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

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

Published May 7th 2013 by NAL (first published January 1st 2013)

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 Thoughts

I enjoyed this one quite a bit, especially because we got to see a complete transformation of a character that was first introduced On Dublin Street.

In this novel, Johanna Walker takes center stage as we learn about her back story and the hardships she's endured as a child. Coming from an abusive family where she currently cares for her alcoholic mother and younger brother, it's hard not to immediately care for Jo. She works two jobs and as a means of security, she dates rich men that offer her the sense of a possible future. However, her constant quests to land a man that she hopes will someday be her protector and provider seems to constantly fall flat.

That is until she meet Malcolm. He's rich, kind and older, and it's no doubt Johanna care for him despite the lack of chemistry. This becomes fully evident when she collides with Cameron and she begins the see the possibility of a fulfilling romance. However, is she willing to sacrifice the security of Malcolm that could mean a good future for her little brother in order to have a romance that will possibly leave her broken hearted?

I really liked Johanna from the beginning. I admired her strength and how protective she was of Cole. It was hard to immediately like Cameron especially when he judged her without knowing her. Throughout the novel, he said and did a few things that kept me from connecting with him all the way, but in the end, he proved worthy.

Great story that's filed with heated chemistry and a likable main character. I enjoyed it much!

4 Suns