I’m not quite sure what I was expecting from this book, but it was not what I just read… I think some people would describe it as urban fantasy which is not normally a go to thing for me but this… Well.. I loved it!!!! Slow to begin with, but then once it built up it was fantasic. I devoured it in a day.

I liked Luce. She was honest with us, her feelings were there, she was passionate about her job as a police officer. Her chemistry with her partner, Rixton, her best friend, Maggie and her dad is real. You really feel her connection with all of them. As for her chemistry with Cole? It’s instant. It bounces off the page.

I liked all of the other characters. Cole, Thom, Portia, Miller, Santiago and the ones already mentioned are fantastic. The banter between Luce and Rixton made me laugh in places. The links between Luce and Cole, Thom, Portia, Miller, and Santiago were unexpected but she connected with them all instantly and you feel that she will rely on those links with them.

Now. When Cole is introduced I thought to myself, and I’m being serious with this, I thought “Hmm…. I think he’s going to be a werewolf…” I don’t know why I had that thought, except that Cole is described as “Growling” many times which made me think wild animal… Oh, he’s a wild animal… I don’t want to give it away as it’s sort of the twist in the book… I most definitely was not expecting the animal that I got. But, it all works.

The story flowed brilliantly and the writing style really gripped me. As I said before, it was slow to begin with but I didn’t mind. I liked getting to know Luce and her life. I liked this book that much, as soon as I finished it I moved on to book 2, Bone Driven, which something I rarely do.

I highly recommend this book if you’re wanting something to surprise you. This definitely surprised me, in a good way.

I started reading this book expecting a Southern cop thriller, so was very surprised when it turned into a fantasy tale with demons!
This certainly intriguied me and I can't wait for more in the series.

If I'm being honest, I've been equally excited and scared to read this book. Excited, because I love Hailey Edwards's books and writing style; scared for the exact same reason. But I finally sat down and read it and let me tell you, I had a ton of fun.

Bayou Born is the story if Luce Boudrou, a young woman who has no memories of her life before being found in the swamp. She followed in her adoptive father's footsteps and became a cop and is currently investigating what seems to be a regular missing persons case. I've always been a fan of the marriage between urban fantasy and procedural drama, so I was sure I was going to enjoy this book, I just wasn't emotionally prepared for where this story would go.

Luce is a mystery. She has no memories of the first 11 years of her life, there seems to be something completely off about the anniversary of the day she was found, and there's something about the way she talks about herself that makes me think she's two people at once. I loved her for that. On the one hand she's the loving daughter of a cop, and a devoted cop herself, on the other hand she has moments when she seems... sort of on edge. I don't want to say evil, because that's not the vibe I was getting, but almost there. She's trying to solve the mystery of who she really is, where she comes from, and this new case might just provide the answers she's looking for. I loved the relationship she had with her dad. Their interactions were so cute and heartwarming and I loved every scene with them.

There was also a sense of fragility about Luce. For as much as a bad ass that she is, she's also very fragile and very human, which is kind of ironic once you find out more about who she is and why she ended up in that swamp as a child. I hated the way people treated her, from some of her fellow officers to so-called journalists to people who made an oath to protect other people, and I wanted to punch a few characters. Thankfully there were enough people that loved her enough to do the punching for me, which made me very happy.

I will admit that for a while there I was confused about some characters, namely Cole and his friends. We meet Cole and his friends early on in the book, and they are a mystery that confused me for a while. And then something very unexpected happened and my jaw hit the floor and stayed there for the rest of the book. THAT I did not expect! I'm curious to learn about everyone's stories and I'm curious to see how Luce will try to make sense of things in the upcoming novels.

The writing style was familiar but also new. In a way, this book seemed completely different than what I've read so far by Edwards, yet in a way I also recognized the writing style. The author combined humor and drama very, very well, and I loved every second of reading it. The pace also fits the mystery and drama of the story, and while the book is pretty fast paced, there are also slower moments that heightened some of the inner struggle that Luce has to go through. The ending surprised me more than anything, because I seriously don't know where this story is going. I have no theories that seem even remotely possible, so I literally don't know what to expect, which is the greatest feeling ever.

All in all, I really enjoyed this start of the Foundling series and I am very, very excited to read the rest of the series.

I love all things PNR and UF, and I often have trouble identifying the line between the two genres when a series contains romantic elements, especially when the UF story results in a HEA.  While it's too early in the Foundling series to know whether I will get that HEA, I'm certainly keeping my fingers crossed.

