Twice as Nice: Paula’s Take on Down London Road by Samantha Young
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| AMAZON | KINDLE |
Down London Road (On Dublin Street #2) by Samantha Young
Contemporary
NAL (May 7, 2013)
Heroine: Johanna Walker – Misunderstood Gold Digger, Survivor
Hero: Cameron MacCabe – Scottish, Savior
Don't forget to check out our Down London Road giveaway! Ends 5/11.
Review:
Ladies, Ladies, Ladies… prepare yourself to be wooed and wowed and awed by this bloody fantastic story that made me laugh, cry, smile, and kick my feet in the air I was so delightfully happy!
Johanna “Jo” Walker has been dating her much older boyfriend for almost three months. He’s the perfect guy for her - kind, charming, laid-back, and wealthy. And most people would call him her sugar daddy. Jo accompanies Malcom one evening to an art show gallery, where a friend of his is displaying her art. As Jo is walking around, looking at the atrocious artwork, her eyes instantly fall on a tall, gorgeous guy who has dark blond messy hair and a sexy body with tattoos on his arms. The moment their gazes meet, there is an instant, electric spark between them. Jo is stunned by her reaction to this man since he is unlike any man she would normally go for. His clothing isn’t sophisticated and he doesn’t scream wealth.
But even with the obvious attraction between them, when Jo formally meets Cameron “Cam” MacCabe, they immediately butt heads. Cam throws down the gauntlet, thinking he has Jo all figured out, accusing her of being a money-grubbing bimbo. Yet, even with the tension between them, Jo agrees to help Cam get a job at the bar where she works. And when Cam begins his new bartending position, Jo soon finds out getting him the job might’ve been a really bad idea, since she can’t seem to ignore her attraction towards to Cam and sexy thoughts of him begin to infiltrate her mind and body. No matter how hard Jo adamantly denies the attraction she has towards Cam, it’s just too hard to avoid the intense chemistry or the butterflies she feels when she’s in the same vicinity as him.
I’d never felt so intensely attracted to someone before. Usually, it took me a while to get to know a guy before I felt that kind of deep tingling in all of my good-for-nothing places.
Behind Jo’s façade lies a broken woman and home life. Jo has had to learn to rely on herself since she was a kid. With an alcoholic mother and an absentee father, she’s been raising her little brother, Cole, for most of his life. Her sole mission is to protect Cole and give him a solid future, where they don’t have to worry about money, losing their home, wondering where their next meal will come from, and their alcoholic mother. Jo and Cole may be sister and brother, but Jo is more like Cole’s mum. Her determination to make sure Cole is taken care of, unfortunately, comes with the reputation of being a gold digger. But, truthfully, underneath it all, she’s a loving and caring sister only trying to give her brother a good life, and will do just about anything to make sure they’re safe and secure.
Once the misunderstandings between Cam and Jo simmer down and are put to rest, Cam began to see Jo for who she truly is. They form a close friendship where Cam eventually earns Jo’s trust and slowly peels back the layers that make up this woman. But even though they are simply friends, there is still a lot of unspoken sexual tension hovering on the surface. It’s just a matter of time before this sexual tension combusts and they give into each other.
I really admire our misunderstood heroine. Jo’s a survivor, who is doing her best to keep from drowning in her struggles. And the way she protects and loves Cole, when their parents failed miserably, is beautiful and extremely courageous. But Jo has always been alone while dealing with her struggles. She never felt like she could be herself, always wearing a mask to hide who she is. And she’s never shared her issues with anyone. That is, until Cam came along. Cam is exactly what Jo needs in her life - a lover, a friend, a companion, who understands and accepts everything about her. With Cam, she didn’t have to fake it, she could set herself free.
"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."
There is something about a Scottish hero that makes me weak in the knees. Sigh. I love this passionate and protective man. He’s funny, sweet, and quick with the witty remarks. I had this sudden intense need to claim Cam for myself from the moment he walked onto the pages. And the fact that he’s just as beautiful on the inside as he is on the outside, only strengthens the adoring feelings I have for him. I love how honest and raw Cam is. He doesn’t let Jo run from him. He brings out the fire in Jo she’s always hidden underneath her mask. Cam makes her face everything head on. And, once he decided it was time to claim her, he made it very clear that he wanted all of her, or nothing at all.
I absolutely adored Cam and Jo right from the start, even though they started off on the wrong foot. With any new romance, there will be problems and issues they will to work through. And there is definitely some drama, angst, and jealousy. This story is a little bit more serious and darker than the first book due to the topics addressed in this story. But, even with the bad, there is definitely a lot of good.
I love the flirtatious, witty banter between Jo and Cam. And the sexual tension… oh my panties. When these two could no longer keep the uncontrollable sexual energy and their feelings at bay, they come crashing together. It was HOT HOT HOT. Samantha Young definitely knows how to write wickedly sexy scenes that heat up the sheets.
“Cam,” I whispered, wanting him to pull away and needing him to never leave. He groaned and gently slid his forehead down the side of mine, his nose skimming my cheek, following my jaw, and coming to rest in a nuzzle against my throat.
I held my breath, waiting.
His hot lips touched the skin there. One brush. Two.
And then I felt the wet, hot erotic touch of tongue and I shuddered, falling against him.
Oh yes, ladies.… Cam and Jo are SO deliciously HOT together!
This series has a great cast of characters including Cole, Braden’s family, Adam, Braden, and Joss. I thought I would be sad about not having another Braden and Joss book, but Jo and Cam were just as amazing characters. We do, however, get a lot of page time with Braden and Joss. And I really did enjoy every sexy moment I got to spend with Braden.
Stellar is the first word that comes to mind when I think about Down London Road. Simply stunning are the next two words. This book will leave an emotional impact on you and you will be wowed by the romance. There is no doubt in my mind that Samantha Young has become one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. I LOVE LOVE LOVE her writing. I have a feeling I know who the next couple is, and I’m very excited to read their story!
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