Before Jamaica Lane

On Dublin Street

By: Samantha Young

Narrated by: Lee Angel

Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

The follow-up to the runaway best sellers On Dublin Street and Down London Road

Despite her outgoing demeanor, Olivia is painfully insecure around the opposite sex - usually, she can't get up the nerve to approach guys she's interested in. But moving to Edinburgh has given her a new start, and, after she develops a crush on a sexy postgrad, she decides it's time to push past her fears and go after what she wants.

Nate Sawyer is a gorgeous player who never commits, but to his close friends, he's as loyal as they come. So when Olivia turns to him with her relationship woes, he offers to instruct her in the art of flirting and to help her become more sexually confident.

The friendly education in seduction soon grows into an intense and hot romance. But then Nate's past and commitment issues rear their ugly heads, and Olivia is left brokenhearted. When Nate realizes he's made the biggest mistake of his life, he will have to work harder than he ever has before to entice his best friend into falling back in love with him - or he may lose her forever…

©2013 Samantha Young (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Yummy

I was very much looking forward to Olivia & Nate's story and I was not disappointed. I love love love Brayden & Jos (not so much Jo & Cam) and I wasn't sure where the author would go with Olivia and Nate's story but I totally bought the HEA. I was glad this story didn't directly follow the previous 2 stories with a very dramatic experience to get over but rather how to get past loss. I believed in both of them and although I wanted to smack Olivia towards the end for being so stubborn I still loved their journey. Definitely worth the wait & listen.

Next Level Friends With Benefits

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book for one huge reason. Women should be empowered and Nate gave Olivia a necessary confidence. He found her irresistible and he showed her. Aside from that the story was okay, I really loved Dublin Street.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Before Jamaica Lane?

I think the most memorable for me was the evolution of their love. I found it a little corny but mostly refreshing. I mean what guy would turn down sex?

What about Lee Angel’s performance did you like?

I thought the performance was okay. I thought the parts of Olivia were great. There was a sincerely delivery on the emotion. He scottish accent could use a little work.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I thought there were some funny bits. I can't speak for all women, but I've been very unlucky in love. Romance and chick lit cause me to feel a longing. With the number of books I've read and audiobooks I've listened to, its sort of become and education.

Loved the story, only an okay narration.

Would you listen to Before Jamaica Lane again? Why?

I don't know if I'd listen to it again, but I love the story so I'll definitely read it again.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters are amazing as always. Samantha Young knows how to write an amazing romance novel.

What three words best describe Lee Angel’s voice?

Not too good. Unfortunately, I'm listening to this book right after the first two, and I'm a bit biased to the other narrators. On Dublin Street had the perfect scottish accent. This one, however, does not.

Lee Angel does a fine American accent, but her Scottish men end up sounding Russian which makes me crack up at the wrong time (*ahem* sexy time scenes).

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Loved the book, really didn't like that the narration made it sound like we were in Russia.

Sooooooo goooood

This story was everything. Amazing performance. LOVE LOVE LOVE. May listen again because I love it that much.

Ridiculously good! Epic (and I hate that word!)

I don't really even know where to start. I really didn't think it was possible for me to love a book more than "On Dublin Street" or "Down London Road." Samantha Young just keeps delivering. I did not read the hard copy book, but I can't imagine reading it. To me, the narration was just impeccable. I swear this particular character was in my brain. If I were brilliant enough to write, these words would have been mine. The main character, Olivia, is just so relatable; she's every woman. Nate is just smokin' hot (as are all of the characters in this series.) The words just sear into your brain. It was a MAJOR distraction for me. I wanted to listen to it in the car, at work, at home before I went to sleep, everywhere. If I did not have to go to work and function as a mother and wife I would have listened to this straight through. I laughed out loud, I cried, I was so affected by it and so sad that it ended. Thrilled, however, that I own it and can listen to it over and over again. Samantha Young's words penetrate. She captures every moment and is wonderful at creating tension between the characters...just amazing. The angst is measurable and the heart-felt intensity is just so real. I think that Olivia is even more so my favorite than Joss, and that's hard to beat. Potentially because she's not gone through quite as much as Joss and wasn't so very stubborn. Olivia wanted to fall in love and be "that girl" for a wonderful man that deserved her. The narration was just so wonderful. SOOOO wonderful. This book is really meant to be read out loud by an excellent narrator and Lee Angel is that person. I'm specifically going to try and find books narrated by her because of her talent in this one. Hats off to another amazing Samantha Young novel and to one of the best narrations ever.