Bayou Born is an exciting new entry into the UF genre.  I haven't been as excited about a UF series since I was first introduced to the Mercy Thompson series.  Bayou Born presents reader with a world and magical characters unlike anything else I have ever read.  There are no shifters or vampires here, not that there is anything wrong with either of those.   You would pry my shifter books out of my cold dead hands, but it was nice to read something so unique.  I won't give any spoilers here, as the discovery of exactly what Luce and the men from White House Security are is an integral part of the story.  My only complaint is that we find out so late in book 1 that I felt like I just had a grasp on the world we were being presented with when the book ended which resulted in months of pining for book 2.



Stay tuned for my review of Bone Driven.

An intriguing and unique take on a story that pits demons against humanity in a battle for supremacy!
Recommended.

Another new series by Hailey Edwards and one of the absolute best! Luce was found as a child in the swamps as a “wild child” and adopted by one of the police officers that rescued her. She had no memories, no one that stepped forward to claim a missing child and she was covered in mysterious markings that no one could explain. As an adult Luce joined the police force and works hard to prove herself despite her odd beginnings.

When a missing person’s case introduces her to Cole and his team she is unsure what is different about them. She wants to hate Cole but she is inexplicitly drawn to him and he seems to be following her. When a Jane Doe appears that may have answers to her past, Luce is more determined than ever to protect Jane at all costs and get the answers she’s craved her entire life.

If you are looking for a story that is full of surprises and leaves you guessing until the end this is it!

As anyone who knows me at all knows, I am a huge fan of Hailey Edwards and of her Black Dog books so I went into this book a little hesitant seeing as it was a non- Back Dog books, I was confident in the authors skills to pull off a great read but wary of the new subject matter. Of course as it turned out I needed have worried at all as while this book was a bit of slow-burn by the end it was thrilling and exciting read, with a new wonderful world of characters and the most mind-blowing twist I didn't see coming (no more on that as I don't want to spoil it for anyone else wanting to read this of course).

Bayou Born in written in typical Edwards style and the world and the character contained in that world were as realistic and charismatic as the always are. Another brilliant and wonderful considered book from one of my favourite authors...... who more people should be reading in my humble opinion!!

I thought this was a great start to a really great story. looking forward to the next book.

Good beginning, a middle that's a little bit wobbly, and again a very good end.

I could have done without the instalust and all its physical appearance, I honestly found it irritating, like a water drop falling constantly from a kitchen tap. In itself nothing really problematic, but on the long run it might bring you to the wall :)
(I have yet to meet such a woman or man that gets immediately physically aroused on sight. I do apologize but I also find it .. stupid. We are way more than bodies.. )

If not for this mildy annoying dripping sound in the background, :) I would have liked this book much more. But in the first half I had a few problems in believing a woman with her past and her experiences could be this trusting (well, kind of) and the immediate lust for a guy didn't help. It was a very good plot point (at the end you get it), but maybe with a different timing and execution.

Overall a fresh take on UF world and a heroine that's so not a special snowflake it is almost unbelievable. Yeah, bonus points! :)
I had to stop reading midway for personal reasons, but the book resonated with me long enough. I did start again yesterday, but for the pleasure of it. I did remember the story very well.

The plot ends mostly with the book, but there's a very definite story arch, so you won't get all the answers.

For some reason I just couldn't click with Bayou Born, I DNF'd it at 30%, that being said I could see what would attract other readers to the series.

Luce is a strong female character who can look after herself whilst coming from a mysterious background, at times this background was confusing to understand though I'm sure all is revealed by the end of the book.

There is an alpha male character in the book that is perfect for readers who are into that but I found it quite hard to read with the constant following and not letting Luce try to look after herself.

The world was interesting, I enjoy detective stories mixed with supernatural elements and that aspect made the parts that I did read enjoyable.

I would recommend this book for someone who is more into their urban fantasies with alpha male characters.

*ARC received from netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Having just discovered this author with this book, I've since gone out and gotten all of her work, and I'm entranced with them all! This author is a wonderful addition to anyone's library of urban fantasy/paranormal!

Fifteen years ago a police officer in Canton Mississippi found a young girl in the bayou. Marked with strange metal brandings, she is almost totally feral. Investigations reveal nothing of who she is and how she came to be there. Hating the way she is treated Edward Boudrou adopts her. Luce eventually follows him into law enforcement. When searching for a missing child out on the bayou she finds another child with the selfsame markings. Luce wants answers and to protect the girl from invasive investigations but in the desire to find answers to her own early years she becomes involved in things she could never have imagined.

I thought this book sounded interesting. I find reviewing it a bit difficult though. On one hand it was different. This particular area of fantasy was new to me. On the other hand at times I was reminded of the 'Twilight' saga- maybe it was Luce's rather teenage reactions to Cole! This was an irritant.

