Rocked Bayou (Badges of the Bayou 3) by Erin Nicholas-review & excerpt tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 7, 2023
Ex-bodyguard and moody Irishman, Colin Daly needs three things:
To figure out how to have a real job after his longtime client no longer needs him.
To find some really good Irish whiskey in the land of homemade moonshine.
To stop having dirty dreams every time he hears young, beautiful, recently-discovered-thanks-to-social-media music sensation, Hayden Ross, sing. Which seems to be every time he freaking turns around lately.
But now the new-to-the-spotlight sweetheart is being harassed and needs someone to have her back. And Colin will be damned if he’s going to let anyone else take this job. No matter how much being her temporary, very protective pretend boyfriend/roommate/whatever is going to rock his world.
••••
REVIEW:ROCKED BAYOU is the third instalment in Erin Nicholas’ contemporary, adult BADGES OF THE BAYOU erotic, romantic suspense series-a spin off from the numerous BOYS OF THE BAYOU interconnected series. This is thirty year old, ex-bodyguard Colin Daly, and twenty three year old, social media star Hayden Ross’ story line. ROCKED BAYOU can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any Important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Colin is first introduced in KISS MY GIRAFFE, Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild #7.
Told from third person perspective ROCKED BAYOU focuses on the protection of social media star Hayden Ross. Hayden Ross is a singer/songwriter who is climbing the proverbial charts on social media but Hayden has a stalker, and the messages are becoming personal and dangerous when Hayden discovers a gift outside of her front door. Desperate for help, Hayden calls her best friend Henry, the former personal bodyguard of Cian O’Grady, heir to the throne of Cara but Henry is on assignment overseas, and Colin Daly is the runner up in Hayden’s desperation for help. Knowing the stalking will only increase, Colin moves Hayden into his building, where she will have a large entourage of security and protection. Colin never expected to fall for Hayden Ross but when all is said and done, each will go their separate ways in the face of bigger and better things, or so they thought. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Hayden and Colin, and the potential fall-out as Hayden is offered the opportunity of a lifetime, and Colin and his security company are contracted to protect Bennett Baxter (Crazy Rich Cajuns/Boys of the Bayou 4) and his run for the Senate.
Hayden Ross loves to sing. Coming from a star studded family who have made their name in the sports field, Hayden has watched from the sidelines as her family’s fame exploded but Hayden struggles with her direction going forward in the face of a stalker who is threatening our story line heroine, a struggle that forces Hayden to make a decision in the wake of Colin’s contract to further his own career. Living with Colin Daly means up close and personal with the man with whom she will fall in love but Hayden knew it was only a matter of time before she is only an afterthought to our story line hero. Colin Daly has been looking for the next big contract that will expose his company to bigger and better things, and Colin thinks he has found it protecting our story line heroine but when something with bigger potential for exposure comes along, Colin is overwhelmed, and Hayden finds herself on the outside looking in.
The relationship between Colin and Hayden is one of forced proximity, age-gap, bodyguard romance. Colin Daly knows to get involved with a client may complicate matters going forward but the heart wants something more with our story line heroine but I have to question the number of times Hayden’s stalker is successful in contacting our story line heroine, success in the wake of a large security force that is obviously unprepared for the reality of the situation. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters including many of whom we have met in most of Erin Nicholas’ interconnected Boys of the Bayou series.
ROCKED BAYOU is a story of obsession and madness; family and friendships, falling in love and moving forward. The premise is intriguing, entertaining and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic, determined but struggling.
Reading Order and Previous reviews
Bayou Tonight .5
Gotta Be Bayou
Bayou with Benefits
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
Obviously, she was going to let him take the lead. Which was definitely how he preferred things. “First rule, we’re going to have to act very close. Like we’ve been close for a while.”
She nodded.
“Like we’ve been physically intimate,” he said to emphasize his point.
She nodded again, seemingly not fazed. “Obviously.”
“So we probably should go over some specifics.”
“Specifics like what?”
“Like that I need…your consent.” So that sounded awkward as fuck out loud.
But again, she barely hesitated. “You have it.”
“I haven’t even asked you for anything.”
She took a step closer. “Colin, I completely trust you. Whatever you need to do, I’m in. You have my consent to do anything.”
His body tightened in response to that. This was dangerous. Having this woman’s consent to do whatever he wanted to and with her was like a dream come true and a nightmare all rolled into one.
She. Was. A. Client.
He took a breath and attempted to pull his shit together. “Okay, that helps. You trusting me is really important. There might be moments where I can only give you instructions without explanation.”
“I get that,” she said. “I’ll cooperate.”
“And there might be times I have to just do something without any words at all. And…explain later.”
She nodded. “Got it.”
“So…is there anything you absolutely can’t tolerate? Any triggers? Phobias?”
She lifted her brows. “Give me an example.”
“Total darkness. Having your face covered. Certain smells. People touching your hair. Anything like that you can think of?”
Hayden was staring at him, but Colin could tell it was not in fear, but fascination. He was grateful that she seemed to be carefully considering what he’d asked. Finally, she shook her head. “I honestly can’t think of anything.”
“Are you allergic to anything?”
“No. Not that I’m aware of.”
“Is there anywhere you don’t want me to touch you?”
She didn’t even think about that one. “No.”
Again, his body reacted. He stubbornly focused on the conversation. “You’re sure? No spots that are off-limits? Anywhere you’re ticklish?”
“No. I mean, I’m a little ticklish. Like anyone. But there’s nowhere that I don’t want you to touch me.”
His pulse hammered in his veins. He moved in closer. She was going to have to get used to him being close to her. Very close. And this would help emphasize what he was asking about and help him gauge her reactions. He needed to be sure. She might be trying to spare his feelings, or she really might not be aware of things that might, in the moment, make her uncomfortable.
“I have to play your boyfriend tonight. Someone who knows you well and who’s been close to you. Naked with you. Who’s seen and touched and tasted you,” he said, letting his voice drop. It wasn’t intentional, but he didn’t fight it when his voice got husky. “If I touch you and you stiffen up, reflexively pull away, act skittish, and he’s watching, he’ll notice.”
She didn’t lean away. In fact, she stepped closer. “Colin, I honestly can’t think of a single place where you could touch me that I wouldn’t like it.”
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).
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