Ghost Walk

We made a quick trip to New Orleans so I decided to read this book before we left. The author's description of the city and the charcaters who live there are exactly what you can expect to find, and was spot on. I enjoyed being at the same places where the charcaters roamed, namely the famous cemetaries like LaFayette, as well as following the lives and footsteps of a ghost tour guide. The main plot was an interesting murder mystery (actual double murder) and had some twists. The love interest between the two protagonists who both could see ghosts, was easily predictable, but it made a charming love story. If you like murder stories with a side romance, no one does it like Heather Graham. This was a fun and quick murder/lovestory book.

Nikki DuMonde works for a haunted tour company in the amazing city of New Orleans. Here she guides people through the haunted past of a city that is as mysterious and unique as it's past. So you can imagine her surprise when art begins imitating life. When a friend and co-worker dies under mysterious circumstances and then her ghost seems to find Nikki when she's all alone Nikki begins to wonder if perhaps if she might just be loosing her mind. After all normal people don't see ghosts let alone talk with them right? She's further shocked when she realizes Andy's ghost is not the only one she's been seeing. So when she meets Brent Blackhawk and the attraction is instantaneous and he understands what she's going through, Nikki can't help show more but wonder...is this all a product of her imagination or is Brent the one man who can save her from the one person that will do what they must to see her dead as her friend Andy?

Heather Graham has vividly brought New Orleans to life as well as it's eclectic and dynamic past. Making this a vital character to the story. The suspense and ghostly addition makes this read a page turner from the very start. Add to this the sensually constructed chemistry and attraction between Nikki and her Brent makes this a romance not only believable but more importantly...entertaining. show less

This is the first Heather Graham book that I have read. I wish I had discovered them earlier. I really enjoyed this one and want to look up all her work now.

I liked the paranormal aspect of the mystery. The two main characters both can see ghosts. Nikki sees the ghosts of her recently murdered employee, and a second man who may be important to the mystery. Nikki is a tour guide for a haunted places tour of New Orleans. I really enjoyed going on the tours with her, and learning about the history of New Orleans. That was one of my favorite parts of the book.

I did feel that Nikki's romance with Blackhawk progressed to quickly, and the ending felt very rushed. Overall I really enjoyed reading this. The excellence of the main story made up show more for the other shortcomings. show less

Nikki is doing very well managing a tour company in New Orleans, which focuses on historical landmarks, but has enough talk of ghosts and legends to keep the tourists titillated. She has chosen her co-workers carefully and they all work well together. That is, until Nikki starts seeing ghosts. Now she must solve a murder and find peace with her new talent, while trying to discover if one of her friends might be at the heart of the mystery. Throw in a handsome, talented "chisel-jawed" stranger and you have a paranormal-urban-fantasy-romance.

The story had some clunky bits. Too much repetitive description of characters, dialog between the tour group that went nowhere and didn't add anything to the plot; it wasn't even funny or clever. show more However, the mystery and story had enough interest to keep me reading. I really enjoyed reading the bits where the guides were giving their tours. Brent Blackhawk has potential, the beginning of his story was intriguing, as was the "company" he worked for. Nikki was annoying, but maybe that's just me. She was the typical female character who either overestimated her capabilities, or folded into a whimpering, simpering idiot at the first sign of the unusual. The ubiquitous sex scenes were there for those who enjoy them, I felt relieved that I could skim through and turn several pages quickly so as to be done with the book faster. Can't tell you if they were well-written because all such scenes strike me as ridiculous.

I finished the book, because it had points of interest. It isn't the type of book I usually read and I won't be keeping it, but I don't regret the time spent with it, either. If this is the sort of book you enjoy, you may like it very much. show less

Enjoyed the setting We made a quick trip to New Orleans so I decided to read this book before we left. The author's description of the city and the charcaters who live there are exactly what you can expect to find, and was spot on. I enjoyed being at the same places where the charcaters roamed, namely the famous cemetaries like LaFayette, as well as following the lives and footsteps of a ghost tour guide. The main plot was an interesting murder mystery (actual double murder) and had some twists. The love interest between the two protagonists who both could see ghosts, was easily predictable, but it made a charming love story. If you like murder stories with a side romance, no one does it like Heather Graham. This was a fun and quick show more murder/lovestory book. show less

This was my first book by this author and I was very pleased!! The only thing that stopped me from giving it 5 stars was that I felt parts were dragged on a little bit too long. But other then that this book was really amazing!

I loved the history and descriptions that went into the story. It had me searching online for a Native American Legend of the White Buffalo Woman. And of course reading about how New Orleans was before Hurrican Katrina gave me more of a sense of loss for everyone who had to suffer through such a horrible time.

But on a good note, I loved the twists and turns in the mystery and will be looking forward to reading more from Heather Graham (also known as Shannon Drake) soon.

Nikki is very surprised when she looks up from her groggy/tipsy sleep and sees her coworker and friend Andy at the end of her bed in, what looks like, her pajamas. They all went out on their boss that night and Nikki admits she came home a bit on the drunk side, so she figures she just must be in a weird dream state. Only problem is, Nikki really feels awake and she can hear Andy asking her for help as clear as if she really was there, so the only thing Nikki comes to decide is that her friends are playing some sort of odd trick on her and tells Andy to go away and very funny. That's all great, but the next day she learns that Andy died at the very time she was seen by Nikki in her room at the foot of her bed. What's going on? Can she show more really see and now talk to the dead? No one believes her of her friends and soon Nikki is beyond frustrated. She knows Andy must have been murdered, but how can she prove it? The only person she finds that trusts her visions of Andy in any way is Brent, a paranormal investigator who also sees the dead. Can they work together to figure out the mystery behind Andy's death and the death of an undercover FBI agent? Even if they can, will they be believed?

I must start out by saying I simply love these types of books. I love books dealing with the paranormal and especially ghosts. Therefore I started this book with great excitement. I also have enjoyed Graham's books before, so that just added to my hope and expectation that this book was going to be more than amazing. I must say though, I was a bit disappointed. I don't know if it was the book itself, the writing, or the high expectations I went into the read with. I found it to be very slow to start and was a bit anxious while reading, waiting for something to happen. It just seemed like it took a very long period of pages to really get into any aspect of the mystery. It was slow to start and then was a bit choppy once it did get started. What I did enjoy was the theory behind the plot and the characters. I think if the book would have had some of the "fluff" taken out, it would have been really amazing without a doubt. The characters made the book better for me though and were the thing that kept me reading the book. So, all in all, the book was ok, the characters made it more bearable for sure.

3/5 Stars show less