G837 Book Review of The last chance matinee by Mariah Stewart
Author: Mariah Stewart
ISBN: 978-15015991-6
Publisher: Gallery Books
Part of a Series: The Hudson Sisters Trilogy
Type of book: Yoga, healthy eating, life changes, secrets, sisterhood, relationships, women's fiction, Pennsylvania, contemporary times, renovating, details, slow build, building relationships
Year it was published: 2017
Summary:
From New York Times bestselling author Mariah Stewart comes the first novel in her all-new series, The Hudson Sisters, following a trio of reluctant sisters as they set out to fulfill their father’s dying wish. In the process, they find not only themselves, but the father they only thought they knew.
When celebrated and respected agent Fritz Hudson passes away, he leaves a trail of Hollywood glory in his wake—and two separate families who never knew the other existed. Allie and Des Hudson are products of Fritz’s first marriage to Honora, a beautiful but troubled starlet whose life ended in a tragic overdose. Meanwhile, Fritz was falling in love on the Delaware Bay with New Age hippie Susa Pratt—they had a daughter together, Cara, and while Fritz loved Susa with everything he had, he never quite managed to tell her or Cara about his West Coast family.
Now Fritz is gone, and the three sisters are brought together under strange circumstances: there’s a large inheritance to be had that could save Allie from her ever-deepening debt following a disastrous divorce, allow Des to open a rescue shelter for abused and wounded animals, and give Cara a fresh start after her husband left her for her best friend—but only if the sisters upend their lives and work together to restore an old, decrepit theater that was Fritz’s obsession growing up in his small hometown in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. Guided by Fritz’s closest friend and longtime attorney, Pete Wheeler, the sisters come together—whether they like it or not—to turn their father’s dream into a reality, and might just come away with far more than they bargained for.
Characters:
The characters are very fleshed out and each have complex and different personalities, from the sisters to residents of Hidden Falls. Main characters are the three sisters; Cara is the youngest sister I believe, a thoughtful and sweet redhead who became recently divorced and is into yoga, eating healthily and she has had a wholesome upbringing thanks to her mom and her dad. She was close to both of them. She also loves the small town and is considering making a major change in her life. Des is Allie's younger sister who has talent for acting but wishes she didn't and who is very good with finances and money. She also has a soft spot for dogs and devotes her life to taking care of them. She is a bit more willing to try to work things out with her sisters and has never been married. Allie is the oldest sister who has a secret of drinking alcohol and who also has a daughter named Nikki. Throughout the story she is best described as a porcupine and someone who wants to do the job and then leave. She is prickly and doesn't try to be close to anyone. Nikki is Allie's daughter who seems to be complete opposite of her mother and whom others dote on. Aunt Barney is their aunt, their father's older sister who is best described as practical minded yet has a big heart and wants to do the right thing.
Theme:
People all have hidden sides to them
Plot:
The story is in third person narrative from Cara's point of view. At times Cara's two sisters, Allie and Des also narrate things from their points of view, but the main focus is on Cara. The pacing of the book is very slow, but that's part of the charm; to kick back, relax and enjoy the read without worries. The pacing also allows for the reader to see the relationships between the sisters and their aunt and niece and of them learning and trying to discover the father they thought they knew. For me personally, I can't find anything I disliked or will want to criticize, except that I have to wait until 2018 until the second book comes out?
Author Information:
(From the book)
Mariah Stewart is the award-winning New York TImes and USA TODAY bestselling author of numerous novels and several novellas and short stories. A native Highstown, New Jersey, she lives with her husband and two rambuctious rescue dogs amid the rolling hills of CHester County, Pennsylvania, where she savors country life and tens to her gardens while she works on ehr next novel. Visit her website at MariahSteawrt.com, like her on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuthorMariahStewart, and follow her on Instagram @mariah_sewart_books
Opinion:
While I enjoy reading the Chesapeake Diaries a great deal, I often feel that there is a limit of sorts when it comes to the length of the story; In this book, the author took a chance and has wowed and astounded me with the story, especially how addictive it is from start to finish, and there is the classic Mariah Stewart touch in descriptions from yoga to the small town of Hidden Falls to how the sisters attempt to get to know one another. I also am hoping that the author will answer some questions about the girls' father in her future books about the sisters and how he managed to get away with a number of things. Just like in Chesapeake Diaries, the fictional town is brought to life through the memorable residents, beautiful scenery and relationships between the people living there. If Chesapeake Diaries are your favorite reads, don't miss this book and give it a chance.
This was given to me for a review
5 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
Comments
Post a Comment