GOING DOWN EASY is the first full-length instalment in Erin Nicholas’ contemporary, adult BOYS OF THE BIG EASY erotic, romance series. This is bar owner and single father Gabe Trahan, and architect /single mother Addison Sloan’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Addison and Gabe) GOING DOWN EASY follows the building relationship between bar owner and single father Gabe Trahan, and architect /single mother Addison Sloan. For months, New Yorker Addison Sloan and New Orleans’ bar owner Gabe Trahan kept up their once monthly affair when Addison returned to the Big Easy for work and play. No personal information was exchanged by our leading couple; no history no stories, just time together one weekend per month. With Gabe and his brother Logan’s Trahan Tavern due for an extensive historical overhaul Gabe had no idea that the woman with whom he had was having a fling is part of the architectural firm about to renovate his bar. Enter Addison Sloan, and the woman with whom Gabe will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship and love between Gabe and Addison, and the potential fall-out when Gabe’s life as a single father begins to spiral out of control.

Throughout their earlier affair Addison and Gabe never revealed intimate details about their personal lives including that inevitable reveal that each was a single parent to a five-year old child. Addison Sloan is a reluctant single mother whose life changed the moment her daughter was born. A successful architect, Addison struggles to be the kind of mother her daughter deserves but a mother who has taught her child to be independent and strong. Gabe Trahan has always had the support of family and friends when it comes to his bar, and raising his five-year old son but an incident at school has Gabe questioning his parenting abilities, questions that may threaten his relationship with the woman he loves. An over-protective father Gabe may have done his son a disservice in his attempts to protect him against outside harm.

The relationship between Addison and Gabe is one of immediate attraction that started out as a monthly affair, and soon grew into something more. With Addison’s move to Louisiana, Gabe saw the opportunity to pursue our heroine for a full-time relationship. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. Gabe likes to talk dirty both in and out of the bedroom.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and charismatic secondary and supporting characters including a number of single parents at a local single-parent club. We are introduced to Gabe’s five-year old, quiet and unassuming son Cooper, and Gabe’s brother Logan Trahan; Addison’s exuberant five-year old daughter Stella; and the members of the Single Parents Support Group: Roxanne, Dana, Bea, Lexi, Ashley, Caleb and Corey. I did question the ‘maturity’ level of two five-year old children-a maturity level that, at time, outstripped the maturity of their parental guardians. Logan and Dana’s story line is next in TAKING IT EASY.

GOING DOWN EASY is a story of family, friendship, romance and love. Addison’s attitude and earlier behavior was a bit of a turn off but our heroine quickly realized that her opinions about motherhood and children weren’t necessarily wrong but difficult to acknowledge. The premise is engaging and heart breaking; the romance is seductive and intense; the characters are numerous, dynamic, flirty and animated. GOING DOWN EASY is a captivating, spicy and realistic look at family struggles, and building love.

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This was a very good book with a sweet ending. I didn't much care for Addison at the beginning, but she grew on me and I liked her a lot by the end. The kids were sweet. I look forward to the next story.

Going Down Easy was a very pleasant surprise for me as it was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it tremendously. I’m a big sucker for a single parent romance, and this has both a single mom and a single dad getting together.

Gabe and Addison met at Gabe’s pub in New Orleans when Addison was in town for a work weekend. Since then, every time she flies in, they spend a scorching hot weekend together. Gabe ends up more than a bit smitten with Addison but there’s not much he can do about it with her living so far away. That is, until he realizes that Addison is moving to town so that won’t be an issue anymore. Now all he has to do is convince Addison to give them a chance to build something real… but he’ll have his work cut out for it.

Addison is a very independent single mom and is used to men running away as fast as they can when she tells them she has a 5-year-old little girl. Now that she’s moved to a new city, she needs to focus on work and settling her baby girl, Stella. Unfortunately for her, when she uses her singlemomdom card to push Gabe away, not only does he not leave running for the hills, he tells her he is also a single dad to 5-year-old Cooper and is ecstatic at the prospect of their kids becoming friends.

