Author: Samantha Young
Series: On Dublin Street #4 Genre: Contemporary Romance
Why did I read the book: Are You kidding ME?? I had to finish Ms. Young's ODS series like a crazy nerd teenager longing for books even on summer vacations...
Blurb:“When I’m with you it feels like everything’s going to be okay. I can’t explain it.”
When Hannah Nichols last saw Marco D'Alessandro five long years ago, he broke her heart. The bad boy with a hidden sweet side was the only guy Hannah ever loved-and the only man she's ever been with. After one intense night of giving in to temptation, Marco took off, leaving Scotland and Hannah behind. Shattered by the consequences of their night together, Hannah has never truly moved on.
Leaving Hannah was the biggest mistake of Marco's life - something he has deeply regretted for years. So when fate reunites them, he refuses to let her go without a fight. Determined to make her his, Marco pursues Hannah, reminding her of all the reasons they're meant to be together . . .
But just when Marco thinks they're committed to a future together, Hannah makes a discovery that unearths the secret pain she's been hiding from him-a secret that could tear them apart before they have a real chance to start over again . . .
REVIEW:( Spoiler alert)
REVIEW:( Spoiler alert)
“I’m your best friend
… You've just forgotten. My fault, I know. I can help you remember.”
Hannah and Marco were best friends for years, even
though she always wanted more, and he didn't. One fateful night, her deepest
wish was granted, and they finally got together in every sense. But, the
aftermath was anything but what Hannah expected. Marco immediately left her,
not only in that bedroom on India Place, but he left the entire country to get
away from her. Five years later, Hannah is a different person because of that
humiliating and devastating event. So, when she runs into Marco unexpectedly,
she's surprised to find out that Marco changed too. The question is, is it too
little, too late?
Fate dealt both Marco and Hannah a crap-tastic
hand, and where Marco had made the decision to try and do something good with
it, Hannah withdrew and closed herself off from the world. In the previous
books, she had always seemed bubbly and vibrant, and it was obvious right away
that 22-year-old Hannah was very different from 17-year-old Hannah.
The result of Marco leaving Hannah when she wanted and needed him the most was a bitter, distrustful woman who pissed the readers off again and again with her actions. Marco was an absolute dream, and his efforts to woo her and win her back were admirable and sweet and totally above and beyond. But, Hannah's intense fears of rejection continued to thwart both of their attempts at happiness. It resulted in that kind of bookish frustration that makes you want to scream at fictional characters and look like a crazy person because of it.
Marco has secrets of his own that take way too long to come out. He comes clean about where he has been the past five years and why he left in the first place. But, there's another bomb just waiting in the wings to be dropped, and when it does, my heart broke a little for both Hannah and Marco.
The result of Marco leaving Hannah when she wanted and needed him the most was a bitter, distrustful woman who pissed the readers off again and again with her actions. Marco was an absolute dream, and his efforts to woo her and win her back were admirable and sweet and totally above and beyond. But, Hannah's intense fears of rejection continued to thwart both of their attempts at happiness. It resulted in that kind of bookish frustration that makes you want to scream at fictional characters and look like a crazy person because of it.
Marco has secrets of his own that take way too long to come out. He comes clean about where he has been the past five years and why he left in the first place. But, there's another bomb just waiting in the wings to be dropped, and when it does, my heart broke a little for both Hannah and Marco.
The book is full of twists and turns and secrets. It soon became obvious that Marco leaving Hannah five years earlier was not the end of Hannah's story. It wasn't the only bad thing that happened to her.The telling of the story was powerful and emotional. And, really sad too.
As soon as I fully got into Hannah and Marco's story I was completely hooked. Their relationship - both past and present - is honest and realistic, making them that much easier to believe in. Hannah has the same thoughts any twenties girl has, while Marco is the kind of caring, thoughtful guy we could all do with knowing. Obviously they have their ups and downs like any couple does, but they do their best to overcome any obstacles and be the best versions of themselves.
“When we were kids, I was in love with you … That never went away, Hannah.” He rested his forehead against mine. “And now that I know you again, I’m even more in love with you.”
Hannah and Marco had a thing when they were younger and in school, until Marco suddenly left, leaving Hannah heartbroken. Five years later he's back on the scene and, whether by fate or chance, the two are reunited and all seems to be going well. That is until new secrets and lies come to light and threaten to once again tear them apart. I'm sure this has all been done before - in fact, I'm sure I've read similar - but Samantha Young has taken a simple thread and made it intricate and complicated, just like real life actually is. There's more drama here than perhaps an average relationship ever sees, but it's not far from the realms of possibility and could quite easily be happening to my friends and relatives.I do like books where mistakes are made, groveling occurs, and lessons are learned. What I do not like is going to extremes in any of those areas. Marco well exhausted my limit of groveling. He put up with Hannah running away from him, telling him it was over and ignoring his calls FAR longer than I thought he should have. Definitely far longer than any guy in real life would have. It was irritating. I was mad at Hannah for treating him like crap for so long, and I was mad at Marco for putting up with it.
One of the really delightful parts of Fall From India Place was the glimpse into the lives of the four couples already known and loved from the series. Catching up with Braden and Joss, Jo and Cam, Ellie and Adam, and Liv and Nate was awesome. Of course there are children running all over the place, and it's so fun to see the relationship dynamics of these couples haven't changed.
One character that has changed A LOT was Cole, Jo's younger brother. He's now a strapping, gorgeous, tatted man and Hannah's best friend. Cole is such an amazing character — and I absolutely loved Cole. He is such a wonderful character and I cannot wait for his story to be told. I need to know more!
“Cole: "One day you'll meet someone you can stand to commit to, and I'll meet someone who isn't batshit crazy."
Hannah: "Oh, you dreamer you.”
I also liked how Samantha Young turned the spotlight on the problem of adult literacy in the UK. Hannah volunteers as a teacher for an adult literacy class, and the scenes with her in that class were poignant and thought-provoking. I did love Hannah’s relationship with her students — both at the high school and in the adult literacy class.
As characters, Hannah and Marco are both likable. They each have their flaws and problems, but they suit each other and connect in ways neither of them ever imagined. It's clear that their five years apart has made a big difference, both in terms of new found maturity and life experience, and seeing each other again reignites a passion that has always been there but has laid dormant in the interim. And wow do these two have passion!
As characters, Hannah and Marco are both likable. They each have their flaws and problems, but they suit each other and connect in ways neither of them ever imagined. It's clear that their five years apart has made a big difference, both in terms of new found maturity and life experience, and seeing each other again reignites a passion that has always been there but has laid dormant in the interim. And wow do these two have passion!
The reason why Samantha Young’s books really work for me is because of its really intense, romantic love between the characters. I loved the chemistry they have and the thrill of the chase when the guy gives his all to get the girl. I know, I’d love to be swept off my feet by one of them, hand on heart (preferably Braden Carmichael). In Fall from India Place, Marco D’Alessandro is everything a girl wants in a guy. He’s passionate, thoughtful, caring and a fierce lover. The book is fully packed with emotions, its pages are dripping with them – love, carnal lust, heartbreak – to name a few.
Fall from India Place is an emotionally gripping tale of letting go of the past and learning to move on. It is also about forgiveness and following your heart. I cheered for Marco to win over Hannah’s heart again.
“I’m in love with you. There is no one else for me and I don’t know how I know, but I do know that there never will be.”
MY FAVORITE PART:“I’m in love with you. There is no one else for me and I don’t know how I know, but I do know that there never will be.”
“You don’t owe me anything.”
“Yes, I fucking do,” he said abruptly. “Whatever this is” – he gestured between us – “it’s important.”
VERDICT: MY POV
It isn't a necessity that you read the previous books, but I think it may have helped me a little during the first few characters, where we are introduced to an abundance of characters, who I felt lost among. In hindsight, if I’d read the previous books, these lovely characters would've been like old friends. So my advice would be to either read the previous novels, or bear with the many introductions in the first few chapters as you will grow to love them all.
As the story progressed, she grew on me. When I discovered her past, I could see why she was treated so gently by the rest of the family. Now Marco was a whole different story. I loved him as soon as he turned up in the book. He oozed hotness as he did everything he could to sweep Hannah off her feet.
This book isn't just full of sexual tension and hot guys. There is so much more to it, as it deals with some very heavy subjects. I’d love to share those with you, but that would be giving away an important aspect of the story. The theme of family unity is strong within the story and it made me yearn for a large family.
My rating for FALL FROM INDIA PLACE by Samantha Young is 3.5 HOT stars out of five.
It isn't a necessity that you read the previous books, but I think it may have helped me a little during the first few characters, where we are introduced to an abundance of characters, who I felt lost among. In hindsight, if I’d read the previous books, these lovely characters would've been like old friends. So my advice would be to either read the previous novels, or bear with the many introductions in the first few chapters as you will grow to love them all.
As the story progressed, she grew on me. When I discovered her past, I could see why she was treated so gently by the rest of the family. Now Marco was a whole different story. I loved him as soon as he turned up in the book. He oozed hotness as he did everything he could to sweep Hannah off her feet.
This book isn't just full of sexual tension and hot guys. There is so much more to it, as it deals with some very heavy subjects. I’d love to share those with you, but that would be giving away an important aspect of the story. The theme of family unity is strong within the story and it made me yearn for a large family.
All I can
say is read this book!
Suggestions: My next read will be something off this very genre(smexy/erotica), may be paranormal teen romance though I will put my reviews for rest of the ODS series soon.
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