Books Set in the United States: Louisiana

Bayou, My Love, by Lauren Faulkenberry (2016)

It took me forever to read this book.  I started, then stopped and it was a while before I picked it up again.

From the title, you can tell that it takes place in Louisiana.  That was the hook that got me.

Enza Parker and her father have a successful real estate business flipping houses in North Carolina.  When her Louisiana grandmother dies, leaving her the house, Enza travels deep into the bayou of Louisiana to see the house.  She intends to fix it up and sell it.  He father has given her a budget and time frame within which he intends for her to flip the house.

When Enza sees the house, it brings back memories of summers she used to spend with her grandmother.  She is surprised, however, to find Jack Mayronne living in her house.  Jack, it seems, has been living rent-free in the grandmother’s home (grandma knew about this arrangement).  Enza intends to kick him out, but he convinces her to let him continue to stay.  In exchange, he agreed to help fix up the house.

At this point the Louisiana stereotypes kick in.  There is Miranda, Jack’s old girlfriend, who still pines for Jack.  There is Remy, who is just plain mean.  And don’t forget Duchess the voodoo queen.

Jack is a firefighter.  Fires mysteriously appear in the area, including some in Enza’s home as she tries to repair it for sale.  Is it voodoo?  Is it jealousy?  Who cares?

The book started off okay, but I got tired depiction of the life in the bayou.  There is a prequel to this novel, which provides some background into Enza’s psyche, and another book that continues with Enza’s saga.  I think I’ll pass on reading those.

Read: April 26, 2017

2 Stars