Easy Does It

Bank Street Stories #1

by Brooke St. James

I always wanted to live at the beach. It had been my dream since I was a little girl. I longed to experience the sand and sea. My heart's desire was to become a famous artist who painted scenes with palm trees and blue waters.

Finally, I was moving to a coastal town. It was only three hours from where I grew up, but it might as well have been paradise with how excited I was. My sister was coming with me, except she didn't care about painting palm trees and beach scenes. She was only in it for the shirtless guys.

Abigail and I packed our bags and headed south to Galveston Island where we'd stay for the summer. In the fall she would return to college, but if I liked Galveston enough I would stay.

From the moment I got off the ferry I was sure this island would be my new home. I knew I had finally found my muse. What I didn't know was that I would also find my soulmate.

Genres: Romance, Christian Romance, Contemporary

217 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 29, 2020

About the author

Brooke St. James is a USA Today bestselling author and Amazon Kindle All-Star. She writes contemporary romance novels with Christian and inspirational themes and happy endings. She was born and raised in south Louisiana but has had the opportunity to travel and live throughout the U.S. An avid reader, writer, audio book addict, and fan of all things artistic, Brooke constantly has her hands in some creative activity. She's currently back home in Louisiana enjoying life with her husband, children, and two lazy dogs.

To find out more about Brooke visit her Facebook page at:
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Her Official website at:
http://www.brookesaintjames.com/

Follow her on Twitter or Instagram:
@brooke_stjames

To join her mailing list or for specific inquiries:
brookesaintjames@gmail.com

Listen to her audiobooks on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@BrookeStJames

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tess Cohen and her sister Abigail are moving to the small coastal town of Galveston, Texas for the summer of 1968.  They are looking to put some distance between themselves and their parents, but only manage about three hours from their hometown of Starks, Louisiana.  Tess dreams of painting coastal scenes along the shore and Abigail will return to college after the summer. Tess didn't count on Billy Castro coming into her life.  Billy has been collecting debts and after he gets into a fight with one of the boys from Marvin Jones' Bank Street Boxing Club, Billy is recruited by Marvin to train with him.  Billy and Tess' relationship grows.  Although Tess doesn't know if she'll be staying in Galveston past the summer and Billy believes that he is not good enough for a woman like Tess.

 
Easy Does It is the first book in the Bank Street Stories Series. I believe it does a lot of set up for the next nine books in the series that follows the same family.  This is a sweet romance that focuses on how Tess and Billy met, formed a relationship and made a life together.  While their relationship was sweet and it was nice to see two people from what seemed like opposite sides of the track come together, there wasn't really any conflict in the story.  I was surprised that everyone was accepting of their quick romance, especially in the 1960's.  I did like the setting of Galveston in 1968.  I got a good small town feeling with the hardware store, apartments, boxing club, diner and dances.  I liked Tess and Billy as well but wanted a little more from their characters other than Tess was a sweet, helpful twenty-two-year-old who enjoys painting and Billy had a difficult childhood and now enjoys boxing.  This is a shorter book, and a lot is told rather than shown, so I wasn't pulled into the story as much as I wanted.  Overall, a sweet and easy to read romance that is set up for many books in the series. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

[Michelle Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of telling not showing

I usually love this author’s books but this one was very flat for me. She did a lot of telling instead of showing. It’s like In the movies when they do the montage scene that advances the plot quickly, well most of the book was like this. That’s okay to do once in a while, but not as the main way of telling the story.

Also the writing was really stilted and unnatural. It was choppy and I found myself getting “kicked out” of the story. Meaning, I noticed the writing instead of getting lost in the storyline.

It felt rushed and also a bit unbelievable that with the things the H had been through, he would just go on and live a normal life and not be majorly screwed up without some counseling. I know this is set in the 60s so that’s probably not that common back then and so it’s prob true to the time period. But as a modern reader it just didn’t sit right with me.

This one was a definite miss for me.

[Vibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 stars) - a little change of pace but as heartwarming as always!

This one feels a little different from Brooke's usual fare. It takes place in 1968, & of course it involves a love story, but reads a bit more like her prequel stories that set up the beginning of a family dynasty of sorts.

I don't consider that a negative at all, but just to let you know that it's got a slightly different vibe.

Tess is the good girl that bad boy Billy is attracted to & their sweet romance coincides with famous boxer Marvin seeing the potential in Billy & helping to give him a way out of the seedy life he was increasingly becoming a part of.

It's every bit as sweet and uplifting as Brooke's fans know we can expect, and I look forward to my next dose... I mean, seeing where she takes it from here, lol!

*Romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic

*Religion: overtly Christian, but only a few mentions, nothing preachy

[Tiffany (Bluestocking) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay. In regular Brooke St. James fashion, the story progressed quickly and much of the conversations and scenes were choppy and unrealistic. I generally don’t mind but this one was just too much for me.

