New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake is back with an all-new heartwarming, small-town contemporary romance series set against the spicy southern backdrop of Louisiana’s Butterfly Bayou. Life in Dallas took a tragic turn for nurse practitioner Lila Daley. In need of a fresh start, she retreats to Papillon, Louisiana, a tiny town on the bayou. Sure she’s greeted by a gator, finds herself in … a gator, finds herself in the middle of golf cart wars, and unwittingly adopts a scruffy dog, but Lila remains undaunted. She’s focused on running the town’s medical clinic, but fitting into the quirky community is harder than she imagined.
As a single dad, Sheriff Armie LaVigne embraces routine. But there is nothing routine about the town’s newest resident. Lila is a gorgeous fish out of water and he’s ready to catch her. In fact, in no time at all, Armie knows Lila is the woman for him and he plans to win her heart. But when the past threatens their happiness, Armie will have to decide if he has the courage to trust Lila enough to find a true happily ever after.
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This started out really great for me. I enjoyed where our heroine, Lila Daley, came from and where she was headed very much. The scene of Butterfly Bayou and it’s colorful cast of townsfolk made for an interesting escape. And the town Sheriff and his interesting, charming daughter also were two people for whom I wanted to stand behind.
The storytelling became tedious and dry somewhere around 40%. I was getting too bored but since I liked the characters I had hoped it would pick up. Unfortunately the same communication break downs continued to happen between the two main characters and I saw no development or growth from either until literally the end. The same arguments and feelings don’t show me depth or make understand them any better and I get bored.
I found the story had some bright spots though if you set the actual romance aside. The friendships cultivated. The small town feel. How Lila found something in herself worth saving as an individual that she could extend to a place she didn’t understand at first. Those moments felt like small victories in the story and I was grateful for them.
Butterfly Bayou is a small-town, enemies to lovers, single dad romance which is the beginning of the Butterfly Bayou series. Lila is looking for a fresh start after surviving a tragic event. She heads to Papillon, Louisiana to be closer to her sister and to run the town’s medical clinic but she does not expect the town to completely shut her out. Armie is the town’s Sheriff and is used to his routine until the newest resident catches his attention and he plans to court her and win her heart. Butterfly Bayou reminds me of the show Hart of Dixie and has me anxiously waiting for the rest of the books in the series. I had a smile on my face and was laughing through the whole book. After reading this I am asking my self why I have never read a Lexi Blake before. I will be changing that quickly.
*ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review*
Really adored this small-town, down home romance filled with engaging charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists, emotional turns and undeniable passion. Was a great read from beginning to end and I enjoyed the journey!
Butterfly Bayou by Lexi Blake is a sweet story about two people who get a second chance in life. If you have never been to the south, then you will get a sampling of how people are down there. Having grown up in the south I could relate to the small-town people featured in this book and the delightful dialogue and vernacular that was used. I have to say I laughed out loud at some of the scenes because it just reminded be so much of home. This is a steamy romance that is filled with lots drama, violence and some serious real-life subjects that make this book more genuine. 5-stars for Butterfly Bayou by Lexi Blake.
Lila Daley had suffered a major traumatic blow living in Dallas and decided that she needed a change. Picking up and moving to the small Louisiana town that her younger sister lived in was out of character for her, but she had to give it a try. Lila’s first day driving into town she gets to meet the gorgeous albeit law-abiding sheriff Armie LaVigne. Lila and Armie have a rocky relationship at best and as things and people in the town become hinky, Lila and Armie get pushed closer together. Somehow both Lila and Armie’s past have come back to haunt them and one of them might now make it through this time to tell the harrowing tale.
I’ve never read Lexi Blake on her own but I have when she’s written with Shayla Black, but never on her own. So when I saw the cover of her new series I had to try it. I’ve been in a small-town binge for a bit now.
Plus I just loved the cute cover and hoped it would be a series I’d enjoy.
I will tell you the book starts out with a bang and you have to wonder where it’s going. I didn’t read the back of the book so I went in with no clue what it was about. I often do this because I like the surprise I get when I’m reading the story. Sure I knew it was going to be a small-town romance just from looking at the cover. Or I guessed it would be. So I didn’t go into it totally blind, just somewhat.
I was glad that I did. Like I said the beginning was so good. It lest me wondering for a second what was going to happen and then we got into the meat of the story and I can say that I really enjoyed it.
I wasn’t shocked that the town acted so badly to Lila. She’s from out of town and doesn’t really fit in there. Some of the people in town are so funny. They can’t handle a new doctor in town. In this case a nurse practitioner. The way they treated her was pretty horrible, I did think that her sister had a clue to how they’d treat her but still let her sink money into a pit of a home and business.
You will get a chuckle on how Lila and Armie met. I really at times liked Armie but I also didn’t agree with him about some things. You’ll have to read the story to understand where I’m going with that comment. You need to read it for your own and judge.
I also really liked Armie’s daughter. She had so much personality. A great addition to the story. I will say that life with a kid is never easy and Armie had it even harder but handle most of it very well. I didn’t care for how he treated Lila at times because of his fears but in the end, they worked it out.
Much more happens but you need to read the story to truly enjoy it. This was a great start to this new series and I can’t wait for more to come. I have a bit of a wait but I can’t wait for Zep’s story. What to you meet him. By far the best character in the story.
I’m ashamed to admit this is the first book I have read by Lexi Blake and I now know why my best friend has been telling me for years that this was an author I needed to read…….
This book ticked all my boxes, it’s a story with all the feels and it has characters you will adore, oh and let’s not forget you will be captivated from the first page to the last line.
Butterfly Bayou is book 1 in the new series and if this book is anything to go by this author will certainly have a hit on her hands. This story is set in the Bayou town of Papillon, Louisiana also know as Butterfly Bayou and I have to say Ms Blake did a wonderful job describing the area.
Nurse Practitioner Lila Daley has just moved to town and she is struggling to fit in with the local residents, she is ruffling more feathers than she is treating patients so her sister Lisa steps in to try and ease her in to quirky community. Armie is the local sheriff and he also try’s to help Lila settle in but the problem is Lila has no filter on her mouth and that upsets people…
Armie has tried his best but it’s his adorable daughter Noelle who really breaks through and finds the real Lila when she approaches the nurse for advice on a subject she can’t talk to her father about.
This book has the perfect mix of love, drama and humour and I think it will appeal to a wide range of romance readers. Looking forward to book 2 in the series.
Butterfly Bayou by Lexi Blake is the First book in the Butterfly Bayou Series. This is the story of Armand ‘Armie’ LaVigne and Lila Daley. Lila was a ER nurse is a big city but a incident happened that made her rethink her life. So, she headed to Papillon, Louisiana to work in the small town’s medical clinic. But right from the start she knows she is in a different world with its corky people with their corky ways. This of course leads her to some funny situation learning about small towns. But it also leads her to Arman who is the Sheriff of the town along with his daughter Noelle Armand is very protective of his daughter and her issues but he can’t help but be drawn to Lila. Pretty soon he knows she it is for him but sometimes the past can come back. Enjoyed their story and hope to read more from this author.
What a wonderful story! This book is filled with lots of small town, close community care, humor with things like lawn tractor races and an alligator named Otis who assists the town sheriff’s department with speed traps, loving couples and some seriously bad guys. I liked getting to meet and get to know the locals, especially newcomer, nurse practitioner Lila Daley and Sheriff Armie LaVigne and his daughter Noelle. Lila and Armie both shared some very emotional, gut-wrenching moments which added greatly to the buildup to their HEA.
This is a truly delightful book from master storyteller Lexi Blake. I am really looking forward to the next book in her Butterfly Bayou series, Bayou Baby.
Lila Daley was escaping from the big city life in an emergency room. Recovering from the murder of her friend before her eyes. Lila has come to join her sister Lisa recently moved to Papillon on the Bayou and married to a local. Her run in with Otis the Alligator and a ticket from the local Sheriff does not bode well for her new start. Lila has a plan but the town soon changed that. Lila and the Sheriff will have to overcome the past if they are ever to have a future together.
You will really connect with this small town and wish to visit again with these relatable characters.
When ER nurse Lila Daley witnesses her best friend murdered by her ex-husband just days before their trial started about his abuse. Needing out of Houston and armed with her Nurse Practitioners certificate, Lila heads to Papillon Parish Louisiana to take over the medical practice there and be close to her sister.
On her way into town, she immediately recognizes that things will be much different when confronted by the town alligator (yes, the town has given him a name), then receiving a speeding ticket from the sexier than sin sheriff when she was trying to get away from the alligator as fast as possible.
Armand LaVigne, the sexier than sin sheriff already knows that he wants Lila. He’s known that when they met at her sister’s wedding. Now that she’s a town resident, he’ll make sure to keep his eyes on her. Armand’s teen daughter likes Lila as well, even though Lila’s trying to push her in new directions with her physical therapy. It seems that the town’s previous doctor didn’t do much in the way of making sure his patients stayed healthy, and since he’s been the only doc in town forever, the patients were now questioning the new “Doc” and her new-fangled ideas and practices.
