Thrifty Thursday: Erin Nicholas edition #ErinNicholas #ThriftyThursday #KindleUnlimited #BoysoftheBayou

The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).

This is a collection of freebies I have read which are in the romance genre.

I start with the Boys of the Bayou series since I have the first two books in the series. The theme in this series feels like appreciating people for who they are rather than trying to change them.

Erin Nicholas has been a favored author of mine for awhile.  She writes fun, sexy and a feeling of home for her characters.  Sometimes there is a side character who is outrageous but the main ones are good people with supportive friends and family.  It might be biological family or a found family though.

Kindle freebie on September 10, 2019  (currently $2.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.29 with 4,183 ratings and  565 reviews

Josh Landry is one of the hottest bachelors in New Orleans. He’s shown many a female tourist that things are definitely big and easy down here.

But he’s been off the market for a year. Because he finally met her. Yes, her. The One.

And after nothing more than a hot goodnight kiss and a promise to meet up again next year if they’re both still interested, she went home to Iowa. It’s been a long year. But now it’s Mardi Gras again and he’s ready for his happily ever after. If she shows up.

Oh, she shows up. For her best friend’s wedding. But Tori is a terrible bridesmaid because all she can think about is her knight-in-shining-Mardi-Gras-beads from last year. And when she sees Josh again, she gives him the hottest kiss of his life. But oops. It’s not him. Worse, it's her best friend behind that mardi gras mask. Aka, the groom.

Unfortunately, no one believes that it was a case of mistaken identity. So, now she has to convince everyone she has no intention of ruining the wedding. She’s going to need a crazy-about-her boyfriend ASAP. Even if he’s just faking it.

I love how Tori breaks out of being controlled and managed to what others’ think she should do to being herself.  She meets Josh Landry on a trip to New Orleans to visit a childhood friend.  She comes back a year later to be in her childhood friend, Andrew’s wedding.  But she also wants to see Josh and she doesn’t think Andrew should marry Paisley.  Not that she wants Andrew; she just thinks Paisley isn’t right for him.

With Mardi Gras masks, she accidentally kisses Andrew believing it to be Josh and further stirring Paisley’s jealousy.  She needs a doting boyfriend now, and luckily Josh is all too happy to star in that role.  Fake dating is my favorite partly because it gives the couple a time to get to know each other, trying out dating. It’s low vulnerability because it’s not “real.”  The trick is when one starts to have real feelings whether the other does.  But in this case Josh and Tori were already on the brink.

Tori meets Josh’s family and instead of being a misfit finally feels like home.  It’s tricky because she lives in Iowa and Josh lives in Louisiana.  The wedding activities are one big mess but Tori and Josh have fun.  When things go, I was proud of Tori for being honest and allowing herself to be vulnerable. Josh worries about messing up or pushing her too fast but he is also on board.  I loved Tori’s work as a veterinarian and love of animals. I enjoyed Josh’s crazy family and straight up fun.  I’m on to the next book, Sweet Home Louisiana.

Kindle freebie on February 11, 2021  (currently $4.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.41 with 2,061 ratings and 323 reviews

Thanks to a drawn-up-while-drinking-moonshine partnership agreement, Madison Allain has to spend thirty days back on the bayou before she can sell her part of the family business. And if the heat and humidity and freaking alligators of Louisiana aren’t enough to agitate the cool and in-control California girl, then Owen Landry, the equally hot guy who stole her heart twelve years ago, will sure do the trick.

Owen just has to remember two simple Do not fight with her. Do not kiss her. Well, those should be simple anyway. But he can do this. He’s charming and friendly for a living after all. Still, this is Maddie. The only woman to ever shake up this laid-back bayou boy. Besides, she’s not staying. No way. These people and this town make her crazy. She doesn’t want to be crazy. She definitely does not want to own a swamp boat tour company. She just wants to paint. In her quiet, alligators-not-allowed, air-conditioned art studio.

As for that hot bayou boy? Well, he’s…amazing. But he belongs here in the South. And she definitely doesn’t. Even if her heart stays behind when she leaves.

