Monday, December 7, 2009

Book tour - "The Girl on Legare Street" by Karen White

I was a little nervous when asked to participate in a TLC Book tour since this isn't a book blog. However, I guess this could be the "Look Dad! I am doing something with my degree!" moment I have been waiting for. I studied literature in college. I did it mainly for the money :)

"The Girl on Legare Street" is Karen White's second book following the story of successful Charleston realtor, Melanie Middleton. The first book, "The House on Tradd Street", introduces us to Melanie as her very structured life is suddenly thrust into upheaval. Melanie does everything in her power to live an emotionally safe existence. She holds onto this routine with an iron fist. You can hardly blame her. She has been dealt her share of trials and is due some issues. Her mother abandoned her as a child. She was raised by an alcoholic father. Oh....and she sees and hears dead people.

In "The House on Tradd Street", we see Melanie slowly start to release that firm grip. Well, it is more like her fingers are forceable pried away. Situations arise wherein she has to acknowledge her paranormal "gift" along side a man who is (in her option) totally wrong for her. - Though, could any man really be the wrong guy who is "devastatingly" gorgeous, lives in a refurbished warehouse impeccably decorated and writes for a living? Um, no.

While the "House on Tradd Street" was definitely entertaining, "The Girl on Legare Street" was completely engrossing. Everything is taken up a decibel, from the romance to the suspense. Someone from the other side is not happy with Melanie and is bent on doing more than just haunting her. Melanie has spent the last 33 years of her life proving she needed only herself and her spreadsheets to live successfully. However, a terrifying ghost is forcing this independence to an abrupt end. Her life becomes crowded with people (alive and dead) who she thought were removed from her forever. The story is Melanie's personal raging war. One battle fought against a menacing unearthly presence. The second is Melanie's fight within herself as she is forced to fully acknowledge her paranormal power, her tie to the generations before her and her fear of depending on others.

The setting of the stories could not be more sublime. The stories hover around historical Charleston homes and their past and present residents. The homes becomes characters in and of themselves and their well being becomes as crucial as Melanie's. (I think it is pretty obvious that I was reading these books around the time of this photo shoot. I wanted to drive my little southern belle down to Tradd Street in Charleston, but I made due with Chattanooga.)

Drama mixed with a bit of romance and some spine tinglingly intrigue and you get a great holiday read. Let me know if you enjoy the books as much as I did.

6 comments:

BumbleBee Bagz said...

I've been looking for a good book, will put that on my Christmas list!

Heather said...

I'm from Charleston and I've heard of all the hauntings downtown. I think I may have to pick up this book :-)
Thanks for sharing!
You should definitely come visit Charleston, I could be your tour guide. You'd love it!

The Pyper Fam said...

Ohhh, that sounds like a great book. I've been needing something new to read. And I've been meaning to tell you that I love that picture of you with your kiddos on your new blog header! :) gorgeous!

MamaOtwins+1 said...

This sounds like a great book - I am going to check it out!

trish said...

I'm so glad you liked it! I don't like ghost stories and you made it sound appealing even to me! LOL.

Thanks for being on this tour and writing such a fantastic review!

Karen White said...

Hi, Natalie--

I'm so glad you enjoyed both books. And, as you could probably tell from the end of the 2nd book, there will be a sequel--two in fact. Even _I_ can't seem to get enough of Melanie, Jack and all those fun ghosts! ;-)

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