Things We Never Said Cover & Blurb Reveal

Who's ready for the next book in the Hart's Boardwalk series? We are! We are!

Here is the beautiful new cover for THINGS WE NEVER SAID from Samantha Young. Join us as we return to Hart's Boardwalk, won't you?

Cover design by Hang Lee

Local metalsmith and gift shop owner, Dahlia McGuire, likes her quiet life in Hartwell, Delaware. It's the perfect place to hide from her family and the tragic events that led to their estrangement. However, when her father, the person she loves most in the world, needs her Dahlia has no choice but to return to Boston to face her ghosts. One of those happens to be her ex-boyfriend's best friend, Michael Sullivan. The man she was never supposed to fall in love with.

Michael Sullivan has never forgotten Dahlia McGuire. Some might say he’s never gotten over her. For years he lived with the anger of her desertion, and now, newly-divorced, he’s finally ready to move on. That proves impossible when Dahlia returns to Boston and reawakens their explosive connection. Despite everything, Michael wants her back, but  Dahlia can’t seem to let go of the tangled emotions of the past. When she flees home to Hartwell, Michael follows, determined to do everything in his power to convince her they belong together.

However, when the unthinkable hits the quiet seaside town, Michael finds himself trying to unravel more than the mystery of Dahlia's broken heart. It's time for truths left unsaid to finally be spoken or Michael and Dahlia might find themselves torn apart forever…

~ THINGS WE NEVER SAID releases May 7th ~

On Hart's Boardwalk by Samantha Young - Review & Excerpt

* * * *

One of New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young’s most beloved couples returns for the first time in a brand new novella set ten years after her blockbuster bestseller Before Jamaica Lane…

Nate and Liv have a great life together but they miss the spontaneity and freedom they enjoyed early on in their romance. Careers and their children have inevitably kept them busy, so when Nate discovers Liv is feeling disconnected from him, he plans an anniversary trip to the idyllic seaside town of Hartwell, Delaware. There he hopes they will have the opportunity they’ve been craving—a chance to reinvent themselves and fall in love all over again.

With each new day comes a new adventure, from wedding crashing at the five-star boardwalk hotel to pretending they are two strangers having a chance encounter at the boardwalk bar. In the midst of this daring, sexually charged game of romantic rediscovery, Nate and Liv discover the only constant they need is each other.

* On Hart's Boardwalk is #6.7 in the On Dublin Street Series and #2.5 in the Hart's Boardwalk Series)

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review


I was a bit nervous about doing a review for this one because I haven't made it far in the On Dublin Street Series, as in I hadn't made it to book 3 which is Nate and Liv's story BUT I have read the first two books in the Hart's Boardwalk series. That balances things out, right? I think so and honestly, it didn't hurt my experience of the book at all. In fact, it's given me new motivation to catch up on the former series that's been patiently waiting for me on my bookshelf.

As much as I'm loving reading romance I do find that there are times when I want a storyline that focuses on an older couple. The perspectives have evolved and the experiences are different. In On Hart's Boardwalk, Nate and Liv have been married while now, have two daughters and lead happy but busy lives. It's a typical family scenario. What's changed is that they feel disconnected lately leading so rash assumptions and fears about the other. Nate arranges a surprise trip to the town of Hartwell meant to be a relaxing getaway and to get back to each other. 

There's so much in this that's relatable that it's easy to see where their issues come from. All they need is for quiet down so that they can focus on them, and Hartwell is that perfect place to unplug from the frenzy and slow down. Nate and Live still have it as they rediscover their spontaneous side and rekindle the fire between them. Emphasis on spontaneous ;-) 

On Hart's Boardwalk is a lovely mix of hot and sensual moments and even more so, the playfulness and emotional intimacy that sometimes go missing in long-term relationships. It also doesn't hurt to imagine Nate's sexy Scottish accent in your mind. I loved returning to Hartwell and its characters, and that this is a bridge between Young's two series. Definitely read it!

