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Bayou Dreams #6
Stay With Me Forever
In Gauthier, love isn't just found. It's forever.
Paxton Jones returned to her Louisiana hometown for one reason... to buy her mother the bar she's tended for twenty years and turn it into the dream they've both wanted. What she didn't plan on was working alongside Sawyer Robertson, the state civil engineer assigned to her levee protection project and the untouchable golden boy she crushed on throughout high school.
Sawyer came back to Gauthier to rebuild his life and start fresh, not to rehash ancient history. But the sharp, successful woman who once watched him from the sidelines is impossible to ignore now. Especially when she's challenging his engineering decisions and making him question everything he thought he knew about ambition, belonging, and what he really wants.
Between clashing over flood control systems and stolen moments that feel dangerously close to those teenage dreams, Paxton and Sawyer must figure out if some connections are worth the wait. In Gauthier, where the past and present meet on the banks of the bayou, they'll have to decide if this time they're brave enough to stay with each other forever.
Paxton Jones returned to her Louisiana hometown for one reason... to buy her mother the bar she's tended for twenty years and turn it into the dream they've both wanted. What she didn't plan on was working alongside Sawyer Robertson, the state civil engineer assigned to her levee protection project and the untouchable golden boy she crushed on throughout high school.
Sawyer came back to Gauthier to rebuild his life and start fresh, not to rehash ancient history. But the sharp, successful woman who once watched him from the sidelines is impossible to ignore now. Especially when she's challenging his engineering decisions and making him question everything he thought he knew about ambition, belonging, and what he really wants.
Between clashing over flood control systems and stolen moments that feel dangerously close to those teenage dreams, Paxton and Sawyer must figure out if some connections are worth the wait. In Gauthier, where the past and present meet on the banks of the bayou, they'll have to decide if this time they're brave enough to stay with each other forever.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2015
About the author
Farrah Rochon
79 books2,673 followersA native of south Louisiana, Farrah Rochon officially began her writing career while waiting in between classes in the student lounge at Xavier University of Louisiana. After earning her Bachelors of Science degree and a Masters of Arts from Southeastern Louisiana University, Farrah decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a published novelist. She was named Shades of Romance Magazine's Best New Author of 2007. Her debut novel, Deliver Me, the first in her Holmes Brothers series, garnered rave reviews, earning Farrah several SORMAG Readers' Choice Awards.
In September 2010, Farrah joined the Kimani Romance family with the launch of her new series that follows the life of the fictional New York Sabers football team.
When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading her favorite romance novels, hanging around on Twitter, and trying to attend as many Broadway shows as her budget will allow. An admitted sports fanatic, Farrah feeds her addiction to football by watching New Orleans Saints games on Sunday afternoons.
In September 2010, Farrah joined the Kimani Romance family with the launch of her new series that follows the life of the fictional New York Sabers football team.
When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading her favorite romance novels, hanging around on Twitter, and trying to attend as many Broadway shows as her budget will allow. An admitted sports fanatic, Farrah feeds her addiction to football by watching New Orleans Saints games on Sunday afternoons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
December 15, 2020
B+ so 4.5 stars To kick off TBR Challenge this year, I decided to return to a category romance series I’ve enjoyed in the past. Stay With Me Forever is the sixth book is Farrah Rochon’s
Bayou Dreams
series, but it stands very well on its own. Characters from previous books make cameos, but the primary story is very self-contained. I am a sucker for second chance stories, and I adored Paxton and Sawyer.
Paxton Jones and Sawyer Robertson both grew up in Gauthier, Louisiana and both left to pursue career success elsewhere. Now well into their 30s, both are back in Gauthier working on a flood prevention project. Paxton walks into her temporary office as a project manager, and discovers that the civil engineer sent to her by the state is none other than Sawyer. Needless to say, it rocks her world – and not entirely happily at first. Paxton shared a passionate night with Sawyer three years before that left her with plenty of conflicting emotions she doesn’t want to deal with.
And it turns out that Sawyer has some conflicting emotions of his own as well. Ms. Rochon does a fantastic job of setting the stage of her story. I could feel both the professional and personal tensions between the leads right away. Paxton and Sawyer have a shared childhood and a history that brings them together in some ways, but the shadow of that past romantic encounter looms. In addition, we see pretty quickly that these two occupied very different places in the social hierarchy of the town. Sawyer has money, and he came from a prosperous family whose business employed many in the region. Paxton, on the other hand, grew up with a loving single mother and they often just barely scraped by. Her financial situation is more secure now, but it’s made very obvious that Paxton had to work and sacrifice quite a bit to get to where she is.
The romantic tension between Paxton and Sawyer jumps off the page, and it’s obvious from chapter 1 that these two have unfinished business. I loved watching their relationship develop because we could see the foundation laid by their shared history in Gauthier, but it was also clear how much each of the leads had changed and grown over time.
Throughout the story, we see Paxton revisiting old assumptions about her life(such as Sawyer’s opinion of her in high school) and reexamining them with Sawyer. Her openness to addressing the past and moving on gives her a great character arc and also draws the couple closer together emotionally. I’ve read more than a few category romances that mention baggage from the leads’ high school days, but few that use that effectively.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: https://allaboutromance.com/january-t...
