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About this item
Highlights
- "Luesse's multifaceted, lyrical tale dazzles with larger-than-life villains searching for a big payday, a mythical albino alligator, a mysterious 'esprit Blanc' that allegedly roams the swamps, and a lovable cast. . . Readers who enjoy Southern romances will love this.
- About the Author: Valerie Fraser Luesse is the bestselling author of Missing Isaac, Almost Home, and The Key to Everything, as well as an award-winning magazine writer best known for her feature stories and essays in Southern Living, where she is currently senior travel editor.
- 352 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Christian
Description
About the Book
A young, restless Alabama teacher searching for a sense of purpose accepts a position at a tiny Louisiana bayou school, where a lonely Cajun fisherman, a tight-knit community, and a legendary white alligator will change her life forever.Book Synopsis
"Luesse's multifaceted, lyrical tale dazzles with larger-than-life villains searching for a big payday, a mythical albino alligator, a mysterious 'esprit Blanc' that allegedly roams the swamps, and a lovable cast. . . Readers who enjoy Southern romances will love this."--Publishers Weekly starred review"Luesse transports readers to the lush and hauntingly beautiful Louisiana bayou in 1949 . . . Readers who enjoy Lynn Austin's faith-filled historical romances will be pleased to discover Luesse."--Booklist starred review
***
Restless with the familiarity of her Alabama home, Ellie Fields accepts a teaching job in a tiny Louisiana town deep in bayou country. Though rightfully suspicious of outsiders, who have threatened both their language and their culture, most of the people in tiny Bernadette, Louisiana, come to appreciate the young and idealistic schoolteacher as a boon to the town. She's soon teaching just about everyone--and coming up against opposition from both the school board and a politician with ulterior motives.
Acclimating to a whole new world, Ellie meets a lonely but intriguing Cajun fisherman named Raphe who introduces her to the legendary white alligator that haunts these waters. Raphe and Ellie have barely found their way to each other when a huge bounty is offered for the elusive gator, bringing about a shocking turn of events that will test their love and their will to right a terrible wrong.
A master of the Southern novel, Valerie Fraser Luesse invites you to enter the sultry swamps of Louisiana in a story that illuminates the struggle for the heart and soul of the bayou.
From the Back Cover
"Come spend a few hours in Bernadette, Louisiana. You might find you don't want to leave! I know I didn't."--Lynette Eason, bestselling, award-winning author of the Danger Never Sleeps seriesWhen Ellie Fields accepts a teaching job in a tiny Louisiana town deep in bayou country in 1949, she knows her life will change--but she could never imagine just how dramatically.
Though rightfully suspicious of outsiders, who have threatened both their language and their unique culture, most of the residents come to appreciate the young and idealistic schoolteacher, and she's soon teaching just about everyone, despite opposition from both the school board and a politician with ulterior motives. Yet it's the lessons Ellie herself will learn--from new friends, a captivating Cajun fisherman, and even a legendary white alligator haunting the bayou--that will make all the difference.
Take a step away from the familiar and enter the shadowy waters of bayou country for a story of risk, resilience, and romance.
