New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake’s heartfelt contemporary romance set in Louisiana’s Butterfly Bayou Roxanne King left the big city looking for a simpler life, but after years of proving herself on a SWAT team in New York City, being deputy in a sleepy Louisiana parish is something of an adjustment. She’s settling in, but she knows she made some mistakes in the beginning–Zep Guidry … the beginning–Zep Guidry being the worst of them. Zep drifts through life on his looks and Cajun charm. Roxie learned the hard way he’s not for her.
Zep is a man who knows what he wants, and what he wants is Roxie. He’s just not sure how to get her. They spent one hot night together a year before and now all the lovely deputy seems interested in doing to him is arresting him. He’s not used to a woman he can’t charm, but Roxie seems immune. He’s determined to win her back by any means necessary. Including becoming the kind of man she desires.
And when Roxie’s past comes calling, it might be the opportunity Zep needs to show Roxie that the town bad boy might just be the man of her dreams.
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“There was a joke around town that the only thing Zep Guidry knew how to finish was a beer.”
Oh, how I’m loving this Butterfly Bayou series…sigh. It takes place in a sleepy Louisiana parish where everybody knows everybody as well as all their business. While sometimes the gossip mill is entertaining other times it’s a pain, especially for Zep. His past precedes him and his reputation doesn’t seem to be dying down even though he’s trying to make positive changes in his life.
Roxie thinks Zep isn’t good for anything but to scratch an itch. He already scratched hers, but it doesn’t seem to be going away. Every time she sees him, and even when she doesn’t, she remembers their unforgettable night together. He knows how to push her buttons and doesn’t even mind getting arrested as long as it means he gets to spend some time with her. She knows she needs to stop taking him into custody if she wants to get over him, but tell that to her itch.
I’d already met bad boy Zep in previous books and couldn’t wait to spend time with him. He won me over almost immediately and I was rooting him on as he pursued the stubborn Roxie. I fell even harder for him when I learned about his love for animals, even Otis. Get ready to giggle, gasp, and grin as you dive into this sweet, sexy, and suspenseful tale. I’m addicted to this series and if you gave me a lie detector test I’m not sure if I could tell you which is my favorite. I love them all. Right now, I’m really favoring this one…but that’s only until the next one. The line forms here…
Bayou Dreaming is the third book in this series by Lexi Blake. It can be read as a stand-alone but once you read it, you’ll want to go back and read the rest. Lexi Blake, as usual, delivered a book that captures something unique and keeps you wanting more from this small town.
Zep and Roxie were great characters. They are a slow burn, but a good one. Zep is one of those characters who you think you know but find out that you don’t until they get their own book.
I enjoyed this story and this town. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to go back to the Bayou and get Zep’s story. Zep is aloof and has an interesting reputation around the parish, but Roxanne sees more than most people. The chemistry between them is a nice slow burn and I liked the uniqueness to their story. I liked how Roxie was an unexpectedly safe place for Zep. She was there for him and he for her. They were both independent people and they were a good fit for each other. They didn’t try to take anything away from each other and they completely supported one another. I liked the dynamics between them and I loved the family around them. This was an enjoyable read and I didn’t want to put this book down! Be sure not to miss this third book in this series!
I love those books that have characters you can’t wait to read about. That’s how it was for me with Zep. I just knew, or should say, hoped there was more to him than what we’ve been shown in the two prior books.
I was so right! He’s such a complex character with many layers. You really don’t get him until he shares with us who he really is. I really felt sorry for him and wanted to hit anyone who was mean to him. And let me tell you so many people he knew didn’t bother to look underneath what he showed the world, not even his family.
I also liked Roxanne and didn’t mind how she kept throwing Zep in jail. I knew for her it was more like flirting. My only issue with her is that she couldn’t see what she really wanted in life. She talks about her grandfather a lot and how he was on the job but doesn’t notice that it’s how she is right now in this job.
Together they work. Zep needs someone to believe in him and push him when he tries to hide behind his carefree attitude. Roxanne needs someone how helps her have a little fun. She forgets to do that.
I will say Roxanne’s family is a little hard to take. At times I wanted to reach inside the book and slap them upside the head. The way they treated Roxanne is horrible. They might love and care about her but have trouble thinking about her first. They made me like her more.