Paxton Jones and Sawyer Robertson both grew up in Gauthier, Louisiana and both left to pursue career success elsewhere. Now well into their 30s, both are back in Gauthier working on a flood prevention project. Paxton walks into her temporary office as a project manager, and discovers that the civil engineer sent to her by the state is none other than Sawyer. Needless to say, it rocks her world – and not entirely happily at first. Paxton shared a passionate night with Sawyer three years before that left her with plenty of conflicting emotions she doesn’t want to deal with.
And it turns out that Sawyer has some conflicting emotions of his own as well. Ms. Rochon does a fantastic job of setting the stage of her story. I could feel both the professional and personal tensions between the leads right away. Paxton and Sawyer have a shared childhood and a history that brings them together in some ways, but the shadow of that past romantic encounter looms. In addition, we see pretty quickly that these two occupied very different places in the social hierarchy of the town. Sawyer has money, and he came from a prosperous family whose business employed many in the region. Paxton, on the other hand, grew up with a loving single mother and they often just barely scraped by. Her financial situation is more secure now, but it’s made very obvious that Paxton had to work and sacrifice quite a bit to get to where she is.
The romantic tension between Paxton and Sawyer jumps off the page, and it’s obvious from chapter 1 that these two have unfinished business. I loved watching their relationship develop because we could see the foundation laid by their shared history in Gauthier, but it was also clear how much each of the leads had changed and grown over time.
Throughout the story, we see Paxton revisiting old assumptions about her life(such as Sawyer’s opinion of her in high school) and reexamining them with Sawyer. Her openness to addressing the past and moving on gives her a great character arc and also draws the couple closer together emotionally. I’ve read more than a few category romances that mention baggage from the leads’ high school days, but few that use that effectively.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: https://allaboutromance.com/january-t...
July 29, 2015
I loved Stay with Me Forever so much that as soon as I finished it, I downloaded the first five books in the Gauthier series. I joked with the author on Twitter that I was packing my bags and moving to Gauthier as soon as possible. Rochon has created a magical town full of compassionate and caring people. Her characters feel real and fleshed out. Though I'm not normally a huge fan of romance books, I love her work. The way she throws in historical references and uses New Orleans as a character in her stories makes for great reading. I'll definitely be on the look out for more from the author.
May 27, 2026
Stay with Me Forever by Farrah Rochon (2015) (June 2026 audio) [reading in May]
Bayou Dreams #6
5h 8m narrated by Marissa Hampton 224 pages
ALC courtesy of Dreamscape Media and NetGalley
Genre: Contemporary Romance, African-American Romance
Rating as a movie: X for strong sexual content
Featuring: Fictional Small-Town 1 Hour from New Orleans, Louisiana; Homecoming Trope, Family Dynamics, Tricenarians, Building Renovation, Bar & Grill, Little Rock, Arkansas; Small Businesses vs Big Corporations, Engineers, Chicago, Illinois; Divorcé, Second Chance Trope, Old Flame, Enemies-to-Lovers Trope, Updates on Families and Couples From Previous Books, High School, Sex - Detailed, Homecoming, LSU Football, Town Safety
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½⚜️🪴🪻🏢🏗🌀
My thoughts: This series has quickly become one of my favorites, and although I believe this is the end of the series, they left the door open for more, so I hope it eventually gets a new installment. Paxton has been present in the background of all the previous novels, so there's been a lot of anticipation for her and Sawyer's story, and it didn't disappoint. This story moved a lot faster than the previous books, and it wasn't as spicy, but it was still sizzling.
Recommend to others: Yes! The characters are fun, and the storyline has a rapid pace.
Bayou Dreams
1. A Forever Kind of Love (2012)
2. Always and Forever (2012)
3. Yours Forever (2014)
4. Forever's Promise (2014)
5. Forever with You (2015)
6. Stay with Me Forever (2015)
Songs for the soundtrack: "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Harry Connick Jr.
Bayou Dreams #6
5h 8m narrated by Marissa Hampton 224 pages
ALC courtesy of Dreamscape Media and NetGalley
Genre: Contemporary Romance, African-American Romance
Rating as a movie: X for strong sexual content
Featuring: Fictional Small-Town 1 Hour from New Orleans, Louisiana; Homecoming Trope, Family Dynamics, Tricenarians, Building Renovation, Bar & Grill, Little Rock, Arkansas; Small Businesses vs Big Corporations, Engineers, Chicago, Illinois; Divorcé, Second Chance Trope, Old Flame, Enemies-to-Lovers Trope, Updates on Families and Couples From Previous Books, High School, Sex - Detailed, Homecoming, LSU Football, Town Safety
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½⚜️🪴🪻🏢🏗🌀
My thoughts: This series has quickly become one of my favorites, and although I believe this is the end of the series, they left the door open for more, so I hope it eventually gets a new installment. Paxton has been present in the background of all the previous novels, so there's been a lot of anticipation for her and Sawyer's story, and it didn't disappoint. This story moved a lot faster than the previous books, and it wasn't as spicy, but it was still sizzling.
Recommend to others: Yes! The characters are fun, and the storyline has a rapid pace.
