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Review

Nooooooo, it’s over!!! *sniff*

But what a FANTASTIC finish to one of my all-time favourite series.

4 stars.

The final book in the On Dublin Street series, this is a bittersweet review for me to write. I love these books, and am devastated that the ride is over, but it finishes off really well with a fantastic story featuring loveable but flawed characters, great banter, wonderfully building sexual tension, drama, angst and a sensational and passionate romance. All intermingled with a close knit circle of family and friends, it’s a beautiful read.

This book tells the story of Logan. He is the older brother of Shannon from the last book Echoes of Scotland Street. Logan has recently been released from prison where he spent two years for beating the man who attacked his sister. He has served his sentence and is making up for lost time with a constant stream of women in and out of his apartment

Our heroine Grace, is smart, sensible and immediately likable. She had an awful upbringing but has escaped her circumstances and created a new life for herself in Edinburgh. She has a great group of friends, and although she hasn’t found a man as wonderful as her book boyfriends, she has a happy life. But then Logan moves into the apartment next door (in a building owned by “Mr Carmichael” *faints*), and suddenly she has to deal with g-strings in the foyer, vomit on her doorstep, noisy parties and the constant screaming of whichever woman happens to be in Logan’s bed. She’s furious with him, he gets defensive, and they are immediately antagonistic towards each other… but there is an underlying attraction there which seeps through chemistry-filled interactions.

“Are you always this deliberately irritating?” I huffed, mirroring his stance by crossing my arms over my chest.
To my surprise, this caused Logan’s lips to twitch, and his eyes started dancing with humor. “I only seem to irritate you.” He cocked his head to the side. “I wonder why that is.”
“Because,” I whined, my head lolling with exasperation and tiredness, “I’m sleep deprived, and it’s all your fault, you bloody wretched manwhore.”
“Well, this is a whole other side to you. It’s quite unpleasant. I may have to speak to the landlord about it. I can’t take this kind of abuse.”
My head jerked upright and I glowered at him. “I swear if you don’t start taking this seriously I will push you down those stairs.”
“Now you’re threatening my life.” He tsked. “That won’t do at all.”

Their antagonistic relationship is cut short when Grace is present to witness a life changing moment for Logan, and gets sucked into the unfolding drama, and his life, in a way neither of them could ever have imagined. I really liked the twist in this story. It occurs early enough in the book to really shape the rest of the story and it creates a fantastic dynamic, giving this book something different from others in the series, with a different overall feel to it, and I really appreciated that.

The unfolding drama strips both Logan and Grace of all pretences, and they become a constant part of each other’s lives, and that’s when things start to get really interesting. As they get to know each other, it’s clear that they are both wildly attracted to each other, but with everything going on in Logan’s life, he’s not ready to dive into a relationship, and this is a really slow burn. There’s a great sense of anticipation as the tension builds and builds, and when the big moment comes, I was bouncing up and down in my chair with excitement.

“Grace.” His head dipped toward mine. “Tell me to leave.”
“No,” I whispered back, relaxing into the wall, and he melted into me with a groan. “I want you to stay.”
He looked into my eyes as if searching for the answer to something. “If I stay I’m going to fuck you.”
I trembled in reaction to his bluntness and licked my lips before I moved my feet, widening my legs so he could fit just right between them. His eyes flared at the movement, and I reached up so our lips brushed as I whispered. “I’m counting on it.”

Oh hell yeah!!! There are some hot and passionate encounters, but it takes a while for them to get themselves sorted, and the angst levels are high. Their situation forces them together but at the same time tears them apart, plus they both have personal issues which complicate the possibility of a relationship between them. It’s frustrating and sad, but Sam Young does this kind of angst really well, and OMG, I could feel everything! Grace’s heartbreak, Logan’s torment… I just wanted them together! But I had faith that Sam would make it all worth it in the end, and she totally delivers!!!

“No man alive loves a woman as much as I love you. I never thought I would feel this way about anyone. I didn’t think it existed. Not for me.”

Swooooooooooon!

I love Logan! I loved watching the development of his character. He used to be such an easygoing, fun-loving guy, but prison changed him. He is just starting to get used to being outside again, when life deals him another hit. And I love that we got to watch him go through that. The book is told entirely from Grace’s POV, but she is a close part of the action, and her developing friendship with Logan means that she is there for him, and he opens up to her, so we get to see all that he is going through. And watching him go from manwhore to committed man in love is absolutely beautiful!

“You are so fucking sexy.” He peppered kisses along my jaw … “The things I’m going to do to you, babe. I’m going to make you mine, every single piece of you.” Our eyes locked, his filled with sexual promise. “No holds barred, Grace. Not with me. I’m going to fuck you like there’s no tomorrow, and you’re going to let me.”
… His voice lowered and he leaned down to brush his mouth softly over mine. “But right now I’m going to make love to you.”

OMG, so, so hot!!!

And Grace is a wonderful match for him. Her life has been hard, but she had the strength to start again, and even though the hurt from the past is still very much present, she is trying hard to move forward. And that strength is shown over and over again as she is there for Logan in every way that he needs her, but she’s also not doormat, and she stands up for herself. It’s a great balance.

Logan has been adopted into the greater On Dublin Street crowd through his sister, Shannon and her fiancé, Cole (who is awesome, and who I love dearly), and Grace is welcomed into the group with open arms. So we get to check in on each other couples of the series so far, all now either in or approaching their 40s, and I will admit I still get ridiculously excited every time Braden or Nate get a mention *shiver*. And I love how they all rallied around to support both Grace and Logan through everything.

Taking in their expressions, I just knew it.
Logan had enlisted them.
The bugger.
“Oh dear God.” I let my head fall back as if in supplication to an unmerciful deity. “Why me?”
Joss snorted. “Yeah, doesn’t it suck when gorgeous, funny, loyal Scotsmen fall in love with us?”

There is an epilogue which finishes off Logan and Grace’s story beautifully, but in a wonderful addition, Sam Young has given us a brief epilogue for each of the other couples. From the POV of each of her heroines, we get a little glimpse into their lives with their husbands and children, and it’s a gorgeous way to finish off the series and say goodbye.

I have adored this series! On Dublin Street and Before Jamaica Lane are two of my all-time favourite reads and I have fallen in love with each of these characters as I’ve read their stories (and pretty much every one of these guys makes it onto the list of top book boyfriends!) I’m so sad that the series is over, but it’s definitely one that I look forward to rereading over and over again.

This book is a very fitting finish to a much-loved series – 4 stars.

An Advanced Reader Copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

The On Dublin Street series

 

Check out our Contemporary Romance Recommendations page for more awesome reads.