Monday, August 3, 2026

Blue Jean Bayou Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Blue Jean Bayou

Author: Janis Jakes

Genre: Contemporary Inspirational Romance

Release Date: June 12, 2026

After Jenna’s father dies, she travels to his cabin in the Texas Piney Woods to oversee the remodeling and ready the property for sale. She’s surprised when the contractor is a childhood crush – now a handsome man with a heart of gold.

Their friendship reignites, bringing the possibility of more…but at a price. Jenna, a business owner, loves the bustling streets of Manhattan. Creed, a military veteran with a hero’s past, finds refuge in small-town living.

When Jenna learns her father led a secret life, her world turns upside down, and she suspects Creed knows more than he’s telling.

As the truth about her father emerges, Jenna faces the secrets hidden in her own heart and must choose: a life of high heels and high rises or a meandering bayou with the man she now loves.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Janis Jakes is an author of multiple contemporary and historical inspirational romances with an emphasis on courageous men, strong women, Texas sunsets, and happily ever after.

More from Janis

Texas is known for its vastness and cities like Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. While those cities are great, there’s something about a small Texas town that stirs the heart and evokes a sense of community.

When I wrote Blue Jean Bayou, I wanted Shelton’s Cove to be one of those small towns that every reader would want to visit—where they’d find hundred-year-old farmhouses, wooden bridges that clack under the weight of vehicles, country diners where chicken-fried steak is standard fare, and salt-of-the-earth folks who look after their neighbors.

I also wanted characters who embody the Texas nature I know so well: brave men with strong faith and a staunch work ethic, and women who face life’s unexpected twists and turns with strength.

My ultimate hope is that readers get a true sense of the town and enjoy meeting the characters who call Shelton’s Cove home. This is Book 1 of the three-book Small Town Texas Series.

A little backstory nugget: The café in Blue Jean Bayou is named Myrtle’s Café after my late grandmother. She could cook like no one’s business—her meringue is legendary!—so it only seemed right to give the café her namesake.

MY REVIEW

Sometimes a book comes along that makes you think about your own life. Do we miss God’s direction for us ? I’m sure I do all the time. I make hasty decisions and miss where God wanted to plant me. Jenna reminds me of that person who thinks she is happy in her life but God shows her where she was always suppose to be.

Going back to take care of her father’s affairs she sees the quiet beauty that surrounds the cabin he called home. The small town is welcoming and a certain dog brings her a sense of belonging. I loved getting to know Jenna and see her heart for a quieter life where she can find true happiness.

Creed loves the town and has always wanted to stay. He knows there are opportunities for him out there, but his heart is grounded where he is. Meeting Jenna opens his eyes to what could be more than just friends. I like how he is attentive to her memories of her dad as he shares some of his own.

The story is such a sweet reminder that being successful doesn’t always equal happiness. As Jenna and her siblings gather to say goodbye to their father they discover a secret that opens them up to search for forgiveness. I enjoyed how they each handled this new development in a graceful way. Will Jenna and Creed realize they belong together? Can a small town attract someone to uproot their success and believe in love?

“Sometimes our paths take turns we weren’t expecting, but they lead us exactly where we’re suppose to be.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.