Book Review - Under The Bayou Moon

With just a few sentences, Valerie Fraser Luesse swept me into the sultry and utterly captivating of life of the bayou. I could feel the gentle forward motion of the pirogue as Raphe navigated into the secluded microcosm of the glorious white alligator, hear the night music of the croaking bullfrog, the gentle splash of turtles launching themselves from their log perches into the still water. I could feel the humidity settle on my skin, and I was taken to a place which stirs the spirit to stop and bide a while.

Luesse does not so much tell as story as she welcomes us into the lives of these individuals and their community. It does not take long to feel like family to Ellie, Remy, Raphe, and Heywood, or to the colorful and beautiful characters that surround them in Bernadette, Louisiana. We cheer for their victories and mourn with them in their losses. The plot centers around Ellie’s arrival in Bernadette, seeking to find herself and her future, as well as the small town’s struggles against a dirty politician. It is about community and family, friendships that last a lifetime, and romance that inspires the heart to sing. It is about fighting fiercely to protect the things that matter most and learning to let go when the time is right.

Under the Bayou Moon by Valerie Fraser Luesse is available August 20 and may be preordered now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.