Great series- Friends to lovers

What did you love best about Before Jamaica Lane?

I love Samantha Young's series and I love Friends to Lovers story lines. I really enjoyed the development of the relationship in this story!

Which scene was your favorite?

I pretty much like every time they are doing an either or scenario.

Any additional comments?

This is a great addition to a great series. It can be a standalone story but you will be glad to have read the previous books in the series first because the are great and second because the other characters reappear in this book.

Wow! More than I was expecting.

What made the experience of listening to Before Jamaica Lane the most enjoyable?

It had such loveable characters. A lot of lol humor and yet could make me cry. Now that is a great story that can do all that.

What did you like best about this story?

a\A little different love story. But I loved the Scottish brogue.

What about Lee Angel’s performance did you like?

Very much so. Nate was such a sweet hottie and could really make you laugh, love him and want to punch him all at the same time.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Narrarator, Lee Angel, did an awesome job. Made each character their own.

Any additional comments?

Do not miss this book. I could not stop listening. Stayed awake all night just to see how it would end.

Great story, subpar narration

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Lee Angel?

Anyone who can actually speak in a Scottish accent.

Any additional comments?

Loved the story, but gave up on the audiobook and went back to the ebook to finish it.

COOL, CRAZY KIND OF LOVE!

Can I just say that I freaken love this series?—Because I really do! It has been fabulous to be swept away to contemporary, Scotland with such a modern, beautiful and loving group of friends. In this book, it was great to revisit the lives of the previous couples in the series. It helps with any Dublin St. or London Rd. withdrawals….lol

This book was unique from the previous books and I thought that was necessary. The relationship between Nate and Olivia begins as a casual, easy-going friendship and develops into that intense, special kind of love that only comes along once in a lifetime. This couple share a lot of cute, little quirky things with one another, such as their “rather than” questions, movie reviews, inner geek themes, and humorous banter. Yet, when they unknowingly move into the “friends with benefits” zone under the guise of “lessons” to help boost Olivia’s confidence and sexual prowess, it gets super hot and heavy from there on out.

The funny part about this book is that I struggled a little bit in creating an accurate, visual image of Olivia and I think that was because she struggled with body image issues herself. My mind went between envisioning an exotic, sexy, curvaceous Latina body-type (like JLo or Eva Mendes) due to the description given by Nate, her friends and others. But, then that image was messed up by Olivia’s own description of herself. I kept picturing Miss Piggy stuffing donuts in her mouth…lol. This heroine definitely spoke more about food and her discontent with her body type, than the other heroines in the series. The body image issues definitely get resolved by the end of the book. Believe me…this girl is no Miss Piggy…haha.

Both Nate and Olivia’s relationship development is just as fabulous and emotionally charged as we would expect from a stellar, “Samantha Young novel” in this genre. And, I love a relationship when personal, emotional shackles are broken. This books delivers in so many ways. It’s a wonderful addition to the series!

By the way, the epilogue was just amazing….It made me very, very happy. And, I cannot wait to hear about the next couple in this series….It seems to be Cole and Hanna’s story??? Woot-Woot!

Lastly, I really liked the narrator, Lee Angel. I thought she did a terrific job!

Loved it!

What did you love best about Before Jamaica Lane?

The storyline was good and there was depth to the characters. I couldn't stop reading!! Samantha Young has a way with words that keeps your attention and makes you pant for more.

What other book might you compare Before Jamaica Lane to and why?

The other books in the trilogy are just as enticing.

Which character – as performed by Lee Angel – was your favorite?

Definitely Nate... And Olivia as well. Her inner dialogue was hilarious

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Nate finally realized how he felt about Liv. It was so obvious in his actions but hard for him to accept due to past hurts