Bayou Dreams
1. A Forever Kind of Love (2012)
2. Always and Forever (2012)
3. Yours Forever (2014)
4. Forever's Promise (2014)
5. Forever with You (2015)
6. Stay with Me Forever (2015)
Songs for the soundtrack: "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Harry Connick Jr.
June 1, 2026
✨ALC Review✨ - 2 ⭐️
Am I missing something with all these glowing reviews?? 😭
This wasn’t terrible by any means, but it definitely had way too many issues for me to really enjoy it, and honestly… it barely even felt like it had an ending.
My biggest problem was the FMC. She constantly talks about being grown and mature, but then spends the entire book acting like an insecure teenager despite being almost 40 years old. The constant “I don’t belong in his world” spiral got old FAST. Like girl, please stand up 😭 You are supposed to be a successful adult woman, not a 16-year-old in her first relationship.
And honestly… I really struggled to understand what Sawyer even saw in her most of the time.
I will say, I liked how open and intentional he was about pursuing her. I appreciated that he wasn’t afraid to show interest or be straightforward about wanting her. BUTTTT… this book really walked a fine line for me between cute persistence and genuinely uncomfortable behavior. He refused to take no for an answer and just kept pushing and pushing until she gave in, which only comes across as romantic because we already know she secretly likes him. If the feelings hadn’t been mutual, the behavior would’ve felt really gross. There were definitely moments where it crossed into making me feel a little icky.
The pacing also dragged quite a bit for me. It felt like the same issues and insecurities were being repeated over and over again without much real progression, and then the story just… ended? It didn’t really feel like there was a proper resolution or satisfying conclusion to anything.
Overall, this was just kind of a miss for me. There were moments that were cute, but personally I spent most of the book frustrated.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for letting me listen to this one early.
Am I missing something with all these glowing reviews?? 😭
This wasn’t terrible by any means, but it definitely had way too many issues for me to really enjoy it, and honestly… it barely even felt like it had an ending.
My biggest problem was the FMC. She constantly talks about being grown and mature, but then spends the entire book acting like an insecure teenager despite being almost 40 years old. The constant “I don’t belong in his world” spiral got old FAST. Like girl, please stand up 😭 You are supposed to be a successful adult woman, not a 16-year-old in her first relationship.
And honestly… I really struggled to understand what Sawyer even saw in her most of the time.
I will say, I liked how open and intentional he was about pursuing her. I appreciated that he wasn’t afraid to show interest or be straightforward about wanting her. BUTTTT… this book really walked a fine line for me between cute persistence and genuinely uncomfortable behavior. He refused to take no for an answer and just kept pushing and pushing until she gave in, which only comes across as romantic because we already know she secretly likes him. If the feelings hadn’t been mutual, the behavior would’ve felt really gross. There were definitely moments where it crossed into making me feel a little icky.
The pacing also dragged quite a bit for me. It felt like the same issues and insecurities were being repeated over and over again without much real progression, and then the story just… ended? It didn’t really feel like there was a proper resolution or satisfying conclusion to anything.
Overall, this was just kind of a miss for me. There were moments that were cute, but personally I spent most of the book frustrated.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for letting me listen to this one early.
July 16, 2016
Each time I read about Gauthier and Maplesville I feel so at home. Stay With Me Forever gave me that good old down home feeling. Well written characters, saying and doing for the community the way we did in the old days. People in the community showing "LOVE." Sawyer had the patience of Job, Belinda and Paxton are independent as hell, I remember those type of people growing up in my community in AL.
Read book 6 in the Bayou Dream series, it will have you wanting to read books 1 to 5. Each book stands on it's own but to read the entire series is just awesome.
Read book 6 in the Bayou Dream series, it will have you wanting to read books 1 to 5. Each book stands on it's own but to read the entire series is just awesome.
May 20, 2021
This is was a fun quick read!
This is a sort of second-chance romance. Paxton and Sawyer slept together three years together and now they're back in their hometown working on a job together. I liked this set up but I could not get over how much lingering on high school there was. These two are 37 years old and they talk about high school far too much for people who are that age. I thought their careers were really interesting. having them work on civil engineering projects is something I've never seen before and it made for really interesting conflicts. However, the conflict at the end, which was introduced in the last ten pages, wrapped up way too quickly. And was introduced way too close to the end!
I did enjoy the romance, though I thought the reason that they separated three years before was a bit contrived. I enjoyed some of their banter, though some of the work arguments did annoy me. Even though this was a short book, I did feel like we saw them reconnect. I would have liked to have heard more about Paxton's mom and the bar but generally the characters in this book were enjoyable to read.
I know Rochon has more recent releases and I would be interested in reading a book where she has more room to flesh out the story. This was a good introduction to this author and I'll probably read more soon!
This is a sort of second-chance romance. Paxton and Sawyer slept together three years together and now they're back in their hometown working on a job together. I liked this set up but I could not get over how much lingering on high school there was. These two are 37 years old and they talk about high school far too much for people who are that age. I thought their careers were really interesting. having them work on civil engineering projects is something I've never seen before and it made for really interesting conflicts. However, the conflict at the end, which was introduced in the last ten pages, wrapped up way too quickly. And was introduced way too close to the end!
