“I
know you love me, Jocelyn, because there’s no fucking way I can be this much in
love with you, and not have you feel the same way. It’s not possible.”
Blurb:
Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from
her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…
Four years ago, Jocelyn left her
tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her
grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary
life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street
where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.
Braden Carmichael is used to
getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing
how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an
arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings
attached.
But after an intrigued Jocelyn
accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing
passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very
soul.
IMO:
I must admit, with that kind of
blurb, I wasn’t expecting very much of this series. Oh, I definitely thought it
was gonna be sexy and flirty and passionate but I didn’t expect the emotions
that this book will evoke in me.
So, did I judge the book by its
blurb? Guilty.
For starters, I love the
multi-faceted characters. With these kinds of books, you expect the hero to be
the one who is complicated and reluctant to commit. In here, it was the other
way around. It was the heroine. Right from that, it was refreshing.
On the outside, Jocelyn aka Joss
appears to be independent and strong but she’s been through a world of hurt.
She’s rude and snarky but she’s covering up her vulnerable side. I thought at
first her fear of relationship stemmed from the tragic death of her family but
apparently, it’s more than that. This woman carries a heavy guilt on her
shoulders. She’s so broken that she thinks being alone is the only way to go.
I understand Joss, really I do. She’s
been through a lot and you just can’t blame her if she wants to protect herself
from getting hurt again that’s why she doesn’t let anyone get too close. But sometimes,
it’s difficult to not be frustrated with her. Her fickleness will drive you
mad. And you just want her to just admit her feelings to Braden so they can
finally be together. When Joss first learned of Ellie’s condition, I didn’t
like the way she acted. But once again, I understand her and it was a good
thing she came back.
Now the hero… Braden may appear to
be arrogant and too sure of himself, but he has also experienced betrayal. He’s
also wary of commitment and has been a serial monogamist ever since his divorce
but atleast when he met Joss, he’s not afraid to acknowledge that he wants
something more from her. One thing I didn’t like about Braden was his method of
getting to know Joss feelings. Lying that you slept with someone else immediately
on the day that the relationship went south was low and sick. But I guess
sometimes, when you are hurt by the person you love, you want to hurt them too.
I adore Ellie and Adam as minor
characters. I was also rooting for them to get together. Ellie is such a
charming, lively, and strong woman. Adam is a nice guy although he can’t help
his libido sometimes. He is also torn with his respect for Braden to ever
pursue his feelings for Ellie.
Conclusion:
This book took me by surprise. I
love it!
A-