The Strangers on Montagu Street
Nov 3, 2011
Author: Karen White
Publisher: NAL Trade (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451235266
ISBN-13: 978-0451235268
This is the SEVENTH Karen book the Dew has reviewed in just a couple of years. I’m exhausted just thinking about that many books being written! Regardless of how I feel for Karen's poor tired typing fingers, I have nevertheless been eagerly awaiting this book as it’s the 3rd in the Tradd Street series involving the lovely, ghost seeing Melanie and the hunk of all men – Jack. (Yes, partial to Jack am I.)
Melanie has a talent which she abhors. She sees Dead People. Worse, they actively seek her out. She finds it nearly impossible to go into old homes, antique stores, etc. where people might linger after death with their familiar items. Being a realtor in a town as old as Charleston with houses dating back centuries means she has had to become accustomed to her talent even if she doesn’t enjoy it.
In this episode of “Jack and Melanie are in love and won’t admit it” they still aren’t dating, they’re still extremely hot for each other and they still cling to their stubborn ways – Melanie more so than Jack. (Her life charts just kill me!)
Melanie is feeling her age as she’s nearing 40 still a singleton, while her mother continues attempting desperately to set her up with a man, any man, and her best friend has announced she’s getting married. She’s literally hearing the ticking of the clock and watching the green cloak of jealousy fall over her.
On top of this countdown Melanie has another curve thrown when Jack shows up at her door with his newly discovered daughter Nola. 13 year old Nola was a secret that he knew nothing about until her mother overdosed on drugs and Nola manages to track Jack down before foster care found her. She’s hostile and untrusting, which is understandable since not only was she told Jack abandoned her, but she has spent years taking care of her drug addled mother alone and often hungry and cold.
Jack desperately begs Melanie to take care of Nola as they can’t seem to live together without the occurrence of daily fighting matches.Just until they sort out their differences she's told.
So Nola moves in with Melanie………….and so does a very creepy dollhouse. This dollhouse has an aura of evil and death all around it, but as Melanie is trying to get into Nola’s good graces she doesn’t do what she would love to – which is burn it in the backyard immediately. When the doll figures start ending up in other spots…. With obvious death scenes being played out… things become very sinister.
This book is such a fun read – attractive people, romance, creepy ghost stories, mystery………and a huge game changing wow at the end!
I finished the last page – sat with my mouth open for a few minutes, then immediately emailed Karen and demanded to know when I could expect the next book – seriously, to leave me hanging like that!
Want to know what I’m talking about? Read the book! :)
