Bayou Christmas Elves

Miss Fortune World: Bayou Cozy Romantic Thrills #16

by Riley Blake

The 16th installment in the Bayou Cozy Romantic Thrills Series set in the Miss Fortune universe, Bayou Christmas Elves is currently available at all retailers. If you don't see this novella listed on the author's book page, visit @RileyBlakeBooks at X (formerly known as Twitter) for a direct link.

About Bayou Christmas Elves

When Gloria Hollowman and Elle Daigle are kidnapped, Deputy Carter LeBlanc fears there's more to the abduction than meets the eye, but he doesn't realize what he stands to lose until Fortune is taken from her home. With Swamp Team 3 one member down, Ida Belle and Gertie turn to their friends in low places. And Big and Little Hebert surprise everyone with a Christmas to remember.

76 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2023

About the author

Published for over 20 years in a number of fiction genres, Riley Blake is one pseudonym for a multi-published bestselling author. Riley and her husband currently live in Nashville, Tennessee where they enjoy supporting the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Sounds. When Riley isn't writing, she is typically found on the farm watching over her rescue animals. She also enjoys reading thrillers and baking for her friends and family.

*Please note: In recent months, someone began publishing under the same pen name as Riley Blake. Riley only writes suspense, Christian suspense, cozy mystery, and thrillers. She has been writing under Riley Blake since the Kindle Worlds era (for over a decade). She does not have any artistic endeavors to publish children's books or picture books, now or in the future.

Reviews

[Joy York · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read by Ms. Blake, and also my first experience with fanfiction. I must admit not having read Jana DeLeon’s cozy mystery series, Miss Fortune’s World, I jumped into the deep end and had to gain a little context so I would get the full experience. It really didn’t matter, because I was able to get into the story and catch up quickly.

Fortune is an ex-CIA agent who now lives in the small town of Sinful in the Louisiana bayou. A few days before Christmas, three young teenagers suddenly disappear and appear to have been kidnapped, one of who is the granddaughter of a famous mobster. Miss. Fortune, her detective boyfriend Carter, and her friends immediately try to retrace the girls’ movements, leading them to a store that has been burglarized. The next thing she knows, Fortune is abducted too.

This is a fast-paced mystery with plenty of action, suspense, and quirky but lovable characters. I enjoy the way this close-net community comes together to take care of their own. The message is perfect for the holiday season. This is an entertaining, light-hearted yet suspenseful cozy mystery.

[Mary Heron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usually enjoy these little slices of fan fiction but ...........sorry found.this.one.just terrible. The whole.premise for the story just struck me as wrong. A single father with eight children wants to.give his kids.a.special.Christmas celebration so what does he do?. Kidnaps three teenage girls.to.clean and decorate his.dump of a house. One.of these girl.just so happens to be Ellie Daigle so panic quickly ensues to get her back before her family finds out. Then for reasons never quite clear he kidnaps Fortune as well, what she finds is a disaster of epic.proportions. The reason Mike wants to give his children such a special.Christmas is because he's accidentally killed their mother (and the body's decomposing in her bedroom. I kid you not, the story gets even worse from here.....

[Starla · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an ending!

This was such a heartfelt story in many ways. The story of course had a cozy mystery and wasn't a traditional heartfelt story but by the ending you definitely feel that way. Loved it especially how Christmas can bring out the best in those you would not expect it to.

[Garnet Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to turn a bad situation into a priceless event

Fortune, Elle and Gloria get kidnapped in order for a dad (who is not qualified to be citizen of the year) to provide his kids with a Christmas to remember. Things don't work out the way he wanted but Big and Little Hebert come to the rescue and truly provide the kids a magical and unforgetable Christmas.

[stephanie huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and fun

[Eileen Gernet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

Feel good CHRISTMAS story. You can't beat the Christmas spirit for a group of worthy kids. Well worth the time to read.