I did enjoy the romance, though I thought the reason that they separated three years before was a bit contrived. I enjoyed some of their banter, though some of the work arguments did annoy me. Even though this was a short book, I did feel like we saw them reconnect. I would have liked to have heard more about Paxton's mom and the bar but generally the characters in this book were enjoyable to read.
I know Rochon has more recent releases and I would be interested in reading a book where she has more room to flesh out the story. This was a good introduction to this author and I'll probably read more soon!
June 2, 2026
I love me a second chance romance and this one was super sweet. I loved that they were both engineers because I work in the AE field and it was great to see the female representation. I am all in on a man who falls first and has been pining. I understand how Paxton was leery of Sawyer but it all came together so nicely and I loved how much their small town meant to them.
June 4, 2026
Está bastante bien, pero el final ha sido..... raro. Ha cerrado como muy de golpe, no me ha acabado de gustar. Ella a veces es muy pesada con lo de que son de "diferentes mundos". ¿En el instituto? Ok. ¿20 años después? Supéralo.
El audiolibro ha estado bien, me ha gustado la narradora.
El audiolibro ha estado bien, me ha gustado la narradora.
August 23, 2015
Growing up on the wrong side of the river in Gauthier, Louisiana, Paxton Jones is suitably proud of her career success as a project manager for a company that works on flood prevention projects. But she has trouble shaking the major chip on her shoulder about her underprivileged upbringing, especially when it comes to town golden boy Sawyer Robertson. But now that Paxton is back in town, working on a flood control project that might save Gauthier from a future disaster, Paxton has to swallow her pride if the project is to be a success. Because the Army Corps of Engineer Civil Works Department has assigned no one but Sawyer Robertson to work with her on it.
But Sawyer, who has had a crush on Paxton ever since high school, grows ever-more determined to make the one-night stand he shared with Paxton three years ago into something more. And to prevent the flood project from overlooking any detail, no matter how seemingly insignificant—and no matter how much extra time such detail work may take. But Paxton's job may be on the line if she doesn't bring the project in on time and on budget...
Rochon is a strong writer, and the set-up here had the potential to work well. But the reason for Paxton's reluctance to give in to her attraction to Sawyer makes absolutely no sense, at least in terms of what we're shown in the story. Paxton's class-based issues could also have made for interesting drama, but the novel shows us absolutely no reason why Paxton should hold them—though the narrative talks about class differences existing in the town, no one treats her or her mother differently or slightingly. So it ends up feeling like Paxton's nursing a grudge against the town, and against Sawyer, for absolutely no reason.
But Sawyer, who has had a crush on Paxton ever since high school, grows ever-more determined to make the one-night stand he shared with Paxton three years ago into something more. And to prevent the flood project from overlooking any detail, no matter how seemingly insignificant—and no matter how much extra time such detail work may take. But Paxton's job may be on the line if she doesn't bring the project in on time and on budget...
Rochon is a strong writer, and the set-up here had the potential to work well. But the reason for Paxton's reluctance to give in to her attraction to Sawyer makes absolutely no sense, at least in terms of what we're shown in the story. Paxton's class-based issues could also have made for interesting drama, but the novel shows us absolutely no reason why Paxton should hold them—though the narrative talks about class differences existing in the town, no one treats her or her mother differently or slightingly. So it ends up feeling like Paxton's nursing a grudge against the town, and against Sawyer, for absolutely no reason.
July 21, 2015
Ms. Rochon's Bayou Dreams books have been my very favorite Kimani series. The stories always seem to have intelligent, likable heroines and relatable, believable romances. Stay with Me Forever is a wonderful addition to this strong series. You can read my full review at http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com...
July 9, 2020
Stay with Me Forever is the 6th stand-alone in the Bayou Dreams series. The series is connected by where the characters live: in Louisiana. This novel's setting is fictional small town Gauthier, near New Orleans.
The Premise Paxton Jones was the nerdy poor girl in high school. Sawyer Robertson was the star hunky football player with wealth and smarts, and way out of Paxton’s league. Until one passion-filled night as 20-somethings before they went their separate ways.
Now reunited for a city improvement project in their small Louisiana hometown, Paxton and Sawyer can’t help feel that attraction for each other. But they also can’t help butting heads on this project. This enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance is sure to keep you turning pages.
The story/The characters
Paxton is stubborn. And hard. And disbelieving. I didn’t want to like her, but there is so much of her in a lot of people I know. A lot of Black women I know. Including myself. The traits that make us the superwomen and the saviors we are ultimately also make us hard to love, hard to relate to (because how can you relate to divinity?) and hard to convince. I love when Pax and Sawyer get together, maybe even more than I would if I had liked her more separately. She’s not a “root-for” kind of character, but you do want her to have an HEA.
Sawyer is that all-around good guy that can do no wrong. He had it all as a kid, but his parents instilled that hard work ethic in him, so he’s not an entitled alpha. Instead he’s a total beta hero—has his crap together, secure in himself, but totally in love with him some Paxton. Love this guy. Actually, as I write this, he’s the MC to “root for.” I really wanted to see him break down Pax’s walls and show her she can love, and she deserves him—the good guy he is.
