Play On

Play On, Book 1

By: Samantha Young

Narrated by: Claire Kilpatrick

Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

The New York Times bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series and Hero returns to Scotland in this passionate and evocative romance about love, loss, and surviving both.

Nora O'Brien chased a dream from Indiana to Scotland, so sure it was the right thing to do. Three years later she was left in her adopted country with nothing to her name but guilt and regret.

Until Aidan Lennox entered her life.

Older, worldlier, a music producer and composer, the sexy Scot should never have made sense for Nora. But somehow in each other they found the light they were looking for, the laughter and the passion - the strength to play on despite their past losses.

But when life dealt Aidan another unlucky hand, instead of reaching for her he disappeared. The agonizing loss of him inspired something within Nora. It fired her spirit - the anger and hurt pushing her forward to take control and reach for her dreams.

Finally pursuing a career on stage while she put herself through college, everything is how Nora wants it. She's avoiding heartbreak and concentrating on her goals.

Sounds easy, but it's not. Because Aidan is back. And for some reason he hates Nora.

He's determined to be at war with her.

And she has absolutely no idea why.

©2017 Samantha Young (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Play On

I am on the fence on how I feel about this book, I enjoyed it but only from about the last half.

I found my mind wondering a little, I liked the angst... SHOCKING I know, but it worked for this book. I felt the emotions both the main characters feel. I felt for both of them for a lot of different reasons. This feels more like a slow burn kind of book until it's not. then look out. Hahah

There were some predictable things like the best friend being jealous, I saw that coming from the moment we meet her.

I did enjoy when Nora’ s mother came into play near the last half of the book, that was interesting and I am glad I needed more closure on that part of her past.

I am glad we get our Scot accents, I feel like it isn’t a Samantha Young book without them so for that I loved the narration.

I don't Know How I Finished

Wow!! I'm just so disappointed, I loved On Dublin Street, I have enjoyed many of Ms.Young books. Play On was a big miss for me. The characters are very immature, such a cliche listen, the beginning was a 18 year old melodrama. The whole "big misunderstanding " between Aidan and Nora was so played out, so unoriginal, so immature and I think I've read this type of story line as far back as the "Dynasty " "Knots Landing " days. I mean seriously it was more like a soap opera than anything else. Just so ridiculous at times, so very As the World Turns like, not anything that I won't forget about by the next day. And the Epilogue was boring , 2 months later ,so uninteresting, nothing exciting to end on , just not feeling this soap opera listen at all 2 stars only.

Claire Kilpatrick was just OK with the delivery of the story.

LOVED THIS BOOK!!

Where does Play On rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's one of my favorites! I love Samantha Young and I especially love her On Dublin Street Series. In Play On it feels like she made a smart return to Scotland and gave us that love story I was so desperately looking for! I love a book that can make you swoon, fall in love and then tear that love right out of your hands making you want to throw your ereader against the wall!! Samantha does this so well!! Of course I love the suffering of broken hearts, the angst of will they or won't they work it out! This book delivered that long searched for love story that I crave!!A very will deserved 5 stars!! This is one of my favorites and I will return to listen again and again because this is a rare gem...that book that you search for months to find!!LOVE IT!!!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved all of them...

Which scene was your favorite?

Probably when Aiden tells Nora off and is so brutal to her...you have to listen to know why, it was very well written and such an important part of their story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

YES!! It made my laugh, cry, swoon, angry...all of the emotions!!

Any additional comments?

READ IT!! LISTEN TO IT!! Narration is just as fantastic as the book!!

Claire Kilpatrick A.K.A. Narrator Ms Angela Dawe

I purchased this book after reading Ms Dawe interview with author Lee Winter. In the interview, Ms Dawe reveals her Erotic reads via this also known as name. So if you liked this narration, see all the romance read by Ms Dawe. Her Scots brogue is the best, hence why reviewers liked this book. Do not miss Author Nora Roberts the MacGregor series for LOL stories of the Scottish MacGregor antics. Or if you like historicals, authors Hannah Howell and Jennifer Ashley. For more of Ms Dawe steaming reads see author Tiffany Snow series Kathleen Turner, Kade will wow your dreamy socks off.
The publishers summery is spot on so no need to add to it. I can only hope author continues to have Ms Kilpatrick/ Dawe record her work. If you like a story with a mysterious adventure then this book is for you. I do use the 1.1 or 1.2 speed to match the tale. Give it a try.
Were my comments of help?