~ Bel

Enjoy this excerpt from On Hart's Boardwalk

Although Nate had agreed to wait to have sex until we played out our little strangers in a bar fantasy, I could tell he was disgruntled. For some reason his irritation made me want to torment him even more. After we showered (separately) and dressed, I grabbed his hand when we walked down to breakfast, trailing the fingertips of my free hand over the skin on his forearm exposed by his T-shirt.

Walking down the stairs he frowned at me. “You’re doing that deliberately.”

“Are you saying I don’t get to touch you at all until tomorrow night?”

“No.” He suddenly stopped and pressed me up against the wall of the stairwell, his mouth inches from mine. His hand, the one not holding mine, slipped under my sundress, his fingertips caressing their way up my inner thigh.

“Nate,” I gasped, looking down the stairs to make sure the entrance was empty.

“You tease me, babe…” His hot breath whispered against my lips. “I tease you tenfold in return.”

I fought with the desire flooding me and the concern over disrespecting our very nice inn owner. My concern won out and I reached for his wrist under my dress and forcefully removed his hand with a flash of ire in my eyes that made him smirk in triumph. “Not here.”

“Just playing your game.” He stood back and then began leading me down the stairs like nothing had happened.

There was only one other couple in the dining hall that early in the morning, an older couple who smiled warmly at us and greeted us ‘hello’ as we grabbed some coffee from the buffet area.

We’d just taken a seat at a table when Aydan came out of the kitchen and beamed at us. “You two are up early. Jetlag?”

“Yeah,” I said, fighting off a yawn. “I’m still kind of feeling it actually. But this will help.” I raised my coffee cup.

“So will some food.” She handed us each a menu. “I’ll be back in a minute to take your order.”

We were looking over the small menu and I was trying to decide between scrambled eggs, potatoes, and bacon; pancakes, maple syrup and bacon; or waffles. “I forgot how good breakfast is here.” I glanced over at my husband, who seemed less excited than me about breakfast. “You’re getting the egg white frittata, aren’t you?”

Nate used to indulge more food-wise but he’d found, as we all found, that he couldn’t metabolize crappy food as well as he used to. So, he only indulged every now and then.

“Aye.” He nodded, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He knew it bugged me that he had more willpower than I did.

“I’m getting the waffles,” I immediately decided.

Nate laughed and leaned over to caress the top of my ass, which thankfully was hidden by the back of my chair from anyone else’s few. “You eat whatever you want, babe. We’ll both enjoy the fruits of that labor.”

I should have glared at him for feeling me up in the breakfast room of this quaint inn, but I couldn’t, because it felt like I had my old Nate back. The guy who made me feel sexy and wanted no matter what. So instead I gave him a soft smile.

For some reason my reaction made his gaze turn liquid with heat and he impulsively leaned over, cupped my face in his hand and kissed me. Hard. Deep. Quick.

When he let me go I couldn’t even think long enough to be embarrassed that he’d just Frenched me in front of an elderly couple who were trying to eat their breakfast. I could only blink, dazed, my lips wet and waiting for more. “What was that for?”

“Because I love you.” He shrugged, like it was most obvious answer in the world.

Before I could say anything else the sound of Bailey Hartwell’s raised voice met our ears from somewhere near reception. “It’s ridiculous that’s why!”

Nate and I shot each other amused looks, and pretended to peruse the menu even though I knew were both listening in. Nosy buggers.

Her voice was lower now, and the fact that we hadn’t heard another voice reply suggested

she was on the phone. “Vaughn, we have a house,” she hissed. “We don’t need another… why would you sell it? It’s beautiful… we don’t need to buy a house together to be together… it’s a waste of money…” there was a longer stretch of silence. “Okay, if you’re that intent on wasting money why don’t we just strip the house out and make it the way we both want it… it sits right on the water…. Stop being romantic when I’m trying to be practical, you know it confuses me… Stop it, I’m at the inn.” Her voice dropped even lower. Her breath seemed to catch. “You’re going to pay for that, Tremaine… no… no… Vaughn… okay, fine…. I love you too, you, handsome bastard.”

