On Hart's Boardwalk

4.25 stars-ON HART’S BOARDWALK is instalment 2.5 of Samantha Young’s contemporary, adult HART’S BOARDWALK romance series that in turn is a spin-off from the author’s ON DUBLIN STREET series. ON HART’S BOARDWALK is a continuing look at Nate and Olivia Sawyer (Before Jamaica Lane) as they approach Olivia’s fortieth birthday, and the celebration of ten years of marriage. ON HART’S BOARDWALK can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines (in either series) is revealed where necessary. Told from first person point of view (Olivia Sawyer) ON HART’S BOARDWALK is a heartbreaking story that fast forwards ten years in the life of Nate and Olivia, as our heroine struggles with the approach of her fortieth birthday, and the apparent loss of affection from the man that she loves. Nate and Olivia’s love life has lost the spontaneity and romance with the birth of two children, busy lifestyles and busier jobs but Olivia has always battled issues of low self-esteem that are currently exacerbated by her husband’s apparent disinterest, and the approach of her fortieth birthday. Nate will overhear Olivia talking to her friends, and in this Nate struggles to accept Olivia’s concerns. What ensues is the couple’s battle to move forward, and bring the romance and spontaneity back into their lives as they head to America and Hartwell Delaware to celebrate their ten year anniversary. ON HART’S BOARDWALK is both a heartbreaking and heart warming story; an emotional roller coaster ride as one man struggles with the loss of a friend, and one woman battles issues of the past that continue to affect her self-esteem and ability to let go. The secondary and supporting characters are familiar, colorful and fun; the romance is sexy, provocative and inspiring. ON HART’S BOARDWALK is an uplifting and spirited look at a rekindling romance that had yet to completely fall apart.

I love Samantha Young's novels and novellas! They are not just fairy tale type stories but the characters are real people with real problems. The beginning of the story is very relatable then the romance is the maybe not so realistic piece, but makes it an even better story. It was also cute and fun that this crossed over two of her best series. I'm looking forward to more.

I love Nate and Olivia!