So this is really odd.  I purchased Sweet Home Louisiana as a Kindle freebie. I started reading it as the second book in this series. But the story started all about Sawyer and Juliet and was actually Beauty and the Bayou.  The cover is Sweet Home Louisiana but even at the end it said, thanks for reading Beauty and the Bayou. So I saw there was an update available. Sure enough, when I did the update it is the right book now.  So I read this and the next book out of order but got to read them both by surprise.

Maddie moved to California to live with her maternal grandparents when her mother died and her father went to prison.  She had been falling in love with Owen but they were both so young.  Now she owns more of the business since her brother, Tommy died.  The other partners can’t afford to buy her out but she wants to sell and let go of the bayou forever.  The partnership agreement insists she must come back for 30 days before she can sell.

So Maddie is back in Autre where she has all the feelings she has locked down for the past 12 years.  Particularly, those huge emotions about Owen.  She works in the business and finds she has great skills and good ideas for it.  She’s a pistol and not afraid to speak her mind.

Owen is laid back and friendly, but also works hard.  He admires Maddie’s improvements to the business.  He knows if he becomes involved with her, it will break him permanently because he’s never loved another woman. But he wants what is best for Maddie more.  He is so supportive of her.

Of course, they get together, do grand gestures for each other, and improve the business in the process.  It was also fun to see Josh and Tori making their new life. I love the more in depth view of the business which is more than in the other books.  Maddie was much more than she appeared and I’m glad to have gotten to know her and Owen.

Kindle freebie on February 11, 2021  (currently $4.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.46 with 1,952 ratings and 313 reviews

Sawyer Landry knows he's been beastly to be around for the past few months. But he can't seem to remember how to be fun-loving and friendly. Until he sees Juliet Dawson on his boat dock... and realizes that hip waders are, apparently, one of his turn-ons. But despite the beauty in the boots, the last thing he needs right now is a city girl in his way for the next two weeks.

But he's not really getting a vote. Juliet is determined that her little brother rebuild the dock he and his idiot friends smashed. She's quirky, klutzy, independent... and possibly an even bigger pessimist than Sawyer is. He's incredibly drawn to the cynical fish-out-of-water, who seems to be the one person who isn't intimidated by his growling.

The big, gruff boat captain is the first person in a long time to want to watch out for her and Juliet finds that hotter than his grandma's jambalaya. Well, that and his sexy scar, his emotional baggage, and the sense of humor and fun that is buried deep.

But Sawyer doesn't need any more people to worry about long-term and the things that make him feel protective of Juliet aren't going to go away. So, this two-week adventure can't be anything more than a fling. With Juliet down on the bayou, there's an even bigger threat than alligators and hurricanes. There's the very good chance of someone ending up with a broken heart.

3.5 hearts

I was surprised to be reading Beauty and the Bayou.  I knew about Sawyer because of the Boys of the Big Easy series with his friends Gabe and Logan, and his special relationship with Gabe’s children, Stella and Cooper.

Juliet has learned to be careful after a defining incident in her life after a health issue.  She thinks about dangers, plans for safety and analyzes any threats.  She comes to the bayou with her brother Chase to rebuild the dock he damaged when he stole one of the airboats for a joy ride.  She wants him to learn some hands on work and real people, not just the frat boy games and adventures.

Sawyer has been in a funk since his friend Tommy died in a shark attack 9 months ago.  He is overly focused on safety because Tommy should have known the dangers and Sawyer should have been there to save him.  He is charmed by Juliet’s safety precautions and plans to rebuild the deck.  She has the money to just pay someone but she wants Chase to learn by doing it himself.

The boys of the bayou are exactly the hard-working and family oriented group that is what Chase needs.  Juliet ends up doing a lot of the work but also spending time with Sawyer.  They relate to each other and support one another in facing fears and having adequate safety and backup to counteract fears and threats.  The family is thrilled to see Sawyer come out of his isolation and bring Juliet into the group.  It’s easy to love this good hearted family who has good food, hard work and caring for others.

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Anne - Books of My Heart

Blogger at Books of My Heart

I can't really remember any time when I wasn't reading. I LOVE books and what they give me. It's an opportunity to learn new things, see new places,live different emotions in a "safe" way. It lets me live in a new world.

I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.

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