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.

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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.

Interview with Janis

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? That characters don’t always do what you expect. My daughter-in-law laughed at me when I told her that I was nearing the end of writing a suspense novel and I wasn’t sure who the villain was yet, but I was worried it might be one of the characters I really liked. I laughed along with her, but looking back, I think that’s probably a good sign. That means the characters have come to life, so to speak.

What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book? Where do I want to begin, and where do I want to end? What is the faith message the Lord wants the reader to take away? What changes need to take place in the hearts of the characters? I’ve learned that even though I think I know the answers to these questions and others, I’m not always right. I have to pray and trust that God is in the process, and allow room for the Lord’s leading.

What was the best money you spent as a writer? Attending writer conferences. That’s where I first learned of my publisher and reached out with a proposal. It was also at a writer’s conference where I paid a small fee to have my work critiqued by a more experienced writer. She offered great insight and showed me where I needed improvement. I’m so very thankful I listened to what she said. Her input helped me become published.

Why do you write in your particular genre? I love this question! I had articles, devotionals, and short stories published before I ever wrote a romance novel. The reason I enjoy this genre is that it allows me to minister to women. My hope is that the characters I write about, and the challenges they overcome, will encourage other women in their faith. Blue Jean Bayou is my first contemporary romance. My other published novels have been inspirational historical western romance. All of the stories involve strong women who face obstacles with courage and resilience.

What was your favorite childhood book and why? My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. It’s about a young boy’s adventures in survival while alone in the Catskill Mountains. Every day at a certain time, our elementary school teacher would pull up a stool, sit in front of the class, open the book, and read us several pages. I do believe that’s the time I fell in love with books.