Book Review: The Guests on South Battery by

Melanie, Jack, and their family and friends are back in the fifth installment of Karen White's Tradd Street series, The Guests on South Battery.

Realtor Melanie Trenholm reluctantly returns to work after her maternity leave  ends. She is thrilled, however, when a new client wishes to sell a home she recently inherited on South Battery Street.

Melanie's mother is familiar with the house, which belonged to a long-time friend of hers. The new owner, Jayne Smith, has no family of her own, so she is surprised she inherited the place. From the very first meeting at the house, Melanie knows spirits call the house on South Battery home...and not all of them want their secrets revealed.

Wow! I just finished this book and can't wait to read the next one. White proves she can weave a superb story filled with twists and turns, family secrets, and paranormal elements to keep the reader turning page after page until the very end.

In this story, Melanie's relationships are tested in numerous ways. It's great to see her evolving as a wife and mother, but so many of the things she has struggled with remain. Jack is having issues of his own, and both of them continue to keep an eye out for what Marc Longo is up to. Readers will see more of Melanie's mom, Ginette, in this story, and it is their connection that makes coping with the spirits in the house on South Battery possible. The ending of The Guests on South Battery also sets up the next book nicely. Though this is a stand-alone novel, I highly recommend starting at the beginning.

Readers of southern fiction, paranormal mysteries, and stories involving family secrets will want to pick up this one.

Series: Tradd Street (Book 5)
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Berkley; Reprint edition (August 28, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399584706
ISBN-13: 978-0399584701

I bought this book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Return to Tradd Street by Karen White

Readers return to historical Charleston in Return to Tradd Street by Karen White.

Having refused Jack's marriage proposal, Realtor Melanie Middleton is simply going through the motions of life while she ponders raising her child alone and copes with the never-ending renovations on her historical Tradd Street home.

When Melanie is awakened by the sound of a ghostly infant cry, she does what she does best--ignores it. That is, until the remains of a newborn are discovered hidden in the foundation of her home.

As the hauntings at Tradd Street become more violent, Melanie delves into the nature behind the baby's untimely death. When she finds her claim to ownership threatened, she wonders if she can seek Jack's help without risking her heart. But in revealing the secrets of the past, she also awakens the malevolent presence that has tried to keep the truth hidden for decades.

Though I love this series, I approached Return to Tradd Street with trepidation. Several online reviews didn't care for how Melanie was portrayed in this novel. They found her negativity and stubbornness annoying. I saw her character in a different light.

For reasons I won't reveal in case you haven't read previous books, she turned down Jack's proposal. Now, she finds herself forty, single, and pregnant. Considering what she endured in her early life, how could she not be highly anxious about everything that is going on? Plus, her mother, her best friend, the housekeeper, and even Jack's teenage daughter are determined to make sure she eats nothing but healthy food during her pregnancy. While Melanie should appreciate the sentiment, can you imagine having the food police following you around for 9 months? I would be sneaking donuts or something.

Then, there is, of course, the whole dead baby pulled out of her foundation. Melanie is feeling protective over her own baby growing inside, and the ghosts in her house are getting more dangerous by the day. Toss in a threat to her ownership of her historical home, and should we expect her to be more cheerful? Oh, did I mention, pregnancy is not being kind to her body?

For these reasons, and more, I enjoyed Return to Tradd Street. Even though I had mostly figured out the mystery behind the dead baby in the christening gown and how the threat to her ownership would end before I turned the last page, White continues to create engrossing stories filled with family, friends, and ghosts set in historical Charleston. In this book, perhaps more than any other in the series, she pushes Melanie to her limits.

I read in the reviews that some thought this was the end of the Tradd Street series. I don't recall what was going on back in 2014 when Return to Tradd Street came out, so I can't say...unless it had something to do with the epilogue.

Thankfully, the next two books are in my house. I have already started The Guests on South Battery. I hope we will see more adventures for Melanie, Jack, Sophie, Nora, and the rest of their crew.

Series: Tradd Street (Book 4)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley (January 7, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451240596
ISBN-13: 978-0451240590

My family bought me a copy of this book as a Christmas gift. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way. 

Coming in October: The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street by Karen White

Melanie Trenholm should be anticipating Christmas with nothing but joy—after all, it’s only the second Christmas she and her husband, Jack, will celebrate with their twin toddlers. But the ongoing excavation of the centuries-old cistern in the garden of her historic Tradd Street home has been a huge millstone, both financially and aesthetically. Local students are thrilled by the possibility of unearthing more Colonial-era artifacts at the cistern, but Melanie is concerned by the ghosts connected to it that have suddenly invaded her life and her house—and at least one of them is definitely not filled with holiday cheer....

