Near the midpoint of the Upper Peninsula, along a Lake Michigan bend of shore, is the town of Manistique, Michigan. Mark had never heard of Manistique before the death of his estranged aunt, but as sole beneficiary of Vivian’s estate, he travels there to settle her affairs. As Mark tours his aunt’s house for the first time, the doorbell rings.Days after graduating medical school, Dr. Emily Davis … Emily Davis drives north, struggling with her illicit rendezvous on Mackinac Island. She never makes it—on the highway near Manistique, her car collides with a deer, shattering the car’s windshield. Stranded for the night, Emily is directed to a nearby bed and breakfast.
Maybe it’s a heady reaction, the revelation that his aunt, an international aid doctor, ran a bed and breakfast in retirement. Or perhaps he plainly feels pity for the young, helpless doctor. Regardless, Mark decides to play host for one night, telling Emily that he’s merely stepping in temporarily while his aunt is away.
As a one-night stay turns into another and more guests arrive, the ersatz innkeeper steadily loses control of his story. And though Emily opens up to Mark, she has trouble explaining the middle-aged man who unexpectedly arrives at the doorstep looking for her.
Will these two strangers, holding on to unraveling secrets, remain in town long enough to discover the connection between them?
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First of all, my name is Laura, so it must be fate that I felt so attracted to the characters in this novel.
I am also from Wisconsin, so while not a Yooper, I am a close neighbor. I also have fond memories of Fawlty Towers. Once you read this delightful book you will understand.
Mark has fond memories of his Aunt Vivian, even though he only remembers spending time with her when he was very young. When he learns she has passed away and he must head north to attend to her final affairs, he discovers, rather abruptly, that she had spent her final years running a B&B.
Somehow, during the few days Mark is up north, coinciding with Memorial Day, he becomes an unexpected landlord or housekeeper to a variety of unusual guests.
This is the story of that long weekend (plus a few days) and the start of some new friendships, as well as the resolution of the consequences of past bad choices.
The characters are wonderful. Quite an assortment. The emotional turmoil is realistic.
There are plenty of humorous moments, some to break the tension and others quite spontaneous.
And YES- deer DO hit cars. I speak from personal experience.
I often read several books at one time. I began this book while attempting to finish another, but kept putting any other book aside because I really didn’t want to set this book down. It demanded and deserved my full attention. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
Dennis Cuesta please write something else for me to read soon!
Mark just found out that his Aunt had died and for some reason left him all of her property and stuff. He had not heard from her since he was a preteen. So he made the trip thinking he would have everything ready to go and be out of Manistique in a weekend and not have to be back. Well things did not go smoothly. His Aunt ran a bed and breakfast and had reservations for people. He while being grumpy is nice and let’s people stay. Dr. Emily is going on a getaway to make up her mind on what to do in the personal relationship situation that she is in. In the process she hits a deer or as she says they deer hit her. Being in a small town the car fix is not a fast or easy process. She ends up at the Bed and Breakfast staying with Mark. Since she does not have a car and is not old enough to rent a car Mark drives her around some places. They both end up working things out in their lives and become friends in the process and become each other’s family. There of course are shenanigans along the way though.
I did not know what to expect of this book but I was pleased once I read it. It was a great showing of a growing friendship that was strictly platonic and sibling like.
At one point one of the big mysteries of the book I did figure out but it was just an inkling at the back of my mind. I am glad that I got it right though.
I got this book for free to read from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own.