Always You by Samantha Young is live!
This is the third book in the Adair Family series, a forbidden-ish, brother’s best friend, friends-to-lovers, age gap romance that is full of drama, emotion and stunningly gorgeous romance.
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Blurb
Arrochar Adair has loved her brother’s ex-bodyguard and best friend, Mac Galbraith, for years. Once upon a time, she was too young for him, but now that she’s a mature woman in her thirties, Arro can see no issue with their difference in age. Yet something deeper, a problem much more difficult to surmount, is keeping them apart.
Mac Galbraith remembers clearly the night Arro became everything to him, no longer just his best friend and boss’s younger sister. However, having made many mistakes over the years, there is one mistake Mac is determined not to make: to believe that he is worthy of Arrochar Adair. Allowing them to grow closer during his daughter, Robyn’s, return has proven his undoing. And when Arro forces the subject of their relationship, his response pushes her away. He just never meant for it to destroy them completely.
Devastated by Mac’s final rejection, Arro is determined to move on without him in her life, though he seems intent on staying put. And when the Adair family face a new threat, one that may have ties to Mac’s past, Arro can’t seem to be rid of the man. In fact, Mac will do anything to protect her.
But with so much hurt between them, will Arro let Mac close enough to guard her from their enemy… before it’s too late?
Review
“It’s always been you … It always will be.”
5 gorgeously emotional and angsty stars
The Adair Family series has brought all 5-star reads that are full of drama, emotion and stunningly gorgeous romance. This is the book I have been waiting for since I first started the series, and it did not disappoint – the forbidden-ish, brother’s best friend, friends-to-lovers, age gap romance between Arrochar and Mac.
Though this is technically a standalone, Mac and Arro’s story has been brewing away in the background of the last two books, so I wouldn’t recommend reading this one as a standalone – you’d be missing out on incredible stories, and a lot of context and family building of family dynamics. Plus, there are massive spoilers in this book for the first two books in the series, so be warned.
Arrochar is the only girl in the Adair family, and is the cherished younger sister to four alpha men. Mac is the head of security at Ardnoch Estate, the family empire, and is the best friend of her eldest brother, Lachlan (and just to make their dynamic even more complex, Lachlan is married to Mac’s daughter, Robyn – such a fun set up!). And OMG, their story is full of everything!. It’s exciting and dramatic, emotional and fabulously angsty (and this coming from someone who is usually not an angst fan), there is a 13 year age gap, personal demons and a WHOLE lot of feeling, and I devoured every single moment of it.
Mac has been a part of Arro’s life since she was 14. She was 18 when she fell in love with him, and he followed a few years later. The attraction between them is palpable. It’s there, they know it, pretty much the whole family knows it, but they’ve never gone there. There has been the odd slip over the years, intense moments that are enough for them to acknowledge to each other the depth of what they feel for each other, but for many reasons, Mac has never allowed things to go too far.
Despite all of that, they are the closest of friends, but their caring and supportive friendship has become more flirtatious of late. Arro is hopeful that it means that Mac is finally ready to take the next step with her, but when Mac brutally rejects her, it’s the last straw for Arro. Devastated and humiliated, she knows she can’t subject herself to it anymore, and she decides she needs to move on.
Mac knows he screwed up with Arro. He figures she’ll eventually get over it, but when she shows no signs of letting him back into her life, even as a friend, he realises just how badly he hurt her.
“I hate you!” I yelled, my hands shaking, knees trembling.
Mac paled, looking haggard. “Darlin’ -”
“I am not your darlin’,” I gritted out. “I hate you. I hate how you made me feel that night. I hate I wasted years loving you. But for the sake of our family, I will pretend that the very sight of you doesn’t make me want to die inside.”
Oh, the feels!
As we’ve already seen in the series, danger is never far away from the Adair family, and when Arro becomes the target of what could be a copycat stalker, Mac is determined to be the one to protect her, much to Arro’s disgust. She wants nothing to do with the man who shattered her heart, but there is no way he’s backing down, so she reluctantly puts up with his presence, even though it’s a constant reminder of everything she wants but can’t have.
