Sisters are doing it for themselves

This is book two in the Hudson Sisters Series – the first book “The Last Chance Matinee” introduced the trio of women who are bound by the terms of their father’s will to restore an old theatre in the small town of Hidden Falls, PA where he grew up.  Two of them, Allie and Des, were shocked to discover that they had a half-sister that they never knew about until the reading of the will.  Cara was his daughter by another woman, and he never told her about his other family either.  So this had the makings for a very uncomfortable situation, made even more so by the realization that they were going to live with their aunt Bonnie (aka Barney), whom they hadn’t met previously.  But it’s the only way to receive the inheritance money that each of them needs.  At the end of the first book, they had begun to bond and Cara even formed a relationship with a local contractor who was helping them out.

So the focus is more on Des in this book, though Allie is also involved.  Des was a child actor who had the job that Allie wished for, making their relationship strained for most of their lives.  Since she quit acting, Des had been living on a ranch and running a shelter for stray dogs which she misses, so she’s doing her best to try to start a shelter in Hidden Falls in addition to managing the finances for the theatre rebuild.  There are two men in town that she’s attracted to – one isn’t her type at all (he’s big, rides a Harley and has tattoos) and the other is exactly her type (nice, friendly and sweet), so she needs to sort out why one of them feels more like Mr Right. She and Allie also need to confront their own past, and Des reveals a secret that takes Allie by surprise.

Along the way, the sisters face challenges regarding the restoration, there’s some funny moments with their aunt and her vintage car named Lucille, and dogs are thrown in for cuteness overload.  I’m interested to see what happens with Allie in the next book.  We’ve seen her as a closet drinker who hides vodka bottles under the bed and she’s been bitter over her divorce for a long time; I assume she will evolve and find her own happiness.  Overall, there’s really nothing suspenseful, or overly romantic going on, but it’s a nice read.  This is my second book of Ms Stewart’s, and she has an extensive back list so I might have to check out some of the other books she’s written as well.