"A powerful romance"

After spending years away from her beloved BLUE BAYOU, Danielle Dupree, accompanied by her eight-year-old son, is coming home to serve as the librarian. Her father, a former judge jailed for corruption, will live with his daughter and grandson once he is freed from prison. However, instead of Beau Soleil, the Dupree clan has fallen as they will live in an apartment above the library. However, a fire that looks like arson somewhat ruins the apartment and the library. It looks like someone wants the Dupree brood not to return home.

Bad Jack Callahan, a successful author, now owns Beau Soleil and has begun a renovation to restore the home to its former glory. Jack and Dani also have a history as they shared a torrid summer, but he left town before learning she was pregnant with his child. Doubly burned by males from her time with Jack and a marriage to a rat of a Congressman, Dani tries to avoid her former lover even though both still experience deep feelings for one another.

JoAnn Ross has written a wonderful contemporary Bayou romance that readers who relish heat and distrust in their lead characters will enjoy. The subplot involving driving the Dupree family out of town takes away from the prime story line though it adds plenty of suspense. Ms. Ross turns BLUE BAYOU into a strong and powerful tale, due to strong characterizations, which includes a well-rounded support cast. This is the first in a trilogy starring the three Callahan Brothers novels and it demonstrates that the author is a born storyteller

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted March 21, 2002