This book was sweet in every way. Connection between siblings, a slightly eccentric aunt, and a love connection found in friendship. This book reminded me a lot of the Jill Shalvis’ series but I still liked it a lot.

In Mariah Stewart's The Sugarhouse Blues, the 2nd installment in the Hudson Sisters woman's fiction series, this novel is about family and the ties that bind them together and finding a new start somewhere. For Desdemona "Des" Hudson, she joined her sister Allie and her half-sister Cara on a monstrous project to restore the Sugarhouse theater. It was reported on their late father's will. That theater have been in their family for centuries and now needs a major restoration to fix the leaking ceiling. They all had something that brought them there, when they've gotten to know each other better. Both Allie and Cara are divorced, while Des looks for her own Mr. Right. Between the three of them, they researched the history of the theater and learned more about their own father's hidden secrets. As the days go by, they worked hard to put the theater into place and talked about life and love, shared laughter, secrets, and memories, before the restoration could be completed in their new home.

The Hudson sisters were annoyed at the terms of their father’s will, requiring them to come to his hometown and restore the grand old movie theatre originally purchased and operated by his father. Allie, Des, and their half-sister Cara moved in with their aunt Barney, who was delighted to have her long-lost nieces with her. The women had a budget of one million dollars to complete their restoration, and after the roof leak that caused damage to the beautifully painted ceiling, they felt they would never complete their mission.

Although this is the second in a series, I was able to pick up the storyline quickly, and I never felt I was missing anything. I loved the way the sisters began to put aside their personal differences and work together on the daunting project called The Sugarhouse. Allie’s bitter divorce and forced separation from her teenaged daughter, Cara’s divorce and the death of her mother, and child actress Des’s self-imposed exile in Montana operating a dog rescue facility all make the Hudson women realistic and likeable characters. Mariah Stewart’s skill at storytelling kept me thoroughly engaged, and now I need to read the first book!

Allie, Des, and Cara, each having her own reasons for wanting a share of their father's estate, meet in the grand Victorian home in which he grew up, only to be greeted by another secret he purposely hid from them: his sister Bonnie. The women reluctantly band together to take on Fritz's challenge, working with a local contractor to begin the renovations financed by an account Fritz had set up for the task. While the restoration appears to go smoothly at first, it soon becomes apparent that the work will be more extensive than originally thought, and Des, elected to handle the money, needs to find ways to stretch out the remaining savings while searching for new sources of funding.

As strangers linked only by their DNA try to become a family, the Hudson sisters also try to come to terms with the father they only thought they knew. In the process, each woman discovers her own capacity for understanding, forgiveness, love, and the true meaning of family.

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This is book two in the series. It is the father's wishes of his inheritance that the sisters renovate and work together to rebuild the family theatre. They have all joined together and are living temporarily at their aunt’s home in Hidden Falls, Pennsylvania. Things have happened that have put them over budget and are putting them at each others throats. They've all been estranged and are seeing this as something to bring them together, so everything that could go wrong is going wrong. This was a cute story about sisters becoming sisters and I really enjoyed that dynamic of it. What wouldn't you do for your family is really a theme in this book.

THE SUGARHOUSE BLUES (The Hudson Sisters: #2) Written by Mariah Stewart
MAY 15, 2018; 400 Pages (Gallery Books)
Genre: contemporary, small towns, family drama, romance

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​(I received an ARC from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY​)​

RATING: 4 STARS

I have been waiting for over a year for the second book in the Hudson Sisters series. The Sugarhouse Blues did not disappoint. One thing I really enjoyed about this novel was that it had characters in the past and future books. This book was Des and Seth's story, but we get more about Allie, Des and Allie's relationship, Fritz and Barney's past. It really makes the town and series come to life. It also makes me remember the characters and story for when the next book comes out. I was nervous starting this one, afraid I would have forgotten details from the first book. As soon as I got to chapter 2, I remembered it all, and enjoyed the continuing story of remodelling the Sugarhouse.

Des is one of my favourite characters and I enjoyed the sweet romance between her and Seth, the mayor. Seth is the bad boy on the outside with the heart of a nice guy. Des is a bit standoffish and looking for a stable man. She doesn't think Seth is that guy. Seth proves her wrong as the two work on the theatre and rescue dogs. The novel also sets up book three with Allie and Ben's tension (and chemistry) and how Allie is spiralling into alcoholism. I would recommend reading these books in order as the story continues to the next books.

This is the story of three sisters who were left a theater to renovate. The beginning gives you enough information to catch up, even though it was a little confusing, if you didn't read the first book. This book focuses on Des who is a no nonsense type of person and has a lot of angst from her childhood. The renovations are not going her way and she just wants to get back to her old life. There is one complication in Seth and she has to figure out if her first impression is what he really is or if she can look past what she sees and give him a chance.

It was refreshing to sit and read a contemporary story that brings a lot more to it than just a romantic story.


** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

I received this book from NetGalley to read and review. It is the second book in the Hudson Sisters series. I had requested the first book last year but was not lucky enough to get it. Thus, I sort of came into the story “in medias res”. After trying to read and understand this book, I can only say that you need to have read the first one to really understand and enjoy this one. It really is not a good stand-alone book, though, for some, I guess it can be read as one, if you do not mind being confused and/or in the dark as you read.

In this book, the three Hudson sisters are working to restore the old Art Deco theater in Hidden Falls, Pennsylvania. They are restoring the theater as a requirement to inherit their father’s estate. The theater has been closed and is both boarded up and run down, so there is a lot of work to do. The sisters must also live in their father’s family home while restoring the theater and cannot leave. If anyone leaves, the estate will be donated to charity. Since each sister needs the money, they are all reluctant to leave it behind. Thus, they are involved in the joint effort to restore the theater and to live together in the home–along with another well-kept secret, his sister Barney, who lives in the home. Barney, for her part, is kind, loving and generous welcoming the sisters with open arms. The story follows the sisters as they work together, with Barney, to restore the theater, ever short of needed restoration money and ever facing obstacles to the restoration. The sisters and Barney also each have their own idiosyncrasies and secrets, which play out as the story and restoration proceeds through thick and thin, good and bad.

The book was interesting but a bit confusing to me. The author portrayed the sisters and their aunt well, but so much had been covered in the first book, with little back story in this one, that I had difficulty figuring out who was who and what was what, and still keep up with and enjoy the story. I definitely would advise any reader to read the first book before this one, to better understand, appreciate and enjoy this one. As I said, I got this one from NetGalley to read and review but had not read the first. I will now go to get it from the library, and, after reading that one will try this one again. I think I will appreciate it more, as I have read most of what the author wrote and thoroughly enjoyed every book.

This is a wonderful romance. This is book two in the series and they you just keep getting better. It would be hard to move to a new town to earn an inheritance and even harder to find out you have a half sister you knew nothing about. This book was leaning towards Des but you get to know more about each sister and Barney, the aunt. I didn’t want to put this book down. I received a copy of this book fromGallery books for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I love Mariah books they are always so good they always pull you in. I had gotten my copy from netgalley. loved the settings and the cover. loved the chacters, my favorite was des. I love this series, so far is my favorite of hers. love the closeness of the sisters. Hope you get your copy today available now.

One of the reasons I loved the first book so much was because it was exactly what I was looking at the time I read it. It also really focused on the complicated relationships between three sisters as well as the same three sisters discovering their family history for the first time all of which are in my favorites things list. My mood lately has been a bit on the meh side. I'm not so much in a reading slump but more in kind of a reading slump lately. I was worried that my mood would seriously impact my enjoyment of this second story. While I didn't love it and connect with it quite as much as I did Last Chance Matinee it was a read that pulled me and knocked me out of my grumpiness for a bit.

This book focuses on the middle sister, Des. She was a very reluctant child star which damaged her relationship with her sister Allie and caused her to avoid people as much as possible. She focuses her time, attention, and affection on animal shelters and misses the one that she was involved with in Montana. She's also in charge of the money aspect of the theater restoration. The theater restoration has made significant progress since we last saw it though it is now being plagued by what always plagues projects like this - setbacks, catastrophes and annoyances, all with the intention of pushing the budget beyond its breaking point. I enjoyed seeing the bits of bookkeeping and how Des tried to figure out not only how to stretch the budget but bring in money to increase it. She's smart and creative but not an accountant or marketing professional by trade. As well I love the relationship between Des and Cara. It's fun seeing the genuine affection grow as they get to know each other. Allie is a bit tougher both to like from the POV of the reader and to relax in the world that Stewart has created. She has a lot of challenges - some of her own doing and others not so much. Her sharpness got on my nerves sometimes even though I did feel sorry for her. Her book is next and it'll be interesting to see how Stewart handles her rather strident personality.

I love seeing more of the sisters and their aunt Barney. As well the community of Hudson Falls is always entertaining. I enjoyed the focus on Seth in this book. He's an interesting character with a somewhat troubled backstory but without a whole lot of baggage. He's got just enough flaws that he feels like a real guy but not so many that it overtakes the goodness. The research into the history of the theater and the involvement of the local college added a bit of enjoyment to the story and developed a broader picture of the town.

This was an enjoyable read with a strong family connection. The only things that kept it from being a perfect read for me was Des's insistence that she was going back to Montana and her lack of awareness about the effects if her statements on those around her as well as Allie's hostility at times. However, my delight with the relationships that are developed throughout the rest of the book far outweighs any negatives.

The Hudson sisters are back still trying to renovate the old movie theater that was left to them by their father in his will which included several very strange surprises. And in this book, the surprises about their father just keep on coming.

The sisters have had a setback occur regarding the fresco ceiling of their beautiful theater. A major setback which has them trying to figure out how they are going to handle this new problem.

Allie and Des are still at each other though in a sisterly way and there is a mystery about their father that unfolds, as well.

And, are one or two of the sister's falling for the small town of Hidden Falls? Sisters all from different states and locales brought to this small town as their father's last wish. Or is it someone they are falling for?

The continuing saga, while not as full of surprises as the first book, does muster several more from the secrets still waiting to unfold.

A really good series that I am truly enjoying.

Thanks to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Reading this book was like returning to a favorite small town and meeting up with friends you had been missing. I enjoyed seeing how each character was growing and developing and I loved seeing how the theater was coming along. There is something about Mariah’s writing that connects you deeply to each character and leaves you wanting more as soon as you close the book. Each of the three sisters has there own issues to work through and a future to decide on. This book seemed to focus mostly on Des, so I was left wanting a bit more of Cara and Allie but I’m hopeful that they will have a more staring role in the next book. I found this to be a really great read and though it could be read as a standalone I highly recommend reading the first book!

The Sugarhouse Blues by Mariah Stewart, book two in The Hudson Sisters series. I've read other book by this author but have not read the first book in this series. But I still enjoyed this book. Mariah Stewart knows how to bring a story together and keeps you going back for more. I look forward to reading more in this series and more by this author.

If you read the first book in this series, The Last Chance Matinee, you may know already that this book isn’t going to end with a neat bow tied around it and everything resolved. The Hudson Sisters series is almost like a saga. The first book was mostly about Cara, but the reader gets a lot of back story and also learns a lot about sisters Des and Allie. Well, this story mostly focuses on Des with more pieces of Allie’s story getting filled in. Although, I have to say, this one is much more focused on the one sister than the first book was.

I have to preface the remainder of this review by saying that I think the book should only be read if you have read The Last Chance Matinee. I have read a few reviews of those that haven’t read the first book and still enjoyed this story. But since I know the depth and idiosyncrasies of the relationships involved that you’ll be missing if you skip ahead to this one, I strongly urge you to read these books in order.

Des was my favorite of the sisters from the very beginning. I can’t tell you exactly why. Maybe because I can relate to the misunderstood middle child…even though she had no idea she was a middle child until recently. I also quickly fell in love with Seth from the first book so it was wonderful to follow the path Des and Seth take to finding what they really want. You can’t help but to root for these two. And honestly, is there anything Seth can’t do? Mayor, veteran, farmer, photographer, etc., etc. He’s truly a jack of all trades!

Although this story is mostly about Des, I can’t help but be intrigued by Allie. I by turns loathe her and want to give her a hug. The chip on the woman’s shoulder is bigger than the sun. I am chomping at the bit wondering what went down between her and Ben on the 4th of July and cannot wait to read the next story, which I’m sure will focus more on her. The other plus to Allie is her daughter. Nikki is so much fun and the way her mom feels about her helps to humanize Allie.

This book was a bit slower for me than the first book, but it was still amazing. I can’t help but think the first book was more rounded since, of course, the author had to give us more info on everyone to set the groundwork. I only hope the next book is either not the last book, or it’s a bit longer to give us a true ending to the Cara/Joe and Des/Seth stories. While I understand why these individual books are not neatly wrapped up at the end, I hope for the series to be wrapped up to the extent there are no danglers left over.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. As Cara, Allie and Des work harder at becoming a family with Aunt Barney as referee, things start getting done. After a few setbacks in the reconstruction of the theater things slowly start inching forward. Now starting to realize the million dollars their father left them to kickstart the renovations is disappearing at a fast rate. When they find some abandoned dogs that have decided to make their home inside the theater, Des who has a history of rescuing animals manages to lure all three dogs out of the building. Des takes them to the vet to get checked out realizes the town is in desperate need for an animal shelter and should not fall on the police chief to find homes for all the abandoned animals.

While getting push back at the town meeting the mayor Seth the bald heavily tattooed man that she cannot decide if she's attracted steps in to back her along with her Aunt Barney who used to run the family-owned bank in town. Thinking he is a farmer with a degree and not a lot going for him she has a few surprises in store for her when she tries and dates "her type". This is a great second book in the Hudson sisters series!!!! When is book three coming out????

