On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street, #1)

by Samantha Young

[inlibrisveritas]

A whole bunch of nope…

On a rare occasion I’ll pick up a book that is hyped and well received by pretty much everyone, save a few, and I’ll find that I side with the few. It reminds me that I don’t like things because everyone else does, so it’s refreshing in a way…but it’s mostly frustrating. WHy do I have to be the odd one out? Then I remember I’m not the problem, the book is and I stop feeling bad.

In honesty this would be a one star rating, but when I started the book initially I was really digging it and then when I picked it up again months later I found that I couldn’t stand most of it. So one star is for the book and the other is for the fondness I had to begin with. So what put me off of this one?

In a simple word, Braden. (though I have my issues with Joss too). Braden is an alpha male, but to me he’s so alpha that he tramples on the line between sexy and downright possessive. He’s a “no” means “rub your crotch on it” kind of guy. He gets what he wants, even if what he wants is a woman who has clearly verbally stated it’s not happening. I don’t care if she’s quivering with desire, if she says she’s done then back off. The possessiveness came into play well before the relationship ever started and even Joss notices how crazy it is, but she kind of backs down at a point. Also the over use of ‘babe’ drove me nuts. I don’t mind pet names, but when you use it every couple of sentences you start sounding silly.

Joss was a bit more bearable but only a bit. She cycles between deep lows and high highs, which is fine. I understand that being a bit of an emotion wreck myself at times. What I couldn’t stand was her ability to go hot and cold at the flip of a coin, which she does a lot. I get being emotionally guarded and untrusting, but some how this girl turns almost every bad situation that happens into being about her. Just…urgh.

The sex was steamy, but I got tired of it after a while because it happens so frequently. Even the portions where she was going to face her past were somewhat drowned out by a random sex scene that I wish had been replaced with actual plot.

I’m bummed out that this one didn’t work out for me because the series comes so highly recommended. I wish I had enjoyed Braden and Joss more, especially since everyone seems to like them. I suppose I’ll just count this as a miss and move on.