{"id":25303,"date":"2017-09-09T04:00:28","date_gmt":"2017-09-09T08:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=25303"},"modified":"2018-04-17T22:00:02","modified_gmt":"2018-04-18T02:00:02","slug":"arc-review-excerpt-play-on-play-on-1-by-samantha-young","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=25303","title":{"rendered":"ARC Review & Excerpt: Play On (Play On, #1) by Samantha Young"},"content":{"rendered":"

Releasing September 12th 2017<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Amazon US <\/a>|\u00a0 iBooks US<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 B&N<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Kobo US<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon UK\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>|\u00a0 iBooks UK<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Kobo UK<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Smashwords<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\r\n <\/div><\/div><\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n

Synopsis<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Nora O\u2019Brien chased a dream from Indiana to Scotland, so sure it was the right thing to do.\u00a0 Three years later she was left in her adopted country with nothing to her name but guilt and regret.<\/p>\n

Until Aidan Lennox entered her life.<\/p>\n

Older, worldlier, a music producer and composer, the sexy Scot should never have made sense for Nora. But somehow in each other they found the light they were looking for, the laughter and the passion\u2014the strength to play on despite their past losses.<\/p>\n

But when life dealt Aidan another unlucky hand, instead of reaching for her he disappeared.\u00a0 The agonizing loss of him inspired something within Nora. It fired her spirit\u2014 the anger and hurt pushing her forward to take control and reach for her dreams.<\/p>\n

Finally pursuing a career on stage while she put herself through college, everything is how Nora wants it. She\u2019s avoiding heartbreak and concentrating on her goals.\u00a0 Sounds easy but it\u2019s not. Because Aidan is back. And for some reason he hates Nora.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s determined to be at war with her.<\/p>\n

And she has absolutely no idea why.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Review<\/strong><\/h4>\n

4 stars!<\/b><\/p>\n

This is the first book in Samantha Young\u2019s new series, Play On<\/i>, and it\u2019s a beautifully emotional romantic drama that kept me enthralled from start to finish. Reminiscent of On Dublin Street<\/a>, Young takes us back to Edinburgh with the story of a young American girl struggling under the weight of grief and uncertainty and figuring out who she is and what she wants. Add in a love story that is sweet, emotional, passionate, full of chemistry (and yes, angsty), some twists and turns and a whole lot of feels, and this is a great read.<\/p>\n

Nora is 18 years old and living a difficult, dead-end life in middle America. She had dreams of something more but they never came to be, and just when she is facing a future of nothing really special she is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Scotland and experience the life she\u2019s always dreamed of. So she starts afresh in Edinburgh, but her dreams are again put on hold as the reality of life and the decisions she has made weigh her down. She will experience loss, doubt, guilt and regret and hit rock bottom before she finds the strength to start to pull herself together, with her inspiration coming from an unlikely source \u2013 a lively young girl and her gorgeous yet broody uncle.<\/p>\n

Sylvie and Aidan blast into Nora\u2019s life. They are both suffering after their own loss and she feels an instant connection with both of them, but it\u2019s the gorgeous, successful and mysterious older man, Aidan, that truly begins to bring her back to life.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d never experienced anything like it, this heat between us, this want. It was like we knew the only way to feel anything good was to disappear as freely and deeply into one another as possible.<\/i><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Aidan has burdens that weigh on him, but so does Nora, and they muddle through their attraction, pushing and pulling, and slowly opening up to each other. All while the sexual tension builds and they easily and naturally fall for each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never wanted anyone the way I want you. Aye, I want you in my bed, so much it\u2019s painful, but it\u2019s more than that. I just want you. Here. Talking with me. In my life. Knowing I can pick up the phone and call you or touch you whenever I want. Never have I felt that way with anyone.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I loved this romance! Holy damn, Aidan Lennox is gorgeous! Kind, intelligent, caring, and hotter than hell, he may be broody but he doesn\u2019t mess around when it comes to what he wants, and there\u2019s no game playing where he\u2019s concerned, and I love that! He wants Nora and he lets her knows, setting about making it happen and completely melting me along the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo misunderstandings,\u201d his eyes blazed with determination, \u201ctonight you\u2019re in my bed. I\u2019m going to make love to you and fuck you and come with you until every muscle in your body aches.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But life is never easy. Nora and Aidan know that only too well, and when the unthinkable happens, it sends their lives spiralling out of control once again.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t want to talk too much more about the story because you just need to dive in and experience it. This story was unexpected, and the twists and turns had my heart pounding as I tried to figure out where it was all going to go. And OMG, the feels! I felt everything right alongside these characters – one scene in particular absolutely shattered me! I was so drawn into their lives and what they were experiencing, and my emotions were a rollercoaster as it all played out. It\u2019s dramatic and emotional, and yeah, it gets angsty, and there were moments when I wanted to start slapping people, but I was glued to my kindle as the story unfolded.<\/p>\n