The combination of the enemies-to-lovers and the second-chance tropes here is a good one. It gives us a unique take on a story line that otherwise could have read very “we’ve been here before.” The heat level is steamy, open-door, but it’s HQ, so we’re not going into NSFW territory. We just love seeing these people. I especially liked the secondary plot of the construction project, which is creating a flood prevention system in the town. There are city council meetings, and surveys, and descriptions of levees and how water flows in flood plains. If you’re a homeowner or a business owner with a storefront, this is stuff you need to know. Heck, every citizen should know this stuff. If you pay taxes, you vote, you should know your part in how government works on a local level. This is a prime example of why romances should not be looked down on. You can learn a lot from reading these books, even when you just went in for a hunky hero.
Overall
This is an entertaining romance with a twist on tropes that make it even more enjoyable. If you’re a harlequin fan and you haven’t read this one, check it out. Also, where have you been? This book has been out there for some years.
The Premise Paxton Jones was the nerdy poor girl in high school. Sawyer Robertson was the star hunky football player with wealth and smarts, and way out of Paxton’s league. Until one passion-filled night as 20-somethings before they went their separate ways.
Now reunited for a city improvement project in their small Louisiana hometown, Paxton and Sawyer can’t help feel that attraction for each other. But they also can’t help butting heads on this project. This enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance is sure to keep you turning pages.
The story/The characters
Paxton is stubborn. And hard. And disbelieving. I didn’t want to like her, but there is so much of her in a lot of people I know. A lot of Black women I know. Including myself. The traits that make us the superwomen and the saviors we are ultimately also make us hard to love, hard to relate to (because how can you relate to divinity?) and hard to convince. I love when Pax and Sawyer get together, maybe even more than I would if I had liked her more separately. She’s not a “root-for” kind of character, but you do want her to have an HEA.
Sawyer is that all-around good guy that can do no wrong. He had it all as a kid, but his parents instilled that hard work ethic in him, so he’s not an entitled alpha. Instead he’s a total beta hero—has his crap together, secure in himself, but totally in love with him some Paxton. Love this guy. Actually, as I write this, he’s the MC to “root for.” I really wanted to see him break down Pax’s walls and show her she can love, and she deserves him—the good guy he is.
The combination of the enemies-to-lovers and the second-chance tropes here is a good one. It gives us a unique take on a story line that otherwise could have read very “we’ve been here before.” The heat level is steamy, open-door, but it’s HQ, so we’re not going into NSFW territory. We just love seeing these people. I especially liked the secondary plot of the construction project, which is creating a flood prevention system in the town. There are city council meetings, and surveys, and descriptions of levees and how water flows in flood plains. If you’re a homeowner or a business owner with a storefront, this is stuff you need to know. Heck, every citizen should know this stuff. If you pay taxes, you vote, you should know your part in how government works on a local level. This is a prime example of why romances should not be looked down on. You can learn a lot from reading these books, even when you just went in for a hunky hero.
Overall
This is an entertaining romance with a twist on tropes that make it even more enjoyable. If you’re a harlequin fan and you haven’t read this one, check it out. Also, where have you been? This book has been out there for some years.
May 29, 2026
ALC Review
📚 Book Title: Stay with Me Forever
✍🏽Author: Farrah Rochon
🎙️Narrator: Marissa Hampton
📕 Format: 🎧
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶 Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🕑Quick Take:
Paxton Jones returns from Little Rock, Arkansas, to Gauthier to buy Harland’s Bar for her mother, Belinda, and turn it into the River Road Bar & Grill. She works as a project manager at Bolt & Meyers, one of the Gulf Coast's largest engineering firms, and is set to team up with her high school crush, the star quarterback, on the flood protection project.
Sawyer Robertson has come back to Gauthier from Chicago after his divorce and his father’s death to rebuild his life and start fresh. Now, the state engineer in the civil works department has been assigned to the project with Paxton, the girl, whom he felt had never noticed him in high school.
Paxton and Sawyer shared a night together three years ago and are unsure of how they will collaborate on the project over the next four weeks.
✨ Tropes:
- One Night Stand/No Strings Attached
- Forced Proximity/Work Project
- Second Chance
- Different Side of the “Creek”/Haves and the Have Nots
- Small Town Romance
- Women in Engineering
🎭 Narration:
Marissa Hampton has done an excellent job throughout this series. I admire her ability to narrate from multiple characters’ perspectives. She did an excellent job handling the shifting POVs for Paxton and Sawyer. She consistently brought each character to life. Overall, Marissa Hampton provided excellent narration for this novel.
⚠️ Heads Up:
- Parent Loss
- Divorce
- Teen Pregnancy (Historical/Minor)
💭Final Thoughts:
This is a re-release of a book originally published in 2015 under Kimani Romance. I’ve enjoyed the entire series. Each book builds on the last, and each one becomes my favorite. I love the cozy small-town vibes of Gauthier! The stories are so cute and heartwarming. Perfect dual pining and swoon-worthy moments.
Thanks to Dreamsscape Media for the ALC!