On the whole the characters were engaging. I loved the occasional sparks of humour. Will I follow the series now I know what it is all about? That I'm not sure about. I may just leave it as a standalone read. Others may get hooked. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

I have never read a Hailey Edwards book before, but this won't be my last one. It has great writing, exciting world building, compelling characters, lots of mysteries and tension between the love interests. The author did a great job and I will definitely be back for more.

It took me a little while to get into this book. It starts off a little slow and I wasn’t really sure where Hailey Edwards was going with it. And then I met Cole. Which, for me, is where the story really started to get interesting. Then it got more interesting. And more interesting. And by the end, I was ready to stalk the author on Twitter and beg for the next installment.

The story takes place in Canton, Mississippi. I have actually lived right outside of Canton and it was fun to get a few shout-outs to places that were a little familiar. However, it did not feel like the Canton I knew. For what it’s worth, the whole bayou southern feel was never one I got from living there. But this is fiction, so I just tucked that away and refused to let it interrupt my suspension of disbelief.

Anyway, the story centers on Luce, a 25-year-old cop with an unusual history. She was discovered in the bayou at 15 years old. No one knew who she was, herself included. She was a wild child. And oddity. And even 10 years later, she is treated a bit like a sideshow freak. She has unusual metal bands on her arms which cannot be permanently removed and she gets strange cryptic calls every year on her birthday from a mysterious man who manages to get through to her even without a working phone line. Her adoptive father is wonderful, but she has 1 million questions about who she is and where she came from. So when another woman appears in the same swamp with the same markings, Luce is all about trying to make a connection.

I really don’t want to give too much away. The unwrapping of the story is part of what makes it so awesome. But I will say that Cole is part of a security force that helps Luce rescue the mystery woman and ultimately protect her. He is big and gruff and his dynamic with Luce is fantastic. It wasn’t until the book was over that I realized there were actually no love scenes between them, but Edwards did such a fantastic job building the tension and pull between them that I still felt blazing heat.

There was a great mystery. That there is lots of action. There are fabulous side characters. I want to know more about Thom and Matthew… and of course Ezra. I know you have absolutely no idea who these people are, but that is why you need to go read the book.

One of the things I really like is how different this book. It’s paranormal, yes, but this is not vampires and werewolves. It’s creative and fascinating. The writing just has this way of creeping up on you and wrapping tendrils around you so that you are completely ensnared before you even realize it.

Again, it starts off slow. But if this review intrigues you at all, give the book to try and stick with it. You’ll eventually see what it is that is making me rave.

Sorry to be so cryptic. I just don’t want to spoil the fun for you. Would definitely recommend.

Rating: B+/A-

This is the first book I have read by Hailey Edwards, and I'm sure it will definitely not be the last!

When I started this book, I thought maybe Luce would have been a young girl lost from a remote village, but reading on and on it was gripping! The mystery that she was in fact something other worldly held my attention for so long, I refused to put my kindle down until I had finished chapter by chapter.

It's a shame we don't hear Millers story, maybe there will be a follow up? It would be great to have a description of Conquest, when she finally shows herself!

I hope Cole and Luce can compromise what has happened before, along similar lines to Luce and Santiago.

Portia's power is an amazing power to behold. The fact she can heal a host whilst sharing its body resembles a miracle.

I hope there is a sequel to this book as it has held my attention and I really want to hear bout the others!

Thom was such a quiet character and I would love to hear exactly what happened to him before. Now I wish I had a flying cat!

This was such an amazing book and I hope to read more from Hailey!

😁😁

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

wow well i wasnt expecting that...totally blew my mind away...not a book i would normally chose to read...no spoilers sorry, there i was thinking it was a murder/mystery and it went totally the other way, paranormal it is then

but it was better than i could even imagine...looking forward to the next in the series

Review will post week of release date. Link will be added after review posts.

Earlier this month I read a book by Hailey Edwards that stopped my Harvey book funk in its tracks. I enjoyed it so much I started looking for anything else by this author I could get my hands on. Bayou Born, the first book in her Foundling series, popped up on Goodreads as releasing in October.

Summary:

Her beginning may be our end . . .
Deep in the humid Mississippi bayou, a half-wild child is dragged from the murky waters. She has no memories, no family and is covered in mysterious markings. Adopted by the policeman who rescued her, Luce Boudreau follows him onto the force, determined to prove herself in the eyes of those who are still suspicious.
However, there’s more of a battle ahead than Luce could possibly imagine. She may be an orphan without a past, but no one – including Luce herself – could ever be prepared for the truth of her dark, powerful destiny.
Brand new urban fantasy series by Hailey Edwards, bestselling author of the Gemini and Black Dog series. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Estep, Darynda Jones and Ilona Andrews.

Luce is a police officer in Canton, Mississippi and as the first few chapters unfold readers are introduced to her and learn certain mysterious details of her backstory. She was discovered in the swampy bayou when she was eleven years old; Naked, covered in strange metallic markings, and with complete amnesia. After spending a considerable amount of time in the hospital being poked, prodded and the subject of intense scrutiny, she was adopted by the police officer who rescued her and raised in a loving home. Now it is fifteen years later and she still has no idea of her life before, but she has a small support system that includes her dad, his partner and wife, per partner Rixton and his wife, and her best friend. She also has a phone call she looks forward to every year on her birthday (her found day) from a man who she knows nothing about other than that his name is Ezra.

Luce and Rixton are currently working on a missing persons case involving a young woman, Angel Claremont. When a body is found in the bayou they are called in to investigate and quickly realize this woman isn’t Angel, but she might be the key to Luce finally getting some answers about her past. Jane Doe is covered in the same strange markings as Luce and in almost an identical situation. On scene Luce also meets the members of White Horse Security. They have been hired by Angel’s family to locate the young woman, and end up helping the police rescue the mysterious woman in the water. What Luce doesn’t know is that they, along with the owner and head of the company Cole Heaton, are integral to the investigations of both women and Luce finally finding out who she is and where she comes from.

Bayou Born starts off a bit slow, it almost reads more like a mystery/suspense rather than a fantasy up until about the 50% mark. I mean I knew something was up and all kinds of weirdness was about to unleash, I just wasn’t sure what or when. I was kind of expecting some voodoo, witchiness to come into play, but NOPE. I really had no idea where this book was going until it actually got there. Seriously, no idea. Which is was nice actually. I’ve struggled with this review because I kind of feel like this is one of those books where the reader should go in completely spoiler free. Bayou Born begins with a mystery, then kind of morphs into another mystery and I spent the entire book trying to not only figure out what was up with the missing women, but who was Jane Doe and what did she have to do with Luce, and how did White Horse and Cole figure into Luce’s history. When all those mysteries started to unravel and a clear picture of the truth weave itself together I was totally surprised. I think you will be too. And this is one of those first books in a series where you just know things will only get more intricate and interesting as the series evolves.

Which is why I’m going to end my review here and just tell you guys to add Bayou Born to  your TBR stack. Interesting world building, intriguing characters and an ending that leaves so many questions that I’m already looking forward to book two. Hailey Edwards is fast becoming an auto-by author for me. Final Grade- B

Favorite Quote:
“Beauty is a reflection on the genetic soup we got served. It says nothing about your character or personality. Pretty is just that. Pretty. Substance is what matters. Clichéd as it sounds, it really is what’s inside that counts.” I unbuckled my seatbelt. “As long as what’s inside isn’t me in your belly, we’re cool.”

Holy wow, this was fun. Not only is the world-building top notch (just so you know, I say that often about HE's books because she's a FANTASTIC world-builder), but the revelations of who Luce is and how she ended up in the swamp as a child made me positively giddy. GIDDY. Like, I can't stop thinking about how things are going to play out because there's a whole lot of crazy going on here and Luce's life has taken a turn she couldn't have expected.

There's so much I want to discuss, but I feel like anything I mention will ruin the surprises. So I'm going to go with some intentionally vague things... I've always been a sucker for a big, growly guy who just can't keep his nose out of people's business. The mystery behind Cole's past and his dedication to the cause are things I'm looking forward to uncovering. The rest of the crew is equally intriguing. In a different way, of course, but I like the group dynamic. I like that there's still a lot we don't know about them.

As for Luce, sometimes the truth can be a good thing and sometimes it can completely turn your life upside down. I think knowledge is strength in this case because once she's aware, she can guard against those trying to come against her. Still, WOW. I can't imagine she saw this particular truth coming no matter how far she pushed her imagination.

Fantastic characters, fantastic world-building, and some truly terrible bad guys. I seriously can't wait to see where the next book will take us.

Amazing new read from Hailey Edwards. Bayou Born draws you into the world right from the beginning and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Fast paced, and intriguing, can't wait for the next book.

I have read all of Hailey Edwards books and am a big fan. This book proves why. The storytelling is excellent. The storyline is brilliant. I absolutely loved this book.
I don't want to give any details away but I can tell you this, Luce Boudreau appears in a swamp aged approximately 10 years old. No name, no identification, no memory at all. She has strange markings on her body that no one can identify or explain. Years later when another turns up like her and people start to go missing, police woman, Luce, is desperate to find out more.
Amazing fantasy book that definitely ranks as one of Hailey's best!