I was given this book by Revell Reads in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Book Summary:
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.
My Take:
I started reading this book at my normal pace and realized I needed to sit back, take my time and savor this book about southern life. It's that perfect balance of not writing too much but wanting more, especially when it came to the Bayou life, the gumbo, the sitting, and enjoying one another's company. Maybe I am a little biased when it comes to books about schoolteachers, but this one had all the feels and the way teaching is meant to be, about relationships with children. Like all good fiction, the customs of the characters, the scenery, everything is important to set the stage for the story. This is a wonderful book, especially if you have the time to sit back and enjoy it word by word.
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.
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