Fun modern take on the fairy-tale "The Frog Prince." Craig is a high-powered New Orleans attorney on a working vacation in Bayou Miste. He spends part of his time helping out at his Uncle Joe's marina and bait shop, part of it recruiting a new client for the family law firm, and the rest indulging in his playboy ways. That is until he messes with the wrong girl and her voodoo queen granny puts a curse on him. Now Craig is a little green frog by day and a man by night, with just two weeks to find a woman who can love him and break the spell.

Elaine is a New Orleans scientist who receives an anonymous sample of contaminated bayou water from Bayou Miste. Ready for a break from the lab and her cheating ex-fiancé, she and her trusty microscope head for the bayou to figure out what is causing the contamination. She needs to gather specimens but is terrified of water, which is where Craig comes in. Uncle Joe asks Craig to take Elaine to get what she needs.

I loved the development of the relationship between Craig and Elaine. Their first meeting was hilarious, as Craig had just transformed back to a man from a frog - and frogs don't wear clothes. To say that Elaine got an eye-full would be putting it mildly and roused unfamiliar feelings in her. Just being around Craig short-circuits her brain and turns the ordinarily cool and articulate scientist tongue-tied and clumsy. While Craig may be an insensitive jerk to women at times, he's never deliberately cruel, and when he sees Elaine's genuine fear of the water, he comes through like a champ. I loved his care and understanding as he helped her into the boat and on their journey to the site of the dead fish. Craig's reactions to Elaine surprised him since she isn't his usual type. Craig earned extra points from me when he decided against making her fall in love with him because he didn't want her to get hurt.

The sparks that flew between Craig and Elaine were undeniable. Though determined to do the right thing and leave her alone, Craig found it impossible not to give in to those sparks. The more time they spend together, the more she gets under his skin. Elaine is well aware of his reputation and knows she should stay away from him, but she can't help being drawn to him. With Craig's help, Elaine overcomes her fears and blossoms under his attentions. When Elaine's insecurities make her question her actions, two new friends step up to help her fight for her man. I loved the makeover section and the effect it had on Craig. I loved seeing the commitment-phobic Craig experience changes in his outlook but still worry about hurting Elaine. In the end, danger opens their eyes to their true feelings, and love's true kiss comes through to break the spell.

The mystery of the contaminated bayou water was well done. Elaine's determination to uncover the truth put her and Craig in unexpected danger when one of their trips ran into opposition. If not for Craig's knowledge of the bayou waterways, Elaine's research might have come to an unfortunate end. Craig feared for Elaine's safety when her house was ransacked and her research stolen. I thought I had it all figured out when Elaine found out the only business likely responsible. But an unexpected twist put her in mortal danger. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I was glued to the pages until it was all over.

I had a lot of fun watching Craig's antics as both man and frog. I laughed at his encounter with the voodoo queen and his skepticism about the curse - until he woke up as a frog. His descriptions of the world from a frog's-eye view were vivid, and I felt like I was right there with him. I liked his determination to watch over Elaine, even as a frog, and how he got Dawg to help him. Who would have expected a dog to have a pet bullfrog, right? Craig also tended to get caught in awkward places when it was time to transform from frog to man, leaving him "exposed." When in man-form, Craig had to deal with too-helpful friends, old girlfriends showing up at awkward times, and nosy neighbors seeing far too much.

The secondary characters were almost as great as Elaine and Craig. Craig's Uncle Joe had far too much fun giving him a hard time about being a frog, but he also was there when Craig needed him. Nosy neighbor Mozelle had a big heart, and I loved seeing her take Elaine under her wing. When Mozelle and the hairdresser, Josie, set out to help Elaine, she didn't know what hit her. Craig's friends Mo and Larry had me a little confused at first since they helped the voodoo queen and tried to help Craig break the curse.

I've been a fan of Elle James's romantic suspense books for a long time, so when I stumbled across this very different offering, I couldn't wait to read it. I was not disappointed! ( )

Reviewed by: Robin
Book provided by: book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

I am delighted to know that this is the first in what looks to be a rather fun series. Just the idea of the magic of the bayou, Cajun folklore, frog princes or in this case frog lawyers, intrigue (to a point), and nerdy female scientist in a bad need of a makeover. This is a story with a twist or rather a cross between ‘The Frog Prince’ and the movie ‘Shrek’.

