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The Bayou Never Tells
The only thing darker than the waters of the Louisiana bayou are the secrets it holds. I’d know—I’ve buried more than a few myself.
She was supposed to be one of them.
I was the boy who never had a chance, an orphan recruited by the devil himself, until the family I never knew gave me something to live for.
Then my brother brought her home—the rich politician’s daughter, a real-life fairytale princess who had no place in our world. We were oil and water, and making her leave became my mission, ’til the little tag-along ended up in my passenger’s seat driving cross-country. That’s when we discovered a common thread… something that ran soul deep. Something hard to resist.
But no one I cared about was safe, and when she left, I made her promise never to come back.
Turns out, she lied.
Now the devil who claimed my future wants her, as well, and when I’m faced with a choice, who will come out alive?
The demons who own me?
The family who loves me?
Or the girl I wasn’t supposed to fall for?
Only the bayou knows…
And its secrets die here.
She was supposed to be one of them.
I was the boy who never had a chance, an orphan recruited by the devil himself, until the family I never knew gave me something to live for.
Then my brother brought her home—the rich politician’s daughter, a real-life fairytale princess who had no place in our world. We were oil and water, and making her leave became my mission, ’til the little tag-along ended up in my passenger’s seat driving cross-country. That’s when we discovered a common thread… something that ran soul deep. Something hard to resist.
But no one I cared about was safe, and when she left, I made her promise never to come back.
Turns out, she lied.
Now the devil who claimed my future wants her, as well, and when I’m faced with a choice, who will come out alive?
The demons who own me?
The family who loves me?
Or the girl I wasn’t supposed to fall for?
Only the bayou knows…
And its secrets die here.
416 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 925 reviews
October 3, 2022
Few books leave a lasting impression on a voracious reader like me, but this book has left me stunned.
It's a mesmerizing tale of love between two broken characters stuck in their personal quagmire of circumstances.
Chelley takes time to painstakingly mold these characters and their motivations. Why they behave how they do, their warped reasoning behind it and the resulting consequences all woven masterfully in the backdrop of sludge filled Bayou that's as mysterious as it is dangerous.
"Looks like a fairytale turned nightmare. "
There resides Silas Montgomery, a wilder bros henchman and evil doer. His life is pretty much on survival mode morn-to -night. Every day he's over the ground is a day well spent.
His brother Grady brings home a surprise guest, Ivy Summer and she manages to irk and frustrate him from the moment his eyes land on her dancing in his kitchen.
"unrequited love, his soul mate, and my arch-nemesis."
The story opens and ends in the Bayou. It's vast and enormous belly has devoured many a bodies and zipped it's mouth shut on the secrets.
Frances guards their home hidden in weeds. Skeletons past reside under creaking stairs. The bayou has eyes hidden in the trees, in the rickety boats and murky depths that is home to predators waiting for fresh meat
“That’s the beauty of this place. Whatever happens here, the bayou won’t never tell...and neither will I.”
A monstrous secret ties Ivy & Silas to each other permanently. Their love makes them brave, though Ivy's courage is in complete submission, Silas's courage is in sacrifice.
But things don't work out in the way they had both hoped and when the "leery spider" comes to trap and bite the "butterfly" the "Moth prince" has to gear up for the savage battle.
Chelley builds up the passion up to the point that I needed a breather. Esp ch 19 was dripping with palpitating lust and need. Breathless energy danced across the pages, building the crescendo higher and higher till the orgasmic firworks between the characters just exploded with sheer intensity.
I needed to get a cigarette after reading the scene in the RV, for crying out loud!!.
But the emotions and feels, the slow burn, all in equal measures embellish the story in vibrant colours.
Sublime & dynamic, it's the perfect balance of angst, heart, and RV-rattling sex which will tear your heart out by the time it ends.
5 stars for Shackles of Rapunzel
Follow me on:
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It's a mesmerizing tale of love between two broken characters stuck in their personal quagmire of circumstances.
Chelley takes time to painstakingly mold these characters and their motivations. Why they behave how they do, their warped reasoning behind it and the resulting consequences all woven masterfully in the backdrop of sludge filled Bayou that's as mysterious as it is dangerous.
"Looks like a fairytale turned nightmare. "
There resides Silas Montgomery, a wilder bros henchman and evil doer. His life is pretty much on survival mode morn-to -night. Every day he's over the ground is a day well spent.
His brother Grady brings home a surprise guest, Ivy Summer and she manages to irk and frustrate him from the moment his eyes land on her dancing in his kitchen.
"unrequited love, his soul mate, and my arch-nemesis."
The story opens and ends in the Bayou. It's vast and enormous belly has devoured many a bodies and zipped it's mouth shut on the secrets.
Frances guards their home hidden in weeds. Skeletons past reside under creaking stairs. The bayou has eyes hidden in the trees, in the rickety boats and murky depths that is home to predators waiting for fresh meat
“That’s the beauty of this place. Whatever happens here, the bayou won’t never tell...and neither will I.”
A monstrous secret ties Ivy & Silas to each other permanently. Their love makes them brave, though Ivy's courage is in complete submission, Silas's courage is in sacrifice.
But things don't work out in the way they had both hoped and when the "leery spider" comes to trap and bite the "butterfly" the "Moth prince" has to gear up for the savage battle.
Chelley builds up the passion up to the point that I needed a breather. Esp ch 19 was dripping with palpitating lust and need. Breathless energy danced across the pages, building the crescendo higher and higher till the orgasmic firworks between the characters just exploded with sheer intensity.
I needed to get a cigarette after reading the scene in the RV, for crying out loud!!.
But the emotions and feels, the slow burn, all in equal measures embellish the story in vibrant colours.
Sublime & dynamic, it's the perfect balance of angst, heart, and RV-rattling sex which will tear your heart out by the time it ends.
5 stars for Shackles of Rapunzel
Follow me on:
Email🌻 Bookbub 🌻 Twitter🌻 Instagram🌻 Blog🌻 Facebook🌻 Amazon 🌻
October 11, 2022
'🆃🅷🅴 🅱🅰🆈🅾🆄 🅽🅴🆅🅴🆁 🆃🅴🅻🅻🆂' Is a full length slow burn age difference romance book by author Chelly St Clair. Spoken in 'Duals POV's. Silas and IvyIt felt like I’d been transported to the Bayou, the quaint little house on stilts, the noises of the wildlife, the crocodiles and our hero’s very own bayou dialect. This book consumed me, I’ve never wanted to reach the ending with a book as with this one, I wasn’t ready to leave this world or these characters.
I laughed, I sighed, I cried, I swooned, these two are unforgettable.
🦋 Unique, unpredictable, unputdownable. 🦋
This book had everything I could ever ask for and more, a little bit gritty which may cause triggers for some so just tread carefully when purchasing as it does deal with rape, it’s not easy to read but this does get the HEA it deserves.
These two destroyed my heart, they were beyond perfect for each other, the push and pull, the outside influences tearing them apart had me reading on the edge of my seat.
Our hero was perfection, my heart was in his hands from the very beginning, the life he was thrust into could've swallowed him whole if it wasn't for the love of his family, but it's also that family he had to protect more than anything, making my heart break even more for him.
Don’t be fooled by our rapunzel heroine, she’s no weeping willow, she was sassy, a wee bit gullible, but could hold her own against our hero, she was so easy to connect with and love.
This is definitely a book that will forever stay in my heart and mind for a long time to come.
February 4, 2024
ೃ⁀➷ “Then it hits me—he’s given me another gift. This dock holds a memory that’s far stronger than the nightmares. Him. And he’s mine forever.”
OKAYYYY I’m literally writing this off pure emotions right now so this will not be as organized but here we go. First off this is my first book by Chelly St Clair, this is absolutely phenomenal. The literal emotional rollercoaster I went through was crazy but it was all worth it at the end.
This story follow a Rapunzel dark retelling and I can say I was obessseddddddds😗. This story has bsf brother, forbidden relationship, grumpy x sunshine and he was pierced… SIGN ME UP📝
Silas and Ivy truly have my heart from the very beginning likee even their first interactions had me wanting to get to know them more ( it was actually very funny🤭). They are both very alike without realizing it at first; both are tortured souls longing for someone to love them for them and not be tethered by others' expectations of them. Many times in this story, I wanted to cry for both of them. Silas feeling unworthy of his family's love and unworthy to be near Ivy broke my heart because his innocence was stripped away from him.
