Bayou Beauty
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4.8 • 13 Ratings
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
Love returns to Louisiana's Butterfly Bayou in a new small-town contemporary romance sure to charm hearts, from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake.
Sylvie Martine was prepared to take Washington D.C. by storm, but she put that dream on hold when her beloved hometown of Papillon, Louisiana, needed her most. Now Sylvie's the mayor of the tiny town on the bayou that holds her heart. But for Sylvie, this can only be a pit stop on the way to bigger and better things. The last thing she needs is an old love to resurface and threaten her goals.
Rene Darois’s whole life has been about serving his family—no matter how much it hurts. He’s used to sacrificing for his large extended family and the company his grandfather created. But he can’t believe the latest demand: he needs to find a wife and quick or he could lose it all. It would be a horrible situation. But he has just the solution: his high school sweetheart. Sylvie is everything he wants in a wife—smart, funny, and caring—and he planned to woo her anyway.
Now he just has to convince Sylvie that their love is worth it all, or he and the bayou will lose her forever.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Blake returns with the sweet, steamy, but flawed fourth Butterfly Bayou romance (after Bayou Dreaming). Papillon, La., Mayor Sylvie Martine is "fairly certain she'd been born with a crush" on her brother's best friend, Rene Darois, the scion of an old Bayou family. The pair were close as children and grew closer in college; for a time, Sylvie was Rene's "first thought in the morning and the last thing he saw in his mind" at night. A decade ago, they shared a single kiss before their lives took different paths. But when Rene learns he must marry to maintain control of the family business, Sylvie agrees to a marriage of convenience. Given the match's financial motivation, Sylvie struggles to trust their feelings—and Rene's treacherous, greedy family only makes things harder. There's a hint that their relationship is complicated by class and race: Rene is white and old-money; Sylvie is Black and working-class. But the story shies away from the racial politics at play, focusing instead on the Darois family's respect for the Martine family's connections and Sylvie's mother's psychic powers. This awkward color-blindness drains an otherwise lovely story of some of the zest and specificity of previous installments. It's missing some flavor, but will still go down smoothly enough for most readers.
Customer Reviews
Ticked my boxes
I love my visits to Papillon, Louisiana and Bayou Beauty is a great addition to this entertaining series.
All of these books can be read and enjoyed as stand-alone’s but I’m sure one visit will never be enough and its now Sylvie Martine and Rene Darois’s turn to entertain us.
Sylvie has loved her brother’s best friend Rene friends for as long as she can remember but after only sharing one kiss he walked out of her life. Fast forward to today and we see Sylvie come hone after losing her father and becoming Mayor of Papillon. Running the town she is surprised and stunned to have Rene come to her with a proposal, a fling in the past is hardly a good standing for a marriage but Rene needs a wife urgently so will Sylvie risk her heart again….
A marriage of convenience could be the answer but what happens when scene starts to sabotage the Darois family business and more importantly who will take the fall out…
If you have never visited this town I highly recommend you one click this one because I sure you are going to love this town and it’s quirky community and let’s not forget Otis the towns alligator who wanders around like he owns the place. This is a friends to lovers, second chance, small town romance all rolled into one and it’s certainly the best of all these troupes. Bayou Butterfly ticked all my boxes, I smiled I giggled, I laughed out loud but it was the friendship and love that took this book to another level. Loved everything about this gem of a read.
Loved it
It was great to be back in Papillon, Louisiana also known as Butterfly Bayou. Ms.Blake’s writing is so descriptive that I could easily imagine myself in the Bayou. Papillon is a quirky community full of characters that are fun and entertaining, add in the town’s wandering alligator Otis and you know you are in for a wild ride.
Sylvie Martine and Rene Darois are in the spotlight this time and their story was a a great addition to the Butterfly Bayou series. Sylvie is the mayor of Papillon and the last thing she wants or needs is Rene to make an appearance back in her life and turn it upside down.
These two have a past and when the unthinkable happens and he needs a wife in a hurry he turns to his high school girlfriend for help. He always planned to go after her again so this is the perfect opportunity, or is it? Can Rene convince Sylvie to take another chance on love with him?
It is is obvious to everyone around them that the connection that is between them is deep, but Sylvie has been hurt in the past and doesn’t want to let Rene back in. However she doesn't count on his determination and what follows is a a journey that the readers will quickly become invested in .
As always the quirky people of Papillon become involved and that led to some humorous scenes that had me laughing out loud on occasion. A well written, emotional, witty story that will draw you in and leave you wanting more.