Title: The House On Tradd StreetAuthor: Karen White
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Number in Tradd Street Series: 1
Found this one at the library!
I read this book with Tasha from Truth, Beauty, Freedom & Books for our monthly Romance Readers Anonymous book club, where we
Melanie Middleton has a gift she doesn't want-much like Jennifer Love Hewitt on Ghost Whisperer and Patricia Arquette on Medium, she can see ghosts. She's tried to ignore the gift for as long as she can remember because it tends to freak people out when they find out about it. At age 38, she's a successful Realtor selling historical homes. When a client dies, and leaves her his house (on you guessed it, Tradd Street) that comes with his housekeeper and dog, she has to suddenly deal with ghosts in the house as well as ghosts from her past. Jack Trenholm is a mystery writer who tells Melanie he's writing a book about the house, but really he's writing a book about lost diamonds from the Confederate Treasury that could be hidden somewhere in the house. He works his way into Melanie's life, and both realize that they (gasp) have feelings for each other, but forces (both real and ghostly) work to keep them from solving the mystery that sounds the diamonds and a long unsolved missing persons case that might just be murder.
I enjoyed the basic storyline of this book and it's setting. The author described Charleston in such vivid details I felt like I lived there. I loved the description of the house that Melanie inherited as well the description of other historic houses in Charleston, and the process one has to go through to renovate them. I enjoyed the ghostly storyline mainly because the ghosts did cool stuff like give clues to Melanie and Jack about the mystery-and when someone evil entered the house they did stuff like shut the door on them and not let it open for a bit. If they liked the person, then the door opened, and there was a smell of roses. After reading this book I finally understand where the phrase "TSTL" (Too stupid to live) within regards to heroines came about. I don't think I've ever encountered a more annoying heroine then Melanie. I lost track of the number of times the author repeatedly told the reader how skinny she was, and what a rough life she had when she was younger with an alcoholic father who was in the military. I just wanted to scream "we get it already." I also wanted to tell her: "Melanie, the Ghost Whisperer and Medium have been on tv for a few years now, and I think people will be more accepting of your gift."
There were a lot of secondary story lines going on in the book-some that worked, others that didn't. I loved her best friend and how she sets her up with one of her clients, and the mystery of what happened to the old owner of the houses mother. One story line that didn't work was that of her father. We go through a large part of the book with almost no mention of him, then he shows up and is an alcoholic. I thought that storyline came out of nowhere, and didn't really bring anything to the main storyline.
Tasha and I pretend to be ghosts in the book talking about how hard it was to haunt Melanie, and how clueless she was! Be sure to check Tasha's blog later in the week for her review of the book. :)
Colette:
This ghost business is hard stuff. Here we go: Melanie, why oh why did you resist becoming owner of this house for so long? When I appeared to you on your first visit, that should have been a sign that you were needed here.
Heidenkind:
Ooooooooooh *rattles chains*-ahem- Yup, I'm ghost. Melanie, dear, I've never seen a person more in need of a head-smack than you! Wasn't it obvious the old guy was planning on giving you the house, given your shared history with abandonment? And FYI, us ghosts don't appreciate being ignored!
Colette:
*said in a ghostly voice* Melanie, we gave you so many clues about the mystery and which guy you should choose. Do you think that we kept the door locked on that one guy for no reason? He was up to no good! We loved that jack...that is why we allowed the door to open when he came over with you.
Heidenkind:
And why do you think we kept pushing that picture frame in front of the grandfather clock?? Earth to Melanie! I swear, I think this woman would trip over her own feet if they weren't attached to her legs. Talk about dense.
Me:
Melanie, as ghosts, we tried really hard to give you obvious clues to the mystery. How could you miss such obvious signs-why do you think we always appeared in the garden? Seriously girl, you weren't the sharpest tool in the shed to work with!
Heidenkind:
It's a good thing Jack was around--if only you'd shared the fact of our existence with him sooner. The book might have been 100 pages shorter.
Me:
Yes, Melanie we don't understand why you kept us ghosts a secret from everyone. Even we know that the show the Ghost Whisperer is on tv now. Why not just say you're like Jennifer Love Hewitt and be done with it.
Heidenkind:
So perhaps you'll take some of our hints to heart in Tradd Street's sequel, hmm? For one thing, if a ghost does something repeatedly, it might be for a reason.
Me:
Yes Melanie, I hope that you and Jack are much smarter in The Girl on Legare Street. Listen to the damn ghosts in that house when they start doing things like leaving the smell of roses, or tossing things down on the floor. Listen to little General Lee-that dog is so cute & smart. I don't know why you just didn't love him.
/Ghostly voices....In conclusion....
Heidenkind:
What I don't get is why the ghosts in that house liked you so much! If I were them I would have run in the opposite direction and hired someone else--like that horribly stereotyped East Coast professor. Give me a break!
Me:
