BAYOU CORRUPTION - Robin Caroll
Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense
ISBN: 978-0-373-44279-9
February 2008
Romantic Suspense

Lagniappe, Louisiana - Present Day

Alyssa LeBlanc is reluctantly returning to Lagniappe, because Grandmere is in the hospital. Alyssa bitterly believes that only pain comes out of the bayou. After her parents were killed, she and her two sisters came to live with Grandmere. She was severely ridiculed because Grandmere is a voodoo priestess and her grandfather was a member of the KKK. Her mood is as dark as the storm that is breaking. With the torrential rain, it is almost impossible to see, much less drive. As soon as Grandmere is okay, Alyssa plans to return to Shreveport where she works as a reporter for the Shreveport Times. Suddenly, her car spins out of control and lands in a ditch. Luckily, Alyssa sees the lights of a car coming her way but, before she can run up to the road and hail it, the car stops, and a very large bag is thrown out. Alyssa hides and, after the car leaves, runs to the bag, opens it up and finds Sheriff Bubba Theriot, beaten, barely alive. As she calls for help, Alyssa can’t help thinking things have now gone from bad to worse. Why me?

Jackson “Jacks” Devereaux thrives on the perils of a dangerous story, which is why he is a top notch investigative reporter for the New Orleans Times-Picayune. So, when his good friend from college, Sheriff Bubba Theriot, calls him asking for help, Jacks is there. Bubba believes he has a mole on his staff. He has discovered evidence that shows there is smuggling going on in and around the intercoastal port. Every lead and piece of information found gets lost, and he is being stonewalled. Hearing on the scanner that Bubba has been gravely injured and may die, he races to the site and can only pray that Bubba will survive.

Jacks and Alyssa meet over Bubba’s body. Since both are reporters, they know there is something serious going on. After the FBI interviews them, both are told not to leave town, and they decide to investigate on their own. So as not to lose her job, Alyssa calls her editor and is given the assignment to interview Senator Mouton, who is accused of corruption. However, in her interview, the senator comments that this is only gossip from the rumor mill from those who are jealous of him. Alyssa’s reporter instinct kicks in; the senator is just too smooth. Could the Senator be connected to the sheriff’s attack? What about the smuggling? Is he connected to her parents’ death? Will Alyssa fall victim to the bayou that she so despises?

BAYOU CORRUPTION will keep the reader spellbound. Jacks knows whoever is doing the smuggling also tried to kill Bubba. He will find them. He is seriously attracted to Alyssa, yet she keeps pushing him away. Why is Alyssa so bitter? When Alyssa is around her sister, she sees how CoCo has achieved a peace and calmness in her life. This brings Alyssa to contemplate her own spiritual path -- can she let go of her anger, bitterness and regret to move forward? Alyssa begins to feels hunger to learn more about God.

The story surges forward with suspense built into the twists and turns. Robin Carroll has once again woven a tale that will leave the reader wanting more. Jacks is a hero the readers will embrace, smart, funny, and caring. Alyssa, so engrossed in her self pity, she is hard to warm to. However, the reader will see a transformation as she comes to terms with herself, Jacks, her family, and her relationship with God. Can Jacks and Alyssa see that they were brought together for a reason? This is the second book of the Bayou series of five. The inexplicable beauty of the bayou is the backdrop, and even Moodoo, the gator from BAYOU JUSTICE, puts in an appearance. Secondary characters are superb, each with his or her own eccentric traits and secrets. I look forward to the third installment, BAYOU JUDGMENT, coming in May 2008.

Enjoy.

Deborah C Jackson