Before Jamaica Lane by Samantha Young

January 3rd, 2014 Kimberly Review 69 Comments

3rd Jan
Before Jamaica Lane by Samantha Young
Before Jamaica Lane
by Samantha Young
Series: On Dublin Street #3
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

One simple lesson in seduction between two friends can turn into so much more… Despite her outgoing demeanor, Olivia is painfully insecure around the opposite sex—usually, she can’t get up the nerve to approach guys she’s interested in. But moving to Edinburgh has given her a new start, and, after she develops a crush on a sexy postgrad, she decides it’s time to push past her fears and go after what she wants. Nate Sawyer is a gorgeous player who never commits, but to his close friends, he’s as loyal as they come. So when Olivia turns to him with her relationship woes, he offers to instruct her in the art of flirting and to help her become more sexually confident. The friendly education in seduction soon grows into an intense and hot romance. But then Nate’s past and commitment issues rear their ugly heads, and Olivia is left broken-hearted. When Nate realizes he’s made the biggest mistake of his life, he will have to work harder than he ever has before to entice his best friend into falling back in love with him—or he may lose her forever…

I am such a fan of the On Dublin Street series, and this tight, close-knit group of friends and their families. Before Jamaica Lane delivers Olivia and Nate’s story and oh, man I swallowed this one whole, it consumed me with the need to have my HEA. The tale was hot, bittersweet, intense, and so dang sensual I melted on the floor. This was the type of read where I needed total quiet, and a comfy blanket to snuggle with. Mini review: sensual, with witty banter, angst, heart-breaking moments and a love story you cannot help but embrace.

Olivia moved to Edinburgh with her father to be near her half-sister. She has slipped into this group of friends who have become fast and tight buds. Nate Sawyer is yummy and a total player, but there is so much more to Nate beneath his never-care facade. She is interested in a post-grad student at the university but gets tongue tied and turns three shades of red when she sees him. One night Olivia confesses her woes to Nate, and he hatches a plan to help her and she readily agrees.

Olivia is a nerd, and librarian with beauty eyes, and long legs who appears to have it all. I found her to be funny, friendly and at times awkward. On the inside, she lacks confidence and has some self-esteem issues. She also has very little experience with the opposite sex, and usually ends up falling into the friend category with them. She thinks Nate is sexy, and he has become her best friend even if she dreams of something more. Nate Sawyer, oh, where do I begin? He is a sweetheart, loyal to his friends and visits his parents regularly. *swoon* He is also a player, never getting attached but straight up with his conquests from the beginning. Oh, he is so complicated, and learning Nate’s story undid me. I wanted to hold him as I watched him complicate things. We spend time with previous characters and learn more about them, but this was Nate and Olivia’s story.

Before Jamaica Lane explored one of my favorite tropes, friendship to lovers. Young cleverly weaved in the arrangement trope which left me positively giddy. These arrangements offer the perfect amount of angst, and humor. It’s always an emotional ride, and when angst is done right it is simply delicious. I loved Nate and Olivia’s friendship, from their wicked and hilarious conversations to their struggle to find themselves. As a couple, they made me warm and fuzzy. It was one heck of a ride watching these two flawed, stubborn characters, figure things out. Young takes us into Olivia’s mind, and we see her fears, feel her heart-beating out of her chest and watch her knees turn to jelly as Nate looks at her through hooded eyes. I would have liked to get inside Nate’s head on this one, but Young really made me feel his emotions, his fears and even when he wasn’t sure – I was. The lessons, OMG peeps they were hot I mean leave me alone, do not disturb, I am reading HOT! It left me breathless, believe me when I tell you, Young can write heat and romance. She even made non-sex scenes so incredibly hot and delicious it stole my breath. While the heat was wonderful, Young also fleshed out these characters and created depth to this friendship. We had a few flashback moments that really helped define their friendship. My only complaint is that I wish Young chose to give us dual POVs. I can honestly say, I think their story was my favorite of the series to date.

Fans of the series are going to love Before Jamaica Lane, and while this can be read as a standalone, I so recommend you read all of the books from the On Dublin Street series. The next book, Fall from India Place, will release in June of 2014.

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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69 Responses to “Before Jamaica Lane by Samantha Young”

    • kimbacaffeinate

      It is a wonderful series and each can work as a standalone. Good luck!

  2. vero

    Because Samantha’s books are awesome, her love stories are real, funny, dramatic and sweet

  3. Ellen

    Fabulous review. I loved this book soooo much!! Next to On Dublin Street it is by far my favorite. I think Liv is my favorite female MC.

  4. Pamela D

    This sounds like a great book. I definitely appreciate Olivia’s issue of falling into the friend’s category all of the time.

  5. Dani

    Thanks for the giveaway! So Awesome! This series is on my ‘need to read as soon as possible’ list!!

