Krystle's Thoughts - On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

 

On Dublin Street

By: Samantha Young

 

 

 

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.

 

 

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Ahhhhh I am so in love with this book and author!!! I couldn't put this book down, it's that good.

Samantha Young captured my full attention with describing everything that has happened in poor Jocelyn Butler's life; I couldn't wait to see her have the happy ending she deserved. I really like how it was sort of written thru Joss's eyes, but at the same time it would seem to revert back to her therapy sessions, and then pick right up to what she and her therapist were discussing. Very neat.

What I wouldn't give to live on Dublin Street and to meet a man like Braden Carmichael. *Swoon*

I enjoyed all of the characters and loved how Joss and Ellie got along, she is the sister that she's been missing. Seems ever since the “accident” that ruined Joss's life she's just been living for today, too afraid to get close to anyone since she thinks that she's some sort of bad-luck charm of epic proportions. And who could blame her. She's lost her whole family, followed by her best friend, all while in her teens, and now years later when things are finally balancing out for her, her world falls apart again. Before she knows it, all of the progress that she's made is all for naught and she starts regressing back into her iron box, as she calls it.

But, before her world shatters, let's talk about Braden for a bit..... Ohmigod! Can I just say he was...just amazing, ha! I believe I will add him to my Book-Boyfriend Collection! /Evil laugh..

Braden's a beautiful guy who just so happens to be the brother of Joss's new roommate Ellie. He's rich, smart, charismatic, charming.... The list is endless. I like how he could read Joss like an open book and see thru all of her bullshit – then call her on it. When Joss tells him that she's not going to be in a relationship with him because she has come to really like his sister and her apartment, he seduces her into an arrangement instead. Just sex. I kind of thought the whole time that it was a great ploy to get her to realize for herself that at the end of their 3 month friends-with-benefits gag, she'd want more...and it worked. :)

I raced thru the rest of the book, both not being able to wait and see what happened next between them, and also not wanting it to end. But, alas, I stayed up late on a work night to finish it! There were times when I wanted to physically reach thru the pages and slap some sense into Joss for how crappy she was treading Braden, but then again I could also get where she was coming from.

Very well written and sweet! Can't wait to read more from Ms. Young!!!

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Btw, the scene where Braden was tickling the crap out of Joss and she broke wind..... I LOST IT!!!!!! That was too fun! I clapped my hand to my forehead and felt embarrassed for the poor girl, Lol!!

Krystle's Review : The Christmas Wish (Novella) by Katy Regnery

The Christmas Wish

Katy Regnery

Expected Release - November 1, 2013

 

Blurb

 

Waitress Tess Branson has earned a bad reputation, and the nickname “Fast Tessie,” as result of her poor judgement where men are concerned. She learned from a young age that men – of all ages – were only interested in one thing, which has made Tess distrustful even though she yearns for love.

Lucas Flynn, the short order cook at the restaurant where Tess works, has just been released on parole. After committing a terrible crime and losing someone he loved, he’s trying to get his life back on track. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a kind, pretty waitress who has problems of her own.

Tess makes a wish on a star one wintry night, but it's going to take a heap of Christmas magic to help it come true!

 

 

 

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I was asked to read this novella in exchange for an honest review, and I truly adored it!

This is a very sweet novella by Katy Regnery, and if you've read By Proxy, you'll be glad to hear mention of some familiar characters!!

Tess “Tessie” Branson is a waitress at the local diner, who's past has earned her the nickname “Fast Tessie”. She's no stranger to being used and tossed aside by men, and since she's never opened her heart to any of them, that was always okay. Until one night, when Tess has a rough night at work with some customers and their snarky mouths, she heads outside sans jacket to cool off under the stars in the cool mountain air, and is joined by the short-order cook, Lucas.

Lucas has worked there for 4 months since his release from prison, and he's noticed Tess, but hasn't spoken to her. Figuring he has nothing to offer her as an ex-con, why bother? He noticed that she hurried outside without her coat, so he requests to go on break in order to see that she's alright after the mishap with the jerks and take her her coat. At the end of their conversation not only does she notice that he's genuinely being 'nice' to her and maintaining eye contact to her actual eyes, and not her breasts, he asks her to do a pretty off the wall thing. For a tough guy at least =P

Make a wish on a star before you come in,” he said softly, without turning to face her.