And it all works to enhance the emotion, building the book to the inevitable ending that was sweet, hopeful and deliciously satisfying.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t stay away from you if I tried. You? You\u2019re everything.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I loved this book. Like I said, it did have shades of On Dublin Street<\/i> about it, but that is one of my favourite books of all time, so the similarities didn\u2019t bother me one little bit. Dramatic and emotional, I was sucked in from the very beginning and loved the twists and surprises \u2013 even when they hurt. The love story is gorgeous and is beautifully and emotively written, as is Nora\u2019s journey, and I loved immersing myself in it all.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust because it takes more than falling in love to find yourself doesn\u2019t mean that losing yourself in another person can\u2019t be fucking beautiful. I promise you \u2026 being lost in each other for the rest of our lives will be the best thing to have ever happened to either of us.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Young says that this new series will be centred around the arts scene in Edinburgh. We are introduced to some of Nora\u2019s theatre friends, and though I don\u2019t know whose story will be up next (my fingers are crossed for Jack), it\u2019s already an auto-read for me, and I can\u2019t wait to get my hands on it.<\/p>\n

I loved it \u2013 4 stars.<\/p>\n

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Play On series
\n<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Ebook covers<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

Paperback covers<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0\u00a0\"\"\u00a0 \"\"\u00a0 \"\"<\/p>\n