"Reading Under the Bayou Moon felt like an invitation to sit with Valerie in her story shack so she could spin a yarn that made me fall in love with a place I've never been and care deeply for characters I've never met. This is a book to be savored."--Susie Finkbeiner, author of The Nature of Small Birds and Stories That Bind Us
"With atmosphere dripping from every page like Spanish moss on a cypress tree, Valerie Fraser Luesse brings the Louisiana bayou to vivid life in this story of one woman stepping out in faith to pursue her purpose. This memorable tale of love--love for self, love for others, and love for the land--will expand in your heart just as the ripples from a boat's passage touch every secret corner of the bayou."--Erin Bartels, award-winning author of We Hope for Better Things
About the Author
Valerie Fraser Luesse is the bestselling author of Missing Isaac, Almost Home, and The Key to Everything, as well as an award-winning magazine writer best known for her feature stories and essays in Southern Living, where she is currently senior travel editor. Specializing in stories about unique pockets of Southern culture, Luesse received the 2009 Writer of the Year award from the Southeast Tourism Society for her editorial section on Hurricane Katrina recovery in Mississippi and Louisiana. A graduate of Auburn University and Baylor University, she lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband, Dave.Dimensions (Overall): 8.43 Inches (H) x 5.43 Inches (W) x .94 Inches (D)
Weight: .66 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Christian
Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Company
Format: Paperback
Author: Valerie Fraser Luesse
Language: English
Street Date: August 3, 2021
TCIN: 82235864
UPC: 9780800737511
Item Number (DPCI): 247-24-9845
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 0.94 inches length x 5.43 inches width x 8.43 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.66 pounds
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4.6 out of 5 stars with 12 reviews
BEAUTIFUL DESCRIPTIVE AND ENTERTAINING!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
Moonpie - 3 years ago
I have some close friends from Louisiana that are so in love with their state and the life they had there. I have been there briefly once but otherwise knew little about it. After reading this book I understand what they are talking about. The time is 1949. Ellie Fields wants to break out of her family’s preconceived ideas about how her future would be and have some adventure! That opportunity comes when she is offered a teaching job in the Bernadette, Louisiana. She sets off alone from her comfortable home in Alabama in her 1939 car she has named Mabel. What she finds is a far cry from what she expected. She finds she will be teaching 12 grades alone. The children are terrified of teachers due to some abusive discipline the school board wants enforced when children speak their native language, French. The housing she is provided is only accessible by a fairly long boat ride and her home has no electricity or indoor amenities. She is really out in the boonies alone! Such a culture shock! Ellie is determined to stay and do the very best job she can. I loved her fearlessness, grit and determination to face challenges head on and to be a part of the community. Raphe Broussard, a lifetime resident, becomes a source of encouragement and guidance she needs to settle in. He is trying to raise his orphaned nephew. A job he definitely feels unqualified for. Little do they know a powerful politician has evil motives to do harm to the sleepy community to clear the way for his financial advancement. The characters and town were delightful. The deep caring and commitment they had for each other is something I wish was everywhere. Their lives were poor and even backward, but they were so content and happy! I was swept away by the author’s beautiful descriptions of the bayou, and the simple lifestyle of the people. I felt so peaceful and relaxed, and pictured myself sitting on their front porches, looking out at the water, no TV, phones, or internet to distract. Pure pleasure! I felt a longing to go and experience it. I learned so much about the Cajun heritage, traditions and personality! One surprising thing about the book was that when most would end, this one was just beginning. I enjoyed the excitement and mystery! I either couldn’t put the book down because I was caught up in the beautiful moments or because I had to see what happened next! A book you want to read! I received this book from Revell Books in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own.
"Christy" of the Bayou
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
Babbling Becky L - 3 years ago
Young Ellie Fields is about to enter a world very different from which she came. Will she try to change the people to match her cultural norms? Will she bow to pressure from powerful, yet nefarious persons who want to use her as a pawn? Will she find a new life, or will she return to the familiar one she fled? Valerie Fraser Luesse writes so smoothly and enticingly in Under the Bayou Moon that I was under her magical spell after the first sentence. Luesse brings the sultry bayou out of the pages and delights the reader with its incredible sights, sounds, and smells. I loved the friendship of Ellie and Raphe and Heywood. How beautiful! How enduring! A quote, not from the book, but so fitting for this trio, “Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.” When I finished Under the Bayou Moon, I felt I had been part of something sacred. Something that had little to do with “L’Esprit Blanc” as the white alligator was called. Ellie chooses to befriend some young women who help her in school. She befriends a group of grandparents who take on an incredible task in order to make life more pleasant for their beloved grandchildren. She befriends a precious older lady who lives near her borrowed cottage. All these relationships affect her life profoundly. And, of course, she befriends Rafe, Remy, and Heywood. I would urge you to read this book, if you, like myself, are not from the ancient Bayou culture. This is the “Christy” of the Bayou. Notable Quotables: “What she longed for was not change, but transformation.” “If you ask me, it’s no less despicable to deny a child knowledge than to deny him food.” I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher through Revell Reads. I am voluntarily leaving my opinions (no positive review required), and all thoughts are my own.
Fun Read
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
Sue - 3 years ago
What an amazing book and amazing read! Under the Bayou Moon is a story set in the late 1940s of Ellie Fields traveling to a tiny Louisiana Bayou town to accept a new teaching position. She is ready for change and something new. However is she ready for this type of unique culture and experience? Can she handle the many challenges? I have to admit this was a different time period read for me but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found that I could not put the book down. Author Valerie Fraser Luesse does an excellent job of storytelling for a unique culture and time period. I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review which I was happy to do. I would recommend Under the Bayou Moon.