📚 Book Title: Stay with Me Forever
✍🏽Author: Farrah Rochon
🎙️Narrator: Marissa Hampton
📕 Format: 🎧
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶 Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🕑Quick Take:
Paxton Jones returns from Little Rock, Arkansas, to Gauthier to buy Harland’s Bar for her mother, Belinda, and turn it into the River Road Bar & Grill. She works as a project manager at Bolt & Meyers, one of the Gulf Coast's largest engineering firms, and is set to team up with her high school crush, the star quarterback, on the flood protection project.
Sawyer Robertson has come back to Gauthier from Chicago after his divorce and his father’s death to rebuild his life and start fresh. Now, the state engineer in the civil works department has been assigned to the project with Paxton, the girl, whom he felt had never noticed him in high school.
Paxton and Sawyer shared a night together three years ago and are unsure of how they will collaborate on the project over the next four weeks.
✨ Tropes:
- One Night Stand/No Strings Attached
- Forced Proximity/Work Project
- Second Chance
- Different Side of the “Creek”/Haves and the Have Nots
- Small Town Romance
- Women in Engineering
🎭 Narration:
Marissa Hampton has done an excellent job throughout this series. I admire her ability to narrate from multiple characters’ perspectives. She did an excellent job handling the shifting POVs for Paxton and Sawyer. She consistently brought each character to life. Overall, Marissa Hampton provided excellent narration for this novel.
⚠️ Heads Up:
- Parent Loss
- Divorce
- Teen Pregnancy (Historical/Minor)
💭Final Thoughts:
This is a re-release of a book originally published in 2015 under Kimani Romance. I’ve enjoyed the entire series. Each book builds on the last, and each one becomes my favorite. I love the cozy small-town vibes of Gauthier! The stories are so cute and heartwarming. Perfect dual pining and swoon-worthy moments.
Thanks to Dreamsscape Media for the ALC!
June 3, 2026
Stay With Me Forever by Farrah Rochon
Pub Date: 6/2/26
Format: gifted audio
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.75)
A workplace romance about a project manager?! By an author I enjoy? Say less!!
I actually went into this book blind because I have enjoyed the books I read by Farrah Rochon in the past, and had no idea that the FMC’s career would mirror mine so closely. That was a fun surprise and, while it’s not the exact same career, it was close enough to have me extra invested!
I loved the plot of this book, which isn’t always the case for romance novels. Sometimes, you’re just in it for the characters and relationship development and that is ok! But I really appreciated the message Rochon sent with the actual story behind Paxton & Sawyer’s close proximity on this project!
The story, however, was more engaging for me than the actual romance. Their chemistry was believable enough, but the FMC’s hangups on some childhood dynamics made it fall a smidge flat for me. A lot of the set up of their romance takes place in the past and I would have loved a few flashback scenes to help build their relationship on page.
That being said, I really enjoyed this audiobook all the same! I would absolutely recommend it, I just think you need to go in expecting a well-rounded story, and not a whirlwind romance. Big thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the gifted audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This one is out now!
Pub Date: 6/2/26
Format: gifted audio
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.75)
A workplace romance about a project manager?! By an author I enjoy? Say less!!
I actually went into this book blind because I have enjoyed the books I read by Farrah Rochon in the past, and had no idea that the FMC’s career would mirror mine so closely. That was a fun surprise and, while it’s not the exact same career, it was close enough to have me extra invested!
I loved the plot of this book, which isn’t always the case for romance novels. Sometimes, you’re just in it for the characters and relationship development and that is ok! But I really appreciated the message Rochon sent with the actual story behind Paxton & Sawyer’s close proximity on this project!
The story, however, was more engaging for me than the actual romance. Their chemistry was believable enough, but the FMC’s hangups on some childhood dynamics made it fall a smidge flat for me. A lot of the set up of their romance takes place in the past and I would have loved a few flashback scenes to help build their relationship on page.
That being said, I really enjoyed this audiobook all the same! I would absolutely recommend it, I just think you need to go in expecting a well-rounded story, and not a whirlwind romance. Big thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the gifted audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This one is out now!
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July 12, 2019Rochon fittingly ends her Bayou Dreams series with a couple who are focused on protecting the town of Gauthier, its people, and its future. Flood management as a civil engineering project was an interesting focus (though reading this while Louisiana anticipates Tropical Storm Barry made me anxious, and I'm nowhere near there), and gutsy, chip-on-her-shoulder Paxton and patient, hard-working-rich-boy Sawyer were interesting if sometimes frustrating protagonists. I know it's a return-to-class-divided-small-town and memories-of-an-unhappy-teenagehood thing, but goodness did I have a difficult time with thirty-seven-year old Paxton rehashing and caring about her high school experiences for as much as she did. And I know other people kept dragging her into it, and it was important for re-evaluating her history with Sawyer (and the secret crushes they'd nursed for one another), but I was relieved that their HEA .
May 28, 2026
Paxton and Sawyer have a complicated past. Years of mutual pining that the other didn't know about. However, Sawyer's family was much more wealthy and Paxton can't help holding that against him. Then 3 years ago, they had an incredible night, but Paxton left and she doesn't want to address it. Now, they have both been assigned a city project to to re-work the water flows so future storms won't destroy their town.
