Bayou Beauty was a good addition to the series. Sylvie and Rene's courtship and relationship was more low key than the others in the series but it worked for this couple. They are both pillars of the community and acted as such. I loved how they worked together as a team and build each other up.

I received a copy of this book for a honest review.

5 Is He Worth the Second Chance Stars!!!

It’s no secret how much I’ve enjoyed this series and this book is another reason because I fell in love with Sylvie and Rene’s story and their second chance even if Sylvie wasn’t sure she was willing to risk her heart again to the man that crushed it so many years ago.

As heartbroken as she was, Sylvie did not let that define her nor keep her from her goals. Several years later she’s the Mayor of Papillon, which made me admire this woman so much. She’s strong, independent, loves her friends and family and is incredibly witty. Rene Darois is a man that’s lived up to the expectations of his family and he’s never had a problem with that until he’s forced to take a wife to save his family…. And who else would be better than his first true love Sylvie Martine!!

Even after all these years, there’s a connection between them and as hard put as Sylvie is to reject Rene, the tiny part of her heart that still hopes they can love each other allows her to help this man. Along the way to a true love that is stronger than either ever expected, we get a lot of involvement from their family, friends and maybe a “love spell.” The way Ms. Blake describes each and every scene in this book has made me fall even more deeply in love with Papillion, Louisiana. I could feel the heat and humidity of the city, I laughed right along with some of the secondary characters that are so important to this story and of course was rooting for our H/h to finally realize that what started as a “fake” marriage had become so very real and they each other’s soulmate!!

Another great story from the author. I couldn't put it down. I absolutely loved how Sylvie and Rene's story goes. I was not disappointed! Lexi definitely did amazing with their story. This is my favorite one out of the series. You will not be disappointed if you choose to read this one. Highly, highly recommended!

I adored this book!
It was so nice to come back to Papillon and learn more about the spunky mayor we saw in the previous books. The plot itself was fabulous and I really liked to see some different characters than before while also getting short snippets with the old ones. I really hope we get some more stories of Rene's relatives/family.
I think, Sylvie is one of my favorite characters, maybe, because she's completely different from myself and yet I was able to feel with her and understand her in a way I would have never expected.
Rene was nice as well, but what I liked best was how Sylvie's brother reacted to his best friend getting it on with his sister. This was exactly how a brother should react.
Also Rene's relatives were a hoot and yeah, I would like to see more of them.
All in all it was a nice and easy summer-y read I reacommend for anybody.

He was her brother's best friend and, as children the three of them were always together. In college, it was almost something more, but Andre talked Rene into giving his sister time to find her own way in the world before declaring his love, which ended up breaking Sylvie’s heart.

Now they are both back in Papillon and nothing has moved forward. But when Rene needs a wife to help secure his role in Darois Industries, he turns to the only person he can, Sylvie.

This book was a real treat! Sylvie is a firecracker, and how can she be anything else with Marcelle Martine as her mother! Independent and sassy, she manages Papillon like a boss as the mayor, and actually loves taking care of the small parish and the people that make it up even when it means dealing with utter nonsense some days.

Rene Darois has always used his money and influence to care for the town as well, but he isn’t the best at showing his affections. As Sylvie would say, however, he is a fast learner! I adored watching his love for Sylvie turn him inside out and into a better version of himself.

Of course, there is family drama all over the place as well as a bit of corporate espionage and some blackmail . . . it is a Lexi Blake book, after all! But, what it really boils down to is love of family, both blood and by choice, which makes this a truly stunning story. This story is my favorite book in the series so far, just because it was a bit unexpected. This couple had to fight for the love and friendship they had since childhood, and it was a glorious battle! I love Papillon and the people that live there! 5 stars!

Was a great read from beginning to end and I enjoyed the journey! Adored this small-town, down home romance filled with engaging charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists, emotional turns and sweetly thrilling passion.

I loved this story. Sylvie & Rene waited forever to get their love story. He was so used to sacrificing himself and his welfare for his family. I loved how Sylvie woke him up, and settled him at the same time. I loved their mothers and even Rene’s Aunt Roberta. She seemed to be their queen even though they all complained about her. I need to go back and read the other books because I loved these characters!