Gabe was charming, sexy and fun. I loved how he was all in at being a dad and didn’t hesitate to ask for help and rely on people. I also liked how he was also all in regarding Addison and little Stella. I had a bit more difficulty connecting to Addison. She was very self-contained bordering on closed off and came off as a bit uptight in the beginning. Luckily, Gabe makes it possible for her to relax, and a much more likable, sweet and caring side of her comes out and shine.

I greatly enjoyed witnessing these four becoming a family. I loved how much weight little Stella and Cooper had in the overall story, though while reading the progression of their relationship seemed believable, when you take the kids into consideration it’s not something that could happen as fast in reality. Still, I had one heck of a fabulous time reading this.

With great chemistry, fun banter, precious little people and a great cast of secondary characters I can’t wait to know more of, I loved Going Down Easy from beginning to end and I’m thrilled to have found a new to me author.

I liked this book.

It is well written and I got sucked into the story. I think i will read the next book in this series when it comes out

Addison and Gabe have been involved in a long distance relationship for several months. Once a month she flies down to New Orleans from New York. She spends all of her free time with Gabe. Things are very simple with them as they are both single parents (not revealed up front) and live in different states. Everything changes when Addison takes a career opportunity restore old homes with the New Orleans branch of her firm. Now they must find a way to navigate a relationship when they are in the same city.

The beginning of the book stalled for me for several reasons. First, we (the readers) are thrown right into their relationship. Of course, the blurb indicates that the hero and heroine are in some sort of relationship. I just expected to be able to warm up to them. The heroine is immediately trying to break things off with the hero. He is way more invested in the relationship with her but outside of the physical I didn’t understand how he became so emotionally involved.

Addison is very cold and it takes more than half of the book for me to warm up to her. She is very organized and straightforward to the point that I had wondered how could she attract a man like Gabe. She does everything in her power to avoid Gabe now that she is living in New Orleans. She doesn’t want their children to meet. She refuses to meet his son. She is slightly resentful of being a mom which causes conflict with Gabe initially. However, he is so smitten with her that he is determined to win her over.

He invites Addison to his single parents club. He hopes by showing her how other single parents get along, she will be willing to give them a chance. Eventually, the members of the group start to chisel away at her and she is excited to be a part of something. She decides to give her relationship with Gabe a chance.

The development of their relationship alongside the story of their kids added a different dynamic to this story. I’m not the biggest fan of children in my romances when they take up so much space. Honestly, there is no real conflict except at the end and that felt forced at best. It might be due to the fact the author uses the children as a part of it.

There are a great set of secondary characters. I’m curious to read more about them.

~ Samantha

I just love how realistic this story was - not too much melodrama, just believable issues around people trying to mesh their lives.  Gabe and Addison have different approaches to a lot in their lives but they are differences that could mesh together very well.  If only they'd let them :)

Both are appealing - Gabe a little more so because Addison can be a big prickly but once you understand her it is so easy to see why.  Together they do a good job of propping each other up when they need it and that's pretty much what any of us could hope for in a relationship I think.

Their issues are believable and they handle them rationally, with a good deal of understanding.  I appreciate how nothing gets blown out of proportion.  Instead everything is addressed in a very satisfying manner, so that by the end you are delighted with the fact that they could figure out their HEA like a couple of adults.

Sexy, charming, real and fun, Going Down Easy showcases why Nicholas is a bestselling author.  If you are looking for real and touching and hot, this should definitely be your next read!

In this series starter readers will get a modern day look at dating and single parenting wrapped up in a charming yet scorching package that kept me glued to the pages from the first page to the last. With a delicious hero, and a heroine who’s a tough nut to crack, readers will find themselves captivated by the precarious balancing act this couple undertakes during their rocky road to HEA. It’s a journey that Ms. Nicholas vividly depicted to pull at the heartstrings of every parent and leaves me wanting more as I eagerly await the next installment.

