My Best Friend's Mardi Gras Wedding

Boys of the Bayou, Book 1

By: Erin Nicholas

Narrated by: Amanda Stribling, Neill Thorne

Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

A small-town fake-relationship romantic comedy. 

Josh Landry is one of the hottest bartenders in New Orleans. He’s shown many a female tourist that things are definitely big and easy down here. And he’s now been celibate for a year. Because he finally met her. 

Yes, her. The One.

But after nothing more than a hot good-night kiss and a promise to meet up again next year if they’re both still interested, she went home to Iowa.

It’s been a long year.

But now it's Mardi Gras again, and he's ready for his happily ever after. If she shows up. Oh, she shows up. For her best friend’s wedding. But Tori is a terrible bridesmaid because all she can think about is her knight-in-shining-Mardi-Gras-beads from last year. Well, and because she accidentally lays a hot kiss on her BFF. A.k.a. the groom.

Unfortunately, no one believes that it was a case of mistaken identity. So now she has to convince everyone she has no intention of ruining the wedding. She's going to need a crazy-about-her boyfriend ASAP. Even if he’s just faking it.

Well there's only one other person she knows in Louisiana...Josh is all in. In fact, he's thrilled. And he's not faking anything. But the groom isn't faking his sudden case of cold feet either.

And now Tori might have a choice to make. 

©2019 EN Fiction, Inc (P)2020 Pink Flamingo Productions, Inc

Fake boyfriend but real attraction

This was such a great story. The stars lined up and the promise of “meet me here next year” almost happens. You can hear the emotions in the characters voices. I love the setting and the back story of Andrew & Tori but I love how Josh believes in Tori even more. Definitely recommend and want to listen to the rest of the series.

great listen

loved it can't wait for next book. very entertaining, love all the characters, Josh and tori are amazing

Josh and Tori - a meet cute for the ages

Josh and Tori’s over-the-top instalove meeting followed by a year long celibate separation is the stuff of legends - at least in small town Autre, Louisiana where Josh is from and where the love stories are always over-the-top crazy. This first book in the Boys of the Bayou series has the perfect blend of funny, sweet, happy, and fan your face steamy with only a small bit of angst. Amanda Stribling and Neil Thorne as the narrators are perfection, they add even more depth and richness to a phenomenal story. Josh is a bartender in New Orleans and a swamp boat tour guide who met Tori last year. Tori lives in Iowa where she is a vet. Last year they spent 6 hours with each other in a bar over 2 days, they were fully clothed, only shared 4 kisses, did not share contact info, and agreed to meet back in one year at the same bar if they were both still interested. This is where the story begins, they both are still interested, neither one has thought of anyone else in the year they’ve been apart, and they both try to meet up as promised. Tori is back in New Orleans to meet Josh but also to be in her best friend’s wedding, he’s the groom. The bride is not Tori’s biggest fan. The story is filled with loud, larger than life characters and situations, a few misunderstandings, cute animals, and so much love. Tori and Josh just need to overcome a few obstacles, let go of some insecurities, and embrace their crazy together in order to get to their HEA and what a fun joyful ride it is. Sprinkled throughout this beautifully paced story of Josh and Tori’s HEA, there are also a number of secondary characters that we are introduced to. Rather than being confusing, overwhelming or detracting from the main love story, these characters are central to the unfurling of Josh and Tori’s dance of love and passion and to the crazy that is Autre, Louisiana. We learn enough about who the secondary characters are along with just enough of their stories so that they’re fully developed characters in their own right. With My Best Friend’s Mardi Gras Wedding, Erin Nicholas once again proves she’s a fantastic storyteller and the queen at bringing to life imaginary towns full of wonderful characters where we all wished we could live.

Love me some Bayou Boys!!

So I'll start out by saying I normally don't like third person books/audiobooks, but this one drew me in from the very beginning. These Bayou Boys are incredible. I love the world that Erin has built with these friends and their crazy families. Let me just say Neill's Cajun drawl was droolworthy. I loved every second of this one and am binging the rest of the series now!

#PinkFlamingoProductions #AudiobookObsessionReviewer #Flock

Fake Relationship? Maybe or Maybe Just Sped Up lol

So this is labeled as a fake relationship book but it’s more of a sped up relationship book lol

They are equally attracted to each other and she just asks him to fib about their relationship timeline lol


This book is adorable and hilarious and sweet!

Josh is every bit the amazing “boy” I expected after listening to him in Gabe/Logan and Caleb’s books (Boys Of The Big Easy if you found this one first lol)

Now the previous series was narrated by Ryan Wesf by himself and I thought he walked on water lol then I “met” Neill in this one. He is just as lovely!! A slow soft drawl that seems so natural and it’s lovely to listen to!

Amanda Stribling is the female narrator in this one. I have heard her do some live reads on Discord so listening to this full book by her was wonderful!

Both of these narrators are going on my favorites list!

Welcome to the Bayou

I loved this book by author Erin Nicholas and it was a great start to the Boys of Bayou series. The two narrators were new to me and they did a great job with their performances. They brought Josh and Tori’s love story to life. I also enjoyed how they portrayed the secondary characters as well.

Great read for a virtual vacation! Fell in love with the Landry family and can’t wait to hear more

I started reading this book on the recommendation of a friend, and I loved every minute of it. If you’re like me and really craving travel during this crazy time, this is a perfect escape!

I am just starting to fully appreciate audiobooks, but I really enjoyed both of the narrators. They brought life to the book and the crazy Landry family. I loved hearing both Tori and Josh’s perspectives and I loved how down to earth they both were.

I was asked by the author for an honest review but I truly can say I fell in love with the crazy Landry family and can’t wait to find out more about the Boys of the Bayou.

Midwest Gal meets Sexy NOLA Man

Josh and Tori... I mean damn! Tori, a Midwestern gal who would rather spend a day taking care of animals than spending the day with people - except maybe her best friend who just happens to be getting married and she feels like she is losing him to the princess he is marrying. Josh is everything that you can imagine when you think smooth, sexy, bartender - He likes to have fun and he loves the ladies. But everything changes when they meet on Mardi Gras, neither of them can stop thinking about the other and when Tori needs a man to play pretend, she finds Josh, who isn't pretending to be into her and he isn't ready to give up on a future with her. But then as things start to go haywire, Tori is faced with a very big decision that will change her life.

I loved this book! I have put the next book on my to read list! It was a fun listen and it made me laugh, drew me in and had me rooting for my favorite couple (No Spoilers!). Amanda and Neill were fabulous, I loved listening to them and the production was fabulous :) #AudiobookObsessionReviewer

Chance Meeting

Meeting at Mardi Gras between Tori and Josh leads to them trying to find each other a year later at the same time. Tori kisses the groom and needs Josh to come to the wedding. A few days is all it takes to prove that Tori and Josh are made for each other. Throw on Josh's crazy family which I loved especially grandma Ellie and you have a great love story in the making.

A fake boyfriend story, but how fake is it?

Victoria (Tori) Kramer is a veterinarian from Iowa in New Orleans to visit her best friend. She meets Josh Landry while he is bartending. There is some real chemistry between them but how could she possibly make a long-distance relationship work? But the chemistry… Josh and Tori strike a deal: no exchanges numbers or addresses, they will meet again at this same bar in exactly 1 year to see if the chemistry is still there.

Josh Landry is a hard-working bayou boy. He works at his family’s tour boat company in Autre, LA while bartending in New Orleans a few nights a week. Though he is a lady’s man, he has been celibate for year. His is from a family with huge love stories and he knows Tori is meant for him.

One year later, Tori is back in the Big Easy. She is not just looking for Josh, she is in town for her best friend’s wedding! Tori goes to the bar where she is supposed to meet James 1 year later. She sees him, walks up to him and kisses him! Or at least she thinks it is James. Turns out, she kissed her best friend, Andrew, in front of Andrew’s fiancée. Did I mention, Paisley, Andrew’s fiancée, dislikes Tori? This kiss is the breaking point for Paisley. Tori tries to explain that she thought she was kissing Josh, but nobody believes her. Now Tori is on a mission to find him.

When Tori finds Josh, it is obvious the chemistry is still there. Tori explains what happened and asks Josh to be her pretend boyfriend for the wedding festivities. Of course, Josh agrees! What a great excuse to stay glued to Tori for a few days and help her fall in love with the bayou. Now it seems Andrew is developing cold feet. Did Tori’s accidental kiss awaken feelings in Andrew that he has hidden for years? Is Tori’s chemistry with Josh strong enough for a relationship to last?

Narrated by Amanda Stribling and Neill Thorne. I personally love when there are two narrators. I think it helps hold my attention a little better. Neill does a good job with adjusting for different character voices. Amanda is fabulous! I am particularly fond of the snarkiness in her voice when she is portraying Paisley.

Boys, Beignets and all the stars!

I received this audiobook via a promo code from Audiobook Obsession at my request and this is my voluntary review.

After some very dark and demanding reads, this aural treat was as refreshing as a Hurricane after a hot day in the Bayou.

Tori and Josh decide to pull a Serendipity move after they met during Mardi Gras a year prior, both back in Louisiana hoping the other will show up at the same bar where they met and shared some very steamy kisses. Hilarity Calamity and missed connections lead a very tipsy Tori to kiss a handsome masked stranger in the bar, thinking its Josh when the guy is familiar with her, except it turns out to be Andy... her bestie and the groom to the wedding she's in town for. Worse? The Bride shows up just in time to find them lip-locked. Desperate to prove that her Mardi Gras Promise was real and that she really did think it was Josh, she tracks him down much to his relief and he becomes her plus one. Tori is a loveable Vet and Josh is the hot bartender/tour guide boy from the Bayou who goes all out to convince the brunette Bridesmaid to become his Bayou Bride.

Loved this, sweet, funny and Neill Thornes voice is so soothing.... I want to go to Louisiana now just to experience grits lol

Loved it!

This is my first Erin Nicholas book and I’m not disappointed!

