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Midnight Bayou

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 · rating details · 17,847 ratings · 423 reviews

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts presents a novel set deep in the bayou of Louisiana—where the only witness to a long-ago tragedy is a once-grand house…

Declan Fitzgerald had always been the family maverick, but even he couldn't understand his impulse to buy a dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of New Orleans. All he knew was that ever since he first saw...more

Mass Market Paperback, 338 pages

Published November 26th 2002 by Jove (first published January 1st 2001)

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Dec 12, 2007 Alex rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

nora roberts is a god.

strong women, dark and handsome men, murder and intrigue, the french quarter and creole superstition, and lots of failed attempts at restraint make for one heck of a guilty pleasure.

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Jan 01, 2010 Michelle added it

"I love Nora Roberts. She is one of my go-to authors when I can't decide what to read or am just not in the mood to pick up something new. I find her work fun, refreshing, and just plain exhilarating, and I've read almost everything she has published. I consider myself a Nora Roberts expert.[return][return]Unfortunately, this is not one of my favorites of hers. The snappy dialogue that I've come to expect from her is lacking. I just don't care enough about any of the characters to really get int...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Guilty Pleasures added it · review of another edition

Shelves: guiltypleasures-kclu

KcLu's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

4.75 Stars
Midnight Bayou is a wonderful mixture of two stories that connect in a beautiful and at times spooky way. I have read this books many times since it came out originally. I usually take a while between readings, so it is like reading it for the first time every time and I have to say it kinda freaks me out a bit every time…lol.. BUT I am a self-admitted chicken.

Declan Fitzgerald has always felt a strong pull towards the old Manet Hall, and now he...more KcLu's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

4.75 Stars
Midnight Bayou is a wonderful mixture of two stories that connect in a beautiful and at times spooky way. I have read this books many times since it came out originally. I usually take a while between readings, so it is like reading it for the first time every time and I have to say it kinda freaks me out a bit every time…lol.. BUT I am a self-admitted chicken.

Declan Fitzgerald has always felt a strong pull towards the old Manet Hall, and now he has finally changed his life by buying it and moving from Boston to New Orleans to renovate it himself. From his first night in the house he begins to see he isn’t alone in the Hall, and some of the ghosts aren’t too happy that he has moved in. He keeps having episodes where he sleepwalks to certain parts of the house including the old nursery on the third floor which he can’t bring himself to enter. On top of that he keeps having dreams of things that happened in the house which he figures out when he sees pictures of the original family.

Angelina “Lena” Simone grew up just down the bayou from Manet Hall, and she has a family connection to the dark past of the hall. From the moment Declan sees her in her French Quarter bar, he feels an instant connection in his heart to her. He just has to get past all her walls and past pain to win her love, and not only do they have those hurdles the ghosts of his house don’t want them together either.

This book is so much more than a good ghost story. The weaving of this tale is one that is both shocking and beautiful. Nora Roberts’s books always grab me, but this is one of those that hold a special place in my heart. I have recommended this book to more peeps over the years than I can count. Some peeps have watched the Lifetime movie, but I have to say I treat it as one of those movies that just so happens to have a similar story line because this book is sooo beyond what that movie was. When you get to the parts where the past and the present come together, and Declan and Lena “go through” all that happened in the past. I can’t even begin to say how shockingly wonderful that is. My only complaint and it isn’t even a big one is that when Nora did her research for this one she used mostly “real French” instead of getting someone to help her with the Cajun French. As a Cajun that is just a small pet peeve, but I look past that in this one. I can’t recommend this one to you guys enough!(less)

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Sep 09, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I always feel a bit guilty rereading books, there are so many great books out there just waiting to be read! But, I have read every single book by Nora Roberts so now, when I need a Nora fix, I have no choice but to reread. It always feels like revisiting old friends...

Declan Fitzgerald is drawn to the dilapidated Manet Manor in New Orleans - so much so that he buys the house, uproots his posh life in Boston, and dedicates himself to the restoration of the old home. The fact that Miss Odette and...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Lyndi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 stars

As usual, Nora Roberts delivers an incredibly entertaining story. Since there are already a hundred reviews waxing poetic about how wonderful it is, I'll just quickly tell you why this wasn't another five-star read for me.

- Lena plays games. For all the talk about how much of a straight-shooter she is, she relies on the head games with Declan a little too often. This is a personal thing for me, exasperated by the fact that every god damn female lead is overly stubborn these days. I'm ki...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Tempo de Ler rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Declan Fitzgerald compara a casa dos seus sonhos e dedica-se de corpo e alma à restauração da mesma...sem saber o que aquelas paredes já presenciaram no passado.

Recuando uma centena de anos, Roberts atinge-nos com a forte história dos proprietários originais da mansão...e o horrendo crime cometido contra uma inocente.

Mas o passado estica o braço e tenta chegar até ao presente, assombrando a mansão, enchendo a cabeça de Declan com visões do que ali se passou. Contudo, Declan tem Angelina para o...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Deb Atwood rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ghost-novels

This book encapsulates Roberts’ strengths as a writer: eerie setting, mysterious mansion, endearing characters.

Declan Fitzgerald renounces a glam, power-packed lawyer’s existence for decaying Manet Hall on the edge of New Orleans. Of course, New Orleans with its French Caribbean history is the perfect locale for all things surnaturel. And, in fact, ethnic and class conflict is the basis for the murder that preceded the hauntings.

