This week on Jen’s Jewels, I’m thrilled to welcome back New York Times bestselling author Karen White. Beloved for her richly layered Southern settings and unforgettable heroines, Karen once again invites readers into a world of charm, mystery, and heartfelt emotion in New Orleans with her latest release, THE LADY ON ESPLANADE. Blending wit, wisdom, and a touch of the unexpected, her new novel explores the strength of family, the pull of the past, and the healing that comes when we finally uncover the truth. Grab a cozy seat and join me as Karen and I chat about the inspiration behind her story, the characters who leapt off the page, and the magic that keeps readers coming back for more.
Jen: What inspired you to return to Nola Trenholm’s story in THE LADY ON ESPLANADE?
Karen: A contract! OK, that’s not the whole story, but I am contracted for four books in the series right now. But Nola’s story is far from being over and the characters are all so young so there are many more books I could write in which I continue to torture them, I mean, watch them learn and grow.
Jen: For readers new to the Royal Street series, can you provide a brief overview of the story so far and how this third installment builds upon the first two?
Karen: Despite being a recovering alcoholic, twenty-six-year-old Nola Trenholm has moved away from the security of home and family in Charleston to prove to herself and others that she could survive and thrive on her own. She buys a fixer-upper and prepares to restore it while beginning her new life. Except unexpected distractions happen: Beau Ryan—part nemesis, part love interest—as well as restless spirits (including Beau’s mother who disappeared during Hurricane Katrina) thwart her attempts at independence and a peaceful life.
Jen: Nola’s journey from Charleston to New Orleans has been full of mystery, heart, and a touch of the supernatural. How has her character evolved since we first met her?
Karen: Her childhood with a single parent who suffered with addiction issues was a hard one, but it made Nola stronger than most girls her age. After her mother’s death, she boarded a Greyhound bus and took it to Charleston, South Carolina where she knew her biological father lived—even though they had never met and her father didn’t know she existed. Her experiences have taught her to rely on no one except herself, and to see asking for help as a weakness. That’s the Nola we meet in The Shop on Royal Street. She has recently moved to New Orleans from Charleston—away from the family who loves her—because she needs to prove to everyone (and herself) that she is strong enough to face her own addictions by herself without help.
As the series continues, she finds herself gradually accepting help—and love—from her new- found family. In this third book, she discovers that without others, her actual survival could be at stake.
Jen: The chemistry between Nola and Beau Ryan continues to shine. How did you approach developing their complex relationship in this book?
Karen: I really have to dig down into their psyches and what makes them tick: Beau’s abandonment issues because of his parents (they both disappeared during Hurricane Katrina) and Nola’s fierce independence even when it’s not in her best interest not to seek help. What they both know but constantly fight is that they each make the other stronger—which isn’t necessarily a positive result for Beau. Nola’s presence in his life makes him more susceptible to the spirit world, which isn’t always a good thing. It makes the tension between Nola and Beau so much fun to write!
Jen: The setting of New Orleans plays such a vivid role in the story. What makes this city the perfect backdrop for Nola’s ghostly adventures?
Karen: New Orleans is one of the most haunted cities in the world, and with good reason. It has been the home to centuries of war, pestilence, and natural disasters. Add voodoo on top of that and you can’t get a spookier city in which to set a ghostly story.
Jen: If the Royal Street series were adapted into a film or limited series, who would you love to see play Nola, Beau, and the rest of the cast?
Karen: Nola: Mackenzie Foy; Jolene: Sadie Sink ; Sarah: Brooklyn Prince; Cooper: Colin Ford ; Beau: Austin Butler; Felicity: Anya Taylor-Joy.
May I add that I think the series would make a GREAT translation to the big or little screen?
Jen: Which character in THE LADY ON ESPLANADE was your favorite to write, and did any of them surprise you as the story unfolded?
Karen: I have a very soft spot in my heart for Jolene, and I get excited every time I get to write her in a scene. Her very existence was a surprise. I had no idea Nola would have a best friend, but when I was writing a scene, Jolene walked in through the front door—complete with red hair and thick Mississippi accent—and I was hooked. She’s the best friend we all need in our lives. She also talks just like my dear cousin Gwen which might be a reason for my connection with Jolene.
Jen: The book perfectly blends paranormal mystery, romance, and humor. What’s next for you?
Karen: I’m currently working on book #4 in the series—no release date yet but stay tuned!
Jen: What’s on your TBR stack right now? Any books or authors you’re especially excited to read?
Karen: I’ve just started THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach and am loving it. I’m excited to read the next book in my TBR pile, THE LAST ASSIGNMENT by Erika Robuck.
Jen: Tell us one interesting fact about yourself that readers might not know.
Karen: I speak Franglaise fluently.
Jen: And finally, how can fans connect with you online to keep up with your latest news?
Karen: I’m active on Instagram and Facebook. I love to direct readers to my website which has everything Karen White and more including a printable checklist of all of my books.
Jen: Thank you for stopping by to chat about THE LADY ON ESPLANADE. Fans are going to love this spine-tingling, emotional new chapter in Nola’s story—complete with ghosts, romance, and that irresistible New Orleans charm!
Karen: Thanks so much, Jen. It was a pleasure as always!
Narrator: Sophie Amoss
Royal Street #3
A Novel
People and secrets from the past threaten to disrupt Nola Trenholm’s new life in New Orleans in the third novel of the Royal Street series by New York Times bestselling author Karen White.
Nola is ready to focus on starting over in the Big Easy. She wants to get back to work on the renovations of her Creole cottage, and she is eager to launch a new murder-house-flipping business with contractor, closet psychic, and part-time nemesis Beau Ryan. After a near-death ghostly encounter and the return of Beau’s missing sister, they are confident that the ghost of his mother can finally rest.
Nola believes the shotgun house on famed Esplanade Avenue is a prime fixer-upper for her first project. It may have been the site of a woman’s murder and the disappearance of an entire family, but the house will be perfect for new-to-town Cooper Ravenel—who happens to have caused Nola’s first heartbreak.
That’s the least of Nola’s worries, though. In addition to the elusive spirit of an angry young woman who accompanied Cooper to New Orleans, the house on Esplanade has its own ghosts, including one that is becoming increasingly dangerous as he tries to hide his dark secrets. And the wet footprints from the spirit of Beau’s mother have returned to let them know there is still unfinished business before she can rest. Spectral danger is headed toward them, and it’s up to Nola to convince Beau to help before it’s too late. . . .
Women's Fiction | Mystery Private Eye [ Berkley, On Sale: November 4, 2025, Hardcover / e-Book / audiobook, ISBN: 9780593549490 / eISBN: 9780593549506 ]
Karen White is the New York Times bestselling author of 28 books, 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 All the Ways We Said Goodbye, The Glass Ocean and The Forgotten Room with New York Times bestselling authors Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig. She grew up in London but now lives with her husband near Atlanta, Georgia.
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. Her debut novel, "Serendipity by the Sea," secured the prestigious Best First Book award from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest. In 2024, Vido's talent garnered further accolades, with Baltimore Magazine readers naming her Best Local Author in their annual Best of Baltimore poll, while the Baltimore Sun acknowledged her with an Honorable Mention in their Best of 2024 Author category. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
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