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The Hudson Sisters #1
The Last Chance Matinee
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.
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.
432 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2017
787 people are currently reading
1959 people want to read
About the author
Mariah Stewart
89 books1,528 followersMariah Stewart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of forty-one novels and three novellas and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal. She is a RITA finalist in romantic suspense and the recipient of the Award of Excellence for contemporary romance, a RIO Award for excellence in women's fiction, and a Reviewers Choice Award from Romantic Times Magazine. A three-time winner of the Golden Leaf Award presented by the New Jersey Romance Writers, Stewart was recently awarded their Lifetime Achievement Award (which placed her in their Hall of Fame along with former recipients Nora Roberts and Mary Jo Putney — very excellent company, indeed!)
After having written seven contemporary romance novels, Stewart found true happiness writing murder and mayhem. She considers herself one lucky son of a gun to have landed the best job in the world: getting paid for making up stories. At home. In sweats and J. Crew flip flops. Could life be sweeter?
After having written seven contemporary romance novels, Stewart found true happiness writing murder and mayhem. She considers herself one lucky son of a gun to have landed the best job in the world: getting paid for making up stories. At home. In sweats and J. Crew flip flops. Could life be sweeter?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 320 reviews
April 3, 2017
Fritz Hudson was a very wealthy businessman living a double life with two sets of families living on opposite coasts. Neither family was aware of the other, but that all changed when Fritz dies of cancer and his will is disclosed. At the reading of his will, his families find out that he was married to two women at the same time and he has three daughters. The two daughters raised in California , Allie and Des, meet their half sister Cara from New Jersey for the first time. They also learn that their inheritance will not be paid until certain obligations are met. The three girls are required to renovate Fritz’s family theater in his hometown of Hidden Falls, Pennsylvania. This must be done in person and requires them all to relocate to Hidden Falls to oversee the renovation. If any of the sisters leave, the entire inheritance will go to charity.
Cara Hudson is looking forward to living in Pennsylvania. She is recently divorced and needs a catalyst to get away from her ex-husband. She is enthusiastic about meeting her “new” sisters and sharing details from her father's secret life. Allie and Des were raised in California but as the years progressed, their relationship became strained. Allie is an out of work television producer facing serious financial difficulty. She is divorced and struggling to support her teenage daughter. She has little interest in connecting with either of her sisters but she is so desperate for money that she makes the move to Pennsylvania. Des lives by herself in Montana after experiencing success as a child TV star. She is free spirited and spends her time fostering and rescuing dogs. She is interested in meeting Cara and trying to repair her relationship with Allie. The three sisters come together to learn about their father, each other, and themselves.
This book is narrated in Cara’s voice and includes a mix of family drama, love, and secrets. This is the first book of a trilogy and I suspect that we will see Allie and Des’s viewpoints in later books. I enjoyed this book by Mariah Stewart.
Giving away a copy on my blog until 4/5 https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved...
Cara Hudson is looking forward to living in Pennsylvania. She is recently divorced and needs a catalyst to get away from her ex-husband. She is enthusiastic about meeting her “new” sisters and sharing details from her father's secret life. Allie and Des were raised in California but as the years progressed, their relationship became strained. Allie is an out of work television producer facing serious financial difficulty. She is divorced and struggling to support her teenage daughter. She has little interest in connecting with either of her sisters but she is so desperate for money that she makes the move to Pennsylvania. Des lives by herself in Montana after experiencing success as a child TV star. She is free spirited and spends her time fostering and rescuing dogs. She is interested in meeting Cara and trying to repair her relationship with Allie. The three sisters come together to learn about their father, each other, and themselves.
This book is narrated in Cara’s voice and includes a mix of family drama, love, and secrets. This is the first book of a trilogy and I suspect that we will see Allie and Des’s viewpoints in later books. I enjoyed this book by Mariah Stewart.
Giving away a copy on my blog until 4/5 https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved...
June 9, 2018
I thought the biggest problem with this story was the character of Allie. She's a horrible person so wrapped in jealousy and self-pity that I cringed every scene she was in. But she's not really the biggest problem. The problem that tanked this from a begrudging round-up-to-three stars is that it isn't an actual story at all. Nothing resolves by the end and Stewart doesn't even bother with a cliffhanger. This ends with a long, meandering monologue by Kara but even that doesn't end with a new resolution or revelation or realization, it just restates where she has come to by this point.
While this story fails for me in every way imaginable, there are some things that others might enjoy. The small-town, close family theme is strong and lovingly-presented with good detail and an obviously complex background (that the rest of the series will no-doubt mine for more drama). Allie's one non-horrible thing is her daughter Katie and I loved every scene with her in it. And Joe is my favorite kind of leading man, even though his relationship with Kara doesn't even start in this story (they have a couple dates but haven't established emotional or physical intimacy in any way, yet). Also, if you like the renovation/construction porn, this novel has lots of it and it is delivered in loving detail as well.
So I had fun giving updates on how horrible Allie was. She's a thorough snotweasel and she just gets worse and worse as the story progresses. But she wasn't actually affecting my enjoyment of the story because I was engaged with the other two sisters and Kara was the main focus despite PoV hopping to all of them and, as I said, Joe is lovely (and Seth and Ben are looking good for the other sisters, though we don't see much of them in this book). But as that final monologue started and I realized that Stewart was going to end the book in a manner so lame that previous generations of writers would have shot it to put it out of its misery, my patience dropped to zero. Which is how many stars I'd give this if I could...
A note about Chaste/Steamy: There's some kissing in this book, but as I said, there's no resolution to anything in the story and that includes sex. Of which there was none. Which would have been fine, even dandy, except that this was the kind of no-sex that you get when the author decides not to resolve the romance in the current book and so leaves you hanging at the end in ways that would be against the romance-writers' convention if romance writers had one.
While this story fails for me in every way imaginable, there are some things that others might enjoy. The small-town, close family theme is strong and lovingly-presented with good detail and an obviously complex background (that the rest of the series will no-doubt mine for more drama). Allie's one non-horrible thing is her daughter Katie and I loved every scene with her in it. And Joe is my favorite kind of leading man, even though his relationship with Kara doesn't even start in this story (they have a couple dates but haven't established emotional or physical intimacy in any way, yet). Also, if you like the renovation/construction porn, this novel has lots of it and it is delivered in loving detail as well.
So I had fun giving updates on how horrible Allie was. She's a thorough snotweasel and she just gets worse and worse as the story progresses. But she wasn't actually affecting my enjoyment of the story because I was engaged with the other two sisters and Kara was the main focus despite PoV hopping to all of them and, as I said, Joe is lovely (and Seth and Ben are looking good for the other sisters, though we don't see much of them in this book). But as that final monologue started and I realized that Stewart was going to end the book in a manner so lame that previous generations of writers would have shot it to put it out of its misery, my patience dropped to zero. Which is how many stars I'd give this if I could...
A note about Chaste/Steamy: There's some kissing in this book, but as I said, there's no resolution to anything in the story and that includes sex. Of which there was none. Which would have been fine, even dandy, except that this was the kind of no-sex that you get when the author decides not to resolve the romance in the current book and so leaves you hanging at the end in ways that would be against the romance-writers' convention if romance writers had one.
March 27, 2017
Originally posted on The Book Nympho
Cara, Allie and Des Hudson adored their father Fritz but when he died, all of them questioned whether they really ever knew him. Allie and Des were his children from his marriage to late film star Honora Hudson but Cara was from his secret relationship with Susa Pratt who he married without divorcing his wife. Now their inheritance hinges on the restoration of Fritz's hometown movie theater. The sisters have a year to pull it off and all of them must participate.
Two things attracted me to this story: Fritz's secret family and the notion of three sisters in these circumstances forced to work together. I've experienced revelations of this type in my own family history and the dynamics of the sisters confronting each other for the first time had to be interesting. This story doesn't disappoint as each of them couldn't be more different.
Most of the focus, but certainly not all, was on Cara whose story cracked your heart. How awful to have your husband cheat on you with your best friend, leave you and then plan a big wedding in your small town? I loved her spirit and resolve, especially her attitude towards her new sisters. When she meets building contractor Joe Damanski, it marks the beginning of a warming of her broken heart.
Each of the sisters has an interesting backstory that I'll leave to you to discover. I'll just say their issues are relevant and realistic. The beginnings of the renovation of the theater is fascinating and I'm excited about the coming development. Hidden Falls is a very small town and you get the best and worst of those aspects. The sisters' education about a family they didn't even know existed was also interesting, mostly the pursuit of those discoveries.