Declan, in the midst of much sawdust generating and antique purchas...more

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Mar 26, 2011 Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance, non-series-stand-alone-novels

Laissez Les Bon Temp Rouler!
Declan Fitzgerald may have been drunk and reckless when he broke into Manet Hall with his best friend Remy Payne during a trip to New Orleans when he was in college eleven years ago, but he was sober enough to know he wanted that broken down and aging old plantation home as soon as he saw it. He was serious enough about that want - that need - to leave his profession of law and his town of Boston and his family and his ex-fiance to head down to the bayou after buying...more

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Sep 16, 2010 Jane Stewart rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fantasy-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Average romance, nothing special. Gorgeous rich guy falls in love-at-first-sight with a haunted mansion and a reluctant woman.

REVIEWER’S OPINION (WITH MILD SPOILERS):
I purchased this book because it had been made into a TV movie. I was disappointed. I was expecting more. I’ve liked some of her other books much better. Another reviewer stated “The rebirth and reincarnation of characters was just too far out in left field for me.” That didn’t bother me, reincarnation stories can be good. My proble...more Average romance, nothing special. Gorgeous rich guy falls in love-at-first-sight with a haunted mansion and a reluctant woman.

REVIEWER’S OPINION (WITH MILD SPOILERS):
I purchased this book because it had been made into a TV movie. I was disappointed. I was expecting more. I’ve liked some of her other books much better. Another reviewer stated “The rebirth and reincarnation of characters was just too far out in left field for me.” That didn’t bother me, reincarnation stories can be good. My problem was the modern day characters were not interesting. Declan sees a run down mansion. He falls in love with it, buys it and begins to restore it even though he is aware of ghosts’ activities. Declan sees Lena and immediately falls in love with her and tells her so repeatedly throughout the rest of the book. Lena doesn’t want to fall in love and tries to keep her heart safe from Declan. Lena’s grandmother and mother were interesting side characters, but most of the book was watching Declan spend his money and energies on the house and Lena. It didn’t do much for me. Although, at the end of the book we learn some interesting twists and connections with ghosts from 100 years earlier.

STORY BRIEF (excerpted from Publishers Weekly review):
Declan is a Harvard-educated Boston lawyer from a wealthy family. On the eve of his wedding, Declan leaves Boston, the law and his fiance, buys a dilapidated New Orleans mansion (Manet Hall) and embarks on a mission to restore it with his own sweat, blood and money. But Manet Hall comes with a dark history, and restoring it means uncovering its past, which includes rape, murder and betrayal. He often hears a baby crying and voices, particularly that of Abigail Manet, the baby's mother, who lived in the hall 100 years earlier.

DATA:
Story length: 338 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 4 (includes a rape scene). Total number of sex scene pages: 11. Setting New Orleans area 1899, 1900 and 2002. Genre: contemporary fantasy romance.

OTHER BOOKS:
For a listing of my reviews of other Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb books, see my 4.5 star review of "Angels Fall" posted on 6-30-08.(less)

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Aug 31, 2010 Kayla rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010, nora-roberts, own, standalone, 4-star-books

MIDNIGHT BAYOU by Nora Roberts

My Thoughts:
This book opens with a scene from the past, which lets you in on the sad history of Manet Hall. The opening was very powerful and once the book switched to present day I immediately wondered more about what had happened long ago. One thing I loved about the layout of this book was that it went back and forth (small scenes, spaced out in moderation) to add more knowledge of the past events. That was something I enjoyed, as it would have driven me nuts not...more MIDNIGHT BAYOU by Nora Roberts

My Thoughts:
This book opens with a scene from the past, which lets you in on the sad history of Manet Hall. The opening was very powerful and once the book switched to present day I immediately wondered more about what had happened long ago. One thing I loved about the layout of this book was that it went back and forth (small scenes, spaced out in moderation) to add more knowledge of the past events. That was something I enjoyed, as it would have driven me nuts not to get the whole story. The past and present day characters were wonderfully written, making the book a joy to read. This book could've stood on its characters alone, they really were the making of everything wonderful in this book. Past and present alike, they each had dynamic personalities that made you connect to them and relate to them. Another highlight was the attention given to the setting, from the "lively pace" of the city of New Orleans, to the haunting slow calm of the bayou, the picture painted was wonderful and complete, and made you feel like you were right there with them. On the other hand, I will admit that the paranormal aspect was a hit and miss with me. I am all for paranormal/supernatural, I love it, and mixed into a romance novel I figured that would be something new and interesting. And it was, for the most part, but any loss of "points" I'd give this book were due to the little bit of a stretch with the paranormal later in the book. The majority of it fit nicely into the novel and didn't seem out of place, but there is a line, and I feel it was a bit hit and miss towards the end. Would it have been even better without the paranormal? No. Would it have been better with a few choice changes to said paranormal? Yes. All in all this book was a great read, full of moments that were funny, sexy, devastating, tender, and fresh. Not your average romance, and one you won't regret picking up.

