Sandy M’s review of A Royal Mile (Return to Dublin Street, Book 2) by Samantha Young
Contemporary Romance published by Samantha Young 19 June 25
I always have at the back of my mind the older I get, perhaps I won’t care for younger characters as much as I used to – especially those by a favorite author, most of whom are also younger themselves. I mean, I’m in my 50th+ year of reading romance. I tell myself to try to remember what I was going through in my 20s and leaving out what I’ve learned over the years after that, because these characters still have to catch up. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t. In this case, the second generation from Ms. Young’s Dublin Street series have made me quite happy when figuring out their lives and falling in love.
After a rough start, Lily gives Sebastian a chance to start over – as friends. She would like more from the handsome Brit, but all he wants is someone to pal around with. Though we can tell from the beginning the man is a goner over her, he just can’t admit it to himself. They have a great time together, despite the fact the attraction between them is off the charts. Of course, doubts creep in on both sides, giving them more to navigate this treacherous thing called love.
Lily is a smart gal in her last year of university for her psychotherapy degree. I enjoyed her detail to preparation to get ahead, but then her distraction when things go wrong and then so very right with Sebastian gives her another layer of life to worry about and is also enjoyable watching her figure it all out. She has her vulnerabilities when it comes to her body and men. Sebastian is part of the royal family; way down the line to the throne, but still. He also has his issues under all that swagger and charm, and when he finally arrives at his devastating realizations, he mans up in the most delightful ways.
They both have to learn to stand up for themselves, both to the world and to their inner circle of family and friends. And they do that admirably, even through some of that “young” stuff I worry about pops up. That happens only a few times, so, all in all, they do wonderfully well on their way to a life together. Samantha Young has yet to disappoint me with all that I’ve read by her. I have a feeling that is going to continue for quite some time. Which makes me so very happy.
Grade: A
Summary:
It’s hard to stay in the friend zone when the attraction is this hot…
Going into my senior year of university at war with a member of the British royal family wasn’t in my carefully laid plans. Sebastian Thorne might be the grandson of a princess, but it’ll take more than a royal pardon to get me to forgive him for pretending to be someone he’s not.
But Sebastian is determined to be my friend. Even if it means signing up to a psych experiment just to get me to talk to him. Who knew a sincere apology and him saying my name in that posh English accent would make me weak in the knees?
This year was supposed to be about my dissertation and graduate school. Only, Sebastian has thrown my ordered world off kilter. He makes me bolder, more confident. A braver version of me.
Yet every lingering glance and stolen touch has me realizing one thing…
I’m falling for my best friend.
There’s just one problem. Sebastian has demons, ones that make him determined to keep me in the friend zone no matter the cost.
And even when temptation sends his walls tumbling down, the beauty we’ve found might not survive against the powerful will of outside forces…
