A Book Club Recommendation! (The Hudson Sisters Series)

When does the next book come out? I mean, I know that this first one JUST came out, but the next one will be soon, right?
I just loved this book. Three sisters, Cara, Des, and Allie didn’t grow up together. As a matter of fact, only Des and Allie did; they had no clue that Cara existed and Cara knew nothing of their existence. They got this bombshell at the reading of the will after their father’s death. He also decided that for ANY of them to receive their inheritance, they must ALL work together to renovate an old theater from the town that he grew up in.
At breakfast with my best friend this morning, I told her I had started a really good book. She always likes to hear about books that I like and as I described it to her, I said that I would totally be friends with Des and Cara in real life, and I would! They were SO relatable. This story was told in such a way that I felt like I was there. I wanted to book a ticket and head straight to Hidden Falls. I wanted to find an old theater to renovate. I wanted to smack the hell out of Allie. All of it! I wanted it all!
Thank you SO much Netgalley and Gallery Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I’ll be checking weekly for the next one!

It turns out the celebrated and successful Fritz Hudson had some very big secrets. Unbeknownst to his three very different daughters (or their mothers) he had a family on each coast. After his death, the reading of the will brings the three wary women together. Naturally, there are stipulations to their inheritance, and renovating the old theater in Hidden Falls, Pennsylvania, while living in the old family home is the biggie. All three, Cara, Des and Allie, hope to find more about their father and those family secrets while they are there. The small town atmosphere is described very vividly, as is the condition of the formerly bustling theater. Another thing I really liked was that it didn't suffer from a one character for this book, one for another. Although it wasn't hard to figure out that this was Cara's book overall, Stewart takes care to introduce and maintain relationships with everyone. In fact, the arrival of Allie's daughter for a week long school break was a fun breath of fresh air. I found the story so engrossing, that I was surprised to suddenly reach the end. I will definitely be looking forward to the next story set in Hidden Falls.

The Last Chance Matinee is an intriguing start to the new Hudson Sister Series by Mariah Stewart. It is a good thing that Fritz Hudson, the sisters’ father is no longer in this world because Hh really pulled an underhanded thing waiting until he died for the duplicity of his life to come to light. The ground work on a new series is carefully built in this first book. The betrayals, secrets, and individual flaws with less than stellar personal feeling of self-worth all are exposed, while giving the feeling of hope at the same time. That in itself is amazing. This is women’s fiction with some romance thrown in. So well written, I could easily see this made into a movie.

The three sisters moved to Hidden Falls, to fulfill the demands of the will but along the way find a charming town, family and love. For the most part the Allie, Des and Cara find a way to work and live together a small amount of drama. While this their story, it is more Cara’s. By the end, I was thinking like Cara maybe Father Fritz did know what he was doing after all; he just should have come clean sooner.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.

Allie, Des and Cara are sisters but they didn’t know it. Unbeknownst to them their recently departed father had a family on each coast. Allie and Des are the daughters of Nora, an actress in California. Cara is the daughter of Susa, a free spirit from New Jersey. Both mothers are also deceased and had known nothing of each other. Fritz had been too cowardly to confess before he died. He left that to “Uncle Pete”, a childhood friend of his and his lawyer. In his will, he left his estate to the three girls on one condition. They had to go to his hometown of Hidden River, PA and restore the long closed theater where he and Nora had once acted. Once there they met Fritz’s sister Barney and stay with her in the Hudson family home. I thought the characters were well developed and true to life. The daunting task ahead of the girls has its funny moments. I enjoyed the interaction between the character and the description of small town life. The only thing I didn’t like was the ending. Like another reviewer said, it left me looking for more pages., and I took off 1 star for that. It implied future books and I can’t wait to read them.

Three sisters...strange circumstances. Two of the sisters which did not know the third existed till the reading of their father's will. "What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."

I adored Des and Cara. Did not have much for Allie. She is self-centered and just a little mean! These three must renovate an old movie theatre to gain their inheritance. They learn so much about themselves, their father and their family.

