Thrifty Thursday: Unleashed Romance series by Kylie Gilmore edition #KylieGilmore @KylieGilmoreToo‪ #ThriftyThursday

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

This collection of freebies is all from the Unleashed Romance series by Kylie Gilmore. The setting is Summerdale, New York, a small lakeside town, about an hour and a half outside New York City.

Kindle freebie on June 19, 2021  (currently FREE at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.03 with 2,472 ratings and 186 reviews

Wyatt
I’m a self-made billionaire with a soft spot for damsels in distress, so when I move to the quirky lakeside community of Summerdale, I immediately zero in on the woman I most want to…ahem, rescue. Only the stubborn woman refuses to cooperate.

Sydney
When Satan, aka Wyatt Winters, moves to town, I do my best to be welcoming. After all, I’m the owner of the historic restaurant and bar that he keeps showing up at, despite criticizing nearly everything about it. Deep breath. I might’ve lost my cool and made a rude gesture in his direction. And told him off. How was I to know he was considering investing in my place?

Did I mention I’m in debt up to my eyeballs and every bank has turned me down?

Still, there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell I’d ever work with him. Or admit he fires me up in every way. And then a snowstorm traps us together and— I’m melting.

I enjoyed this enemies to lovers story even though the characters did some things which were ridiculous.  Wyatt being a billionaire to start.  Then Sydney being so unrealistic about the amount of debt she had and what it would take to change things.  Men, like her father, can run up debt. They are trusted even when they are incompetent. Women are held to a higher standard.  (My experience in the world)

The way they poked at each other was definitely rude and they didn’t even know each other.  When Sydney gets caught at Wyatt’s home during a snowstorm, they get to know each other and start a relationship. She is still determined not to take money from him or her wealthy best friend, Harper who introduced them.  Sydney wants to keep the business in the family.  She sees how Wyatt takes care of his sisters, and becomes friendly with Kayla as she is staying with Wyatt.

Wyatt and Sydney are actually well matched as a couple. She just has limited to no experience in running a bar / restaurant.  As she gains experience, she opens up more to ideas that Wyatt has. I really like seeing businesses develop and characters grow. She only can do this because he has shown himself to be trustworthy, unlike some previous partners she has had.  Plus Wyatt is great to his dog, Snowball, who also loves Sydney.

Kindle freebie on March 8, 2025  (currently $4.99 at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.13 with 511 ratings and 57 reviews

Adam
True or false? Men and women can’t be friends. I used to say true, until I met Kayla.

Yes, she’s a goddess, but it’s completely platonic. So when she asks me to pose as her fiancé at a party, I’m all in. Especially since her sleazeball ex will be there. Can you believe this weasel dumped her at the altar? I’ve got your back, Kayla. What are friends for?

But now I’m worried I played the part too well because we’re heading home, and she makes a confession: she’s tired of saving herself for marriage and wants me to be her first. Her first!

I can’t go there. The woman has committed relationship written all over her, something I’m never doing again for good reason.

Except when I tell her no, she starts considering other candidates. I can’t let her be with some random guy! I can’t cross the line either. She doesn’t know what she’s asking! She doesn’t know what she’s doing! Someone has to stop her.

Kayla
Only Adam will do.

The Unleashed Romance series continues with family and friends, all in Summerdale.  The next couple is Kayla, the sister of Wyatt, and Adam, the brother of Sydney, the couple in Fetching.

Kayla was introduced in the last book.  She came to visit Wyatt after being left at the altar.  I won’t spoil that story, but she’s a virgin.  She becomes good friends with Adam as he does carpentry work on Wyatt’s home.  First, they help each other out with fake dating when Kayla has to go to an event where her ex will be.  Then when Adam’s ex-finance comes back to town after leaving him to travel with another man, Kayla plays Adam’s new fiance for the summer, hoping she will back off. Adam doesn’t trust her and doesn’t want her back.

Kayla is in town for the summer while she interviews for positions and decides on which job to take. She is skilled and will have lots of offers. Adam knows she will leave at the end of the summer and start her new life.  Wyatt knows they are “fake” relationship and that Adam won’t hurt her.

Then Kayla decides Adam is the one to take her virginity because she doesn’t want that hanging over her head anymore.  Adam is stuck because he doesn’t want to do that with her leaving at the end of the summer, but he also doesn’t want her just going out and finding any old guy who won’t care if it’s good for her.  He convinces her they have to take things slow and build up to it, to buy time.

