Another winner and bonus book to the Tradd street series by Karen White.
Never reviewed and just realized that error so this come awfully late!

The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street
Tradd Street #6
Karen White



#6 in Karen White’s fabulous Tradd Street series which follows close on the heels of book 5 The Guests on South Battery, has it all, family drama, ghosts both friendly and angry and an engaging Revolutionary War mystery. Karen’s main protagonist Melanie has shown tremendous personal growth since readers first met her in, The House on Tradd Street, but she still has a way to go and the audience with find themselves both understanding why she does what she does but also wanting to shake her more than once during the read. Melanie’s twins are adorable and her stepdaughter Nola is that rare teen who genuinely loves her parents. Then there’s the enigma that is Jack an honorable man who after years wooing her has finally convinced Melanie that he’s worthy of her love, and the list of outstanding characters doesn’t end there. This master storyteller gifts her readers with a can’t put it down read and after a rather dramatic ending they will relish the fact that there is one more in this Outstanding, should be read in order, series to come.

Melanie Trenholm is excited for Christmas this year, it’s the first as a married woman to the love of her life historical author Jack Trenholm and the first as the mother of their twins Jack Junior (JJ) and Sarah. Plus Jack has a new publisher and book contract and after the fiasco of losing his last book deal to his nemesis Mark Longo this is indeed a reason to celebrate the season. And they could also use some reason to celebrate with all the ongoing renovations to their historic and haunted centuries old home on Tradd Street. Unfortunately the spirits are restless due to artifacts found in the cistern being excavated in their backyard and Melanie has an up close and personal relationship with the dearly departed and they’re demanding her attention.

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRITS ON TRADD STREET by Karen White is a blend of mystery, history, and romance with a dash of paranormal spirits. Technically part of a series set in Charleston and featuring Melanie Trenholm, this title can be read alone. Disturbed by some construction, the spirits are related to a long ago spy ring. Melanie deals with their attempts at messaging as well as current day rivals, business concerns, and holiday entertaining obligations. A light and undemanding, entertaining read.

Any readers who have read Karen White’s Southern fiction will also love the Tradd Street series featuring Melanie Trenholm, who lives in Charleston with her husband, Jack and extended family.
Melanie has a gift she’d just as soon give up, but that’s not about to happen. And Christmas spirits on Tradd Street are not about happy holiday feelings or alcohol, but actual spirits, otherwise known as ghosts.
The garden cistern behind Melanie’s historic house is yielding a lot of Colonial-era artifacts, and it seems that some of the ghosts of that time are showing themselves, trying to get a message across to her.
Her cousin’s husband is still trying to convince Melanie and and Jack to sell the house, mainly because he wants to hunt for treasure he believes is there.
Melanie, with the help of her mother and sister, has to get to the bottom of what these ghosts want them to know, in order to save the house and possibly her marriage.
I love all of Karen's books!

This is the first one in this series that I read. Melanie sees and hears and smells ghosts. She helps those she can and some of them help her. She has OCD and does most things with a ruler so they are exact, or she'll rearrange everything on a shelf or in a drawer.

Berkley Books sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you). It will be published October 22nd.

She has small twins that her cousin takes care of while she's busy during the day. She also has her husband's sixteen year old daughter as part of her family. The house they inherited and are rehabbing is full of ghosts going all the way back to the Civil War.

Jack and Melanie have a lot going on. They are hosting an event at their house and Melanie is working on decorations. Jack is writing a book and it's going well but then his agent leaves and he gets a young one who hasn't read anything of his and wants to change the kind of book it is. They also have someone who wants the house they live in (he believes there is treasure there somewhere). He's the one messing with Jack's agents.

There are mysteries everywhere, they have to sort out a code, match bricks, and finally determine where the last "treasure" is hidden. There's a fight at the cemetery that has ghosts involved.

It's a good read but I didn't like the ending. I'm sure the next book will sort that out but I still didn't like it.

I love this series, and have been such a fan, it inspired me to travel to Charleston. However, this fell so flat for me. I love Melanie and Jack's love story, and I was hoping that after 5 books, this book would show growth in both of them. Unfortunately, it didn't. Melanie still has the same insecurities in both herself and her marriage, Jack doesn't talk himself but expects his wife to tell him everything, and the mystery was too muddled in it all. I will definitely read the next book, but here's to hoping that Melanie and Jack grow up.

I came REALLY late to the Tradd Street game, but I flew through the first 5 books last year- and was eager to see what book 6 was going to be all about

What I Liked:

The cover. What I wouldn’t give to have a front porch decorated like that for the holidays!!! Except the spirits- I do not want the spirits!

The actual mystery. It was really good!!!!!!!



What I didn’t love:

MELLIE. Girl, you kill me. Everyone and their mama is telling you to NOT KEEP secrets from your hubby- in fact your own mother went through a very nice telling of why now was especially a bad time to not let Jack in on some things- but do you ever listen? NOOOOOOOOOOO. And then it comes back to bite you. HARD. Girl, you are going to cause me to drink.

Marc Longo. I know every series needs a bad guy- but he has especially upped his bad guy game in the past couple of books and I feel like I need a shower to wash off the bad guy stink after reading about him.



Bottom line: I did enjoy the book and I’ll be right ready to read book 7 when it gets released- but I wish Mellie would chill out just a bit. And maybe, you know, talk to her hubby about some things.

This book is the 6th in the Tradd Street series by Karen White, and it doesn't disappoint. It has a little bit of everything I love -- history, romance, drama, ghost story. I hope to see more books in this series. They are delightful, light reads.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This book is in the middle of the series but could be read as a stand-alone. This book was an okay holiday read especially if you are just looking for something to read during the holiday season, as I found it to drag in several spots.

The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street
by Karen White
384 pages
2⭐⭐

While this is the sixth in White’s 'Tradd Street' series, it can be read on its own. Melanie used to be such a strong woman and in this book she has become a whiney woman who acts like a child. I really struggled with this book. It had so many characters it was almost impossible to keep up with them all. I liked the other books in this series but not this one.
I tried so hard to get into it. It just was not for me. It seemed to just drag and drag. After days of forcing myself to read this book hoping it was going to get better ,I get to the ending and there's the worst cliff hanger ending I have even seen. Like really ??? I have to wonder if Karen White even wrote this story. It definitely didn't seem like her writing to me.
💝About the Author💝
Karen White is the New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty novels, including the Tradd Street series, Dreams of Falling, The Night the Lights Went Out, Flight Patterns, The Sound of Glass, A Long Time Gone, and The Time Between. She is the coauthor of The Forgotton Room and The Glass Ocean with New York Times bestselling authors Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig. She grew up in London but now lives with her husband and two children near Atlanta, Georgia.
#TheChristmasSpiritsOnTraddStreet #NetGalley

What a fabulous book! Is it a ghost story? Is it a Christmas read? Is it a mystery? Is it historical? The answers are yes, yes, yes, and yes! Karen White has brilliantly woven together threads of ghosts, holiday cheer, intrigue, and history. I have not read the previous books in the series and that was not a problem at all, but now I am anxiously waiting for the next. This book was such a puzzle. I loved piecing it together with the characters along with all the history involved. Loved getting to know Melanie, Jack, and the entire family. The setting of Charlotte North Carolina was perfect. I really loved the combination of spooky ghosts and festive vibes. An entertaining story filled with quirky characters and a compelling storyline.

This book in emojis. 🎄 👻 🧩

*** Big thanks to Berkley for my copy of this book ***

*ARC provided by NetGalley

My only complaint with this book is that it ended too soon. The author effortlessly weaves the stories of ghosts into her mysteries. It's an unique way to weave history into the present day story.

Tradd Street is a fun & light hearted series that is nice to pick up to give my brain a rest from all the ‘heavier’ novels I find myself gravitating toward. Unfortunately, this is probably my least favorite of the series thus far. It wasn’t bad I just didn’t like the storyline as much as I’ve enjoyed others. Hated the ending. Thought it felt very out of place and unrealistically dramatic even for this series. Still love me some Karen White & will always be giddy when I see a new book. 3.5 stars.

I really enjoy the characters in these books and how they have grown over the course of the series. Melanie is trying to get used to having a sister and is having some jealousy over Jayne's closeness with her parents. It is understandable since she was an only child until recently. But Jayne can understand some things about Melanie that other people can't because they share the gift of being able to see spirits. As their mother keeps saying "They are stronger together." There is a mystery to be solved involving the Vanderhorst family and another property that they owned, Gallen Hall Plantation. I really enjoyed the information about the peacock spy ring and I liked the Christmas theme of the book and hearing about all of the historic decorations. And you do not have to read the other books in this series to read this one. However, this book does end with a cliffhanger.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street by Karen White is a 2019 Berkley publication.

A Christmas present for Tradd Street fans!!

Melanie is not exactly in the holiday spirit- so to speak- mainly because she’s harboring a secret from Jack, which is a big no-no, and she knows it, despite all of her rationalizations.

She’s also dealing with renovations, an ongoing mystery, a bit of sibling rivalry, Jack’s publishing woes, and her constant craving for sugar.

But, when it comes to her attention that there is the possibility of lucrative treasure buried somewhere on her property, and that her arch enemy is trying to locate it, she plunges herself into a revolutionary aged mystery full of intrigue and heartbreak, as she desperately tries to hold on to everything she holds dear.

I just love this series! Melanie is such a human character- she’s realistically flawed, conflicted and maybe a bit damaged, but I still root for her even when I know she's headed for trouble. While I understand all this about Melanie, sometimes I think people are too hard on her, dismiss her, or take her for granted- which is why I suppose I still feel sympathetic towards her despite her self- sabotage.

This installment has some truly interesting history, which was right up my alley. In fact, the mystery is one of the best in the series, in my humble opinion.

However, the conclusion left me breathless and heartbroken!! AARRGH! I hope we won't have to wait too long for book seven!!

Overall, I’m thankful for this holiday edition of one of my favorite series!!

I didn't realize this was sixth in a series, but it worked out fine. The author did a nice job of filling in the backstory. Really enjoyed the Charleston, NC setting with the history.

Karen White has an easy writing style that allowed me to enjoy this Tradd Street mystery. The quirky characters, roaming spirits and "ghost" mystery were entertaining.

Now waiting for the next!

Karen White is another author I keep my eye on, looking for anything new that she writes. Here is a great book to read for this season, The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street. I have read every book in the Tradd Street series which is fun southern fiction based in South Carolina. I always like books based in the south and imagine myself living there. The little details put you right in South Carolina.

SYNOPSIS:

Melanie Trenholm should be anticipating Christmas with nothing but joy–after all, it’s the first Christmas she and her husband, Jack, will celebrate with their twin babies. 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 the cistern 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 that there is a long-lost Revolutionary War treasure buried somewhere on the property that Melanie inherited–untold riches rumored to be 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 holds dear.

If you haven’t read books by Karen before, she has written tons, you have many to pick from. I think I have read almost everything and my favorites include Dreams of Falling and Flight Patterns.

Get The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street here!

Over the years I have had my eye on the Tradd Street series by Karen White. I have read Karen White’s other books and collaborations but have yet to pick up her more popular Tradd Street series.

I really have no particular reason other than I just don’t think if it when I go on the hunt for a mystery. Well this book came up for review and the lovely cozy Christmas cover hooked me.

As always, I had some trepidations about picking this book up with is being number 6 in the series, but I simply couldn’t pass on this adorable cover and the perfect excuse to pick up this series once and for all!

Summary
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 babies. 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 the cistern 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 that there is a long-lost Revolutionary War treasure buried somewhere on the property that Melanie inherited–untold riches rumored to be 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 (summary from Goodreads)

Review
While this book can be read as a standalone, I could tell there were some side plots that were well established and had I started the series from the beginning, then I would have probably appreciated the side plots more. I thought Melanie was always rather busy, it seemed like there was always a lot of activity around her which causes a strain on her marriage etc. I thought Melanie was a great depiction of the modern mother being pulled in a million directions and I think a lot of readers will connect with her over this aspect of the story.

The characters were well realized and formed and I could tell there was a lot of back story readers could glean from the other books in the series. While I am a new reader, it wasn’t distracting but rather made me want to read the other books and find out what all I had missed along the way.

Where this book shines though is the mystery and history! I am not a huge fan of Revolutionary history but White had a daft hand with this history and sprinkled the right amount of detail in and I loved it! I enjoyed all the little spooky parts of the mystery and how it was all resolved. The mystery held my interest all the way through until the end and I felt satisfied with that arc of the story being resolved.

What I struggled with a bit though was the unresolved arc of Melanie and Jack. The way the book ended was too much of a cliff hanger for me. I wanted to see things just a little more resolved going into the next book, but I can also understand that in a series, cliff hangers are common place and often expected but I was hoping for a little more closure before this one ended.

That said, I loved the holiday feel of this book. It had a little holiday cheer but enough spookiness that made the transition from Halloween reading to Christmas reading feel less jarring!

Book Info and Rating
Hardcover, 384 pages
Published October 22nd 2019 by Berkley Books
ISBN 0451475240 (ISBN13: 9780451475244)
Free review copy provided by publisher, Berkley Books, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Mystery, holiday

The sixth in a series of books that all take place in Charleston, SC and involve historical homes that have spirits still roaming the halls. Melanie Trenholm is able to "see" these spirits and semi communicate with them and hopefully help them get to their next destination, this book takes place during the holidays as there are Revolutionary War spirits who are still dealing with events from that time and need Melanie to solve some puzzles to help them crossover.

First on this series. I would advise that it is best to start at the beginning as there is a lot of character development that you would miss if you start out here on this book or in the middle of the series. Each "ghost story" is self contained in each book, but I think you need to slowly meet Melanie and the cast of characters that show up in book after book.

I have enjoyed this series even though I am not quite a ghost story kind of girl. The slight nod to historical events is what keeps me reading these books. For me these books are good, but not great. It was hard where this book left off, Melanie wasn't in a great place, so I will definitely have to read the next one so I can at the least get an update on Melanie's personal life and how that is going beyond the ghosts.

It's difficult when you're invested in a series and the books start to degrade but that seems to be the case with the Tradd Street books. There is too much repetition and no real development with the main character . . . she likes sweets, I get it . . . she's OCD, I get it . . . she wants to pretend that she doesn't communicate with spirits, I get it. The descriptions of Charleston and the curiosity to see what will happen have kept me coming back, and I'm sure I'll read the final installment when it comes out, but honestly, this series should have ended after book 4.
I received an advanced copy of this title from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.