Even if Arrochar Adair hated me now, I still loved her.
And no fucker would harm a single hair on her head.
It’s an emotional situation, and the angst levels are high, and while I’m not a fan of unnecessary angst, this was sensible angst… good angst… epic angst! My heart was pounding just reading the emotion that both of them were going through, their inner thoughts beautifully written and so expressive, and I ached for both of them. And those moments when they were together… DAMN! The feeling poured into those scenes is just incredible, so many of them I read over and over just to take it all in. Young has a gift when it comes to writing this sort of stuff, it feels like she’s pouring her heart out on the page, and I had tears in my eyes as I watched them wrestle with so much emotion!
“I deserve more from you. I deserve more than to be put on some lonely, god-awful pedestal, to be used as an object for your self-flagellation and repentance for God knows what in your past. When someone tells you they love you, you don’t get to say, ‘I don’t deserve your love,’ and think that somehow exempts you from the consequences of rejecting them.”
It’s a journey watching them work through everything. There’s a lot of soul searching to be done as they figure out their emotions and the character development is really well written. I was so engaged with the story, and so invested in these characters, that I read the book in one night, unable to put it down. I felt all of the heartache with them, and I was there as they came to realise some harsh truths and learn how to move past it all to finally reach a point where they can open up to each other and follow their hearts.
“I just want a chance.”
Her mouth, swollen from my kisses, trembled. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Heart pounding, I answered hoarsely, “Any time I get to be with you – a day, a week, a few months – it’ll be worth it. I’d rather have a moment with you than nothing at all. It’ll last me a lifetime.”
Holy freaking swoon! What an epic love story! Again, the emotion is off the charts, and I was in a world of swoon as they finally find their way to each other. It’s not easy, they still need to work at it, and after all they’ve been through, there is a lot that needs to be rebuilt. But they are honest and functional about it, and I loved watching them finally embrace all that they are feeling. It’s sweet and swoony, and so freaking sexy. It’s a long journey to get there, and Young makes all of the heartache absolutely worth it to see them happy, committed, and so passionate about each other. It’s a beautiful romance, and I loved every moment of it.
“I love you so much.”
For once, I didn’t question whether I deserved to be loved by this extraordinary woman. Instead, I allowed myself to feel nothing but awe and gratitude that I was.
“I’ll love you forever.”
There is still some mystery and suspense, and though it brings some excitement and drama to the story, I didn’t think it was needed. After all of the emotion of the story, the threats and danger felt a bit surreal, but it was well written and fit with the themes of the series.
Of course the rest of the family and friends are a big part of the story, and I love, love, love this family! The scenes with everybody together are just amazing, and I loved being back in this world and back with these fantastic characters. The dynamics get better and better with each book as we get to know everybody intimately, and the teasing and banter in this one is fantastic as Mac’s big brothers have a front-row seat to Mac and Arro’s journey.
He smacked me on the back as he strode toward the castle. “You’re a lost cause, man.”
I followed him. “Says the man owned by my daughter. She bought you a leash yet?”
Lachlan threw his head back in laughter. “As her father, I’ll save you the horror of answering that question.”
“Fuck off.”
The bastard only laughed harder.
We also see a bit more of the remaining two Adair brothers, Arran and Brodan, and there is some very interesting backstory there. I can’t wait to continue on with this series.
This is such a beautifully written story. It has themes of family, friendship, healing and self-worth, and fighting for the person you love, and the romance absolutely owned my heart.
5 stars!
An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Adair Family
Here With Me (#1) (Lachlan & Robyn)
Review
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There With You (#2) (Thane & Regan)
Review
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Always You (#3) (Mac & Arrochar)
Review
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Be With Me (#4) (Arran & Eredine)
Review
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Only You (#5) (Brodan & Monroe)
Review
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Meet Samantha
Samantha Young is a New York Times and #1 International bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. On Dublin Street was Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in thirty countries. She has since published over thirteen romance titles including the New York Times Bestsellers Into the Deep, Hero, and her most recent contemporary romance Black Tangled Heart. When writing Adult Paranormal romance she writes under the pen name S. Young.
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