Of course,  that just makes them build real feelings and a real relationship.  I don’t see this as a rom-com or find the topic funny.  I felt for both of them. Adam is a great guy and didn’t want to hurt Kayla.  Kayla had already just had an emotional meltdown and doesn’t need a bad experience.  She doesn’t seem to understand that she (and most women) aren’t the type for casual sex.

Of course, this is an HEA and really wonderful how it all came together.  The dogs are part of the story but not central.

Kindle freebie on May 12, 2023  (currently $4.99 at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.20 with 281 ratings and 50 reviews

Jenna
After accidentally dinging a brand-new car, I’m suddenly face-to-face with an angry alpha male. And the sparks are flying. Wait. Eli Robinson? How’s it possible the irritating younger brother of my best friend has morphed into this gorgeous swaggering man? I can’t let myself be tempted. Eli is off-limits. My best friend, his sister who helped raise him, makes sure I know it. Except the more I get to know him, the more difficult it is to stay away. This can only end badly. No relationship is worth losing my best friend.

And then he kidnaps me.

Eli
Once upon a time, Jenna Larsen was my teenaged dream girl, and I mean that in the dirtiest way possible. Now that we’re adults, I discovered she’s even better than I dreamed. We can’t keep our hands off each other. But I want more. So I took her on a surprise getaway to move things beyond the bedroom. An extended date of sorts. Fine. I kidnapped her. We needed to get away from judging eyes.

I only hope she stops being mad long enough to give us a chance.

Sporting is a bit different since I got it as a freebie in the box set which includes the first 3 books in the series.  It pairs up on of Sydney’s brothers, Eli and her best friend, Jenna.  Eli is a cop.  Jenna runs a bakery.

This was more cute than I expected.  Eli was two years younger than Jenna and his sister, Sydney.  He was a troublemaker.  He has grown into a kind and competent man as cop.  He hopes to become sheriff when the current one retires.  He has always had a thing for Jenna.

Jenna had a bad home life and suffered as a pawn during her parents’ horrible divorce.  She is flattered and attracted to Eli, but she plans never to marry.  Plus Sydney is totally against it because she thinks Jenna will hurt Eli.  I didn’t like Sydney much here.  Jenna has been watching her friends get happily married and have babies. She totally wants a family for herself.

Eli makes his own decisions and courts Jenna. They have a secret relationship which is wonderful for both of them.  But then things blow up.  Jenna has the growth here if she is to go beyond her parent’s type of marriage and see others, even Eli’s parents had a great marriage.

Kindle freebie on September 15, 2023  (currently $4.99 at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.01 with 499 ratings and 59 reviews

Max
I’m determined to grow my landscape design business fast. It’s the only way to save the home that’s been in our family for generations. So when I land my biggest client ever, the new inn with a huge property, I know better than to get involved with the sexy owner. Besides, Brooke Winters is engaged, and I can’t risk stirring up drama in the small community I depend on for my business.

Brooke
Have you ever had such bad luck with guys that you start wearing your sister’s old engagement ring as an anti-man shield? Just me? Anyway, it’s working and good thing too. I can’t afford a distraction when I’m the lead architect for the old farmhouse my sister and I plan to turn into an inn. Everything’s on the line, including our life savings. We have to open on time or lose our shirts.

Only I didn’t count on a gorgeous landscaper brightening every chaotic day with his distracting warm smile. Even my dog is in love with Max. I’m made of sterner stuff. Until I impulsively kiss him and—

Fireworks. I didn’t know they were a real thing.

I’m not sure if it’s because of the characters being less well known before Blazing but I had trouble getting settled into reading at first.  We go back to Wyatt’s family, where  all three sisters have been dumped at different times.  Brooke was not engaged though, as the other two were.   Brooke has come to town with her other sister Paige to open a bed & breakfast catering to dogs.   Her dog Scout is not very involved other than he loves Max.

Max has been doing lawns and snow shoveling and trying to move into more landscape architecture.  He needs to come up with the money to keep his family’s generational home buying out his two siblings.  His brother needs it as he is about to become a father and is struggling to keep his farm.

Max is attracted to Brooke right away, but he keeps professional and gives the sisters a plan and bid for the landscaping.   He does get the job but of course, there are various issues with the bed & breakfast.  Max does an excellent job, on time and without issues but the other things sink it for him.

I liked them as a couple but things in their careers seemed a bit unrealistic.  I didn’t appreciate the way Brooke took out her own problems on Max which made big problems for him. Paige was also horrible to him but at least Wyatt wasn’t involved with things.  Max was great and gave her the support and security she needed.

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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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