Review: Voodoo on the Bayou

Reviewed by Allison
 

This book was very intriguing. Think "The Frog Prince" mixed with some Voodoo magic, shifting, & a dash of N'Awlins charm.

Craig Thibodeaux is a lawyer from New Orleans who came to help out his uncle on a "business vacation" to the small town of Bayou Miste. When he goes out with and turns down the wrong girl, her grandma, Madame LeBieu, comes a looking for him. While she has him tied down and chants over him he thinks it's all a joke his buddies are playing on him... until he wakes up a frog!

"By day a frog, by night a man, 'til de next full moon, dis cunja will span... A woman will answer Ezill's call, one who'll love him, warts, and all... He'll watch by day and woo by night, to gain her love, he mus fight, to break de cunja, be whole again, transformed into a caring man"

When he transforms back into his human form, he realizes that he needs to find a girl to fall in love with him, stat. However, Bayou Miste being a small town, the pickings are slim! That is until Elaine Smith comes to town. A scientist from the city, freshly dumped by her jerk of a fiance, she's on a mission to find out why the Bayou is becoming toxic and be an environmental hero. If only she could get over her fear of water...

Although the timeline was a bit quick for my taste, it was fun to see Craig and Elaine drawn together, no matter how hard they fought it. I loved to see the commitment phobes fall so hard! Each night that Craig took Elaine out to hunt frogs was another chance they could get to know each other, so that by the next full moon, they were both head over heels for each other. I think the mystery could've been fleshed out more, because it was actually pretty interesting and relevant. It was a gripping twist that would've been really fun to follow further. I also would've enjoyed seeing the couple after the curse was over to see how they fared back in the big city together.

All in all, it was an sexy and compelling interpretation of a popular fairy tale and a happy ever after I was delighted to read!

Grade: B+

*ARC provided by Entangled

Click to purchase: Amazon

Voodoo on the Bayou

by Elle James

Release Date: February 18, 2013

Publisher: Entangled