Gabe Trahan was obsessed with Addison the moment she sat down at the bar he owns with his brother, Logan. Their instant attraction led to an unforgettable night that set his bed on fire and every month thereafter he looked up to see her sitting in the same spot. These weekends were an escape for him, an escape from real life where he focused on just the two of them, and he came to crave them and her. Along with erotically-charged encounters Gabe took her on a whirlwind tour of New Orleans which helped him learn a bit about her, but not near enough, which is why he proposed something more long-term on the day she plans to break things off. Fate intervenes though, giving her the job of a lifetime and him the opportunity to woo her, and he makes the most of it in a journey that’s sweet and sexy. Gabe’s an immensely appealing hero, kind and patient. He’s also a master at dirty talk and unafraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. The other appealing thing about him is his love for his son, Cooper. He’s a caring dad, worried about his son’s overcautious nature, but never wants to push him too hard as he’s a protective dad too. I enjoyed their tender interactions that showed a softer side to Gabe. It was a compelling dichotomy to see his naughty side in the bedroom balanced with the steady support he always showed to Cooper and his actions endeared him to me.

Addison Sloan grew up with a hard-hearted father who expected his daughters to clean up their own messes with little help from him. Though she knew he loved them he never showed it, which has left its mark on her still today. Addison’s not a very touchy-feely woman. She’s someone who stands on her own two feet and prefers to count only on herself. Her clandestine weekends with Gabe showed a completely different woman though. With him she embraced each new experience fully, let him guide her in and out of the bedroom, and she soaked up each look and touch he lavished on her. She too became obsessed with their weekends and it’s why she felt the need to end them...fear of losing herself and the belief that she can’t be both a mom and a lover. Addison frustrated me a lot throughout this book. Her occasional standoffishness and cold upbringing was starting to leave a mark on her daughter as Addison’s need to be self-reliant took away some of the warmer interactions they could’ve had. Her belief that only she was capable enough to care for her daughter left not only Addison but Stella too with very few friends. Being around Gabe and his son gave both of them the chance to open up and the more time they spent together the more familial they became in a journey full of roadblocks erected by Addison’s doubts and fears.

On a whole this was an entertaining romance with a nice balance of sexiness and dealing with life issues. Those issues, that of coping as a single parents while finding your own HEA, were dealt with realistically and played out during the weekly support group for other single parents. The members of the group were immensely appealing, they were characters who were larger than life in their realism, and the glimpses readers got of their backgrounds have me longing for their own stories to be told. Gabe was a near-perfect hero, understanding and immensely patient while Addison worked through her issues. He was charming and funny and his time with his son was precious in its portrayal. Addison was much harder to warm up to as I felt that she purposely sabotaged her happiness. She often seemed focused on what could go wrong instead of what was oh so right. At times I didn’t think her worthy of Gabe’s greatness but by the end she pulled me a bit closer to seeing her side of things. As a reader who doesn’t normally care for children in romances, I was pleasantly surprised by how well Ms. Nicholas incorporated them into this story. They were truly cute kids, little mini adults wise beyond their years. They might’ve been opposites in many ways but their interactions were supportive and I felt the love and warmth radiating off this unlikely group on the verge of becoming a family. This was a satisfying start to a series that is a loving homage to New Orleans, that redefines what makes a family, and lays the groundwork for what promises to be another heartwarming tale featuring the sexy player Logan and a single mom from the support group.

Gabe and Addison have been seeing each other for months but each of them has a life they haven't shared with the other.

This book was a great escape but there were so many relate-able moments, especially if you have ever had kids.. Erin Nicholas gets real in this romance, but with a side of humor and such a great compilation of characters that I couldn't put the book down.

What a great start to this new series
Gabe and Addison are happy with their lives just how they are. Addison comes to town once a month for the weekend for a bit of no-strings-attached fun. both being single parents they don't have time for complications, and anything more definitely adds complications.
This one is definitely not your typical single dad story and I loved it! I can't wait to see what Nichols brings us next with this series!