I was baffled that Tess had literally no reservations toward Billy. The first time he’s mentioned, he is presented as a criminal. The guy literally beat up 4 guys and ran away (still she’s not concerned). Their first encounter wasn’t much better since he was still shadey. Regardless, Tess was busy making googley eyes at him. Their second encounter results in her agreeing to have breakfast with him. All the while she has seen nothing to prove that he isn’t a criminal.

There were some cute parts, but you have to throw caution to the wind and discard all logic to really enjoy this one.

Content: Clean, Kissing

[Meredith Spidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easy summer reading at it's best. St. James charms with an idyllic setting, delightful characters and the sweetness of a gentle, faith-driven romance. Perfect way to treat yourself and your spirit for a few hours off this summer!

[Cheryl McIntosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t wait for the next book in this series

I love Brook’s book, and this one didn’t disappoint. I love the characters in this book and profound love and trust they have for each other. Who doesn’t root for the underdog? A very sweet story.

[Ljones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!

Everytime I read a book by Brooke St James I want to re-read all of her books! She writes books that make you feel good. When I need a pick me up, she is one of my go to authors.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a spectacular start to a brand new series. I can just tell that we will all fall in love with this family, just like the ones who came before. Tess was perfectly placed in Billy's life to show him his worth. Such a lovely love story!

[Sharyl Haderlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful author

I've loved every book I've read by Brooke St. James. I really like the way she develops the characters and plot. I am a fan of Christian romance and faith driven choices.

[Celeste Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. This was sweet and simple and the kind of book that uplifts the reader. There were a few sections that made me think, but overall the text was plain, the storyline didn't have any major conflict, and the whole book was pretty tepid. However, I understand the appeal for a clean, sweet romance. I think I'll come back to this author when I have frustrating days of my own for a good escape and peace of mind.

[Marzee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sweet... But there wasn't much push, pull, development, or growth. It was like going for a pleasant car ride. Nice... Enjoyable... But forgettable. Also...the cover is misleading and has nothing to do with the book. It's set in 1968 and is about a southern girl who falls for a boxer. There's so much more development that could have taken place to make this book excellent... The pieces were there... But the author failed to polish them into something truly impressive.

[Christoph J Sikora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet but Not Sickly

The first book in Brooke St. James's Bank Street Stories is a wonder... the heroine, Tess, is 23 years old and hasn't been kissed passionately. Most of the chapters from her point of view include "good girl" expressions like "goodness" and "wow"...a far cry from the profanity-laced narratives from other authors. Also, Tess has no sexual experience, unlike the other heroines of books I've read (even five-star ones), and Easy Does It skips from the wedding ceremony to three months later, with no description of their first time together---a necessity in other novels of this type. The only evidence that the couple has been sleeping together comes in the second book, when Tess is very pregnant.

Billy, the love interest, gets his own chapters but doesn't narrate them himself; it's merely a device to tell the reader what's going on with Billy when Tess isn't on site. His story arc is in some ways more complex than Tess's and simpler in others. Raised in a family where his abusive father was killed and his mother drank herself to death, he was orphaned at age 16 and has scraped up a living by collecting debts for a local gambling master. He's got some good fighting skills but needs to channel his aggression in less destructive ways. Enter Marvin Jones, the retired boxing champ who owns a boxing gym next door. Will Billy make a commitment to boxing, to Tess, to the truth?

St. James unfolds her plot and characters at a leisurely Texas pace. Galveston Island serves as a beautiful, beachy background for a sweet story that pulls out the stops to keep the reader from being bored. This might sound like faint praise, but once I stopped thinking about how bad things could go (a 21st century prejudice I should claim) , I was enthralled by the journey of Tess and Billy. The preview at the end indicates that Tess's younger sister Abigail is in the spotlight for the second book in the series. I can't wait to read that book!

[Krys · Rating 1 out of 5]

Third person books, man. There's just something about 'em. Two hours into a 4 and a half hour audiobook and I am bored as all get out. I don't believe I've read anything of St. James' so I'm unfamiliar with her writing style. The setting is different for a romance, and the set-up for the story was from a different angle than most romances I've read previously, but the characters are as flat as paper Stanley, and to call the conversations between these young people stilted is like calling the weather in the Himalayas a little nippy- it's a massive understatement. These kids talk like adults (obviously that's always a challenge for older authors writing young adult characters but in this case it's particularly noticeable) and they don't seem to say anything particularly interesting, insightful or memorable. I'm not feeling compelled by the story. There's very little personality or vivaciousness (good or bad) so far. Each character is only defined by their actions past and present. That's always the trouble with third person romance, the shift in perspective always seems to be at the cost of that personal flare that gives life to the characters.