And these relics aren’t the only precious artifacts for which people are searching. A past adversary is convinced there is a long-lost Revolutionary War treasure buried somewhere on the property Melanie inherited—untold riches rumored to have been brought over from France by the Marquis de Lafayette himself and intended to help the Colonial war effort. It’s a treasure literally fit for a king, and there have been whispers throughout history that many have already killed—and died—for it. And now someone will stop at nothing to possess it—even if it means destroying everything Melanie and Jack hold dear.

Series: Tradd Street (Book 6)
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Berkley (October 22, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451475240
ISBN-13: 978-0451475244

Pre-order here!

Discover the Tradd Street Series by Karen White

Karen White invites you to explore the brick-walked streets of Charleston in her fifth Tradd Street novel, where historic mansions house the memories of years gone by, and restless spirits refuse to fade away…

With her extended maternity leave at its end, Melanie Trenholm is less than thrilled to leave her new husband and beautiful twins to return to work, especially when she’s awoken by a phone call with no voice on the other end—and the uneasy feeling that the ghostly apparitions that have stayed silent for more than a year are about to invade her life once more.

But her return to the realty office goes better than she could have hoped, with a new client eager to sell the home she recently inherited on South Battery. Most would treasure living in one of the grandest old homes in the famous historic district of Charleston, but Jayne Smith would rather sell hers as soon as possible, guaranteeing Melanie a quick commission.

Despite her stroke of luck, Melanie can’t deny that spirits—both malevolent and benign—have started to show themselves to her again. One is shrouded from sight, but appears whenever Jayne is near. Another arrives when an old cistern is discovered in Melanie’s backyard on Tradd Street.

Melanie knows nothing good can come from unearthing the past. But some secrets refuse to stay buried….

And the book that started it all....

Visit Karen White online at www.karen-white.com

Coming in March: Six Feet Under by Tonya Kappes

Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth. And let me tell you, this broth is in trouble. Get ready for a Southern showdown.

The residents of Cottonwood, Kentucky are sent into a tizzy when the Culinary Channel comes to town to film an episode of Southern Home Cookin’ with celebrity chef Frank Von Lee.

Especially Sheriff Kenni Lowry.

Her mama’s award-winning chicken pot pie is what brought Frank to town, and they don’t make hair in the South bigger than her mama’s ego after the news.

When Frank Von Lee is found dead from food poisoning and the most likely culprit is Mama’s chicken pot pie, Kenni’s poppa, the former sheriff, comes back from the Great Beyond to assist in the investigation.

But nothing’s prepared Kenni for such a personal tie to a case, and she finds herself pushing the limits of the laws she’s sworn to protect.

This book’s so delicious it’ll make your mouth water and leave you hankerin’ for more.

Paperback: 268 pages
Publisher: Henery Press (March 13, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1635113083
ISBN-13: 978-1635113082


Pre-order at Amazon or Barnes and Noble!

Want to Read: The Strangers on Montagu Street by Karen White

Psychic realtor Melanie Middleton is still restoring her Charleston house and doesn't expect to have a new houseguest, a teen girl named Nola. But the girl didn't come alone, and the spirits that accompanied Nola don't seem willing to leave...

Available here

Review of book one in this series here

Review of book two in this series here



Don't miss book four in the series. Find it here.

First Chapter Review: The Strangers on Montagu Street by Karen White

I purchased the third book in Karen White's Tradd Street series over a year ago with some gift cards I received. The first two books in this series captivated me, so I was eager to read this one; but I was so far behind in reviews when the book came out, I declined taking it on when the publicist offered it to me for review. This is one of the books I want to read soon, especially since the fourth book in the series, Return to Tradd Street, came recently.

BLURB:  Psychic realtor Melanie Middleton is still restoring her Charleston house and doesn't expect to have a new houseguest, a teen girl named Nola. But the girl didn't come alone, and the spirits that accompanied Nola don't seem willing to leave...

COVER: Like all of the books in this series, a house graced with Southern charm and elegance is featured on the cover. And if you know anything about this series, that charm and elegance belies the evil spirits hidden inside. This cover is a bit darker than the others, so it adds to the ominous feel.

FIRST CHAPTER: Melanie is awoken early one morning to find writer Jack Trenholm on the doorstep of her Tradd Street home--the one still being restored and costing her tons of money. He has not come alone, however. His estranged daughter, Nola, is with him. Still working through the challenges of becoming an instant father, he begs Melanie to allow Nola to stay with her over the summer.

KEEP READING: Yes, yes, yes! Why haven't I made room to read this book before now? All the things I love about this series are present from the very first words of The Strangers on Montagu Street. Immediately hooked, the mystery, conflict, and hint of the spirits that will arrive later are all here. White has the uncanny ability to draw you in immediately and not let you go. I'm sure this will be the case again if the story continues along the same vein.

If you love paranormal stories and are captivated by Southern living, you won't want to miss this one.


Series: Tradd Street (Book 3)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade; 1 edition (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451235266
ISBN-13: 978-0451235268


I purchased this book from Amazon. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

This post first appeared at The Book Connection.

Book Review: The Girl on Legare Street

Those who enjoyed Melanie Middleton and Jack Trenholm in The House on Tradd Street will definitely want to pick up the next book in this series, The Girl on Legare Street.

Melanie Middleton's mother abandoned her when she was just a child, leaving her with a father she was forced to take care of through his bouts of excessive drinking. Now Ginnette Prioleau Middleton has returned to Charleston and moved into their ancestral home on Legare Street. She seeks Melanie's help to restore the historical home, but the more time Melanie and her mother spend together, the more Melanie is reminded of how Ginnette deserted her and how the only thing they have in common is their ability to communicate with ghosts.

Ginnette's return has awakened a dark spirit whose strength continues to grow and who is out for revenge. Determined to protect her daughter, with Jack's help, Melanie and Ginnette must work together to fight the malevolent presence and save their family.

What a superb addition to the Tradd Street series from Karen White! Beautifully written, and with all the charm and mystery of the South, The Girl on Legare Street is certain to please readers.

In this new book, released by New American Library, several of the characters from the original book return: realtor Melanie Middleton and writer Jack Trenholm, Melanie's friends Sophie and Chad, Melanie's father, Jack's parents and a few others. White has done an excellent job of developing these characters further, while adding new mysteries and new characters into the mix.

Bringing Melanie's long lost mother home and forcing Melanie to deal with all the feelings she has toward the woman who deserted her over thirty years ago allows for a great deal of conflict. Add that to the uncertain relationship between Jack and Melanie, which seems to hover somewhere between friendship and romance, and the dark presence which Ginnette's return has awakened, and you've got a paranormal romantic suspense novel with Southern flair that grips you from the very first page.

Again, I am impressed with the beauty of the cover art, and the history lover in me likes to read of the past of the ghosts--nice and not so nice--that inhabit these homes while Melanie is forced to deal with her own past.

A story that is spooky, yet tugs at your heartstrings, is what you will find in The Girl on Legare Street.


Title: The Girl on Legare Street
Author: Karen White
Publisher: New American Library
ISBN: 978-0451227997
SRP: $15.00

This review first appeared at The Book Connection.

Book Review: The House on Tradd Street by Karen White

Brilliant and engrossing, The House on Tradd Street by Karen White brings the reader through Charleston's deep-rooted history and Confederate legends to uncover a story of passion, heartbreak, and murder.

Real estate agent Melanie Middleton visits with the elderly Nevin Vanderhorst just days before his unexpected death. Melanie isn't much into historic homes--even though she sells them for a living. She much prefers new construction, free of the ghosts that she's seen since childhood. When she inherits Vanderhorst's historic Tradd Street home she is less than thrilled, but their meeting and Nevin's letter about the mother he is sure would never have abandoned him encourage her to restore the house at 55 Tradd Street and try to unravel the mystery surrounding Louisa Vanderhorst's sudden disappearance.

In walks stunningly gorgeous Jack Trenholm, a true-crime writer obsessed with unsolved mysteries. He believes that the diamonds from the missing Confederate Treasury are stashed inside the house. Using Louisa's story Jack is able to convince Melanie to let him help with the restoration of the house in exchange for allowing him to perform research for his next book.

Neither of them quite knows what they are getting into. An evil ghost also resides in the house on Tradd Street and it doesn't want Melanie or Jack telling Louisa's story. How far will this spirit go to keep a secret?

This book captured me from the very first sentence. Steeped in Charleston's history and Civil War legends, The House on Tradd Street is a rare gem among paranormal mysteries. Exquisitely told, rich in descriptions, and filled with multi-faceted characters whose past lives are eloquently woven into each others, I was sad to read the last word of this moving novel.

White gets right to the heart of things by blending family secrets, love, legends, and the charm of the South, creating an emotional tale that will leave you begging for more. The cover art is strikingly handsome and truly completes one of the best novels I've read in my lifetime.

Lovers of southern fiction, paranormal mysteries, and moving stories that tug at the heartstrings will want to read The House on Tradd Street by Karen White.

Title: The House on Tradd Street
Author: Karen White
Publisher: New American Library
ISBN: 978-0-451-22509-2
U.S. Price: $14.00

This review first appeared at The Book Connection.