Play On by Samantha Young * Blog Tour * Excerpt * Review

Posted September 9, 2017 by Yesi in Blog Tour, Book Reviews, Excerpt, Promotional Event / 0 Comments

Play On by Samantha Young * Blog Tour * Excerpt * ReviewPlay On by Samantha Young
Also by this author: Castle Hill: A Joss and Braden Novella, Fall from India Place, HERO, Moonlight on Nightingale Way, One King's Way, The One Real Thing, Every Little Thing, Villain, On Hart's Boardwalk, Fight or Flight
Published by Samantha Young on September 12th 2017
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 398
Goodreads
four-stars

 The New York Times Bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series and Hero returns to Scotland in this passionate and evocative romance about love, loss, and surviving both. 

 Nora O’Brien chased a dream from Indiana to Scotland, so sure it was the right thing to do. Three years later she was left in her adopted country with nothing to her name but guilt and regret.

Until Aidan Lennox entered her life.

 Older, worldlier, a music producer and composer, the sexy Scot should never have made sense for Nora. But somehow in each other they found the light they were looking for, the laughter and the passion—the strength to play on despite their past losses.

 But when life dealt Aidan another unlucky hand, instead of reaching for her he disappeared. The agonizing loss of him inspired something within Nora. It fired her spirit— the anger and hurt pushing her forward to take control and reach for her dreams.

 Finally pursuing a career on stage while she put herself through college, everything is how Nora wants it. She’s avoiding heartbreak and concentrating on her goals.

 Sounds easy but it’s not. Because Aidan is back. And for some reason he hates Nora.

 He’s determined to be at war with her.

 And she has absolutely no idea why.

 

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PLAY ON by @AuthorSamYoung is coming Sept 12th! #blogtour #preorder #greatread #AidanLennox #BacktoScotland

Yesi’s Thoughts

Where to even begin…? This book had me go through so many emotions… going from sadness to all kinds of warm fuzzy feels with just a turn of a page. It was that good! Play On by Samantha Young is her latest novel and one of my absolute favorite things about it is that it took us back to Scotland. It had an On Dublin Street vibe that had my heart right back across the pond. It felt like a coming home book for Ms. Young. However, this is Nora and Aidan’s story and it was all theirs… two flawed people coming together at the most unexpected times.

While I truly did enjoy this book, I did find that it took a while to really get into it. It was told in two parts (well three for me) and the first part was interesting and it kept me reading, but I didn’t feel connected. I’m not sure what it was, however, the shock that was thrown my way and the start to part two had me absolutely HOOKED! Why am  I telling this then? Because if you find yourself wondering where the book is going… know that it gets really, really, REALLY good!

After a life changing event, Nora finds herself on her own in Scotland and trying to lead a simple, but good life. She has a couple of good friends and a nice mother figure who all turn out to be great secondary characters. Then comes Aidan Lennox is who is all kinds of HOT and sexy and broody, throw in successful and quite rich, and Nora is in over her head. I enjoyed the push and pull of their relationship and I was rooting for them from the get go… even as far back as their very first encounter when it was strictly off limits to even entertain the attraction.

The best part of the book was when the angst hits in full force…. in my opinion of course. I seriously could not turn the pages fast enough. Ms. Young does a fantastic job in bringing Nora and Aidan’s relationship full circle and that is what makes this a great read. I definitely recommend it and I hope that you hit that preorder button ASAP because Aidan Lennox is sooooo worth it!

 

Excerpt

Silence fell over the car and I could tell he was lost in his thoughts about it. Wanting to leave him to muse, I watched traffic. And then I realized we were driving out of the city center. “So … where are we eating?”

“There’s a pub right on the promenade at Portobello Beach. It’s a nice day. I thought we should enjoy it while it’s here.”

That was something people said a lot around here. Scottish summers were mercurial beasts, with more rain than anything else, so when the sun came out, we appreciated and made the most of it.

“Sounds good.”