My dear beautiful Ivy, who is such a ray of sunshine and had such an optimistic viewpoint on life despite the shit she was dealing with, was so inspiring. But whew, during the last 25% of this story, it was truly hard to read 😫. However, seeing how she and Silas were able to come together and help each other through their healing journey was extremely beautiful🥹. Can I say I love the side characters' involvement in this story? They definitely made this story more special. I especially adore Ivy's friendship with Grady and Regan and how Emerson was Silas rock wherever he felt like he was drowning.. Anyways, enough of my babbling. I truly hope more people are able to read this story because I believe it is definitely going to be in my top 5 for this year.
P.S I am TOTALLLY seated for Regan and Hudson’s book and Chelly had said she is planning on doing books for Grady and Jo and Louisa Emerson so I’m definitely stalking her instagram!
: ̗̀➛Pre-Review:
SO EXCITEDD FOR THIS ONEEE
OKAYYYY I’m literally writing this off pure emotions right now so this will not be as organized but here we go. First off this is my first book by Chelly St Clair, this is absolutely phenomenal. The literal emotional rollercoaster I went through was crazy but it was all worth it at the end.
This story follow a Rapunzel dark retelling and I can say I was obessseddddddds😗. This story has bsf brother, forbidden relationship, grumpy x sunshine and he was pierced… SIGN ME UP📝
Silas and Ivy truly have my heart from the very beginning likee even their first interactions had me wanting to get to know them more ( it was actually very funny🤭). They are both very alike without realizing it at first; both are tortured souls longing for someone to love them for them and not be tethered by others' expectations of them. Many times in this story, I wanted to cry for both of them. Silas feeling unworthy of his family's love and unworthy to be near Ivy broke my heart because his innocence was stripped away from him.
My dear beautiful Ivy, who is such a ray of sunshine and had such an optimistic viewpoint on life despite the shit she was dealing with, was so inspiring. But whew, during the last 25% of this story, it was truly hard to read 😫. However, seeing how she and Silas were able to come together and help each other through their healing journey was extremely beautiful🥹. Can I say I love the side characters' involvement in this story? They definitely made this story more special. I especially adore Ivy's friendship with Grady and Regan and how Emerson was Silas rock wherever he felt like he was drowning.. Anyways, enough of my babbling. I truly hope more people are able to read this story because I believe it is definitely going to be in my top 5 for this year.
"I found a thing though, a couple years back. It helps keep me grounded." "What's that?
"You."
P.S I am TOTALLLY seated for Regan and Hudson’s book and Chelly had said she is planning on doing books for Grady and Jo and Louisa Emerson so I’m definitely stalking her instagram!
: ̗̀➛Pre-Review:
SO EXCITEDD FOR THIS ONEEE
September 24, 2022
You would never in a million years believe that this is Chelley St Clair's first published standalone novel. The Bayou Never Tells reads as a layered, compelling, and heart-stealing masterpiece of a deeply seasoned writer.
Silas is broken and tortured, yet passionate and devoted to those he loves. You will fall head over heels for this tattooed, southern bad boy, as he's truly one of the most unique and exceptionally developed heroes I've come across. And Ivy? She will become your new best friend.
There is darkness, grit, and sexiness. There is angst, hope, and love. There are characters you will laugh with, cry with, and wholeheartedly root for. While this is no doubt a love story at its core, it's also a tale of the power of family ties, life lessons, deadly secrets, and, ultimately, healing.
Don't feed the alligators, but make sure you settle in and feed your romantic soul with this one-of-a-kind gem.
Silas is broken and tortured, yet passionate and devoted to those he loves. You will fall head over heels for this tattooed, southern bad boy, as he's truly one of the most unique and exceptionally developed heroes I've come across. And Ivy? She will become your new best friend.
There is darkness, grit, and sexiness. There is angst, hope, and love. There are characters you will laugh with, cry with, and wholeheartedly root for. While this is no doubt a love story at its core, it's also a tale of the power of family ties, life lessons, deadly secrets, and, ultimately, healing.
Don't feed the alligators, but make sure you settle in and feed your romantic soul with this one-of-a-kind gem.
October 19, 2022
The Bayou Never Tells is a dark romantic suspense set in the Louisiana bayou. This book had many elements that I loved and a lot of potential, but unfortunately it just didn't hit the mark for me. With consideration to the fact that this is a debut novel, I was impressed with the detailed setting, the length of the book, the male protagonist and the layers to the plot.
Potential triggers: violence, murder, psychological trauma, psychological abuse, abduction, forced drug use, abandonment, rape and mutilation, explicit sex scenes
Ivy Summer is a twenty-year-old college student that is positively lovesick for her best friend, Grady Love. She's the product of a senator and a socialite, and she's grown up sheltered by their relentless micromanagement of her every move in the name of their family's perfect image. Enter: the naïve virgin protagonist with limited life experience. When her school year wraps up, Ivy takes the opportunity to escape her stifling parents for a few weeks and travel with Grady to his family home in Louisiana. She's secretly hoping that their relationship will blossom into something more. Little does she know, Grady's older half-brother, Silas Montgomery, will stand in the way and get under her skin, changing the course of her desires — but not without first becoming something of an enemy.
Ivy is clearly out of her element in the bayou. Add this to the fact that Silas is mixed up with seriously dangerous people, and it's a recipe for disaster: a "fairy-tale turned nightmare".
What to expect in this romance:
- opposites attract
- age gap (approx. 10 years)
- virgin female protagonist
- morally grey hero x naïve heroine
- dom/sub, spanking, praise, voyeurism
I struggled to connect with Ivy; perhaps it was her age or her demographic. She's an ex-reality TV show star with iconic Rapunzel-length, golden hair and I just couldn't take her seriously. One of our first encounters with her is a scene where she is changing clothes and requires the help of her friends to release her long hair from her dress, and doesn't that just scream damsel-in-distress? She proves to need rescuing more than once throughout this story. Additionally, her naivety and self-consciousness in the face of intimacy was definitely a point of frustration for me.
The thing is, Ivy goes through a lot in this book. Her resilience is tested by severe trauma, and she definitely shows some character growth by the conclusion. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't want a little more from her.
Silas Montgomery carried this book on his back. He is hands-down the most unique and interesting character in this story. He's a southern bad boy whose morally grey fate was sealed by forces beyond his control when he was just a child. He moves through life with only two priorities: protect his family and survive. His backstory is powerful and emotionally affective; I fell hard for him despite his asshole personality, and rooted for him to get out of his predicament. He makes some questionable decisions throughout this book, but I could empathize with him and understand his motivations. I loved his southern drawl and to be honest, I wished it was thicker.
The only other character that really intrigued me was Jobeth. It seemed to me that her mysterious backstory and possible mental illness were setting up for something big to happen or be revealed, but unfortunately both of these things were left unresolved...
Did I miss something? What was the point of her needing mysterious medication and having insomnia, depression and/or dissociative episodes? Why was this dropped like a hot potato?
I think this is the main reason I felt the plot went in strange direction; I felt set up to believe that Grady and Jo would be more active secondary characters based on their involvement in the beginning and the intrigue surrounding them. But the seeds that were planted did not sprout, and instead the plot was propelled forward by Ivy's mother and a very elaborate scenario.
I won't go into too much detail about the smutty scenes, but they were very hit or miss for me. The one scene that explores voyeurism was incredible and I loved every second of it. I felt all of Ivy's emotions and desires, and it lead to some pretty charged chemistry between the two main characters.
I didn't enjoy how hard the virgin trope was pushed in some scenes. Ivy is so nervous about sex and they are both so fixated on her virginity that it was hard for me to not feel critical of what was playing out. The poor girl cries after their first kiss, cries after her first orgasm and trembles with fear at the sight of his (pierced, tatted and massive) dick. All the while, he glamorizes her "virgin hole" as a "hidden treasure" he's going to "steal".
This must be a kink that I am just not personally a fan of.
Fixation on virginity aside, I was underwhelmed by the lack of intimacy and development between the two main characters; they spend so much time in the beginning hating each other and denying their feelings, it felt wrong to have them separate for so long after they finally come together. I enjoyed their passion and intensity, but I definitely wanted more than just a taste of vulnerability between them.
Overall, this was just an ok read for me. Many things that I loved but also many points of frustration. It had a really great start but some of the plot points after the 50% mark challenged the limits of what I thought was believable for these characters. I really did go into this book believing I would love it, based on the reviews. So I am thinking this is more of a "me" problem.
The resolution did provide closure and some affective symbolism, which I enjoyed. Most loose ends were tied up and there was obvious character growth. The epilogue was well done and I was satisfied with their HEA.
One last thing:
In the author's note, Chelley St. Clair states that the hero of his book is "from an unspecified, rural area of Louisiana, north of New Orleans, along the bayous surrounding Pearl River", and that he is written with "a light southern dialect and loose grammar" that is "toned down to be palatable for reading". Honestly, I was a little put off by this statement because I am someone who appreciates the use of specific dialects and foreign languages in literature. I do not know enough about the Louisiana culture and language to properly evaluate whether or not Silas' language is an accurate representation of this culture. However, I didn't come across any Creole or Cajun French terms which I thought was strange.
“That’s the beauty of this place. Whatever happens here, the bayou won’t never tell...and neither will I.”
Potential triggers: violence, murder, psychological trauma, psychological abuse, abduction, forced drug use, abandonment, rape and mutilation, explicit sex scenes
Ivy Summer is a twenty-year-old college student that is positively lovesick for her best friend, Grady Love. She's the product of a senator and a socialite, and she's grown up sheltered by their relentless micromanagement of her every move in the name of their family's perfect image. Enter: the naïve virgin protagonist with limited life experience. When her school year wraps up, Ivy takes the opportunity to escape her stifling parents for a few weeks and travel with Grady to his family home in Louisiana. She's secretly hoping that their relationship will blossom into something more. Little does she know, Grady's older half-brother, Silas Montgomery, will stand in the way and get under her skin, changing the course of her desires — but not without first becoming something of an enemy.
Ivy is clearly out of her element in the bayou. Add this to the fact that Silas is mixed up with seriously dangerous people, and it's a recipe for disaster: a "fairy-tale turned nightmare".
What to expect in this romance:
- opposites attract
- age gap (approx. 10 years)
- virgin female protagonist
- morally grey hero x naïve heroine
- dom/sub, spanking, praise, voyeurism
I struggled to connect with Ivy; perhaps it was her age or her demographic. She's an ex-reality TV show star with iconic Rapunzel-length, golden hair and I just couldn't take her seriously. One of our first encounters with her is a scene where she is changing clothes and requires the help of her friends to release her long hair from her dress, and doesn't that just scream damsel-in-distress? She proves to need rescuing more than once throughout this story. Additionally, her naivety and self-consciousness in the face of intimacy was definitely a point of frustration for me.
The thing is, Ivy goes through a lot in this book. Her resilience is tested by severe trauma, and she definitely shows some character growth by the conclusion. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't want a little more from her.
Silas Montgomery carried this book on his back. He is hands-down the most unique and interesting character in this story. He's a southern bad boy whose morally grey fate was sealed by forces beyond his control when he was just a child. He moves through life with only two priorities: protect his family and survive. His backstory is powerful and emotionally affective; I fell hard for him despite his asshole personality, and rooted for him to get out of his predicament. He makes some questionable decisions throughout this book, but I could empathize with him and understand his motivations. I loved his southern drawl and to be honest, I wished it was thicker.
The only other character that really intrigued me was Jobeth. It seemed to me that her mysterious backstory and possible mental illness were setting up for something big to happen or be revealed, but unfortunately both of these things were left unresolved...
Did I miss something? What was the point of her needing mysterious medication and having insomnia, depression and/or dissociative episodes? Why was this dropped like a hot potato?
I think this is the main reason I felt the plot went in strange direction; I felt set up to believe that Grady and Jo would be more active secondary characters based on their involvement in the beginning and the intrigue surrounding them. But the seeds that were planted did not sprout, and instead the plot was propelled forward by Ivy's mother and a very elaborate scenario.
I won't go into too much detail about the smutty scenes, but they were very hit or miss for me. The one scene that explores voyeurism was incredible and I loved every second of it. I felt all of Ivy's emotions and desires, and it lead to some pretty charged chemistry between the two main characters.
I didn't enjoy how hard the virgin trope was pushed in some scenes. Ivy is so nervous about sex and they are both so fixated on her virginity that it was hard for me to not feel critical of what was playing out. The poor girl cries after their first kiss, cries after her first orgasm and trembles with fear at the sight of his (pierced, tatted and massive) dick. All the while, he glamorizes her "virgin hole" as a "hidden treasure" he's going to "steal".
This must be a kink that I am just not personally a fan of.
Fixation on virginity aside, I was underwhelmed by the lack of intimacy and development between the two main characters; they spend so much time in the beginning hating each other and denying their feelings, it felt wrong to have them separate for so long after they finally come together. I enjoyed their passion and intensity, but I definitely wanted more than just a taste of vulnerability between them.
Overall, this was just an ok read for me. Many things that I loved but also many points of frustration. It had a really great start but some of the plot points after the 50% mark challenged the limits of what I thought was believable for these characters. I really did go into this book believing I would love it, based on the reviews. So I am thinking this is more of a "me" problem.
The resolution did provide closure and some affective symbolism, which I enjoyed. Most loose ends were tied up and there was obvious character growth. The epilogue was well done and I was satisfied with their HEA.
One last thing:
In the author's note, Chelley St. Clair states that the hero of his book is "from an unspecified, rural area of Louisiana, north of New Orleans, along the bayous surrounding Pearl River", and that he is written with "a light southern dialect and loose grammar" that is "toned down to be palatable for reading". Honestly, I was a little put off by this statement because I am someone who appreciates the use of specific dialects and foreign languages in literature. I do not know enough about the Louisiana culture and language to properly evaluate whether or not Silas' language is an accurate representation of this culture. However, I didn't come across any Creole or Cajun French terms which I thought was strange.
April 19, 2026
3.25-3.5 stars—I would summarize this as a soap opera in a book 😂
October 12, 2022
2.5 ⭐️ enjoyed it up until about the 70% mark & onwards 🥴 my bad for not looking up the TW but i also felt as though certain events weren’t necessary. the first half of the book was 4-5 stars on its own but the second half ruined it for me. a lot of things were glossed over that i felt were very important?? and the build up to the love confession was weird imo 🤷🏻♀️
March 22, 2026
If I were rating this book based on Part 1 alone, it would probably easily be 4 stars. Part 2… unfortunately lost me a bit 😭
At first, the writing took some getting used to since the story is set in the Louisiana bayou and the author incorporates the characters’ dialect. But once I adjusted, I really started to enjoy it.
We follow Ivy and Silas—our classic good girl/bad boy, grumpy/sunshine dynamic. Ivy comes from an upper-class background, while Silas is very much from the wrong side of the tracks. The story actually starts with Ivy having a crush on Grady—Silas’s brother—who invites her home during a college break. And of course… that’s when she meets the hot, broody older brother 🥵
This first half? I ate it up. The tension, the animosity, the slow build between Ivy and Silas—it was done so well. The chemistry was there, and I was fully invested.
But the second half is where things started to fall apart for me. What happens to Ivy’s character felt so unnecessary. Like… why was she put through all of that trauma? For what?? 😭 It honestly made me irrationally angry. And if I’m being real, I don’t even know if I would’ve made the same choices she did. Everything she went through just seemed glossed over? Likeee?? I hope she’s okay cause my goodness 😭
I also feel like Ivy and Silas’s relationship deserved more development. Their connection had so much potential, but the way everything wrapped up felt rushed, especially toward the end. They are a good match, and I was rooting for them, I just didn’t love how their story ultimately played out.
That said, I did enjoy the book overall—the last 20% just didn’t hit the same for me. I am really intrigued by the side characters though, and I’ll definitely be picking up their books when they come out 🤭
At first, the writing took some getting used to since the story is set in the Louisiana bayou and the author incorporates the characters’ dialect. But once I adjusted, I really started to enjoy it.
We follow Ivy and Silas—our classic good girl/bad boy, grumpy/sunshine dynamic. Ivy comes from an upper-class background, while Silas is very much from the wrong side of the tracks. The story actually starts with Ivy having a crush on Grady—Silas’s brother—who invites her home during a college break. And of course… that’s when she meets the hot, broody older brother 🥵
This first half? I ate it up. The tension, the animosity, the slow build between Ivy and Silas—it was done so well. The chemistry was there, and I was fully invested.
But the second half is where things started to fall apart for me. What happens to Ivy’s character felt so unnecessary. Like… why was she put through all of that trauma? For what?? 😭 It honestly made me irrationally angry. And if I’m being real, I don’t even know if I would’ve made the same choices she did. Everything she went through just seemed glossed over? Likeee?? I hope she’s okay cause my goodness 😭
I also feel like Ivy and Silas’s relationship deserved more development. Their connection had so much potential, but the way everything wrapped up felt rushed, especially toward the end. They are a good match, and I was rooting for them, I just didn’t love how their story ultimately played out.
That said, I did enjoy the book overall—the last 20% just didn’t hit the same for me. I am really intrigued by the side characters though, and I’ll definitely be picking up their books when they come out 🤭
i-m-a-quitter
October 18, 2022Time of Death 15%
Haven't picked this book up in 3+ days. I think it's safe to say...
Haven't picked this book up in 3+ days. I think it's safe to say...
January 16, 2024
What a gem this was I enjoyed this so much The Bayou Never Tells was such a brilliant emotional and heart-wrenching story that instantly grabbed me by the throat in a bloody chokehold. It tells the story of Ivy and Silas who managed against all of the odds to forge a deep connection and despite all of the many obstacles they had to defeat and everything they both still endured got to experience the much anticipated HEA, they most definitely had earned.
Ivy is the daughter of a politician she's also a well-known public figure thanks to her mother and a certain reality show. For the moment she's attending college whilst secretly fantasising about her best friend of two years Grady, who much to her dismay treats her like a sister. When she's invited to his home for the summer Ivy jumps at the chance, it's here she once again bumps into Silas. Their first and only introduction two years prior saw Ivy getting much more of a visual of Silas than she was comfortable with this second meeting doesn't go much better and these two are instantly at loggerheads.
Silas does everything he can to persuade Ivy to go home despite feeling an unwanted pull towards her he knows how dangerous it is for her to be hanging around, especially with his criminal associates and her family connections. Ivy breaks all of his many rules and he's determined to resist.
This was a slow-burn read that provided plenty of believable chemistry mixed in with the tension and emotion. Both Ivy and Silas have personal baggage and when Ivy is pulled into the dark world that Silas Inhabits it is inevitable that she will come away somewhat tarnished and my heart broke for her pain. Silas really came into his own here and i loved him for how he picked up the pieces of his buttercup, it was so heartwarming to witness his sweet care in the aftermath of Ivy's pain.
I adored this it's exceptionally well written and I found it a real emotive experience. It's dual POV which is my favourite and I'm now definitely going to be looking forward to experiencing more from from this author in the future. On a final note please check your triggers before reading this as this did have dark themes and content. This gets a big seal of approval it was so good.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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March 30, 2026
this book fucking scammed me because at first i was actually kinda in. the whole setup with him being forced into this life at 16, finding his mom again, the little brother dressed as a gator… that part was genuinely cute and i was invested for a second. and then we jump to silas at 30 and it’s like… who is this man. the guy from the first pages disappears and whatever depth he had gets replaced with his “tattooed, pierced dick” and that’s basically it for his personality. also he’s been doing hit jobs since he was 16 but every time he finishes one he has a panic attack? i’m not saying he shouldn’t struggle, but the way it’s written feels off, like it’s just there so we feel bad for him, just dropped in to remind us he has trauma without actually building it into the character. and just fuck off with that ridiculous little bbq scene where he’s tickling his little siblings to show us and ivy his “soft side” and she’s like haha cute… and i’m just sitting there like… this is so painfully basic, can we move on already 🥱
then we have miss ivy, miss rapunzel. shy, doesn’t swear, “pure”, a virgiiinnn and dumb as fuck. the whole situation with grady… wow. two years of friendship, she’s clearly in love with him and grady just… nothing. never notices a thing 😇 fully convinced she sees him as a brother. true golden retriever energy, head empty, tongue out, not a single neuron in sight.
and she’s not better either because she never once questions why he doesn’t want her. the only explanation she manages to come up with is that he might be gay. that’s it. end of analysis. so when grady’s long lost soulmate shows up and it turns out he’s been in love with this other girl the whole time, she’s shocked ! 🤯😣 oh pookie… bless your disney channel heart and that one lonely neuron working overtime 😭
talking about grady, that whole him and jo storyline just makes it worse. this girl disappears for years with no explanation, comes back, and they immediately go full tragic lovers, clinging, forehead touching, intense stares… it was giving wattpad wolf mates, i swear i could hear “you’re my mate 🐺” in the background.
meanwhile the actual main couple is just… there. they go on this road trip where nobody really talks (at least not to us as readers), nothing builds, and we’re not shown any real interaction or dialogue that actually develops their dynamic. the highlight of it all is her introducing him to coconut desserts. i wish i was joking.
and then out of nowhere silas sees ivy in a bikini and suddenly something switches! this is the same man who said she’s not his type, who sleeps around, who avoids attachment… and this is what does it. sure 👌🏼
also i need to mention the hair bullshit because it genuinely kept taking me out. her goddamn hair is so long it reaches her legs and i just… no. like long hair, sure, that can work if you’re going for some ethereal vibe, fine. but this? down to her legs? it doesn’t look cute, it just feels excessive and honestly ridiculous. and then the whole cabinet scene where she’s hiding and gets caught because her hair is literally sticking out… i’m sorry but come on.
at that point i was done because it genuinely made no sense to me that her hair was getting more narrative space than the actual characters’ introspection or development. fuck her hair honestly lol
so yeah, everything just feels random and i dnf’d at 50% because i couldn’t take it seriously anymore. the setup had potential, but the characters completely killed it. and i’m honestly concerned about the 5 star reviews… like what version of this book did y’all read
then we have miss ivy, miss rapunzel. shy, doesn’t swear, “pure”, a virgiiinnn and dumb as fuck. the whole situation with grady… wow. two years of friendship, she’s clearly in love with him and grady just… nothing. never notices a thing 😇 fully convinced she sees him as a brother. true golden retriever energy, head empty, tongue out, not a single neuron in sight.
and she’s not better either because she never once questions why he doesn’t want her. the only explanation she manages to come up with is that he might be gay. that’s it. end of analysis. so when grady’s long lost soulmate shows up and it turns out he’s been in love with this other girl the whole time, she’s shocked ! 🤯😣 oh pookie… bless your disney channel heart and that one lonely neuron working overtime 😭
talking about grady, that whole him and jo storyline just makes it worse. this girl disappears for years with no explanation, comes back, and they immediately go full tragic lovers, clinging, forehead touching, intense stares… it was giving wattpad wolf mates, i swear i could hear “you’re my mate 🐺” in the background.
meanwhile the actual main couple is just… there. they go on this road trip where nobody really talks (at least not to us as readers), nothing builds, and we’re not shown any real interaction or dialogue that actually develops their dynamic. the highlight of it all is her introducing him to coconut desserts. i wish i was joking.
and then out of nowhere silas sees ivy in a bikini and suddenly something switches! this is the same man who said she’s not his type, who sleeps around, who avoids attachment… and this is what does it. sure 👌🏼
also i need to mention the hair bullshit because it genuinely kept taking me out. her goddamn hair is so long it reaches her legs and i just… no. like long hair, sure, that can work if you’re going for some ethereal vibe, fine. but this? down to her legs? it doesn’t look cute, it just feels excessive and honestly ridiculous. and then the whole cabinet scene where she’s hiding and gets caught because her hair is literally sticking out… i’m sorry but come on.
at that point i was done because it genuinely made no sense to me that her hair was getting more narrative space than the actual characters’ introspection or development. fuck her hair honestly lol
so yeah, everything just feels random and i dnf’d at 50% because i couldn’t take it seriously anymore. the setup had potential, but the characters completely killed it. and i’m honestly concerned about the 5 star reviews… like what version of this book did y’all read
September 26, 2023
Ever since I saw the cover and title of this book, I’ve been enraptured. And then I READ IT. From the very beginning, this story had me in its grip and didn’t let go. I couldn’t put it down! Which is why it’s almost midnight and I’m typing this through bleary eyes. Ivy and Silas meet in a…not so meet cute. In fact, she meets his dick before she meets him. Technically speaking. Fast forward a few years and when she comes face to face with him again, Ivy isn’t prepared. That is, she isn’t prepared to fall ass-first and almost land on an angry mama-gator. But I digress.
Silas has spent his life in servitude to bad, bad men. He has his own terrible father to thank for that, may he rest in pieces. But he’s determined not to let his poor luck affect his beloved family. So he has rules. No sex with a face and name, among other totems to live by. It helps that when he and Ivy where pushed together by circumstance that she got on his last damn nerve. In fact, their tumultuous beginning had me laughing my ass off in delight! Ivy hates how sheltered and prissy she can be, but how is that her fault?! And anyway, Silas started it….
There are some mafia things, some alligator things, some tortured hero things. Some mommy dearest things, some unrequited love things….but ultimately this book was about Silas’s absolute devotion to his family, and the woman who finally made him believe that he deserved love and happiness. I absolutely loved it. I loved Ivy, LOVED HER! Silas is a perfect anti-hero with a heart of gold…far, far buried, but it’s there. And I loved all of the secondary characters!!!! Except Mommy and Daddy Dearest, fuck those clowns.
Silas has spent his life in servitude to bad, bad men. He has his own terrible father to thank for that, may he rest in pieces. But he’s determined not to let his poor luck affect his beloved family. So he has rules. No sex with a face and name, among other totems to live by. It helps that when he and Ivy where pushed together by circumstance that she got on his last damn nerve. In fact, their tumultuous beginning had me laughing my ass off in delight! Ivy hates how sheltered and prissy she can be, but how is that her fault?! And anyway, Silas started it….
There are some mafia things, some alligator things, some tortured hero things. Some mommy dearest things, some unrequited love things….but ultimately this book was about Silas’s absolute devotion to his family, and the woman who finally made him believe that he deserved love and happiness. I absolutely loved it. I loved Ivy, LOVED HER! Silas is a perfect anti-hero with a heart of gold…far, far buried, but it’s there. And I loved all of the secondary characters!!!! Except Mommy and Daddy Dearest, fuck those clowns.
September 30, 2023
DNF at 80%.
NO. If you've read it you know why I gave up when I did.
NO. If you've read it you know why I gave up when I did.
October 3, 2022
It’s rare when I find a book that captivated me the way this one does. A story where I can’t put it down, the kind you stay up late reading all through the night. The Bayou never tells is definitely one of those rare types of stories.
I was hooked from page one and couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. Although this is Chelley St Claire’s debut, standalone (she has another book she cowrote) this doesn’t seem like a debut at all. It’s seamless and beautiful and will draw you in.
This is the story of Sila and Ivy. Two of my new favorite characters. Sila is a rough around the edges, sort of antihero, he works for “Bad People”. He is so loving and caring to the people who mean most to him and would do anything for the ones he loves. I loved being inside his head. He was funny and endearing, you couldn’t help but feel for him when we would see his internal struggles throughout this story.
Ivy, gosh I loved her so much. She is so relatable, even though your struggles may not necessarily be the exact same as hers, the way she feels you can’t help but understand, we’ve all felt alone at times, or that things are out of our control. She shows time and time again throughout this story, how fierce and strong she is. I loved seeing the growth she showed throughout the pages. Who she is by the end of the story isn’t who she started as. She’s been through the ringer and has come out stronger for it all.
This story was amazing! A-freaking-mazing I tell you. If you are going to read any story I recommend please make it this one! I cannot wait to return to this world because two of my favorite secondary characters are getting a book.
There are some things that may be triggering to some readers so read the warnings if you have triggers.
I was hooked from page one and couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. Although this is Chelley St Claire’s debut, standalone (she has another book she cowrote) this doesn’t seem like a debut at all. It’s seamless and beautiful and will draw you in.
This is the story of Sila and Ivy. Two of my new favorite characters. Sila is a rough around the edges, sort of antihero, he works for “Bad People”. He is so loving and caring to the people who mean most to him and would do anything for the ones he loves. I loved being inside his head. He was funny and endearing, you couldn’t help but feel for him when we would see his internal struggles throughout this story.
Ivy, gosh I loved her so much. She is so relatable, even though your struggles may not necessarily be the exact same as hers, the way she feels you can’t help but understand, we’ve all felt alone at times, or that things are out of our control. She shows time and time again throughout this story, how fierce and strong she is. I loved seeing the growth she showed throughout the pages. Who she is by the end of the story isn’t who she started as. She’s been through the ringer and has come out stronger for it all.
This story was amazing! A-freaking-mazing I tell you. If you are going to read any story I recommend please make it this one! I cannot wait to return to this world because two of my favorite secondary characters are getting a book.
There are some things that may be triggering to some readers so read the warnings if you have triggers.
April 2, 2026
This book was incredible. The way the author tells the story I felt like I knew the characters personally and what they were experiencing. My heart was all over the place reading this. If this wasn't a HEA I don't know if I could have finished it but the strength and resilience that Ivy and Silas had throughout kept me pushing through. I would read it again and again. Absolutely perfect, no notes.
August 22, 2025
I found out about halfway through reading, that this is Chelley St. Clair's first standalone novel... I couldn't believe it. I had to double check. This is truly phenomenal! I was a bit familiar with her work, having read the book, "Irreversible", that she co-wrote with one of my favorite authors, Jennifer Hartmann, and I LOVED that book. Her vibe is romantic suspense, and she's damn good at it!
🦋
Ivy is a ray of sunshine. She's optimistic, maybe a little too much so, to the point where her family sees her as a pushover. She's the one that's always trying to please everyone, even if her happiness is sacrificed. Groomed as a young girl to be the First Lady, her mother is always trying to fit her into a tiny box of perfection, and keeps her on a tight leash her whole life. Being in the public eye your whole life, you get scrutinized at your every move, and it's something Ivy quickly learned, especially when it came to her own mother.
When Ivy's mom lets her continue her education, she gets a little taste of what freedom might feel like, and she makes new friends during college. She meets swoon-worthy, Grady, and falls head over heels for him. A secret infatuation that grew over the 2 years spent together. When Grady invites her to his home, in backwoods Louisiana, over break, she starts plotting how she'll get out of the friend zone. She never expected to meet his grump of an older brother, Silas.
Ivy and Silas are oil and water. They have nothing in common, until they do. One day, they discovered something in common that ran soul deep. A connection that was impossible to resist!
"Everyone has a moment where they need an angel, and anyone can be the angel in someone's moment."
I couldn't relate, on a deep level, to any of these characters and their backstories, yet, their turmoil and pain was tangible! I felt every emotion between these characters, whether it be through their internal monologue or the dialogue with another character! Each person went through tragedy after tragedy, and it made me wonder how this book was going to end. I often didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Ivy is the kind of girl where you get what you get, and not in a bad way. She's inexperienced in a lot, due to the life she had with her mom, and my heart went out to her! They way she yearns for the ability to be a "normal" girl is heartbreaking. I noted the way she always hides behind her hair in moments where she felt embarrassed or wanted to be left alone. She used her hair as a shield, and the significance of that ran deep when you find out later on in the book.
"I'm not waiting for my dragon to save me anymore. This princess is going to rescue herself."
Silas... What a man he is! Every time I read this man's POV, my heart cracked more and more for him. He was just a kid... He deserved happiness this whole time, and I'm so glad that he eventually let himself believe that he could have it. The things he went through, as a child, are enough to scar anyone. As a man, he learned to bury his feelings and solider up, so the people around him wouldn't get hurt. Ugh! I just wanted to reach through the book and hug him.
"When something ugly digs it's thorns in, you figure out how to keep going and weave it in with the beautiful parts."
I feel like I have to talk about Grady. What a guy! He's too sweet for his own good, much like Ivy, and I think that's why they clicked when they first met. I can't hold any grudges with Grady, and I really hope we get a book about him, because he's so swoon-worthy, and deserves his own story. I need to know more!
"We don't always get what we deserve, and sometimes, that's a good thing.
The character development is amazing. Every single character came into their own, and found who they wanted to be. Even the secondary characters were making me laugh and tear up! There's so much darkness in this book, but, also love between every single one of them. I couldn't have asked for more!
🦋
I could go on and on about this book, but, in case no one has read it yet, I'll leave out the spoilers! I really fucking loved this book! The suspense, the romance, the spice, the secondary characters, the plot twists... EVERYTHING!
Chelley St Clair has a gift! Her writing transported me right into the bayou. The descriptiveness of the swamp, the house on stilts, the crocodiles, and the wildflowers.. I felt immersed in this world. It sucked me in from the beginning. I especially loved the dialect that was put on Silas. It added so much to this story! I didn't want to leave this world, and it's characters, and I'm foaming at the mouth for the next book!!!
🦋
Ivy is a ray of sunshine. She's optimistic, maybe a little too much so, to the point where her family sees her as a pushover. She's the one that's always trying to please everyone, even if her happiness is sacrificed. Groomed as a young girl to be the First Lady, her mother is always trying to fit her into a tiny box of perfection, and keeps her on a tight leash her whole life. Being in the public eye your whole life, you get scrutinized at your every move, and it's something Ivy quickly learned, especially when it came to her own mother.
When Ivy's mom lets her continue her education, she gets a little taste of what freedom might feel like, and she makes new friends during college. She meets swoon-worthy, Grady, and falls head over heels for him. A secret infatuation that grew over the 2 years spent together. When Grady invites her to his home, in backwoods Louisiana, over break, she starts plotting how she'll get out of the friend zone. She never expected to meet his grump of an older brother, Silas.
