Fight or Flight

Samantha Young

Oct 2018 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

A series of chance encounters leads to a sizzling new romance from the New York Times bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series.

The universe is conspiring against Ava Breevort. As if flying back to Phoenix to bury a childhood friend wasn't hell enough, a cloud of volcanic ash traveling from overseas delayed her flight back home to Boston. Her last ditch attempt to salvage the trip was thwarted by an arrogant Scotsman, Caleb Scott, who steals a first class seat out from under her. Then over the course of their journey home, their antagonism somehow lands them in bed for the steamiest layover Ava's ever had. And that's all it was--until Caleb shows up on her doorstep.

When pure chance pulls Ava back into Caleb's orbit, he proposes they enjoy their physical connection while he's stranded in Boston. Ava agrees, knowing her heart's in no danger since a) she barely likes Caleb and b) his existence in her life is temporary. Not long thereafter Ava realizes she's made a terrible error because as it turns out Caleb Scott isn't quite so unlikeable after all. When his stay in Boston becomes permanent, Ava must decide whether to fight her feelings for him or give into them. But even if she does decide to risk her heart on Caleb, there is no guarantee her stubborn Scot will want to risk his heart on her....

Ratings and reviews

3.75 stars--FIGHT OR FLIGHT by Samantha Young is a contemporary adult, stand alone romance story line focusing on thirty-five year old CFO of Koto Technologies Scotsman Caleb Scott, and thirty –year old, interior designer Ava Breevort. Told from first person point of view (Ava) including memories of the past, FIGHT OR FLIGHT follows the enemies to lovers relationship between thirty-five year old CFO of Koto Technologies Scotsman Caleb Scott, and thirty –year old, interior designer Ava Breevort. The death of a former friend, a series of mishaps, a volcanic eruption in Europe, and several flight delays eventually find Ava Breevort facing off against a belligerent and hostile Scotsman slash Viking, who pushes all of our heroine’s buttons. From one unexpected delay to another, and an overnight stay in Phoenix, Ava’s frustration mounts as Caleb Scott becomes the proverbial thorn in her side, and vice versa. Not that Caleb is thrilled that his business plans have been placed on hold but the continuous reappearance of the beautiful but presumably high-maintenance Ava Breevort begins to chafe at Caleb’s growing anger towards a woman he perceives as all kinds of wrong. A one-night stand, and another round of run-ins in Ava’s hometown of Boston, Massachusetts continues to pull at their mutual attraction but equally mutual hatred for one another. What ensues is the agreed upon friends with benefits arrangement between Ava and Caleb, and the potential fall-out as Ava ‘apparently’ pushes too hard forcing Caleb to hurt the woman with whom he is falling in love. Caleb Scott is a sexy, brooding, and antagonistic male whose dislike of Ava is immediate and aggressive. Unable to let go of the past, Caleb is unbending in his friends with benefits-only arrangement, an arrangement that is about to destroy the heart of our story line heroine. Caleb’s initial assessment and treatment of Ava is embarrassing and exasperating, as our heroine questions if she has done something wrong, a question that has Ava giving as good as she gets. Ava Breevort knows love and loss, a loss that has affected Ava’s self-esteem, and scarred our heroine to the possibility of future love, another betrayal, and issues of trust. Falling for Caleb was never on the radar but having her heart ripped out meant Ava needed to reassess what she wanted in her life. The relationship between Ava and Caleb is an enemies to lovers/friends with benefits arrangement that leads to something more. For weeks Ava and Caleb will be both friends and lovers but jealousy, heartbreak and memories from the past are but the tip of the ice-burg that is slowly collapsing their hard-fought friendship. Caleb wants to know everything about the woman he refuses to love but isn’t capable of talking about his own embittered past. The push and pull of jealousy is immature and sophomoric in the face of Caleb’s inability to feel something more. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. We are introduced to Ava’s best friend, executive pastry chef Harper Smith whose own life experiences are painful and hard –there is a small plot development focusing on Harper, and the fall-out of her own relationship disaster; Ava’s bosses Stella and Patrice; and Caleb’s brother, artist Jamie Scott. I am hoping for a storyline focusing on both Harper and Jamie, but more importantly Harper and Jamie together. FIGHT OR FLIGHT is a story of pain and heartbreak, and tainted perception. Caleb struggles in the face of former betrayal, and paints Ava with the same judgemental brush. The premise is inviting; the characters are dynamic, flawed and broken; the romance struggles in the face of preconceived notions, and demons from the past.

You always know how to put the words in your writing that makes you visualize the place, the moment! I just love it! Thanks for another great read!!

Samantha Young us one of my favorite authors and her writing never disappoints. Ava is probably one of my favorite characters she's she's written. I read this book in one sitting because I didn't want to stop. I would definitely recommend this!

About the author

Samantha Young is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Hart’s Boardwalk series and the On Dublin Street series, including Moonlight on Nightingale Way, Echoes of Scotland Street, Fall from India Place, Before Jamaica Lane, Down London Road, and On Dublin Street. She resides in Scotland.