📚 Author: Samantha Young
💘 Genre: Romance, Adult, Women's Fiction, Erotic Romance
🏢 Publisher: -nil-
📦 Distributor: -nil-
💵 Distributor Price: Free
📅 Date of Publication: August 31, 2012
🎨 Illustration by: -nil-
📖 No. of Pages: -nil-
📱 Format: eBook
⏳ No. of Days Taken to Read: 2 days
🔖 ISBN: -nil-

Synopsis:

Jocelyn Butler is haunted by the tragedy of losing her family in a devastating car accident—a memory she’s tried to escape from for years. The trauma has built walls around her heart, keeping even her best friend at a distance. Enter Braden Carmichael, a charming and confident young businessman, who also happens to be the brother of Jocelyn's new flatmate. The connection between Joss and Braden sparks unexpectedly when they share a cab ride to Dublin Street, setting off a whirlwind of twists and emotions that challenge everything Jocelyn thought she knew about love, trust, and vulnerability.

My Thoughts:

Set in Europe, the story immerses readers in a dynamic mix of cultures. I found myself imagining Jocelyn’s American accent clashing (or complementing?) Braden’s English one. I failed at this, so instead, I leaned into empathizing with the characters and their emotional journeys.

The plot resembles a classic Cinderella-meets-modern-romance trope, with a dash of "rich guy falls for the unlikely girl." It’s a story that feels far-fetched yet somehow grounded in real emotions, making you wonder if such things could happen in real life. Personally, I couldn’t fully picture people I know in these roles—my logical side kept arguing with my imaginative side. But hey, that’s the beauty of fiction, right?

What really pulled me in was the emotional depth of the characters. Jocelyn’s guarded demeanour and Braden’s persistence felt authentic, even when wrapped in a fantasy-like scenario. The book made me laugh out loud in some moments, while other parts hit hard emotionally, especially when diving into Jocelyn’s past and the inner turmoil she wrestles with.

That said, the romance in this book doesn’t shy away from the physical aspect of Joss and Braden’s relationship. The intimate scenes were vividly written—not overly crude, but explicit enough to make me raise an eyebrow. While I appreciated the careful crafting of these moments, they’re definitely not suitable for younger readers. I wouldn’t recommend this to impressionable teens who might mistake this mature romance for a sanitized love story.

All in all, the book captivated me. It entertained me with its humour, tugged at my heartstrings with its emotional depth, and even left me blushing at times (thanks to Braden and Joss’s chemistry). It’s one of those stories that hooks you so deeply,that  you fight sleep just to finish one more chapter. I’m thrilled to add it to my growing eBook collection and would recommend it to readers who enjoy emotional, spicy romances with a touch of humour.

Anyway, those are my thoughts for now. Time to give my tired eyes a break!