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Cajun #1
The Love Potion
Hijinks ensue when a beautiful chemist unwittingly tests her new love potion on a wildly handsome lawyer.
A love potion in a jelly bean?
Yep! Fame and fortune are surely only a swallow away when Dr. Sylvie Fontaine discovers a chemical formula guaranteed to attract the opposite sex. Though her own love life is purely hypothetical, the shy chemist's professional future is assured ... as soon as she can find a human guinea pig.
The only problem is the wrong man has swallowed Sylvie's love potion. Bad boy Lucien LeDeux is more than she can handle even before he's dosed with the Jelly Bean Fix. The wildly virile lawyer is the last person she'd choose to subject to the scientific method.
When the dust settles, Sylvie and Luc have the answers to some burning questions-Can a man die of testosterone overload? Can a straight-laced female lose every single one of her inhibitions?-and they learn that old-fashioned romance is still the best catalyst for love.
A love potion in a jelly bean?
Yep! Fame and fortune are surely only a swallow away when Dr. Sylvie Fontaine discovers a chemical formula guaranteed to attract the opposite sex. Though her own love life is purely hypothetical, the shy chemist's professional future is assured ... as soon as she can find a human guinea pig.
The only problem is the wrong man has swallowed Sylvie's love potion. Bad boy Lucien LeDeux is more than she can handle even before he's dosed with the Jelly Bean Fix. The wildly virile lawyer is the last person she'd choose to subject to the scientific method.
When the dust settles, Sylvie and Luc have the answers to some burning questions-Can a man die of testosterone overload? Can a straight-laced female lose every single one of her inhibitions?-and they learn that old-fashioned romance is still the best catalyst for love.
391 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1999
149 people are currently reading
1291 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Hill
92 books1,313 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Sandra Hill is a graduate of Penn State and worked for more than 10 years as a features writer and education editor for publications in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Writing about serious issues taught her the merits of seeking the lighter side of even the darkest stories. She is the wife of a stockbroker and the mother of four sons.
This biography was provided by the author or their representative.
Sandra Hill is a graduate of Penn State and worked for more than 10 years as a features writer and education editor for publications in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Writing about serious issues taught her the merits of seeking the lighter side of even the darkest stories. She is the wife of a stockbroker and the mother of four sons.
This biography was provided by the author or their representative.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
December 8, 2018
As the old joke went . . . tornadoes and Southerners going through a divorce have a lot in common . . . including the fact that someone’s going to lose a trailer.
This book is okay as a romance, but pretty cheesy.
The couple have known each other all of their lives and been enemies. Kind of. They get thrown together and he ends up taking a "love potion" on accident, so they fall in love. Nothing could possibly go wrong with this scenario.
Oh yeah, except that.
Still, it was okay.
What was great about the book, though, is the author's descriptiveness about Louisiana Cajun Country. If you've ever been there, or are just interested in the swamplands and the lifestyle in them, you will love this book. I swear that you could feel the humidity and mosquitoes biting you as you read it. It made me crave some etouffee and dirty rice. This book was pure Cajun goodness through and through.
The birth of this book.
The main characters were a mixed bag. She was uptight and an over-thinker, so not really my favorite person. She had zero sense of humor. But, him! He was awesome! Super funny. A total character. He almost made up for her missing personality.
Yes, he went through a drive-through daiquiri shop. They have those.
(Actually, we have one right down the street too. I live in Houston. Never saw one before coming to the South.)
Try the Coon Ass Koolaid.
I like how the signs say that drinking and driving is illegal at a drive-thru bar.
We dun tol dem to wait til dey got to dare trailer.
So, the whole Cajun/Creole thing was enough to entertain me. I'm going to try a couple more of these books.
This book is okay as a romance, but pretty cheesy.
The couple have known each other all of their lives and been enemies. Kind of. They get thrown together and he ends up taking a "love potion" on accident, so they fall in love. Nothing could possibly go wrong with this scenario.
Oh yeah, except that.
Still, it was okay.
What was great about the book, though, is the author's descriptiveness about Louisiana Cajun Country. If you've ever been there, or are just interested in the swamplands and the lifestyle in them, you will love this book. I swear that you could feel the humidity and mosquitoes biting you as you read it. It made me crave some etouffee and dirty rice. This book was pure Cajun goodness through and through.
The birth of this book.
The main characters were a mixed bag. She was uptight and an over-thinker, so not really my favorite person. She had zero sense of humor. But, him! He was awesome! Super funny. A total character. He almost made up for her missing personality.
Yes, he went through a drive-through daiquiri shop. They have those.
(Actually, we have one right down the street too. I live in Houston. Never saw one before coming to the South.)
Try the Coon Ass Koolaid.
I like how the signs say that drinking and driving is illegal at a drive-thru bar.
We dun tol dem to wait til dey got to dare trailer.
So, the whole Cajun/Creole thing was enough to entertain me. I'm going to try a couple more of these books.
September 22, 2018
3.25 stars
This one wasn't too bad but wasn't as great as it could have been. h/H have been frenemies since childhood. She is a chemist who suffers from shyness and comes from a family of cold women. He comes from a crappy childhood with an abusive father and is a lawyer. He needs her to test some samples and he by mistake has her love potion; shenanigans ensue with threats on their life, fighting their attraction etc.
This one wasn't too bad but wasn't as great as it could have been. h/H have been frenemies since childhood. She is a chemist who suffers from shyness and comes from a family of cold women. He comes from a crappy childhood with an abusive father and is a lawyer. He needs her to test some samples and he by mistake has her love potion; shenanigans ensue with threats on their life, fighting their attraction etc.
February 4, 2016
Empiezo a tomarle cierto cariño a estos hombres cajún. Luc es hermoso y dulce por dentro.
Fue una lectura entretenida aunque se me hizo un poco larga. Me encantó ver a Remy de nuevo, me sonó raro la introducción del personaje de Claudia para Remy cuando él no termina con ella. Lo de Tee-John no me lo esperaba . Ahhh, ¿qué haría yo sin mi bayou?
Fue una lectura entretenida aunque se me hizo un poco larga. Me encantó ver a Remy de nuevo, me sonó raro la introducción del personaje de Claudia para Remy cuando él no termina con ella. Lo de Tee-John no me lo esperaba . Ahhh, ¿qué haría yo sin mi bayou?
March 19, 2017
This was... um... not the best? Watch my video review
dnf
March 9, 2016DNFed at 20%
This book was just too nutty. I found the situation stupid instead of funny.
This book was just too nutty. I found the situation stupid instead of funny.
May 28, 2018
I love a Cajun tale. Romance, Mystery, Romantic-Suspense, I love them all as long as they are set in Cajun Country. It took me a while to get around to starting this series and I don't understand why it took me so long because I just loved this book! The nerdy, insecure, wealthy, Creole heroine and the hot, sexy, swamp rat, Cajun hero - What's not to like here? This is a long series, but each book looks like a whole lota fun. If you like your romance with a touch of humor, this series is for you.
Dr. Sylvie Fontaine comes from a long line of successful women and she feels like the disappointment in her family. As a research scientist, she just hasn't lived up to the other females in her family. Now, she has discovered a formula that is sure to bring the myth of a love potion to life. It works on rats, now she needs a human guinea pig. . .
When bad boy Lucien Leduex shows up at her lab all Sylvie can think od is their embarrassing encounter as 12 year olds at their first school dance. Shy Sylvie is totally mortified when Luc grabs a handful of her jelly bean love potion and downs them. Luc is there to get Sylvie to run tests on water samples, but he ends up being the test subject.
With break-ins at Sylvie's lab and both their homes, and being shot at to boot, Sylvie and Luc head for a secret cabin deep in the bayou. Who is after them and why is a question they will need to answer. Only problem is the affect on Luc, being so close to Sylvie, is hard to control, being under the influence of the Jelly Bean Fix.
4 1/2-Stars
Dr. Sylvie Fontaine comes from a long line of successful women and she feels like the disappointment in her family. As a research scientist, she just hasn't lived up to the other females in her family. Now, she has discovered a formula that is sure to bring the myth of a love potion to life. It works on rats, now she needs a human guinea pig. . .
When bad boy Lucien Leduex shows up at her lab all Sylvie can think od is their embarrassing encounter as 12 year olds at their first school dance. Shy Sylvie is totally mortified when Luc grabs a handful of her jelly bean love potion and downs them. Luc is there to get Sylvie to run tests on water samples, but he ends up being the test subject.
With break-ins at Sylvie's lab and both their homes, and being shot at to boot, Sylvie and Luc head for a secret cabin deep in the bayou. Who is after them and why is a question they will need to answer. Only problem is the affect on Luc, being so close to Sylvie, is hard to control, being under the influence of the Jelly Bean Fix.
4 1/2-Stars
August 1, 2013
I think I may be a bit burned out in contemporary romance at this point. Although I enjoyed the book it want one that I was screaming from the rafters about. I really do love a good Cajun accent though and the thought of Luc with that beautiful drawl while reading this book was enough to make a girl melt. Sylvie was a decent enough heroine. I was indifferent about her. Which is better than wanting to kill her, which happens quite a bit with me and the heroines of the books I read, but she was not one of my favorites. Overall, it was a fun little romantic comedy. I will probably read more in the series at some point just for that gorgeous Cajun accent alone.
April 29, 2023
This was a cute and fun time. The atmosphere and setting was my favorite part as the Louisiana setting was so rich and well researched which is unusual for a romance book. This book had two of my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers and slow burn.
December 4, 2019
Sylvie ha estado trabajando para una farmacéutica durante años aunque nunca ha tenido reconocimiento público. Ella lo prefiere así. Ahora, ha creado la poción del amor, ya ha sido probada con sus ratas así que el siguiente paso es probarlo en humanos. Eso es hasta que Lucian LeDeux se mete en su camino y literalmente se come toda su poción del amor. Ahora, ambos están siendo perseguidos por periodistas, matones, vecinos del pueblo y hasta por la policía. Pero además la poción parece estar funcionando... Demasiado bien.
Me estaba gustando pero llegó a un punto que el libro se me hizo eterno. Eterno!!!!!. Creo que se alargó mucho la historia sin necesidad.
Me ha encantado Luc son su cara permanente de pervertido y sus contestaciones con doble insinuación. También me encantó el Luc adolescente y valiente que tuvo que superar toda la mierda que le dio su padre.
En cuanto a Sylvie no me caía ni bien ni mal, nos aguantabamos mutuamente, pero al final estuve por pegarle hasta darle algo de sentido a esa cabeza. Cuando despreció el amor de Luc como lo hizo quise matarla.
En cuanto a quienes fueron las estrellas del libro: por supuesto Samson y Dalilah 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 me meo con esas ratas. Y Remy ese hombre me encanta incluso si me ha sorprendido que el siguiente libro es de su historia y no es de él con Claudia.
Por lo demás, la historia está bien pero quizás un poco extensa demás. Me ha encantado todo el tema Cajun ❤️
Me estaba gustando pero llegó a un punto que el libro se me hizo eterno. Eterno!!!!!. Creo que se alargó mucho la historia sin necesidad.
Me ha encantado Luc son su cara permanente de pervertido y sus contestaciones con doble insinuación. También me encantó el Luc adolescente y valiente que tuvo que superar toda la mierda que le dio su padre.
En cuanto a Sylvie no me caía ni bien ni mal, nos aguantabamos mutuamente, pero al final estuve por pegarle hasta darle algo de sentido a esa cabeza. Cuando despreció el amor de Luc como lo hizo quise matarla.
En cuanto a quienes fueron las estrellas del libro: por supuesto Samson y Dalilah 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 me meo con esas ratas. Y Remy ese hombre me encanta incluso si me ha sorprendido que el siguiente libro es de su historia y no es de él con Claudia.
Por lo demás, la historia está bien pero quizás un poco extensa demás. Me ha encantado todo el tema Cajun ❤️
March 17, 2008
The book is pretty good--a bit "light" for my tastes. There are some laugh out loud hysterical moments where you have tears in your eyes for how hilarious the situation is! I really like Sandra Hill and I loved her Vikings but so far this first book in the Cajun series came up a bit short.
August 25, 2009
3.5 stars if I could... I loved the story.. very funny.... but I felt like it was missing something... something to be desired like certain scenes could have been set up for better effect. As it being my first book by Sandra Hill I'm not giving up on her yet. Hopefully she gave up on her editor.
May 2, 2016
I barely remember this, but I do remember reading it several times. Was I drunk every time? I'm pretty sure the love potion in question was in jelly beans.
July 2, 2012
The first few Sandra Hill books I read, I enjoyed. But then they became kind of redundant and now I don't enjoy them near as much.
August 19, 2020
I love Sandra Hill - her books are bananas and so much fun to read. This one is no exception - a love potion hidden in jelly beans, sex-crazed rodents, and St Jude statues everywhere. It's a good enemies-to-lovers story, with a believable shift in their opinions of each other. Sophie and Luc are good, likeable people who spur each other to stretch and grow.
