Under The Bayou Moon by Valerie Fraser Luesse

4 stars. Thanks Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to read and review. 

This is my third book by this author to read. I have enjoyed all of them and always walk away from the reading experience with her books feeling like I learned a little about history. This book takes place in the Louisiana Bayou starting in 1947. I learn about the Acadian/Cajun/Creole people who migrated from Canada. They speak French because, well they were from French Canadian Provence’s. The main leading lady is Ms. Ellie Fields. She is fleeing an engagement gone bad in her native Alabama to Bernadette, LA- not far from NOLA but miles different than that hopping city. She is challenged by becoming a teacher- the teacher- for the children of Bernadette. This book looks at the cultural challenges and the racism brought against them being French speaking. Previous teachers had used corporal punishment if French words slipped from the children’s mouths. Ms. Fields wants to make a change and make attending school a positive experience. She faces other challenges to in the Bayou- I encourage you to read the book to find out what she faces. 

An easy read that flowed well. I really enjoy this author’s storytelling. 

Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson

4 stars read!  Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to read and review.  It was a great read for my 12 hour read-a-thon this past Monday.  I like stories that have  love, friendship, life challenges, and wraps up nicely.  This book hit all of those marks.  It is a easy summer read.  Finished it in the day I had reading along with others so I'd say it goes by quickly.

Meg Whitaker is living the good life: in her home town, teaching and making a difference in her student's lives.  However, she is also facing struggles with her mother's health deteriorating (multiple doctor's visits and no one can figure out the cause/diagnosis).  Her father is also aging and can't care for her failing mother along with running his lobster business. 

 Bonus- this book takes place on Prince Edward Island (yep Anne of Green Gables fans that PEI).

Her father has a potential buyer who wants to take over his lobster business.  The only problem- it is Meg's arch nemesis from high school.  The guy who ruined her science project her Senior year and likely prevented her from getting into the college of her dreams.  Oliver Ross is that guy.  

As can be expected Meg wants Oliver to have nothing to do with her or her family, let alone her family's lobster business.  So she challenges her father to let her take over the lobster business, which side note- she has no idea to run.  Her father decides to give them both a chance to "win him over" and become the ultimate owner of the business.  The catch is he requires them to work together so that Meg can learn from Oliver.  Oliver has worked for her father for the past 6 years and knows the business side of things well.

I enjoyed learning about the lobster business.  I could truly feel the physicality the labor of a lobster man/woman takes when doing that type of job day in and day out.  

Lovely summer read.