As Dust Dances by Samantha Young

 

AS DUST DANCES:
Once upon a time Skylar Finch was the lead singer of a hugely successful American pop-rock band. But fame made her miserable. When years of living a lie suddenly ended in tragedy, Skylar fell off the map.

 Eighteen months later she’s sleeping in a tent in a cemetery in Glasgow, making just enough money to eat by busking on the streets. She manages to avoid recognition, but not the attention of one of Glasgow’s ambitious A&R executives.

 Killian O’Dea works at Skyscraper Records, Scotland’s most successful record label. Raised by his uncle and owner of the label, Killian’s upbringing would have been devoid of affection entirely if it wasn’t for his loving sister. Killian is unflinchingly determined to bring the label more success than ever, and the young homeless woman who busks on Buchanan Street is going to help him do that. Her music speaks to him in a way he refuses to over-analyze. All he knows is that if it can touch his dark soul, it’ll set everyone else’s alight.

 Skylar makes it clear that she doesn’t want to sign with him. But when she experiences the dangerous reality of a woman sleeping rough, Skylar has no one else but Killian to turn to. An undeniable connection forms between them. But Skylar doesn’t want the career Killian is trying to forge for her, and when her past comes back to haunt her Killian will be faced with a decision that could ruin him. He must either free Skylar from his selfish machinations and destroy everything he’s ever worked for, or lose a woman who has come to mean more to him than he ever thought possible…

MY REVIEW

So first off, although I'm a huge fan of Samantha's, having not read Play On yet, I wasn't expecting to love this book as completely as I did.  Set in Glasgow, Scotland -"...the city of music..." a place & its people that are characters all their own.  This is an emotionally intense romance filled with struggle & sacrifice, on a journey of survival & love, to rejoin this thing called life.  A story of "Music that will heal you.", becoming "...an artist in your own right.", moving on & finding your place in the world.  

Witty - oh so smart, emotional with the perfect balance of humor & sarcasm - not to mention skin prickling, "...loving and passionate..." sexy as hell. "...it made my girly bits very happy."  Skylar has worked hard to escape who she was, positioning herself to disappear & keep her distance from the world.  Talented & smart, there's no avoiding being discovered in more ways than one, all over again.  Enter Killian - "...attractive, brooding bastard with a hot accent." He is just as broken, just as driven, just as complicated.  Their connection is undeniable, no matter how hard he tries.  Closure is sought & lessons in forgiveness are learned, while putting past wrongs right.  There are moments when the raw emotion of it all is almost to much to take - "...I loved her the best. Always."  

I love the fierce protectiveness of Killian & Skylar's wonderfully smart mouth "Actually, my current policy is to give zero fucks."  Grief, healing, longing & attraction, Samantha makes it all tangible.  This book left me gobsmacked.

"Simple and elegant, but a little different."

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

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