“Prepare to fall in love with this amazing, endearing family of women” (Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author) with this second in the touching Hudson Sisters series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Chesapeake Diaries. Allie, Des, and Cara, each having her own reasons for wanting a share of their father’s estate, agree to meet in the grand Victorian home … agree to meet in the grand Victorian home in which he grew up, only to be greeted by another secret he purposely hid from them: his sister Bonnie.
The women reluctantly band together to take on Fritz’s challenge, working with a local contractor to begin the renovations financed by an account Fritz had set up for the task. While the restoration appears to go smoothly at first, it soon becomes apparent that the work will be more extensive than originally thought, and Des, elected to handle the money, needs to find ways to stretch out the remaining savings while searching for new sources of funding.
As strangers linked only by their DNA try to become a family, the Hudson sisters also try to come to terms with the father they only thought they knew. In the process, each woman discovers her own capacity for understanding, forgiveness, love, and the true meaning of family.
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I loved this entry of the Hudson Sisters. This novel focuses on Des Hudson who was a child star and who wisely invested her earnings so that she can live the life she wants. Living in Montana she supports the local dog rescue operation. When her father dies and her sisters and she are tasked with restoring the theater in his home town, she sees it as a chance to bridge the distance between her sister Allie and herself. She is surprised to find a half sister and an aunt that her father had never mentioned. In this story we find out the reason Des is hesitant to trust men and follow her romance with tattooed farmer mayor Seth.
4/5 stars!
The focus on the second book in this trilogy is on the middle daughter and her changing relationship with her family and her best friend. As she helps with the renovation of the theater that her late father left them, she immerses herself into the small town and her changing relationship with the mayor/best friend.
Overall it was a book. Wanted more information about the mayor, but that’s a personal preference of mine. I also liked the heroine, the niece, and the dogs. I got annoyed at the eldest sister but I hope she’s better in her own book, the last of the trilogy. If it wasn’t for her, I would have enjoyed the story more.
**Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for the review copy.**
I love this series that has mystery, romance, character growth and above all forgiveness. You will root for the Hudson Sisters to accomplish the task their father proposed in his will. Working together the sisters realize family is everything.
This is the second book of The Hudson Sisters series. In the first book, The Last Chance Matinee, we learned much of the background dynamics of this cobbled together family. Des and Allie, sisters who much of the time felt pitted against each other. One with everything the other sister wanted. The other wanting to get away from all she was. Then there is Cara, the sister that didn’t know about her other sisters, until their father’s death.
The sisters are making good progress on the theater, then, a storm. The roof is blown off the theater that they’ve been restoring to meet the stipulations of their late father’s will. The damage to the roof is bad, but even worse is the damage to the historic painting that decorated the ceiling. As they begin to repair the roof, they realize they’ll need outside funding. The generous stipend their father left them to get the theater repaired is running out.
Although this is Des’s story, each sister faces challenges in getting the repairs back on track and long ago issues for Des and Allie are finally discussed, and a more sisterly bond begins to make it’s appearance.
There is so much more. The depth of this story is amazing. I’m loving this series.
IMHO this series needs to be read in order, since there is so much detail you’d miss is you read The Sugarhouse Blues before The Last Chance Matinee.
Favorite Quotes:
Nothing says time to move on like having your husband file for divorce so he can marry one of your best friends.
“Ordinarily, I’d have a retort for that, but right now, I’m all out of snark.” “Allie, your snark well has never run dry.” “Well, it did today, Des. I used it all up on Clint.” Allie grinned. “But it was snark well spent, believe me.’
It’s not a big deal, Allie. He’s a good kid… Allie, you act like the guy came in here with punk green hair smoking a joint and grabbing her butt.
I have visions of people lined up for miles for burgers but we’ve run out. They’re carrying pitchforks and chanting your name. I’m hiding out in the vineyard with the dogs, by the way.
My Review:
I was further drawn into the steady current of Ms. Stewart’s smooth storytelling and was soon fully immersed and residing in the small town of Hidden Falls along with her enticing and cunningly nuanced characters. I was fully invested in their saga and labored beside them during renovation efforts as well as with their budding relationships with each other and new community. The rehab of the historic theater was bumping along until a massive storm wrought major damage and a setback to their plans and depleted bank balance. Another fly in the ointment continued to be the contentious and shrewish personality of Allie, who appeared to be gradually softening but still leaning toward the vile harpy end of the scale.
This series would make an excellent miniseries as I hung on each new twist and complication. The relationships and family dynamics were front and center and quite compelling as the storylines continued to expand and interweave with additional layers or mystery, revelations, and insights. An unexpected discovery indicates papa appears to have more of a bounder than anyone knew. I am hooked and more than eager to dive into the next installment. I don’t recall four hundred pages ever flying by so quickly!
I love Mariah Stewart and I loved this book! This is the second book in the Hudson sisters series. I really enjoyed the first book as well.
This is a totally clean women’s fiction novel, with a touch of romance. No sex scenes and not one swear word. I really liked how the relationships were developed. The character I have been the most interested in is Allie, though her book will be the final book. Allie made the most character progression, but she is the one who needed the most change. This book followed Des, Allie’s younger sister and their relationship was a focal point in this book. I have a sister myself so I liked seeing the interactions between the two women. The first book followed Cara, Des and Allie’s half sister, mostly, and while she has a prominent roll, not much happened with her character. I was hoping for more information about her and Joe, Cara’s romantic interest and the sister’s construction manager for the theater, and the progression of that relationship but it was pretty much on the same plane as in the first book except with Cara occasionally spending the night at Joe’s house.
As for the romance between Des and Seth, the town’s mayor, I thought was great! Seth has the aura of a bad boy with his shaved head, tattoos and motorcycle, but he’s the nicest, most well rounded and generous man. And he adores Des. I liked how Ms. Stewart explored how often we are too afraid to explore a relationship with the right person because we are too afraid to ruin the friendship or of getting hurt.
I cannot wait for Allie’s book. The final book where hopefully all the questions about the sister’s father will be answered! And I can’t wait to see how Allie and Ben, the local chief of police, fall in love. Allie is an alcoholic in denial and Ben’s wife and son were killed by a drunk driver so THAT will be very interesting to see addressed! This book ended with them being on very bad terms, but Allie being 100% ready to step up and become a better person and example to her 14 year old daughter.
I’m just sad that I have to wait another year to get it!
Was a great book! Can’t wait for next book in the series!!
Trying to make the best out of an awkward situation the sisters (one of which is new to the others) are working on renovating the theater that has been in their family. Each story is a standalone which I can attest to since I haven’t read the first book in the series yet. The characters are wonderful and it is a clean read at least this one was. While Allie seems to be the unfriendliest of the group she does start seeing the problem with her attitude when it causes major issues. Des does some soul searching and realizes there are some changes that are needed in her life. It seems each sister does find their hea by the end of the series with some soul searching and loads of work. The aunt is a hoot and having her own fun. All in all a great read but man the ending truly sucks.
All in all I did enjoy this first read by this author. I do enjoy a clean read to clear my mind of clutter and this was perfect.
I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.
4.5 Stars
This the second of The Hudson Sisters series. Book One introduced us to the three Hudson sisters, Allie, Des and Half-sister Cara. They met at the reading of their father’s will where they learned he had two wives and families. In order for them to receive their inheritance, they must all live together and restore the family theatre. Book one focused on Cara and her budding romance with Joe, the project manager. Book two focuses on Des and Seth. Des was a former child star, who has never married and finances a dog shelter in Montana. She met Seth in book one, but dismissed him as a suitor because he is a tall, bald, cigar smoking Harley rider. Does eventually learns that there she shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover. What is enjoyable about the book are the development of the characters and all of their relationships. Allie is the most complex character of the three sisters. She is really unpleasant in the first book. As you see more of her, she is more complex and you do see her start to grow. I am looking forward to her story in book three. The only minor quibble I had with the book was that since it was a continuation of the prior book, not a stand alone, a lot of rehashing of the prior book was included. I would definitely recommend this series.