Favorite Quotes:
"He'd explore that area another time, when he had a flashlight and a bag of bread crumbs." (Page 28)
"He felt the amused curve of her lips against his and, running his hands up her back, into her hair, let himself drown." (Page74)
Declan ~ "Excuse me, men don't faint. We do, on occasion, pass out or lose consciousness. But we do not faint." (Page 98)
Lena ~ "Pleasure's nothing, sugar, unless you got the willpower to hold off until you really appreciate it." (Page 124)
"This mysterious place with its slow-moving, shadowy water, its cypress bones and thick scents, was as much her world as the crooked streets and lively pace of the Quarter." (Page 167)

Overall Opinion: B+

~Kayla
http://kaylasbookcase.blogspot.com/(less)

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Jun 08, 2010 Alexis-Morgan Roark rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Paranormal romance by Nora Roberts is a deep, enthralling, sometimes shocking trip that we should all take at least once.

The characters made this story. Those from the past and those from the present.

This book took my on an emotional rollercoaster that had me ignoring my husband and kids to read.

Read this book when you have the time to really sit down and enjoy a good, satisfying read. Have some tissues nearby, though, 'cause there are moments that will enrage you, shock you, delight you, and ma...more

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Dec 01, 2009 Stacy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance

Declan Fitzgerald, a Harvard-educated Boston lawyer, has longed to possess Manet Hall ever since he and his friend, Remy Payne, broke into the old place as drunken students on a lark. Now, on the eve of his wedding, Declan leaves Boston, the law and his fianc‚e, buys the decrepit hall and embarks on a mission to restore it with his own sweat, blood and money. But Manet Hall comes with a dark history, and restoring it means uncovering its past, which includes rape, murder and betrayal. Declan enc...more

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Feb 11, 2013 HÜLYA YILMAZ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Orjinal adı Midnight Bayou olan Bataklıkta Gece Yarısı Goodrads puanı 5/3,92 Benim puanım 5/5 daha fazla puan olsaydı onuda verirdim.Müthiş bir kurgu müthiş bir duygu sağanağı vardı bu romanda..Reankarnasyon ile ilgili harika bir romandı..Daha önceden Anya Seton'un Yeşil Karanlık isimli romanını okumuştum Reankarnasyon ile ilgili ve çok da beğenmiştim..
Bataklıkta Gece Yarısı'da en az onun kadar güzel hatta daha alıcıydı diyebilirim..
Romanın erkek karakterine vuruldum diyebilirim kafasına koyduğu...more Orjinal adı Midnight Bayou olan Bataklıkta Gece Yarısı Goodrads puanı 5/3,92 Benim puanım 5/5 daha fazla puan olsaydı onuda verirdim.Müthiş bir kurgu müthiş bir duygu sağanağı vardı bu romanda..Reankarnasyon ile ilgili harika bir romandı..Daha önceden Anya Seton'un Yeşil Karanlık isimli romanını okumuştum Reankarnasyon ile ilgili ve çok da beğenmiştim..
Bataklıkta Gece Yarısı'da en az onun kadar güzel hatta daha alıcıydı diyebilirim..
Romanın erkek karakterine vuruldum diyebilirim kafasına koyduğunu yapan çok kararlı bir erkek..Evlilik Arifesinden evliliğine haftalar kala vazgçmiş ve mesleğinide bırakarak kendine bambaşka bir yol çizmiş bir genç adam..
Kadın Kahramanımız ise erkeklere dizginlerini kesinlikle vermeyen hayatının yönetimin çok genç yaşlarda eline almış çok güçlü bir karakter..Angeline Simon,en sevdiği kiş tarafından küçük yaşta iken kalbi kırılması da böyle olmasına neden olmuş..Erkekleri seviyor ama kendi kuralları ile..
Declan hayatını kökten değiştirmeye karar verdiğinde New Orleans'ta könhe ve çok eski Manet Malikanesini satın alır..O malikaneyi kendi elleri ile restorasyon işine girişir..Angelina ilede komşu olur..
Fakat malikeneyi daha önceden satın alanlar malikanedeki meydana gelen garip olaylar yüzünden yerleşmeden ellerinden çıkarmışlardır..Tadilat işlerine başladıktan sonra garip olaylar meydana gelmeye başlamıştır..Araştırmalarında bu malikanenin sahiplerinin garip şekilde öldüğünü ve kardeşlerden birisinin karısının garip şekilde kaybolduğunu öğrenir..Komşusu Angelina ile de arasında çok kuvvetli bir çekim oluşmuştur..Aralarındaki oluşan duygusal bağ gün geçtikçe kuvvetlenir..Declan bu ilişkiyi daha da ileri taşımak istesede Angelina'nın buna pek niyeti de yoktur..
Malikanede devam restarasyon sırasında ikisi de birlikte iken malikenin eski günlerine ait sahneleri görmeye başlamışlardır...Bu da araştırmayı daha da derinleştirmelerine sebep olur..

Çok güzel müthiş bir hikayedi..Çeviri edit kusursuz idi diyebilirim..Romanı elimden bırakamadım...Tavsiye ederim...
(less)

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Jun 13, 2012 Traci rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2012, 5-stars, mystery, romance, favorites

After the travesty that was the last romance novel I picked up, I didn’t have high hopes for Midnight Bayou at all. I’m going through a brain candy phase and I picked it solely because the cover was green and pretty and I like “swamp stories.” Profound, isn’t it?

But this book didn’t let me down and to be completely honest it exceeded every (extremely low) expectation I had for it. It’s really two stories in one, and even though there wasn’t so much of a big reveal, it was still very well writte...more After the travesty that was the last romance novel I picked up, I didn’t have high hopes for Midnight Bayou at all. I’m going through a brain candy phase and I picked it solely because the cover was green and pretty and I like “swamp stories.” Profound, isn’t it?

But this book didn’t let me down and to be completely honest it exceeded every (extremely low) expectation I had for it. It’s really two stories in one, and even though there wasn’t so much of a big reveal, it was still very well written.

Much to the dismay of his parents, Declan Fitzgerald leaves Boston and his law practice for New Orleans and a deserted mansion with a reputation for being haunted. He plans to fix it up to its original splendor and live there, apparently hopefully as a contractor. He’s only been inside the mansion once, when he and his friend broke in while they were drunk one night, but he knows he has to have the house. He goes to meet Remy (the friend) and Effie (his fiancée) at a bar one night and meets its owner, Angelina (Lena), and decides that he’s going to marry her one day. Lena has a different opinion.

Meanwhile, Dec begins having disturbing dreams, sleepwalking, and waking up to noises that he shouldn’t be hearing. A grandfather clock chiming when there isn’t one, a baby crying when he lives in the house alone, doors slamming. He’s dreaming of the Manets, the family who originally owned the house which he’s bought, and a tragedy that happened a hundred years before. The Manets were a wealthy family, and the older of two twin boys married a servant of the house. Shortly after giving birth to the first child, a girl named Marie Rose, the servant-turned-mistress disappears. While her husband’s mother says that she just ran away with her secret lover, the descendants of Marie Rose tell a different story.

This is the first Nora Roberts book I’ve read, so I’m not sure if the technical aspects I enjoyed the most are present in her other books, but I’m definitely willing to find out. Her writing was brilliant, descriptive and simple and I had absolutely no problem visualizing anything at all. Even though I knew what the ‘ghosts’ were trying to convey (the 1900s storyline, while flowing smoothly throughout the book, ‘ends’ in the first few pages), I still wanted to keep reading to see if the main characters would realize it, too.

The characterization was strong; none of the characters had a personality transplant and yet they learned to live with and love each other anyway. Their relationships with each other were fascinating to read about, and Dec’s slow acceptance of who he was and his adjustment of an entirely new way of life flowed smoothly. In the beginning, I thought he was brave to move away from everything he knew, to a city where he only knew one person (Remy). When new characters were introduced, they were unforgettable. Also, when new characters were introduced, the old ones weren’t shoved to the side. His circle grew, it didn’t shift.

Any disappointment I felt was near the end, and it just wasn’t enough to detract from my giving this five stars. I felt like it ended too quickly, was tied up in too much of a neat little bow, and it just… stopped. Conflict resolution and… end. There were ghosts in Manet Hall, and they just vanished and no one gave them a second thought ever again? Then again, this seems like a common theme in horror novels—you can’t drag it out too much, or else the shock vanishes and what are you left with? That creeping doubt that you’ve been reading too much into it all along. So maybe there was no way to continue the story and maybe it would have been too much to keep dragging it out. I know that I would have kept reading, and maybe I would’ve been disappointed because there really isn’t much left to do after this point.

I’d really love to read this again sometime.
(less)

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Aug 02, 2011 Obscured Vixen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

Book: 4 of 5 stars
Movie: 3 of 5 stars

Up front: I read the book first.

I’ve been a loyal Netflix user since 2006, and am one of the people that do not mind paying more for their services. I’ve always taken full advantage of it, and will continue to do so!

I recently searched through their made-for-TV-movies of popular books. I don’t know about you, but once in a while I get in a hot bubble bath with a nice sappy romance novel. Recently I read Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts, and noticed it was on Ne...more Book: 4 of 5 stars
Movie: 3 of 5 stars

Up front: I read the book first.

I’ve been a loyal Netflix user since 2006, and am one of the people that do not mind paying more for their services. I’ve always taken full advantage of it, and will continue to do so!

I recently searched through their made-for-TV-movies of popular books. I don’t know about you, but once in a while I get in a hot bubble bath with a nice sappy romance novel. Recently I read Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts, and noticed it was on Netflix! I ordered the disc and waited patiently for it to come in the mail.

Midnight Bayou was a definite page turner for me. I couldn’t put it down! Declan Fitzgerald, your typical hunky guy born into money, has decided to leave his law firm in Boston and buy a grand house in Louisiana, Manet Hall. The house has not been lived in for years and need lots of work. While Declan is working, he begins to hear and see things that are not really there. Thinking it is all in his head, he doesn’t tell anyone.

Declan’s neighbor, Angelina Simone, pays him a visit, the two hit it off, and *spoiler alert* Angelina spends the night. Angelina is woken up in the middle of the night by a crying baby. Angelina is also hearing things that are not currently happening, but does not admit this to Declan.

It turns out Declan and Angelina are the reincarnation of the previous residents that were murdered in the house. This was a great paranormal twist that I did not see coming, and added an additional element to an already great story.

So when the DVD came in the mail, I make my popcorn and plop down in front of the TV. I’m one of those people that believe that “the book is always better than the movie.” Although that is true in this case as well, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It didn’t hurt that Jerry O’Connell played Declan ; )

The book was better, having more details and more character development as usual. But as a made-for-TV-movie, this was excellent. It was much better than I expected, and I kept it for another day to watch it again.

Bottom Line: If you read the book, definitely watch the made-for-TV-movie! If you’re looking for a good chick lit or chick flick, definitely look into both! Midnight Bayou gets a thumbs up from me.(less)

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Aug 22, 2009 Stephy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Love story, Ghosts, and century flash backs...Can it get any better? Parts were a bit strange but I enjoyed it.

Declan Fitzgerald had always been the family maverick, but even he couldn't understand his impulse to buy a dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of New Orleans. All he knew was that ever since he first saw Manet Hall, he'd been enchanted-and obsessed-with it. So when the opportunity to buy the house comes up, Declan jumps at the chance to live out a dream.

Determined to restore Manet Hal...more

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May 12, 2013 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

De temps à autre, il m'arrive subitement d'avoir envie de lire tel ou tel livre se trouvant dans ma PAL. En général, il n'y a aucune raison particulière à ce choix totalement inopiné. Et le plus souvent, il s'avère que ces coups de tête sont de bonnes pioches...

Cette fois, c'est sur Nora Roberts que mon regard s'est posé. Je ne me souviens pas avoir été déçue une seule fois par cette auteure. C'est donc avec beaucoup de plaisir et de curiosité que je me suis lancée dans "Bayou".

Et finalement, c'...more De temps à autre, il m'arrive subitement d'avoir envie de lire tel ou tel livre se trouvant dans ma PAL. En général, il n'y a aucune raison particulière à ce choix totalement inopiné. Et le plus souvent, il s'avère que ces coups de tête sont de bonnes pioches...

Cette fois, c'est sur Nora Roberts que mon regard s'est posé. Je ne me souviens pas avoir été déçue une seule fois par cette auteure. C'est donc avec beaucoup de plaisir et de curiosité que je me suis lancée dans "Bayou".

Et finalement, c'est un peu déçue que je ressors de ma lecture.

En effet, si d'autres romans de cette auteure m'ont paru originaux et très prenants, celui-ci n'entre pas exactement dans ces catégories.

Tout d'abord, parce que certains éléments sont plutôt prévisibles et ne laissent pas beaucoup de place à la surprise lors du dénouement final. En lisant la quatrième de couverture, je pensais trouver des touches de fantastiques, des histoires de sorcières ayant jeté des mauvais sorts,... avec des recherches à propos du comment et du pourquoi, la façon de s'en défaire,... Et non, finalement, ce n'est rien de plus qu'un récit de vieux fantômes (oui je sais, la touche de fantastique, elle est là mais je m'attendais tout de même à plus).

En général, je trouve ces vieilles histoires fascinantes mais dans ce cas, j'ai l'impression que ce n'était qu'un prétexte pour un écrire un nouveau roman. Il y a un grand manque de profondeur et de recherche, c'est plat et banal.

Toutefois, j'ai quand même passé un agréable moment bien que je m'attendais à mieux. Le passé et le présent se mêlent, imprégnant d'une atmosphère particulière le roman.

Côté personnages, j'ai aimé ceux de Declan et de Miss Odette. Ils ont tous deux quelque chose de vraiment attachant. Par contre, je n'ai pas adhéré une seconde à la personne de Lena que j'ai trouvé vraiment très froide ce qui est dommage étant donné qu'il s'agit d'un des personnages principaux.

Enfin, en ce qui concerne l'écriture, c'est simple et agréable. Du Nora Roberts, autrement dit.

En quelques mots

Voici de quoi passer un bon moment mais il ne faut pas s'attendre à plus car l'histoire est assez peu fouillée alors qu'il y avait matière à mieux. Ce sera donc un roman vite lu et tout aussi vite oublié.(less)

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Aug 02, 2012 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: best-paranormal-fiction

I loved this story! Vengeful ghosts from the past, two very independant, slightly dented people in the present, a decrepit antebellum mansion, and other assorted complications all add up to a book I couldn't put down!

This book had a setting - New Orleans - that is irresistible to me and will always draw me in. I'm unapologetically obsessed with New Orleans, and love everything about it - the people, the lifestyle, the drama - absolutely everything about it! Nora Roberts must have spent some time...more

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Feb 25, 2009 Salma rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic-suspense

I know writers hate it when people keep comparing their new novels to past 'hits.' Kinda like people shouting at Dylan to play "Like a Rolling Stone" at all 500 of his shows. Still- Carolina Moon was so good, I kept trying to see if this one measured up.

Doesn't measure up to CM, but still a great read. Declan Fitzgerald is the main male character- Boston-bred rich blond dude who's fed up with his lifestyle, and decides he wants that hot bartender from the bayou down in Orleans. He fixes up a ma...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Mafalda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biblioteca

A história é brutal e prende-nos de uma forma que nem eu sei explicar...
Todos os dias era uma tortura para parar de ler, tanto que ficava até às 2 e 3h da manhã a ler. E em todos os bocadinhos que tinha lá estava eu enfiar o meu nariz no livro.

Deixo-vos aqui a sinopse:
"Depois de ter sonhado com a compra de Manet Hall durante vários anos, Declan Fitzgerald decide-se finalmente a dar esse passo. Larga o seu escritório de advogado em Boston e dispõe-se a dar início à imensa tarefa de restaurar a ca...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Keely rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The thing about Nora Roberts is that once you're a fan, you're a fan forever. She has this incredible ability to draw you into a character's life, from their quirks and personality traits to their passions and professions to their fears and flaws. I remember every single character from every single Nora Roberts' novel I've ever read; they've stayed me through all these years, and I'm never hesitant to read and reread their stories over and over again.

