What do you think?
Rate this book
Beneath the Bayou
Across the Mississippi River into the swamps and bayous of New Orleans lies one of the greatest mysteries of a Creole “Joie de Vivre”. In this folklore, the Marant family holds a deep dark secret, and for many generations their secret had been kept until now.
Lovely and Fancy are identical twins, born to Dr. Virgil C. Marant and his wife Rachel. The girls are beautiful and intelligent, but completely different. Lovely grows up to be an intellectual scholar and Fancy has always loved the finer things in life. They only have one thing in common – they are in love with the same man, Mathew Trudeau.
Mathew Trudeau is their father’s accountant. He was born to a man, who was murdered before he was born and to a woman, who committed suicide by the time he was a year old, leaving him to be raised by his grandparents. Haunted by the spirit of his mother, Mathew learns to ignore her chanting in his nightmares in order to live normally.
The sisters’ love for Mathew turns ugly up until Lovely goes missing. Mathew receives word from his deceased mother through a dream that Lovely is dead. The voodoo that his mother uses mysteriously brings Lovely’s body back from the dead. Only, she doesn’t return as the same sweet woman she used to be. As a zombie, she has a task that she must complete. Only Mathew can save the family and undo the evil that has been done.
EXCERPT. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
“What if he doesn’t like me?”
“Please, you have nothing to worry about. Relax. He will never ask to take you out again if you’re all stiff like this.”
“I wish you would stop saying that,” Lovely replied. “What if he doesn’t like me, Fancy? I don’t even know what to talk about with him.”
“He would be crazy not to like you. You’re amazing. Plus, I saw the way you two danced all night. It seemed, to me, like he gave you more than enough to smile about.”
“I’m nervous.”
“This is your first date. You’re supposed to be nervous... There, I’m all done. You look beautiful.”
Lovely spun around in the mirror and looked at her reflection. She looked exactly like Fancy, and that made her want to take everything off. Just because they were identical didn’t mean they really had to be identical. She was irritated, and it showed all over her frowned up face.
Before Lovely could protest, Fancy stopped her. “You look fine. Trust me for once in your life.”
The doorbell rang, and Lovely’s breath seemed as if it were trapped inside of her throat. She felt like there was no way she could go to the door looking like Fancy. There had to have been a good reason why he liked her, and she was sure it was because she was an individual.
Grann said, “I’ll answer the door. You get finished on up, hear?”
“Yes, Grann,” Lovely replied with sad eyes.
Fancy clapped cheerfully. “Make sure you keep this rouge in your purse. We wouldn’t want your lips to look dull before dinner is over. Excuse yourself to the ladies’ room to powder your nose. Don’t apply at the table. That’s just tacky. You ready?”
Lovely shrugged. “I guess…”
Fancy scowled. “I need you to fix your attitude, young lady. Your date may be downstairs, and you don’t want to scare him off.”
Mathew stood in the doorframe. He took a good look at Lovely and said, “Well, now you two truly look like identical twins.” He then chuckled. “Which one of you is Fancy?”
Lovely dared not to look at him in front of Fancy. The way he chuckled made Lovely feel as if he were making fun of her and she suddenly felt embarrassed.
“Clearly, you must know the difference,” Fancy responded quickly as her eyelashes fluttered, and her hand landed on her hip. “If you can’t tell us apart, then you truly don’t deserve to marry me.”
“Well, see, now, you just gave it away, sweetie pie.” Mathew kissed Fancy on the forehead.
“Don’t leave Mr. Picard waiting too long, Lovely,” Fancy
Lovely and Fancy are identical twins, born to Dr. Virgil C. Marant and his wife Rachel. The girls are beautiful and intelligent, but completely different. Lovely grows up to be an intellectual scholar and Fancy has always loved the finer things in life. They only have one thing in common – they are in love with the same man, Mathew Trudeau.
Mathew Trudeau is their father’s accountant. He was born to a man, who was murdered before he was born and to a woman, who committed suicide by the time he was a year old, leaving him to be raised by his grandparents. Haunted by the spirit of his mother, Mathew learns to ignore her chanting in his nightmares in order to live normally.
