I have been plugging Sandra Hill through my reviews of Christine Feehan's novels so I thought I should review another one of her novels. I have previously reviewed her newest novel Blue Viking. Sandra Hill has a terrific line of Viking romances some of which are time travel some of which are not but Love Potion is not one of them. Sandra also has a fondness for Cajuns. Love Potion features one "bad boy from the bayou" and one "uppity Creole" who come together and spark.

The storyline is that Lucien LeDuex comes from the wrong side of the bayou and since his childhood has been living down to everyone expectations. He comes from a poor background with a drunk for a father who sometimes got violent. However Luc manage to make something of himself. He is a lawyer, labeled the "Swamp Solicitor," he takes on every case that other lawyers avoid. Those small men against big bad companies type. Since their childhood he has teased Sylvie Fontaine, the Creole girl whose family is prestigous and blessed with more money then ought to be legal. They have always hated one another, so it seems. He hates her for being so "uppity" and she hates him for calling attention to her since she is very shy. Sylvie feels that she has let her family down. All the women in her family have achieved some great station whether it be in politics or business. Sylvie is simply a chemist, a chemist who has invented a love potion which she put in Jelly Beans.

Luc needs Sylvie's help in a case he is working on. His brother believes that the oil companies are polluting the bayou killing the shrimp. Luc needs Sylvie's expertise to test the water samples for evidence. While he is in her lab, he eats the Jelly Beans with the love potion--that is keyed specifically to Sylvie. Then news about his lawsuit against the oil company leaks out and news about her love potion leaks out to the press. This makes everyone including there own families out to get them. Wether it be by shooting at them or by trying to commit them to a mental hospital. They need to get away--so they take off to his isolated Cajun-style cabin in the bayou. They spend two days falling in love--or is it just the love potion.

Sandra Hill's style is wonderful. She is witty and funny--I always find myself laughing out loud while reading her novels. Her plots are fairly involved and interesting. Her pacing is great and her writing easy to read. Her characters are great as well. Sylvie is a well-mannered intelligence chemist that is hindered by her mother's expectations and her own extreme shyness. Her character develops quite nicely throughout the novel as does Lucien--your typical rogue--although when the times get tough he is above and beyond typical. This sexy Cajun will steal your heart away with his manner and accent. I think she is one of the best romance novelist around.



Recommended: Yes