Bayou Bound–soon to be released–takes place in fictional Bayou Petite, Mississippi near real-life Picayune and the Pearl River, which is the dividing line for Mississippi and Louisiana.
The story of Biloxi Dutrey and Nicholas Trahan is the second in the Fleur de Lis series. Please meet Biloxi and Nick:
Biloxi Dutrey grounds her jet-setting photography career and returns to Mississippi when she learns her family home, Fleur De Lis, is headed for financial ruin. She plans to save it by scooping up the job of Keeper. But that means breaking tradition, and her family isn’t cooperating.
Veterinarian Nick Trahan is new in town and wants folks to stop matchmaking. He won’t settle for just a pretty face. He wants the perfect woman, one who believes in family and commitment—the exact opposite of his parents.
Nick rescues Biloxi during a raging storm, but the squall is tame compared to the tempest between them. Soon they experience the backlash from the long-standing feud between their families. If Biloxi surrenders her dreams for Fleur de Lis and toes the line with tradition, will she also be forced to give up on “forever love” due to the hate their families still harbor?
I’m waiting with great anticipation to learn of the release date for this book. As soon as I know, I’ll be posting about it.
Linda
Praise for Bayou Bound:
Bayou Bound received First Place in Romance from the Southeastern Writers Association in 2011
“A raging storm has nothing on the steamy and fierce passion of Nick and Biloxi. Linda Joyce is the new author to watch!” ~Kathy L Wheeler, author of The Color of Betrayal
“As if the bayou needed more heat and steam! Step aside, Shakespeare. Linda Joyce adds southern charm, and a much happier ending, to this modern day Romeo and Juliet.” ~Claire Croxton, author of Santorini Sunset
“Family feud turns up the heat between jet-setting photographer Biloxi Dutrey and family-oriented veterinarian Nick Trahan. Bayou Bound is a keeper.” ~Marilyn Baron, author of Under the Moon Gate
Now for an excerpt from Bayou Bound.
Each year, Biloxi’s family hosts a Valentines Auction. Biloxi sets up a makeshift studio with her brother, Linc, as her assistant and takes photographs at the event. Biloxi’s got a plan that she’s shared with Linc, but Nick doesn’t know. Take a peek at what happens when brothers muck things up!
“Nice touch,” a voice whispered near her ear. She stopped short. A warm breath tickled her neck and a shiver ran down her spine. She recognized the smooth whiskey voice and the musky cologne. “You smell so good.” Nick’s voice cooed in her ear.
“Hi.” She attempted to appear unaffected, but delight curled in her core. She moved away and turned off one of the shadow-box lights to avoid looking at him. “Shouldn’t you be inside, Nick, or backstage, or something?”
He shrugged. “They just finished number four. There are other poor suckers ahead of me. Besides, your cousin, or rather your cousin’s dress, is drawing a crowd back there. I came to get some fresh air.”
“Too much competition for you in the green room?” she teased.
He returned a look of mock horror. “I don’t see how movie stars do it.” Then, he looked at her, as though he noticed her differently somehow. She always had a hard time discerning his thoughts when he scrutinized her like that. Good thoughts or flaws? Which did he notice?
Cocking his head to one side, he held up his forefingers with his thumbs touching, creating a half-frame. He gazed at her intently.
“You’d make a beautiful cover model in that dress,” he whispered.
“Not ever. I’ve photographed models before. I can tell you a hundred reasons why I’ll never be a cover girl.”
“You don’t see what I see, chèr.”
His voice was warm like slow oozing honey. Desire ran straight to her toes. The sensation magnified when he casually licked his lips. She tried to push the intense feeling away, but sticky like honey, what she resisted only persisted. He’d captured her full attention.
But where would the infatuation lead them?
“Are you going to bid?” he asked, dropping on to a stool, then rolling closer. She sidestepped him to sit at the small makeshift desk. Able to look him in the eyes, she sensed his hesitation.
“Well…” She paused.
“C’mon, Biloxi. I need you in there. I need someone to bid on me.”
She glanced away.
He leaned closer.
His breath caressed her ear again. “I’ll be embarrassed if nobody bids on my date. It’ll ruin my newfound reputation in Bayou Petite. You’re my friend. You have to do this for me. Just get the bidding going. If no one else bids, and you have to pay, I promise to reimburse you.”
She fought to suppress a giggle. Part of his charm. Nick had no clue how women looked at him. How they saw him as a catch. But he’d called her “friend,” which should have been a relief, yet a wedge of regret refused to be squelched about the friend part. Tonight, she wanted to be a fairytale princess with Nick as her prince.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “You reimbursing me? Doesn’t seem quite right.”
“Biloxi?” Linc called out before he rounded the corner. “You better get a move on it if you’re going to bid on Nick. Man, thank God it’s him up there and not me. I won’t ever—”
Bayou Born, the first book in the series:
Branna Lind’s self-esteem rests at the bottom of the Mississippi River. She canceled her “wedding of the decade,” though she isn’t saying why. She wants life on her own terms, no ready-made job in the family business: no safety net of close-knit kin, and no more betrayal.
College professor James Newbern prizes his bachelorhood. Experience has taught him beautiful women are high-maintenance trouble and Branna fits that type. He is happy to avoid her until the college vice president assigns him to mentor the newest hire–Branna.
Branna is on her way to a new life, but will the scars of the past send her running from love? Even if she stands her ground, can she convince James that she truly is his “type”?
You can buy Bayou Born at:
Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble Nook | Kobo | All Romance eBooks
Bookstrand | The Wild Rose Press – Paperback | The Wild Rose Press – eBook
You can find Linda at:
babettejames.com 
Your series sounds delightful! I wish you all success with your books!
Ashantay,
Thank you!
Smiles,
Linda Joyce
Pleased to meet you, Linda. I was raised in St. Tammany Parish LA and had bunches of relatives in Biloxi & Ocean Springs. I can’t count the number of times I traveled the expanse between those two areas and skirted Pearl River. Your story sounds super.
Jeff,
I would love to move back to Ocean Springs. 🙂 My family originates from Terrebonne Parish, however, if you’re from Louisiana, we’re probably kissing cousins. 🙂
Smiles,
Linda
I know several folks in Terrebonne Par. I worked in public libraries for nearly 30 yrs and at one time, I was acquainted with most of the public librarians in LA.
Jeff,
I would like to donate my book to several libraries in LA. In your expert opinion, what’s the best way to do this?
Smiles,
Linda
My brother did that very thing with one of his novels which was partly set in LA. We found the mailing addresses at a LA State Library database and just had Amazon ship directly to those addresses. We included a short message in the “gift tag” which Amazon provides (up to about 100 characters, as I recall)… so the library would know the book was set there or would have local interest.
Thank you! Wonderful Idea!
Her series IS delightful. Can’t wait until this book is released and shared with the world. Aren’t the covers fabulous?
Alicia Dean,
I happen to have a great editor! And, I am thrilled with my covers, too!
Now, waiting with baited breath for that release date.
Smiles,
Linda
Babette,
Thank you for your warm hospitality. I’m happy to be sharing the story of Biloxi and Nick her with you and your readers.
Warmest Regards,
Linda
Sounds so cute. Can’t wait until it’s out
R.E. Mullins
and I promoted this post on my FB timeline today…
I know this one will be wonderful!