This is one of those books that made me go all soft on the inside. I just loved it. I love this small town and all the characters I have gotten to know with each book in the series, and I just loved Rene and Sylvie. They weren't perfect. They make mistakes but it's that journey from making mistakes to realizing the love they have always felt for each other that just made me a puddle of goo. I even appreciated how nasty Rene's family was because it shaped and molded not only him but how these two ended up having each others backs. Great book! Great series!

BAYOU BEAUTY is the fourth instalment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary, adult BUTERFLY BEAUTY romance series. This is thirty-two year old, businessman and heir Rene Darois, and twenty-eight year old, Papillion, Louisiana Mayor Sylvie Martine’s story line. BAYOU BEAUTY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Sylvie and Rene) BAYOU BEAUTY follows the second chance romance and relationship between is thirty-two year old, businessman and heir Rene Darois, and twenty-eight year old, Papillion, Louisiana Mayor Sylvie Martine. Sylvie Martine has been in love with her brother’s best friend Rene Darois for most of her life but ten years earlier, following a proclamation of need and want, Rene kissed our heroine, then walked out of her life. Fast forward to present day wherein Rene Martine is now Papillion Louisiana’s mayor, previously having worked in Washington DC, and in the ensuing years she has only seen Rene a handful of times. Rene Darois has never forgotten about Sylvie Martine but Sylvie continues to keep her distance much to the chagrin of our story line hero. Rene is in desperate need of a wife, and the only woman that calls to his heart is the woman whose heart he is about to break. What ensues is the marriage of convenience between Rene and Sylvie, and the potential fall-out as someone is sabotaging the Darois family business, and our couple have been targeted in the process.

Rene Darois had been groomed to take over the family business but greed, jealousy, secrets and lies are about to push Rene to walk away in an effort to save the woman he loves. As CEO, Rene has been at the top of his game but the greed and selfishness of several members of the Darois family are pushing at Rene’s barely controlled anger and need to throw it all away. The Darois dysfunctional family dynamics is about to play into the hands of a long, family history of secrets and lies, and in this Rene is growing tired of the betrayal. Sylvie Martine has never forgotten about the boy/man that had stolen her heart but when Rene walked into her office with a proposal of marriage, Sylvie was torn between head and heart knowing this may be her only chance to for a ‘happily ever after’ with the man that she loves.

The relationship between Sylvie and Rene is a friends to lovers, best friend’s younger sister, marriage of convenience for two people whose love for one another is obvious except to the people involved. Most of the family suspects that Rene’s marriage is a fraud but our couple are determined to prove that their marriage is anything but. The $ex scenes are all implied or fade to black.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including many of the previous story line couples and characters, and several members of the Dubois family. We welcome the return of Sylvie’s brother and Rene’s best friend Andre, a photojournalist, and of course Sylvie’s mother Marcelle Martine, and Delphine Dellacourt Guidry who like to ‘work’ with the supernatural. The reader is introduced to Rene’s mother Cricket, Rene’s uncle Charles, cousins Gabriel Layton and his sister Ashley, as well as Rene’s right hand man Louis.

BAYOU BEAUTY is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; of greed, jealousy, secrets and lies; of betrayal and deceit, conflict, power and control. The character driven premise is fast paced and imaginative; the characters are animated, sassy and spirited; the romance is heart warming. BAYOU BEAUTY is another welcome addition to Lexi Blake’s BUTTERFLY BAYOU.



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Another great story by Miss Blake, I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down! the story was incredible!

4.5 stars — I freaking love this crazy small town. I was so excited to return to Papillon, but there’s always that worry in the back of my mind that I won’t connect with a story as much. No worries there! Sylvie and Rene’s story was fun and emotional and just everything I look for in these books. There’s a reason I gobbled it up in a day.

Normally I start off talking about the main characters, their romance, and *then* get to secondary characters. But the cast of this town is just so much fun and plays a notable role in these stories. We got all the same peeps we’ve come to know and love, little sprinklings of different ones here and there…and if you haven’t read the rest of the series, you won’t be lost, I imagine you’ll just want to go back for more. And it wasn’t just the normal cast of the town, we also got to see a great deal of Rene’s mother and Louis. I kind of liked what they added to the story, as flawed as they were. It really showcases how people can be imperfect, but still love and have good intentions. And don’t even get me started on Sylvie’s brother Andre, that boy made me laugh so much.