I wish Samantha would do a follow up

I loved this book and the characters so much, I wish their were a series revolving around the characters. The performance from the narrator was fantastic. I could listen to this book over and over again.

Broke me in a good way

I am not very emotional .... I cried during this book... the story, the narration, it works. The narrator nailed it. The angst, the pain , the love.. Even when she was doing something you didnt like, she explained why she was doing it so that you agreed with her!! It's been a while since I have like a book this much. BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN.

4 stars

Wow, I'm in a glass case of emotion right now! I love how in depth this story was with Nora and how it went in a completely different direction from the beginning. Claire did an amazing job narrating.

Great Read! Great Listen! 🎧

Samantha Young has a wonderful writing style and knows how to draw the reader from the start and holds their interest until the very end. I love the characters she created here & their storylines. "Play On" is an emotional rollercoaster with lots of drama, angst all the makings of a beautiful love story. Samantha Young, Thank you for another great read!!

Claire Kilpatrick does a wonderful job narrating, she performs the voices of all the different characters, switches vocals back and forth effortlessly keeping the story in a perfect flow. Loved how she did the accents too! Thank you for the great listen!!

#HeartFelt #TearJerkers #Relationships #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Another spectacular book by Samantha Young

When I pick up a Samantha Young novel I know I'm in for a treat. Honestly, she writes characters that you see everyday. The Heroine & the hero of the novels are all beautifully written and they make you love them and cheer for them. I've owned this book for quite sometime but I could never bring myself to read it. I love Samantha Young's novels so much that I tend to get a book hangover anytime I finish it. I just never want the book to end.

I'm glad I picked this book up. I listened to the audiobook & read part of the book. I loved the story and the characters. The plot was fast paced and kept me interested. I was so ravenous with this book I ended up quitting the audiobook simply because I can read faster. I devoured this book. I laughed, I cried, and I almost threw the book as well.

All in all, this was another spectacular book that Samantha Young has written.

Angsty Emotional rollercoaster

Samantha Young knows how to wrench your heart. Nora and Aidan are a beautiful couple who have to overcome a bunch of tragedy in order to love each other, but this HEA is worth it.

Another stunner!

Another brilliant book by Samantha Young. The story was excellent, for the most part the narration was brilliant (I could listen to Claire talk all day long! LOL)

My only criticism would be the impersonation of a male voice. The Scottish accent wasn’t bad but I do not understand why voices need to be impersonated, why not just have a male voice speak the male part? Also why not have true Scotsman speak with a true Scot accent rather then one being made up?

Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this book, great storyline, good length, good performance ... as I said another success.

I cried like a baby

Brilliant story and it really made me cry. I’m 83 years old and felt like a teenager.

One for Young Adult readers

At 11 yrs old Nora became her father’s full time carer, and at 18 yrs old her long term future involved looking after bitter and resentful parents while working in a fast food joint. After convincing herself she was in love with a visiting Scottish tourist, she elopes from Indiana to Edinburgh. Her new husband wanted a life of domestic bliss and children, while Nora yearned for freedom and higher education. This book follows Nora trying to live with her guilt at the way she has treated those around her while trying to find her own path in life.

I was a little uncomfortable about the part of the book concerning the child custody issue. A previously neglectful father who learns to care for his daughter and decides that he wants to be a full time father is not a bad thing, even if we are told from the perspective of the loving uncle who would like to keep guardianship.

The best part of the book was, ironically, Nora’s new family in Scotland. Wonderful characters with a fabulous side romance. I loved the sensitive portrayal of Jim, Nora’s husband, who struggled with adoring his wife aware that his feelings were not reciprocated. I also loved the portrayal of her mother, a character who turned out to be so much more than expected. I did, however, wish for a more original plot line to engineer Nora and Aiden’s problems than the convenient “evil best friend secretly in love”, along with a well timed lost phone and the most efficient moving men in Great Britain!

I enjoyed listening to this book but it is really a Young Adult book which is not my favourite genre. I just did not feel the connection between Aiden and Nora. It felt like they came from different generations, with Nora’s education just starting, while Aiden was established and successful in his career and juggling jobs from all over the world. It just all felt a bit fairytale, with Nora suffering that overused romantic trope of “I’m not good enough for him” followed by “I don’t want to be with him because it will hurt too much when he leaves me”

Samantha Young has written some brilliant books and this is almost one of them. I just wish the age and lifestyle gap was not so great and Nora was given a few more years to grow up before the reunion in the final chapters.