This is the beginning of what feels like a very promising series. Each of the sisters are intriguing on their own and together they make for rich and layered stories. I'm looking forward to their continued journeys, which are set up wonderfully in this first book. While I've collected all of the books in the Chesapeake Diaries series, I've not read them and this is my only experience with the author. I'm glad I started here and now I can go back and read the other books while I wait for the next in this charming series.
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Cara, Allie and Des Hudson adored their father Fritz but when he died, all of them questioned whether they really ever knew him. Allie and Des were his children from his marriage to late film star Honora Hudson but Cara was from his secret relationship with Susa Pratt who he married without divorcing his wife. Now their inheritance hinges on the restoration of Fritz's hometown movie theater. The sisters have a year to pull it off and all of them must participate.
Two things attracted me to this story: Fritz's secret family and the notion of three sisters in these circumstances forced to work together. I've experienced revelations of this type in my own family history and the dynamics of the sisters confronting each other for the first time had to be interesting. This story doesn't disappoint as each of them couldn't be more different.
Most of the focus, but certainly not all, was on Cara whose story cracked your heart. How awful to have your husband cheat on you with your best friend, leave you and then plan a big wedding in your small town? I loved her spirit and resolve, especially her attitude towards her new sisters. When she meets building contractor Joe Damanski, it marks the beginning of a warming of her broken heart.
Each of the sisters has an interesting backstory that I'll leave to you to discover. I'll just say their issues are relevant and realistic. The beginnings of the renovation of the theater is fascinating and I'm excited about the coming development. Hidden Falls is a very small town and you get the best and worst of those aspects. The sisters' education about a family they didn't even know existed was also interesting, mostly the pursuit of those discoveries.
This is the beginning of what feels like a very promising series. Each of the sisters are intriguing on their own and together they make for rich and layered stories. I'm looking forward to their continued journeys, which are set up wonderfully in this first book. While I've collected all of the books in the Chesapeake Diaries series, I've not read them and this is my only experience with the author. I'm glad I started here and now I can go back and read the other books while I wait for the next in this charming series.
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
May 4, 2019
RATING: 4 STARS
March 21, 2017; Gallery Books/ Simon & Schuster
Fritz Hudson, a respected agent in Hollywood, quietly passes away leaving behind many family secrets. The biggest one being that he was living a double life. In California, he is the agent and husband to Nora, and father to their daughters, Allie and Des. He later meets Susa in New Jersey. They marry and have a daughter, Cara. Fritz goes the cowardly route and never confesses to his daughter. Instead he leaves it to his best friend and lawyer, Pete to reveal the truth to them at the reading of the will. Pete also has to tell them that their father has left a big condition on their inheritance. They must restore a theater in his hometown, Hidden Falls. The three girls must work together or they get nothing.
Cara, the youngest, runs a yoga studio and is recently divorced. In fact, her ex-husband is getting married to one of her bridesmaid and longtime friend in a few weeks. Hurt and betrayed, Cara is looking forward to being out of town while the big wedding happens in her small-town. Allie, the eldest, i/s angry over her latest show being cancelled and not being able to find any other directing jobs. After her divorce she is seeing less of her daughter, Nikki and is on the verge of losing her home. Allie needs this money so that she can pay her daughter's private school tuition and save her home. Des, the middle child, is now living off her investments from her time as a child actor. But she could use the money to work on animal shelters, but more importantly spend time with her eldest sister. Both Des and Cara go into this adventure hoping to learn more about their father and one another, while Allie resists everything. As the three women abandon their current lives for their father's small hometown they will start to bond whether they want to or not.
I have not really been able to read contemporary romance in the past year. I have read a few but it has been authors I know well. I was a bit weary in participating in this blog tour as I was afraid I would not be able to get into this novel. I have read Mariah Stewart's romantic suspense and have LOVED them. I didn't want to not like this book. As I hemmed and hawed I realized I needed to start reading this book now or I was going to be lat for this blog tour. I started this book last night and BOOM...I was SUCKED in!
The Last Chance Matinee does have a cliched plot, but it works. You know everything is going to work out in the end, and that is comforting and exactly what I want in my contemporary romance. What makes or breaks a contemporary romance, in my opinion, is the journey to the happily-ever-after. It doesn't have to be completely realistic, but have plausible situations and some big conflicts. We know that most likely the theater will get finished, but it is how the sisters come together and the things they discover along the way that interests me. Stewart has done a great job in creating the three main characters. I find myself very invested in them and what happens to them. The quirky cast of around them are just as well-written. The story is engaging and has you feeling the emotions right along with the women. I find one of my biggest pet peeves with romance novels is when the humour is forced. The humour in this book is balanced and funny when it should be. I highly recommend this one for any contemporary romance lover...or anyone that enjoys good writing. If you like the Lucky Harbour series by Jill Shalvis you will enjoy this one. Stewart's writing in this book reminds me of Susan Wiggs, Luanne Rice, Susan Mallery and Robyn Carr.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
March 21, 2017; Gallery Books/ Simon & Schuster
Fritz Hudson, a respected agent in Hollywood, quietly passes away leaving behind many family secrets. The biggest one being that he was living a double life. In California, he is the agent and husband to Nora, and father to their daughters, Allie and Des. He later meets Susa in New Jersey. They marry and have a daughter, Cara. Fritz goes the cowardly route and never confesses to his daughter. Instead he leaves it to his best friend and lawyer, Pete to reveal the truth to them at the reading of the will. Pete also has to tell them that their father has left a big condition on their inheritance. They must restore a theater in his hometown, Hidden Falls. The three girls must work together or they get nothing.
Cara, the youngest, runs a yoga studio and is recently divorced. In fact, her ex-husband is getting married to one of her bridesmaid and longtime friend in a few weeks. Hurt and betrayed, Cara is looking forward to being out of town while the big wedding happens in her small-town. Allie, the eldest, i/s angry over her latest show being cancelled and not being able to find any other directing jobs. After her divorce she is seeing less of her daughter, Nikki and is on the verge of losing her home. Allie needs this money so that she can pay her daughter's private school tuition and save her home. Des, the middle child, is now living off her investments from her time as a child actor. But she could use the money to work on animal shelters, but more importantly spend time with her eldest sister. Both Des and Cara go into this adventure hoping to learn more about their father and one another, while Allie resists everything. As the three women abandon their current lives for their father's small hometown they will start to bond whether they want to or not.
I have not really been able to read contemporary romance in the past year. I have read a few but it has been authors I know well. I was a bit weary in participating in this blog tour as I was afraid I would not be able to get into this novel. I have read Mariah Stewart's romantic suspense and have LOVED them. I didn't want to not like this book. As I hemmed and hawed I realized I needed to start reading this book now or I was going to be lat for this blog tour. I started this book last night and BOOM...I was SUCKED in!
The Last Chance Matinee does have a cliched plot, but it works. You know everything is going to work out in the end, and that is comforting and exactly what I want in my contemporary romance. What makes or breaks a contemporary romance, in my opinion, is the journey to the happily-ever-after. It doesn't have to be completely realistic, but have plausible situations and some big conflicts. We know that most likely the theater will get finished, but it is how the sisters come together and the things they discover along the way that interests me. Stewart has done a great job in creating the three main characters. I find myself very invested in them and what happens to them. The quirky cast of around them are just as well-written. The story is engaging and has you feeling the emotions right along with the women. I find one of my biggest pet peeves with romance novels is when the humour is forced. The humour in this book is balanced and funny when it should be. I highly recommend this one for any contemporary romance lover...or anyone that enjoys good writing. If you like the Lucky Harbour series by Jill Shalvis you will enjoy this one. Stewart's writing in this book reminds me of Susan Wiggs, Luanne Rice, Susan Mallery and Robyn Carr.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
March 22, 2019
Favorite Quotes:
What could he have said?” Cara lowered her voice. “‘Oh, Susa, by the way, did I mention that I was married to someone else when I married you? But she passed away, so we don’t have to worry about those pesky bigamy laws.’
“I don’t know a whole lot about men, but I do know that none of them come with guarantees.” “Well, they should. They should come with grades or little caution cards. ‘Lies without conscience.’ ‘Will cheat every chance he gets.’ ‘Really does think that dress makes your ass look fat.’ ‘Only pretends to like puppies.’”
Cara watched Joe take a bite of his burger and was tempted to whisper, ‘Moo,’ but thought maybe she’d pulled that chain enough for one day.
I bought champagne to celebrate you. He doesn’t matter. You matter… We matter. We deserve a chance, and this is where we begin. You in?
I had the best time. Joe is… The one I thought I’d never find.
