Midnight Bayou 
asked by benzdrives on November 21, 2006 12:23 PM
The phenomenal #1 New York Times-bestselling author 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 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 Hall to its former splendor, Declan begins the daunting renovation room by room, relying on his own labor and skills. But the days spent in total isolation in the empty house take a toll. He is seeing visions of days from a century past, and experiencing sensations of terror and nearly unbearable grief-sensations not his own, but those of a stranger. Local legend has it that the house is haunted, and with every passing day Declan's belief in the ghostly presence grows.
Only the companionship of alluring Angelina Simone can distract him from the mysterious happenings in the house, but Angelina too has her own surprising connection to Manet Hall-a connection that will help Declan uncover a secret that's been buried for a hundred years.
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 Hall to its former splendor, Declan begins the daunting renovation room by room, relying on his own labor and skills. But the days spent in total isolation in the empty house take a toll. He is seeing visions of days from a century past, and experiencing sensations of terror and nearly unbearable grief-sensations not his own, but those of a stranger. Local legend has it that the house is haunted, and with every passing day Declan's belief in the ghostly presence grows.
Only the companionship of alluring Angelina Simone can distract him from the mysterious happenings in the house, but Angelina too has her own surprising connection to Manet Hall-a connection that will help Declan uncover a secret that's been buried for a hundred years.
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This was the first Roberts novel I read. Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed it. I've read and/or listened to 50 since. You can't go wrong. Her storys are original, her characters are strong and well developed.
reviewed by bigben on November 25, 2006 4:06 PM
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I totally enjoyed this story of ghosts from the past paralleled to the characters from the present. Declan Fitzgerald (Boston lawyer turned house-restorer) has been drawn to the big house in New Orleans - Manet Hall, filled with mystery and intrigue from the past, in particular, a young woman, Abigail Manet, who had been raped and murdered by her brother-in-law and left in the bayou for burial by her mother-in-law. One hundred years later, Declan is drawn to the Hall to discover himself being the reincarnation of that time and the one person who can make things right for Abigail. Enter Angelina (Lena) and her grandmamma who will help Declan discover some answers to the mystery of Abby's death and her daughter (Lena's great great grandmother-Marie Rose's heritage). Declan is completely mesmerized by Lena from the start and is determined to make her his wife in a very short time. A great story, as usual, even though it was a ghost story and not the usual Nora Roberts that I am used to.
reviewed by teacher on November 28, 2006 2:22 AM