Side note, why did the male MC assume the fem MC is "pure". I know this is a Christian romance, but this is a trope across the romance genre in general. How do you look at someone and know that they're "pure"? Just because they dress like a nice girl and talk like a nice girl doesn't make them a nice girl. Just as there are wolves in sheep's clothing on the male side of things, there are female wolves who like the feel of fleece on their backs as well. I'd love to find a book where the author takes their characters' assumptions in this respect and weaponizes them. It would be so satisfying, because this trope drives me bonkers.

[Priscila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy Does It was a beautiful book. It took me by surprise with both Billy's career and the time setting (late 60s). Nevertheless, I loved spending time with Tess and Billy, and how that summer of '68 changed both their lives. I loved that she was a painter and he became a boxer, as well as how she took a chance on him because she saw who he was underneath the bad boy guy all the way to how he had struggled in his past. Their relationship was really sweet, and there are some really passionate kisses (tongues are mentioned) without things going further than that. The narrator was good with the voices of the characters and their emotions, though Billy's took me a bit to get used to. Still, it all came alive as I was listening to her narration, and I really enjoyed this audiobook. Overall, I'd recommend this one to anyone looking for a different yet sweet romance set on the beach. This was my first book by this author but it won't be my last. I'm off to check out others by her. ~ Story: 5 stars, Narration: 5 stars, Overall: 5 stars.

[Lilsizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fighters win

What a sweet and beautiful story of love between Billy and Tess. They both came from different upbringings and yet they found themselves in love. A few Littlefield along the way but they made it!! Their dreams came true of a Boxer and a Painter. Beautifully written. Thanks Brooke!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story felt different from others from the author that I’ve read. While the relationship between the main characters is the focus, much of the book feels like an outline and backstory for the rest of the series. Much of what happens in the second half of the book is told to the reader instead of being shown to the reader.

[John Brezinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starts out slow, but then packs a punch!

This story started out so slow, that I almost didn't finish reading it, but then it picked up and took off! Loved the relationship between bad boy Billy and innocent Tess. Loved the complete turn around Billy does with his life! So many well developed characters - can't wait for the rest of the series!

[Joyce A. Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bad Boy to Top Boxer

I honestly don't know how she does it! Her stories are varied and remarkable. The endings are straight forward and believable. If you love sports and boxing in particular, you will surely enjoy this St. James offering. I wouldn't attend a boxing match but I did like this book.

[Nellie Neves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story of how they got together.

I’ve loved this author for years, but occasionally she tells the story of how two people got together, but there’s no conflict. It is still a sweet and quite o lovely story, but I miss the tension. This is a lovely story. Billy is likable and genuine. Tess is real
And sincere. It reads like someone recounting their love story to you. A lot of tell and not much show. But I still enjoyed it.

[Sandra Hartzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a free copy of this book, but this is my voluntary and honest opinion. Tess wants to live and paint pictures at the beach so she and her sister go to Galveston Island for the summer. While there, she meets Billy Castro, who is becoming a boxer, and marries him when he loses his room. An uplifting faith filled story and a must read.

[JK · Rating 5 out of 5]

As all Brooke St. James books go, the story is so short that it seems rushed. Once you figure out who's who, the book is over. There wasn't a lot of time to get to know the characters, but I still liked the book. Relationships work best when the man feels respected and the woman feels loved. And this book plays into that well.

[Donna Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new series starter.

This is a new series starter with a really different storyline than she usually writes. I'm not sure why but this story sounded more juvenile that usual. Still a clean romance though.

[Bobbie Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the characters

Looking forward to future stories about these people. I haven't read a book by Brooke St. James that I didn't like. I've read most of her books at least twice.

[Michelle Sims · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading the reviews and the 5 star review, I thought this would be an easy read. I rarely start a book and don’t finish it, but this book was so slow and characters were shallow. I read it up to page 125 and returned it-

[Judith Seale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very uplifting book

Billy had a very hard upbringing. He was holding on to a secret that was dominating his life. Forgiveness is sure to set you free. Reading this book is uplifting and heartwarming.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost didn't read this book because of the cover. It doesn't match the book at all. It's a sweet story that takes place in Galveston in the 1960s of a kid with a hard life turned professional boxer and the girl he falls in love with.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billy is interesting

This was a good book. I really liked Billy. With the way it started out with Billy being the "bad boy," I was expecting more drama with Matty. This was still a good book though.

[Karen Brasher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy Does It

Not sure what to even write in this review. The book was not interesting to me. The characters seemed stilted and uninteresting. I usually like this authors writing but just could not get into this one for some reason.

[Catherine Babuscio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!

Can't wait for the next in this new series. Captures you and keeps you entranced until the end. Brooke St James is a phenomenal writer!

[priscilla davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really a great book

Loved this book it didn’t disappoint! I didn’t want to put it down it was so good and such a sweet story