That seemed to be the end of the conversation, and I turned to Nate, laughter bubbling in my throat. “That sounded familiar.”

He grinned. “Didn’t it.”

“I don’t think our inn owner is going to Scotland anytime soon.”

“No?”

“No. If she’s got what I’ve got, she’s staying put.”

Every Little Thing (Hart's Boardwalk #2) by Samantha Young

* * * 1/2

Hartwell, Delaware—the perfect place to get away from it all, and find what you never knew you needed…

Bailey Hartwell has many reasons to feel content—her successful business, a close circle of friends, and her steady boyfriend…even if their romance feels staid after ten years without a serious commitment. The only challenge in her life comes in the form of sexy businessman Vaughn Tremaine. She thinks the ex-New Yorker acts superior and that he considers her a small-town nobody. But when Bailey’s blindsided by a betrayal, she’s shocked to discover Vaughn is actually a decent guy.

Vaughn admires Bailey’s free spirit, independence, and loyalty. As his passion for her has grown, his antagonism toward her has only worsened. Every little thing Bailey does seduces him. But when Vaughn’s painful emotional past makes him walk away in fear he will hurt her, it opens an old wound in Bailey, and she uncharacteristically retreats.

Once Vaughn begins to realize he’s made the biggest mistake of his life, he has no choice but to fight like he’s never fought before to convince Bailey that the love they’ve found together only comes around once in a lifetime.


Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review


I'm partial to the enemies-to-friends trope so jumping into the latest offering from Samantha Young was time well spent for me. She brings us back to the friendly town of Hartwell, where everyone knows everyone and they all look out for each other. Bailey being a descendent of the town's founding family feels a special protectiveness towards her home and isn't afraid to stand up to those who might tamper with its integrity and history. That includes going head-to-head with Vaughn Tremain, a successful businessman who has made his residence in Hartwell. The locals' first impression of him was when purchased hotel property along the boardwalk - a highly coveted tourist attraction. Even though he has respected the much-loved aesthetics of the boardwalk thus far, many of the residents still view him as an outsider, a snooty, rich businessman who looks down on the townies. Their opinion of him isn't aided by the fact that he and Bailey who runs the longstanding family inn, are constantly at odds. 

A story like this can only be good if the players are evenly matched and they certainly are here. Bailey and Vaughn trade barbs and insults so easily it's like watching a fun and intense tennis match. There's an advantage to being older and wiser in this romance because you know what you're willing to compromise on and what's not up for negotiation. I enjoyed how Bailey would get so riled up by Vaughn that she'd sometimes back herself into a corner thanks to those inadvertent sexual innuendos. Vaughn doesn't escape unscathed either. Every interaction they have only makes him realize that no other woman lights his fire the way she does. 

My fondness for them as a couple is a turnaround because I wasn't all that keen on Bailey in the first book (The One Real Thing) where I found her personality to be rather nosey and intrusive sometimes. In this book, she readily admits to her shortcomings in that area and that she's working on respecting people's spaces as evidenced by her growing friendship with Emery, the painfully shy and quiet coffee shop owner. Every Little Thing shows her as a thoughtful and loyal friend with a big heart who always wants to look after others. 

I think Young stepped it up here and I'm sure it's because these two characters gave her plenty of material at her disposal. Bailey and Vaughn have this playful and heated chemistry that translates well when they do come together, especially in the bedroom. As far as he goes, Vaughn is not so much the alpha-male as he is a genuinely decent guy. One of my favourite aspects of his particular storyline is his relationship with his father, something I pleasantly surprised by. 

Every Little Thing has the humour, sexual tension and good feels that'll wrap around you quite nicely. It might even tempt you to seek out a quiet getaway in a place like Hartwell. Add it to your TBR list now!