My Review:
I enjoyed this engaging story from beginning to end. The writing was entertaining, amusing, and lushly detailed. While the storyline initially seemed a bit complicated, it was easy to follow and pleasurable to read. Upon their father’s death, three women discover they have more family members than they realized - as Papa was a Rollin’ Stone. According to the “ironclad” will, the three women were required to work together on an extensive and challenging restoration project with firm conditions and stipulations before they would earn their father’s large estate. Their project required the sisters to relocate to a quaint little town in Pennsylvania, which sparked outrage for Allie - the snide LA diva sister, although she was most hard edges and always on the verge of outrage. There was a large cast of interesting and vibrantly detailed characters, with each being delightfully unique, easily differentiated, and memorable. My favorites being Joe - for his clever wit and patience, and Des for her thoughtful insights and gentleness. All the characters intrigued me, although I would not want to spend one second of my time with the bitter drama llama Allie.
What could he have said?” Cara lowered her voice. “‘Oh, Susa, by the way, did I mention that I was married to someone else when I married you? But she passed away, so we don’t have to worry about those pesky bigamy laws.’
“I don’t know a whole lot about men, but I do know that none of them come with guarantees.” “Well, they should. They should come with grades or little caution cards. ‘Lies without conscience.’ ‘Will cheat every chance he gets.’ ‘Really does think that dress makes your ass look fat.’ ‘Only pretends to like puppies.’”
Cara watched Joe take a bite of his burger and was tempted to whisper, ‘Moo,’ but thought maybe she’d pulled that chain enough for one day.
I bought champagne to celebrate you. He doesn’t matter. You matter… We matter. We deserve a chance, and this is where we begin. You in?
I had the best time. Joe is… The one I thought I’d never find.
My Review:
I enjoyed this engaging story from beginning to end. The writing was entertaining, amusing, and lushly detailed. While the storyline initially seemed a bit complicated, it was easy to follow and pleasurable to read. Upon their father’s death, three women discover they have more family members than they realized - as Papa was a Rollin’ Stone. According to the “ironclad” will, the three women were required to work together on an extensive and challenging restoration project with firm conditions and stipulations before they would earn their father’s large estate. Their project required the sisters to relocate to a quaint little town in Pennsylvania, which sparked outrage for Allie - the snide LA diva sister, although she was most hard edges and always on the verge of outrage. There was a large cast of interesting and vibrantly detailed characters, with each being delightfully unique, easily differentiated, and memorable. My favorites being Joe - for his clever wit and patience, and Des for her thoughtful insights and gentleness. All the characters intrigued me, although I would not want to spend one second of my time with the bitter drama llama Allie.
April 7, 2017
I really enjoyed this story and most certainly look forward to the next one which will continue the story of the sisters and their challenge. Joy Osmanski did an excellent job of narrating the story, so much so that this is the way I'd go for #2 as well. Perfect pacing, distinct voices for characters and great expression.
March 12, 2017
The death of a parent is devastating and often we discover things we never knew about them, but the secrets Fritz Hudson unveiled from beyond the veil would shock three young woman and send them into a reluctant journey of discovery of self, family and a chance at new lives that will forever change them to their very cores.
It seems that Fritz led two lives, had two wives, two families and never did they have an inkling that the other existed. Cara grew up in a loving environment, an only child with a father who had to be gone for months at a time. Her mother has passed, leaving her a cryptic message and her marriage vows have been betrayed, leaving her divorced, burned and deeply in debt.
Living on the West Coast, two sisters are virtual strangers even though they share the same blood. Des was once a child star, now she is a woman who lives to save abused animals, an advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. Her desire is to build no-kill shelters, but even she doesn’t have the money to do so. Her older sister, Allie is a brittle, status conscious woman who has recently divorced, with her teen daughter being spirited away by her ex with the promise of a better life, one that Allie must help pay for. Financially she is going under and saving face and pretending to be fine is getting impossible. Her biggest plus on her side is the fact that she is an amazing mother. Too bad she is dying inside to be away from her daughter, turning to vodka to try to cope.
The catch to inheriting their father’s millions? The three must work together to restore a grand theatre, an historical monument to a time when life was simpler, and the sparkle of the stage was not tarnished. It is all or nothing, three of them work together to completion or the money disappears. Can they learn to work together and accept the fact that they are blood? What will they discover when they get to the small town of their father’s birth?
Mariah Stewart has painstakingly laid a solid foundation for her newest series, a heart-warming romantic tale set in a small town filled with warmth and love. Love interests are introduced, the sisters begin to know each other and for the most part, there is truly little dark conflict or subject matter. If you like you romance to slowly simmer over time, enjoy watching characters dramatically change and find their father’s strange requirements to inherit his fortune fascinating, to say the least, grab THE LAST CHANCE MATINEE and Happy Reading!
I received an ARC edition from Gallery Books in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Hudson Sisters - 1
Publisher: Gallery Books (March 21, 2017)
Publication Date: March 21, 2017
Genre: Women's Fiction
Print Length: 432 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
It seems that Fritz led two lives, had two wives, two families and never did they have an inkling that the other existed. Cara grew up in a loving environment, an only child with a father who had to be gone for months at a time. Her mother has passed, leaving her a cryptic message and her marriage vows have been betrayed, leaving her divorced, burned and deeply in debt.
Living on the West Coast, two sisters are virtual strangers even though they share the same blood. Des was once a child star, now she is a woman who lives to save abused animals, an advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. Her desire is to build no-kill shelters, but even she doesn’t have the money to do so. Her older sister, Allie is a brittle, status conscious woman who has recently divorced, with her teen daughter being spirited away by her ex with the promise of a better life, one that Allie must help pay for. Financially she is going under and saving face and pretending to be fine is getting impossible. Her biggest plus on her side is the fact that she is an amazing mother. Too bad she is dying inside to be away from her daughter, turning to vodka to try to cope.
The catch to inheriting their father’s millions? The three must work together to restore a grand theatre, an historical monument to a time when life was simpler, and the sparkle of the stage was not tarnished. It is all or nothing, three of them work together to completion or the money disappears. Can they learn to work together and accept the fact that they are blood? What will they discover when they get to the small town of their father’s birth?
Mariah Stewart has painstakingly laid a solid foundation for her newest series, a heart-warming romantic tale set in a small town filled with warmth and love. Love interests are introduced, the sisters begin to know each other and for the most part, there is truly little dark conflict or subject matter. If you like you romance to slowly simmer over time, enjoy watching characters dramatically change and find their father’s strange requirements to inherit his fortune fascinating, to say the least, grab THE LAST CHANCE MATINEE and Happy Reading!
I received an ARC edition from Gallery Books in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Hudson Sisters - 1
Publisher: Gallery Books (March 21, 2017)
Publication Date: March 21, 2017
Genre: Women's Fiction
Print Length: 432 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
May 27, 2017
After Hollywood agent, Fritz Hudson dies from cancer, his three daughters are brought together for the reading of his will. The problem is Allie and Des didn't know Cara even existed and vice versa. They are all stunned to learn that their father had been living two separate lives.
Allie and Desdemona Hudson are the product of his first marriage to a Hollywood star, while Cara McMann is from his second marriage to Susa, a free spirit hippie. Fritz never divorced his first wife and never bothered to tell either wife about the other. So now his three daughters are faced with the shocking news and now have to fulfill his dying wish. All three daughters must restore his old theater in his hometown and they must do it together. If any of the women back out, nobody will inherit anything. All three really need the money so they vow to see this through to the end.
Cara McCann has gone through some bad times…her mother died, her husband cheated on her with her best friend and now she learns that her father had cancer and died. She had no idea he had even been sick. She’s more than a little shocked when she finds out her beloved father, Fritz Hudson, had another family with two daughters.
Cara is clearly the odd woman out since she is perceived to be the child of the “other” woman since her mother was the second marriage. However, Cara had no idea and neither did her mother. She pulls herself together and tries to build a relationship with Allie and Des, but it’s far from easy. Allie especially wants no part of her, but for the sake of the inheritance she tries.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read one of Mariah Stewart’s books, but I’ve always been a fan. I was thrilled to see she had a new series out and I wasn’t disappointed.
This is the first book in the series and it’s primarily Cara’s story, but all three sisters are heavily featured. We learn quite a bit about each ones struggles and heartaches. I found myself captivated by this book and quite interested in the restoration process of the theater. It was nice to see the sisters work together for a common goal.
I truly loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I did not want it to end. My favorite sister is Des, but Cara is a close second. It was easy to feel for all three women, although Allie not so much. LOL
Book #2 isn’t out until the spring of 2018 and it’s Des’ story. I’m looking forward to reading that one too.
Allie and Desdemona Hudson are the product of his first marriage to a Hollywood star, while Cara McMann is from his second marriage to Susa, a free spirit hippie. Fritz never divorced his first wife and never bothered to tell either wife about the other. So now his three daughters are faced with the shocking news and now have to fulfill his dying wish. All three daughters must restore his old theater in his hometown and they must do it together. If any of the women back out, nobody will inherit anything. All three really need the money so they vow to see this through to the end.
Cara McCann has gone through some bad times…her mother died, her husband cheated on her with her best friend and now she learns that her father had cancer and died. She had no idea he had even been sick. She’s more than a little shocked when she finds out her beloved father, Fritz Hudson, had another family with two daughters.
Cara is clearly the odd woman out since she is perceived to be the child of the “other” woman since her mother was the second marriage. However, Cara had no idea and neither did her mother. She pulls herself together and tries to build a relationship with Allie and Des, but it’s far from easy. Allie especially wants no part of her, but for the sake of the inheritance she tries.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read one of Mariah Stewart’s books, but I’ve always been a fan. I was thrilled to see she had a new series out and I wasn’t disappointed.
This is the first book in the series and it’s primarily Cara’s story, but all three sisters are heavily featured. We learn quite a bit about each ones struggles and heartaches. I found myself captivated by this book and quite interested in the restoration process of the theater. It was nice to see the sisters work together for a common goal.
I truly loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I did not want it to end. My favorite sister is Des, but Cara is a close second. It was easy to feel for all three women, although Allie not so much. LOL
Book #2 isn’t out until the spring of 2018 and it’s Des’ story. I’m looking forward to reading that one too.
March 24, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
The inspiration behind this novel fascinated me, so I thought I would share the preface of the book before my thoughts.
Everyone is familiar with the adage “write what you know”; it’s a saying that has dictated much of my decades-long career in publishing. But this time, it was what I (or rather, my mother) didn’t know that formed the basis for this first book in my new Hudson Sisters series.
When my mother was in her mid-forties, she received a letter from a woman named Alice, the wife of her recently deceased cousin Bill. Alice thanked my mother for the sympathy card she’d sent her, and finished her note by saying, “You do know that Bill was your half brother, right?”
Ah, no. She did not.
…Of course, I was fascinated. My grandfather died when I was four or five years old, and I have very little memory of him other than his deep, hearty laugh. I’ve been thinking for years that this foundation of a love child and secret siblings would make a great story; but not knowing all the facts, I was free to fill in the blanks—and so I did. Years passed before I felt I had the right story in my head. This is that story. I hope you enjoy my version of what could happen under such circumstances.
—Mariah Stewart
Crazy, right?! When Last Chance Matinee begins, we’re introduced to three very different women; sisters Allie and Des and Cara. Allie and Des have no idea Cara exists and Cara wasn’t aware that her father had another family either. When their father, Fritz dies, the women are all present at the reading of his will. Pretty compelling way to start a book, and when they’re told the only way to receive their inheritance is to move to Hidden Falls and renovate an old family theater, to say they’re shocked, angry, and blindsided is a huge understatement.
Cara is recovering from a divorce, her husband Drew cheated with one of her bridesmaids and is now engaged and expecting his first child. Ouch. Her mother, Susa is also gone having passed a few years ago. Susa and Cara live in New Jersey and his other family lived in California. Cara has no idea if her mother was aware her father was already married to another woman and she’ll probably never know. Allie and Des have a strained relationship and rarely speak to each other. Their mother, Honora is also deceased so the opportunity to move back to their fathers hometown may be the only chance for the women to unlock old family mysteries.
This is the first in a new series and it sounds like each book will mainly focus on one sister, but the other two will still play a heavy role in the plot. This one is Cara’s story and she was an endearing character. She’s a free spirit and very loving, once the initial shock of her fathers betrayal wears off, she’s excited to get to know the sisters she never knew existed. She bonds with Des fairly easily, and she was another character that I quickly warmed to. Allie is a bit trickier, she’s also divorced and pretty bitter, and she has secrets of her own. Though she was pretty cold and standoffish, I was still completely interested in who she was. Aunt Barney was Fritz’s estranged sister and she was probably my favorite character of the bunch. She’s the town matriarch and seems like a really good person, and she has a pretty sparkling personality to boot. Nikki is Allie’s teenaged daughter and she breathed so much life into the story, she’s a vibrant and excitable kid.
I’m a sucker for family secrets and though there are still definitely some secrets waiting to be unearthed, Stewart revealed enough about the Hudson family to capture my attention. The town of Hidden Falls is a character unto itself and had so much magic and old school charm. There was a real sense of a simpler way of life, a throwback to the good old days. The Sugarhouse is the family theater the women have to restore and the descriptive writing was so rich and vivid, it sounds amazingly gorgeous. This is the perfect, solid start to a new series, Stewart really lays the groundwork for so many possible storylines, there is a ton to be explore. I can’t wait for the second book, it will be told from Des perspective and I’m eager to see what the Hudson family will get up to next.
The inspiration behind this novel fascinated me, so I thought I would share the preface of the book before my thoughts.
Everyone is familiar with the adage “write what you know”; it’s a saying that has dictated much of my decades-long career in publishing. But this time, it was what I (or rather, my mother) didn’t know that formed the basis for this first book in my new Hudson Sisters series.
When my mother was in her mid-forties, she received a letter from a woman named Alice, the wife of her recently deceased cousin Bill. Alice thanked my mother for the sympathy card she’d sent her, and finished her note by saying, “You do know that Bill was your half brother, right?”
Ah, no. She did not.
…Of course, I was fascinated. My grandfather died when I was four or five years old, and I have very little memory of him other than his deep, hearty laugh. I’ve been thinking for years that this foundation of a love child and secret siblings would make a great story; but not knowing all the facts, I was free to fill in the blanks—and so I did. Years passed before I felt I had the right story in my head. This is that story. I hope you enjoy my version of what could happen under such circumstances.
—Mariah Stewart
Crazy, right?! When Last Chance Matinee begins, we’re introduced to three very different women; sisters Allie and Des and Cara. Allie and Des have no idea Cara exists and Cara wasn’t aware that her father had another family either. When their father, Fritz dies, the women are all present at the reading of his will. Pretty compelling way to start a book, and when they’re told the only way to receive their inheritance is to move to Hidden Falls and renovate an old family theater, to say they’re shocked, angry, and blindsided is a huge understatement.
Cara is recovering from a divorce, her husband Drew cheated with one of her bridesmaids and is now engaged and expecting his first child. Ouch. Her mother, Susa is also gone having passed a few years ago. Susa and Cara live in New Jersey and his other family lived in California. Cara has no idea if her mother was aware her father was already married to another woman and she’ll probably never know. Allie and Des have a strained relationship and rarely speak to each other. Their mother, Honora is also deceased so the opportunity to move back to their fathers hometown may be the only chance for the women to unlock old family mysteries.
This is the first in a new series and it sounds like each book will mainly focus on one sister, but the other two will still play a heavy role in the plot. This one is Cara’s story and she was an endearing character. She’s a free spirit and very loving, once the initial shock of her fathers betrayal wears off, she’s excited to get to know the sisters she never knew existed. She bonds with Des fairly easily, and she was another character that I quickly warmed to. Allie is a bit trickier, she’s also divorced and pretty bitter, and she has secrets of her own. Though she was pretty cold and standoffish, I was still completely interested in who she was. Aunt Barney was Fritz’s estranged sister and she was probably my favorite character of the bunch. She’s the town matriarch and seems like a really good person, and she has a pretty sparkling personality to boot. Nikki is Allie’s teenaged daughter and she breathed so much life into the story, she’s a vibrant and excitable kid.
I’m a sucker for family secrets and though there are still definitely some secrets waiting to be unearthed, Stewart revealed enough about the Hudson family to capture my attention. The town of Hidden Falls is a character unto itself and had so much magic and old school charm. There was a real sense of a simpler way of life, a throwback to the good old days. The Sugarhouse is the family theater the women have to restore and the descriptive writing was so rich and vivid, it sounds amazingly gorgeous. This is the perfect, solid start to a new series, Stewart really lays the groundwork for so many possible storylines, there is a ton to be explore. I can’t wait for the second book, it will be told from Des perspective and I’m eager to see what the Hudson family will get up to next.
March 8, 2019
I thought this story was awesome and I’m reading book 2 now. The Hudson Sisters find out about their father’s secret past when he passes away and leaves a strange request in his will. Allie, Des, and Cara must stay together with their Aunt Barney in the beautiful Pocono Mountains and renovate an old movie theatre in order to inherit. Each woman is at a turning point in their life, and as the story unfolds, each sister must make sacrifices or they all miss the opportunity of a lifetime. Allie’s daughter, Nikki, is a breath of fresh air, and Barney is a wonderful character, also, plus several other likeable townspeople. I highly recommend this novel.