“It's Christmastime. It might come true.”

This is Ms. Regnery's second book I've read and once again, I loved it. It made me feel so warm and fuzzy inside, I couldn't help but smile as I read it. Also doesn't hurt that I am a holiday freak and I love Christmas. Might have to make her books yearly reads around that time of year!

 

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Visit the author!

 

Katy Regnery 

 

Social Networks

 

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Krystle's Thoughts - Severed Colours by Dawna Raver

 
 
                            

Severed Colours

Dawna Raver

Expected Release - 11/18/2013

 

Authors Website:

 

Dawna Raver

 

Book 2 of The Colour Wielders Series is awesome! I love, love, looooved it. The way Ms. Raver writes, you get immersed and can easily lose yourself in her imagination. I love the world building for Severed Colours; as well as book 1, Colour Wielders.

SC picks up right where book one left off, with Arik handing Quinn over to his Bitch of a mother Morgana. Although poor Quinn has no idea what's happening and thinks the love of her life is betraying her, Arik knows his mother is her only chance of survival. Course even though the all-knowing Morgana knows what her son is up to, she still thinks she has the upper-hand...

Boy, was she wrong. (I love what unicorn blood does to her BTW Dawna, LOL, I lost it laughing..)

“After centuries, Morgana Le Fay's beauty was over. She looked like a zombie in search of brains as she held out her arms and grabbed at empty air”

LOL

So any-who, after Quinn goes thru her awakening in the Marbh Chamber constructed by Morgana, she's a changed person. No longer a child with baby-like skin, but now a woman. Her body, hair, and features all go thru a painful change, leaving her a more mature, adult Magykal. What's even better is that she and Arik soul-touch during the process, meaning that they will both be battling each others' emotions in their minds. This was pretty neat to see thru-out the book, I thought. Not sure if I'd want it done to me, but could be handy!

The author throws in a lovely – and crazy – curve ball after Quinn's Awakening, that really shocked the Hell out of me. I just sort of sat there and thought, Omgggggg!!! And I can't tell you!!!!! It leaves Arik desperate and no choice, but to summon the most powerful beings in all the lands. The Triarchia.... Where they have him answer a yes or no question with a no win scenario.

“Can love surrounded by hate, survive, or is the end of an endless knot forever lost? Yes or No?”

After Arik's answered and made his sacrifice, both he and Quinn will have to work extremely hard to get around this obstacle thru-out the rest of the book. Let's just say that I hate The Triarchia, and A lot, and you all will too, ha!

Although Quinn has changed so much from her Awakening, that after The Triarchia are thru with her, she's even more changed than before. She may now seem like a brat, but without her new attitude adjustment the story wouldn't make sense or get to where it needs to be.

“I do care for you. I – You are my everything.” Arik Morgaine

Ms. Raver answers a lot of questions and ties the book up perfectly for the end, all the while, still leaving some things that need to be worked out for book 3. Which I can't wait for!

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Things I loved -

Like I mentioned before, her world building technique and the way she writes her characters. Now I really want to go to the club Ersatz she made up for the book, LOL!

I enjoyed how the author has her characters dress like 'normal human beings', since they are Magykals living in a Magykal Realm, sure it'd be easy to dress them for the time period of beautiful gowns, etc.. But they still wear band t-shirts, jeans, leather jackets, etc... That's great! :)

Since I read an early version of the book, she is making some changes, and one of those changes is hysterical. Where Princess Quinn has her own Royal Guard, she calls them Mutts...In the version I read they were humans, but in the new version, they're going to be actual dogs that walk on 2 legs. Very different, and very cool. !

What are you currently reading? Any Favorites you like to re-read every year or so ?

We sure hope that everyone is having a great weekend!!

I'm just curious to know if any of you have a favorite book that you like to re-read and what makes them so special to you? Is there a particular book that you like to get out and read at a certain time of year?

I do have some books that I know I will read again, someday. But for right now I'm still working on my current to-read mountain!! I don't think it'll stop growing anytime soon, HA!