The mutual pining is cute, but the years missed if they could have just been honest with each other and Paxton could have seen Sawyer for who he truly is/was and not the wealth of his family. Sawyer wants a future with Paxton as their chemistry is so powerful both personally and professionally, however, Paxton is solely focused on moving forward in her career. I wish the ending wouldn't have felt so rushed but at the same time, understand how it worked well for the storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The mutual pining is cute, but the years missed if they could have just been honest with each other and Paxton could have seen Sawyer for who he truly is/was and not the wealth of his family. Sawyer wants a future with Paxton as their chemistry is so powerful both personally and professionally, however, Paxton is solely focused on moving forward in her career. I wish the ending wouldn't have felt so rushed but at the same time, understand how it worked well for the storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2026
Stay With Me Forever quickly became my favorite in the series. I really enjoyed this book, thanks to Farrah’s beautiful writing and Marissa’s engaging narration. Paxton is a hardworking woman who takes pride in earning her success and doesn't rely on handouts. Sawyer, on the other hand, is a kind-hearted man who grew up with privilege but never acted like it. They've both had a secret crush on each other since high school, but neither of them had the courage to explore those feelings—until one unforgettable, drunken night. Years later, they find themselves working together, and all their hidden emotions start to resurface. I absolutely loved the palpable tension between them—the passion, their dedication to their project, and the sparks flying between them created a really compelling story. I do wish the book had been about 50 pages longer—I was so captivated, I wanted, no needed, more. This story truly drew me in from the very first page, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.
May 27, 2026
The final book in Rochon’s “Bayou Dreams” series is a standalone yet interconnected novel that ties the series together nicely, featuring cameos from earlier stories without leaving readers feeling out of the loop. It’s a would-be second chance romance—two people with a long-held secret crush finally acted on it years later, but only for one night. Now, they’re forced to work together and face their shared past in all its parts. More suggestive than spicy, it’s a story suitable for older teens to even the most pious elders. The audiobook, narrated solo by Marissa Hampton, beautifully conveys the characters’ emotions. Overall, it’s a charming read that I’m glad I picked up.
June 9, 2026
Book 6 of 6. Bayou Dreams series.
The story of Sawyer & Paxton. Two natives of Gaultier, LA who went to the same high school reunite to work on a flood system for the town. As any small town romance story you know eventually they will end up together.
I liked how the story showcases the tale of two different up bringing. One who was raised with a silver spoon while the other had to work hard for everything and didn’t have the luxuries most adolescents did during the teen years. Despite the economical differences nothing could stop the natural attraction between them both. Good ending to the series.
The story of Sawyer & Paxton. Two natives of Gaultier, LA who went to the same high school reunite to work on a flood system for the town. As any small town romance story you know eventually they will end up together.
I liked how the story showcases the tale of two different up bringing. One who was raised with a silver spoon while the other had to work hard for everything and didn’t have the luxuries most adolescents did during the teen years. Despite the economical differences nothing could stop the natural attraction between them both. Good ending to the series.
May 28, 2026
Stay With Me Forever is my first Farrah Rochon novel and now I want more. It’s giving Black Hallmark with smedium spice. You have Paxton and Sawyer working on a project together to restructure the levees in Louisiana. The thing is they have history. They went to high school together and later in life, after one night at the bar, there may have been an unfinished spark reignited. The book moves fast and kept me locked in.
It also left me wondering: how often do people talk themselves out of relationships and reduce interactions to “just sex” because they’re scared they’re not enough?
It also left me wondering: how often do people talk themselves out of relationships and reduce interactions to “just sex” because they’re scared they’re not enough?
May 28, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the tension between Paxton and Sawyer and had so much fun with that tension. The setting of this book was so picturesque and I loved the small town vibes. It was great to have these two working together to try and protect their small home town and I loved that they both had childhood feelings for each other that they never shared with each other. This was such a sweet and fun romance.
I really enjoyed the tension between Paxton and Sawyer and had so much fun with that tension. The setting of this book was so picturesque and I loved the small town vibes. It was great to have these two working together to try and protect their small home town and I loved that they both had childhood feelings for each other that they never shared with each other. This was such a sweet and fun romance.
May 30, 2026
This is such a cute story! I would best describe this as a second chance romance via forced proximity. Paxton counted herself out due to her background when all he ever wanted to do was impress/be with her. The two of them being able to come together to solve a problem that was important to both of them being their catalyst was perfect. The narrator of this was an amazing addition to the story. Her cadence and pacing was perfect for a story like this. I was granted the opportunity to experience the audio through NetGalley.
June 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.
The setting: Louisiana
The tension: high school crush/ one night stand
Main FMC: independent and driven
Main MMC: rich, fine and slightly out of touch but knows what he wants
We follow Paxton on her journey through coming back to her town for a work assignment where she’s forced to work with the man she ran away from.
I enjoyed this book and I really enjoyed narrator Marissa Hampton. I think she read both parts very well.
I will definitely continue reading from this series
The setting: Louisiana
The tension: high school crush/ one night stand
Main FMC: independent and driven
Main MMC: rich, fine and slightly out of touch but knows what he wants
We follow Paxton on her journey through coming back to her town for a work assignment where she’s forced to work with the man she ran away from.
