Review: Four Weddings and a Swamp Boat Tour by Erin Nicholas

Title:	Beauty and the Bayou
Author:	Erin Nicholas
Series:	Boys of the Bayou (Book 6) Hot Cakes Crossover
Pages:	316
Genre(s):	Contemporary
Trope(s):	Small Town Romance Opposites Attract
Point of View:	Third Person, Past Tense, Dual Viewpoints (H & h)
Location:	Autre, Louisiana, USA
HEA:	✔️
Release Date:	23rd February, 2020

My favourite Boys of the Bayou to date

This book is a crossover between the Boys of the Bayou series and the Hot Cakes series. Paige is from Appleby in Iowa (Hot Cakes) while Mitch is from Autre in Louisiana (Boys of the Bayou). The book takes place down in the Bayou, so it definitely more of a Boys… book. Having said that A LOT of characters from both series are in this book. Add to that, we are introduced to characters from the upcoming Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild series so perhaps this isn’t the book to start with if you haven’t previously read other books from either series. Mitch’s brief time in Appleby was also the subject of the short book Oh, Fudge! You probably don’t need to have read that one first, but it’s a short read that will give you some background into this couple.

Phew – now that’s said, onto the review!

I really enjoyed the character of Paige – and that’s despite the fact she’s absolutely nothing like me. She’s a free spirited, vegetarian, cat-loving, yoga teacher and all that would suggest. But she’s sweet and kind, and you completely understand her reasons for her stance on marriage and commitment. But as she started to find her feet in Autre – and in Mitch’s life – I still felt almost as happy as Mitch himself did.

“It was grab each other, kiss each other senseless, must have you now, kind of chemistry…”

But it was Mitch who stole my heart in this story. From the first he’s all in with Paige. He adores her and it’s a delight to see. However, he knows how she feels and that she doesn’t want anything series, planning to leave in a few weeks/months, so he keeps his feelings hidden and wants to do the best for Paige at all times. How could anyone ask for more? Towards the end of the story, we do get a little deeper with Mitch, about how he feels about himself and his worth. But it’s all tied up in the revelations both Paige and Mitch make about themselves, what they want and what they deserve.

Together, Mitch and Paige’s chemistry was explosive. It was grab each other, kiss each other senseless, must have you now, kind of chemistry and I was all there for it. There was a lot of talk about hearts jumping and I felt each and every one! Mitch was a bit of a dirty talker and I just loved the sexual banter between our pair. It was shiver-inducing!

There’s lots going on in this book from the four weddings, the otter enclosure, the swamp boat tour – but it never gets bogged down or confusing. The story was interesting, fresh and, as always, Ms Nicholas writes in a way that shows her love of the families and worlds she’s created. Such a fun and refreshing book – full of joy, love, family and laughter. Definitely my favourite of the Boys of the Bayou books and well worth 5 stars.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.

Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).

Excerpt:

“Goodnight, Paige,” he finally said.

“Goodnight, Mitch.”

They still just stood looking at each other.

“You need to go to your room,” he said, his voice a little tight.

“I will. You too.”

“Yeah, but—” He sighed. “You’re right by my door.”

She looked at the closed bedroom door again. And smiled. “I guess I am.”

She didn’t want to torture the guy. He was trying to be noble. Or something. But she wouldn’t deny that she liked that resisting her would be difficult.

“You need to move away from my bedroom door, Paige.” His voice was a little gruffer.

“You’re in my way of getting to my bedroom too,” she pointed out.

“But are you tempted to throw me over your shoulder and say to hell with all of your good intentions? Already? Within twenty minutes of deciding you even have good intentions?”

She laughed even as warmth filled her. Not just heat. Not lusty heat anyway. But a feel-good warmth that she didn’t quite understand. But she liked it. “Kind of.”

He swallowed hard. Then said, “Go to bed, Paige.”

She moved to the right, away from his door. As he came forward, she playfully pressed her back against the far wall.

He smiled, in spite of himself, and went to his bedroom door. He twisted the knob but paused and looked over at her.

She inched her way toward her bedroom, still against the wall. When she got to her door she reached for the knob and shot him a smile. “Goodnight, Mitch.”

“’Night.”

“And I’m just right here if you have any nighttime needs. Bad dreams.” She paused. “Good dreams.”

“Stop it.”

“Stop what? Just being a good friend.” She grinned.

“My dreams might include white dresses and tuxes,” he warned.

She tipped her head. “You’re pretty good at bringing all of that up without asking the four-word question.”

He didn’t comment on that. “See you in the morning.”

“Okay.” She gave him another smile, then slipped into her room, feeling his eyes still on her until the door shut.

She slumped against it, pressing her hand to her stomach.

Dammit. She really liked him.

It was really too bad they weren’t going to kiss anymore.

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Boys of the Bayou Series: