Midnight Bayou is set in New Orleans. Boston lawyer, Declan Fitzgerald, buys and moves into dilapidated Manet Hall, which is said to be haunted. Declan wants to restore the mansion himself. He meets beautiful Lena Simone, and the two are attracted to each other right away. As Declan begins to restore the mansion, he sees and hears odd things, such as a baby crying. He also hears Abigail Manet, the baby's mother. Little by little Declan learns of Abigail's story, which is set in the 1900's, and he finds out that his own life is entwined with hers. As the story unfold's Declan learns how Lena is also a part of Abigail's sad story.
I liked the paranormal part of this story, how the mansion is haunted and how Declan and Lena are both a big part of the mansions past. The story was well written, the characters are likeable and the plot was interesting.
Midnight Bayou is my favorite Nora Robert's book, it was also the first one I read by her. I read it a few years back and after seeing a few of her books made into tv movies, I had hoped Midnight Bayou would make it to the tv screen too. And guess what, it has! I watched it this past weekend. It's part of the 2009 Nora Roberts Collection on the Lifetime Network.
(I don't like the photo below, Jerry O'Connell looks like he's naked, what's up with that?)
I think the movie was perfectly cast, Jerry O'Connell plays Declan, and aside from being a bit corny at parts, they translated it well onto the screen.
So, if you're a Nora Roberts fan, or just plain enjoy a good paranormal romance, pick up a copy of Midnight Bayou and watch the movie version, they are both very good.
