Melanie Middleton definitely has a lot going on in her life these days. In addition to being psychic, she's a rather successful realtor, a compulsive chart maker, and is now about to be a single mother at 40 years old. The father of her unborn child is none other than well-known writer Jack Trenholme, a handsome devil who she has attempted to cut out of her life although she still loves him with all of the pieces of her shattered heart. In the middle of all of this, the home she inherited is being historically renovated and restored with painstaking and expensive care by her best friend, Sophie.

Along with losing access to her favorite foods in favor of healthy but tasteless offerings that her mother Ginnette, Sophie, and her housekeeper Mrs. Houlihan, force her to eat, Melanie also seems to have lost her ability to see ghosts. She can still hear them, though, and a crying baby is at the top of the list. While she's trying to work out that little mystery, Jack has insinuated himself into her life, determined to be a part of the full pregnancy, birth and father process.

Yes, Melanie has a lot going on these days. Things get even more interesting, however, when she realizes that a rather malevolent ghost might just mean her and her unborn baby harm if she doesn't figure out what, exactly, this ghost wants.

The cast of characters in RETURN TO TRADD STREET are so real that I could actually hear their voices as I read along. As a born and bred Southerner, I can vouch for Karen White in that she nailed everything right down to the sweet tea that Melanie was forced to give up during her pregnancy. In addition, the men in Charleston are so romantic that it might just entice single women everywhere to move there. Of course, there's always going to be one fly in the ointment, but, thankfully, he didn't play a major role.

RETURN TO TRADD STREET isn't exactly a frightening book although it does have a few "jumpy" parts. Instead, it is something much more. It is a true pleasure for the senses. The characters are nice without being abnormal. Love is in the air without being too sticky sweet. The various mysteries included will keep you turning the pages. I found myself laughing out loud at different parts and shared excerpts with my husband who wanted to know why I was so entertained. Even he started asking questions about what was happening in the book after that. Finally, when all is said and done, RETURN TO TRADD STREET will leave you with a wonderful taste of Southern hospitality while also craving more of these delightful characters.

If you love reading books that are done just right, RETURN TO TRADD STREET must be at the top of your list!

Book Summary

Facing her future as a single mother, psychic Realtor Melanie Middleton is determined to be strong and leave her past with writer Jack Trenholm behind her. But history has a tendency of catching up with Melanie, whether she likes it or not.…

Melanie is only going through the motions of living since refusing Jack’s marriage proposal. She misses him desperately, but her broken heart is the least of her problems. Despite an insistence that she can raise their child alone, Melanie is completely unprepared for motherhood, and she struggles to complete renovations on her house on Tradd Street before the baby arrives.

When Melanie is roused one night by the sound of a ghostly infant crying, she chooses to ignore it. She simply does not have the energy to deal with one more crisis. That is, until the remains of a newborn buried in an old christening gown are found hidden in the foundation of her house.

As the hauntings on Tradd Street slowly become more violent, Melanie decides to find out what caused the baby’s untimely death, uncovering the love, loss, and betrayal that color the house’s history—and threaten her claim of ownership. But can she seek Jack’s help without risking her heart? For in revealing the secrets of the past, Melanie also awakens the malevolent presence that has tried to keep the truth hidden for decades.…