Bayou Sweetheart

4.25 stars--BAYOU SWEETHEART is the fifth instalment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary, adult BUTTERFLY BAYOU erotic, romance series focusing on the people who live and work in Papillon, Louisiana. This is thirty-three year old Papillon Deputy Major Blanchard, and twenty –five year old actress Brynn Pearson’s story line. BAYOU SWEETHEART can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Brynn and Major) BAYOU SWEETHEART follows the building romance and relationship between thirty-three year old Papillon Deputy Major Blanchard, and twenty –five year old actress Brynn Pearson. Brynn Pearson, her sister Allyson, and their ‘momager’ Diane Pearson, and fellow actor Gavin Jacks are in Papillon, Louisiana in preparation for an upcoming movie, a movie the ‘momager’ is hoping will make Brynn Pearson a star. Brynn has worked in the television industry since she was five years old, and jumping from childhood to adulthood in the world of movie stars meant missing all of the steps in between. Meeting local Papillon Deputy Major Blanchard went viral when our heroine had to rescue said deputy when he got himself and his dog stuck in the Bayou bog. From the outset Brynn and Major’s attraction was instant but Brynn was only in town for a few weeks, and the incoming paparazzi was about to blow up any chance of a relationship when scandal meets reality on the front pages of the news. What ensues is the building but struggling relationship between Brynn and Major, and the potential fall-out as a family emergency pulls Major out of Brynn’s life, and a scandal is about to destroy any hopes of Brynn’s burgeoning jump from child to adult star.

Brynn Pearson has been working since the age of five but work she no longer finds rewarding or fun. Wanting some time to recoup and reconsider the next stage of her life, Brynn considers setting down roots in Papillon Louisiana but Major Blanchard fears disappointment is only a matter of weeks away. Major Blanchard is struggling with family issues of his own but meeting Brynn gave Major hopes for something more but something more is going to have to wait in the wake of a paparazzi nightmare, and an ailing father who is caught between independence and his son.

The relationship between Brynn and Major is one of immediate attraction. As one of the few remaining single men in Papillon Louisiana, Major is has caught the eye of many women including women willing to set them up with somebody’s daughter but Major only has eyes for our story line heroine, a woman he refuses to tie down in Papillon Louisiana. 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 energetic secondary and supporting characters including many of whom we have me in previous story lines: Armie and Lila (Butterfly Bayou 1); Seraphine Guidry (Bayou Baby 2); Roxanne and Zep Guidry (Butterfly Dreaming 3) as well as the introduction of Brynn’s sister Allyson, their mother Diane; actor and mentor Gavin Jacks; several social pariahs and paparazzi reporters, as well as local gang leader and thief Brian.

BAYOU SWEETHEART is a story of family and relationships, power, control and acceptance ; fame and scandal; purpose and love. The premise is captivating and entertaining; the romance is seductive; the characters are charismatic and charming-there is plenty of witty banter, back and forth between many of the characters.

We are back to my favourite town, Papillon! You have to love this crazy town and it's habitants!!! Major Blanchard came back to be close to his father and take care of him, after being diagnosed with early onset dementia. Brynn Pearson is an actress in town with a movie crew. She never had a life of her own outside of the spotlight and now she experienced it and loving it. After their first hilarious meeting they seem to click. Their journey is funny, sweet and also an introspection for both of them. Will she want to return to the Hollywood spotlight? Or explore what they can have and have some peace in her chaotic life?