This tale has a little of everything, romance, mystery, family. Des also rescues dogs...a woman after my own heart. How can you not enjoy a book with dogs. This story also has some wonderful HOT?GUYS! Dogs and guys, my favorite combination!

This is a great palate cleanser book...stolen from Litsy. There is just something about a good, simple, read that hits the right spot! Plus...the cover is fabulous!!

Received an ARC of this book from Net Galley for an honest opinion.

Really enjoyed this first book in a trilogy about three sisters who inherit a run down theatre in their father's hometown. The characters each have their own distinct personalities and I enjoyed meeting each of them. This first book focuses more on the character of Cara, who to me was not quite as interesting as the other two sisters.

I really liked the author's description of this fictional town in the Poconos. Having been to that area many times, I felt she did an excellent job of making you feel you were actually there. I also liked that there is a bit of a mystery to this book---finding the truth about their father and his involvement in an accidental death.

I look forward to the other two books in this series...just sorry that I have to wait another year for the next installment!

This is the first of the series.
When their father dies three sisters are going to have their worlds nocked out from under them.
Cara thinks she's an only child and Des and Allie only know each other so when they go to the reading of the will they find out the truth. Now they are stuck in this little town with an aunt they don't know about refurbishing a theater.

I read the second book in this series first it is easy to follow and can be read as stand alones, however knowing where they left off leaves me wanting more.

Just finished this novel and enjoyed it but found it rather slow moving, which is sometimes the case with what is basically a 3 novel story. The primary characters did evolve, no surprises there, the emerging romance was obvious with the remaining two already set up seamlessly. Several people complained about the abrupt ending but the author and publisher do want us to return for the following two books. The second won't be out for a year. The characters themselves were well fleshed out. The old theater renovation is also interesting as well as the mystery of an old death, which, by the end, showed strong intimations of what really was the cause, although I'd guessed early on it wasn't what appeare obvious. I'd say this is a pleasant, involving read.

What a great new series by Mariah Stewart. What would you do if you found out your parent had another Family? Well follow the Hudson Sisters as they find out about each other for the first time at the reading of their father's will. In order to get their share, they three of them, Cara, Des and Allie must all meet one month later in their father's hometown, to restore a theatre. Well sparks fly, but they join forces to start the long process. This book follows Cara, but all three slowly find a little more about each other plus their aunt who is new to them also. Great storyline and strong characters. Can't wait for the next book about Des.

Every time I pick up a Mariah Stewart book I know it will be an excellent book. One I can't put down. I don't know how I'm gonna be about to wait till the second book comes out because I'm already craving more.

This is a story about Fritz, who passes away without telling his children he lead two lives and has three children. To try to make up for his mistakes, he makes a stipulation in his will that his three daughters have to go back to his hometown and restore an old theater he owns. They go back to Hidden Falls and find an aunt they didn't realize they had and start to bond as sisters. They also try to piece together their fathers life of secrets.

Kindle Copy for Review

When a respected agent dies, three women find themselves with siblings that they never knew existed and a dad they never quite knew. Their father left them a sizable fortune if they would renovate a once owned family theatre in a small town where he grew up and they must do it together.

It is about three women learning about each other and in so learning more of their father and the family past. It is about moving on as each woman has their own troubles as they enter a new world and sometimes it is only family that can set us free.

We slowly watch as they bond and become a family as they find themselves. An endearing start as they find a place in our hearts.

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings

Three sisters who didn't know they were sisters end up at the hearing of a will and their lives are turned upside down! One sister was raised by an attentive mom who gave her all the love she needed and she grew up to be a business owner and an upstanding citizen. Two other sisters are raised by an actress who was barely a mother. These two are complete opposites - one is floundering and isn't sure what is next and the other went the opposite direction and is determined and likes to plan. I loved that these sisters didn't know about the other and they are given a challenge that is entertaining.