I didn’t really have a good feel for who Sylvie was previously, but I kind of adore her. She’s so strong and smart and this perfect balance between forthright and empathetic. She won’t take people’s crap, but she understands enough to listen and try to help and connect with people. She does it in her job as mayor, and she brings it in her new role as Rene’s wife. I loved how she *saw* him, and even if she didn’t always understand, she wanted to.

Rene was so much softer and more broken than I was expecting…and not in a usual way. Seeing the way his responsibilities weighed on him just made my heart ache. And he’d learned all the wrong lessons from his parents on how to deal with it. I LOVED that Sylvie was his light, that even when he was keeping his emotions locked down, he couldn’t help but be drawn to her and just *want* her in his life. He had a lot of growing to do in this book, but I felt like it happened at a reasonable rate…I believed it. He had enough stumbles that it wasn’t overly easy, but he didn’t cling to bad habits too long either.

And together they were fire. Not just steamy chemistry wise, but the way they looked out for one another. You could feel their caring, even when their pride (or something) tried to get in the way. I rooted for them, and they didn’t let me down.

And can I just say that I kind of love that each story features an adorable puppy? Gets to my animal loving heart.

I honestly don’t know if this series is for everyone, but it’s 100% my jam. I hope the stories keep coming and coming.

This story made my heart happy. I was smiling throughout. There's something about an "almost" second chance romance done right that really speaks to me. In this story, Rene, who we met in prior stories in this series, really felt the spark with Sylvie 10 years before the story began but he didn't want to hinder her future. So he left her after one stunning kiss. But he and Sylvie, who has harbored a crush on him since she was young, had the opportunity to get together after 10 years because he needed a "fake" marriage. But from the beginning, he made it know that he wanted it to be real.

Rene is adorable. He's so sweet and loving- a little awkward in love, which is heart warming given that he's so handsome. I love the men who realize that the physical is not that important when the women they want expect more from them! Sylvie, now the mayor of Papillion, is smart and competent and also, a little sweet and naive when it comes to love. Together, they made me swoon because even from the beginning there was a true partnership building. And that cover, not to mention the actual dog, Lady, in the story- I loved it!

Add in a little intrigue, family drama and visits from prior characters and this is a well rounded, sweet book that reminds me of why I, as a city girl, am so obsessed with small town romances. I love coming back to Butterfly Bayou! Be ready for an almost permanent smile on your face while reading this amazing romance (We need a story about Dre, Sylvie's brother. He was hilarious!). I received an early copy of this book so my thanks to the publisher and to Lexi Blake for a fun and heartwarming read!

I really enjoyed this story. Like the ones, prior to it, you'll find it well-written and so well put together. I liked the prior books in the series but I think this one is my favorite of the series. I know I say that often but what can I say, I like reading romances.

Admittedly the storyline isn't anything new. Girl marries boy to keep his family off his back and to prove he's a family man. The part I found refreshing is the fact that these two really love each other. They won't admit it and try to act like it's all about his family but we know.

It was so sweet how these two interact. You see how they feel about each other in a million different ways. I want to share them with you but it will ruin the story to do so. At times they try so hard to do what's best for the other that you want to scream at them that they want the same thing.

It's cute to see how Sylvie is as the mayor. She handles the town well. I really love her brother and hope we get his book. He cracks me up. Wanting rich relatives because he's an artist is funny. You'll laugh too when you read it.

You'll really enjoy Rene too. He works so hard for his ungrateful, entitled family. His one cousin is the worse. You want to hit someone. They treat him pretty badly. How he doesn't have a nervous breakdown I have no clue. The funny part is that I didn't remember Rene at the beginning of this book. In fact, he didn't come to me until it was mentioned about his being hit by the car. It didn't stop me from still enjoying the story I was just shocked I kinda forgot him.

As I've said you'll enjoy these two together. I ton of things happen within the story that will keep you reading and wanting more

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth book in the series, and if you like town characters and sweet, hot, loving stories, then this series is for you. I would recommend that you start at the beginning and enjoy them all, as they all follow one another, but if you dip in here, I am confident you will fit right in!