The supporting characters are good and fleshed out. Tante Lulu, the tiny Cajun dynamo determined to take care of her family in her own interesting way, steals every scene she is in. Luc's brothers have defined and separate personalities and definitely make me want to read their stories.
It's obvious that Hill loves Cajun culture, and she gets some of it right, but there is a glaring lack of research. Hill gives Sophie - who lives in Houma, Louisiana, a basement. There aren't basements in southern Louisiana - the water table is so close you'd end up floating your house away. I had to tape a post-it-note over this paragraph in the book because every time I reread it completely takes me out of the story.
Then there's 'Tee John" aka "Petit John" or "Little John". This is a term you'd usually find for a Junior (Petit John versus his dad or granddad, John), not just for a short kid.
And Tante Lulu's famous phrase "Talk About". I have never heard a Cajun say that, but my family is from SW Louisiana; maybe the SE LA Cajuns are a little different.
There's a lack of true Cajun speech, too. No "allons", very little "cher/chere".
Non-Cajuns won't notice any of the things that niggle at me - you can just enjoy the story as it, but fellow Cajuns be warned about what to expect.
The supporting characters are good and fleshed out. Tante Lulu, the tiny Cajun dynamo determined to take care of her family in her own interesting way, steals every scene she is in. Luc's brothers have defined and separate personalities and definitely make me want to read their stories.
It's obvious that Hill loves Cajun culture, and she gets some of it right, but there is a glaring lack of research. Hill gives Sophie - who lives in Houma, Louisiana, a basement. There aren't basements in southern Louisiana - the water table is so close you'd end up floating your house away. I had to tape a post-it-note over this paragraph in the book because every time I reread it completely takes me out of the story.
Then there's 'Tee John" aka "Petit John" or "Little John". This is a term you'd usually find for a Junior (Petit John versus his dad or granddad, John), not just for a short kid.
And Tante Lulu's famous phrase "Talk About". I have never heard a Cajun say that, but my family is from SW Louisiana; maybe the SE LA Cajuns are a little different.
There's a lack of true Cajun speech, too. No "allons", very little "cher/chere".
Non-Cajuns won't notice any of the things that niggle at me - you can just enjoy the story as it, but fellow Cajuns be warned about what to expect.
February 17, 2020
Excuse me, y'all, while I pick myself up off the floor. Lucien 'Luc' LeDeux, the self-professed Bad Boy of the Bayou, had me in hormonal overload. Apparently, my libido just couldn't handle his bayou charm, bad boy swagger, or his perfect amount of dirty talk that can melt panties the world over. Plus, I never before considered the Cajun accent sexy, but thanks to him, I can't get enough of it. (Hmm, I wonder if my s.o. could pull off a Cajun accent. ;))
As for Ms. Sylvie Breaux Fontaine, she was...alright. Nothing spectacular, but not too annoying either. Although, she could be kinda dense for a scientist, like forgetting something as basic as the placebo effect as well as letting herself fall into a couple of rom-com clichés. But she did have chemistry with Luc (who wouldn't?), especially whenever they would banter. And let's be honest, we romance readers are here for the hunks anyway.
Now, for those that like a plot with theirporn romance, the story is pretty decent, given the somewhat out-there premise (for a non-paranormal contemporary romance, that is). I mean, this book's got everything: a hunky Cajun, a spicy romance, a couple of intriguing mysteries, and plenty of humor. The ending was a little rushed, but since Luc and Sylvie got their happy ending, I can't really complain. Besides, the next few books will continue to follow the LeDeux clan, so I can't wait. Rene and Remy are a couple of hunks-in-training, and Tante Lulu is a hoot-and-a-half! In fact, I hope I'm even half as feisty as Lulu when I'm her age.
Overall Verdict: 9.5 jelly beans out of 10
As for Ms. Sylvie Breaux Fontaine, she was...alright. Nothing spectacular, but not too annoying either. Although, she could be kinda dense for a scientist, like forgetting something as basic as the placebo effect as well as letting herself fall into a couple of rom-com clichés. But she did have chemistry with Luc (who wouldn't?), especially whenever they would banter. And let's be honest, we romance readers are here for the hunks anyway.
Now, for those that like a plot with their
Overall Verdict: 9.5 jelly beans out of 10
December 6, 2017
The lawyer, the chemist and the love potion!