Under the Bayou Moon
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
amybooksy - 3 years ago
I have enjoyed reading books by Valerie Fraser Luesse in the past. I was excited to have the opportunity to read her newest release, Under the Bayou Moon, and I was far from disappointed. I loved this book. It is probably among one of my favorites I have read for this year. It was great being transported back in time to Louisiana. I found Raphe and Ellie’s story to be a unique and it was refreshing to read something with a different plot line. It was intriguing to learn more about the Cajun culture, as well. I loved every single page of this book. Under the Bayou Moon will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean historical fiction. Like always, I will be looking forward to reading more by Valerie Fraser Luesse in the future. I received a paperback copy of a Under the Bayou Moon from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
Bayou Culture
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
Suspenseful - 3 years ago
Feeling called, Ellie Fields accepts a teaching job in a small Bayou community in Bernadette, Louisiana. When she arrives, she discovers she has more responsibility than she anticipated but steps up to the challenge. She quickly makes friends and acclimates to her new and very different surroundings, finding a peace she hasn’t experienced before. But that peace is interrupted by an evil plan against the Cajun community. I really enjoyed the culture portrayed in this novel. The setting sounded so beautiful and tranquil. The author described this setting very well giving me a picturesque visual of what it must have been like in 1949. There were so many unique and interesting characters woven through the story making the reader appreciate the community and its people. The author also did a nice job of expressing the dynamics of the different classes of people. The plot of the book was a little weak in that it seemed to jump around without a connectedness or overarching plan. And although I liked the two main characters, I thought they lacked depth. They were portrayed one dimensionally, without a past or future. Haywood was one of my favorite characters as we saw more facets of his personality and he acted as the common denominator in the novel. In my opinion, he also changed and matured the most. The legend of the white alligator was an interesting addition to the story.
Enjoy a Little Trip to the Bayou!
3 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
Rebecca Maney - 3 years ago
3.5 stars "I think I'd rather just find somebody I could be quiet with". Adjusting to her new life in the tiny town of Bernadette, Louisiana, Ellie Field is full of anticipation; she's the new school teacher, and already the locals are filling her head with all sorts of reasons why their children have continually despised going to school. Primarily, the state superintendent has determined that the Cajun language and culture should be sacrificed to progression; Ellie begs to differ. One of the first people Ellie meets is an enigmatic young fisherman, Raphe Broussard, whose kindness and selflessness has extended out into his community as well as inward towards his young orphaned nephew Remy, who lives with Raphe. As Ellie masters the challenges of teaching multiple grades, Raphe and Remy help her become more and more comfortable in her remote surroundings. But all is not as beautiful as the moonlight on the bayou; danger and greed lurk in the shadows of the tall swamp grasses, along with a well kept secret that hides beneath local lore . . . . the tales of a white alligator are not just a figment of a storyteller's imagination. Brimming with Louisiana culture and mystique, this story does have some minor hiccups. Scene changes and time lapses are bumpy and unpredictable, but fortunately the characters rise to every occasion, searing their sense of benevolent community spirit towards each and every family, regardless of race, religion or economic standing, into your conscience. Is there a difference between happiness and contentment? Perhaps, Raphe and Ellie have found the answer to that question. "Ellie heard - for the first time in her life - the sound of pure contentment, flowing over her like creek water on smooth rocks. And she knew without a doubt that she could listen to it forever." I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
Southern Charm!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
Tickmenot - 3 years ago
Ellie, a young teacher from an Alabama farm, longs to see what the rest of the world looks like. It is 1949, a couple of years after the end of the war. The returning vets she dated would like to marry her, have her give up teaching, while staying home and having children—without ever asking if she is okay with that. To satisfy her wanderlust, Ellie has accepted a teaching job hundreds of miles from home in backwater Louisiana at a place called Bernadette. She finds it isn’t as idyllic as she thought because there is no electricity or indoor plumbing there, and she is the teacher for all twelve grades. But she loves the local characters she meets, that French is their first language, the small community, and the legend of the white alligator. Has she found her forever home, maybe even the love of her life? But unbeknownst to Ellie and all of them, this peaceful little hamlet has a dangerous current running beneath it. A powerful man has discovered a treasure there, and is determined to not only get his hands on it, but do so without any of the actual owners getting a penny. He sets in motion circumstances that could change the course of all their existence, and cause the end of the lifestyle they all enjoy. This is a sweet story of a by-gone era that has caring relationships with fun traditions, but at the same time, a tale with danger, stealthy activity and sketchy characters just below the surface. This clean, five-star, page-turner will keep you glued to it until the end. Told from a Christian viewpoint, fans of entrancing, southern settings with romance and hints of danger will like this book. Revell Publishing has provided Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, Under the Bayou Moon, for the purpose of review.