Sylvie has come back to her hometown and taken on the mantle of mayor. I think this role immediately conjures up in my mind a serious, slightly matronly figure, old before her time person – but that really isn't who she is, even if she has to put on some affectations to get through her working day. She really is about the good of the town, not her personal advancement, although those around her expect great things for her political career.

Rene, who is the embodiment of his family business in the town, lives in the big house, and keeps all his family happy by making them plenty of money, is under pressure from a potential usurper of his role, which will likely lead to the end of the family business as it gets sold off and diluted for short-term gain. I enjoyed the machinations and fun his aunt has in wielding her influence. The most urgent change he needs to make to his life is to get married, or at the very least engaged. Had he not been so engaged in work problems, he would have asked Sylvie out as soon as she returned to town. He still loved her as much as when she left town, and now he has to ask her to pretend, when it is his long-held reality.

As these two work to convince others, they need most of all to accept it themselves. A fun and convoluted exercise, which mixes the fake romance with the second-chance one, and gives us an entertaining story. We also get to meet all the usual suspects of Papillon, and even Otis takes on his role with gusto.

I very much enjoy going for regular trips to the Bayou, and look forward to the next installment already!


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
I’ve been waiting for Sylvie’s book since the start of the series. Fierce, creative, and driven, Papillon’s mayor somehow manages to cut through all of her hometown’s various strands of crazy with her own brand of calm and order.

In her own book, Sylvie’s college sweetheart returns to town – and promptly proposes to her. The whole sham marriage trope has become popular over the past couple of years, and it feels predictable and a little tired here. Thankfully, Sylvie and Rene are interesting enough characters to keep readers’ interest. And even when they felt a little bland in parts, their colourful mothers more than make up for it.

We’ve seen the divide between the rich and poor families in Papillon in previous books. Sylvie and Rene are the first interracial couple, but many of the themes feel slightly recycled. Rene’s family quickly descends into Dynasty levels of nasty drama, and it is once again up to the ordinary townsfolk to help Sylvie find her place in his world.

I absolutely loved the first couple of books in this series but this one feels a little more tired. Too many storylines and themes repeat here. I feel like Sylvie deserved better. I also hate it when a series drags on to the point where all the exciting, interesting women in the first books have become loved-up, cookie-cutter suburban mums with babies and white picket fences. There’s a baby yoga scene at the end of this book that just about made me scream. For the most part, I enjoyed this book. I just expect better from Lexi Blake.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Romance

Sylvie is the mayor and sometimes, she feels that she's not using her potential. However, she loves her town and its people. She's willing to hear the most ridiculous arguments, help out whomever is in need, and run bad people out of town. When her crush comes to town with a proposal, Sylvie isn't quite sure what to make of it.

Rene has been groomed to become head of his house – head of his entire family. But when things start to look like he might be losing his position, he'll try anything to maintain his family's business and his family house. When Rene approaches his long-time crush, he isn't quite sure how to ask for what he needs. But let's just say that he bombs pretty hard.

These two have been dancing around their feelings for each other for years. When it looks like they could help each other, both know there really isn't a question. Of course, they would help each other out. What starts as a convenient relationship turns in to so much more.

You'll want to throttle a few of Rene's family members throughout this story, Sylvie's family will keep you laughing, and in the end, Rene and Sylvie have to decide for themselves if it's their time or if they have to try again.

I so wanted to love this book. It still has the wonderful people of Papillon in it, but sadly, this book just didn't flow well for me. There were times when it seemed incredibly slow and drawn out. The conflict was a good one, but I think I was waiting for more teeth and claws to come out. Then, with the romance part of the book, it read more young adult than adult romance. Their feelings felt kind of stuck. So, while it was entertaining to read, it just wasn't a wow book for me.

This is the 4th book in this series and is Rene and Sylvie’s story. Rene is Sylvie’s brothers’ best friend, and they were high school sweethearts until he left her behind broken hearted. Now Sylvie is the mayor of their small town, and she avoids Rene as much as possible, and when he needs a wife, he manages to convince her to take part, and they work hard to convince everyone that this is a real marriage and not fake. This is a well written story which has great secondary character, and is sweet, fun, humorous, and with secrets, suspense, family, and love, which leads to an entertaining and addictive page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

Anyone else love a good marriage of convenience?! I do, especially from Lexi! I was excited to get back to the bayou where Sylvie has left D.C. and is the mayor. She's making a life for herself in a place she loves. Rene and his family have been a big part of Papillon. He's always loved Sylvie and when an opportunity arises to make her his, he jumps on the chance. I loved Rene and Sylvie's chemistry. They understood each other and had respect for each other. I liked how they had each other's backs. Their families supported them (well, the family that mattered) and it was hard to deny that chemistry they had. I couldn't read this book fast enough! Very enjoyable read and I definitely recommend!

