Samantha Young is an author I discovered only recently, and honestly — phew. It is incredibly hard not to drool over her male characters. On Dublin Street kept popping up in my recommendations, and I’m so glad I finally gave in and picked it up.
Quick Book Info
- Title: On Dublin Street
- Author: Samantha Young
- Genre: Contemporary Romance
- Series: On Dublin Street (#1)
- Setting: Scotland (Edinburgh)
My Rating
Alpha Heroes, Done the Samantha Young Way
Braden Carmichael is not every woman’s dream man. Nope, definitely not. He’s controlling, intimidating, and cunning — the kind of man who bulldozes straight into Jocelyn’s life and does exactly what he wants.
That said, I do love alpha heroes in fiction, so I had absolutely no problem swooning over Braden. A real-life Braden, though? You probably wouldn’t see hide nor hair of me anywhere near him. Thankfully, this is fiction, and here Braden comes across as an uber-cool, super-sexy male specimen. The chemistry between Braden and Jocelyn is intense, addictive, and completely off the charts.
Jocelyn Butler and Emotional Healing
Jocelyn’s character does pale in comparison to Braden’s forceful presence, and I’m not entirely sure if that was intentional. Given her emotional baggage and deep-rooted trauma, maybe it was meant to be that way — her vulnerability set against his overwhelming dominance.
One thing I genuinely appreciated was how Samantha Young layered the story with introspection through Jocelyn’s therapy sessions. These moments added emotional depth and made Jocelyn’s fears and resistance to love feel authentic. I did wish Jocelyn would overcome her insecurities a bit sooner, but the author deliberately takes her time, slowly transforming Jocelyn from a scared-to-love woman into someone who finally trusts love and gives herself fully to her soulmate.
Favorite Quotes
“Sometimes the clouds weren’t weightless. Sometimes their bellies got dark and full. It was life. It happened. It didn’t mean it wasn’t scary, or that I wasn’t still afraid, but now I knew that as long as I was standing under it with Braden beside me when those clouds broke, I’d be alright. We’d get rained on together. Knowing Braden he’d have a big ass umbrela to shelter us from the worst of it. That there was an uncertain future I could handle.”
“Sometimes words aren’t needed for you to know a change has come upon you.”
“I wanted to create something beautiful in place of all the ugliness.”
“Sure it could get rough sometimes, but life wasn’t a Hollywood movie. Shit happened. You fought, you screamed, and somehow you worked like hell to get out the other side still intact.”
Final Thoughts
On Dublin Street is an easy, engaging read filled with steamy romance, emotional growth, and strong chemistry. It’s a perfect choice if you enjoy contemporary romance with alpha heroes, emotionally guarded heroines, and a slow journey toward trust and healing.
A quick, indulgent getaway to Scotland, On Dublin Street was a great introduction to Samantha Young’s writing — and definitely not my last book by her.
Book Blurb
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.
About The Author
Samantha is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, #1 Amazon bestselling author and a Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee. She has written over 65 books and is published in 31 countries. Samantha writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels, often set where she resides — in her beloved home country of Scotland. She also writes paranormal and fantasy novels under her pen name S. Young. When Samantha’s not writing she splits her time between her family and chasing after two very mischievous cavapoos.
Book Links
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