Unsolved Bayou Murder - Carla Cassidy (HI #2188 - Jan 2024)

Series: Swamp Slayings (Book 1)
 
There's only one way to clear his name.
But he needs her help.
 
Freed from prison after fifteen years, Beau Boudreau turns to Peyton LaCroix. Their love affair ended the night he was wrongly accused of murder. Now Beau needs the Black Bayou defense attorney to help clear his name. With the case -- and reawakened passion -- heating up, time is running out to find someone who has killed before. And is getting ready to kill again.
 
I have mixed feelings about this book. The mystery/suspense kept me reading well into the night, but I wasn't really feeling the romance. Fifteen years earlier, Beau and Peyton were a couple. She was eighteen, and he was twenty-one, and they had big dreams for their future. But Beau was accused and convicted of murdering a "working girl" and sent to prison. He swore he was innocent, but Peyton was influenced by her wealthy parents, who never approved of "swamp rat" Beau. She caved into the pressure to believe he was guilty.
 
Fifteen years later, Peyton is a defense attorney who returned to her hometown to start her own firm. The last thing she expected was Beau to come to her after his release from prison. He wants her help in finding out who really killed Lacey. This is where Peyton's actions first turned me off. She still believes he's guilty and doesn't see why they should stir things up again. It isn't until he reminds her of a critical piece of evidence that she realizes he is innocent, and she finally agrees to help him. I was irritated that she had had no faith in the man she supposedly loved. Now, she's all in on uncovering the truth.
 
The sparks of attraction between them are still intense, but Beau is wary of getting involved with Peyton again. He is still hurt and angry over the way she abandoned him all those years ago. In addition, he's now an ex-con with a bleak future, thanks to a betrayal by his best friend. He feels there is no way he and the respected attorney can have a future together. But as they work together to clear his name, there is no denying the feelings that keep growing stronger. I liked that once she believed Peyton was all-in on the investigation and refused to back down when threatened. Their road to a future together still has a few bumps - prove Beau's innocence and convince him they have a chance to be happy.
 
The suspense of the story is what kept me hooked. It is evident from the start that Beau's arrest and conviction resulted from prejudice and incompetence. I liked seeing Peyton dig into the details of the case. A lot is working against them because the townspeople still believe he is guilty. There is also someone determined to stop the investigation. Attacks on Peyton and Beau increase in intensity the closer they get to identifying the murderer. The final confrontation was intense, with a twist that surprised me. I was happy to see Beau's reputation restored. 

The Cottage on Pelican Bay - Brenda Jackson (HQN - Sept 2024)

Series: Catalina Cove (Book 7)
 
Sometimes one hot night simply isn't enough.
 
Two years ago, Zara Miller found herself heartbroken and stranded in a New Orleans hotel bar with a sexy stranger named "Saint." One thing led to another and to a night of unforgettable pleasure. Though contact info wasn't exchanged -- no strings attached -- Zara hasn't been able to stop thinking about him or that one scorching night ever since. Now she's returned to her hometown of Catalina Cove only to discover that her brother's new hire is Evans "Saint" Toussaint, the one-night man she can't forget.
 
Though Saint, like Zara, grew up in Catalina Cove, they'd never crossed paths. Now all of a sudden they can't seem to avoid each other. Despite an enduring attraction, Zara and Saint decide to keep their spicy secret in the past. Everybody knows everybody's business in Catalina Cove, and they don't need everybody knowing theirs -- especially since they've both been burned in the past.
 
But when their intense desire becomes impossible to ignore, they escape to Zara's secluded cottage on Pelican Bay, where they're free to explore whether their casual connection might actually be the lasting love they've both been missing.
 
From one night stand to forever. The story opens two years earlier than the main story. Zara is stranded in New Orleans while she waits for a storm to pass before traveling to Catalina Cove, nursing a broken heart and swearing off men. But the sparks between herself and a sexy stranger at the bar are too much to resist, and she and "Saint" spend a passionate night together.
 
