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 the Author

What does success as an author look like to you?

As an author, success means bringing characters and stories to life in a way that is relatable and encourages readers to persevere in the faith. If I’ve honored God in that way, then I feel successful.

Which character did you connect to best in this book?

I related most to Jenna—a woman who often hides herself in her work without knowing (or even caring to examine) why. It’s easy to feel as if you’re doing something productive and even good when you stay busy, as if everything is fine, rather than address the hard issues in your past. It was cathartic for me to take the discovery journey with Jenna. God doesn’t bring you into a situation without walking you through it.

Which part of the book was the most difficult to write?

The most difficult part of the book was writing about the more subtle, but still raw, edges of Creed’s PTSD. I wanted readers to see him as someone strong and brave, facing the past through the lens of his faith, while also showing the vulnerability of someone who’d seen firsthand the tragedy of war and still dealt with the scars.

What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

My favorite Bible passage at this season in my life:

Psalm 121:1-2 (NKJV):

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

It’s a reminder that I serve a great and mighty Creator who still hears me when I call to Him—omnipresent and omniscient yet ever so personal and always aware of my needful state.

If you could have one book or piece of art or music on a deserted island, what would it be and why?

One of our four sons joined the military, and before he left for Basic Training, my husband noticed he’d packed three Bibles in his suitcase. Since it was a stressful time for a young man barely out of high school, we assumed he wanted to be extra sure He had the Lord with him. Admittedly, we had a chuckle at his expense. As it turned out, he said it was so he could share with others. He knew the same thing I know. The Word of God sustains you like nothing else. That’s why the obvious answer is also the right answer. If I could have but one book, it would be my Bible.