Butterfly Bayou

The Butterfly Bayou Series, Book 1

By: Lexi Blake

Narrated by: Jessica Almasy

Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

New York Times best-selling 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 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.

©2020 DLZ Entertainment, LLC (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

My Thoughts on Butterfly Bayou

If you're like me, you picked up this book just because you're a Lexi Blake fan. The blurb seemed interesting so that was good. But mostly I'm a big fan of this author's writing and have pretty much loved everything she's written that I've read so far. She's basically an auto-buy author for me.

So when I heard about the release of Butterfly Bayou it was an instant yes for me. But within the first few pages I went from

'the blurb seemed interesting'

to

'sitting up, paying attention, I am here for this'.

From those very first few moments, I needed to know more about leading lady Lila. So much was given about her right away, and yet not nearly enough. Why was she the way she was? What made her tick? I needed to know more.

And as the story unfolded I got lost in the words as I often do with this author. I fell in love with the leading man Armie and his daughter. I watched Lila open up and let her walls down. And I got addicted to this small southern town.

This book was amazing and I cannot recommend it enough.

The narration on this tool a bit of warming up to for me, but by the end I really enjoyed it. I started off mainly wishing there was a male narrator for the male pov parts, but the narrator's male voice grew on me.

Very disappointed with this book

First let me say I adore Lexi Blake, love her writing, own all get Masters and Mercenaries books as well as everything she wrote as Sophie Oak, so huge fan!! I was so anticipating this new series, set in Louisiana where my ex and his family are from, love Louisiana!!. I ended up being very sad that this book just didn't do it for me! I didn't care for the narrator who sounded like a Texan, no trace of the Louisiana/Cajun accent I had hoped to hear for the characters who supposedly lived in the Bayou all their lives, not realistic there! Also I just could not warm up to the heroine.Lila, I felt her character was just to angry all the time and.treated poor Armie pretty poorly right up to the end of the book, which made me sad! I kept hoping they would get their differences sorted but I got so annoyed by Lila I had to stop reading and put the book aside for a few days between reading sessions!.. Because I love Lexi so much I'll hang in there for the second book in this series before deciding if I should avoid this series all together!. Perhaps getting
the accents right next book will help! I realise this is just fiction and that a.lot of people seem to love the book and the story so I'll say again that this is just my opinion on this one book, I totally love all Lexis other books and will always be a huge fan!

Love Lexi Blake

Every book Lexi Blake offers is always immediately placed into my library. And when Ryan West is the narrator, there is never a hesitation. Lexi Blake and Ryan West are phenomenal, an outstanding, unbeatable team. But this narrator is driving me to repeatedly hit pause, especially when the realization hits that the scene was the exact opposite of the teenager happy laughter fake cheerful over-the-top voice description. When narrator Almasy pronounces could-dent and would-dent and every character sounds the same, it’s just too much. Lexi Blake’s extraordinary character development that keeps the reader lost in her world is destroyed by this irritating narration.

Disappointed in narration

Giving this three stars for the story but if I rated this based on narration this would be a one star. I enjoyed the story but the narration was one of the most painful narrations I’ve ever heard. Audiobook is my preferred reading platform but I will forego that for the rest of the series. I’ll just read the ebooks. I almost DNF but I love Lexi Blake’s books and looked forward to this story.

Jessica Almasy is on my narrators to avoid list. Her attempt at male voices makes them sound like imbeciles with a mouth full of cotton. There was a lack of ability to pull off a Louisiana accent which is key considering the characters are Cajun and the setting is the Louisiana bayou. Characters were said to be whispering or talking quietly/softly yet the narrator is yelling throughout the entire book, which for erotic fiction takes away from the sensuality. Her voice is too sing songy and she puts emphasis on words in odd/inappropriate places.

Butterfly Bayou

I’m a paranormal romance reader, but I bought this story cuz I love love love Lexi Blake’ s Thieves Series, best paranormal listen EVER! I’m not into sub/dom stories although I love Lexi’s sex scenes. I really don’t like male readers. So Butterfly Bayou might be entertainment for me.
Lexi is amazing. Jessica has beautiful sexy male voices. This story is a good romance. I would recommend to anyone. It’s got good guys bad guys and strong female personalities. The romance prevails when I unaccepted toughness is finally seen as tough love. Tough love is real love no matter how hard it is. I loved it.

Disappointed in narration

I thought this book sounded pretty good, and I'd never listened to a Lexi Blake book before, but the female narrator in this book made me want to quit listening several times. I'm not sure I'd pick another Lexi Blake book, but who knows. I thought the romance in this book was made to sound 'cheesy'. It's hard to concentrate on the actual story for me. I may try another book by Lexi Blake as long as there is a different narrator

Riveting

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. Jessica Almasy did an outstanding job with the narration of this story.

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 .

Great story and narration!

That southern drawl is AWESOME!!! She nailed it!!!

Lovely story - great characters and very engrossing.

Loved

I loved this book. It reminded me a lot of the show Hart of Dixie. Makes you want to live in a small town.

Great little romance!!

Loved this little romance. Kinda felt like life was kicking Lila's butt a little too unrealisticly, but I also think that helped her to grow and change into the person she really needed/wanted to be!!