Ivy and Silas are oil and water. They have nothing in common, until they do. One day, they discovered something in common that ran soul deep. A connection that was impossible to resist!
"Everyone has a moment where they need an angel, and anyone can be the angel in someone's moment."
I couldn't relate, on a deep level, to any of these characters and their backstories, yet, their turmoil and pain was tangible! I felt every emotion between these characters, whether it be through their internal monologue or the dialogue with another character! Each person went through tragedy after tragedy, and it made me wonder how this book was going to end. I often didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Ivy is the kind of girl where you get what you get, and not in a bad way. She's inexperienced in a lot, due to the life she had with her mom, and my heart went out to her! They way she yearns for the ability to be a "normal" girl is heartbreaking. I noted the way she always hides behind her hair in moments where she felt embarrassed or wanted to be left alone. She used her hair as a shield, and the significance of that ran deep when you find out later on in the book.
"I'm not waiting for my dragon to save me anymore. This princess is going to rescue herself."
Silas... What a man he is! Every time I read this man's POV, my heart cracked more and more for him. He was just a kid... He deserved happiness this whole time, and I'm so glad that he eventually let himself believe that he could have it. The things he went through, as a child, are enough to scar anyone. As a man, he learned to bury his feelings and solider up, so the people around him wouldn't get hurt. Ugh! I just wanted to reach through the book and hug him.
"When something ugly digs it's thorns in, you figure out how to keep going and weave it in with the beautiful parts."
I feel like I have to talk about Grady. What a guy! He's too sweet for his own good, much like Ivy, and I think that's why they clicked when they first met. I can't hold any grudges with Grady, and I really hope we get a book about him, because he's so swoon-worthy, and deserves his own story. I need to know more!
"We don't always get what we deserve, and sometimes, that's a good thing.
The character development is amazing. Every single character came into their own, and found who they wanted to be. Even the secondary characters were making me laugh and tear up! There's so much darkness in this book, but, also love between every single one of them. I couldn't have asked for more!
🦋
I could go on and on about this book, but, in case no one has read it yet, I'll leave out the spoilers! I really fucking loved this book! The suspense, the romance, the spice, the secondary characters, the plot twists... EVERYTHING!
Chelley St Clair has a gift! Her writing transported me right into the bayou. The descriptiveness of the swamp, the house on stilts, the crocodiles, and the wildflowers.. I felt immersed in this world. It sucked me in from the beginning. I especially loved the dialect that was put on Silas. It added so much to this story! I didn't want to leave this world, and it's characters, and I'm foaming at the mouth for the next book!!!
June 12, 2026
3,5💫
The RV scene, absolute cinema.
But what was the whole point of the supposed arranged marriage that never happend? To me, that plot line served absolutely no purpose and didn’t feel believable to me. I normally love the arranged or forced marrige trope but in this case I wasn’t buying it. I felt like the reasons for why she had to marry this man (that never even made an appearance on the page) wasn’t strong enough. It was all a bit contradictory to me. On one hand, she was living an independent life by herself while studying. On the other hand she proclaimed that her parents were super controlling and was arranging a marriage that she couldn’t get out of. But by the time she decided she wouldn’t go through with it, the repercussions were basically nonexistent. Yes, her parents shunned her but I just couldn’t find it in me to care since there had only been a single interaction between the characters on page.
Aside from that, I really enjoyed Silas and Ivy’s story. I found their connection to be genuine, beautiful and gripping💙
The RV scene, absolute cinema.
But what was the whole point of the supposed arranged marriage that never happend? To me, that plot line served absolutely no purpose and didn’t feel believable to me. I normally love the arranged or forced marrige trope but in this case I wasn’t buying it. I felt like the reasons for why she had to marry this man (that never even made an appearance on the page) wasn’t strong enough. It was all a bit contradictory to me. On one hand, she was living an independent life by herself while studying. On the other hand she proclaimed that her parents were super controlling and was arranging a marriage that she couldn’t get out of. But by the time she decided she wouldn’t go through with it, the repercussions were basically nonexistent. Yes, her parents shunned her but I just couldn’t find it in me to care since there had only been a single interaction between the characters on page.
Aside from that, I really enjoyed Silas and Ivy’s story. I found their connection to be genuine, beautiful and gripping💙
January 21, 2024
This was such a gem of a read, tho I read it quite a while ago. It’s definitely one of the best I have ever read. The angst, the characters and the plot everything was top notch; vibes were vibing. And I loved how it just kept me on my toes till the very end. Literally can’t wait enough for the author’ next book.
October 27, 2025
REVIEW
Rating: 4/5
POV: 1st; Dual
Tropes: Dark Romance; Retelling - Rapunzel; Age Gap (12ish years); Asshole MMC; Modern Day Class Difference; Enemies to Lovers; Forced Proximity; Opposites Attract; Slow Burn; Road Trip
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Kinks: Spanking; Pierced MMC
Likes:
* The depth in which the FMC, Ivy, and the MMC, Silas, are written is beautiful
* Lots of unique and compelling side characters to assist when things maybe get a bit too heavy
Dislikes:
* I'll never learn my lesson to stay away from books written in my area hahaha. I will say Chelley did a decent job writing about Pearl River (same parish as me) BUT there was one spot about the area that she glaringly got wrong and yeah it's why I've taken a star away haha. There is no public transportation on the Northshore.
Conclusion:
Now this is a dark romance. The MC's are very complex emotional characters that come with lots of trauma and more trauma takes place through the story.
Ivy meets Grady on her first day of college at Vanderbilt. She immediately finds herself in love at first site. For two years she stays in an unrequited love as Grady has completely friend zoned her.
Since they are best friends Grady invites Ivy to come home with him (as his friend) to visit his family in the summer. This brings us to good ole Pear River, LA lol.
From there Ivy is introduced to Grady's very tight-nit family and his elusive brother, Silas.
Silas immediately does not like the disney princess his brother has brought home (Ivy has long blonde hair down to the back of her knees and wears long flowery dresses - so think Rapunzel from Tangled). He even goes far enough to ask her if she can talk to animals lol. He's such a hot asshole.
Things continue on where Silas is constantly having to watch his back and watch over his family to keep them safe from his employers (crime family). Ivy has to deal with the loss of her unrequited love when Grady gets reunited with his long lost love. During all of this Silas and Ivy have to battle through their own growing attraction to one another through the haze of hate.
Then we get to Act II and all hell breaks loose. This is where the story took a turn I was honestly not expecting and it gets pretty dark. I feel like this section of the book was such a well written part for Ivy but I did struggle to see Silas as the big mean asshole that he's written to be in the first half. Granted what Ivy goes through in this section it would be terrible if he was the big mean asshole BUT I guess I did expect a tiny bit more angst regarding his love confession.
If you're looking for a dark romance that has a pretty unique setting with a bad boy/good girl trope then I do highly recommend this book. I really did enjoy it and I will absolutely read more by Chelley St Clair.
I am going to include the TW's which I don't usually do and that is because the authors website as of when I'm writing this review is down. That is where she apparently had her TW's written.
TW:
Emotional Abuse
On page killing descriptions
Kidnapping, rape, and torture to FMC (not by MMC)
Rating: 4/5
POV: 1st; Dual
Tropes: Dark Romance; Retelling - Rapunzel; Age Gap (12ish years); Asshole MMC; Modern Day Class Difference; Enemies to Lovers; Forced Proximity; Opposites Attract; Slow Burn; Road Trip
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Kinks: Spanking; Pierced MMC
Likes:
* The depth in which the FMC, Ivy, and the MMC, Silas, are written is beautiful
* Lots of unique and compelling side characters to assist when things maybe get a bit too heavy
Dislikes:
* I'll never learn my lesson to stay away from books written in my area hahaha. I will say Chelley did a decent job writing about Pearl River (same parish as me) BUT there was one spot about the area that she glaringly got wrong and yeah it's why I've taken a star away haha. There is no public transportation on the Northshore.
Conclusion:
Now this is a dark romance. The MC's are very complex emotional characters that come with lots of trauma and more trauma takes place through the story.
Ivy meets Grady on her first day of college at Vanderbilt. She immediately finds herself in love at first site. For two years she stays in an unrequited love as Grady has completely friend zoned her.
Since they are best friends Grady invites Ivy to come home with him (as his friend) to visit his family in the summer. This brings us to good ole Pear River, LA lol.
From there Ivy is introduced to Grady's very tight-nit family and his elusive brother, Silas.