When I first read the line… “By day a frog, by night a man, ‘til de next full moon…” I have to admit I thought of Shrek as I had just watched it recently on TV. Also a big fan of Disney I had just seen the ‘Princess and the Frog’ also. So how do you want to know do you mix the two? Easy you have Ms. Elle James write Voodoo on the Bayou. It is a contemporary take on a classic fairytale.

Craig Thibodeaux a lawyer in New Orleans has been coming to Bayou Miste to spend the summers with his Uncle is in town for business. That is until this womanizer (who wants no commitment from anyone) ends up crossing the paths of the wrong girl. After spurning the unwanted advances of said girl she runs to her grand maw who just so happens to be Voodoo Queen Madame LeBieu. So that is where we find ourselves or should I say Craig as he is tied to a tree in the Bayou while he listen as Madame LeBieu puts a ‘Gree-Gree’/curse for non- Cajun’s on him. What is this extremely hot man to do? With the help of bayou magic Elaine Smith, a scientist in New Orleans receives an anonymous sample of the Bayou Miste water and heads down there as she needs a break from the lab and her cheating ex fiancé. When first Elaine encounters Craig he is, shall we shall in his full glory as he has just changed from frog to man. She is of course quite attracted to him. Who wouldn’t be? A handsome man/frog right up her alley… the one is anyway.

Ms. James had such a warm way of bringing this classic fairytale into the modern world. The characters were so warm and real I even enjoyed the secondary characters almost more than Craig and Elaine. The way she wrote the dialect put you write in the center of the bayou where you could imagine the local people out there frogging for a living. With the moss hanging and the alligators swimming, she actually brought the bayou to life. Even Madame LeBieu who is a legend was real. Making her someone’s grand maw made her a fierce and loving person one not to be reckoned with.

Elaine has her own transformation as she tries to solve the contamination of the bayou along with the feelings for Craig. She is helped along by some locals by changing from nerdy scientist to sexy woman. As the ever elusive Craig changes from frog to man to frog he finds himself falling fast for Elaine. Can she be the one to break this voodoo curse?

I loved the quirkiness of the people of the bayou. The warmth and loyalty of the characters made each person seem more real as if they were your neighbors. I could visualize the bayou, from the dumping of toxic waste to the frogs and alligators from the descriptions. Even the people, the buildings, the boats, the bar, the salon it was as if I were there. Such a fun infectious story that captures you and won’t let you go even at the end. I can’t wait for the next story of the Cajun Magic Series…I hope we get to follow Uncle Joe’s story. ( )

Voodoo on the Bayou by Elle James starts off with one of the most implausible hooks, but once you get past that, it moves along at a good pace. The reason behind the voodoo curse is never really explained, or at least, the way it is explained makes absolutely no sense. Furthermore, the reason Craig’s so-called friends go along with it is never explained either. But, once you move past that and just accept that the curse is reality, the fun begins.

With Craig in frog form all day, he gets to stealthily observe his lady Elaine. Elaine is a scientist whose own romance recently went off the rails. She’s not interested in a happily ever after or any “fun” on the side as she tries to figure out what is poisoning the bayou. Craig, on the other hand, is in desperate need for someone, anyone, to fall in love with him in the next two weeks. Without it, he’ll be stuck as a frog for the rest of his life.

Add one bad guy, one loyal dog, two ridiculously silly friends, and boil it all up for a fun story. Sadly, the fun is mixed with some really bad mojo. The characters are a bit too stereotypical – everyone from the Voodoo Priestess to Lisa the tramp. The slimy bad guy? Yeah, he’s so obvious the flies had a field day with him. Need a mouthy neighborhood gossip? She’s right here. Even Elaine is your stereotypical “can’t see the forest for the trees” scientist.

RATING: 2

Heat Rating: Mild

REVIEWED BY: Monique Neaves, My Book Addiction Reviews ( )