Bayou Beauty, the fourth installment in Lexi Blake's Butterfly Bayou romances, was a delightfully light-hearted read and a wonderful addition to this beloved series.

Long-time friends Rene Darois and Sylvie Martine adored one another secretly from afar. One passionate and life-changing kiss shared long ago was seared into their hearts and minds for decades, but the timing for this couple was off. Now, to maintain control of his family's corporate legacy, the rich, powerful and debonair Rene needs a bride and the only woman his heart desires is Papillon's mayor - Sylvie. Not allowing another missed opportunity to slip through his fingertips, Rene sets off on a quest to convince the woman he loves to take a leap of faith and a chance on him.

And so begins their journey towards love that I absolutely enjoyed. I adored this couple - Rene's charismatic and sexy charm as well as Sylvie's strong-willed yet vulnerable demeanor. They complemented each other perfectly, and I loved seeing their relationship grow and blossom. Blake is a master in writing touching and memorable tales that pull on my heartstrings. Bayou Beauty was no exception. This novel is the perfect read for fans of contemporary romances involving the friends-to-lovers and marriage of convenience genres that I highly recommend. Although part of a series, this can certainly be read as a stand-alone.

Sylvie is one badass Mayor! We get to meet her in the previous books and also Rene, is just the sexy man in a suit we all love. We come back to this cute town with Otis aka the lazy gator. This fake marriage is all but fake with so much love and chemistry that goes back years! Best friends little sister and love since they were kids. To save the company or just helps them finally get together. Takes some time and trust to get these two together but it so worth it.
hope there is more for this series and Dre next?!?



4 stars
3.5 steam

Thanks to the PR firm for a copy of this book for an honest review.

A sweet return to the Bayou in Blake's charming town of Papillon, LA. 

Lexi Blake's Bayou world is a slow stroll down charming neighborhoods and visits with old friends. It's a vacation from the intense adventures of her Masters and Mercenaries world, but still just as enjoyable. The characters are well written and the entire plot is flushed out. It's a place I enjoy revisiting time and again.

Papillon is a small town where everyone knows everyone, but in times of need they all rally together to lend a helping hand. It is certainly how Rene became so close to Sylvie's family growing up even given their economic differences, in a town their size those differences didn't matter in the eyes of children looking to play. As time wore on Sylvie developed a huge crush on Rene, but their age difference allowed them to grow apart, now with time and distance out of the way there is nothing holding them back aside from a cavern of years between them. They have to learn about each other all over again, but this time there is a ticking time clock working against them. Rene now has to marry to save his company and time is literally not on his side. When will they ever get a break?

It took a little bit to jump into the chemistry between Rene and Sylvie, but once they clicked the story really took off. I'm not talking about heat between the sheets either, I'm talking about their spark, their flirting, their mutual "I want you, but I can't have you" vibe. It was like the zipper was off track at first, but it didn't take long before they became unstuck and then zipped together, if that analogy makes sense. 

There is a bit of a mystery that goes along with this story. The element of "who is behind the mask" is always fun to figure out while the characters are sorting out their feelings for one another. A sweet romance, with a bit of intrigue, to add to any summer reading.

Sylvie is the mayor of Papillon and damn proud of it. Rene needs a favor…oh and it’s a big one! He needs a wife! Yep you heard that right. He needs the mayor to marry him so he can keep his family business. No big deal right? Oh did I mention that these two have amazing chemistry and 10 years ago shared an amazing hot kiss….ohhh yea this should be nooo problem right?!?! This hot and steamy quick read was the perfect read for a summer day. This small town quick read was funny and had the perfect amount of crazy town’s people that I needed! Just when I thought these two might not have what it takes they prove me wrong! This was a great great escape from the normal Lexi Blake books I read! As always I look forward to seeing what she has in-store for us next!