I am loving getting back into the world that introduced me to one of my now all time favorite authors, Samantha Young. First one was On Loverose Lane, and this time we’re back with the daughter of my favorite couple, Nate and Liv from Before Jamaica Lane. Just like the original series made me want to visit Scotland, this time around, after having actually been there, learning about places I didn’t have time to see, or knowing more where they are talking about makes me want to go back!

Now, Lily is a lot like her mom in some ways. She has some of the same self-confidence issues, only Lily is a bit more equipped to deal with them, with her background in psychology. Although at times even knowing she is wrong to feel the way she does because someone else made her feel that way isn’t always enough to keep those intrusive thoughts from rearing their ugly heads. She is able to use what she is learning in school and hoping to use in her career though, to make sure she takes care of herself. So when she does separate herself when Sebastian can’t seem to overcome his own issues, which she has kind of figured out again because of her education, the pulling away isn’t done as it so often seems to be in romances for drama’s sake. 

Sebastian is 30th in line to the throne, which in our story is not the real royals, but a made up family, much better I think, even when the author includes real music groups in the story. (Yes, I Googled them, lol.). However his connection to royalty is not at all what is keeping him from being ready to have a relationship. His reasons stem back to an incident when he was younger, and Lily correctly diagnoses that after they have some heart to heart talks, sharing their past with each other. However, even when he realizes she’s right, he still won’t let himself have what will make himself happy. It takes the devastation of losing her and others pointing out what is right in his face for him to finally decide to put up or shut up. And he has a wonderful grand gesture to get Lily back. 

When they were able to work things out and get back together, it was soon enough in the book that I was unsure what would be that final dramatic moment they would have to deal with. I thought maybe it would have something to do with her ex, but it was a surprise, especially with who ended up being involved in putting it into action. To me it was also realistic that for Lily to have a bit of a doubt at first, until she was talked down and had a minute to think, as well as having her friend ask her the important questions. The author also made Sebastian not just suddenly being perfect with no hesitation, but to have his moments, and for Lily to be able to stop and let him know it was okay, and he could talk to her, needed to talk to her, when he felt that way. 

Once again we also get to spend time with Lily’s family and friends who we know from the original series. And I even love how we get a bit of a full circle with the library study room – if you know you know. We also got some time with the characters from the first book, specifically Baird who we saw the accident happen to at the end of the first book. And I’m pleased to see that from the synopsis of the next book in the series, we will get to see his story, because I do like him a lot and would love to see him get his own HEA. Although I do now kind of feel the same way about one of Sebastian’s friends, as well as the other siblings and cousins in the story. Another winning romance from Samantha Young!