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 helps you to write? Do you eat snacks, listen to music?

Rain always helps me write. I have no idea why, but as soon as the skies start to change color and I smell rain in the air, I want to find a keyboard. Unfortunately, I live in West Texas, where we’re often faced with a drought, so I can’t wait for rain to write. I find other ways instead, such as a quiet room and instrumental worship music.

What is your favorite hymn and why?

One of my favorite hymns is “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.” God has used this hymn in my life on two occasions to minister encouragement during times of sorrow. The hymn is based on Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV): “The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms…” The hymn always brings a sense of joy and a tender reminder of the Lord’s faithfulness.

What is one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you?

Probably that I have six children and 12 grandchildren. I had twin sons and a daughter when I met my husband. He brought two boys into the marriage before we adopted a baby girl from China. She’s in her twenties today and a beautiful soul. We’re proud of them all.

What inspired you to write this book?

The Piney Woods of East Texas inspired me to write Blue Jean Bayou. It’s been years since I spent much time in East Texas (I’m a West Texan… cacti, chips and salsa, Mesquite trees). East Texas is beautiful country, and I wanted to create a story around the bayous. Creed fit in naturally. Jenna, not so much. That made the conflict all the more interesting and her final decision all the more difficult.

Share with me a few of your favorite things?

I’ll forever love a beautiful sunset, the changing of leaves in Colorado, the sound of ocean waves lapping against the sand, and gooey cookies fresh out of the oven. (I do get in my daily steps, but have a sweet tooth!) While my husband isn’t a thing, he’s definitely on my favorite’s list and has been a great encourager in my writing.