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 schoolteacher 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.

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.

Dana’s Review of Under the Bayou Moon

A Wonderful Vacation to the Past

Valerie Fraser Luesse has a gift for making Bayou life come alive with…

How I Came Across This Book

I like to begin my book reviews with how I came across the book to help address legal disclaimers. Good Brother No was given to me by the author in exchange for a review. He actually emailed me and asked me if I’d review it and I immediately wanted to say no. I don’t like to commit to reviews. I already have a few reviews I’m behind on posting or waiting to post when the book comes out and for some reason committing to a review just stresses me. So after the initial no I found out it was a kids book with a strong Christian theme and it was short so I said yes.

When my daughter was young and I was busy filling up our Kindles with free books, I used to run a site where I posted children’s book reviews almost daily and I’m a sucker for a well-made picture book. So when I caught a glimpse of Good Brother No’s illustrations I knew this was a book someone had taken their time with and put some love into.

What’s Inside

This is a biblical retelling of the account of Noah and the ark he built from the book of Genesis.

I found the illustrations of the animals somewhat …

This is the second review from our new review team. I’ve compiled a list of new books by lesser known authors for them to choose from. As the blog owner I’m purchasing these books for the reviewers and neither of us has had any contact with the author or publisher. I’ve instructed them to be completely honest in their reviews. This book, The Sound The Sun Makes by Buck Storm is published by Kregel, a Christian publisher, and was found in a Christian category. It’s the second book in a series but you can decide how well it stands alone from Sheila’s review below. 

Book Description

Literary Americana with humor, heart, and a whole lot of twists to keep readers guessing.

Detective Early Pines loves his southern Arizona desert, often thinking he could stare at it all day long. But now that he's forced to do just that, the truth is the view from his back porch is getting old. He's on mandatory leave from the police department, simply for punching a wife beater who had it coming. Early is in dire need of a distraction from his own loud thoughts. So when an old friend invites him to tag along to a rodeo down in Old Mex, it seems like just the ticket.

But if there's one constant in the world, it's that life always throws a guy curveballs. With a flat tire, a roadside bar, and a beautiful woman with trouble on her hands, Early's distraction takes a hard right turn--straight to Los Angeles, six hundred miles west.

Hammott Lamont is waiting there in his own personal hunting ground. The reclusive filmmaker is a veritable cult leader to Hollywood stars--and he's sure his latest project will redefine art history in his image. He's got a plan for a brutal, modernized version of the Christ story, and he's ready to trample anyone who stands in the way of his colossal vision. That is, until big, loud Early Pines hits the coast for a clash of two titans who never saw each other …

Chasing Manhattan:

Following the runaway success of her first novel, Chase Harrington is hiding in Manhattan. Assuming the visions from her past are behind her, Chase takes an assignment that lands her in the center of a new mystery surrounding a mansion known as Briarcliff Manor and deceased millionaire Sebastian Winthrop.

A letter, left by Sebastian, reveals three secrets surrounding the mansion where Chase is now living. Silent messages begin to appear, urging her to help those closest to her who are now in peril, including a deaf child shut away from the world and a war veteran still haunted by his past.

With her handsome boyfriend Gavin and faithful dog Scooter at her side, Chase must unlock the secrets of Briarcliff, help those she has come to love and face the surprise ending not even she saw coming.

This latest Chase Harrington adventure is so full of romance, kindness, mystery, and astounding twists and turns, it will leave you wanting to grab a flashlight and best friend, to go searching for clues in the dark.

Read Patti’s review of Chasing Manhattan here.

“A delightfully detailed Christmas story to treasure year after year.”

This book and audio CD were given to me by the author, Ray Downing, and I’m really glad he did. It’s rare these days to find someone who is willing to go as far as he did to create something so fine.

You all know by now how strange my reading habits can be. Over the years I’ve tried to find some thread that ties my favorite books together and the only thing I can come up with is that I love books that are useful (non-fiction I can read over and over again and get something new each time I do) and lavishly detailed beautiful books (meant for children or adults.)

This book is one of those beautiful and lavish treasures and it’s not aimed specifically at young children. I’d say this is more of a family discussion book. Or a family treasure book. A Christmas tradition book you can discuss with your family and enjoy year after year. 

Christmas in Idaho was designed to be a keepsake, not just some picture book you throw on the shelf in your child’s bedroom.  I’m not sure if all copies will be made so lavishly because of the production cost, but mine has a ribbon bookmark and color on every page. It has gilded edged pages thicker than any book you’ve ever laid your hands on. It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen a new book with illustrations as nice as these. Positively stunning illustrations. The snowflakes looked so real that…