Fast forward two years and Zara is back in Catalina Cove to visit her brother and some friends. She is stunned when she walks into a gathering of friends and sees the man she hasn't been able to forget. Saint is equally shocked to discover that Zara is his boss's younger sister. The chemistry between them is still off the charts, and they can't stay away from each other. Neither is interested in a relationship. Zara is not ready to risk her heart again, and Saint is still recovering from his own disappointing love life. They are content to hook up whenever Zara visits the Cove.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Zara and Saint develop. It starts as purely physical and casual, as they agree that emotions will play no part in their encounters. But over several months, they find themselves enjoying time spent together outside of the bedroom. When Zara comes for a more extended stay in the Cove, she and Saint begin spending much more time together. It is easy to see that they develop feelings for each other but are wary of confessing them. Their avoidance of talking about the future frequently frustrated me. Matters became more complicated when Saint's ex showed up looking to rekindle their relationship. I liked those scenes between Zara and Mia and Saint and Mia. I liked the ending, seeing them face and share their fears and look to the future with open hearts.
 
There was also the beginning of a secondary romance between two of the older characters. I loved Levi's patient pursuit of Margie as she became accustomed to the idea of falling in love again after her husband's death. I look forward to seeing more of them in later books, as well as some of the other new arrivals in Catalina Cove. 

 
 

The Reunion - Jana DeLeon (HI #1452 - Oct 2013)

Series:  MystereParish: Family Inheritance (Book 3)
 
Bodyguard to an heiress is Tyler Duhan's idea of hell. The steely, sexy ex-marine has heard -- and dismissed -- the gossip about the haunted old LeBeau mansion and its "cursed" heiresses. Now the middle sibling -- headstrong Joelle -- has arrived to comply with her mother's will and reunite with her long-lost sisters.
 
But no sooner does she move into the house, than Joelle falls prey to terrifying threats and mysterious visions. Tyler, though he's sworn off femme fatales, can't deny his feelings for the Creole beauty. Nor can he let passion distract him. Because falling for Joelle could be a fatal mistake -- for them both.
 
Well-done conclusion to the series. Though it can be read as a stand-alone, reading the previous books gives a more detailed history of the events leading up to this one.
 
Joelle is the middle sister and the final one to return to Calais to claim her inheritance. She is a social worker who helps women escape their abusive husbands. When she learns of her inheritance and its conditions, Joelle takes it as an opportunity to escape the threats of a husband desperate to find his wife. She's excited to reunite with her sisters but nervous about staying in the house. Scenes from her childhood haunt her, and she doesn't know if they are real or the imaginings of a frightened child.
 
Tyler is the son of estate lawyer William Duhan. He recently left the Marine Corps and is in the process of starting his own security company. While waiting for the paperwork to process, Tyler's father talks him into providing bodyguard services to Joelle. He's not happy about it, but he'll do it for his dad.
 
Trouble starts as soon as Joelle moves in. Threats, mysterious intruders, and terrifying visions arouse Tyler's protective instincts. His determination to protect himself can't withstand Joelle's effect on his heart. Joelle wasn't looking for a relationship, but she couldn't deny the feelings Tyler roused in her.
 
The suspense of the story was excellent. The depths of their stepfather's evil actions were slowly revealed, leaving the three women wondering about their mother's death. A shocking discovery at the beginning of this book leads to more questions than answers. There are also attacks on Joelle and intruders who are clearly searching for something. As the incidents intensified, I was glued to the pages, anxious to get to the truth. The twists and turns of the final chapters kept me guessing, but I never expected the surprise at the end. 

 
 

The Betrayed - Jana DeLeon (HI #1447 - Sept 2013)

Series: Mystere Parish: Family Inheritance (Book 2)
 
One day on the job and contractor Zach Sargent is ready to believe the dilapidated old LeBeau mansion is haunted. Some intruder -- earthly or not -- is threatening the youngest LeBeau sister, back to claim her inheritance. And though Danae keeps her distance from the sexy hired hand, he falls for her in a heartbeat.
 
Like Danae, Zach has come back to Calais in need of answers to troubling questions about the LeBeau family past. But Danae must never know who he really is and he can't let his attraction to her stop his search…or else a decades-old evil will claim a new victim.
 