The story ends well and made me happy. I can’t wait to see what’s next in this series. I’ve really been enjoying it.
4.5 Stars for Bayou Dreaming ( Butterfly Bayou, #3)
This is the third book in the Butterfly Bayou Series but I do believe it can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone , if you love small town romance this book and this series should definitely be on your must read list. I love my visits to Papillion and I was excited to be returning and getting Zephirin Guidry and Roxanne King’s story and this book was everything I expected and more.
Zep has a gift, he loves working and dealing with animals and they seem to respond to him but a promising veterinarian career was cut short when he gave it all up to help his family….
Roxanne is a former New York SWAT team member and when her marriage feel apart she heads to the hills or should I say Papillion where she takes a job as the deputy in the small town.
A series based in a quirky small town with wonderful characters, great plots and even a alligator named Otis wondering around was always going to be a fun, entertaining read but this author has a knack she brings her stories to life with her wonderful descriptions and her witty tales. I loved this book, I laughed, I smiled and at times I wanted to bang Roxanne and Zep’s heads together, this is a series I highly recommend because I can’t get enough of the residents of Papillion, South Louisiana.
5 She May Actually Love Living In A Small Town Stars!!!
I absolutely LOVED the first two books in this series but Bayou Dreaming is hands down my favorite. Roxie is a woman that immediately connected to with her smarts, independence and knowing what she wants and when the person that’s supposed to be on her side does the exact opposite, well, that’s her signal that it’s time for a change. Little did she know she’d end up in the Louisiana Bayous and meeting all sorts of characters that are residents of Papillon, Louisiana!!
Her life changes in so many ways the night she ends up being helped by Zep Guidry and I have to say I was chuckling quite a bit at this point. Zep is so good looking and he knows it and while they had one night that was incredible, Roxie is definitely not a “friends with benefits” kind of woman and Zep doesn’t feel he’s the marrying type. He’s had a few dreams that have been put on hold because of his family so he’s living footloose and fancy free!
With each chapter of this book, I was reminding why I love this series and these characters. Ms. Blake writes these books with I think are the types of people we expect that live in the bayous and these people are down to earth, friendly, caring and have all their own idiosyncrasies! Apparently there’s a Rougarou in Papillon and it’s wreaking some havoc… at least that’s what we think is going on!
I loved the chemistry between Roxie and Zep. Roxie really came into herself when she made this change to small town life and it allowed her to slow down and appreciate some of the simpler things in life. And with Zep she helps him come to be the man he’s supposed to do and does a fabulous job of getting him to see everything he’s done that he thought was a sacrifice for others really was what was supposed to be.
I flew through this book because once I started I couldn’t put it down. I loved seeing all the characters throughout that we’ve focused on in the previous two books and how everyone is everyone else’s business because that’s small-town Louisiana life at its finest.
If you haven’t started this series you’re truly missing out and I highly encourage you to start reading these books as soon as possible!!
BAYOU DREAMING is the third instalment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary, adult BUTTERFLY BAYOU erotic, romance series. This is former NYPD police officer Roxanne King, and Zephirin ‘ Zep’ Guidry’s story line. BAYOU DREAMING can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information for the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Roxanne and Zep) BAYOU DREAMING follows the building romance and relationship between former NYPD police officer Roxanne King, and Zephirin ‘ Zep’ Guidry. Four years earlier police officer Roxanne King’s life imploded when she discovered complaints about sexual harassment had been ignored and dismissed by the old boys club in the department, a department where her now ex-husband and father worked. Walking away from a job that she loved, and a marriage that was quickly grinding to a halt, Roxanne King landed a job as a deputy in Papillon, Louisiana. But a one night stand with local bad boy Zep Guidry never amounted to fruition until several reports of strange incidences with a mythological creature found Roxanne and Zep working together following an accident that left our heroine with a mild concussion. The appearance of Roxanne’s family added to fuel to Roxanne’s already crazy life, an appearance that pulled Zep into a pretend romantic relationship with Roxanne King. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Roxanne and Zep, and the potential fall-out when Roxanne is offered a job she cannot refuse.