Silas immediately does not like the disney princess his brother has brought home (Ivy has long blonde hair down to the back of her knees and wears long flowery dresses - so think Rapunzel from Tangled). He even goes far enough to ask her if she can talk to animals lol. He's such a hot asshole.
Things continue on where Silas is constantly having to watch his back and watch over his family to keep them safe from his employers (crime family). Ivy has to deal with the loss of her unrequited love when Grady gets reunited with his long lost love. During all of this Silas and Ivy have to battle through their own growing attraction to one another through the haze of hate.
Then we get to Act II and all hell breaks loose. This is where the story took a turn I was honestly not expecting and it gets pretty dark. I feel like this section of the book was such a well written part for Ivy but I did struggle to see Silas as the big mean asshole that he's written to be in the first half. Granted what Ivy goes through in this section it would be terrible if he was the big mean asshole BUT I guess I did expect a tiny bit more angst regarding his love confession.
If you're looking for a dark romance that has a pretty unique setting with a bad boy/good girl trope then I do highly recommend this book. I really did enjoy it and I will absolutely read more by Chelley St Clair.
I am going to include the TW's which I don't usually do and that is because the authors website as of when I'm writing this review is down. That is where she apparently had her TW's written.
TW:
Emotional Abuse
On page killing descriptions
Kidnapping, rape, and torture to FMC (not by MMC)
October 12, 2022
2 stars. I think this would have been a 4 star review if ivy was not soooo pathetic. She was pathetic at 20 and even worse when she was older. I damn hated her the entire time. How does a character not grow? Even when she was captured. She was just a damn weak, naive person. Even a child knows better. As much as I hated everything that happened to her, I felt she kept being a pining doormat when he kept warning her . My parents used to say “ you play with fire, eventually you get burned” and how many times did she ignore all the warnings as if she had any brain cells to compute ? None. It pissed me off. Actually it just ruined this entire story. Even a kid was smarter than that dimwit . And the kicker? After all the crap you went through, you worry about your hair! Your f’en hair, you vain twat!
And!! Where was the romance developed between these two? It was just one night if sex !! He never even had feelings for her . She was a whiny, annoying stage 5 clinger the entire time and he was annoyed by her. Where did he fall in love with her?? Ugh.. yah, this book was not my cup of tea . It’s not you, it’s me , thing.
And!! Where was the romance developed between these two? It was just one night if sex !! He never even had feelings for her . She was a whiny, annoying stage 5 clinger the entire time and he was annoyed by her. Where did he fall in love with her?? Ugh.. yah, this book was not my cup of tea . It’s not you, it’s me , thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to Read
September 2, 2022I can feel in my 𝑺𝑶𝑼𝑳 that this is going to be amazing.
June 7, 2026
I've had this book sitting on my TBR for what feels like forever. Knowing the author had previously co-written with Jennifer Hartmann—one of my all-time favorites—I went in hoping I'd find that same emotional depth and unforgettable storytelling. What I didn't expect was to fall completely in love with this author's voice in her own right.
This book was extraordinary.
From the very first page, I felt transported straight into the bayou—the little house on stilts, the sounds of the wildlife, the humid air, and Silas's beautiful bayou drawl. The setting felt so vivid that I wasn't just reading the story; I was living it alongside the characters.
And Ivy and Silas... they completely owned my heart.
The way their story unfolded had me feeling every emotion imaginable. I laughed, I swooned, I cried, and at times my heart felt like it was being ripped apart. If this hadn't been a happily-ever-after, I'm honestly not sure I could have survived it. But watching Ivy and Silas endure heartbreak, loss, and impossible circumstances with such resilience made every painful moment worth it.
The symbolism woven throughout this story was breathtaking. Ivy, who hid behind her hair for so much of her life, used it as a shield from the world and from herself. Watching her slowly step into her strength was beautiful. And Silas... his story shattered me. He spent so much of his life being controlled by the expectations and demands of others, never truly allowed to be himself. But beneath all of that was the purest, most beautiful soul. The more of his true self we saw, the harder I fell for him.
Their love felt rare. Special. The kind of connection that only comes along once in a lifetime. They weren't just lovers—they were each other's person.
What made this story even more powerful was the constant push and pull between them. Outside forces threatened to tear them apart at every turn, and I found myself turning pages faster and faster, desperate to know how they would make it through. Silas had my heart from the beginning. The life he was born into could have destroyed him if not for the love he had for his family, and the sacrifices he made to protect them broke me over and over again.
And Ivy? Don't let her fool you. Beneath her vulnerability was a fierce, strong, and wonderfully sassy woman who could more than hold her own. She was easy to love, easy to relate to, and impossible not to root for.
This story consumed me. I never wanted it to end. Even as I raced toward the final pages, I wasn't ready to leave this world or say goodbye to these characters.
Unique, unpredictable, heartbreaking, and unforgettable, this is one of those rare books that leaves a permanent mark on your heart. Ivy and Silas will stay with me for a very long time, and this is a story I'll be thinking about—and talking about—for years to come.
5 stars
This book was extraordinary.
From the very first page, I felt transported straight into the bayou—the little house on stilts, the sounds of the wildlife, the humid air, and Silas's beautiful bayou drawl. The setting felt so vivid that I wasn't just reading the story; I was living it alongside the characters.
And Ivy and Silas... they completely owned my heart.
The way their story unfolded had me feeling every emotion imaginable. I laughed, I swooned, I cried, and at times my heart felt like it was being ripped apart. If this hadn't been a happily-ever-after, I'm honestly not sure I could have survived it. But watching Ivy and Silas endure heartbreak, loss, and impossible circumstances with such resilience made every painful moment worth it.
The symbolism woven throughout this story was breathtaking. Ivy, who hid behind her hair for so much of her life, used it as a shield from the world and from herself. Watching her slowly step into her strength was beautiful. And Silas... his story shattered me. He spent so much of his life being controlled by the expectations and demands of others, never truly allowed to be himself. But beneath all of that was the purest, most beautiful soul. The more of his true self we saw, the harder I fell for him.
Their love felt rare. Special. The kind of connection that only comes along once in a lifetime. They weren't just lovers—they were each other's person.
What made this story even more powerful was the constant push and pull between them. Outside forces threatened to tear them apart at every turn, and I found myself turning pages faster and faster, desperate to know how they would make it through. Silas had my heart from the beginning. The life he was born into could have destroyed him if not for the love he had for his family, and the sacrifices he made to protect them broke me over and over again.
And Ivy? Don't let her fool you. Beneath her vulnerability was a fierce, strong, and wonderfully sassy woman who could more than hold her own. She was easy to love, easy to relate to, and impossible not to root for.
This story consumed me. I never wanted it to end. Even as I raced toward the final pages, I wasn't ready to leave this world or say goodbye to these characters.
Unique, unpredictable, heartbreaking, and unforgettable, this is one of those rare books that leaves a permanent mark on your heart. Ivy and Silas will stay with me for a very long time, and this is a story I'll be thinking about—and talking about—for years to come.
5 stars
June 12, 2026
5⭐️ 3🌶
Okay, it’s been a few days since I finished this book, and I’ve finally had time to process everything I read.
First of all, I have to highlight the incredible setting. I’ve never read anything quite like it before! The Arizona swamps created such a unique atmosphere, and the way the environment was described made me feel like I was right there. Absolutely amazing!!
🐊 <--- Francis
The story itself was just as captivating. I was hooked from the very first page, and once I started, it was impossible to put the book down. It was dark and emotional, with main characters whose lives were shaped by trauma, but it also delivered a beautiful love story.
I often feel that many dark romance books lack depth, but that was definitely not the case here. This story had substance, emotional complexity, and characters I genuinely cared about. A truly unforgettable read.
And let’s not forget the spice, because WOW. 🥵🔥
Silas, my man... that's all I have to say. 🧎♀️
I genuinely thought I might not survive the RV scene 🥵🫠 Iykyk.
Okay, it’s been a few days since I finished this book, and I’ve finally had time to process everything I read.
First of all, I have to highlight the incredible setting. I’ve never read anything quite like it before! The Arizona swamps created such a unique atmosphere, and the way the environment was described made me feel like I was right there. Absolutely amazing!!
🐊 <--- Francis
The story itself was just as captivating. I was hooked from the very first page, and once I started, it was impossible to put the book down. It was dark and emotional, with main characters whose lives were shaped by trauma, but it also delivered a beautiful love story.
I often feel that many dark romance books lack depth, but that was definitely not the case here. This story had substance, emotional complexity, and characters I genuinely cared about. A truly unforgettable read.
And let’s not forget the spice, because WOW. 🥵🔥
Silas, my man... that's all I have to say. 🧎♀️
I genuinely thought I might not survive the RV scene 🥵🫠 Iykyk.
April 7, 2024
I thought I wouldn't like this book. It felt a bit heavy and I don't think I'm in the mood for that yet. But after a few chapters, I was hooked and just wanted to keep reading then I eventually fell in love with the characters. It IS a heavy book that the last few chapters def made me teary eyed and I just want to hug Ivy. I loved the theme and I found the epilogue satisfying. Also, I liked that it is not only centered on romance but about family too.
I rode one hell of a emotional rollercoaster in this book and and although I was hesitant to read this at first, I'm glad I picked it up. I'm going to look forward to Reagan's book and hopefully the other couples too!
I rode one hell of a emotional rollercoaster in this book and and although I was hesitant to read this at first, I'm glad I picked it up. I'm going to look forward to Reagan's book and hopefully the other couples too!
April 13, 2026
im not entirely sure.
It took me a while to get into it and then i was and then i lost interest again. I felt like it dragged a little there. The use of the word f-tard is questionable and im surprised no one is talking about it? I went back and forth about bringing it up but decided to come back and edit my review. Made me quite uncomfortable and im not sure how i finished this.
It took me a while to get into it and then i was and then i lost interest again. I felt like it dragged a little there. The use of the word f-tard is questionable and im surprised no one is talking about it? I went back and forth about bringing it up but decided to come back and edit my review. Made me quite uncomfortable and im not sure how i finished this.
November 17, 2023
Coming back to rate this 5 stars because I think about it all the time.
February 12, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
Silas does NOT deserve my girl Ivy
The first 30% of this book was genuinely amazing and then it just went downhill after that.
Silas does NOT deserve my girl Ivy
The first 30% of this book was genuinely amazing and then it just went downhill after that.
November 3, 2022
What the fuck!! This was amazing!! Wow. The story of Silas and Ivy truly took my breath away. These characters had so much chemistry and angst it’s unbelievable. Silas was the morally grey, hard on the outside, but truly a softie and sweetheart on the inside character I needed! And ivy! I LOVED her character, she was such a sweetheart, and really reminded me of Rapunzel from the cartoon, can have so much innocence and hope about the world, but gives it back as good as she gets too.
I loved the banter between these characters lol, truly amazing, they actually really did seem like complete opposite characters, and that’s what I loved about this, Silas was actually quite cold at the beginning, but his respect for Ivy grew after he realised she didn’t want to hurt or interfere with his brother. That’s what made the slow burn so good! 🔥 That’s also a plot line I loved at the start, Ivy going through that heartbreak and having blinders on towards Grady, and slowly realising it wasn’t meant to be. And Grady! 😍 He’s such a sweetheart, I love him lmaoo. Truly all of the side characters and relationships in this story interested me to no end, and I hope we get books about all of them! Especially the next one with Reagan and Hudsons story lmao, can’t wait to read about that fateful time at the club lmaoo.
Silas’ accent 🤤 yum
I just loved the atmosphere of the book, and that’s something truly special about some books you read, it just takes you to a certain atmosphere and totally draws you in to the story. The bayou just drew me in, and the road trip, summer, slow burn first love atmosphere just drew me, I mean the vibes in this book where off the charts! The angst of Ivy and Silas and knowing that they love each other but have to say goodbye after their trip together. The scene where they said goodbye in the RV truly broke my heart it was written so well!! But don’t worry these characters get a happily ever after, but not without many trials and tribulations along the way.
Also Francis can eat me!!
Listen to the playlist it was fireeee
I just can’t wait to dive into this world some more, truly impeccable writing and world building, read this book, you won’t regret it, I think it just became one of my favourites wow, that’s saying something! ✨
I loved the banter between these characters lol, truly amazing, they actually really did seem like complete opposite characters, and that’s what I loved about this, Silas was actually quite cold at the beginning, but his respect for Ivy grew after he realised she didn’t want to hurt or interfere with his brother. That’s what made the slow burn so good! 🔥 That’s also a plot line I loved at the start, Ivy going through that heartbreak and having blinders on towards Grady, and slowly realising it wasn’t meant to be. And Grady! 😍 He’s such a sweetheart, I love him lmaoo. Truly all of the side characters and relationships in this story interested me to no end, and I hope we get books about all of them! Especially the next one with Reagan and Hudsons story lmao, can’t wait to read about that fateful time at the club lmaoo.
Silas’ accent 🤤 yum
I just loved the atmosphere of the book, and that’s something truly special about some books you read, it just takes you to a certain atmosphere and totally draws you in to the story. The bayou just drew me in, and the road trip, summer, slow burn first love atmosphere just drew me, I mean the vibes in this book where off the charts! The angst of Ivy and Silas and knowing that they love each other but have to say goodbye after their trip together. The scene where they said goodbye in the RV truly broke my heart it was written so well!! But don’t worry these characters get a happily ever after, but not without many trials and tribulations along the way.
Also Francis can eat me!!
Listen to the playlist it was fireeee
I just can’t wait to dive into this world some more, truly impeccable writing and world building, read this book, you won’t regret it, I think it just became one of my favourites wow, that’s saying something! ✨
April 5, 2026
Loved it, loved it, loved it. Part 1? Absolutely addictive. I was fully entertained the entire time, the characters had me hooked, their chemistry was insane, and that RV scene… yeah, I was SWEATING. Like actually unwell.
But Part 2 lost me a little bit! Everything started happening way too fast. I feel like we missed some really important moments, more communication, more yearning, more angst. There’s a time jump that just… happens, and we don’t get to experience any of it. And after that, the story just rushes to the end without really letting things breathe. That said, I still really loved this book. I literally stayed up until 4am reading, which says a lot. The writing was great, super engaging, but I have to say… the epilogue? So creepy. And not in a good way. I did not like it at all.
But Part 2 lost me a little bit! Everything started happening way too fast. I feel like we missed some really important moments, more communication, more yearning, more angst. There’s a time jump that just… happens, and we don’t get to experience any of it. And after that, the story just rushes to the end without really letting things breathe. That said, I still really loved this book. I literally stayed up until 4am reading, which says a lot. The writing was great, super engaging, but I have to say… the epilogue? So creepy. And not in a good way. I did not like it at all.
October 27, 2022
✔️Retelling de Rapunzel 🤭
✔️Grumpy/Sunshine
✔️Road Trip
✔️Age gap
✔️Enemies to lovers
La primera parte la amé, estuvo intrigante y divertida, de 5 estrellas, amé el viaje en carretera y como se desarrollo la relación entre Ivy y Silas la tensión entre esos dos, es una L O C U R A💥 Es un libro lento pero totalmente vale la pena.
En la segunda parte fue donde se vino un poquito abajo, todo avanzaba a pasos agigantados, la recuperación de Ivy no se sintió realista después de haber pasado por un trauma tan horrible, todo fue muy rápido. Por eso no le doy 5 estrellas, es más como un 4.6🤣
Aunque la aparición de Cole 😭 me hizo amar el epílogo.
“I still feel him watching, but I’m not waiting for my dragon to save me anymore. This princess is going to have to rescue herself.”
“Look around ya, sweetheart. Out here it’s just you, me, and the bayou. The rest of the world can wonder, but your story’s your own ‘til you decide to share it.” I look out over the dark water, thinking of how many secrets it’s held onto for me. “That’s the beauty of this place. Whatever happens here, the bayou won’t never tell…and neither will .”
✔️Grumpy/Sunshine
✔️Road Trip
✔️Age gap
✔️Enemies to lovers
La primera parte la amé, estuvo intrigante y divertida, de 5 estrellas, amé el viaje en carretera y como se desarrollo la relación entre Ivy y Silas la tensión entre esos dos, es una L O C U R A💥 Es un libro lento pero totalmente vale la pena.
En la segunda parte fue donde se vino un poquito abajo, todo avanzaba a pasos agigantados, la recuperación de Ivy no se sintió realista después de haber pasado por un trauma tan horrible, todo fue muy rápido. Por eso no le doy 5 estrellas, es más como un 4.6🤣
Aunque la aparición de Cole 😭 me hizo amar el epílogo.
“I still feel him watching, but I’m not waiting for my dragon to save me anymore. This princess is going to have to rescue herself.”
“Look around ya, sweetheart. Out here it’s just you, me, and the bayou. The rest of the world can wonder, but your story’s your own ‘til you decide to share it.” I look out over the dark water, thinking of how many secrets it’s held onto for me. “That’s the beauty of this place. Whatever happens here, the bayou won’t never tell…and neither will .”
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