GOING DOWN EASY (Boys of the Big Easy #1) by Erin Nicholas is such a fantastic start to this new series! This contemporary romance is super sexy and hot, but it also has so much heartfelt emotion. If you are or have been a single parent, there will definitely to be situations you will relate to.
Gabe Trahan is a sexy, single dad who looks forward to his once a month fling with the visiting Addison, a restoration architect from New York City. Addison loves everything about New Orleans including her no-strings-attached once a month weekend fling with Gabe. Besides the best sex ever, Gabe sees his beloved city through new eyes and Addison gets a native son who knows all the best spots for beignets, pralines and jazz.
Suddenly though, Gabe decides he wants more. But what can happen with Addison in NY. He does not even know about her personal life except for her name and job. What Addison has not told Gabe is that she has accepted a job in New Orleans. As much as she is addicted to their weekends, she is not interested in a relationship and even if she was, the minute men find out she is a single mom they all take-off.
Gabe is not taking-off. He will do anything to convince Addison that he is not like her ex and could not be happier about Addison being a single parent like himself. Gabe wants to join their family lives and he is willing to do anything to make Addison believe that she can trust him with herself and her daughter’s futures. Addison does not give up control easily, but this sexy single dad is showing her another way of parenting and love.
I loved everything about this romance! Gabe and Addison are extremely hot as a couple and so caring as parents. Ms. Nicholas does a great job of writing about differing styles of parenting without one type being better than the other. The single parents group adds other interesting adults to the story and I hope to see them in more stories in this series. Gabe’s son and Addison’s daughter are not just added placeholder characters, but integral characters to the story’s plot. Ms. Nicholas writes very hot and explicit sex scenes. The fun sex scenes were the ones that started, but never finished until the end of the story in the laundry room. I believe all parents will be able to relate to those.
I am so glad this is the start of a series and I will be able to read even more about the boys of the Big Easy in the future. I cannot recommend this book enough!
Thanks very much to Montlake Romance and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC.

4 Not Too Hot to be Real Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
Sometimes we want to live in a bubble. We have an opportunity to just experience the moments, enjoy the freedom we don't have in Real Life... and go for it. When a circumstance happens that fits perfectly to dip into this fantasy world, you grab it with both hands.

Then this little bubble, this perfect time you keep carving out for yourself becomes a bit more...more real and more addictive. You give yourself a talking to... You have the chance to advance your career. It will bring you to the same place you had been having that bubble perfect existence...so you make the hard choice. You will stay away from what gave you so much pleasure.

This is what Addison Sloan had to deal with. She had business in New Orleans and found herself in Gabe Trahan's bar. These two hit it off and bam...the chemistry was right, the connection worked and both were not looking for any relationships. What was at first just a hook up with no guilt , soon became a monthly visit where, yes, sex was happening and oh, so good.... but there was visiting restaurants, hot spots and just casual good times.

The good times were so good.... Gabe wanted more and when he finds out Addison is living in town, he decides to figure out a way to make Addison see how right they both are.

I cannot believe this is my first Erin Nicholas read! She has a full library of work and this is a series all about brothers and New Orleans. I look forward to the next entry.

A gifted copy was provided by Montlake via NetGalley for an honest review.

Gabe and his brother Logan own and operate a bar in the French Quarter. Elana is a friend and regular at the bar. One night she shows up with her friend from NYC. Gabe is attracted to Addison immediately. Some fun and flirting and they end up spending the weekend together. No phone numbers exchanged, no personal information just a 36 hours of hot sex. After their fun weekend Addison is back to NY. Since she is consulting for a company in New Orleans she ends up back a month later and drops into the bar. For several months Gabe and Addison continue their weekend fling. The 2 are forced to get to know each other after a chance run in at the restoration company office. The story continues as Addison and Gabe have to decide if they want to try a real relationship and if so can it survive the secret each of them has.

