REVIEW - Down London Road by Samantha Young

Let me just start off by saying I loveeee Samantha Young’s On Dublin Street series. What’s not to like about them? It takes place in London, it has hot alpha males, drama, there’s plenty of sexual tension, loveable characters, definitely some steamy scenes, and emotional rollercoasters. I had the first one on my TBR list for a long time and I regretted leaving it there for so long. So, when the second one came out I immediately pounced on it and I was not disappointed. This book is centered around Joss’ coworker and best friend Jo. I didn’t like Jo much in the first book, especially with her whole being with guys just for their money thing, but Down London Road made me fall in love with her character too. One of the things I like most about this one is that it still has quite a bit of Joss and Brandon *swoon*. We still get to see their steamy romance (there’s a hot bathroom escapade this time) as they plan their wedding and support Jo in any way they can. It has all the characters from the first one and then some new quirky friends. We even get to see more of Ellie’s little sister, Hannah, as she goes through some adorable young love drama.
Jo had me completely hooked when I found out that she was pretty much single-handedly raising her 16 year old younger brother Cole. Her father is not part of their life and their mother is an invalid, bi-polar drunk who Jo can’t seem to kick out. Jo has been the provider of their family since she dropped out of school at sixteen in order to do so. She refuses to let anyone else raise Cole, which I completely empathize with. Even with both my parents around, I am fiercely protective of my two younger brothers and I have just recently discovered by intense motherly instincts towards them which is Jo’s primary drive throughout the book. Everything she does, she does with regards to Cole. Cole is so adorable, even as he is going through that awkward teenager phase. He tries to be a tough guy, yet Jo sees right through him and mothers him despite his protestations. Jo is very independent and insanely stubborn, not unlike Joss from the On Dublin Street. Malcolm, who is her current boyfriend at the start of the novel, could have been way worse in my opinion. However, he still seems like a slimeball to me. It’s instantly obvious that he is not “the one” for Jo, especially since after all the time that they’ve been dating, she has barely let him meet Cole.
We meet Cameron McCabe right in the first few pages of Down London Road, and holy hell is their chemistry electric. He has tattooed bad boy written all over him. At the beginning of the novel, Cam is also in a relationship, with Malcolm’s ex-girlfriend, Becca, out of all people. To say that Cam and Jo do not get along at first is an understatement. Cam decides that he’s going to judge Jo. His two biggest assumptions are that she’s with Malcolm solely for his money and that she’s cheating on him (she’s actually talking to Cole when he makes that assumption). Despite her extreme dislike for him and their obvious sexual tension, Jo puts in a good word for him at the bar that she and Joss work at so he can have a job while looking for a new graphic design job. Joss quickly sets Cam straight about Jo, and that’s when things get even more complicated for Jo. He can’t be extremely hot and nice to her in order to make up for his earlier douchebaggery, I mean they’re both in relationships! More of a sign for them to get together is when Cam moves in to the flat right above Jo’s, sucking him into her home life drama despite Jo’s efforts to keep her family drama separate from everyone else.
Cam becomes part of her everyday life. He’s her new best friend, and he even really cares for Cole as well. Just like in On Dublin Street, Jo fights the extreme attraction between her and Cam. But not to worry, there is absolutely no cheating involved. I mean a kiss doesn’t count right? It is extremely heartwarming to see how much family plays a role in this novel, especially family that has no blood relation. That is a concept I am very familiar with and I love. This book is filled with drama, but that’s why I finished it in one sitting. I highly recommend it. That happily ever after caused yet another book hangover and lots of dreamy sighs. I can’t wait for Samantha Young’s next book which is Ellie and Adam’s story!

Have you enjoyed this review? Visit Falling In Fall Book Blog for more reviews by Tricia.

Samantha Young is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She's been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestselling novel ON DUBLIN STREET. For more info on Samantha's adult fiction visit http://www.ondublinstreet.com.

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Charley Redford was just an ordinary girl until Jake Caplin moved to her small town in Indiana and convinced her she was extraordinary. Almost from day one Jake pulled Charley into the deep and promised he was right there with her. But when a tragic incident darkened Jake’s life he waded out into the shallows and left Charley behind.

Almost four years later Charley thinks she’s moved on. That is until she takes a study year abroad in Edinburgh and bumps into none other than Jake Caplin at a party with his new girlfriend. The bad-boy-turned-good attempts to convince Charley to forgive him, and as her best friend starts spending time with Jake’s, Charley calls a truce, only to find herself tumbling back into a friendship with him.

As they grow closer, the spark between them flares and begins playing havoc with their lives and relationships. When jealousy and longing rear their destructive heads, Charley and Jake struggle to come to grips with what they mean to one another.

And even if they work it out, there is no guarantee Charley will ever trust Jake to lead her back into the deep…

First chapter 1 & 2 now!