Nora Roberts' books are little worlds wrapped...more The thing about Nora Roberts is that once you're a fan, you're a fan forever. She has this incredible ability to draw you into a character's life, from their quirks and personality traits to their passions and professions to their fears and flaws. I remember every single character from every single Nora Roberts' novel I've ever read; they've stayed me through all these years, and I'm never hesitant to read and reread their stories over and over again.

Nora Roberts' books are little worlds wrapped up in pretty paper and catching titles. Her writing style envelops you, and you're literally sucked into whichever environment she's set up for you. One quality I've always noticed about these novels is that I always find myself wanting to go wherever the story takes place or to learn more about the ambitions of the characters.

I've been through Louisiana, seen the draping moss and experienced the oppressive humidity. It intrigued me, but never to the point that I'd want to stay for a while. However, after Midnight Bayou, I found myself dreaming about settling down in my own plantation house overlooking the bayou on the horizon, sipping iced tea on my own little shaded porch, enjoying the beauty of the mossed trees and the vibrant colors of the bright flowers that thrive in the South. Needless to say, the world building is incredible.

Nora gives us glimpses of the past, flashing back on the history of Declan's newly acquired Manet Hall. As a result, we get a feel of the pain of the house, the unresolved tragedies, and the truth of what drew Declan there in the first place. We get to know not only the history of the people who used to live in Manet Hall, but how they relate and affect the events of the present.

Like I said, Nora's characters, from villains to heroes and heroines, are always well developed, never leaving anything to be desired for readers. Declan is immediately the sexy, determined guy that all us females can't help but zone-in on. He's got baggage that he's not exactly proud of, but he's one of those guys that can't be anything but generous, caring, and down-to-earth, despite his rather prominent upbringing. He's adorable in his persistence and his straight-forward manner when it comes to Lina, and he really makes you wish that all guys were as honest with themselves.

Lina's quite the opposite. She's wary of anything that might be too good to be true, and she's very careful of who she trusts. She's fiercely independent, even more stubborn than Declan, and she's determined not to end up as a sobbing, heartbroken woman. But Declan surprises her at ever turn, matching her denial with brutal honesty that catches her off guard.

Their relationship... well, the physical aspect of it didn't delay, but the emotional side was a little rocky. Lina's wary, like I said, and while she's all about having a good time, she's definitely not for attachments. It had a quick/slow/quick feeling to it, taking three steps forward and two steps back, developing against all odds.

The core of the storyline itself... Wow. I love Nora's ability to weave history, murder, and ghosts into what could be considered a normal life. She makes it seem like any of her stories could happen to any of us. The murder, the tragedy, the lost love and how it all boils down to Declan and Lina is not what I expected when diving into Midnight Bayou.

I did feel that the resolution seemed... well, almost too easy compared to the obstacles that both of the main characters faced throughout the rest of the story, but it makes sense and brings the story to relieving and, as with all of Nora Roberts' books, happy ending.

Totally recommend :).(less)

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Aug 20, 2011 Autumn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemp-romance, interesting-plot-premise, library-rentals, time-travel, suspense, ghosts

Hmmm! I must admit that after reading a few NR novels, i felt like i was paraphrasing the characters dialogs. - so not cool!

surprise factor: they all are so damaged, yet they have all aced psychology 101 class ta-da.Seriously, haven't you noticed?? they are all so evolved and ready to say just the right thing! mhum!

I was really glad when i picked up this book. The premise was very very interesting. We have all seen the remakes of ghosts-soul searching story, but this one here has quite an inter...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crotchbooks, mommy-daddy-issues, nora-roberts-j-d-robb, paranormal

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book was merely okay. The two romantic leads were all right, though Declan was TOO perfect. He really had no flaws other than being a little stubborn and presumptuous in regards to his pursuing a relationship with Lena. I enjoyed the New Orleans setting and Miss Odette. Again, I have to wonder about Nora Roberts' relationship with her mother. I cannot name a single NR book where the female lead did NOT have a toxic relationship with her mother. Meanwhile, her male leads always have a great...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Rebecca Ann rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: a-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 18, 2012 Mary M. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed the opening of Midnight Bayou very much, and think, the same as another reviewer that a pre-story of the Manet family would be a great sequel to this story. Twins, both weak in their own way - one good/one evil; a domineering matriarch who cared more for the name and her position in society than she did for those she should have loved; a love story that should never have been, in her mind, yet was, and one that she allowed to be destroyed until she, (whose spirit also could not rest) w...more I enjoyed the opening of Midnight Bayou very much, and think, the same as another reviewer that a pre-story of the Manet family would be a great sequel to this story. Twins, both weak in their own way - one good/one evil; a domineering matriarch who cared more for the name and her position in society than she did for those she should have loved; a love story that should never have been, in her mind, yet was, and one that she allowed to be destroyed until she, (whose spirit also could not rest) was forced to relinquish her hold on the old mansion, by the very one whom she thought she had destroyed and eliminated from her family tree.