I have absolutely fallen in love with this new series from Mariah Stewart! It's truly one of the best women's lit books I've read in a long time. I'm a huge fan of Ms. Stewart's Chesapeake Diaries series and was curious about this new trilogy. I'm now hooked and craving more about this dysfunctional yet mesmerizing family.

When three sisters are brought together after the death of their father to work on the restoration of an old theater they find themselves not only working on the restoration but also working on their relationships. Relationships among themselves, other family members and the townspeople.

Definitely a book I recommend to everyone.

Enjoyed all of the characters and can not wait to read the other 2 books. Allie is hard to like all of the time, Des is extremely likable and you want to see that she is cared for and gets good things in life, Cara is very likable and since this is her book she was the one to ask most of the questions regarding her father and in some cases I kind of felt like she went a bit too far but the story handled it and that is just my opinion. The secondary characters were well introduced into the story and Ms. Stewart made you care about everyone not just the primary characters and that will be a big help in the next 2 books, to see everyone come back and not have a whole lot of new people added (or so it seemed to me). I will definitely re-read this book prior to the next one coming out.

Fritz Hudson led two lives. With his wife Honora he had two daughters (Allie and Des). With his wife Susa he had one daughter (Cara). When he died, his lawyer contacted all three girls to attend the reading of his will. They meet for the very first time and are told that in order to claim their inheritance, they must travel to Fritz's home town and renovate an old movie theatre. The story tells about what happens during this renovation and how they relate to one another. A quick read and also an interesting one.

Fritz Hudson had two families - neither knew about the other. His daughters meet at the reading of the will and must work together to receive a large inheritance.I loved this story! The characters were well developed as were the descriptions of Hidden Falls. There are a couple of little mysteries about an old accident (?) and an emerald necklace. My only disappointment is that I have to wait for the others in the series to be published.I had not read this author's work before but will be looking for others that she has written.

This was a fantastic first book in a series. I am so looking forward to book two and book three. Cara, Allie, Des and Joe are great characters. I guess we will learn more about Seth and Ben in the next two books. This is not a situation I would ever hope to have happen to me but it is being treated wonderfully. I did not want to put this book down. This story flows so beautifully. I loved this. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Simon and Schuster blog tour for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This is my first book by this author and it will not be my last. What a heartwarming story that will make you laugh and cry. A very hard book to put down. The characters are so amazing and work so well together. So many surprises in the story too. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

My first reaction was that this was another book about earning an inheritance under "shocking" circumstances. And while it was that -- there were many other intriguing and delightful layers to the story. Characters that you love, and characters that you dislike (very much), all in an appealing way. This would make a great book club book and I look forward to the rest of the series.

I was provided a copy from the publisher for my honest review.

I sure hope we don't have to wait long for the next book to come out. I am now hooked into this story and I want to see what happens next. I really like the characters, but Allie is a little bit hard to like sometimes. Not sure how it would be to find out that your father had a whole other family that you didn't know about. Good story and I want more. Love it!

"The Last Chance Matinee" is a perfect beach book. Ms. Stewart weaves a story about family secrets, a few lies, a wee bit of romance, and a lot of local history. It's a light enjoyable story. I love Cara and Joe. I adore Barney. I cannot wait to get my hands on book 2. I'm never disappointed with Ms. Stewart's books.

This was a fun, easy read. I really enjoy the story of the sisters getting to know each other. The plot's more than a bit predictable and the conversations are a trifle inane, but I look forward to reading the next book.

This new series is a winner! I have been a longtime fan of Mariah Stewart. New and old relationships brought together and about by secrets and a purpose. I love the beginning and cannot wait for the next installment

I really enjoyed this book, one of the best I have read this year. A great first book to begin a series. Intriguing characters, wonderful storyline. A few twists along the way. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

I like Mariah Stewart books...but I really hate when a book just ends abruptly. I didn't know there was a book 2 until I went back online after finishing this to see if others felt frustrated by the ending. So...I guess if I can still find out how all the girls fare, I'm okay with it.