This was a really fun read. The author did a great job helping us get to know the characters. I loved the secondary characters as well. Well written, light easy read. I recommend this to anyone looking for anyone looking for a fun romance. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sharing.

Found this to be an enjoyable read! Loved the story line and could not put this book down. The characters are strong and determined but also have vulnerabilities. They have obstacles to overcome but true love will win in the end. Terrific book!

I'm going to start this off by saying this is my very first Erin Nicholas book. I wasn't sure what to expect but i had heard good things about this author. This is book one in a new series about some great guys living in New Orleans. There is a prequel novella to this series that i have not read and i do not feel that really hampered this book at all. Gabe Trahan and Addison Sloan have been having a once a month weekend affair for a while. Addison coming to New Orleans for business once a month on a weekend trip has been hooking up with Gabe. It's supposed to be just a fling but it's been feeling like maybe it's not. Addison moves to New Orleans without telling Gabe and that's when things get real. Gabe wants more but Addison doesn't want to rock the boat with her 5 year old daughter to protect. Little does she know Gabe has a 5 year old son. You would think this would make things easier but it doesn't. It's fun watching these two negotiate a relationship with kids. Addison as first doesn't want to have a relationship but once Gabe gets her on board it's him that bail's. A fun, sexy read full of romance even if now and then the kids steal the show. I'm looking forward to book two.

Find out more about this series and Erin Nichol's here www.erinnicholas.com

3.5 stars

Erin Nichols is an author that I love to read, so when I first read the blurb for Going Down Easy I was so excited. I mean how can you go wrong with two single parents. The story was enjoyable and I read through it fairly quick. Gabe is enjoying every second of his no strings fling with Addison knowing it can't be more because she doesn't live in town, but what happens when things change and their relationship shifts? Gabe is ready to go all in but Addison is a little more reserved in her decision. Can these two find a balance?

Overall this was a great read, however I didn't really feel the connection between the two. There were some moments that really tug on your heart. The story is well written and enjoyable and absolutely worth the read.

**3.5-4 stars**
Going Down Easy is the first book in Erin Nicholas’ Boys of the Big Easy series and it’s a hot one! Gabe and Addison heat up the pages with their smokin’ chemistry. What started out as a once-a-month fling turns into more when Addison moves from New York to Gabe’s home town of New Orleans for her job.

But things don’t go smoothly at first and Gabe will do anything to show Addison that what they have could be so much more. Both are single parents and trying to do the best they can at raising their kids. Addison isn’t looking for something serious, but Gabe sees how good it could be between them if she would give them a chance.

This story isn’t just about these two though. It’s also about the fears and joys, the ups and downs of parenthood. I loved the friendship between their two kids in this story. It was so sweet.

Going Down Easy was a great start to this new series. Sexy, Sweet and Heartfelt moments kept me turning the pages. I’m very much looking forward to the future books in the series!

I loved this book!! It's my first from the author, but it for sure won't be the last! New Orleans is a great setting, and it came through so clearly here.

Gabe Trahan is a single father, and the co-owner of a bar in the French Quarter with his brother. He's never really been in love, not even with his son's mother, who's now gone. He relies on his mom and brother to help him with babysitting duties and whatnot, so he's never been doing it completely alone, which he's thankful for. But, he doesn't have time or interest for much more than single nights with women. Until he meets Addison.

Addison Sloan lives in NYC and is consulting on a project one weekend a month for the last 6 months, in New Orleans. She met Gabe on her first Friday night in town, and she's been coming back for more ever since. Even though they don't communicate at all outside of the one weekend a month she's in town, they have a connection she's never experienced before. But, now that she's moved to New Orleans full time, she's determined to break it off for good. She doesn't have room in her life for a real relationship. She's a single mom of a daughter, and that always sends men running. Plus, she's used to doing it all on her own, and has never been interested in input from anyone else. It'll be easier for everyone if they just quit while they're ahead. Right??