When a series of incidents end with Lila and Armand living together, all looks well with the couple. Until Armand overhears a conversation he came into the middle of and kicks Lila out, ending their relationship as well. Has Armand made a huge error? Will this end in a HEA? You’ll have to read the book to know!
This is the first book in the series and I truly can’t wait to read more. It’s not just a fluffy romance, there’s an element of suspense, but not enough for me to place it in the Romantic Suspense category. The writing is great. I loved the story arc, and the characters. My favorite is Zep and I hope he and Roxie get their own story, that’ll be a great read as well!
**I received an ARC copy of this story from Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Butterfly Bayou is the first book in the new series with the same name. Lila Daley is a nurse practitioner that has been through something very tragic. She is a strong person, thankfully. But she was ready to move on and moved to Butterfly Bayou.
I grew up in Florida where we had alligators in our lakes. I have a healthy respect for them. Well Lila was welcomed to the town by Otis “the sweetheart” of an alligator. Otis was sunning himself on the highway. Haha! She ends up meeting the sheriff after finding herself speeding after getting around Otis. The sheriff of Papillon Parish’s name was Armand LaVigne and he went by Armie. And, this is Lila and Armie’s story.
Lexi Blake really brings Armie alive. I can just hear his accent while I read this book. There are some laugh out loud moments and there are some tearful moments as well. I fell in love with Butterfly Bayou and all its residents! Even though they didn’t make it easy for Lila.
I already can’t wait to read the next book in this series and this one hasn’t even been released yet! If you love reading romance Butterfly Bayou is a MUST read! I loved it!
4 Star Review of Butterfly Bayou (Butterfly Bayou#1) by Lexi Blake
Lexi Blake is off to a good start with her latest series based in Papillon, Louisiana also known as Butterfly Bayou. Her writing was descriptive and I could easily imagine myself in the Bayou particularly since it is an area that I would love to visit.
I had a hard time warming to nurse practitioner Lila Daley initially. I know she had just been through a traumatic event which had almost cost her everything, but it wasn’t just that. She appeared standoffish and judgmental and I couldn’t picture her living successfully in the little town on the bayou. Single dad and Sheriff Armie LaVigne was easier to relate too.
Fitting into the quirky community without ruffling feathers is going to be difficult, but her sister Lisa is there to lend a hand and if only she would let him, so would Armie and his adorable and sassy daughter Noelle. There were times that my heart just about broke for all that Lila, Armie and Noelle have been through .The relationship between Armie and Noelle was heartwarming and I loved their interaction and obvious love for one another.
I found myself frustrated by both Lila and Armie’s behaviour on numerous occasion and wanted to yell at them both. However although it was a very rocky road, I was cheering when they finally got the happily ever after that they both deserved.
Of course the appearance of Otis the alligator led to some humorous moments throughout the story, the quirkiness of Papillon and the people who call it home added to my overall enjoyment of Butterfly Bayou and I can’t wait to learn more about Zep Guidry in particular.
Although this is not my most favourite book from Lexi Blake, it has certainly whetted my appetite for what’s to come on the bayou and I am excited to read the next book in the series .
Butterfly Bayou is a beautiful read. I loved every moment of this one. Your heart is put through so much from beginning to end. But it is so worth it. Armie is a single dad, sheriff and all around good guy. You heart goes out to him once you realize how close he holds onto everything even his daughter Noelle. Noelle is wheel chair bond and some ways needs to be normal in others is afraid to be independent. But you will discover all the reasons why they are the way they are as you read this. Then there is Lila. She is a survivor in so many ways. She is stronger then you think and is trying to acclimate into her new town. She doesn’t care what people think of her. She has gone through so much and starting over is just what she needed. I love the chemistry between Armie and Lila. Neither planned on the other. Yet they fit so well. I love how Lila is with Noelle even when she is trying to give her that push she needs. This book stole my heart and then some. I for one can’t wait to see where Lexi Blake takes this series next. Go one click this one.
Lila Daley didn’t have a great childhood and after an unimaginable tragedy, she packs up her meager belongings and moves to Pappilon Bayou, Louisiana to be close to her sister. Armand LaVigne (Armie) is the sheriff of Pappilon Bayou and a single father raising his disabled daughter, Noelle. He is not prepared for Lila and the feelings she would awaken in him.
Butterfly Bayou by Lexi Blake is book one in this small town series. It is a beautifully written, slow burn romance with all the feels. I cannot wait for the next book and am eager to find out which of these secondary characters stories comes next!
This is definitely a story about survival. Lila has spent her entire life surviving but she hasn’t much enjoyed it. After something terrible happens she decides to move to be close to her sister in a small town in Louisiana where she meets single dad and sheriff Armie. Armie and his daughter have just be surviving too but than Lila is there to show them that love can come in different ways.
