Tag: Ruined

Revisiting New Orleans…

Back in October, I read Paula Morris’ “Ruined” and I was immediately hooked. It had all the makings of the a great “spooky season” read….ghosts, New Orleans, history, a family curse, and New Orleans cemeteries. As I told a friend about the book, I looked it up online to check the author’s name and discovered there was a second book. It continued!

I’m always excited when the story continues and quickly ordered a copy of “Unbroken.” Rebecca returns to New Orleans with a friend from home to visit family and one friend, Anton. New Orleans without a ghost and a family curse should hopefully be less stressful until a mysterious boy shows up in New York asking for help in New Orleans.

While Rebecca tries to keep the ghost hidden, it isn’t as easy as it sounds. Talking to an invisible person draws attention to you. Rebecca has to share the news with her friend from home….she sees ghosts and one needs her help. Helping a ghost is never easy and other ghosts become angry and try to stop her.

Sometimes second books don’t live up to the first. It feels like a desperate attempt to continue a completed story. That was not the case here. The story continued. It flowed. It made sense. Rebecca and her dad visiting family in New Orleans was logical. The ghost that found her didn’t feel forced. The story took different turns than the first and while the characters and location were the same, it was definitely a new story that continued from the last book.

I would definitely recommend both “Ruined” and “Unbroken.” I could see the streets of New Orleans as I turned the pages and I really enjoyed both books. If you are looking for a ghost story that isn’t scary, but rather friends and enemies that span centuries, be sure to check these books out.

Starting my October Spooky Reads

A few weeks ago, I was at a library book sale. While searching all the books, one cover caught my attention. The cover scene was a New Orleans cemetery. While you can’t judge a book by its cover, this cover captured my attention, and I knew it was worth checking out. I grabbed the copy of “Ruined” by Paula Morris and knew it would be a great October read.

I dove in last week and once I started, I couldn’t put the book down. Rebecca grew up in NYC, but her dad has to go on an extended business trip (for months) and sends her to live with a family friend in the Garden District in New Orleans. Rebecca feels completely out of place when she arrives. She is given one strong warning from her “aunt” (she needs to refer to her father’s friend as her aunt to be permitted to attend her new school) – stay away from the cemeteries, they are dangerous. Of course, this sparks her interest, and she follows schoolmates into the cemetery one night to see what they are up to. She doesn’t want them to know she is there, so she hides and manages to get lost. While trying to find her way out, she meets someone, Lisette, in the cemetery who guides her to the gate. Rebecca wonders why she doesn’t see Lisette anywhere else except the cemetery. On a visit into the cemetery to see Lisette, the other students are about to see Rebecca until Lisette grabs her hands making her invisible. Rebecca suddenly realizes why she hasn’t seen Lisette anywhere else…she’s a ghost.

Why is Rebecca able to see this ghost no one else sees? While Rebecca wonders about this, the rest of the school (and city) are getting ready for Mardi Gras. Aside from the parades, there are many parties. Rebecca is invited to an exclusive Mardi Gras season party by a boy in her school. Her aunt does not want her to go but she plans to sneak out and attend. Lisette surprisingly tells Rebecca she will be there. Why would a ghost attend a party? I’d tell you more, but you really need to read it find out why.

What I loved most about this book is the twists and turns. Lisette’s appearance at the party sets off a chain of events that the reader does not expect. Really well written and the perfect book for a spooky (but not scary) October read!