~ Bel



To celebrate the release of Every Little Thing, there's a special giveaway where you can win one set of Samantha Young's other series, On Dublin Street. Yes, you could win all 6 books in the series and they're seriously good! Open internationally - good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The One Real Thing by Samantha Young - Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Welcome to Hartwell, a quiet seaside escape where uncovering old secrets could lead one woman to discover the meaning of a love that lasts…

While Doctor Jessica Huntington engages with the inmates at the women’s correctional facility where she works, she’s always careful to avoid emotional attachments in her personal life.  Loss and betrayal taught her that lesson long ago. But when she comes across a set of old love letters in the prison’s library and visits the picturesque town of Hartwell to deliver them to their intended recipient, she finds herself unable to resist the town’s charm—and her attraction to the sexy owner of a local bar proves equally hard to deny.

Since his divorce from his unfaithful ex-wife, Cooper Lawson has focused on what really matters: his family and the boardwalk pub they’ve owned for generations.  But the first time Jessica steps into his bar, Cooper is beyond tempted to risk his heart on her.

Yet as their attraction grows hotter and Jessica remains stubbornly closed off, he begins to realize it will take more than just passion to convince her there’s only one real thing in life worth fighting for…

Now available:

Amazon      Barnes and Noble     iBooks     BAM     Kobo

Review:

* * *

Source: e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Many of you are aware of Samantha Young through her On Dublin Street series. Though I'm still working my way through them it was a no-brainer that I'd have to check out her new endeavor. Set in a small town where everywhere you turn is a friendly face ready with a warm greeting, The One Real Thing has a different vibe to it that made me wishing I could visit it myself.

Jessica is a hardworking doctor at a women's prison where she stands out among her peers because of her generous compassion towards all the inmates. She has this inherent belief that no one is truly bad, they just happen to do bad things. At the prison, she discovers a series of hidden letters within a book written by a former inmate. These letters and the tragic story that is relayed through them, have an unexpected effect on Jessica, ultimately inspiring her to find the intended recipient. Before she can back out of it, she makes Hartwell her getaway destination so she can deliver those letters and get some R&R. Away from her stressful job, Jessica finds solace in the calm and friendly seaside town. It's not until she runs in to Cooper that she understands what has been amiss. Jessica and Cooper are older and jaded having been through their fair share of disappointment. She has spent most of her life trying to "fix things" as a doctor and hide away behind her career, while he has always been the one taking care of things. Pursuing a relationship is a big gamble for both of them since they both come with baggage.

There's more to Jessica's story than meets the eye and it's a sad one that's held her back emotionally. In a way, it takes a village to help Cooper and Jessica find their way to each other. It's a close-knit community of people who look out for one another. I like how Young has set potential storylines in TORT through some of the other characters in town, one of them being quiet bookstore owner, Emery. I admired how Jessica's slow connection to the elusive young woman was played out. There's definitely something in her backstory that I hope gets explored in a future book. This particular storyline also showcased Jessica's amazing patience and empathetic nature which made her my personal hero. The only character I didn't take to immediately was Bailey, one of Cooper's friends and the owner of the bed and breakfast where Jessica stays. The two of them become instant friends which is great, it's just that her personality came on a bit too strong for me. Regardless, I was relieved that Jessica was experiencing a beautiful companionship. As for the man of the hour, Cooper ... yeah, he's gorgeous, he's resourceful, he's a no-nonsense kind of guy but the BEST thing about him is that he was not once intimidated by Jessica's credentials. That kind of a man is a keeper! And the two of them make one hot couple! As for the rest of the locals, they're lovely and welcoming - I was starting to feel like Hartwell was home myself!

The One Real Thing will bring on all the feels. At first the synopsis sounds like it has all the makings of a Lifetime movie but I think it surpasses that initial impression. I thought that the hidden letters would take center stage in the story but they're only the catalyst that gives Jessica that push to snap out of her solitude. It's always fun to read about a community that not only charms its way into your heart but also heals what's been hurting for so long. I think everyone comes to a point where they question what they're doing, if they're happy, if it's worth it. Jessica and Cooper are no different so it's a delight to watch them dance around each other until they get their acts together. Sure, The One Real Thing is a lovely romance but it's also an ode to finding yourself in all the chaos. 