June 27, 2017
I loved this book. It was interesting from beginning to end. The characters were genuine and fun and it felt like you knew them. I can't wait for book number 2 to come out next year.
March 30, 2017
Recipe review of The Last Chance Matinee
Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Coffee - 1 cup of brewed coffee, 3/4 ounce of cocoa (single serving envelope) 1 tablespoon of marshmallow whip or cream, a dash of cinnamon. Stir coffee and cocoa together until well mixed. Top with marshmallow and cinnamon. Serve hot and pair with a good book.
The Coffee- THE LAST CHANCE MATINEE is about three sisters with the same father. Fritz Hudson married Honora and had two daughters, Allie and Des. The marriage was a rocky one, and after the birth of Des, Fritz met Susa Pratt and married her. They had one daughter named Cara. Somehow Fritz managed to keep both families a secret. The girls meet at the reading of Fritz's will. To gain their inheritance, they must live together and restore an old movie theater in their father's childhood town. While the premise isn't unique, Stewart weaved in elements to make it her own, adding quaint touches and complex characters.
The Cocoa-
Allie is the oldest. An out of work actress with a vibrant teenage daughter. At the time of her father's death, she was putting her beloved home up for sale. Allie is troubled and comes off cold and uncaring. She was hard to like, but there are moments where we catch glimpses of something special. Stewart did a great job of showing Allie's many sides and sharing her secret. Interaction with the local law was interesting, and I am looking forward to seeing what develops.
Des is a former child movie star and is the quietest of the bunch. She loves nothing more than taking care of abused animals and finding them their forever homes. Des is easy going, low maintenance and someone I quickly identified with. However, she doesn't have any close personal ties, and her relationships are superficial at best. Could her desire to help local animals, lead to more with a local politician?
Cara, daughter of Fritz's secret family. She grew up well-adjusted and is a yoga instructor. She is recovering from a divorce. She is very inquisitive and rather than be angry at her father; she longs to learn more about him. Their handsome and reliable contractor has his eye on Cara, but can she learn to trust again? Cara was easy going and the most vibrant of the sisters.
The Marshmellow- I loved the small Pennsylvanian town where the sidewalks roll up at dusk and everyone attends the monthly town hall meeting. From the old buildings to the gorgeous Victorian home that was the Hudson homestead, I felt right at home. The old Art Deco theater and the rich descriptions of the decor were delightful. I enjoyed hearing about its use during its heyday. Stewart had me wanting to travel back in time. We learn about the locals, the falls, and the Hudson family who have a deep history with the town.
The Cinnamon- Fully developed secondary characters from the girl's aunt to Allie's daughter added touches that gave the story depth and the town to life. I got caught up in their enthusiasm, the project, and politics of small-town life.
Copy provided by publisher This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Coffee - 1 cup of brewed coffee, 3/4 ounce of cocoa (single serving envelope) 1 tablespoon of marshmallow whip or cream, a dash of cinnamon. Stir coffee and cocoa together until well mixed. Top with marshmallow and cinnamon. Serve hot and pair with a good book.
The Coffee- THE LAST CHANCE MATINEE is about three sisters with the same father. Fritz Hudson married Honora and had two daughters, Allie and Des. The marriage was a rocky one, and after the birth of Des, Fritz met Susa Pratt and married her. They had one daughter named Cara. Somehow Fritz managed to keep both families a secret. The girls meet at the reading of Fritz's will. To gain their inheritance, they must live together and restore an old movie theater in their father's childhood town. While the premise isn't unique, Stewart weaved in elements to make it her own, adding quaint touches and complex characters.
The Cocoa-
Allie is the oldest. An out of work actress with a vibrant teenage daughter. At the time of her father's death, she was putting her beloved home up for sale. Allie is troubled and comes off cold and uncaring. She was hard to like, but there are moments where we catch glimpses of something special. Stewart did a great job of showing Allie's many sides and sharing her secret. Interaction with the local law was interesting, and I am looking forward to seeing what develops.
Des is a former child movie star and is the quietest of the bunch. She loves nothing more than taking care of abused animals and finding them their forever homes. Des is easy going, low maintenance and someone I quickly identified with. However, she doesn't have any close personal ties, and her relationships are superficial at best. Could her desire to help local animals, lead to more with a local politician?
Cara, daughter of Fritz's secret family. She grew up well-adjusted and is a yoga instructor. She is recovering from a divorce. She is very inquisitive and rather than be angry at her father; she longs to learn more about him. Their handsome and reliable contractor has his eye on Cara, but can she learn to trust again? Cara was easy going and the most vibrant of the sisters.
The Marshmellow- I loved the small Pennsylvanian town where the sidewalks roll up at dusk and everyone attends the monthly town hall meeting. From the old buildings to the gorgeous Victorian home that was the Hudson homestead, I felt right at home. The old Art Deco theater and the rich descriptions of the decor were delightful. I enjoyed hearing about its use during its heyday. Stewart had me wanting to travel back in time. We learn about the locals, the falls, and the Hudson family who have a deep history with the town.
The Cinnamon- Fully developed secondary characters from the girl's aunt to Allie's daughter added touches that gave the story depth and the town to life. I got caught up in their enthusiasm, the project, and politics of small-town life.
Copy provided by publisher This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
March 25, 2017
The beginning of a new series by Mariah Stewart. The Last Chance Matinee has truly been one of the most enjoyable stories I have read in a really long time. Since the second in the series will not be coming out for a year I will probably read this one a couple more times before the new one comes out next spring. It is the story of three sisters who did not know their father had two families. One in California with the two older girls and a second family in New Jersey with the youngest girl Cara. He passed away and left his daughters a very large legacy but only if they would go back to his home town of Hidden Fall, Pennsylvania and restore a theater his great-great grandfather built. There they found their fathers sister (they never knew their father had a sister). Better not reveal any more because it is really worth reading it yourself. Couldn't put it down.
July 31, 2018
Very fast read especially if you get bored and start to skim. The setup was good with the three sisters and typically each sister is featured in each of the three books. However, I was expecting more from the first sister's book. It was cliche and weak. Her reactions to the situation with the ex felt like she was just yeah he cheated, yeah it hurt but a cute guy looks at me and I'm past that. When the book abruptly ended I felt like it was a cliffhanger without a cliff.
I'll read the next one as the library has it but my expectations are low.
I'll read the next one as the library has it but my expectations are low.
February 20, 2017
I would like to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC of "The Last Chance Matinee" by Mariah Stewart in exchange for my honest review. The genre of this book is Women's fiction.
I find that the author describes a dysfunctional family, with characters that are flawed.
After Fritz Hudson's death, his family is called by his laywer/friend to discuss the terms of the will. What is intriguing, is that we find out that Fritz Hudson had two families, on other sides of the country. With one wife, he has two daughters, and with the other he has one daughter. This revelation is a shock and surprise to his daughters. The sisters find out that there is a stipulation in their father's will that challenges them to fix and reconstruct a building used for theater that is part of his estate. In addition the sisters have to live in the family home, where there is another surprise waiting, their Aunt Barney, who they never knew existed.
If the three sisters don't complete this together, or if one leaves than the inheritance is lost.
Each of the sisters have their own issues and complicated lives.
The three Hudson sisters decide that they will try to fix this theater.
I find that the author writes about betrayal, lies, secrets,loyalty, friends, family and hope. There is an element of surprise and mystery as well. This book doesn't have a conclusion, and the author is supposed to be writing other books in this series. I look forward to reading more in this series.
I find that the author describes a dysfunctional family, with characters that are flawed.
After Fritz Hudson's death, his family is called by his laywer/friend to discuss the terms of the will. What is intriguing, is that we find out that Fritz Hudson had two families, on other sides of the country. With one wife, he has two daughters, and with the other he has one daughter. This revelation is a shock and surprise to his daughters. The sisters find out that there is a stipulation in their father's will that challenges them to fix and reconstruct a building used for theater that is part of his estate. In addition the sisters have to live in the family home, where there is another surprise waiting, their Aunt Barney, who they never knew existed.
If the three sisters don't complete this together, or if one leaves than the inheritance is lost.
Each of the sisters have their own issues and complicated lives.
The three Hudson sisters decide that they will try to fix this theater.
I find that the author writes about betrayal, lies, secrets,loyalty, friends, family and hope. There is an element of surprise and mystery as well. This book doesn't have a conclusion, and the author is supposed to be writing other books in this series. I look forward to reading more in this series.
May 8, 2017
4.5 stars rounded up for goodreads. This book hit the spot for the mood I was in and I enjoyed every page. I adore all the characters and can't wait for the 2nd and 3rd books.
March 22, 2017
I really enjoyed this book - it was charming, heartwarming, and I wish I would have read it back when my own father passed away.
"She'd tell Cara there would still be love and happiness and joy to be found. That it might not look like the love and joy she used to know, but it would still be love and joy, all the same."
The book begins by introducing readers to our 3 main characters - Cara, Des, and Allie. We get a short look into where each of them are currently at in their lives before they find out about their father's passing. This book is extremely slow, which I actually didn't mind because it's a character driven story. And I adored all of these characters, especially the Hudson sisters.
Each sister is fighting their own battle and are in different stages of their lives. There's Cara, the carefree yoga instructor who is searching for answers to who her father really was. Des feels like the most responsible one out of the 3, and through her love of rescuing dogs we can tell she has deeper issues she needs help with. Lastly, my favorite, is Allie. She is so complicated, like her mother, she drinks away her problems. Underneath her snark and sarcasm is a woman who has just been hurt and loves deeply, especially for her daughter. The sisters make a great set of characters! No matter where you are at in your life, you are sure to relate to at least one of them. They are so flawed and feel incredibly human, it's hard not to connect to their story.
So, these 3 meet for the first time when they find out that their father passed away. Des and Allie have the same mother, but they meet their half sister, Cara, and it's a bit of a surprise. Okay, so the same thing happened to me (finding out I had half siblings when my father passed away) and I'm happy this story included this because I thought I was alone here! I loved this aspect of the story. But, the girls find out that in order to inherit anything from their father then they must complete his last wish: live in his childhood home while restoring their family theater.
Once all 3 sisters are settled, the story finds a steady pace between digging deeper into the characters but still moving the overall story along. I loved all of the characters introduced, especially Barney! There is also a bit of romance, which is sweet and never takes over the story so I liked it. And the writing was great, such wonderful descriptions when it came to the theater. I felt like I was standing in that lobby with the girls and seeing its beauty, too. The dialogue could get a little bit long at times, but that was the only thing that I didn't always enjoy.
This book is told through a mix of POVs even though it's technically Cara's book. As the book comes to a close, it doesn't leave us with a cliffhanger but there's still a lot of unanswered questions. As for Cara, I think her personal journey is somewhat concluded but I'm sure we'll see more developed for her through the other books. I'm super excited for Allie's book, which seems to be the last one, but that's okay! I love Des just as much, and if anyone deserves a happy ending it's her. I can't wait for the rest of these books!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was authentic and truly heartwarming given that it was such a family driven story. I loved that, it was refreshing to read for me. If you're looking for a book that digs deep into its characters then this book is for you. There's at least one character you are sure to relate to!
I love what the author wrote at the end, for a Q&A:
"Sometimes life tosses you a curve, and it's how you react to the circumstances that determines the way your life - your journey - plays out."
* Quotes listed above are subject to change.
"She'd tell Cara there would still be love and happiness and joy to be found. That it might not look like the love and joy she used to know, but it would still be love and joy, all the same."
The book begins by introducing readers to our 3 main characters - Cara, Des, and Allie. We get a short look into where each of them are currently at in their lives before they find out about their father's passing. This book is extremely slow, which I actually didn't mind because it's a character driven story. And I adored all of these characters, especially the Hudson sisters.
Each sister is fighting their own battle and are in different stages of their lives. There's Cara, the carefree yoga instructor who is searching for answers to who her father really was. Des feels like the most responsible one out of the 3, and through her love of rescuing dogs we can tell she has deeper issues she needs help with. Lastly, my favorite, is Allie. She is so complicated, like her mother, she drinks away her problems. Underneath her snark and sarcasm is a woman who has just been hurt and loves deeply, especially for her daughter. The sisters make a great set of characters! No matter where you are at in your life, you are sure to relate to at least one of them. They are so flawed and feel incredibly human, it's hard not to connect to their story.
So, these 3 meet for the first time when they find out that their father passed away. Des and Allie have the same mother, but they meet their half sister, Cara, and it's a bit of a surprise. Okay, so the same thing happened to me (finding out I had half siblings when my father passed away) and I'm happy this story included this because I thought I was alone here! I loved this aspect of the story. But, the girls find out that in order to inherit anything from their father then they must complete his last wish: live in his childhood home while restoring their family theater.
Once all 3 sisters are settled, the story finds a steady pace between digging deeper into the characters but still moving the overall story along. I loved all of the characters introduced, especially Barney! There is also a bit of romance, which is sweet and never takes over the story so I liked it. And the writing was great, such wonderful descriptions when it came to the theater. I felt like I was standing in that lobby with the girls and seeing its beauty, too. The dialogue could get a little bit long at times, but that was the only thing that I didn't always enjoy.
This book is told through a mix of POVs even though it's technically Cara's book. As the book comes to a close, it doesn't leave us with a cliffhanger but there's still a lot of unanswered questions. As for Cara, I think her personal journey is somewhat concluded but I'm sure we'll see more developed for her through the other books. I'm super excited for Allie's book, which seems to be the last one, but that's okay! I love Des just as much, and if anyone deserves a happy ending it's her. I can't wait for the rest of these books!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was authentic and truly heartwarming given that it was such a family driven story. I loved that, it was refreshing to read for me. If you're looking for a book that digs deep into its characters then this book is for you. There's at least one character you are sure to relate to!
I love what the author wrote at the end, for a Q&A:
"Sometimes life tosses you a curve, and it's how you react to the circumstances that determines the way your life - your journey - plays out."
* Quotes listed above are subject to change.
April 21, 2018
I mostly really liked this, though some of the rah rah small towns and rah rah family forever stuff was not my favorite. And I struggle with actually calling this a romance, though I'm not actually sure what I would call it. A couple of dates doesn't feel like the resolution of a romance to me, if that's what it was supposed to be for Cara and Josh. I suspect we'll see more of it in later books, since this one rotated POVs, as we'll see romances for Des and Allie develop as well.
Glad this finally went on sale so I could try it. The renovation porn is probably going to be my favorite part, and I am a-okay with that.
Glad this finally went on sale so I could try it. The renovation porn is probably going to be my favorite part, and I am a-okay with that.
March 22, 2017
3.5 stars
How about a sweet soft breeze on a spring night? If you like that, you will most probably enjoy The Last Chance Matinee.
The Last Chance Matinee is the beginning of a new series, The Hudson Sisters series by the lovely Mariah Stewart. With the promises of new beginnings and revealed long time hidden secrets, Mariah Stewart brings us her first book in this very promising series.
The Last Chance Matinee comes like Women’s Fiction at its best. Cara Hudson receives a call from her father’s best friend and lawyer, Uncle Pete, giving her the striking news. Her father, Fritz Hudson, had passed away. He had asked Pete to get through with the cremation before telling Cara. He had also asked that there would be no funeral.
With the sad news and her dad’s unusual requests, Cara is left with so many questions. Not only that, but Fritz had left a will that Uncle Pete requested Cara to visit him at his office to read. Astonished, sad and loaded with questions, Cara goes to Uncle Pete on the agreed date only to meet Allie & Des, her two sisters, previously unknown to her.
There is a huge secret to be revealed. Fritz had laid the burden of revealing the secret and the will on Pete’s shoulder. The Hudson sisters meet each other for the first time in Uncle Pete’s office. As Uncle Pete reveals the will and the secret, Fritz Hudson had been living a double life. Fritz Hudson, the father of Allie and Des and the husband of Honora is also the father of Cara Hudson and the husband of Susa in a parallel life. With the two wives now dead, the sisters have only each other to count on. But can they accept each other?
However, that’s not all. Fritz did regret that his daughters had not known each other. Knowing of his prominent death, he had left a will that would ensure his daughters will come closer. The girls are to receive quite a fortune each only if they can fulfill the terms of the will. With each one of them having her own issues to fix and needing such fortune, the three set to fulfill the will.
Now as the story progresses, we enjoy the fresh breeze of new beginnings and the chances of starting right once again. There are the chances of knowing their real father none of them had really known. Moreover, they have the chance to know their family’s legacy. And as the book title implies, it can be their last chance to knowing their real selves and to freedom. Also, there seems to be more secrets.
Such a delightful read. The book is a big one with almost 500 pages. Yet, Mariah Stewart’s lovely writing style made it a delightful quick read. As I read, the pages flew and I felt I was sitting with the Hudson sisters and enjoying their sisterly talk. It reminded me of sitting with my aunts, sister and cousins. I needed such book in between the thrillers I usually read.
As delightful as the book was, I still had some issues with it, hence my 3.5 stars rating. My main issue was the huge cliffhanger. I like the books within a series to build on each other. However, having so many open issues with nothing resolved felt like I was reading half a book with the other half missing. It might be my own problem, but I really hate cliffhangers. They are totally different from having linked installments in a series. Also, the book was a bit slow to my liking. I could guess what was coming next. I usually prefer things to go faster.
Still, I enjoyed The Last Chance Matinee. I expect The Hudson Sisters series to be a very interesting and enjoyable series. Also, it’s great to catch a series right from the first book. There seems to be a lot of secrets to be revealed and I can’t wait to know more in the upcoming installments.
**Special thanks to the NetGalley & Gallery Books for supplying my copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. **
For all my reviews please visit http://www.meshascorner.net
How about a sweet soft breeze on a spring night? If you like that, you will most probably enjoy The Last Chance Matinee.
The Last Chance Matinee is the beginning of a new series, The Hudson Sisters series by the lovely Mariah Stewart. With the promises of new beginnings and revealed long time hidden secrets, Mariah Stewart brings us her first book in this very promising series.
The Last Chance Matinee comes like Women’s Fiction at its best. Cara Hudson receives a call from her father’s best friend and lawyer, Uncle Pete, giving her the striking news. Her father, Fritz Hudson, had passed away. He had asked Pete to get through with the cremation before telling Cara. He had also asked that there would be no funeral.
With the sad news and her dad’s unusual requests, Cara is left with so many questions. Not only that, but Fritz had left a will that Uncle Pete requested Cara to visit him at his office to read. Astonished, sad and loaded with questions, Cara goes to Uncle Pete on the agreed date only to meet Allie & Des, her two sisters, previously unknown to her.
There is a huge secret to be revealed. Fritz had laid the burden of revealing the secret and the will on Pete’s shoulder. The Hudson sisters meet each other for the first time in Uncle Pete’s office. As Uncle Pete reveals the will and the secret, Fritz Hudson had been living a double life. Fritz Hudson, the father of Allie and Des and the husband of Honora is also the father of Cara Hudson and the husband of Susa in a parallel life. With the two wives now dead, the sisters have only each other to count on. But can they accept each other?
However, that’s not all. Fritz did regret that his daughters had not known each other. Knowing of his prominent death, he had left a will that would ensure his daughters will come closer. The girls are to receive quite a fortune each only if they can fulfill the terms of the will. With each one of them having her own issues to fix and needing such fortune, the three set to fulfill the will.
Now as the story progresses, we enjoy the fresh breeze of new beginnings and the chances of starting right once again. There are the chances of knowing their real father none of them had really known. Moreover, they have the chance to know their family’s legacy. And as the book title implies, it can be their last chance to knowing their real selves and to freedom. Also, there seems to be more secrets.
Such a delightful read. The book is a big one with almost 500 pages. Yet, Mariah Stewart’s lovely writing style made it a delightful quick read. As I read, the pages flew and I felt I was sitting with the Hudson sisters and enjoying their sisterly talk. It reminded me of sitting with my aunts, sister and cousins. I needed such book in between the thrillers I usually read.
As delightful as the book was, I still had some issues with it, hence my 3.5 stars rating. My main issue was the huge cliffhanger. I like the books within a series to build on each other. However, having so many open issues with nothing resolved felt like I was reading half a book with the other half missing. It might be my own problem, but I really hate cliffhangers. They are totally different from having linked installments in a series. Also, the book was a bit slow to my liking. I could guess what was coming next. I usually prefer things to go faster.
Still, I enjoyed The Last Chance Matinee. I expect The Hudson Sisters series to be a very interesting and enjoyable series. Also, it’s great to catch a series right from the first book. There seems to be a lot of secrets to be revealed and I can’t wait to know more in the upcoming installments.
**Special thanks to the NetGalley & Gallery Books for supplying my copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. **
For all my reviews please visit http://www.meshascorner.net
November 10, 2017
Enter my giveaway! Sisters and secrets - an irresistible combination! When Hollywood agent Fritz Hudson dies, his daughters find out there was a lot they didn't know about their father, including that he had a wife in California and one in New Jersey, and daughters in both places. His will brings the three sisters together to learn about their father's past. Here is a link to my review and giveaway: http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/201...
April 20, 2017
There really wasn't anything "new" and original about these sisters and their story. I've read a variation of this a hundred times before. I think Nora Roberts was first to write about siblings unknown to each other and that trope has gone "gangbusters" from that moment.
I liked all the characters, except the mean sarcastic drunk one and the setting is in the Poconos which is new for me, but the whole story is meh. There's a little mystery the "Mary Sue" sister is looking into, so maybe the next two books will be more interesting for me. I do not like though when authors write trilogies and it takes three years to read them. I always admired Robyn Carr who would release three books in succession. I really hate to wait a year for a book......
I liked all the characters, except the mean sarcastic drunk one and the setting is in the Poconos which is new for me, but the whole story is meh. There's a little mystery the "Mary Sue" sister is looking into, so maybe the next two books will be more interesting for me. I do not like though when authors write trilogies and it takes three years to read them. I always admired Robyn Carr who would release three books in succession. I really hate to wait a year for a book......
March 24, 2017
I enjoyed this book until the ending, but I hated the abruptness of the final few pages. I suppose it is a to-be-continued conclusion, but I wanted more closure.
June 18, 2018
A delightful and cozy story of sisters coming together to refurbish an old theater in their father's hometown in the Poconos. Bonus points for there being a rescue dog subplot ;-)
*
I was completely drawn in and can't wait to read the next in the series!
*
I was completely drawn in and can't wait to read the next in the series!
July 9, 2018
I loved this book and I’m really looking forward to getting to the rest of the books. The characters were realistic and their flaws were real. I loved how they were turning an uncomfortable situation into a positive experience. I especially loved the carefree and easy attitude of Allie’s daughter.
April 12, 2018
If you read and enjoyed the books in the Chesapeake Diaries series, you'll definitely enjoy this one. This is the first book in a new series featuring the Hudson Sisters. While there is a touch of romance in the story, it is not the main focus. Instead it is more about three sisters coming together to fulfill the terms of their father's will. Even if it is the first that they even knew the third sister existed. I can't wait to read the next one and fortunately I don't have to wait long as it's almost due for release.
March 13, 2017
One of the things I noticed as I wished this story hadn't ended was that it has a series name: The Hudson Sisters #1. Yay! I don't have to leave my new friends forever! And while I am talking about the ending, relax, it isn't a cliff-hanger. Everyone is safe. I just miss them.
You can look up the blurb to see what the book is about. I try to concentrate on my feelings about the story. What I noticed most of all, was the lack of conflict and yet I kept wanting to read more. I suppose the conflict is the undertone of how the characters ended up owning a theater. They had to spend the time getting to know each other and see how they fit into the scheme of things. But there was no great adventure, no one is in grave danger. Yet through each of their perspectives, you see their birth order and history.
It was because of the description of the story on the blurb on NetGalley dot com that I picked this up to review. I am so glad I did. It is quite an interesting story. I look forward to book two so I can see these women and watch them remake a theater together.
You can look up the blurb to see what the book is about. I try to concentrate on my feelings about the story. What I noticed most of all, was the lack of conflict and yet I kept wanting to read more. I suppose the conflict is the undertone of how the characters ended up owning a theater. They had to spend the time getting to know each other and see how they fit into the scheme of things. But there was no great adventure, no one is in grave danger. Yet through each of their perspectives, you see their birth order and history.
It was because of the description of the story on the blurb on NetGalley dot com that I picked this up to review. I am so glad I did. It is quite an interesting story. I look forward to book two so I can see these women and watch them remake a theater together.
February 12, 2017
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What a great start to a series. I cannot wait to read more about the Hudson sisters as this book was just so completely sincere and heartwarming that I’m craving the next installation. Think Hallmark or Lifetime movie kind of setting and characters. I really liked how the author dove into the plot without a whole lot of backstory and long, drawn out descriptions of the characters before they meet. I felt this book was mainly focused on Cara who was my favorite out of the three sisters. Des, or Desdemona, the animal lover was a loving woman and aunt to Nikki, her sister, Allie’s daughter. I loved the relationship that grew between Cara, Des, and Nikki. Allie, on the other hand, sister to Des and half-sister to Cara, is probably the sister who has the most work in store for her when it comes to self-improvement and finding happiness within herself. In the beginning of the book, she’s just a plain ol’ bitch and I kept thinking it’s no wonder her husband, Clint, left her. She seems superficial and really has nothing going for her except that she’s pretty. Nothing except the fact that her 14-year-old daughter may be the sweetest teenager on the planet.
The story brings together the three sisters after their father, Fritz, dies and leaves them to restore and renovate an old theater in the town he grew up in. Allie and Des have the same mother and Cara has a different mother. Allie and Des have no idea Cara exists and vice versa until their Uncle Pete calls them and tells them of the project which they are to complete in order to gain their inheritance. Barney, their father’s sister, is also a surprise, as they arrive in Hidden Falls. The sisters learn to enjoy a different kind of life than they are used to.
I also appreciated the author’s description of the theater and carriage house. The whole set and scenery of the book really came to light with the ornate fixtures and exquisite beauty. I must admit, I read several of these paragraphs over again, picturing what it must have been like to be in this treasure of a building.
Like I said, I cannot wait for the next installment of this series. I’m normally a reader of thrillers and self-help books but this book was such a nice change of pace, I’ve decided I need to read more like this.
Thank you to the author, Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.
What a great start to a series. I cannot wait to read more about the Hudson sisters as this book was just so completely sincere and heartwarming that I’m craving the next installation. Think Hallmark or Lifetime movie kind of setting and characters. I really liked how the author dove into the plot without a whole lot of backstory and long, drawn out descriptions of the characters before they meet. I felt this book was mainly focused on Cara who was my favorite out of the three sisters. Des, or Desdemona, the animal lover was a loving woman and aunt to Nikki, her sister, Allie’s daughter. I loved the relationship that grew between Cara, Des, and Nikki. Allie, on the other hand, sister to Des and half-sister to Cara, is probably the sister who has the most work in store for her when it comes to self-improvement and finding happiness within herself. In the beginning of the book, she’s just a plain ol’ bitch and I kept thinking it’s no wonder her husband, Clint, left her. She seems superficial and really has nothing going for her except that she’s pretty. Nothing except the fact that her 14-year-old daughter may be the sweetest teenager on the planet.
The story brings together the three sisters after their father, Fritz, dies and leaves them to restore and renovate an old theater in the town he grew up in. Allie and Des have the same mother and Cara has a different mother. Allie and Des have no idea Cara exists and vice versa until their Uncle Pete calls them and tells them of the project which they are to complete in order to gain their inheritance. Barney, their father’s sister, is also a surprise, as they arrive in Hidden Falls. The sisters learn to enjoy a different kind of life than they are used to.
I also appreciated the author’s description of the theater and carriage house. The whole set and scenery of the book really came to light with the ornate fixtures and exquisite beauty. I must admit, I read several of these paragraphs over again, picturing what it must have been like to be in this treasure of a building.
Like I said, I cannot wait for the next installment of this series. I’m normally a reader of thrillers and self-help books but this book was such a nice change of pace, I’ve decided I need to read more like this.
Thank you to the author, Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.
February 7, 2017
I loved this first book in a brand new series of the Hudson Sisters. The premise is pretty good. A man. Fritz, has a wife on the west coast who is a Hollywood star. However, she's somewhat the type to only think of herself. If something comes up she's the first one to think "what will this do for me?". He also has two daughters, Des and Allie, with this woman (Nora).
A few years after marrying this woman, he meets and marries another woman (Suza) who lives on the east coast. He has one daughter with her, Cara. Neither woman or the daughters know about the other family. He does have a sister, Barney, who knows about both families and his lawyer and good friend, Pete, who knows about both. This goes on for years with Fritz traveling back and forth with neither family catching on. Until Fritz gets cancer. Pete is begging him to tell them - both wives are dead, only the daughters live on. Fritz is too cowardly to do it. He makes Pete to do it.
Not only that, but Fritz has a surprise. He wants his daughters to get to know each other. Fritz grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania where his family established a small town and pretty much owned and built everything. One of those things included an old time art deco movie house that has been boarded up for many years. He wants his daughters to restore it. They will not get any inheritance until they do. They must live in the small town of Hidden Falls, get to know each other and restore the theater.
This is all easier said than done.
Naturally one of the sisters is a witch with a b and the movie house has set empty for about 90 years. That's just the start of their problems.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book of this series and look forward to reading many more. I found the characters wonderfully developed and really wanted to spend more time with them and hopefully I will get to. The author did a great job setting up the premise and the town, as well as the characters and I am ready to become one with the Hudsons!
Thanks Gallery,Threshold, Pocket Books for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
A few years after marrying this woman, he meets and marries another woman (Suza) who lives on the east coast. He has one daughter with her, Cara. Neither woman or the daughters know about the other family. He does have a sister, Barney, who knows about both families and his lawyer and good friend, Pete, who knows about both. This goes on for years with Fritz traveling back and forth with neither family catching on. Until Fritz gets cancer. Pete is begging him to tell them - both wives are dead, only the daughters live on. Fritz is too cowardly to do it. He makes Pete to do it.
Not only that, but Fritz has a surprise. He wants his daughters to get to know each other. Fritz grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania where his family established a small town and pretty much owned and built everything. One of those things included an old time art deco movie house that has been boarded up for many years. He wants his daughters to restore it. They will not get any inheritance until they do. They must live in the small town of Hidden Falls, get to know each other and restore the theater.
This is all easier said than done.
Naturally one of the sisters is a witch with a b and the movie house has set empty for about 90 years. That's just the start of their problems.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book of this series and look forward to reading many more. I found the characters wonderfully developed and really wanted to spend more time with them and hopefully I will get to. The author did a great job setting up the premise and the town, as well as the characters and I am ready to become one with the Hudsons!
Thanks Gallery,Threshold, Pocket Books for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
May 3, 2017THE LAST CHANCE MATINEE: Where there’s a Will,…
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
This story used the old-fashioned will-with-conditions-attached trope. I thought about it and wondered if something like this could actually happen: could a parent force his/her children to do something onerous to get their behest? The answer is, that if it does not violate public policy, he and/or she can.
Having learned that, I still wondered about a parent who a. had two families and b. the same day they learn about each other he forces them to get together? What a jerk!?!?!?
Then we find that not only has he hidden his two families but he has hidden his history from the children.
Then he forces them to reside in his old town - the one he didn't tell them about. And, he won't even allow a burial.
I enjoyed the story - this book sets up a series with lots of arcs but there are NOOOOO resolutions. It's not a cliff hanger but I definitely felt I was left hanging at the end. Argh! It insured my return to the next part of the series.
Two of the three sisters are nice, lad back and thoughtful people. The oldest is a total bitch - a bitter divorcee. The other characters are pretty typical. The wise elderly aunt with a secret, the honest contractor and the ebullient niece.
I thought the narrator did a great job; she gave people good voices and did not, thank goodness, overly age the women's voices. The guys don't sound like bellicose teenagers which is a huge plus.
What I found a little weird is an anachronistic set up. At one point the author mentions that in 1968 it was still controversial for women to drive. And, the ages seem weird. It is contemporary, but the timing is off; the three sisters are all younger than I am, and the ages of the members of the previous generation are younger than my parents. Sure, it's possible, but it is really unlikely!
I will definitely continue with the series though; I think it has potential.
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
This story used the old-fashioned will-with-conditions-attached trope. I thought about it and wondered if something like this could actually happen: could a parent force his/her children to do something onerous to get their behest? The answer is, that if it does not violate public policy, he and/or she can.
Having learned that, I still wondered about a parent who a. had two families and b. the same day they learn about each other he forces them to get together? What a jerk!?!?!?
Then we find that not only has he hidden his two families but he has hidden his history from the children.
Then he forces them to reside in his old town - the one he didn't tell them about. And, he won't even allow a burial.
I enjoyed the story - this book sets up a series with lots of arcs but there are NOOOOO resolutions. It's not a cliff hanger but I definitely felt I was left hanging at the end. Argh! It insured my return to the next part of the series.
Two of the three sisters are nice, lad back and thoughtful people. The oldest is a total bitch - a bitter divorcee. The other characters are pretty typical. The wise elderly aunt with a secret, the honest contractor and the ebullient niece.
I thought the narrator did a great job; she gave people good voices and did not, thank goodness, overly age the women's voices. The guys don't sound like bellicose teenagers which is a huge plus.
What I found a little weird is an anachronistic set up. At one point the author mentions that in 1968 it was still controversial for women to drive. And, the ages seem weird. It is contemporary, but the timing is off; the three sisters are all younger than I am, and the ages of the members of the previous generation are younger than my parents. Sure, it's possible, but it is really unlikely!
I will definitely continue with the series though; I think it has potential.
Want to read
January 26, 2017Publication Date: March 21, 2017
" A copy of this book has been provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review"
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