The Louisiana Parish of Papillon has its’ fair share of mythologies but the most recent ‘sighting’ of a werewolf type rougarou, has Roxanne shaking her head at the stories and phone calls to the local PD but Roxanne’s problems only escalate when her family visits Papillon Louisiana, a visit meant to encourage our heroine to finally come home.
The relationship between Roxanne and Zep is one of immediate attraction but Zep’s bad boy reputation precedes his introduction to our story line heroine, a reputation predicated on history, rumors, gossip and lies. Meeting Roxanne King gave Zep a hope for a future but Roxanne had no plans to remain in Papillon long term, and with it went the hopes of a man who was quickly falling in love. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Sheriff Armie La Vigne, and practical nurse Lila Daley (Butterfly Bayou 1), Lisa and Remy Guidry, deputy Major, Harry and Seraphins ( Bayou Baby 2), Sera and Zep’s mother Delphine Guidry. We are introduced to Roxanne’s parents who area infuriating, stubborn and disappointing , her brother Brian and his fiancé Shawna, and her ex-husband Joel Nelson, as well as several townsfolk in Papillon Louisiana.
BAYOU DREAMING is a story of family, friendships, betrayal and loss. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the romance is captivating and decadent; the characters are colorful, dynamic, and spirited.
I thought the first two books in the series were amazing but this one even topped those–if that’s even possible. Lexi Blake has outdone herself with this book. She’s the master of character development, sexual tension and humor and this book was no exception. Roxanne King is the deputy sheriff of Papillon, Louisiana and Zep Guidry is the “bad boy” in town. I really enjoyed reading the development of their relationship unfold and their overall growth as a couple and individually. These characters had great chemistry. This town is fun and the author did a great job of bringing the story to life. I can not wait for the next book in this series.
Bayou Dreaming (Book three in the Butterfly Bayou series) will once again take you on a journey into the charming, small Louisiana town of Papillon where everyone is in everybody’s business and they always look out for those who are part of this quirky little town.
This time around it is Zep and Roxies story. They are characters that are easy to like and make you want to root for them to find their happily ever after. They have depth, big hearts and are both trying to find their way. Zep is everybody’s friend and easy going but there is so much more to him that he keeps hidden and until he is willing to open up and go after what he really wants, he will be stuck. Roxie is also trying to find her place. Moving from a big city cop to a small town police woman is definitely an adjustment and is only supposed to be temporary. Zep and Roxie have an ease about their relationship. They both seem to want more from it but they will have to be honest with themselves and each other in order for that to happen. Will they have the courage to take the next step toward happiness?
Zep Guidry has made some mistakes in his life, but he has also made his life into one that matters. Unfortunately, his early days have colored the way that the people of his hometown perceive him, and it isn’t always flattering and doesn’t always reflect his current reality. Roxanne King-Nelson has earned a spot in the New York City Emergency Services Unit, but is being harassed by her chauvinistic boss. When she tries to get it stopped, her husband–who is the liaison to the office and should be in her corner, decides to ignore her complaint and have her transferred out instead. This is the nail in the coffin that ends her marriage. After being blackballed from working in the New York area, Roxanne ends up in the sleepy little town of Papillon, Louisiana. She thinks of it as a stop-gap measure; a place to start over, but not stay for very long. She’s on her way to her next large city–either Dallas or New Orleans. Her path intersects with Zep and they share one-night together. Afterward, she ignores him, except for when she arrests him for fighting. A year later, they end up on the same call in the middle of the night and end up talking again.
At first Roxanne sees what she expects to see in Zep. After talking to people, and getting to know him better, she begins to look beneath the surface and realizes that she doesn’t really know him like she thinks she does. It’s nice to read a book where the protagonists spend time getting to know each other instead of just assuming their assumptions are correct. This leads to multiple situations where Roxanne and Zep each stand up for the other as a sign of respect and understanding. In the end, it boils down to genuine communication. Without it, both are lost, but with it, some magic happens. Also included in the story are a few rougarou (werewolf-like swamp creature) sightings, a variety of land and aquatic animals, some hilarious family dynamics, and a few little white lies, and this story gets increasingly interesting.