With Jim, I’d been comfortable with him from the start. Silence fell between us and I’d never felt the need to fill it. Similarly with Aidan, the silence between us didn’t bother me. But the atmosphere between us wasn’t comfortable. I was too aware of his every movement, watching him out of the corner of my eye as he drove us east to Portobello.

“Sylvie cares about you,” Aidan said suddenly.

Warmth filled me at the thought. “I care about her. I won’t hurt her, Aidan.”

He glanced at me, his expression sincere. “I know that now, Nora.”

Relief moved through me. “Thank you.”

“I just want her to be okay.”

“It would be expected if she wasn’t,” I told him. “She lost her mom. You can protect her from everything, but you can’t protect her from that loss, and thinking that you can is only going to make you feel like you’ve failed somehow. And you’re not failing.”

He was quiet so long, I thought maybe my presumption had pissed him off. But he said, “How did you get so wise?”

When it comes to loss, I know what I’m talking about. I didn’t say it out loud. “Born that way, I guess.”

Not too long later, Aidan parked on a street facing the water. The sun glinted off the waves in the distance and I could see the promenade was busy with people eating lunch, walking their dogs, or just hanging out. The salty sea air immediately put me and everyone else in a good mood. It was a little past one o’clock so people were on lunch breaks, but with how busy the beach was, you’d think it was a weekend day.

“Do you think we’ll get a table?” I said. He insisted on opening my door and taking my hand to help me down.

Warm, calloused skin slid over mine and I drew in a breath at the sparks of electricity that danced up my arm. My eyes flew to his. Our eyes locked.

Did he feel it too?

As if I’d asked the question aloud, he squeezed my hand and closed the door once I was out of the car. To my shock, he kept holding my hand, leading me down the street toward the promenade.

“I called ahead,” he said. “I know a guy who works at the pub.”

I hurried to match his long strides, my heart banging hard against my chest as I stared up at him. Feeling my gaze, he looked down and gave me a quizzical smile.

“What is it, Pixie?”

I decided to be honest. “You’re holding my hand.”

His smile transformed into that sexy one that cut me off at the knees every single time. “So I am.”

He didn’t let go.

I bit my lip to stop the girlish giggle that wanted to escape. “Is there a reason for that?”

“So you don’t fly off to Neverland, of course.” He winked.

I laughed. “Cute. Very cute.”

Aidan stopped to push open the door to the pub, his beautiful eyes filled with laughter.

I let him lead me inside. There was an area, a few steps up from the bar on our right, with tables at bay windows overlooking the water. The place was packed, no tables free at all.

“Uh …” A young woman with bright blue eyes and short, white-blond hair glanced at the seating and then back at us. “It’s about a thirty-minute wait right now.”

“Where’s Giggsy?” Aidan asked.

“Right here, mate.” We turned to watch a guy walking down a passageway by the bar. When he reached us, his eyes flicked to Aidan’s hand in mine and he shook his head laughing. “They get younger every time.”

“Fuck off, Giggsy.”

“Nice. And here I’ve been enduring bleeding ears from these buggers,” he thumbed behind him to the bar staff, “to reserve you a table last minute on the promenade.” Without saying another word, he strolled away and Aidan followed. He led us up the platform to a set of French doors that opened out onto the promenade and to my delight, to one of only four tables set out there, looking over the water.

A sweet breeze blew up off North Sea offering a light relief from the rare hot September sun. Gulls cried out as they flew high in the sky above us.

“There you go.” Giggsy gestured to our table and Aidan held out a chair for me. “What a gentleman.” His friend clapped him on the shoulder. Aidan rolled his eyes and Giggsy mock frowned at me. “Please tell me you’re legal.”

While I was mortified by the idea that I looked that young next to him, Aidan sighed heavily. “Have you got a death wish?”

 

four-stars

About Samantha Young

Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She’s been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestseller ON DUBLIN STREET and Best Romance 2014 for BEFORE JAMAICA LANE. ON DUBLIN STREET is Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in twenty-eight countries.

For more info on Samantha’s adult fiction visit http://www.ondublinstreet.com

For info on her young adult fiction visit www.samanthayoungbooks.com

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