom gymnastics!!

I give this one 5/5 but, that’s just my two cents!!

And now on to the good stuff, my interview with Samantha Young (giveaway details to follow).

 



Tell me a bit about yourself.

Well… I’m short, I’m Scottish, I’m twenty six years old (how did that happen?), and after I graduated from the university of Edinburgh where I studied ancient and medieval history, I decided since the real world didn’t have a use for that kind of degree (oops), that I’d put it into my love of writing. From there The Tale of Lunarmorte was born, and it stoked the fire of a twenty year old addiction. I quickly found an outlet for my addiction - self-publishing. Yay! And now I’m a full-time writer and the author of young adult urban fantasy and adult contemporary fiction.

*Where were you born and where do you call home?

I was born in Central Scotland and it’s ‘ma hame’ as we say here.

*What was your inspiration for Joss ?

The inspiration for Joss came from moments in my own life as well as moments in my friends and family’s lives. Her history is an amalgamation of some of the hard stuff we’ve all had to deal with, and her personality… well… some of that’s me but most of that’s just Joss ;)

*For those who are unfamiliar with your novel; On Dublin Street, how would you introduce it?

On Dublin Street is an adult contemporary romance with an irreverent, stubborn, but strong heroine and an annoyingly perceptive and sexily persistent alpha-male hero. It’s a story of passion, loss, heartbreak, laughter and overcoming fears. Mostly it’s a story about love.

*What are the Pro’s and Con’s to being an Indie Author?

Pros: Autonomy. Creating your own deadlines, which means publishing at a faster pace than most traditionally published authors can. Choosing your own editor. Choosing your own cover artist. Basically, having creative control over the entire process.

Cons: Promoting and Marketing. To be successful as an indie you have to constantly promote and market your work and that can take a lot of time away from the actual writing.

*Whom in your life would you say has influenced you the most?

My Parents. They raised me right! :p

*What has been the most interesting comment (or review) about your book?

A reviewer wrote in her review of On Dublin Street that she didn’t think she’d ever been as captivated by a book in the thirty years she’d been reading and that she had a visceral reaction to. Her entire review blew me away and it has stayed with me and probably always will.

*Who is YOUR favorite Author?

I have too many favourites! To name but a few: Laini Taylor, Suzanne Collins, J.K. Rowling, Richelle Mead, Angela Carter, Margaret Atwood, Taherah Mafi, Veronica Rossi, Veronica Roth, Chloe Neill, Stacia Kane, Orson Scott Card, Cormac McCarthy, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Cassandra Clare, Darynda Jones, Julie Kagawa, Susan Ee, Stephanie Perkins, Brodi Ashton, Maria V. Snyder, Kristin Cashore, Holly Black, Karen Marie Moning, Melissa De La Cruz, Melissa Marr, Lauren DeStefano, Rachel Vincent, Rachel Caine…

*What are you reading right now?

My work keeps pulling me away from the kindle but I have lined up to read next: Biting Cold (Chicagoland Vampires #6) by Chloe Neill and My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers #1) by Rachel Vincent.

*In addition to On Dublin Street, you wrote The Fire Spirits Novels, can you give us a brief synopsis on this series?

Fire Spirits centers around the story of Ari Johnson, an eighteen year old girl from Ohio who discovers that Jinn (Genies) really do exist and that’s she part of a civil war that’s brewing amongst their royalty. Caught in the political and monarchical drama, Ari has to fight Jinn at every turn with the help of a ruggedly sexy older bodyguard, Jai, and her best friend Charlie.

 Thanks Samantha for sharing your thoughts with us, here are her links for all you stalkers out there! Up for grabs is a signed copy of On Dubling Street, and this one is International guys!!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Samantha-Young-YA-Fantasy-Author/173012182748570?sk=info

Website: http://www.ondublinstreet.com/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Samantha-Young/e/B004W7FT94/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1348708092&sr=1-2-ent

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway