Bayou Baby

Bayou Baby by Lexi Blake, book two in Butterfly Bayou series is a wonderful and enjoyable story, depicting the good and bad of small town life. Seraphina Guidry is a young, single mom, trying to make a life for herself and her son in the town of Papillion, Louisiana. Learning from past mistakes, Sera has sworn off men. Inheriting a historic house has given her a purpose as she dedicates herself to restoring it and turning it into a badly needed Bed and Breakfast. Harrison Jeffreys has been a bit of a nomad, moving around from job to job, since coming home injured while in the Army. He never expected to land in Papillion but he has family to reconnect with and a job to complete. Harry enjoyed spending time with his Aunt Celeste and his cousin, but once he met Sera he was a goner. He was head over heart in “like” with her, finding ways to spend time with her and help with repairing her inherited house; making it habitable. A secret from Sera’s past accidently gets revealed, resulting in the community getting all up in arms. Harry is torn; having to choose between the woman he’s falling in love with and the only family he has left. What’s a man to do but follow his heart? With the help of a couple of crazy, loving, meddling locals, he just might find a way to keep both. I enjoyed watching Seraphina growth throughout the story. Her confidence was building and she was no longer allowing herself to behave or be treated as a victim. Harry was one of the best heroes I’ve read in a while. He was talented, caring, and passionate in connecting with Sera. Aunt Celeste was the one character who changed the most; and for the best. Witnessing her insightfulness as she recognized that she no longer needed to conduct herself and follow the rules established by her rude and snobbish mother-in-law and her chauvinistic husband. She could do as she pleased; even become CEO of the family company. Ms. Blake wrote an emotional, sexy, and wonderful story that should definitely not be missed. She provided a tale that sizzled with magnetism, scorch the sheets chemistry, witty banter, and memorable characters keeping me flipping the pages of this intense and emotional romance. I totally enjoyed and highly recommend Bayou Baby to other readers and look forward to reading the next book in the series. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

4.5 stars — I don’t know you guys, I seem to be having a string of good luck with books. This one captured me, sucked me in, made me smile, and had me looking forward to more stories in Butterfly Bayou. I don’t remember what impression I had of Seraphina in the first book, but it didn’t quite feel like the Seraphina I met in this book. But honestly? I loved this Sera. I think part of that is how other people see her vs how she actually is. I understood all of her fear and caution, and my heart broke for her uncertainty. She really felt like she was floundering, and thus I really loved her journey back to finding herself. And her sass was awesome. Harry was that too good to be true, but damn I don’t even care type of hero. I mean, that’s not true. He definitely had flaws and made mistakes…HUGE mistakes. But he was my favourite kind of hero — a genuinely nice GOOD man. And he managed to grow over the book as well, but mostly in that last little bit as he dealt with trying to make amends. And in the end, I loved Sera and Harry together. They had great chemistry, but they were just so good with one another too — giving each other support when they needed it. I loved that I wasn’t left hanging forever, and I got some great moments with them. I was 100% surprised by the additions of Celeste’s POVs. I was worried about how that would all go, but now I couldn’t imagine the book without them. She was such a flawed character, and really was a product of her life. My heart hurt for her, and I was so happy with her journey in the end. Also, shout out to Shep, who was the goodest good boy. Man I love this author. I don’t know what it is about the way she writes these great small town books with crazy quirky characters, but I am here for it.

BAYOU BABY is the second instalment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary, adult BUTTERFLY BAYOU erotic, romance series set in the Butterfly Bayou of Papillon, Louisiana. This is former US soldier and licensed contractor Harrison ‘Harry’ Jefferys, and single mother/hair stylist Seraphina ‘Sera’ Guidry’s story line. BAYOU BABY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Told from several third person perspectives BAYOU BABY follows the building relationship between former US soldier and licensed contractor Harrison ‘Harry’ Jefferys, and single mother/hair stylist Seraphina ‘Sera’ Guidry. Sera Guidry is a single mother whose reputation in the small town of Butterfly Bayou is tainted by her lack of a husband and the narrow minded attitudes of the small minded community, but adding fuel to the proverbial fire is Celeste Beaumont, whose son Wes was once in love with Sera Guidry until rejection sent him off to war. In town for a couple of jobs including attending his cousin’s wedding, Harrison ‘Harry’ Jefferys is drawn to the aura that is Seraphina Guidry but while Seraphina is from a local family, Harry’s well connected, rich and powerful aunt Celeste despises our heroine, and intends to destroy what’s left of her life. When Sera inherits her late great aunt Irene’s mansion, Celeste makes it known she wants the mansion and the land for her personal use. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Sera and Harry, and the potential fall-out when Sera’s secret is exposed further alienating the Guidry and Beaumont families. The relationship between Sera and Harry is one of immediate attraction but Sera struggles with Harry’s connections to the Beaumont family, and the potential ramifications if and when Celeste discovers their clandestine affair. Already a target of the Beaumont family, Sera battles between head and heart knowing when her secret is revealed, more trouble will follow. Harry is a bit of a wanderer; a nomad who has yet to settle down since his return from Afghanistan and the loss of his leg but meeting Sera Guidry gives Harry a hope for a future but a future that is marred by his aunt’s obsession with the woman he loves. 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 secondary and supporting characters including Lila and Lisa Guidry; Zep and Remy Guidry, Hallie Rayburn, attorney Quaid Havery; Calvin, Angela and Celeste Beaumont, and Sera’s mother Delphine Guidry. BAYOU BABY is a heart breaking story of secrets and lies; power and control; discrimination and alienation; friendships, relationships, family and love. The premise is captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic and colorful.