Fritz grew up, the summer of a prominent banking family in a small town. He left it all behind for the bright lights of Hollywood where he became father to two girls. He fell in love again and set up another family in Delaware with one daughter. Imagine the surprise when his two families came together at the reading of his will to find each other and to find an Aunt, their father's sister whose existence they had no knowledge off. Now under the terms of his will they are forced to live together in their father's childhood home with their aunt to restore an old theater that belongs to the family and which once was the heart of the town. Small town living, complex family relationships, a lost treasure are just the tip of the iceberg that makes this book so readable.

So the girls did a stellar job of finding the right contractor to put the heart into the old theater. Cara and Joe also fall in love along the way but just when it seems like things are on schedule and they'll have no problems meeting the terms of the will, a freak summer storm does a fair amount of damage. This next chapter of the story picks from right where the first one ended. The girls now have to figure out how to effect repairs, keep the character of the place and stretch their budget to meet their needs.
The girls get creative on how to raise funds and stretch their budget as they contact the local preservation society and university art departments etc. The town's major Seth has made no bones about his attraction for Des going so far as making his friends take the rescue dogs she's rescued. Des struggles with a tattooed Seth who does not fit her idea of boyfriend material against the college professor who does. Seth is delightful and I think I had a similar reaction to Des when Seth is so blithe about a barbeque involving the entire town.
Even as Des and Seth are the central characters of this story, Allie's struggle with alcoholism and depression as well as her deep love for her daughter Nikki add a lot of depth to this story. An exploration into Aunt Barney's broken heart and her second chance at love are refreshing side notes that make the story come alive. Allie's exploration of her long hidden artistic self and her attempt to take a more actively personal role in the exploration are elements that I'm sure we'll see more of as the story continues.
I really enjoyed the change of pace, and seeing each sister emerge out of her own shell and go after what she wants is very energizing. Nikki is a breath of fresh air and I'm definitely rooting for her to find the family treasure, All in all a great middle book which leaves readers waiting anxiously for the finale.

LOVED this book! This is the second book in the series and although you could read and enjoy this one as a standalone, I really think you'll enjoy it more if you read each book in the series in order. The three Hudson sisters continue their quest of restoring the old historic theater their father left them in his will. This book focuses on Des but it's truly a story of all three sisters really getting to know each other, learning to trust each other, and discovering they truly care about and love each other. This is a wonderful story that everyone should have on their must read list this summer. I highly recommend it.

Mariah Stewart returns to the Sugarhouse Theater restoration in Hidden Falls with Allie, Des, and Cara. The three sisters have been working together to restore a piece of their family's history while also getting to know each other and the truth about their father's past. The Sugarhouse Blues dives deeper into their family history while also expanding the connection the sisters have with the community.

The story picks up quickly from where readers were left in The Last Chance Matinee. Work on the theater is progressing, but Des realizes that more money will be needed to properly complete the project and save them from unexpected issues. While all the sisters play major roles in the book, this story singles out Des to explore her thoughts on the project and whether she'd be willing to leave her old life behind for a permanent stay in Hidden Falls. I really enjoy the way the story flows because it's not just about the Hudson sisters honoring their father's will. Mariah Stewart digs deep into the hearts of these characters to make them vulnerable and rise to the occasion despite their fears and past disappointments. They're so real you can feel their hurt and the joys that come from finding something, or someone, that helps them heal.

I've enjoyed these first two stories so far, but I honestly think the next one will be the best. Allie's been somewhat in the background as Cara and Des find their rhythm in town and draw closer to their aunt Barney, but she seems like someone with a problem that's more serious than not knowing what her future holds, or whether she can find a better man than her ex. So far she's hidden behind a mask and hasn't really connected with other people like her sisters have. Whatever comes next will be just as filled with exciting new aspects of the theater restoration and more drama to bring the Hudson sisters closer than ever before!
*ARC provided in consideration for review*

I love Mariah Stewart's books and this second book in her Hudson Sister series is no exception for me. It is a great follow up to the Last Chance Matinee. A story about sisters in a small town setting. Hints of romance added to make it a beautiful story.. Thanks for NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced read copy.

The Sugarhouse Blues is the second novel in The Hudson Sisters series and I have been looking forward to this novel all year! I read the first book (The Last Chance Matinee) last year and absolutely loved it, so I was really excited to read book two and pick back up with the Hudson sisters. The Sugarhouse Blues did not disappoint! It was told mostly by Des, but there was still a lot of input from Cara and Allie as well. I love this group of girls and felt like I was one of the sisters while reading!

This novel wasn't suspenseful and it wasn't filled to the brim with romance, but it had a constant steady pace that matched the tone of the slow moving small town vibe. It was such an enjoyable read filled with interesting and entertaining characters. I honestly felt like I wanted to move to Hidden Falls by the end of this novel! The Sugarhouse Blues was a fantastic summer read perfect for reading while in a rocking chair on the back porch with a cold glass of lemonade! Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sending a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4/5