Book Description:
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.
My Thoughts:
The bayou of Louisiana is different from any place I've ever traveled. Valerie
Fraser Luesse paints a picture from the cypress trees with the Spanish moss draped
on limbs to the alligator eyes watching folks glide along in their boats. Under
the Bayou Moon is the story of Ellie and Raphe and their fight to help the
people of Bernadette. While a beautiful love story takes place, the book is
really about the people who live a different life style in a unique part of the
world. I enjoyed learning about the area
and getting to know the people. Though fiction, the story felt real. This may
not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you choose to read Under the Bayou Moon,
be prepared to spend time in a place that feels like another world. I received
a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are
completely my own.