Midnight Bayou is one of the Nora Roberts movie collections that debuted on Lifetime not too long ago. I missed these when they were on TV, so I was quite happy to see them out on DVD and requested to review them. I know normally you don't see me review romance movies, mainly because I refuse to watch them. I find my horror movies more realistic. But the Nora Roberts movies are pretty good mysteries with the romance added as an extra, which is something I can handle. I will tell you, though, that I have not read the book, so I do not know what is "supposed" to happen according to the book.

Midnight Bayou starts off 8 years in the past with a group of friends at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. They are leaving the city and miss a turn. Suddenly, the out-of-towner, Declan Fitzpatrick (Jerry O'Connell) sees a woman in the middle of the road and forces them to stop the car. When he gets out, there's no one there but they're right in front of a huge plantation house. Instantly, Declan knows that he has to own this place. Even though his friends tell him it's not good, that there is bad mojo there, he still can't get it out of his mind. Eight years later, Declan is back in the South and has used his trust fund money to buy Manet Hall.

Manet Hall is an absolutely beautiful antebellum house. I can't believe the restoration from what he saw eight years ago to what he moves into. The painted walls, the polished wood, the place is simply amazing! Next door to Manet Hall, on the bayou, lives Odette Simone (Faye Dunaway). When she sees a new owner, a young attractive man, is moving into Manet Hall, she sends her grand-daughter Lena (Lauren Stamile) over with cornbread to be neighborly. Leave it to grandma to always try to hook grand-daughter up. In this case, there is an instant connection. Lena and Declan both feel that they have met before, that they really know each other even though they never have. Little do they know that their lives will soon be forever connected. There is a mystery to Manet Hall that they'll have to figure out if they're going to survive. Maybe things will finally be set right this time around.

Midnight Bayou is set in New Orleans (and surrounding areas), and they do a really great job of it. The accents are very authentic. Ok some of them, Lena's in particular, might sound a little overdone, but I have heard people that sound like that in the area quite a lot. Oak Alley Plantation is the real location that Manet Hall is filmed at and it's just perfect for the movie. Seeing how beautiful it is, I'm going to have to stop there one day and see it! The point is, they did a really great job with the settings, the acting, the locations - everything is just wonderfully done. If you're looking for a good mystery with some romance too, I highly recommend you go pick up Midnight Bayou today.