FINDING ONESELF ON THE BAYOU
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
Connywithay - 3 years ago
“You’re the only one who’s come because you wanted to be here. You’re the only one I’ve felt was truly led to Bernadette,” Ellie is told in Valerie Fraser Luesse’s novel, Under the Bayou Moon. ~ What ~ This three-hundred-and-fifty-two-page paperback targets those who enjoy Christian romance with a Cajon flair. With no profanity, topics of loneliness, illness, and death may not be appropriate for immature readers. The ending includes a chapter from another book by the author, a note, acknowledgments, the writer’s biography, and advertisements. Set in a fictitious town in Louisiana in the late 1940s, young Ellie Fields has left home to strike out on her own and find herself. Being young and naive, the idealistic woman secures a job teaching in the bayou where English is demanded as the only word spoken. Sensing the angst and fear of the children in her charge, not only does she learn how to circumvent a senator’s corrupt motives and laws of the land to help the children learn, but she falls in love with the land as well as a Cajun fisherman who must move on from the past. ~Why ~ This romantic story of acceptance and faith is a lovely read if you know little about the bayou and its heritage in Acaridan Louisiana. I appreciated learning the history of the French Canadians, their culture, and their way of living on stilts in the water. The addition of an old white alligator slipped in and out of the story effortlessly. ~ Why Not ~ Those who do not like fictions about the bayou that contain religious differences between Christian and Catholics may not be interested in this book. Others may find the romantic part of the story anti-climatic while some of its characters were stereotypical. ~ Want ~ If you do not know much about the Louisiana bayou and its people, this is an engaging read about finding love and oneself while dealing with life on the water, new-found friendships, and a legendary alligator. Thanks to Revell for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.
Tender
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
ChritianFictionandMore - 4 years ago
Tender is the best word I can think of to describe this excellent novel. Under the Bayou Moon is a tale of beauty, love, and acceptance. The characters are unique, the setting wild and exotic, and the plot slow and easy, a pace readers will appreciate as they will want to linger in the bayou. I give this novel five stars, and am so grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Under the Bayou Moon!
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
DianFlow - 4 years ago
I was mesmerized by this fascinating novel from the prologue—as a twelve foot, massive white alligator with piercing sapphire eyes slithers his way through the cane in mysterious Louisiana bayou country! The beautiful dense bayou—"lit with shades of green from deep ivy to bright chartreuse—as algae, lily pads, and water hyacinth spread over them and ancient cypress trees with Spanish moss hanging like the lace-gloved fingers of a Louisiana debutante." Of course, I immediately googled white alligators because if there was such a thing I certainly wanted to see it! Just not up close and personal. lol The characters are easy to love and I enjoyed the easy, humorous banter and affection between them. This is one of the 1st books I've read in quite some time where the hero/heroine are not embittered by their pasts. Troubled perhaps, but not enough to let it affect their treatment of others. I felt the romance was a bit rushed and there wasn't much of a spiritual thread, but 'Under the Bayou Moon' is beautifully written and researched, magnificently descriptive—and intensely riveting! *I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own and I received no monetary compensation.*
Lousiana Bayou
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
Maureen - 4 years ago
I really enjoyed this read, from beginning to end it was a breath of fresh air to keep turning the pages. A young woman is coming to teach these poor children who have been traumatized by previous teachers, and we get to watch as Ellie puts herself out there. There is the love of a child, of a community, and a love for their fellowman, and it flows from individual to another. The banter is at times laugh out loud and the, and the caring is so heartwarming! Be sure to read the epilogue, we are gifted! I received this book through the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.