I read/listen to a lot of dark romances, so this is definitely way on the other side of the spectrum. But I enjoyed it!

Tori and Josh meet and agree to meet again in a year. And when they do the chemistry is still there!

Before we get into what I liked, I just want to put it out there I do not like Andrew or his fiancé. I can’t even remember her name. She is such a “female dog”! And Andrew is not a very good best friend.

I loved Josh and his family. Quirky. That’s what comes to mind. And Tori has her moments to.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story. Amanda & Neill did a great job narrating!

🎧AudioBookObsessionReviewer
🦩PinkFlamingoProductions

One of my favorite fictional couples

Tori and Josh just might be one of my favorite fictional couples. Tori is sweet, innocent and loves animals to an extreme (basically me) and Josh is this outgoing playboy-type, though still very sweet and gentlemanly (I now declare Josh my book-boyfriend FYI). They are so different in so many ways, yet complete each other and I adored how they just accepted each other for who they were. And their chemistry is off the charts!! This story is both steamy, sweet, silly and incredibly well-described - I could almost picture myself being in Louisiana, with this amazing crazy-but-loving family! I swear, I sat with either a huge grin or rolled my eyes half the time while listening.
Amanda Stribling and Neill Thorne did an amazing job narrating this story - they really brought the story to life!!

So, so enjoyable, great story, ace narration

I really enjoyed this story. It's gentle and light with some steam thrown in. It made me chuckle in several places and I was a little sad when it ended as I wanted to spend more time with the characters. Neill Thorne and Amanda Stribling did a brilliant job with the narration, in fact they were so good I kind of ignored them, and yes I'm aware how odd that sounds! So very enjoyable.

5 stars!

Loved this! It had perfect narration and made me smile/swoon. Also had its steamy parts. love the southern charm. can't wait to listen to the next one!

So good

Fabulous story with characters that drew me in. I love the chemistry between Josh and Tori there were sparks from the start.

Just what I hoped it would be.

I have read several books by the hugely talented Erin Nicholas and have enjoyed every one, but audiobooks are different, you get to hear the words from the books but they are acted by the narrators and that can make or break the story.

I have previously listened to the impressively skilled voice acting by Amanda Stribling and Neill Thorne who both did an outstanding job narrating this fun, sexy and all round wonderful romance. They both managed to deliver the right amount of humour into the story.

I loved the plot, especially the steam and chemistry between Josh and Tori. They were sweet and I adore Josh’s family. Andrew and Paisley were both annoying but in the kind of way that I wanted them to be.

All in all, I was crazy about this audiobook and will be immediately diving in to Sweet Home Louisiana, the next audiobook in the series.

Tori and Josh

This is an enjoyable, sexy, hot fun story about how Tori Kramer, a veterinarian from Iowa, who on a weekend trip to New Orleans met Josh Landry who was tending the bar. Although there was an instant connection between them nothing happened as Tori would soon be going home to Iowa but before she left they agreed to meet again at Mardi Gras the following year. Because if they both show then their connection must have been real and have meaning.

To find out what happens the following year you will have to read/listen to the book yourself, no more spoilers from me. what I will say is you won't be disappointed.

Tori and Josh are both so likeable and well-drawn they share lots of palpable chemistry, the author brought out their personalities and let them discover just who they really are, I found meeting Josh's bayou family too.

The narration of this book by Amanda Stribling and Neill Thorne is excellent and added to my enjoyment of this enjoyable and fun read.

I received this audiobook as a gift and am voluntarily writing my review

My Best Friend's Mardi Gras Wedding

This was a really easy listen. Erin Nicholas is a new author to me. This book had everything I expected from a southern romance with dash of crazy bayou shenanigans. Amanda and Neill did an amazing job narrating with the southern Louisiana accent.

AN ABSOLUTE CELEBRATORY 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

AN ABSOLUTE CELEBRATORY 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

MY BEST FRIEND'S MARDI GRAS WEDDING
(BOYS OF THE BAYOU, #1)
BY: ERIN NICHOLAS
NARRATED BY: AMANDA STRIBLING & NEILL THORNE

I immediately loved the idea that even though Josh, a sexy bartender, was totally smitten with Tori, a gorgeous vet who collects random pets he accepted that it was too soon to start something new and agrees to make a pact to meet a year later if they are both still single.
When a year passes they attempt to do just that however it doesn’t quite go to plan and Tori ends up accidentally kissing her best friend, Andrew, who is suppose to be getting married.
You can clearly see that Josh and Tori still have so much chemistry between them but first she has to prove that she has no feelings for her best friend Andrew and this is where Josh comes in to help by agreeing to a fake relationship with Tori which to be honest was never really fake.
So they go to Andrew's wedding together and encounter A few twists and turns they must
navigate but you cannot deny the spark these two is just off the scale and is only gonna lead to one thing! I absolutely loved this book the story of Josh and Tori was just simply amazing and a joy to listen to as Amanda Stribling and Neill Thorne did an amazing job of bringing these character alive. I’m certainly looking forward to more books from Nicholas!
(I received an ALC for an honest review)