Series: A Royal Street Novel Book #2 of 2
By: Karen White
Narrator: Sophie Amoss
Penguin Audio
ISBN: 978-0593334621
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: 05/09/2023
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 4 Stars
A woman is haunted—both literally and figuratively—by ghosts of the past in this second novel of the Royal Street series by New York Times bestselling author Karen White.
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...
My Review
Karen White returns with her popular Royal Street Series, following The Shop on Royal Street (#1) with THE HOUSE ON PRYTANIA (Royal Street #2) —a continuation of a woman trying to rid her historically haunted home of ghosts and evil spirits.
The series features Nola, in New Orleans a city full of history, architecture, renovations, and plenty of ghosts.
The Royal Street Series is a spinoff of White's bestselling Tradd Street series, and Charleston, SC Nola Trenholm (daughter of Jack Trenholm, and stepmother, Melanie) has moved to New Orleans, purchased a home, and has been restoring her Creole cottage. She has gotten rid of some ghosts, but some are hanging on.
Melanie, as we know, has the ability to communicate with the dead. They are visiting New Orleans with Nola's half-sibling twins (age 12), Jack and Sarah.
They look forward to seeing the newly purchased home, her dog Mardi, and Jolene, her roommate. Jolene is a witty, talented southern belle and keeps everyone in stitches laughing. She will ensure your attire, makeup, hair, food, wine, manners, and everything is up to par. (she has the best Southern one-liners).
There is also an old friend and current contractor, Beau Ryan, whose sister Sunny, was kidnapped more than 20 years ago. She had just found her way back to her family during the storm.
Beau's mom (presumably dead) can communicate with ghosts. Beau also has a podcast, Bumps in the Night and Other Improbabilities, with his partner, Sam Beck.
Beau wants revenge after uncovering the truth about Sunny’s kidnapping, arranged by the late Antoine Broussard, whose evil spirit lives on. Nola's house is haunted by both Beau’s grandfather and Broussard’s evil spirit.
Nola finds herself attracted to three different men: Beau, Michael, who broke her heart after starting a romance with her to help conceal his Broussard relatives’ misdeeds, and her first love, Cooper, who’s just moved to New Orleans.
Sunny and Sam beg her to renew her former friendship with Michael to infiltrate the Broussard family and get answers to some of their many questions.
I enjoyed the addition of grown-up Sarah, Nola's sister (she loves Jolene), and she also has psychic abilities and helps them track down clues. Jolene is my favorite!
All the events are exciting and dangerous, blended with Joleen's jokes, and sparks flying with all the men after Nola. Who will she choose? Plus, there are plenty of ghosts and evil spirits.
A long-time Karen White fan and have read all her books. However, I enjoyed the first book in the series more than this one. I prefer the remodeling and historical architectural elements more than the ghosts, horror, supernatural and evil spirits. Hope we get more of that next installment. I LOVE THE COVER and New Orleans!
I highly recommend reading Book #1 first. THE HOUSE OF PRYTANIA is full of mystery, suspense, and intrigue. Character-driven, mixed with Southern humor and romance—rich in historical detail and charm. I am looking forward to #3!
I purchased the audiobook narrated by Sophie Amoss for an engaging listening experience.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: May 9, 2023
The Shop on Royal Street
A Royal Street Novel Book #1 of 2
5 STARS
Nola Trenholm is hopeful for a fresh start in the Big Easy but must deal with ghosts from her past—as well as new ones—in this first book in a spin-off series of Karen White’s New York Times bestselling Tradd Street novels.
After a difficult detour 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 can, luckily Nola knows someone in New Orleans who is able to—even if he’s the last person on earth she wants anything to do with ever again. Beau Ryan comes with his own dark past—a past that involves the disappearance of his sister and parents during Hurricane Katrina—and he’s connected to the unsolved murder of a woman who once lived in the old Creole cottage Nola is determined to make her own…whether the resident restless spirits agree or not.
Praise
"Expertly packed with suspense and family secrets, and soaked in New Orleans atmosphere, The House on Prytania is Karen White at her best. This twisty, satisfying tale will keep readers up far too late."
—Simone St. James, New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel
"An exciting psychic mystery best enjoyed by veterans who’ve read all the previous entries in both series."
—Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
PHOTO CREDIT: MARCHET BUTLER
About Karen
Karen White is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 31 books, including the Tradd Street series, The Last Night in London, Dreams of Falling, The Night the Lights Went Out, Flight Patterns, The Sound of Glass, and A Long Time Gone. She is the coauthor of The Lost Summers of Newport, All the Ways We Said Goodbye, The Glass Ocean and The Forgotten Room with New York Times bestselling authors Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig. She grew up in London but now lives with her husband near Atlanta, Georgia.
More About Karen
With almost two million books in print in fifteen different languages, Karen White is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 31 novels, including the popular Charleston-set Tradd Street mystery series.
Raised in a house full of brothers, Karen’s love of books and strong female characters first began in the third grade when the local librarian issued her a library card and placed The Secret of the Old Clock, a Nancy Drew Mystery, in her hands.
Karen’s roots run deep in the South where many of her novels are set. Her intricate plot lines and compelling characters charm and captivate readers with just the right mix of family drama, mystery, intrigue and romance.
Not entirely convinced she wanted to be a writer, Karen first pursued a career in business and graduated cum laude with a BS in Management from Tulane University. Ten years later, in a weak moment, she wrote her first book. In the Shadow of the Moon was published in August, 2000. Her books—referred to as “grit lit” (Southern Women’s Fiction)—have since been nominated for numerous national contests including the SIBA (Southeastern Booksellers Alliance) Fiction Book of the Year.
Karen’s latest releases include The Shop on Royal Street and The Lost Summers of Newport. The Shop on Royal Street, released on March 29th, 2022 and is the first book in a brand new series set in New Orleans and starring Nola Trenholm from the Tradd Street series. The publication of the fourth collaboration with Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig, The Lost Summers of Newport, was released on May 17th, 2022.
Next up for fans of Karen White is The House on Prytania Street, the second novel in the Royal Street series, scheduled for May, 2023.
When not writing, Karen spends her time reading, singing, and avoiding cooking. Karen and her husband have two grown children and a spoiled Havanese dog, Sophie, and divides her time between Atlanta, Georgia and the northwest Florida coast. WEBSITE
