Sunday, October 28, 2018

Review: Going Down Easy (Boys of the Big Easy #1)

Going Down Easy (Boys of the Big Easy #1)

by Erin Nicholas 

Blurb:
As far as flings go, single dad Gabe Trahan is pretty sure that Addison Sloan is his best bet. Once a month, Addison comes to New Orleans and then…It. Is. On. Until Addison returns to New York, it’s just hot, happily-no-strings-attached sex. And beignets. And jazz. But lately for Gabe, it isn’t nearly enough.
Sure, maybe Addison’s gotten a bit hooked on Gabe. After all, who can resist a guy who’s so sexy, so charming, and so… available? But maybe he’s too available for her right now. Addison’s just moved to New Orleans, and relationships are definitely off the table. Besides, guys always bail when they learn her secret: she’s a single mom.
Only Gabe’s not running. Worse, he’s thrilled. But Addison never signed up for ever-after romance, and Gabe won’t settle for anything less. Now it’s a battle of wills — and when it comes to the woman he’s falling for, Gabe isn’t above playing a little dirty.
Themes: Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Heat Rating: 


Review:
 Ok so for those who are really big into babies, kids, and raising families, I will say that this story is probably going to be right up your alley and hit you in the feels again and again.  That being said… I am so NOT one of those women.  I have enjoyed many of the series written by Ms. Nicholas in the past, with varied different subgenres or overall themes, so when this one crossed my radar I didn’t really even think about it, just saw the sexy cover and setting and determined I would read it.  Never had any clue it would revolve around single parents, parenting issues, kids, babies, etc. But despite all of those subjects that hold little to no interest to me personally and usually turn me off a story, I really enjoyed reading Gabe and Addison’s story and am looking forward to the rest of the series, despite the foreknowledge that the theme will continue. The sexiness off her characters and the setting of the series are not to be discounted in my decision, by Erin’s writing ability and skill is the main reason I will be looking past my own prejudices to continue reading.  Gabe and Addison certainly kick of the story with a level of heat and sexiness that leads the reader to think this will be another straight to sex story, but soon we see that both of the characters are VERY family oriented and they are each dealing with their emotional connection in different ways.  Gabe has never felt toward a woman the way he does for Addison, but she is determined to keep their liaisons to just sex and fun, never letting him get closer to her.  When he finds out she is now living in his town he is even more determined to make her his, despite finding out that she has a daughter, one to bookend his own young son.  Addison never planned for Gabe to sneak into her life this way, but the man is simply irresistible and the more he is around her the more she finds herself drawn to the man she is getting to know.  Once they stop resisting the pull together, they begin to see that their families of two could easily blend together into a single unit, if they can overcome their own hang-ups and accept that not only are two heads better than one, but two hearts are better than one any day.  Gabe was a sexy as hell guy, even though I am not usually attracted to men with kids, and he was certainly strong and intense enough to counter Addison’s stubbornness.  His playfulness and strengths perfectly balanced the weaknesses apparently in Addison’s overly serious and reserved nature as they spent more time together.  Addison was certainly different that Gabe, but she was raised differently for sure so it was understandable and made her no less a balanced character to Gabe’s lighthearted and sometimes overly easy-going nature.  It was interesting watching these two dance around one another and then finally find a way to dance together, but most important work together to give their children what they needed together and individually.  Like I said, I’m definitely not a kid person, but I am a child of a blended marriage, sometimes not to the best, and I could see that they each loved the others child wholeheartedly in the end and would be the best parent they could be to both of the kids.  Sometimes love is enough, even without the perfection so many parents think is required and I loved how Ms. Nicholas was able to get both of her lovers to come to that conclusion in their own way and time.  Can’t wait for the rest of the series.
*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

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