Gabe and Ad's chemistry was fiery hot, and I loved watching their interactions. Once all their truths came out, they both really got to know each other inside and out, far beyond the bedroom, and they found that they were perfect together. Their kids were adorable, and totally different from each other, but they got along great. I so enjoyed watching them fumble their way towards happiness.

Their single parents support group was a hoot and I really enjoyed all the side characters there. Gabe's brother (who's book is next), and his mother, were great as well. I really enjoyed the comic relief that they all provided, and the great advice they gave both Gabe and Addison, about parenting, and life in general.

Gabe and Addison both had to work through a lot of personal baggage to find their way towards a good life with each other, and I like how they were honest about what they needed. I also loved that Gabe was the main pursuer from the beginning. I love a hero who chases! He knew that Ad was the one for him, and he wasn't willing to give up when it got hard, and I adored him for that. Addison really made difficult realizations about herself, and her life, and her parenting, that helped her become a better version of herself. I enjoyed watching her struggle to come to terms with the changes she needed to make, and not shy away from them as she had in the past.

Overall this book made me laugh, and sigh, and cry, and fan my face! I loved everything about it, and I can't wait for the next installment. I highly recommend it!

Going Down Easy is the first book from Erin Nicholas that I have read. Gabe and Addison have a hot and heavy night once a month. They have a great connection but keep so much of their personal lives hidden from each other until they can’t keep all their secrets hidden anymore. It seems they are both hiding the same secret. They are two single parents each raising a five year old. The second part of the story is all about finding a balance between building a stronger relationship and blending a family together and all the challenges that goes with that.
I definitely enjoyed this interesting story of simple lovers to the meshing of two families.

This book was fantastic!!

It felt different from anything I’ve read from Erin Nicholas before but still felt true to her storytelling. The pacing was great and don’t even get me started on the character development!!

Gabe was SO alpha but in a unique and refreshing way. I wish that more authors would write heroes like Gabe. He was so damn sure of wanting more with Addison and he was even more confident that it was going to happen and he didn’t hide it from anyone. At the same time he never tried to forced Addison into feeling or moving forward with anything until he knew that it was her decision. Addison was the perfect yin to his yang.

I loved how big of a role their kids played in this story too. Too often kids are written in as a sort of afterthought to the romance or just as an obstacle to the couples HEA. This was NOT the case here. Both kids were a very integral part to the growth of Addison and Gabe as individuals and as a couple. Their opposing parenting styles offered an even greater insight to who they were and the ways they still struggled with life, live and growth. There was some aspects of this book that really hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting and made me examine my own parenting style and forced me to feel ways I never expected to when I started this book.

This was a spectacular introduction to this series and certainly did a great job piquing my interest in the other characters. I can’t wait for more!!

Gabe and Addison have a good thing going in the Big Easy. She's in town for one weekend a month, and he puts his real life on hold to spend that one weekend with her.

Only, it's getting harder and harder to let her go on Monday morning, knowing there are no plans to see one another again, no plans to allow one another into their real lives. And, as this also allows both of them to avoid those real life complications, it works for both of them...or so they tell themselves.

Until Addison moves to New Orleans, and doesn't plan to tell Gabe, because her life is complicated and there's a deal breaker, or so she thinks, and she is afraid to face the idea that what works so well for them on the one weekend per month they see each other may not work on a permanent basis...and she is afraid of getting her heart broken.

We've all been where she is, hiding from something that could be real, and probably already is, because we are afraid of taking the risk and getting our hearts broken in the process. Addison is ready to walk away. The problem, is that Gabe is tenacious and he is going to follow her. He is going to be where she is, and he is going to show her that he fits into her life in NOLA and that instead of complicating it, he makes it whole.

It takes her a bit to get there, and the break up part of the book is in the middle, which I enjoyed. The reader isn't really a part of their weekends in New Orleans, so in order for the emotional investment of the story to work, this is treated almost like a second chance, with a couple of characters with a scorching chemistry and a history...but one that they are having to build from the beginning with a new set of circumstances.

It was a fun read, I enjoyed this title, and I am looking forward to the others in the series!