Here with Me

The Adair Family, Book 1

By: Samantha Young

Narrated by: Charlotte North

Settled in the tranquil remoteness of the Scottish Highlands, Ardnoch Estate caters to the rich and famous. It is as unattainable and as mysterious as its owner - ex-Hollywood leading man Lachlan Adair - and it's poised on the edge of a dark scandal.

After narrowly escaping death, Police Officer Robyn Penhaligon leaves behind her life in Boston in search of some answers. Starting with Mac Galbraith, the Scottish father who abandoned her to pursue his career in private security. To reconnect with Mac, Robyn will finally meet a man she's long resented. Lachlan Adair. Hostility instantly brews between Robyn and Lachlan. She thinks the head of the Adair family is high-handed and self-important. And finding closure with Mac is proving more difficult than she ever imagined. Robyn would sooner leave Ardnoch, but when she discovers Mac is embroiled in a threat against the Adairs and the exclusive members of the estate, she finds she's not yet ready to give up on her father.

Determined to ensure Mac's safety, Robyn investigates the disturbing crimes at Ardnoch, forcing her and Lachlan to spend time together. Soon it becomes clear a searing attraction exists beneath their animosity, and temptation leads them down a perilous path.

©2021 Samantha Young (P)2022 Tantor

True mystery

While I had thought I might know whodunit, in the end I was still surprised to be right, so subtle was the foreshadowing.

A bit predictable

Fun, bubble gum reading. A nice little mystery, but the romance part was a bit contrived and predictable. Nicely narrated though.

Very Slow

This book seemed almost endless, and I was bored for the majority of it. I've enjoyed some of this author's work, and I was intrigued when I heard she was writing something other than just romance, the crime/mystery element is what made me want to read it.

Unfortunately, the mystery part wasn't much of a mystery, I guessed who was behind it right away. Except for Robyn's father getting hurt, most of it was threatening notes and ransacking. There didn't seem to be a sense of urgency until the end, mostly it was a catalyst for jealous feelings.

So the mystery was just there to keep Robyn and Lachlan in each other's orbit, and what a boring place that was. Lachlan is sexist and petty, he and Robyn bicker like school kids, The fact that he's almost 40 made me embarrassed for him. But of course Robyn is attracted to him, I guess it's easy to overlook his lack of personality when he's rich and good looking.

The best part of the book is Robyn's re-connection with her father, Mac. Trying to reconcile after he pretty much abandoned her when he was a child was the emotional heart of the story.

Charlotte North was very good with the delivery of the story

The story REALLY drags on…

The story line was ok, but oh man did it drag on! I had to take breaks from listening because I got impatient. There was so much dialogue and it took away from rather than help the story and development of Robin and Adair’s relationship. I’m all about a strong heroine, but there needs to be a balance with the hero as well. I love Samantha Young’s books, but this one was definitely not my favorite.

Loved this book

I stumbled across this book because of a TikTok I watched and I was not disappointed. There was a little bit of suspense and danger but I loved the love story. It's also a little spicy. This book is one of my favorites I've listened to this year.

Totally enjoyed this book

Great story. Hot sex and good plot. Loved reading this. Looking forward to the next book.

Didn’t realize it was a romance novel

I didn’t read the book’s description clearly because I thought I bought a mystery when it’s actually a romance, a genre that I don’t read. The narrator was great and the story was fine so in the end it was worth finishing, however I definitely won’t read other Samantha Young books.

I’m inches away from DNF.

I have been forcing myself through this book. It’s painfully obvious “whodunnit” and it’s frustrating that the MCs are just… falling for the ploy. ESPECIALLY Lachlan. Too oblivious. I don’t even want to keep listening with just three hours left.

It was hard enough to get through the book before the MCs relationship developed a little more because they’re just so unlikeable. Lachlan is a pushy, emotionally unavailable control freak for the entire story. Literally the entire time he’s a dick. And Robyn has a chip on her shoulder for at least half of the book. She gets better as the story progresses once she lets go of some of her attitude.

I adored Mack, tbh. He was the best part of the whole story.
I’m going to suffer through the rest of the story, but I’m going to complain the whole time.

Sex

Too much detailed sex! I really don’t need that garbage to get the point
The story line was ok. Another poor me story

Passable mystery romance

Could have done without the course language. The actor was good with accents and characters.