  6. Jess

    I haven’t read this series, but I like that this book could be read on its own. I tend to like to read books in order (if I know ahead of time that they are part of a series). This sounds like a hot book for a cold day. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I like to read in order too Jess, but love that peeps can jump in anytime 🙂

  7. Maria Theresa Santos

    I love the story of the book and the cover is beautiful

  8. Maria Theresa Santos

    Want to read because of the story and the cover is pretty

  10. Anita Yancey

    This book has a great storyline and a great cover. This is a new author to me, and I would love a chance to read some of her work.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      good luck Anita and this will work as a standalone 🙂

  11. Lily B

    With the amount of wonderful I heard about this series, you would think I would get my butt in gear and read it. But no really, I have to because her characters sound amazing as well as her way of telling the story.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I know how you feel I haven’t started some series and I see a wonderful review and think..WTH am I doing..LOL

  13. Dre

    You had me at “melted on the floor”! Full of Angst. Sensual. A really good recipe for a romance book! Oh, and humor!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      ha..glad you found key words to excite you Dre..enjoy!

  14. Berls

    I’m SO glad you said this can be read as a standalone! The whole review I was thinking “Can I start wit this one?” LOL so here’s my question – will this book be better if I start with the previous two? At the moment I really really want to read this one – everything you described is right up my alley – but if it would be better to read the first two first, I will – I want the 5 star experience, ya know? Great review!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Yes Kim you can read this as a standalone and no it won’t affect your love of it. She does an excellent job of reintroducing characters..I do guarantee you will go back and read the others. This was my favorite..so read it 🙂

  15. Cahm Merritt

    LOVE this series and cannot wait for this and the next book – I’ve reread the previous book each time a new one is due to release just to be “in” the story from the get go…

  16. Tammy

    Yes, I need to continue reading this series. On Dublin Street was one of my five star reads for 2013, loved!

  17. Michele

    *runs, spins, dances, twirls all around the room* and that has nothing to do with all the coffee this morning! I LOVE this review, and I adore Samantha Young. I inhale, or as you say, “swallow whole” all her books. This one is pre-ordered, and I am dropping everything as soon as it shows up on the Kindle. I just love your descriptions, and you have me so excited I may just twirl some more. You’re going to cut me off from the coffee, aren’t you? Thank you so much for the giveaway! I read an excerpt of this one and fell in love. You know, I would really love dual POV’s, too! Brilliant post, my friend *hugs*

    • kimbacaffeinate

      hahaha…you are making me dizzy. Enjoy when it loads and feel free to Facebook message me or tweet your joy..LOL

  18. The_Book_Queen

    I really need to start this series — I have books 1 & 2 in my TBR pile. I won’t mention how long they have been there though . . . LOL. Great review!

    Enjoy,
    TBQ

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Oh sweetie I have books I pre-ordered and bought on release day that I still haven’t read!

  19. Amber M

    I would love to read this story because it sounds like a fun and deeply touching story of determination, courage, and fearless love. I love stories like this one. So raw yet refined. When starting out as friends, there are few secrets and they really know each other, so they know what they are getting into.

    Your review is beautiful and really draws you in and makes you want to read this story. 🙂

    Thank you for this giveaway.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I so agree Amber and I am glad you enjoyed my thoughts. Hope you get to read it 🙂

  20. Jenea

    Olivia sounds fantastic, and I love the romances where they are friends before anything else. And hot steaminess too, sounds great to me. Wonderful review.

  21. Nick

    I’ve heard so much about this series from Samantha Young. I read one of her NA books and absolutely loved it, so I think I should definitely get to this one as well.
    I love your enthusiasm for the book, Kim and I adore friendship to lovers romances as well. I’m definitely getting myself a copy.
    Fabulous review, Kim!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thanks Nick, can ya kinda tell I really liked this one..bwahahaha!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      It was, Happy New Year Erin and delighted to see ya stopping by!

  23. kindlemom1

    This is another one of those authors that I have heard nothing but great things about and yet, I still haven’t tried her yet. I need to fix that!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thanks Sharlene, just call me the book pusher..LOL No seriously the characters got me in this one.

      • Sharlene Wegner

        I pay attention when a reviewer loves a book this much!

  26. Debbie Haupt

    OMG Kimba, I want to melt on the floor too. It’s reviews like this that make authors keep writing and potential readers pick up new titles
    thanks for the review and the contest

  28. Tanja

    Oh I need to catch up with this series. I have read the first book last year and it was truly amazing. I loved it but for some reason I haven’t read the second one, but I’ll. Especially now after your review. It’s sounds beyond amazing. Great review 🙂

  30. Kristin

    I STILL HAVEN’T READ DUBLIN STREET!!! and I freakin’ own it… grrrrrrr!!! yes, I’m screaming but yet again, my TBR is making me mad. Or is it the review pile?

    Awesome review, I love the premise of the story and yeah… I just need to win this, buy it, and start the silly series 😀

    • kimbacaffeinate

      hehehe..it is probably both but it couldn’t possibly be that we buy too many darn books *gasps*

  31. Mary

    I definitely enjoy when there’s that super-hotness between the characters that makes you want to lock the door and hang up the “Do Not Disturb” sign! *swoons*

  32. Melanie (YA Midnight Reads)

    I’ve heard a lot about this author–even saw a GUY in my class reading the first one. I saw seriously weirded out then O_O Glad that you didn’t have many major complaints at all!

    Fab review, Kimba! <33

    • kimbacaffeinate

      LOL maybe he was trying to impress a girl, but I think it’s kinda cute 🙂

  33. Jennifer Bielman

    AHHHH, Swoonage!!! I totally forgot about this series. Dang it. I still need to read book two but I just want to read this one now. You make me salivate to get my greedy hands on this one now!!!!