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ileany's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
briewhale's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’ve been looking forward to Michael’s book since he showed up on the scene of Zeke’s goat accident. And the story went above and beyond my expectations. I adored Ami. I couldn’t see her to know how pretty she was, but I saw her strength, her willingness to learn new things, her easygoing nature, and her deep care of the people in her life. Those are the things that won me over. As for Michael, I have only one word: HOT. Sure, Jakobi Diem’s brilliant narration had plenty to do with that. Additionally, Michael was loving, passionate, and kind. He got on my nerves by being too judgy about makeup and what Ami wanted to do, but he was able to figure out his mistake and learn from it. This was a great love story that tugged the heartstrings in all sorts of different directions.
elizzy's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
cgroup6's review
5.0
I received this book as an ARC, thanks to the author & publisher. This review is my own.
I adored this book. I loved how Ami took a situation that could have been very challenging personally as an opportunity for growth. I loved seeing Leo again - giving advice. I loved that Cooper from the New Orleans series makes an appearance.
Ultimately, this is series & interwoven world building at its finest. You should read this book & I’m sure it works just fine as a standalone… but I HIGHLY recommend going back to the beginning with Erin’s books and starting there. Because when you get to “check in” with those characters in later books, it is just that more exciting!
Side note - Is it weird that at one point I was hoping that Ami’s end game was helping Ellie & Cora with the Bar?
I adored this book. I loved how Ami took a situation that could have been very challenging personally as an opportunity for growth. I loved seeing Leo again - giving advice. I loved that Cooper from the New Orleans series makes an appearance.
Ultimately, this is series & interwoven world building at its finest. You should read this book & I’m sure it works just fine as a standalone… but I HIGHLY recommend going back to the beginning with Erin’s books and starting there. Because when you get to “check in” with those characters in later books, it is just that more exciting!
Side note - Is it weird that at one point I was hoping that Ami’s end game was helping Ellie & Cora with the Bar?
transportedlfl's review
5.0
We are back in the bayou of Autre, Louisiana with another hot guy with a badge. Michael is the chief firefighter and a single dad. And he has long admired his friends' younger cousin, Ami. She's a beauty pageant winner and a model. And little does he know, she's crushed on him since she was 16. It's only a small age gap of five years.
I appreciated how Ami reflected on her role as a model and the beauty standards that women face. This book is really about how to use the talents one has to help others. And both Ami and Michael work to figure out what it means to be helpers.
I found it neat that this was told over a long period. The timeline overlapped with other books in the series. And I loved seeing not only Ami and Michael, but his son Andre. This series has felt like it has gained in depth and grown beyond the previous series in Autre. We still have all of the same amazing Landry's and wonderful friends, family, and hijinks that make Erin Nicholas's books such fun. But we also have more social awareness and intensity. I love seeing it.
Thank you to Social Butterfly PR and the author for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.
4.5 stars rounded up
I appreciated how Ami reflected on her role as a model and the beauty standards that women face. This book is really about how to use the talents one has to help others. And both Ami and Michael work to figure out what it means to be helpers.
I found it neat that this was told over a long period. The timeline overlapped with other books in the series. And I loved seeing not only Ami and Michael, but his son Andre. This series has felt like it has gained in depth and grown beyond the previous series in Autre. We still have all of the same amazing Landry's and wonderful friends, family, and hijinks that make Erin Nicholas's books such fun. But we also have more social awareness and intensity. I love seeing it.
Thank you to Social Butterfly PR and the author for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.
4.5 stars rounded up
ebgracie77's review
5.0
4.5 stars. New to me author but definitely will be trying more of her books.
This one was different than most romances. We know from page 1 that these two really like each other. The timeline goes back a little to catch us up on how that all comes out and then we get to see them get together.
At 50%-ish, the book almost felt done. Like “ok, that was good. Those two are sweet together and I’m happy”. But then, the author dealt with some issues.
The hero is so sweet. He’s lovely and he wants to be there and fix things. The reason they don’t get into a relationship in the beginning is that he can’t stand to do a long distance relationship where he’s not able to fix things for her.
The learning after the 50% mark includes her understanding what she needs and then working out how he doesn’t get to fix everything for her.
It was really well done. And I appreciate the therapy rep in this. This is not one of those romances where the relationship is responsible for healing them completely. I like that. It felt fairly realistic as well as romantic.
It also includes his very cool kid and him dealing with some learning of his own.
The only thing that marked this down for me was that they both liked each other but hooked up with other people. It’s before this book starts but I like feeling like my main characters are each other’s as soon as they are interested. But they had made conscious decisions not to pursue each other. Mostly because of his aversion to a long-distance relationship.
This one was different than most romances. We know from page 1 that these two really like each other. The timeline goes back a little to catch us up on how that all comes out and then we get to see them get together.
At 50%-ish, the book almost felt done. Like “ok, that was good. Those two are sweet together and I’m happy”. But then, the author dealt with some issues.
The hero is so sweet. He’s lovely and he wants to be there and fix things. The reason they don’t get into a relationship in the beginning is that he can’t stand to do a long distance relationship where he’s not able to fix things for her.
The learning after the 50% mark includes her understanding what she needs and then working out how he doesn’t get to fix everything for her.
It was really well done. And I appreciate the therapy rep in this. This is not one of those romances where the relationship is responsible for healing them completely. I like that. It felt fairly realistic as well as romantic.
It also includes his very cool kid and him dealing with some learning of his own.
The only thing that marked this down for me was that they both liked each other but hooked up with other people. It’s before this book starts but I like feeling like my main characters are each other’s as soon as they are interested. But they had made conscious decisions not to pursue each other. Mostly because of his aversion to a long-distance relationship.
nikkisbooknook's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
4.5
Michael and Amelia have had obvious chemistry since we were introduced to them and even their families are trying to push this perfect couple together. But Michael is a single dad and a firefighter and determined to stay in his small home town. Amelia is a gorgeous model with a burgeoning career that she needs to be in NY for. He could survive his own heartbreak is they break up but he won't risk his son's
Ami is well aware of her place in the family. She's the pretty one, the model and beauty queen. her sisters are the charming and genius ones, she'll work for her place among these great talents. But when her future is devastated in an accident - one where Michael literally saves her, she's left to carve out a new career. What can she do when she can no longer rely on her looks?
This was a pretty near perfect book for me. Ami had so many hidden talents, she had a whole other persona that only a few people ever saw. The bond she created with Michael's son Andre was just so sweet. His reactions to her injuries, and the women that she comes to know, allow her to see that her stance on makeup companies since her accident has been a bit one-sided.
Michael is sweet, smexy, and all in when it comes to Ami. They have been the definition of slow burn for years so when things finally start to coalesce, they go at warp speed! Ami learns that she is more than looks and pretty trappings and Michael has to learn that he can't control everything around him - he has to accept that he can't save everyone, all of the time. Even heroes need to be saved from themselves sometimes.
The Landrys in all their glory are sprinkled within the book and I would kill for all of Leo's little nuggets of wisdom to be in a book of their own!
Love and life after tragedy told with a heaping helping of humour!
Ami is well aware of her place in the family. She's the pretty one, the model and beauty queen. her sisters are the charming and genius ones, she'll work for her place among these great talents. But when her future is devastated in an accident - one where Michael literally saves her, she's left to carve out a new career. What can she do when she can no longer rely on her looks?
This was a pretty near perfect book for me. Ami had so many hidden talents, she had a whole other persona that only a few people ever saw. The bond she created with Michael's son Andre was just so sweet. His reactions to her injuries, and the women that she comes to know, allow her to see that her stance on makeup companies since her accident has been a bit one-sided.
Michael is sweet, smexy, and all in when it comes to Ami. They have been the definition of slow burn for years so when things finally start to coalesce, they go at warp speed! Ami learns that she is more than looks and pretty trappings and Michael has to learn that he can't control everything around him - he has to accept that he can't save everyone, all of the time. Even heroes need to be saved from themselves sometimes.
The Landrys in all their glory are sprinkled within the book and I would kill for all of Leo's little nuggets of wisdom to be in a book of their own!
Love and life after tragedy told with a heaping helping of humour!
paytonbox21's review
5.0
I'm absolutely loving the Badges of the Bayou series! Bayou with Benefits is the second book in the series and was just as good, if not better than the first! Michael is a paramedic and a firefighter in Autre, and is also a single dad. His personality is that he constantly wants to help and fix the problems of those he is closest too, and unlike most other fixer heros, he is not annoying while he attempts this, because he does listen to what those around him want and does it that way rather than his way.
Ami is a model up in NYC, but her family is from Autre so her and Michael have known each other for basically their entire life. They know of their connection, but also know that their lives are not conductive for them to have a relationship, so they continue to be friends, and circle each other at their families big events.
After a car crash, Ami moves back home to Autre and moves in with Michael immediately to help with his son, but knowing that she plans to be back for good, means Michael and Ami immediately jump into a relationship. During that time, Ami's modeling career turns into something completely different where she advocates for those with skin conditions, and I loved all the conditions mentioned in the story, showing a wide range!
However, as with rushing into any relationship and with Ami's life changing to meet the new her, her and Michael still have a ton of things to work through before their relationship can fully work out.
Ami is a model up in NYC, but her family is from Autre so her and Michael have known each other for basically their entire life. They know of their connection, but also know that their lives are not conductive for them to have a relationship, so they continue to be friends, and circle each other at their families big events.
After a car crash, Ami moves back home to Autre and moves in with Michael immediately to help with his son, but knowing that she plans to be back for good, means Michael and Ami immediately jump into a relationship. During that time, Ami's modeling career turns into something completely different where she advocates for those with skin conditions, and I loved all the conditions mentioned in the story, showing a wide range!
However, as with rushing into any relationship and with Ami's life changing to meet the new her, her and Michael still have a ton of things to work through before their relationship can fully work out.
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