Good continuation of the series. In this book, it is the youngest daughter's turn to claim her inheritance by staying on the mansion's property for two weeks. Everyone hopes that the problems in book one (The Accused) have been resolved and that it will be uneventful. Alas, that is not the case. This book is full of secrets - some will be exposed, and others will not.
 
Danae got the short end of the stick when her stepfather gave her to a relative to raise. The woman was a drunk and an addict, and Danae's childhood was miserable. When her foster mother died, Danae was only fifteen and spent the next several years on the streets. That experience made it difficult for her to trust anyone. She came to Calais to learn more about her family but did so under an assumed name. After she received an anonymous note saying someone knew who she was, Danae revealed her identity to Alaina and the lawyer and began her claim. But strange happenings make it clear that someone doesn't want their secrets exposed.
 
Zach was hired to do some renovations on the mansion. No one knows that he has personal reasons for being there. A deathbed semi-confession by Zach's father has him searching for the connection between the two families.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Danae and Zach. Danae is wary and slow to trust most people, but something about Zach says she can trust him. While she cherishes her independence, she also appreciates his help. Zach is attracted to Danae but tries to resist because of his secret. But he can't deny his need to protect her when she is in danger. I liked watching them grow closer as they worked together to find answers. Ultimately, the secrets were less important than their feelings for each other.
 
The suspense was excellent. I was almost as invested in Danae's search as she was, curious to discover the truth about the mysterious payments. The deeper into the search she got, the more it became apparent that someone was determined to stop her. I was on the edge of my seat during the final confrontation, which had a twist that shocked everyone. The epilogue was a good wrap-up to this book and lead-in to the next with a surprise request. 

The Accused - Jana DeLeon (HI #1441 - Aug 2013)

Series: Mystere Parish: Family Inheritance (Book 1)
 
After working as a cop in New Orleans, Carter Trahan is back in Mystere Parish, where his latest assignment seems like a joke: making sure Alaina LeBeau lives in her childhood home for two weeks to comply with her mother's will. But soon the sexy sheriff isn't laughing. Someone -- or something -- is stalking the beautiful defense lawyer, turning her once-grand mansion into a house of horrors.
 
But as he searches for the truth, Carter must face ghosts of his own past lurking in the bayou. Most troubling of all is his unprofessional attraction to the woman he's protecting, as Alaina's allure haunts him as no specter ever could….
 
Good book that kept me guessing to the end. Alaina is a lawyer who, along with her two sisters, has inherited a house in the tiny town of Calais, Louisiana. She and her sisters were separated and sent away by their stepfather after their mother died. The stepfather has recently died, and the terms of their mother's will state that each girl must live in the house for two weeks before they can inherit. Alaina had just been passed over for a promised promotion at work and decided to take those two weeks to reevaluate her future.
 
Carter is the sheriff of Calais and, as a favor to a family friend, agreed to supervise Alaina's adherence to the terms of the will. As a cop, the last thing he wants to do is babysit a big city defense lawyer. He's none too happy when his first glimpse of Alaina triggers an unwelcome attraction. But when strange things happen, he's determined to keep her safe.
 
The suspense of this story kept me hooked from start to finish. Strange sounds, evidence that someone has been in the house with her, topped off by a possible ghost, have Alaina and Carter on edge. Then, they learn that trouble may have followed her from Baton Rouge. This story had multiple twists, sometimes with more questions than answers, as they tried to identify the culprit. The building tension kept me glued to the pages with a surprising conclusion. Though the immediate mystery was solved, some unanswered questions remain for the following books in the series.
 
I enjoyed watching the development of Alaina and Carter's relationship. Neither was looking for it, but the sparks between them were undeniable. Carter is a good guy who takes his job seriously. Despite the professional antipathy between cops and defense lawyers, he finds it easy to connect with Alaina. He is protective while still respecting her abilities and independence. Alaina is strong and independent, but she isn't stupid. I liked that she didn't take unnecessary risks. Carter and Alaina grew closer as they worked together to identify the threat, but initially, they weren't looking at a future together. But when the final confrontation was over, they realized they didn't want to be apart.
 
I'm curious now to read the other books and see how the series turns out.