Play On (#1)<\/strong>
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

As Dust Dances (#2)
\n<\/strong>Review<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Hold On (#2.5\/Big Sky Crossover Novella)
\n<\/strong>Review<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Black Tangled Heart (#3)
\n<\/strong>Review<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Buy: \u00a0Amazon <\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0 Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Excerpt<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Silence fell over the car and I could tell he was lost in his thoughts about it. Wanting to
\nleave him to muse, I watched traffic. And then I realized we were driving out of the city
\ncenter. \u201cSo \u2026 where are we eating?\u201d
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a pub right on the promenade at Portobello Beach. It\u2019s a nice day. I thought we
\nshould enjoy it while it\u2019s here.\u201d
\nThat was something people said a lot around here. Scottish summers were mercurial
\nbeasts, with more rain than anything else, so when the sun came out, we appreciated and
\nmade the most of it.
\n\u201cSounds good.\u201d
\nWith Jim, I\u2019d been comfortable with him from the start. Silence fell between us and I\u2019d
\nnever felt the need to fill it. Similarly with Aidan, the silence between us didn\u2019t bother me.
\nBut the atmosphere between us wasn\u2019t comfortable. I was too aware of his every movement,
\nwatching him out of the corner of my eye as he drove us east to Portobello.
\n\u201cSylvie cares about you,\u201d Aidan said suddenly.
\nWarmth filled me at the thought. \u201cI care about her. I won\u2019t hurt her, Aidan.\u201d
\nHe glanced at me, his expression sincere. \u201cI know that now, Nora.\u201d
\nRelief moved through me. \u201cThank you.\u201d
\n\u201cI just want her to be okay.\u201d
\n\u201cIt would be expected if she wasn\u2019t,\u201d I told him. \u201cShe lost her mom. You can protect her
\nfrom everything, but you can\u2019t protect her from that loss, and thinking that you can is only
\ngoing to make you feel like you\u2019ve failed somehow. And you\u2019re not failing.\u201d
\nHe was quiet so long, I thought maybe my presumption had pissed him off. But he said,
\n\u201cHow did you get so wise?\u201d
\nWhen it comes to loss, I know what I\u2019m talking about<\/em>. I didn\u2019t say it out loud. \u201cBorn that
\nway, I guess.\u201d
\nNot too long later, Aidan parked on a street facing the water. The sun glinted off the
\nwaves in the distance and I could see the promenade was busy with people eating lunch,
\nwalking their dogs, or just hanging out. The salty sea air immediately put me and everyone
\nelse in a good mood. It was a little past one o\u2019clock so people were on lunch breaks, but with
\nhow busy the beach was, you\u2019d think it was a weekend day.
\n\u201cDo you think we\u2019ll get a table?\u201d I said. He insisted on opening my door and taking my
\nhand to help me down.
\nWarm, calloused skin slid over mine and I drew in a breath at the sparks of electricity that
\ndanced up my arm. My eyes flew to his. Our eyes locked.
\nDid he feel it too?
\nAs if I\u2019d asked the question aloud, he squeezed my hand and closed the door once I was
\nout of the car. To my shock, he kept holding my hand, leading me down the street toward the
\npromenade.
\n\u201cI called ahead,\u201d he said. \u201cI know a guy who works at the pub.\u201d
\nI hurried to match his long strides, my heart banging hard against my chest as I stared up
\nat him. Feeling my gaze, he looked down and gave me a quizzical smile.
\n\u201cWhat is it, Pixie?\u201d
\nI decided to be honest. \u201cYou\u2019re holding my hand.\u201d
\nHis smile transformed into that sexy one that cut me off at the knees every single time.
\n\u201cSo I am.\u201d
\nHe didn\u2019t let go.
\nI bit my lip to stop the girlish giggle that wanted to escape. \u201cIs there a reason for that?\u201d
\n\u201cSo you don\u2019t fly off to Neverland, of course.\u201d He winked.
\nI laughed. \u201cCute. Very cute.\u201d
\nAidan stopped to push open the door to the pub, his beautiful eyes filled with laughter.
\nI let him lead me inside. There was an area, a few steps up from the bar on our right, with
\ntables at bay windows overlooking the water. The place was packed, no tables free at all.
\n\u201cUh \u2026\u201d A young woman with bright blue eyes and short, white-blond hair glanced at the
\nseating and then back at us. \u201cIt\u2019s about a thirty-minute wait right now.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere\u2019s Giggsy?\u201d Aidan asked.
\n\u201cRight here, mate.\u201d We turned to watch a guy walking down a passageway by the bar.
\nWhen he reached us, his eyes flicked to Aidan\u2019s hand in mine and he shook his head
\nlaughing. \u201cThey get younger every time.\u201d
\n\u201cFuck off, Giggsy.\u201d
\n\u201cNice. And here I\u2019ve been enduring bleeding ears from these buggers,\u201d he thumbed
\nbehind him to the bar staff, \u201cto reserve you a table last minute on the promenade.\u201d Without
\nsaying another word, he strolled away and Aidan followed. He led us up the platform to a set
\nof French doors that opened out onto the promenade and to my delight, to one of only four
\ntables set out there, looking over the water.
\nA sweet breeze blew up off North Sea offering a light relief from the rare hot September
\nsun. Gulls cried out as they flew high in the sky above us.
\n\u201cThere you go.\u201d Giggsy gestured to our table and Aidan held out a chair for me. \u201cWhat a
\ngentleman.\u201d His friend clapped him on the shoulder. Aidan rolled his eyes and Giggsy mock
\nfrowned at me. \u201cPlease tell me you\u2019re legal.\u201d
\nWhile I was mortified by the idea that I looked that<\/em> young next to him, Aidan sighed
\nheavily. \u201cHave you got a death wish?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

About Samantha Young<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Samantha Young is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street<\/em> series<\/a> and Hero<\/em>, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep<\/em> and Out of the Shallows<\/em>. Every Little Thing<\/em>, the second book in her new Hart\u2019s Boardwalk series<\/a>, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte<\/em> trilogy.\u00a0 Samantha\u2019s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us<\/em> was published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook and hardback June 2017. Play On<\/em> is an adult contemporary romance and the first in a brand new series set in Scotland.<\/p>\n

Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street<\/em>, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane<\/em>, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero<\/em>. On Dublin Street<\/em>, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane<\/em> the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street<\/em> the Bronze Medal
\nWinner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.<\/p>\n

Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.<\/p>\n

Website\u00a0 <\/a>|\u00a0 Facebook\u00a0 <\/a>|\u00a0 Pinterest<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Twitter: @AuthorSamYoung\u00a0 |\u00a0 Instagram: @AuthorSamanthaYoung<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Releasing September 12th 2017 Amazon US |\u00a0 iBooks US\u00a0 |\u00a0 B&N\u00a0 |\u00a0 Kobo US\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon UK\u00a0|\u00a0 iBooks UK\u00a0 |\u00a0 Kobo UK\u00a0 |\u00a0 Smashwords   Synopsis Nora O\u2019Brien chased a dream from Indiana to Scotland, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":24085,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":4,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"Product","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,29],"tags":[59,709,48,203],"class_list":["post-25303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-romance","category-steamy","tag-arc","tag-play-on","tag-review","tag-samantha-young"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Play-On.jpg?fit=150%2C225&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-6A7","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25303"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25303\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}