Jumping into the modern world, Declan, the hero in the story, is a little too good to be true, at times. Rich beyond belief, with no real explanation other than he came from a wealthy family ... did he inherit early ... did he win a lottery ... did I miss the point, or was it not important? Anyway, he falls in love with the Manet mansion, and is drawn to it, unexplainably. Of course, we learn as we read on, why he is drawn to it, and who is controlling him. Of course, he falls in love with Lena, at first sight, without realizing who she is to the story that is going to unfold in his life - just that he is unexplicably drawn to her.

Lena, on the other hand, to me, is a strong character - a believable character. A woman who has caged herself from a hurtful past. She keeps the key to her heart on a gold chain around her neck, and up to this point in her life, she has never offered that key to anyone. She feels a connection to Declan, but fights it, not ever wanting to be vulnerable to any man. She is of the line of descendents of the Manet family which increases the intrigue of the story - which one of them is she?

All in all, the story did not disappoint me as a quick and easy read. It kept me turning the pages. It is nice to see the ghosts of the past resolve their issues and finally be at rest, although I felt the ending was a bit rushed and it did leave me wanting a bit more action.

Midnight Bayou is a good book to curl up in an easy chair with - it will not disappoint you.(less)

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Mary M. I have not read a lot of Nora Roberts, although several of her books sit on my shelf - under her name, and J.D. Robb. I chose "Midnight Bayou" as one...more I have not read a lot of Nora Roberts, although several of her books sit on my shelf - under her name, and J.D. Robb. I chose "Midnight Bayou" as one that would be, for me, a quick, interesting read, and I can say I was not disappointed for the most part.

I absolutely loved the historical opening, but in some ways felt that the "old story" was not enough for me - I wanted more of it. I agree with one of the other reviewers that a story on the Manet family would make for an interesting read - the conflict between the twin brothers, both weak in their own way; the strong matriarh; the defiance of the golden son; the defiance of the rogue son; the weakness of a strong mother who loved the "family name" more than she did either of her son's, or any of her family for that fact. Yes, that would make a great before story...I did enjoy the going back and forth, though, at least getting tidbits of what had happened in the past.

In some ways, I felt that Declan was a little too good to be true, and I also found myself wondering throughout the book about exactly how he had gotten to be so well off, besides the fact that he had hailed from a very rich family ... did he get his inheritance ahead of time ... did he win a lottery ... of course, maybe I missed the facts.

Lena, on the other hand, I felt to be a more realistic character. Her past was troubled by something, and this had enclosed her in a tight, protective cage. The angle of the key necklace, which she used to keep her heart locked, was nice.

Enter in the haunted house, the spirits that could not rest until "thier issues" were dealt with, and the story becomes more intriguing. I also felt, although vaguely touched upon, that others were involved in the "old story," like Effie, who seemed to have an inside edge to what was going on in the house - that the maid who had been absent on the night of the murder was speaking through her. I guess, in some ways, it was a mixture of ghosts and reincarnates which always adds up to an interesting read. I did feel that the ending came a bit too quickly for me, leaving me slightly unsatisfied, and wanting a bit more action.

All in all, though, it was the read I was expecting - quick and easy, with some nice twists and turns - well worth giving it a try - entertaining.(less)
Jun 18, 2012 06:20am

Jul 25, 2011 mlady_rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: author__nora_roberts, fiction__not_part_of_a_series, genre_sub__ghosts, 2011, genre__contemporary_romance, 2011__gave_to_charity, format__mass_market_pb

I'm not sure how to rate, review, or even shelve this one. I read maybe 1/5 of the book before realizing that I had read this previously. I recognized a secondary character - the quirky grandma. I continued on a few more chapters, but ultimately decided to abandon it.

So, yeah, I read the whole book, but I also quit mid-way through. Confusing, huh? As for why I abandoned it. Frankly, it was boring, despite the ghost story aspect.

This is the second, maybe third book I've read by Nora Roberts wri...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Jared Millet rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: general-fiction, romance, audiobook, supernatural, southern-fiction, outside-my-comfort-zone

One of my goals for 2013 is to read outside my genre comfort zone, and I could think of no better way to commit to that than by starting off with Nora Roberts. I did ease the shock by picking a novel set in Louisiana (I'm from there), and somebody recommended this one to me after reading Summer Gothic , so there it is.

I've read one or two romance novels before, and the basic problems I have with the genre remain, so let me get them out of the way: 1) Perfect people are not interesting characters...more One of my goals for 2013 is to read outside my genre comfort zone, and I could think of no better way to commit to that than by starting off with Nora Roberts. I did ease the shock by picking a novel set in Louisiana (I'm from there), and somebody recommended this one to me after reading Summer Gothic , so there it is.

I've read one or two romance novels before, and the basic problems I have with the genre remain, so let me get them out of the way: 1) Perfect people are not interesting characters. 2) "Perfect people fall in love" is not an interesting story. 3) There can be no tension if there's never any doubt that they're going to live happily ever after from the moment they meet.

To be fair, Roberts does allow her heroine to have emotional issues springing from a dysfunctional family situation and her awful mother, but it never seriously gets in the way of the romance because Perfect Man doesn't let it. Perfect Man doesn't have any emotional needs or hang-ups of his own - in fact, he doesn't even have to work. (How convenient.)

What saved the novel and kept my eye-rolling to a minimum was the other story. It seems Perfect Man has bought a dilapidated old mansion and has made it his goal in life to restore it to its former glory - depsite the ghosts. Told in parallel to the main action is the story of a poor Cajun girl who married into the wealthy family who were mansion's original owners, and was raped, murdered, and dumped in the bayou for her trouble. That story ends badly for everyone involved, and by tying that into the traditional modern-day romance plot, Midnight Bayou changes from a "Perfect People in Love" story to a book about people who had bad things happen, made mistakes of their own, and had to forge on in life despite all the horror and misery. That's a lot more interesting, and worth a good read.

P.S. On the depiction of my home state: It's pretty exaggerated. I know Louisiana can seem like an "exotic locale" to people from elsewhere in the country, but fictional representations tend to overdo it.(less)

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Jul 09, 2012 Chariz Angel Arbol added it · review of another edition

i would never forget this story! it really appalled me of how Roberts was able to have such a story in mind. it was about this reincarnation thing in which this young bachelor got his hands on this particular estate which holds a lot of tragic love story from the past. there was this low class woman who caught the attention of one of the young twins of a aristocrat family. but then the mother strongly opposed to the union and the other brother was extremely jealous of his brother that he wanted...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Jennifer added it · review of another edition

Without a doubt, Midnight Bayou is my favorite of all of Nora's books that I've read. So many books these days seem very cliche. This was anything but.

Declan's character was strong and stubborn without being over-bearing. He endears himself to the reader as a man who knows what he wants and how to get it. Once he sets his mind to something he sticks with it and nothing can shake him.

Lena's character is strong and stubborn as well. She's been hurt deeply, but not in the way most romance novels r...more

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Jun 03, 2010 Cindi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nora-roberts

It amazes me how one little scene in a book can change my entire opinion. The story was pretty good. But one of the "past" characters was an absolute idiot. And I am not referring to the one who got the entire story rolling in the first place, though he went way beyond idiot. His "scene" was a tad too graphic for me, but it was what started the story. I understand that. But his brother was almost as bad, though not in the same way.

I guess I have always expected happy endings whether they be fro...more

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About Nora Roberts

aka
J.D. Robb
Sarah Hardesty

Eleanor Marie Robertson was born on October 10, 1950 in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. She was the youngest of the five children, also the only girl, of a marriage with Irish ancestors. Her family were avid readers, so books were always important in her life. She attended a Catholic school and credits the nuns with instilling in her a sense of discipline. During her sopho...more aka
J.D. Robb
Sarah Hardesty

Eleanor Marie Robertson was born on October 10, 1950 in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. She was the youngest of the five children, also the only girl, of a marriage with Irish ancestors. Her family were avid readers, so books were always important in her life. She attended a Catholic school and credits the nuns with instilling in her a sense of discipline. During her sophomore year in high school, she transferred to a local public school, where she met Ronald Aufdem-Brinke, her future first husband.

In Augusy 17, 1968, as soon as she had graduated from High School, Eleanor married, against her parents' wishes. The marriage settled in Keedysville, Maryland. Her husband worked at his father's sheet-metal business before joining her parents in their lighting company. While, she worked briefly as a legal secretary. "I could type fast but couldn't spell, I was the worst legal secretary ever," she says now. After their sons, Dan and Jason, were born she stayed home. Calling this her "Earth Mother" years, she spent much of her time doing crafts, including ceramics and sewing her children's clothes. The marriage ended separating, and they obtained the divorce in January 1985.

In February 1979, a blizzard in forced her hand to try another creative outlet. She was snowed in with a three and six year old with no kindergarten respite in sight and a dwindling supply of chocolate. During the now famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write down one of those stories. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981 as Nora Roberts, a shortened form of her birth name Eleanor Marie Robertson, because she assumed that all authors had pen names.

Eleanor wrote under the pseudonym Jill March a story for a magazine titled "Melodies of Love".

Eleanor met her second husband, Bruce Wilder, when she hired him to build bookshelves. They were married in July 1985. Her husband owns and operates a bookstore in Boonsboro, Maryland called "Turn the Page Books". Since that time, they've expanded their home, traveled the world.

In 1992, she decided adopted other pseudonym so to publish a futuristic-suspense novels, she first decided to use the pseudonym D.J. MacGregor, but she discovered that this pseudonym was used by another author. In 1995, her first "In Death" serial novel was published under the pseudonym J.D. Robb, the initials "J.D." were taken from her sons, Jason and Dan, while "Robb" is a shortened form of Roberts.

Eleanor has also been known as Sara Hardesty, because when the "Born In" series was released in U.K. it carried that name instead of Nora Roberts. She has since changed publishers.

Eleanor has been plagiarized by another best-selling romance writer, Janet Dailey. The practice came to light after a reader read Nora Roberts' "Sweet Revenge" and Janet Dailey's "Notorious" back-to-back; she noticed several similarities and posted the comparable passages on the Internet. Calling the plagiarism "mind rape," Eleanor sued Janet Daily. In 1997, Janet, admitted to repeatedly plagiarizing from Nora Roberts' work, and that both "Aspen Gold" and "Notorious" lifted heavily from Nora Roberts's work. Both of those novels were pulled from print after Janet's admission. She acknowledged the plagiarism and blamed it on a psychological disorder. In a settlement, Janet paid Eleanor an undisclosed sum, which Eleanor donated to the Literacy Volunteers of America.

A founding member of the Romance Writers of America (R.W.A.), she was the first inductee in the organization's Hall of Fame. She also is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the (less)

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