This book took a bit for me to get into, started off a little bit slow but then you get to this one moment in the book and it’s like BAM . From that moment on you fall in love with Lila and you feel her even emotion and your heart breaks for her and you cheer her on and you marvel at how awesome of a human being is. This book is what the power of love can do for people, and how it can make a difference. I love all the characters and absolutely cannot wait to get back to Butterfly Bayou again.
**I was provided with a free advanced reader a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review***
Take a leisurely stroll down south where alligators sun themselves in the middle of the road and the bayou is your backyard. This is a new series by Lexi Blake, a favorite author of mine, that contains all of her same wit and sass, but is set to a lower heat setting than some of her other series.
Lila and Armie sizzle with chemistry from the getgo. Their back and forth is super entertaining and in the small town these two couldn’t be better matched for one another.
Lila moves down south needing a fresh start and it makes sense to also be closer to her sister. She didn’t count on the sinfully sexy sheriff pulling her over the moment she enters town and issuing her a ticket. Welcome to her new home.
Armie doesn’t like to break rules and he almost considers it when he realizes it’s Lila going thirty miles over the speed limit, but rules are rules and she is sassy. He really likes sassy.
With the charm of the bayou through the eyes of Lila, an outsider, Butterfly Bayou was really delightful to read. Add in the townsfolk, who are colorful and make the book LOL fun, there is so much promise for where this series can go in the future, not to mention where Lexi could fit in some interconnection stories with her other series.
5 stars
Lila is a nurse practitioner from Dallas. When the unthinkable happens, she packs up and moves to Louisiana, where her sister lives with her husband. She buys a small clinic and becomes the only medical doctor for miles. The town does not like change and it’ll take a lot of hard work to get the parish to trust her. Armie is a single father and the Sheriff of the little town. Armie just wants to keep his town safe and raise his daughter but he never expects Lila. Armie is down to earth and Lila is a little snobby but together the light up the night. But will misunderstandings, hurtful words, and a disagreement put an end to the best thing that has happened to both of them?
An awesome start to a new series by Mrs. Blake. This is a little tamer than some of her books but no less heartwarming. A woman who had to raise her siblings and pulled herself out of the trailer park she lived in. A guy who is sexy and tough and just the thing she needs to get her life back.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for the author *
Lisa and Armie definitely had a strong attraction, and they even had strong feelings, but having their own minds figured out wasn’t always in sync. Sometimes, everything can be perfect, but some things are out of alignment. It took a bit, and a few false starts, to get these two to their HEA!
Along the way, this small-town romance gave us a wonderful cast of characters and a great setting. When a story starts with our heroine accusing our hero of colluding with a reptile (gator Otis) to set speed traps, and after their first night together, our hero decides to make up a law (misdemeanor) to make it illegal to knock before 8 am, you know you’re getting some comedy.
We also got a whole lot of heart, from our characters, from the town. Serious issue are the underlying motivators for both our characters, and family and love are always front and center. Fitting in and doing what is right, what feels right, isn’t always easy, but Lila figures it out. Knowing what is right and acting on your instincts isn’t always the best path, and Armie figures that out. Add in an abandoned dog and a teenage daughter, and a boatload of soul searching, and the journey was definitely worth the path that needed to be taken
Butterfly Bayou is the first book in a new series by Lexi Blake. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I heard Lexi was writing a small town romance but she definitely put her twist on it. If you are looking for a sugary sweet small town romance this is not it. It is, however a romance story with characters that are fighting their own internal guilt and drama but in the end help each other to find the peace and understanding in order to move on from their past.
Lila was tough to like at the beginning but she started to warm up as you got to understand and know her better. She definitely was a strong woman in principle and conviction and she was really good for the town once they accepted her. She was also good for Armie!
I liked Armie at the beginning then I found him annoying. He seemed to be all in with Lila then one argument and he walked away from the best woman he ever met.
You will have to read for yourself and see how Lila manages to win over the people of this small town and if she and Armie can overcome their differences.
I really enjoyed this book even though at the beginning I was afraid it was going to be dull. When Lila has an encounter at her job at the hospital she packs up and move to Papillon Parish to be near her sister and take over for the old doctor at the clinic. Lila is like a duck out of water as she tries to navigate her new home and when she meets the sheriff sparks fly but she is a very practical woman and refuses to get involved.
Sheriff Armie was happy to be in this sleepy town with his disabled daughter Noelle, but he knew something was missing he just didn’t know it would be in the form of a hurricane known as Lila. There is so much going on and the author makes you feel like your part of the story I could barely put it down.
Reviewed on behalf of Once upon an Alpha