The sisters’ love for Mathew turns ugly up until Lovely goes missing. Mathew receives word from his deceased mother through a dream that Lovely is dead. The voodoo that his mother uses mysteriously brings Lovely’s body back from the dead. Only, she doesn’t return as the same sweet woman she used to be. As a zombie, she has a task that she must complete. Only Mathew can save the family and undo the evil that has been done.
EXCERPT. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
“What if he doesn’t like me?”
“Please, you have nothing to worry about. Relax. He will never ask to take you out again if you’re all stiff like this.”
“I wish you would stop saying that,” Lovely replied. “What if he doesn’t like me, Fancy? I don’t even know what to talk about with him.”
“He would be crazy not to like you. You’re amazing. Plus, I saw the way you two danced all night. It seemed, to me, like he gave you more than enough to smile about.”
“I’m nervous.”
“This is your first date. You’re supposed to be nervous... There, I’m all done. You look beautiful.”
Lovely spun around in the mirror and looked at her reflection. She looked exactly like Fancy, and that made her want to take everything off. Just because they were identical didn’t mean they really had to be identical. She was irritated, and it showed all over her frowned up face.
Before Lovely could protest, Fancy stopped her. “You look fine. Trust me for once in your life.”
The doorbell rang, and Lovely’s breath seemed as if it were trapped inside of her throat. She felt like there was no way she could go to the door looking like Fancy. There had to have been a good reason why he liked her, and she was sure it was because she was an individual.
Grann said, “I’ll answer the door. You get finished on up, hear?”
“Yes, Grann,” Lovely replied with sad eyes.
Fancy clapped cheerfully. “Make sure you keep this rouge in your purse. We wouldn’t want your lips to look dull before dinner is over. Excuse yourself to the ladies’ room to powder your nose. Don’t apply at the table. That’s just tacky. You ready?”
Lovely shrugged. “I guess…”
Fancy scowled. “I need you to fix your attitude, young lady. Your date may be downstairs, and you don’t want to scare him off.”
Mathew stood in the doorframe. He took a good look at Lovely and said, “Well, now you two truly look like identical twins.” He then chuckled. “Which one of you is Fancy?”
Lovely dared not to look at him in front of Fancy. The way he chuckled made Lovely feel as if he were making fun of her and she suddenly felt embarrassed.
“Clearly, you must know the difference,” Fancy responded quickly as her eyelashes fluttered, and her hand landed on her hip. “If you can’t tell us apart, then you truly don’t deserve to marry me.”
“Well, see, now, you just gave it away, sweetie pie.” Mathew kissed Fancy on the forehead.
“Don’t leave Mr. Picard waiting too long, Lovely,” Fancy
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2014
12 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Niyah Moore
64 books117 followersNiyah Moore is an award-winning author with more than twenty published works to her credit. A Sacramento, California native, Niyah’s love affair with the written word began early. By the age of nine she was fully immersed in the possibilities of prose. Under the subtle urging and guidance of her literary mentors, Niyah embarked on a professional writing career.
A true contemporary artist, Niyah’s foray into the literary world began in 2007 with the social media platform Myspace, where she submitted her writing to be included in select anthologies. Niyah has since secured multiple independent publishing deals, as well as having been included in several anthologies such as: Zane’s Busy Bodies: Chocolate Flava 4, Anna J’s Lies Told in the Bedroom, Heat of the Night, and Mocha Chocolate: Taste a Piece of Ecstasy.
Niyah has a special way with words, which keeps her romance readers, as well as her contemporary fiction fans, anticipating new arrivals. Her noteworthy novels include: Major Jazz, Guilty Pleasures, Bittersweet Exes, Tell Yo Bitch series, Suckcess series, Nobody’s Side Piece series, and Beneath the Bayou. Niyah was an honoree for the 2013 Exceptional Women of Color Award of Northern California. She is a two-time recipient of the African American Literary Award for Best Anthology, in addition to having won Best Script at the Lenaea Festival.
In 2014, Niyah signed her first major two-book publishing deal with Simon & Schuster, under New York Times Bestselling Author Zane’s imprint, Strebor Books. Niyah’s first release under Strebor Books was Pigalle Palace, which was featured by Ebony.com. Her highly anticipated novella, Thunderstorm, will be released in 2016.
After seven years of self-publishing and honing her craft, Niyah stepped into the role of CEO and Publisher launching Ambiance Books in February 2015. Ambiance Books has signed eleven authors to date. Niyah’s journey has been paved with determination and drive. She earned a Mass Media Communications degree as well as an Advanced Theater Arts degree from California State University, Sacramento. Niyah’s mantra is: The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.
This busy business woman can be found spending quality time with her husband and children when she is not indulging in a little reality television drama, for inspiration purposes of course.
A true contemporary artist, Niyah’s foray into the literary world began in 2007 with the social media platform Myspace, where she submitted her writing to be included in select anthologies. Niyah has since secured multiple independent publishing deals, as well as having been included in several anthologies such as: Zane’s Busy Bodies: Chocolate Flava 4, Anna J’s Lies Told in the Bedroom, Heat of the Night, and Mocha Chocolate: Taste a Piece of Ecstasy.
Niyah has a special way with words, which keeps her romance readers, as well as her contemporary fiction fans, anticipating new arrivals. Her noteworthy novels include: Major Jazz, Guilty Pleasures, Bittersweet Exes, Tell Yo Bitch series, Suckcess series, Nobody’s Side Piece series, and Beneath the Bayou. Niyah was an honoree for the 2013 Exceptional Women of Color Award of Northern California. She is a two-time recipient of the African American Literary Award for Best Anthology, in addition to having won Best Script at the Lenaea Festival.
In 2014, Niyah signed her first major two-book publishing deal with Simon & Schuster, under New York Times Bestselling Author Zane’s imprint, Strebor Books. Niyah’s first release under Strebor Books was Pigalle Palace, which was featured by Ebony.com. Her highly anticipated novella, Thunderstorm, will be released in 2016.
After seven years of self-publishing and honing her craft, Niyah stepped into the role of CEO and Publisher launching Ambiance Books in February 2015. Ambiance Books has signed eleven authors to date. Niyah’s journey has been paved with determination and drive. She earned a Mass Media Communications degree as well as an Advanced Theater Arts degree from California State University, Sacramento. Niyah’s mantra is: The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.
This busy business woman can be found spending quality time with her husband and children when she is not indulging in a little reality television drama, for inspiration purposes of course.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 24, 2019
I loved this book. That Fancy was something else. I understand you being hurt that the man you want doesn't want you in that way, but she knew it all along. That's no reason to want to kill your sister or kill her. If Fancy wanted to be mad at someone it should have been her father. I'm glad that everything went back to normal between the sisters. I was just sure that Mathew was going to forget an important step & everything he did to rid Lovely of all the evil was going to be all for nothing. Ms. Moore did a perfect job with this book, I'm glad I ran across it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2017
Loved the setting.
May 1, 2021
Great read
If you like reading about the bayou of New Orleans and voodoo, you will enjoy
this book. Excellent read. Enjoy.
If you like reading about the bayou of New Orleans and voodoo, you will enjoy
this book. Excellent read. Enjoy.
August 9, 2025
Good from beginning to the end
The was a great read. Weird to say but I love books about voodoo. Very entertaining. I can't wait to start part 2
The was a great read. Weird to say but I love books about voodoo. Very entertaining. I can't wait to start part 2
July 4, 2017
Beneath the Bayou
A rich tradition of stories passed down from generation to generation to generation, etc. This book was a refreshing and different look at family from a young persons' point of view.
A rich tradition of stories passed down from generation to generation to generation, etc. This book was a refreshing and different look at family from a young persons' point of view.
January 25, 2016
Good read
I am a person that i lose interest very quickly. This book keeps me reading. I can clearly see the images in my head as I read throughout the chapters. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick read.
I am a person that i lose interest very quickly. This book keeps me reading. I can clearly see the images in my head as I read throughout the chapters. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick read.
December 27, 2014
Different!
December 30, 2014
Great Read!
This was a great book. Mathew was definitely my favorite. I wanted Fancy to get what she had coming, but towards the end I felt sorry for her. Loved the happy ending.
This was a great book. Mathew was definitely my favorite. I wanted Fancy to get what she had coming, but towards the end I felt sorry for her. Loved the happy ending.
April 7, 2015
OMG, This was a good book Niyah you really out did your self with this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 25, 2016
Started a little slow but it did eventually picked up, I really enjoyed the story line. It is a must read. I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews