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Date Posted: 17:49:53 03/12/04 Fri
Author: Syl
Subject: Sassenach Musings

Thought I'd put one in myself, for a change! *G*


TITLE: Midnight Bayou
AUTHOR: Nora Roberts
GENRE: Romance


Declan Fitzgerald, a wealthy Boston lawyer, is obsessed by dilapidated Manet Hall, near New Orleans. So much so, he buys it with the view to renovating it room by room to its former splendour. Newly escaped from a loveless engagement on the eve of his wedding, he can plough all his energies into the work. Declan hears the local legends; tales of a tragedy that took place in the house at the beginning of the 20th century. He shrugs them off, working hard on the renovations, until he hears a baby crying and a non – existent clock chiming. He begins to think he’s ill; maybe a brain tumour, or madness is overtaking him. The he wonders if there’s truth in the old stories.

December 31st, 1899, and Abigail Manet awaits her husband’s return. She was once a servant in the great house, until Lucian Manet fell in love and married her, much to his mother’s dismay. She nurses her infant daughter, Marie Rose, then Lucian’s drunken twin brother barges in fuming with jealousy and rage. In his wild temper, he rapes and strangles his brother’s wife, then disposes of her body in the bayou with his mother’s help. Lucian returns home and is encouraged to believe his beautiful wife has run off with another man.

Over the years, the past life and present life of the house intertwine, through the restless spirits who are still there, and the people who open and close its doors in modern times. Declan meets Angelina Simone, who runs a bar in New Orleans and feels drawn to her and is determined to make her his, even if she doesn’t know it yet. But Angelina has been hurt too many times and is reluctant to start a relationship. Little does she know how determined Declan can be.

Declan gradually discovers the full history of Manet Hall and with Lena’s help, he can attempt to bring the house back to it’s former glory and right a terrible wrong done in the past.

I like Nora Roberts’ writing. A lot of people denigrate her books, saying they are cheap romance and the same old formula every time. Not so. A hundred and fifty million books sold since 1981 proves Roberts writes a damn good story! Her books are not just straight romances. In many, there is another aspect; like mystery, suspense, horror. In fact, often, the romance is secondary to the base story.

So, don’t be ashamed to admit to reading a Nora Roberts. Every book she’s written is a page turner full of romance, intrigue, mystery. Her writing draws you into the story and characters, until you become part of the whole thing. She must be doing something right to still be writing bestsellers.

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Replies:

[> I agree about Nora Roberts. I read the trilogy about the Irish siblings (Tears of the Moon, Heart of the Sea and Jewels of the Sun) and I thought they were very nice, easy stories. Very different from her other works, like Three Fates or River's End. -- Rollaine, 18:28:43 03/12/04 Fri


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[> I agree, she is an exceptionally good writer. I could also sum her up in one word - ROARKE! :D Ok, so that's under her pen name but what the heck - she certainly deserves that credit. But Roarke or no Roarke, she is one of the better writers out there. JMHO. -- Judie, 02:21:04 03/13/04 Sat


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[> OK, so I've never read anything by Nora Roberts. Any recommendations on what I should read first? (Midnight Bayous sounds intriguing.) -- MairiS, 08:33:51 03/13/04 Sat


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[> [> Hi GinC! I haven't read that many Nora, but all the "In Deaths" she writes und the name J.D. Robb. My first Nora was "Honest Illusions", I know this is one of her most popular stand alone books. There are some of her series, trilogies that didn't grab me at all, but "Honest Illusions" or "Montana Sky" are great reads IMHO. Come inside for links to Amazon please -------------->>>>>> -- Antje, 23:22:42 03/13/04 Sat

----Click HERE for Honest Illusions---


---ClickHEREfor Montana Sky---


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[> [> [> I am currently reading Montana Sky. It's my first Nora Roberts novel and I have to say...though it's maybe not as deep and clever as DG's writing, it has me hooked and is a nice page-turner with good sex! : ) Actually, I was surprised at how good it was for strictly romance writing. Will read more of NR when am wanting a quick and light read, for sure! -- Reilly, 14:02:19 03/24/04 Wed


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[> [> [> [> I feel exactly the same. She's very good for light comfort reads IMHO, nothing deep or mindblowing, yet very good at pulling you into a story. I don't like everything of her, but I have my favs :-) -- Antje, 22:55:23 04/08/04 Thu


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[> Yep, Nora Roberts is unquestionably very talented. I read Midnight Bayou a while back when it first came out, and it was good. Naturally, I've enjoyed some of her books more than others, but I can't say that I've actually disliked any of the ones I've read. -- GinC, 14:41:22 03/13/04 Sat


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[> I tried Nora Roberts. I read her Chesapeake Bay trilogy (Sea Swept, Rising Tides, Inner Harbour) and my reaction was, "what's the fuss?" Mildly diverting but nothing that made me want to read more. I also began the first J.D. Robb novel cause I'd read so many good reviews by fans but couldn't get through it. Her writing seemed predictable and had an "assembly line" feel to me. That was especially true of the Chesapeake Bay novels. I love a good romance novel, but I don't get her huge appeal, at least not based on what I've read. -- Rosamond, 14:49:09 03/13/04 Sat


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[> [> Diff'rent strokes, I guess, Rosamond. Like there are lots of people out there who don't like DG. True, some of Nora's books are same old, same old, but on the whole she tells a good story, imho. BTW, I haven't read the Chesapeake Bay trilogy yet, but the books are sitting in my tbr pile. Thanks for your comments though! We like diverse opinions! -- Syl, 17:44:23 03/13/04 Sat


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[> Hi Syl :-) Thanks for bringing this board to my attention again, I admit I forgot about it, so many boards.... okay, as you know I was JUST reading this books this week, but in German. The German translation plainly sucks, but that's old news about German translations... I loved the spooky feel in this book, I'm a sucker for spooky and ghosts ;-) For me Nora is always a "feel good" read, I know she seldom disappoints me and gives me plenty of light and enjoyable and heartstring-tugging reads. I also have the feeling her research is well done. What I like maybe most about her not-In-Deaths, is the male banter, the dialogs! In Midnight Bayou I found the hero extremely well done, although the heroine was a bit pale IMHO, other than that, a perfect Nora again! -- Antje, 23:14:17 03/13/04 Sat


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[> Funny, I really LIKED the Chesapeake Bay trilogy. Written more from a man's POV, as the main characters are, and nicely done. The follow up (Seth's story Chesapeake Blue) was good too, but a bit predictable.) Her trilogys are very readable; I especially like the Irish ones and her most recent "Key" trilogy. One of the best things about Nora Roberts is that she's a prolific writer; you don't have to wait 2-3 years for the next book. She's no DG, but it fills in the time while waiting for Jamie!! -- DianaH, 19:52:49 03/14/04 Sun


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[> I liked her MacGregor Saga. Hers was the first historical Romance novel I ever read too. Long Long ago, she used to right for Harlequin & wrote a book called Rebellion, with a girl named Serena MacGragor as the heroine. I still have my much worn copy around here somewhere. lol This was set during...you guessed it, the Jacobite Rising of 45!!!! Really good read, if you can find a copy. -- Serena, 02:34:17 03/15/04 Mon


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[> Maybe I'll try her books. There is another writer who also writes a very good story May Mcgoldrick it's really a husband and wife team. like Nora the nooky is secondary. -- JuJu, 17:45:26 03/16/04 Tue


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[> Syl, this sounds like a great synopsis of the book-I'll keep my eye out for it. Might be one Marcie would like as it's set in New Orleans. -- Keira, 06:46:46 03/25/04 Thu


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