I enjoyed this book and I really enjoyed narrator Marissa Hampton. I think she read both parts very well.
I will definitely continue reading from this series
June 6, 2026
A quick read or listen that brings all the hometown feels. It makes me want to visit Gauthier, Louisiana. The book focuses on the past lack of relationship and awareness between Paxton and Sawyer when they were kids and what could be between the two of them now if they can set aside their differences. The book brings light to the struggle women have in the work place compared to their male counter parts. As well as the social and economical disparities that occur in communities. Big topics, but a light read. You can't go wrong with Farrah's books, I recommend!
June 9, 2026
Pax and Sawyer have a history, now they are both back in their tiny hometown on a flood protection project; the fate of their town is at stake and they have to find a way to work together.
This was a super cute super sassy enemies to lovers. It is a part of the Bayou Dreams series but easily stands alone…I haven’t read the rest of the series (seriously need to go back and do that now). This one was extra fun for me, I work in civil engineering and getting to read a story about it was super fun.
This was a super cute super sassy enemies to lovers. It is a part of the Bayou Dreams series but easily stands alone…I haven’t read the rest of the series (seriously need to go back and do that now). This one was extra fun for me, I work in civil engineering and getting to read a story about it was super fun.
December 31, 2019
Stormy weather ahead!!
An excellent story, with a fascinating problem: a flooding project with engineering errors. And an affair to revisit - if possible!! Paxton is solidly stuck in her point of view, and unless she drops her long-held misconceptions, she and Sawyer's relationship doesn't stand a chance! I loved the rich guy/poor girl issues, and found the engineering discussions fascinating. All in all - a very satisfying romance!! Highly recommended!
An excellent story, with a fascinating problem: a flooding project with engineering errors. And an affair to revisit - if possible!! Paxton is solidly stuck in her point of view, and unless she drops her long-held misconceptions, she and Sawyer's relationship doesn't stand a chance! I loved the rich guy/poor girl issues, and found the engineering discussions fascinating. All in all - a very satisfying romance!! Highly recommended!
May 27, 2026
Book 6 of the BayouDreams series. This one felt a bit short I was for sure wanting more details of what they continued to do together. There was a little spice and lots of flirting and banter between the two main characters. I just love this series and how each couple loved their town. I also love the cameos/cross overs of others in the series. They’re all fine as standalone but reading together is great.
This re-releases on June 2!!
This re-releases on June 2!!
May 31, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media & Farrah Rochon for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is book 6 in a shorter novel series- I have not read any of the previous books and I still enjoyed it! That's a testament to the quality of the writing and of this story. To read something as as brief as a 225ish page book and it be okay as a standalone in a large series?! OKAY! Now- based on that enjoyment I DO want to go back and read the others!
This is book 6 in a shorter novel series- I have not read any of the previous books and I still enjoyed it! That's a testament to the quality of the writing and of this story. To read something as as brief as a 225ish page book and it be okay as a standalone in a large series?! OKAY! Now- based on that enjoyment I DO want to go back and read the others!
June 9, 2026
I'd give this a solid 3.5!
Idk the characters just weren't it for me.. Paxton was really annoying with her denial and everything... and her preconceived thoughts of Sawyer and it was truly annoying lmao. At the grown age, we shouldn't be doing this. And Sawyer wasn't even better not taking no for an answer. He was just coming off too aggressive I think and yeah.. idk.
Not my fave by Farrah but I didn't hate it.
Idk the characters just weren't it for me.. Paxton was really annoying with her denial and everything... and her preconceived thoughts of Sawyer and it was truly annoying lmao. At the grown age, we shouldn't be doing this. And Sawyer wasn't even better not taking no for an answer. He was just coming off too aggressive I think and yeah.. idk.
Not my fave by Farrah but I didn't hate it.
June 16, 2026
First I have to thank Netgalley and Farah Rochon for providing me with access to the audiobook version of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. Huge props to the narrator who made this story much more enjoyable. As bare minimum as it sounds, people of color narrating stories of people of color just give the story a more authentic and immersive vibe.
The first three thirds of the book were so good, but the ending was so rushed in my opinion. I needed more angst, I needed a better fight and better reconciliation. I liked Paxton at first, but then she became somewhat insufferable. She kept repeating herself, falling again and again in the same prejudice to a point that her behavior became unacceptable. I wish Sawyer gave her a harder time to reconcile with her. No one should to be that accessible in the name of love. No one should tolerate being dismissed and disrespected like that, much less Sawyer who tried all along this book to be understanding and supportive of her.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
The first three thirds of the book were so good, but the ending was so rushed in my opinion. I needed more angst, I needed a better fight and better reconciliation. I liked Paxton at first, but then she became somewhat insufferable. She kept repeating herself, falling again and again in the same prejudice to a point that her behavior became unacceptable. I wish Sawyer gave her a harder time to reconcile with her. No one should to be that accessible in the name of love. No one should tolerate being dismissed and disrespected like that, much less Sawyer who tried all along this book to be understanding and supportive of her.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
December 31, 2019
3.5 stars. Second second chance romance; forced proximity; one night stand reunion. Liked this a lot. Cute, sexy, and thorough look at caring for your community. Farrah is also wonderful at professional backstories for her characters.
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