Down London Road (On Dublin Street #2) by Samantha Young

Gitte: I absolutely love this Author and couldn’t wait to get stuck into ‘Down London Road’ as I loved ‘On Dublin Street’. The sequel didn’t disappoint, yet again it was really well written and had me riveted through the majority of it, however, I didn’t love it as much as I did book #1. That being said it had everything that makes for a sexy, heart breaking, emotional, dramatic and addictive read.

Jenny: We’ve certainly been hanging out for this book that’s for sure and I loved it. Maybe not as much as On Dublin Street, but I loved it all the same. It was full of engaging, sexy characters each with their own story to tell and getting lost in this story was relatively easy due to the beautiful writing of Samantha Young. She really does have a way of transporting us into a story that’s for sure, her descriptive prose, at times, had me believing I really was taking a walk down London Road with these characters.

Gitte: Jo, our heroine, has not had it easy, actually she still doesn’t really.

“I didn’t think I was unhappy. I didn’t know if I was happy, though.”

She grew up in an abusive home and still has to deal with an alcoholic and thus cruel and debilitating mother. Bringing up her brother she plays the role of two parents, trying to make sure her brother Cole has some semblance of normality, love and discipline. She works real hard to provide forgoing her own dreams out of love and responsibility.

“It was a singular kind of pain to have your parents find you worthless, find you so unlovable that they could hurt what nature told them they should protect. I’d never wanted Cole to feel that pain…”

Jo is inspiring and is truly a heroine in every sense of the word. She has her faults and her hang-up’s but who can really blame her. On the outside she is a strikingly beautiful girl who displays confidence and has a great sense of humour. However, she hides her real life, her insecurities and misplaced beliefs under the cool façade. She tries to justify her means to an end but deep down knows that she is not on the right path.

“Most days I coped with the hand that Cole and I had been dealt. Today I felt emotional. I felt further than ever from the peace and security I strove to find.”

So our Jo meets Cam and their journey begins which sets Jo on a path on self-discovery and realisation.

Cam was lush, yeah I say this a lot, but he really was, he was sexy and tattooed oh and he had a real cocky attitude. He is actually a real arse to begin with and I wanted to slap him with my kindle. Too quick to judge and throw his opinions around with ill-gotten assumptions. Cam has had a rough patch in his life too, questioning where he comes from, however he grew up amidst love and protection which makes him the amazing man he grew into.

There is a real sexual chemistry between Jo and Cam, however his treatment of her made for a slow build. Cam is as straight up as they come. He loves with passion, he protects and he owns up to his mistakes and faults. He has a real sense of decency and loyalty.

“Honestly, I don’t know. All I do know is that I’ve never treated anyone the way I’ve treated you, and I’ve never met anyone who deserved it less. I like you, Jo. And whether you want to admit it or not, you need a friend.”

So yeah, he was an arse at first…but…he was intent on knocking down her defences and learning who the real Jo is not the image she portrayed and hid behind out of the sense of duty she felt. Once he sees the real Jo he is adamant that he will get her to see who she really is and what she deserves.

“You know, the world will always try to make you into who it wants you to be. People, time, events, they’ll all try to carve away at you and make you think you don’t know who you are. But it doesn’t matter who they try to make you or what name they try to give you. If you stay true, you can chip off all their machinations and you’re still you underneath it all.” – Cam

Oh and how can I forget to mention…our Cam is a bit of a dirty talker, a charmer and very much a romantic!

Jenny: I really felt for Jo. She exuded sex appeal, confidence and seemed to have it all, but underneath there was this insecure girl with low self esteem and very little belief in herself, a woman who had the weight of the world on her shoulders, who trusted few and felt like she had to take everything on board and boy did she take on a lot of responsibility. From her father being absent most of her life, to dealing with an aggressive alcoholic mother and caring for her brother Cole, doing whatever she can to make sure he has every possible chance in life, this woman was admirable to say the least.

She did indeed have it tough and I connected with Jo so well. I felt her inner conflict and my heart ached for her and for how little she thought of herself. If only she could see what others see and if only she could be the Jo so few got to see.

“His eyes washed over my face, taking in every tiny detail, make me feel more naked than I’d ever felt before”

Cam. Oh dear lord, Cam. I loved him. He was such an arrogant arse indeed but wow, I loved him immediately even though he was a bit of a dick at first. He was a match for Jo and brought her out of herself. Made her feel like she was worth something and he slowly chipped at her defenses, broke down that emotional barrier and pushed his way through. He wasn’t giving up.

“You’re stunning.” he whispered hoarsely. “No man can possibly deserve you”

Cam was so rough and ready compared to the men Jo had previously taken an interest in and Jo argued with herself if Cam could be the man for her. Could she take a chance on this hot, cocky tattooed gorgeous man, who was the opposite of safe, who screamed “challenge” from every pore? She was full of inner turmoil but this man was made of stern stuff and he knew just how to press her buttons.

Jo had gone through a plethora of relationships looking for financial stability in a relationship rather than emotional stability. Cam was a revelation to her and he was exactly what she needed, even if he wasn’t exactly what she expected. Oh he sure was a dirty talker Gitte and don’t we love those!

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

And underneath he was a beautiful soul who was perfect for Jo in every way. For how he made her feel and how he treasured her when she had so little love for herself.

Gitte: Down London Road teases the reader with a luscious build-up with pent-up tension and dramas; it certainly isn’t a smooth ride for our Jo and Cam that’s for sure. Then suddenly it takes off and you go on one hell of a ride with a few surprises thrown in, not forgetting some pretty hot and sexy one’s too. The heart-breaking theme running through this story shows that a person’s strength with the help of trust and love can overcome a tragic childhood and the abuse inflicted by the people who should love and protect you the most. Oh and we also get to catch up with Joss & Braden (huge sigh…)…

So yes, I really did love it but I did have a bit of an issue with it. Authenticity. This story is written by a British Author and is set in Scotland with British characters. Yes there were a few Aye’s and arse’s but on the whole, in my opinion, the setting belied the language and spellings used hence taking me out of the story at times. I am sure I will be in the minority here with this opinion, and as always this is my personal opinion…*runs to hide*…

Jenny: Oh dear, if that’s the case, I better run and hide with you because the authenticity was a bit of an issue for me as well. I loved the Scottish brogue . When it was set free I could feel it, I could hear it and I loved it and it was these moments which set this story apart, but I would have much preferred it to stay true to its setting and let us believe these characters were in Scotland because at times, with the constant switching in vernacular it had the tendency to take me out of the moment and out of the story as well.

I did however love this story. Joss and Jo had become such firm friends since ODS and this is something I would have loved to have been explored more, but I soon got over that and loved the interaction and friendship between these two. Forthright Joss doesn’t beat about the bush when giving Jo a piece of her mind. She certainly speaks her mind when Jo frustrates the hell out of her but she is a good friend to Jo.

It was moving, at times painful, sizzling hot with characters who will once again win your heart. The family dynamics, the meeting of old friends from ODS, and the emotional pull of the story and the heartache contained therein. Theirs is not an easy road but it is one that is worth the challenge, worth the heartache and I was along for the ride with them every steamy minute.

“………I found myself reaching a hand up to his face, my heart pounding as I watched this man – this strong, irreverent man – overcome with emotion….emotion for me…..”

The epilogue completed it perfectly.