Title: Under the Bayou Moon
Author: Valerie Fraser Luesse
Publisher: Revell Publishing
Release Date: August 3, 2021
Pages: 348
Book Source: ARC
“Restless with the familiarity of her Alabama home, Ellie Fields accepts a teaching job in a tiny Louisiana town deep in bayou country. Though rightfully suspicious of outsiders, who have threatened both their language and their culture, most of the people in tiny Bernadette, Louisiana, come to appreciate the young and idealistic school teacher as a boon to the town. She’s soon teaching just about everyone–and coming up against opposition from both the school board and a politician with ulterior motives.
Acclimating to a whole new world, Ellie meets a lonely but intriguing Cajun fisherman named Raphe who introduces her to the legendary white alligator that haunts these waters. Raphe and Ellie have barely found their way to each other when a huge bounty is offered for the elusive gator, bringing about a shocking turn of events that will test their love and their will to right a terrible wrong.
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A master of the Southern novel, Valerie Fraser Luesse invites you to enter the sultry swamps of Louisiana in a story that illuminates the struggle for the heart and soul of the bayou.” – Amazon
Kim’s Review
An ARC of Under the Bayou Moon by Valerie Fraser Luesse appeared in my mailbox and I didn’t remember requesting it. But inside was a card letting me know it was a Goodreads win, and after reading the synopsis on the back I could see why I had entered to win… Having lived in Wisconsin my whole life, I love reading books that take place in the South and although I’ve never visited Louisiana, I just know I will love it there when I do.
Under the Bayou Moon was beautifully written and you could tell that Luesse had really educated herself on the area’s history. The way she describes the bayou, New Orleans, and the small town of Bernadette shows that she too has found the love and magic that is alive there. And her character descriptions were so well done, you could hear the accents coming off the page.
Combining together history, myth, a uniquely gorgeous area, romance, and a community that really comes together and I couldn’t put Under the Bayou Moon down. If you are looking for a clean romance and fantastic story, this is one that I highly recommend.
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