~ Bel

About the author: 

Photo source: Goodreads

Samantha Young is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series, including Moonlight on Nightingale Way, Echoes of Scotland Street, and Fall from India Place, as well as the standalone novel Hero. She resides in Scotland.

Website       Facebook     Twitter      Instagram

Excerpt:

Why did it feel like having sex had complicated things so much? Usually sex was complication-free for me.

But before that night I’d been completely sure that Cooper was interested in exploring something more with me, and now I was freaking out that his interest would wane now that he’d had me.

I shook my head slowly. “No. It was good.”

He scowled, his arms tightening around me so much there wasn’t an inch of space between us. “It was better than fucking good, Jessica.”

I scowled back and pushed at his chest for some breathing space. “Well, I’m sure you’d know all about that.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“You use the word ‘fuck’ a lot.”

“It’s a good fucking word.”

I was tempted to laugh at how disgruntled he sounded and he seemed to catch my amusement because his hold on me eased.

“What’s going on in your head, Jess?”

I thought about evading this conversation. I’d never had to have an adult, open conversation with a man about sex. However, I realized, somewhat reluctantly, if I wanted something more with Cooper Lawson I was going to have to give him more than I was used to giving.

I couldn’t change his past, but I could figure out what it was he wanted in the future by just being honest and asking the question.

“You still want something with me, right? This”—I gestured behind me to the table—“it wasn’t just about sex.”

“No,” he said. “It’s not just about sex.”

As I heaved a sigh of relief, he let go of my waist to cup my face in his hands, dipping his head down to mine so our noses almost touched. He stared deep into my eyes and I shivered. I felt like he was trying to see right into my soul.

“I’m in this for the long haul, Doc. I was before you walked into my bar tonight, but now, after the best fucking sex of my life, after how wild that was, there’s no way I’m letting you walk out of here without me.”

And there he went doing it again.

His words resonated deep within me along with giving me that deep, sexual belly flip of arousal.

My fingers curled into the top of his biceps. “Best sex of my life, too,” I murmured. “It stunned me a little. Confused me . . . I thought maybe . . . you . . . this was old hat for you . . .”

He gave me a crooked grin. “You think I make a habit of fucking women in my bar.”“You could,” I said. “You are definitely a man who could pull that off.”Cooper threw his head back in laughter and I pressed my body deeper into his to feel his joy.

And then he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me.

Just as I’d suspected, he was a really good hugger.

When he pulled back he was smiling gently at me. “You’re the only woman I’ve had in my bar.” He let me go only to take my hand in his. “No one sits at that table anymore.” He gestured to the scene of the best sex we’d both ever had. “It’s now a shrine.”

“You can’t do that!” I was mortified at the possibility of people finding out why there was a table in Cooper Lawson’s bar that no one was allowed to sit at.

“I can. It’s my bar. I think I’ll even carve ‘Coop and Doc were here’ on it.”

Finally getting that he was joking, I made a face. “Funny.”

“You’re slow on the uptake tonight,” he teased.

“My brain was just frazzled by the orgasm to beat all orgasms.”

He squeezed my hand. “You up for more brain frazzling?”

I shivered at the thought. “Definitely.”

His eyes darkened. “Let’s go back to my place.”

Exhilarated by the prospect, I followed him, and it wasn’t until we’d stepped outside the bar into the cool night air that I said, “I don’t suppose you know where my panties are?”

“I do, actually.” He led me to the back of his bar to the parking lot. A dark-colored GMC was the only truck there.

“Um . . . could I have them, please?”

He stopped me at the passenger side of the truck, pressing me up against the car. “Why?” he whispered against my lips before he kissed me deeply. He came up for air a few seconds later. “You’re not going to need them where we’re going.”

The nagging pressure between my legs increased. “You are so very, very good at stringing the exact right words together.”

He kissed me again.

“You’re just good with your mouth in general,” I murmured.

Cooper grinned and brushed his lips over mine. “In the truck, Doc.” 

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway