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?
more
I grew up in Michigan and am always attracted to books about my home state. Choosing a book based on location is probably not the best way to pick a book and I have read some pretty bad books set in Michigan and some fantastic ones. Luckily, this book is one of the good ones. The descriptions of the UP of Michigan are so well done that you feel like you’re there driving down the highway with nothing to see but trees and more trees. The plot is well done with lots of surprises and the book is full of quirky characters that will keep you laughing.
Mark goes to Manistique from Chicago to close his aunt’s estate and sell her house. He had no idea that her house was really a bed and breakfast until Emily rings the door bell and asks to stay there while her car is being fixed. She was on her way to Chicago for her medical residency when she hit a deer that broke her windshield. After Mark agrees, several more guests show up and even though he planned to leave in a few days, he stays longer to help out the funny bunch of people who stay in the b&b.
This wonderful book is about the often unseen connections between people and its about family and love. This enduring debut novel has me looking forward to future books by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
This ended up being a fun read that had some humorous moments at times. There were quirky characters that kept your attention and you are drawn into the book immediately. This would be a great summer read that is light and entertaining. Lots of twists and turns and you will find yourself laughing out loud. The historical background is a plus and will have the reader planning a visit to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celestial Eyes Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
A middle-aged Chicago man inherits his aunt’s home in the upper peninsula of Michigan, not knowing she ran it as a bed & breakfast until he arrives in his rental car. A young medical school graduate, with a summer to pass before reporting to her residency in Chicago, drives to meet her boyfriend on Mackinac Island, harboring serious doubts about him and their relationship. He reaches his destination. She collides with a deer. The town hotel has no vacancies, and she drives a Saab, which the local car dealership considers more foreign than Mars.
This is how two strangers come to be Stuck in Manistique.
Although Mark had no idea his Aunt Vivian, a retired doctor who worked with MSF and other international medical charities, ran Manistique Victorian in the tiny UP town, he becomes an innkeeper almost immediately, when Emily knocks on his door after being referred by the no-vacancies Cozy Inn. Seeing her pitiful form — one eye is patched with gauze, a casualty of the deer-car collision (known simply as deer-car in the UP) — Mark lets her stay for one night. Then another. Then another.
A series of characters, both local and visiting, come and go through the inn and the narrative, but the main focus remains on Emily and Mark. They have no romantic attraction, but a deep familial connection, which is strengthened when Emily starts reading Vivian’s essay about her 1992 mission to Sarajevo in a Doctors Without Borders compilation. Slowly but surely, the two help each other over hurdles that seemed insurmountable when they walked into the Manistique Victorian, making their chance meeting appear more fated than fortuitous.
Tresspassers Will Be Violated! This is a quirky comedy of errors with a bit of mystery and recent history thrown in. Solid effort, and a very pleasant and quick read. New to me author, but one I plan to watch for in the future.
Very entertaining, captivating, and interesting read. I could not put it down. Wonderfully written with strong and intriguing characters. I want to read more from this author. I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
This was a light and fun read. Mark is in Manistique, Michigan to take care of his recently deceased aunt’s estate which includes a bed and breakfast. Emily winds up in Manistique after the windshield of her car is shattered during an unfortunate incident with a deer. Both Mark and Emily want to take care of their business and move on to their original destinations but circumstances keep working against them in a number of interesting, and occasionally annoying ways. Definitely recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a review copy. This is my honest opinion.
Why did I pick up Stuck in Manistique? Well, I saw it on NetGalley and the description – especially this line: “Will these two strangers, holding on to unraveling secrets, remain in town long enough to discover the connection between them?” – and the location in Michigan’s U.P. grabbed my attention.
Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. It felt more like some piece of kooky dinner theatre and perhaps that’s because it was trying to be an homage to a British sitcom referenced several times throughout the book, Faulty Towers. Maybe, if I’d seen or liked the show the farcical tangle of events and eccentric characters would have been enjoyable.
However, I found there to be too much emphasis on details not essential to the story and not enough character building. I felt no connection to the characters or the events taking place. I found myself skimming over the farcical events just to get to the end and find out what the connection between the two “main” characters was. At which point the story just ended.
Stuck in Manistique didn’t work for me, but if your a fan of wackadoodle dinner theatre then maybe it will work for you
This book is surprisingly good for a debut novel. I found that the characters were well rounded and easy to like. Each has his/her own back story and I enjoyed seeing how the author was able to weave these stories together. Mr. Cuesta was able to make me laugh, worry, smile, and feel relief as our characters develop.
My only concern is that I did sometimes feel as if situations were created just to extend the story. While they don’t hurt the book, they do not necessarily serve to enhance it, either.
I accepted an unsolicited ARC of this book from NetGalley with no promise to review. I’m glad I did as it was a delightful book to read. I will be interested in seeing if future books by this author are as good.
I thoroughly enjoyed this charming and witty debut novel by Dennis Cuesta. This is one of the quirkiest books I’ve read in a long time. From the first page it had me laughing out loud. This book is definitely perfect for readers who love quirky characters and small town settings. I read this book in one sitting it with all the twists and turns it was very entertaining. The book was very well written and the characters well developed. A nice read for an afternoon.
This novel was delightful! I loved the characters and the way the scenes unfolded when they came together. The story takes place in the town of Manistique, Michigan near the lakes. This is where Mark visits to settle his aunt’s estate. Mark soon discovers that his aunt was running a bed and breakfast from her large home. Soon the door of the bed and breakfast will open to different people who end up stuck in Manistique and part of the story. Various characters make an appearance at the bed and breakfast. It seems that everyone is getting stuck in Manistique and there is never a dull moment. There is a sense of seriousness to the events that occur to bring the characters together. But along the way, the pages are full of humor and wonderful interactions.
Stuck in Manistique by Dennis Cuesta was a charming story with great characters. Mark just inherited the estate of his Aunt Vivian, who he has not been close too in a long time, though he had fond memories. He has no idea what she has been up to and finds out she ran a B&B. His plans was to close things out and head home. But when the doorbell rings, things change.
Emily is traveling when she is in an accident and finds herself at Mark’s B&B. Before Mark’s knows it, he has people coming and going and finds himself playing host. From here we get an entertaining story that had me engaged and made it hard to put the book down. I truly enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more from this author.
Happy reading!
I really wanted to like this book. The name grabbed me right away. My husband grew up in Manistique and I lived there for a year or so. That being said this could have been written about anywhere. I understand changing names and such but I could only picture a few things mentioned about the town. Maybe I knew too much about it and that’s why it was hard, I don’t know.
It started out slow and didn’t pick up until about half way though. I liked the idea behind the story but it was a bit dry, too descriptive, and had way too much going on. There were so many fillers. I think it would have been better if it had been shortened and if the author hadn’t tried so hard. It kind of read like King novel, nothing scary or anything like that but anyone who has tried to read King and couldn’t would understand.
I would be interested in picking up another story from this author to see if the writing style has grown.
fiction, life-changes, light-hearted, humor
I liked the references to places I know well and the angst thing that each of the two main characters were going through. Most of the characters truly are, and while the publisher’s blurb is better than most, there’s more humor involved than the blurb indicates. It seems to be pretty well written and some aspects are spot on. A really nice read for a quiet afternoon!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Celestial Eyes Press courtesy of NetGalley.
Stuck in Manistique…by Dennis Cuesta
A strange inheritance, realizing later it was a B &B he had inherited when guests show up. He. ends up having to play host to some quirky people.
As one night night turns. into another. One guest named Emily, makes you
wonder if fate had a hand in them meeting. The historical part is interesting if you have been to Michigan An interesting read.
Given ARC by Net Galley and Cuesta Eye Press for my. voluntary review and my honest opinion. Ellen Oceanside
Stuck in Manistique by Dennis Cuesta is a delightful story reflecting the charm and seclusion of small town rural life in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Our main character Mark finds his way to Manistique to wrap up the affairs of his recently deceased Aunt Vivian. Being her closest next of kin, Mark inherits Vivian’s home that Vivian, unbeknownst to Mark, has been running as a Bed and Breakfast. Emily, who turns out to be in need of temporary lodging while passing through, finds the B&B by way of referral when all the other local inns are full. Though Mark has no intention of keeping the house, let alone managing a B&B, he reluctantly agrees to take Emily in as a result of her predicament. This provides the jumping off point for an engaging tale of life in the peaceful and secluded North Woods.
To Mark’s dismay (an the reader’s delight) Author Cuesta then delivers a further parade of chance visitors to the B&B to deftly create a comedic backdrop on which the entire story thrives. Added to the fun is a healthy dose of romantic tension building between Mark and Emily. The tension is further enhanced as Cuesta subsequently reveals a substantial, yet coincidental, past link between the pasts of Emily and Mark’s aunt Vivian.
The story reaches a sublime crescendo as our reluctant in-keeper Mark, despite his efforts to politely turn people away, has his hands full once the B&B becomes fully booked. Author Cuesta then expertly details the ensuing chaos with an aplomb that will have you laughing out loud.
As one who vacationed frequently in the Upper Peninsula, I can truly attest that Cuesta nails the charm and flavor of Yooper life in such a way that will rekindle fond memories for anyone who has travelled there.
This book is charming, fun, and delightfully written. The only criticism I have for this outstanding read is a personal one: I would have preferred a different ending to the story. My feelings here are by no means a criticism of the author’s excellent writing, outstanding character development, or engaging story line. It is merely a matter of personal preference, one that in no way deters me from highly recommending this wonderful book.
An unexpected gem! A quirky and fun story. The banter between the characters is witty and often hilarious. The main essence of the plot is about Emily and Mark trying to recover pieces of themselves that they had lost. Throughout the book they form a tight sibling bond while helping each other discover who they are and where they want to go next in life. It is a truly amazing book and the author keeps you turning the pages and engaged from start to finish.
Stuck in Manistique by Dennis Cuesta is an entertaining book about a variety of people that end up in a closed down bed and breakfast. They each of their own stories and they come together in these couple of days to really startling effect. Mark’s aunt Vivian has just died and he is in Upper Michigan to settle her estate. He is for some for some amazing surprises. The first one is Emily; a young doctor just finished with her internship that arrives sporting a patch over one eye. Intriguing? The only motel in town is booked solid and recommending his aunt’s house, which was a bed and breakfast.
Stuck in Manistique is so full of movement that it is almost like a stage farce. Complications and coincidences abound and decisions are made. It was an entertaining way to spend the afternoon. I recommend it. There are no powerful messages or amazing insights, just interesting people with interesting stories.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. #netgalley #stuckinmanistique
Another new-to-me author. I’ll be completely transparent and let you know that the only reason I requested this book from Net Galley is the title. I’m a native Michigander so I just couldn’t pass up a book about such an obscure small town in the Upper Peninsula that only Michigan residents ever hear about. I was a bit bummed to discover that the author doesn’t live here himself. But being an alum of the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and having lived here at some point, he had a lot of the vernacular and idiosyncrasies down pat.
This story was an extremely slow-starter for me. I haven’t been able to determine if that’s because, like I said, I’m from Michigan so a lot of the narrative had to do with explaining the area the protagonist was driving through. I enjoyed recognizing some of the sites, but it seemed too much to me.
Once things get rolling at the bed and breakfast, zany-ness ensues. I would in no way categorize this book as comedy or slap-stick, but it definitely had some of those elements and was filled with humor. For me, that is what made this story so interesting. As Mark tries to keep track of who he told what, and Emily hides her own secrets, I found myself pulled deeper and deeper into their lives. Once Emily and Mark actually sort of team up to protect those around them and to continue to keep their secrets, it was just a lot of fun.
There were also some extremely serious issues that were dealt with in this story. The transitions from humor to drama were effortless and felt natural. I love the “will they or won’t they” aspect of the relationship between Mark and Emily. The author wrote their chemistry perfectly for the relationship they truly had by the end and, I believe, were meant to have.
I’m impressed this is Dennis Cuesta’s debut novel. There is some wordiness at times throughout the narrative, but he wrote the relationships between Mark, Emily, George, and all the other crazy residents of Manistique so perfectly.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own and given freely.**
https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2018/10/26/stuck-in-manistique-book-review/
Marc embarks on a journey to bury his aunt. One that he hadn’t seen in a long time and hadn’t been in touch with for years. Arriving he finds himself hosting a range of people which of course turns in laugh out loud moments and more. Marc is an interesting fellow and finds himself unable to be the bad guy. Emily who is his first visitor who becomes a guest is also a major part of the story but not as a love interest. Each of them have their own epiphany and find this visit to be the start of something new. The ending is kind of predictable but not in a bad way for this clean read. It’s an interesting debut novel and yes I enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, entertaining, light and humorous read. It made me laugh and smile in so many parts. It’s a story that was a series of unpredictable predicaments and how the main characters, Mark and Emily had to deal with them. The interaction between the two has so much sarcastic humor that had me laughing out loud. I love things like that. The characters are quirky but very likable. I thought I had the connection between Mark and Emily figured out way early but that’s what I get for thinking. It’s fun being surprised and I was! We never know what or who fate has put in our destiny but these characters and the story that brought them together is heartwarming, comical and entertaining.
I loved the setting of the story in Manistique. I have never visited that part of the country and I feel like I have now with the history and descriptions the author wrote into the book. Manistique sounds like a friendly, small town that everyone wants to belong to.
I want to thank Netgalley and Celestial Eyes Press for the opportunity to read this book and how much it made me smile and laugh!