The House on Prytania by Karen White – a Review

The House on Prytania by Karen White – a Review

 

 

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Description:

Nola Trenholm may not be psychic herself, but she’s spent enough time around people who are to know when ghosts are present, and there are definitely a few lingering spirits in her recently purchased Creole cottage in New Orleans. Something, or someone, is keeping them tethered to this world. And not all of them are benign.

But with the sudden return of Sunny Ryan, Beau Ryan’s long-lost sister, Nola has plenty to distract her from her ghostly housemates. Especially when the tempting–yet firmly unavailable–Beau, wanting to mete out justice to those he blames for Sunny’s kidnapping, asks Nola for a favor that threatens to derail her hard-won recovery and send her hurtling backward. He asks her to welcome Michael Hebert back into her life, even though Michael is the reason for Nola’s bruised heart. Beau is convinced that Michael’s powerful family was behind Sunny’s disappearance and that Michael is the key to getting information the police won’t be able to ignore–if Nola is willing to risk everything for which she’s worked so hard.

Torn between helping Beau and protecting herself, Nola doesn’t realize until it’s almost too late why the ghosts are haunting her house–a startling revelation that will throw her and Beau together to fight a common enemy. Assuming Nola can get Beau to listen to what the spirits are trying to tell him, because ignoring them could prove to be a fatal mistake…

 

 

Review:

The House on Prytania by Karen White is the 2nd book in her Royal Street series. The story continues with Nola Trenholm (heroine) still working on her new Creole cottage in New Orleans, which is haunted with ghosts (some good and some evil). Nola learned a lot of historic preservation, especially being the step daughter of Melanie, who has the ability to talk to ghosts (Tradd series).  We follow Nola, as she tries to get Beau (who does see ghosts, but refuses to talk to them); and with Beau’s sister (taken as a young girl) returning home, he is bent to find those who kidnapped her. Though Nola loves working on the house, she does fear the evil entity that seems to cause problems.

Beau is convinced that Michael’s (Nola’s ex-boyfriend) family was behind Sunny’s disappearance and that Michael is the key to getting information the police won’t be able to ignore.  Nola has second thoughts, but agrees to meet with Michael and his family to discover the truths, but first she welcomes her family who are visiting.  

It was great to see Mellie, Jack and the twins (Sarah and JJ), as well as an old flame, Cooper.   Sarah is only 13 years old, but she had the ability of seeing and hearing ghosts, which she gained from her mother, Melanie (Mellie).  Sarah was such a great addition, always giving Nola information she gained from reading certain books, as well as revealing what the ghosts are telling her.  Jolene, who has become Nola’s best friend, is such a fun and awesome character, always making sure Nola dressed properly, and cooking/baking for everyone. Thibeau and Jorge continues to help Nola with renovating the house, despite the ghosts. 

What follows is the mystery as to who kidnapped Sunny all those years ago, as well why the ghosts who haunt her house. As we reach closer to the end, some surprising secrets are revealed, and lives are threatened, with Nola and Beau working together to fight the evil entity.

The House on Prytania was so very well written by Karen White, which was an excellent story, with a fabulous heroine in Nola, in a town that has so much history, with ghosts, mystery, suspense and historical homes. I loved the wonderful secondary characters, especially Jolene. Karen White once again gives us a fabulous addition to this series and I look forward to the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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The Shop on Royal Street by Karen White – a Review

The Shop on Royal Street by Karen White – a Review

 

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Description:
After a difficult hiccup on her road to adulthood, Nola Trenholm is looking to begin anew in New Orleans, and what better way to start her future than with her first house? But the historic fixer-upper she buys comes with even more work than she anticipated when the house’s previous occupants don’t seem to be ready to depart. Although she can’t communicate with ghosts like her stepmother, luckily Nola knows someone in New Orleans who can–even if he’s the last person on earth she wants anything to do with, ever again. Because Beau Ryan comes with his own dark past, a past that involves the disappearance of his sister and parents during Hurricane Katrina, and the unsolved murder of a woman who once lived in the old Creole Cottage Nola is determined to make her own whether or not the resident restless spirits agree…

 

 

Review:

The Shop on Royal Street by Karen White is the first book in her new Royal Street series. Nola Trenholm, who was in the Tradd Street series, is the heroine in this book; as she has moved from Charleston, South Carolina to New Orleans.   Nola has purchased a historic fixer upper, which requires a lot of work, not to mention the house is haunted, with ghosts who do not want to leave. Nola learned a lot of historic preservation, especially being the step daughter of Melanie, who had the ability to talk to ghosts (Tradd series). 

Beau Ryan, who Nola broke up with awhile back, is the hero in this book, and though they no longer are together, she knows she needs Beau’s help to renovate the house.  Beau lives with his grandmother, Mimi, and they are the ones who sold the house to Nola.  Beau is like Nola’s stepmother, able to see ghosts, but he hides this from others, and Nola already can tell he has that ability; even though he refuses to listen to her.

Nola has gained a lot of new friends, who will help her with the house renovation. Jolene is Nola’s friend, and also works with Beau; who will assign Jolene to be the project manager of the renovation; she will also become a roommate of Nola.  Jolene was such an awesome character, so much fun and always cooking/baking for everyone; and I liked Jaxson, who used to be Jolene’s boyfriend, and they remain good friends. Thibeau and Jorge are the men who work in the house to renovate, as they are willing to work there, despite the ghosts.

There is a mystery surrounding Beau’s family, that Nola is determined to discover more; which relates to a powerful New Orleans family.  A woman was killed years ago, and she is one of the ghosts that are in the house, as well as Beau’s grandfather; with the powerful family threatening Mimi’s family, which also resulted in Sunny, Beau’s sister disappearing.  Nola will push Beau to help her get the ghosts to finally move on.

The Shop on Royal Street was so very well written by Karen White, which was an excellent story, with a fabulous heroine in Nola, in a town that has so much history, with ghosts and historical homes. Besides rooting for Nola and Beau to find a way to get together, I loved Jolene and many other secondary characters.  Karen White once again gives us a fabulous new series, and I look forward to the next book in this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

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