Those looking for a mix of steam with colorful locales will find One Night in Dublin by Kemberlee Shortland a decadent way to spend a few hours. Keep reading to get a tantalizing taste of a woman torn between three lovers, along with my impressions of it, and learn even more by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour. Make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win your very own piece of Irish land too!
Sive has a choice to make, and only 24 hours in which to make it.
EXCERPT:
Thirty minutes later, I’m on the Dun Laoghaire seafront, standing on the top step of a converted old Georgian terrace house. I’m not looking forward to the three flight trek to Fitzy’s Sky Loft, as he calls his flat, but the Irish have a saying—when needs must. And my needs are musting.
I press the buzzer and wait.
Nothing.
I press it again, but still get no reply.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” I curse. Did he go into that fecking parade after all?
I turn and look out at the park over the road. Maybe he’s gone across for some reason. Seemingly not everyone was in the city today. With unusually clear skies over the county, locals are out walking the twin piers surrounding the ferry port, while others stroll along the promenade. And no doubt there are a few down at the Forty Foot—the traditionally men-only skinny dipping spot—leaping naked into the frigid waters of Dublin Bay.
A flash of memory hits me. Fitzy had taken me there once, and f***ed me in the water against the rocks, in the shadow of James Joyce’s Tower. I shiver at the thought. Not from how cold water the water had been but at how hot I had felt in Fitzy’s arms.
I’m about to buzz him again when I see his bed-tossed coppery head bobbing over darker heads just up the road. I bounce and wave frantically to get his attention.
“Fitz!”
Fitzy looks like your typical Irishman, with green eyes, fair skin, and freckles to go with all that hair. He isn’t cover model gorgeous, but more Kurt Cobain-ish with chin whiskers. His charming good looks tell a woman she can trust him . . . at least in that moment.
Can I trust him for life? That’s the big question.
I press the buzzer and wait.
Nothing.
I press it again, but still get no reply.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” I curse. Did he go into that fecking parade after all?
I turn and look out at the park over the road. Maybe he’s gone across for some reason. Seemingly not everyone was in the city today. With unusually clear skies over the county, locals are out walking the twin piers surrounding the ferry port, while others stroll along the promenade. And no doubt there are a few down at the Forty Foot—the traditionally men-only skinny dipping spot—leaping naked into the frigid waters of Dublin Bay.
A flash of memory hits me. Fitzy had taken me there once, and f***ed me in the water against the rocks, in the shadow of James Joyce’s Tower. I shiver at the thought. Not from how cold water the water had been but at how hot I had felt in Fitzy’s arms.
I’m about to buzz him again when I see his bed-tossed coppery head bobbing over darker heads just up the road. I bounce and wave frantically to get his attention.
“Fitz!”
Fitzy looks like your typical Irishman, with green eyes, fair skin, and freckles to go with all that hair. He isn’t cover model gorgeous, but more Kurt Cobain-ish with chin whiskers. His charming good looks tell a woman she can trust him . . . at least in that moment.
Can I trust him for life? That’s the big question.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
The path to true love is never easy and for Irishwoman Sive it's especially rocky as she's come to a turning point in her life. She's decided she wants more, more than just casual hook-ups. She believes that one of the three men she's currently seeing just might be worth committing to and sets out to test them on their long-term capabilities.
In one afternoon though her dreams are shattered and she's left picking up the pieces with help from an unexpected source. Sive's always made fun of tourists but meeting American Adrian helps her see herself in a whole new light. She finds true self-worth through his eyes and how meaningless her past relationships were and how damaging they were to her psyche. Before she was settling, conforming to others so she wouldn't be alone. She so wanted love that she was willing to sell herself out for it. With Adrian she discovers that to get real love you have to open up your whole self. She hid pieces of herself before but in one night with Adrian she lets him into her heart completely though she knows he's leaving in the morning. It's a profound connection they made and it changed her irrevocably. She was sarcastic and a bit jaded at the start of the story. Hurt by what the men said and did but quickly able to recover. While I admired her strong-willed attitude I was saddened by her blasé outlook on love. With Adrian though, love was magical and dreamy and something you felt from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. It's all-encompassing, makes you whole, and it was clear that every guy before was not The One. Adrian could be though as he's sweet, charming, and wants to know all about her. He's not superficial, connected with her wholeheartedly and made her feel priceless. I wish we could've learned even more about him as he's pure perfection. Every moment they were together was a mix of heartwarming, sensual, and scorchingly erotic and I loved all the varying layers to their one night of discovery. As he's leaving in the morning...is it just one night or will this be the start of a HEA?
This was a quick read that had surprising depth as it was a journey of self-discovery for Sive. It was a story of empowerment and of not settling. Sive was a likable woman put through the wringer but who came out stronger because of it. Adrian was truly romantic in all his words and deeds and I'm still dreaming of his Adonis looks and kind heart. Their one night together was scorching after an initial meeting that crackled with sexual tension. Along with the strong personal connections was a loving tribute to Dublin itself through the vividly depicted scenery and colorful denizens that made you feel like you were there. All in all it was a story that fully immersed me in the action from the very first page to the last and its rocky and romantic journey to its satisfying conclusion well worth it.
My rating for this is a B+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Kemberlee was born and raised in Northern California in an area known as America's Salad Bowl. It was home to many authors, including John Steinbeck, and for a while Jack London and Robert Louis Stevenson. In 1997, Kemberlee had the opportunity to live in Ireland for six months, where she ended up meeting a man who convinced her to stay. Kemberlee is now celebrating her eighteenth year in Ireland and has been lucky to travel the country extensively, picking up a cupla focal along the way—a few Irish words.
Kemberlee has been writing since a very young age and over the years she has published dozens of travel articles and book reviews, as well as worked with some notable authors who’ve set their books in Ireland. 2006 saw the publication of Kemberlee’s first two stories, Tutti-Frutti Blues and Dude Looks Like a Lady, set in her hometown. Since then, Kemberlee has published a number of short stories and novels, many of which are set in Ireland.
WEBSITE: http://www.kemberlee.com
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/
LINKEDIN: http://www.linkedin.com/in/
HEARTICLES-ARTICLES WITH HEART: http://www.hearticles.
TIRGEARR PUBLISHING: http://www.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for setting up this blog :-)
DeleteA very hot and impressive cover!
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much for your comments. I feel very tingly right now...so happy my message shined through in the story.
ReplyDeleteThe man on the cover is a real guy called Isaiah Webb. You can find him on FB at Incredibeard.
The cover is credited to Cora Graphics in Italy. She does all of the City Night's covers.
I agree the cover is HOT!!
ReplyDeleteIt's not often we see bearded men on romance or erotica romance covers. I mean, really bearded and not just scruff. I hope you enjoy the story, should the beardy hotness draw you in ;-)
DeleteI love his tattoos!
ReplyDelete