The pace is steady throughout the story. This book includes some cute and funny parts as well as some awkward situations mixed with some assumptions and incorrect conclusions. Lexi Blake does a wonderful job of defining the conflicts for each protagonist, and setting the stage for the satisfying conclusion. This is an entertaining story with a lot of heart and more depth than expected. Both protagonists grow a lot during the course of the book, and the fictional town of Papillon is the perfect setting for this story.
5 Star Review of Bayou Dreaming (Butterfly Bayou #) by Lexi Blake
This is book three in the latest series from Ms.Blake and it fun being back in Papillon, Louisiana also known as Butterfly Bayou. The writing is so descriptive that I can easily see myself transported to the Bayou. Papillon is a quirky small town full of characters that are quirky and entertaining, add in Otis the alligator who roams the town as though he owns it and you know there are going to be shenanigans ahead.
This is Roxanne (Roxie) King and Zep Guidry’s story and I have to say I have been looking forward to his story. After spending years as a member of a SWAT Team in New York, Roxie made the move to Papillon to become a deputy.
Zep is a charming Cajun free spirit who does his best to rile Roxie up. Despite not taking him seriously and regretting the one night they shared together, Roxie is still drawn to him. Zep however, knows she is the one for him but convincing her has proven difficult, to say the least. The chemistry between them sizzles and I loved seeing familiar faces pop up whilst reading.
When Roxie’s past comes back to haunt her, Zep will step up in a way that will leave no doubt that he has her back and is the man for her. I love how Lexi Blake writes about the characters and all the interfering that you only get from a small town, it really adds an additional layer that makes this such an entertaining read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Bayou Dreaming by Lexi Blake is the third book in her Butterfly Bayou series. Ms. Blake has created a unique little town in Papillon, Louisiana. The residents are warm, caring, a little nosy and quite a bit quirky. The heroine of this story, Roxanne King, is a deputy sheriff there. She ended up in Papillon after events at her NYPD job led her to quit and divorce her high-ranking NYPD husband. Zep Guidry has always been known as the “bad boy” of Papillon. Sometimes opposites attract and in this case the attraction between Roxanne and Zep is magnetic. This storyline was very entertaining. I smiled and chuckled the whole time I was reading the book. Butterfly Bayou is a fantastic series and this book was a delightful read!
Can I move to Pappillon, Louisiana? Lexi Blake paints this quaint little town so epically.
The growth that Roxanne “Roxie” showcases throughout this novel is brilliant. From the hardness of her exterior of a cop to the inner-fight she has to unravel to find her past-self was remarkable. I’m happy to see her give in to love again even though it/love takes chances.
Zep is a character that had me intrigued from the beginning of this series, with Butterfly Bayou. I could tell he hid a deeper meaning behind the ‘playboy’ outer coat and knew he had a story to share. “Once a man is established as a horndog, it’s almost impossible to get rid of the stain.” Lexi wrote his character so well; to me I wanted to be best friends with him. Zep deserves to be loved, to find his own voice and life.
Together, Zep and Roxie soared together through sweet moments and downward witty comebacks, but their chemistry was on par! This was a story we, as readers yearned for throughout these books.
Overall, Bayou Dreaming is a quaint charming romance that’s set in the perfect little town. Endearing enough that I would love to find my future in a town such as this one, one day.
It’s official. I am in love with this town and the people in it. I love how the author has tackled all the quirks you get with a small town. The gossiping where everyone knows every bit of your business, except it may be an alternate version of what really happened. The few town folks that are just plain crazy because let’s face it, every town has those people. But most of all, the way a small town comes to gather to support each other. I love it!
Zep was such a flippant character in the previous book. I loved getting to truly know him as a person. He turned out to be one of my favorite “playboy” types of heroes. Roxie was also awesome. She was just tough enough to admire without it being too much. I liked seeing her transformation. She lost a lot of that aloofness from being from a big city and became softer and more approachable person in this small town environment.
Since all this characters are in each book, I’ve come to love them all and want more. Cain is such an interesting character to me even though he has such a small role in each book. I hope the author brings him front and center for his own. Either way, I will read about as many of these Bayou citizens the author wants to write about.