Bayou Dreaming
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4.3 • 17 Ratings
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- $1.99
Publisher Description
New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake’s heartfelt contemporary romance set in Louisiana's Butterfly Bayou
Roxanne King left the big city looking for a simpler life, but after years of proving herself on a SWAT team in New York City, being deputy in a sleepy Louisiana parish is something of an adjustment. She's settling in, but she knows she made some mistakes in the beginning--Zep Guidry being the worst of them. Zep drifts through life on his looks and Cajun charm. Roxie learned the hard way he's not for her.
Zep is a man who knows what he wants, and what he wants is Roxie. He's just not sure how to get her. They spent one hot night together a year before and now all the lovely deputy seems interested in doing to him is arresting him. He's not used to a woman he can't charm, but Roxie seems immune. He's determined to win her back by any means necessary. Including becoming the kind of man she desires.
And when Roxie's past comes calling, it might be the opportunity Zep needs to show Roxie that the town bad boy might just be the man of her dreams.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Romance blooms between a former big-city cop and a small-town bad boy in Blake's sweet and sexy third Butterfly Bayou romance (after Bayou Baby). Frustrated by career dead ends, Roxie King-Nelson finds her way from Manhattan to the Papillon Parish Sheriff's Office in southern Louisiana. Early in her tenure there, she has a one-night stand with sexy local Zep Guidry and she still hasn't stopped thinking about him a year later. Zep is equally hung up on her and will do whatever it takes to get her attention, even if it means letting her throw him in the drunk tank. Wildlife expert Zep is also the closest thing Papillon has to animal control, so Roxie and he must collaborate to investigate reports of a possible rougarou, or bayou werewolf. As they work together, Roxie gives in to her long-simmering desires. But their fragile new relationship is complicated by the sudden arrival of Roxie's family and a potential job offer in New York. The vivid bayou setting is as charming as ever and the well-drawn characters will have readers hooked. This cozy romance is sure to please.
Customer Reviews
captivating and decadent romance
BAYOU DREAMING is the third instalment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary, adult BUTTERFLY BAYOU erotic, romance series. This is former NYPD police officer Roxanne King, and Zephirin ‘ Zep’ Guidry’s story line. BAYOU DREAMING can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information for the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Roxanne and Zep) BAYOU DREAMING follows the building romance and relationship between former NYPD police officer Roxanne King, and Zephirin ‘ Zep’ Guidry. Four years earlier police officer Roxanne King’s life imploded when she discovered complaints about sexual harassment had been ignored and dismissed by the old boys club in the department, a department where her now ex-husband and father worked. Walking away from a job that she loved, and a marriage that was quickly grinding to a halt, Roxanne King landed a job as a deputy in Papillon, Louisiana. But a one night stand with local bad boy Zep Guidry never amounted to fruition until several reports of strange incidences with a mythological creature found Roxanne and Zep working together following an accident that left our heroine with a mild concussion. The appearance of Roxanne’s family added to fuel to Roxanne’s already crazy life, an appearance that pulled Zep into a pretend romantic relationship with Roxanne King. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Roxanne and Zep, and the potential fall-out when Roxanne is offered a job she cannot refuse.
The Louisiana Parish of Papillon has its’ fair share of mythologies but the most recent ‘sighting’ of a werewolf type rougarou, has Roxanne shaking her head at the stories and phone calls to the local PD but Roxanne’s problems only escalate when her family visits Papillon Louisiana, a visit meant to encourage our heroine to finally come home.
The relationship between Roxanne and Zep is one of immediate attraction but Zep’s bad boy reputation precedes his introduction to our story line heroine, a reputation predicated on history, rumors, gossip and lies. Meeting Roxanne King gave Zep a hope for a future but Roxanne had no plans to remain in Papillon long term, and with it went the hopes of a man who was quickly falling in love. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Sheriff Armie La Vigne, and practical nurse Lila Daley (Butterfly Bayou 1), Lisa and Remy Guidry, deputy Major, Harry and Seraphins ( Bayou Baby 2), Sera and Zep’s mother Delphine Guidry. We are introduced to Roxanne’s parents who area infuriating, stubborn and disappointing , her brother Brian and his fiancé Shawna, and her ex-husband Joel Nelson, as well as several townsfolk in Papillon Louisiana.
BAYOU DREAMING is a story of family, friendships, betrayal and loss. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the romance is captivating and decadent; the characters are colorful, dynamic, and spirited.