“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.“
I feel pretty torn about how to rate this book. The guy was HOT!! I loved him. He reminded me a lot of Gideon Cross. But that being said, to me, the heroine’s actions and denial of their feelings for each other brought the story down for me. I still did like the story a lot, but the heroine’s issues and reluctance to commit to the relationship just prevented me from connecting more strongly with the story than I otherwise might have.
When the ultimate tragedy strikes Joss’s family, she needs a fresh start and moves to Scotland. Right near the beginning of the story, we meet the hero when he and Joss accidentally end up sharing a cab… and can I just say: deep, gravelly voice + Scottish accent *shivers*!! He comes off as a arrogant (in a lovable way) and unapologetically charming and just totally fuckhot and while Joss is very physically attracted to him, she refuses to allow herself to become emotionally interested in him.
After finding herself a gorgeous new apartment, she find that it comes with an even more gorgeous perk – her flat-mate’s swoony brother: the taxi guy, Braden Carmichael. At first, there is just a long period of flirty banter but Joss resists quite a lot, until finally they come to a friends-with-benefits arrangement that Braden agrees to, but really is just using it to try and convince her to be in a relationship with him.
His grip on my chin tightened, quieting me. “I’ll come over tomorrow night.”
This was not happening. How could I let this happen? “Braden, I don’t want anything to happen between us.”
He raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Tell that to your damp knickers, babe.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “You are such a dick.”
The writing starts out quite strong and just totally immerses you into the world and sweeps you into the story. The thing about this story is that on the outside, its kind of flirty and sexy, but you can sense the multiple undercurrents of hurt in everyone’s buried back stories. They are all coping with their own personal hell – especially Joss.
Although Joss and Braden meet right at the start of the story, their relationship is very slow building. And because of how strongly she resists him, he has his work cut out to woo her. But he does it quite subtly – as if he senses how something in her past is causing her pain, and knows not to push until she’s ready.
Braden was just a totally gorgeous character – both inside and out. He was swoony, protective.. and did I mention fuckhot?! And you just gotta love a man who is bossy in the bedroom but also loved to snuggle. In the relationship, he does make mistakes, but he apologizes for them and does his best to keep Joss from spiralling downward into her personal hell.
Joss was very independent, very emotionally closed off and so very deeply hurt and affected by the tragedy in her past that her efforts to shielf herself from ever reliving it leads her to many moments of stupidity on her part. Luckily, for most of those times, Braden is there to call her on it and keep her facing the reality of the increasing intensity of their growing relationship. When she slips, he does his best to bring her back.
At first, I very much got a Bared To You feel from this book, but having finished it, I’d say it veers off in quite a different direction.
I’d say that I loved the first 5% or so, then the next 30%, I was pretty sure I liked it – but I wasn’t sure, and then BAM!! The hotness hit and I was in love with it for a while, but then it took a bit of a downward turn for me again as Joss’ insecurities took over her life and caused her to make a bunch of decisions that I really didn’t like.
Joss takes a long time to fight her demons and learn to be ok in a relationship. I loved that Braden would push her to the edge of my comfort zone, but never over it. BUT, I felt that she took WAY too long to finally give in to the relationship.
Overall, I adored the “fuckhot Scot” (teehee). And at first, I found Joss’s “moments of stupid” more forgiveable because at the same time as having her issues, she recognized that she had them and was seeing a therapist to try and work through them. But eventually, her inability to admit she had feelings for Braden despite her CLEARLY having them brought the story down for me and there wasn’t enough time of the book dedicated to her and Braden being in a functional relationship after she finally was through them.
If you are ok with reading through stupidity from the heroine, you’ll probably love this book, but I think part of what annoyed me was I went into it expecting them to have fallen into a bit of a functional relationship for at least part of the book. And I kept wait and waiting and waitng. Then around 30%, I thought I got a wiff of one, then even more at 45%. But then it wasn’t until the late 90%’s that she finally gave in. I guess I’d I had expected that from the start, I’d have liked the book more but that just wasn’t the kind of book this was.
This being said, I think this is the kind of book that would make a really awesome movie (haha and not just cuz I want to hear the Fuckhot Scot’s voice ;P )
Rating: Almost 4 stars.
CASTING:
- Braden –> Click here
- Joss –> Click here
Click covers to purchase.
Sheri Zee says
Hmmm…you had me at Gideon Cross but now I’m not so sure. Too many other books to read 1st!
Aestas says
Yeah, I’d definitely recommend other books first, but this book was still good… Just be very patient with the heroine… Very, very patient :p
Ruby says
Joss is just like Christian grey(obviously a female version) and Braden is just like Ana(obviously a male version).Joss had alot of issues and Braden did have some but had already dealt with it.Joss was a strong herione that could leave Braden if she wanted to.I really enjoyed On Dublin street and the rest in the series.Have you read Until Fountain Bridge,Down London Road,Castle Hill(Braden and Joss Novella,Before Jamice Lane?
Erani Kole says
Oh gosh I loved this book and author! I read her fantasy novels (have you checked out Slumber??) and when I tried this, it was- like dude, Braden Carmichael is all you rwally need to know haha.
Bridgett Miller says
I loved this book. Braden and Joss have such a wonderful story.
Priyanka @forevershereads says
For me, Joss was a realistic character and I loved how Braden was stubborn enough to break down her walls – which was what Joss really needed in her life. ODS is my comfort read!