Butterfly Bayou

Blake (the Courting Justice series) takes a break from romantic suspense with this sweet and spicy small-town contemporary series debut. After a traumatic incident in a Dallas, Tex., emergency room, nurse practitioner Lila Daley pursues a low-stress lifestyle running a clinic in small town Papillon Bayou, La., where her younger sister lives. Lila’s first interaction with sexy sheriff Armie LaVigne, during which he writes her a speeding ticket on her way into town, ignites an attraction. But independent Lila is haunted by her past and isn’t sure she’s ready for a relationship, especially when she realizes getting the townsfolk to trust her medical skills is going to be more difficult than she’d thought. Lila’s strength and vulnerability are balanced by Armie’s intelligence and humor, making them an easy couple to root for. Blake captures the flavor of her colorful Southern town with a vividly drawn cast, including conspiracy nut Gene, lazy alligator Otis, and a slew of ladies determined to keep Armie to themselves. This charming series opener hits all the right notes. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary. (May)