Down London Road by Samantha Young

TITLE:Down London Road 

Author: Samantha Young
Series: On Dublin Street #2
Genre: Erotica, Contemporary Romance
Why did I read the book: On Dublin Street did get under my skin and Young's writings urged me to take up the next book. I guess made the right choice.
The lines that stole the credit:

" She thinks she knows what she wants....

   Until he shows her what she needs."

How did I get the book: Downloaded the Ebook after reading the first book in the series.

The Story: (Author's Own Words)

Johanna Walker is used to taking charge. But she’s about to meet someone who will make her lose control....

It has always been up to Johanna to care for her family, particularly
her younger brother, Cole. With an absent father and a useless mother,
she’s been making decisions based on what’s best for Cole for as long as
she can remember. She even determines what men to date by how much they
can provide for her brother and her, not on whatever sparks may—or may
not—fly. 

But with Cameron MacCabe, the attraction is 
undeniable. The sexy new bartender at work gives her butterflies every 
time she looks at him. And for once, Jo is tempted to put her needs 
first. Cam is just as obsessed with getting to know Jo, but her walls 
are too solid to let him get close enough to even try. 

Then 
Cam moves into the flat below Jo’s, and their blistering connection 
becomes impossible to ignore. Especially since Cam is determined to 
uncover all of Jo’s secrets…even if it means taking apart her defenses 
piece by piece.

My Point-Of-view: (#Spoiler_Alert)
“What I feel for you … It’s all-consuming", he breathed, leaning his forehead against mine again. "It’s almost debilitating. It’s too much. It’s … I can’t even describe it, but being with you is … there’s this intensity inside me all the time, this … constant pull, desperation … it’s like you’re branded on me or something. And it bloody well burns.” 

The author takes great care in getting the reader to know Johanna or Jo, and her teenager brother Cole whom she parents. Her father is not in the picture and her mother is a severe alcoholic who can barely leave her room, and when she does, is extremely nasty to both Jo and Cole. But as Cole is still a minor, Jo fears about reporting her mother’s behavior to the authorities as they might take Cole away from her.

I ended up really enjoying Jo’s character and I think she is my most favorite thing in this story. She has given up on herself and her future. She has an intense need to feel safe and to be able to take care of Cole. She only dates older, wealthy men one day hoping to marry one of them, so her future is secure. She would rather live a life that is fake, than risk her future with her brother.

“Some people are born with family, and others have to make family.”

In On Dublin Street, we are given the impression that Jo is nothing more than a flaky girl looking for a sugar daddy; someone to buy her pretty things for sex. Yet, in here, we are quickly disabused of that first impression. Once I met the real Jo, I fell for her hard. So strong and selfless, I was impressed by her tenacity.
To quote Cam at this point
“I've never met anyone as quietly brave and strong as you. I've never met a woman so unassuming, so kind, and so selfless. You are a complex lady." His mouth curled up at the corners. "And you are smart, and passionate, and funny, and exciting, and you blow me fucking away.”

Jo is the one taking care of everything. But who looks after her? When Cameron MacCabe comes into her life, a smoking hot twenty something bad boy artist whom Jo meets at her current boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend’s art show, he judges her by what he sees - a girl dating men who have only have big wallets, however once he gets to know Jo, he realizes she's not what she seems. They fast became friends and soon their attraction is undeniable. But can Jo really take a chance on love or will she always settle for what she thinks is best?

Again I like how Cam is a bit pushy into coming into her life, and once he understands who the real Jo is, he doesn't judge her nor pity her living situation. He stands up for her, and is there for support. At times together they the cutest couples ever...

“Cam and I just broke up."

Cam laughed, hugging me even tighter into his side.

I huffed, trying to wriggle free. "What are you doing?"

"Getting back together with you.”

 And I also loved his relationship with Cole, Jo’s brother. I think Samantha Young writes a nice teenager – a good mix of young and maturity.

One person I truly felt for was Malcolm (Jo’s ex-boyfriend). I liked him and it was sad watching him slowly acknowledge his love for Jo. He became a bigger part of the book then I expected.

I think the build-up to Cam and Jo’s relationship and the way their love unfolds is written well. My favorite part is watching Jo’s self-confidence build. How she gets mad at Cam because he makes her want things in life that she was previously too scared to even dream of. (Like when she quits her job). He not only gives her his sexy body (well hello there! ;) ) 

“I’m going to fuck you so hard, sink so keep inside of you, you’ll never work me out from under your skin. Never.”

but he gives her confidence and security where she never thought she would find it. 

That right there is love.

Seeing Jo grow emotionally and mentally was the highlight of the book. It was done so well with the additional character inputs and the balance between the romance and the plot lines.

All in all, Down London Street was much, much more than I expected it to be. A deceptively complex romantic contemporary that will have you laughing, crying, and swooning with delight.

There actually weren't a ton of sexy scenes in Down London Road but the few that were there blew me away. There’s this one scene in a dressing room… OH MY GOD!! (That’s all I have to say about that. )

I liked how the conflicts in Down London Road felt very realistic.

“I was an awful, awful person. Yup. My world was full of color. Red for want. Yellow for shame. Green for jealousy.”
So many times in romance books the main conflicts are just so… petty. They weren't petty in Down London Road. I could totally relate to them and understand where both characters were coming from

My Favorite Parts:

“You know, men don’t think like women.”

“Well…” I pulled a face. “That’s because you have the emotional capacity of a shot cup.”Or,

“I think we need to come up with a child-friendly phrase for f-u-c-k off."

"Duck off?"

"Exactly. Braden, duck off, you sarcastic dastard.”

Verdict: I really enjoyed the book. In all, Down London Road is a steamy, passionate and all-consuming read and, once I started reading I didn't want to stop, and no it wasn't just about Cam but because of how beautifully Samantha writes. So if you haven't read any of her work yet, I urge you to do so.

My Rating: I give Down London Road 3.5 stars out of 5. 
NEXT READ: I totally have my eye on her next one in this series Before Jamaica Lane ODS #3 (Review coming soon)