Lucien LeDeux, the Swamp Solicitor happens to eat the jelly beans that are a love potion created by chemist, Sylvie Fontaine. The affect of eating these jelly beans will be quite entertaining. Then there is the St. Jude statues along with the hope chests from Tante Lulu. The antics from Tante Lulu along with all of Luc's relatives makes this a very entertaining, hilarious story.
Lucien LeDeux, the Swamp Solicitor happens to eat the jelly beans that are a love potion created by chemist, Sylvie Fontaine. The affect of eating these jelly beans will be quite entertaining. Then there is the St. Jude statues along with the hope chests from Tante Lulu. The antics from Tante Lulu along with all of Luc's relatives makes this a very entertaining, hilarious story.
October 27, 2017
La historia es muy divertida y única, tiene situaciones de los más increíbles y muy graciosas, casi todo te hace amarla sino fuera por una situación un tanto que me dio agggg, porque no comprendo, habiendo tanto de donde elegir y aun siendo joven y sea lo que sea no lo comprendo ni lo quiero comprender eso de compartir y más siendo del padre sigo con agggg...
May 29, 2021
THE LOVE POTION
If. You are a romantic read this book......if you are not real this book and you may become one.
The bayou is calling and you know you just have to answer.....
This was a great book Thank You Sandra HILL for sharing these we words with the rest of us...you
Certainly do string them together nicely
Thanks Again 🐼
If. You are a romantic read this book......if you are not real this book and you may become one.
The bayou is calling and you know you just have to answer.....
This was a great book Thank You Sandra HILL for sharing these we words with the rest of us...you
Certainly do string them together nicely
Thanks Again 🐼
October 21, 2024
I absolutely love the interactions between Sylvie and Lucien. The spicy scenes are very well written, to be honest when I originally read this book back in my late teens early 20's they were very hot, and for a regular romance are hot. Definitely makes me want to find a bayou so my hubs and I could play Cajun cowboy and creole princess lol
December 6, 2025
The characters are interesting, the story moved along well, but the author didn't research her setting well. If you're from South Louisiana, it will get on your nerves. It's full of stereotypes and straight up wrong points. Bayous do not disappear after storms. Houses in Houma do not have basements. I almost DNF, and it takes a lot for me to want to stop reading.
February 15, 2018
Our "goody two shoes" main character basically says that drugging someone into being attracted to you is the same thing as wearing perfume or a push-up bra. That was just too insane for me and since I didn't wish anything good to happen for this character I cut my losses.
March 15, 2019
2.5 stars. I first read the part four, I think of this series and it was okay. Sandra Hill's writing held a sort of appeal to me. This love potion was disappointing. The plot lacked depth, the romance was very average. A lot of wishy-washiness from the characters.
May 28, 2019
I grew up in Louisiana. We couldn’t wait for the Cajun festivals.They are the most fun-loving group of people you will ever meet.Their music is grating on the ears but they make up for it with their joyful dancing just like in Ms. Hill’s books. I would recommend it to everyone.
November 2, 2020
Hit! Hot! Hot!!
This book had all the elements I love. Luckily and Sylvie have so much chemistry!!! I loved the beginning of the book!! those two were meant to be since the beginning!!!
This book had all the elements I love. Luckily and Sylvie have so much chemistry!!! I loved the beginning of the book!! those two were meant to be since the beginning!!!
January 4, 2024
Tengo se sentimientos encontrados, en algúnas partes la historia perdía el ritmo y luego se recuperaba de golpe, algunas peleas sobré todo las últimas no las entendí del todo sentí que Silv y Luc estaban peleando por qué si pero la trama en general es divertida.
April 14, 2025
I went into it thinking it would be super cheesy. and it was. but I actually enjoyed the characters, especially the Cajuns. ;) I love reading about Cajun and Creole traditions and about the bayou. The environmental impact parts were interesting. I definitely plan to continue the series.
January 1, 2018
A sweet story about the first of "crazy Cajuns" who get struck with the love thunderbolt, courtesy of Tante Lulu and St. Jude.
May 10, 2017
I just couldn't get through the rest of this book. I didn't think it was as good as it's description.
June 12, 2017
This was a fun read with lots of Cajun heritage facts thrown in. Loved LuLu !!!!! Will be reading Remy's story
July 26, 2017
This one took me a minute to get into, but when I did I liked it. A little predictable, but that's what I needed. Liked the cute Cajun guys.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews