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

I really enjoyed going back to the lives of Cara, Allie and Des.  I wanted to see what would become of their relationship as the Sugarhouse was being worked on.  Not only do they have each other as family to lean on and grow a relationship with but there are men in the town who like these sisters.  I enjoyed watching their relationship develop with Barney as well.  I wanted to root for them and I wanted them to want to stay in the town and maintain their relationship with their aunt and those in the town.  They were welcomed and loved and didn't have to go back to their old lives. I liked how the reader sees into each woman's life and how life was affecting them.  They each had their own demons and they handled things so differently.  I really enjoyed this read, but do recommend starting with The Last Chance Matinee to see how their journey began.

The Hudson sisters want to collect their share of their father’s estate.  To collect their inheritance, Allie, Des, and Cara are obligated to work together and renovate the family’s theatre. They have all combined forces and are living temporarily at their aunt’s home in Hidden Falls, Pennsylvania. Unforeseen problems have put them over budget and recent storm damage has pushed back the completion.

Des is responsible for all the finances surrounding the renovation. Her goal is to finish the project and return to her home in Montana. She views this opportunity as a chance to get to know her half-sister Cara and to rebuild her relationship with Allie.  They have been estranged for many years after Des’ success as a child actress. Although they fight often, Allie and Des slowly begin re-connect as secrets they kept from each other are disclosed. At the same time, Des finds an unexpected romance in this unlikely location.  

The Sugarhouse Blues is the second novel in Mariah Stewart’s Hudson Sisters series. Last Chance Matinee is the first book and my review can be found here https://suzyapproved.com/2017/03/27/the-last-chance-matinee-by-mariah-stewart/ . I am excited for book three to be published in 2019.

The three Hudson sisters are well into the restoration of their family’s old theater, the Sugarhouse, a condition of their father’s will in order for them to receive the inheritance. A freak storm has damaged the ceiling, which is an art form in itself, creating new challenges, financial and creative. Des Hudson, the sister charged with managing the project funding, must look for ways to cost effectively resolve the dilemma and, in her pursuit, finds more than she thought she was seeking, including personal insights and revelations. 

Des has the loudest narrative but she’s not the only voice in the story. Cara is well on her way to possibly making Hidden Falls her new home as her relationship with the contractor, Joe Damanski, deepens. Allie continues to struggle with her alcohol dependency and developing relationship with Des, which fractured when they were teens. But it’s Des who blossoms as she faces her past head on, embraces her new family and reconsiders having Seth MacLeod stay in the friend zone. That man turned out to be more than what met the eye. 

This isn’t a story with lots of action and drama, just a slow moving journey through a small-town community with all the upsides at center stage. The sisters are finding their way to creating a family experience they’ve never had and the transformations aren’t rushed. There’s an authenticity surrounding the characters and the story and it’s not one you speed through. I loved putting the book down after a particularly insightful passage, just to ponder the message, and resuming later when I wanted a slice of this life again. I really liked the story and I’ve come to really like the sisters, even the complex and sometimes insensitive Allie. I’m looking forward to her voice in the next story, which was perfectly set up here.

I really enjoyed this book from Mariah Stewart and when I read it I hadn't realized that it was part of a series but it can be read as a standalone. I like reading stories about families from time to time and this was well told with relatable characters so yes this is definitely a winner from Mariah Stewart and you really need to pick this one up on release day or pre order. Happy reading!

I can't wait to read more from this author! What a great story! Loved these characters. I will be spreading the word about this book for sure!

Trying to make the best out of an awkward situation the sisters (one of which is new to the others) are working on renovating the theater that has been in their family. Each story is a standalone which I can attest to since I  haven't read the first book in the series yet. The characters are wonderful and it is a clean read at least this one was. While Allie seems to be the unfriendliest of the group she does start seeing the problem with her attitude when it causes major issues. Des does some soul searching and realizes there are some changes that are needed in her life. It seems each sister does find their hea by the end of the series with some soul searching and loads of work. The aunt is a hoot and having her own fun. All in all a great read but man the ending truly sucks.

All in all I did enjoy this first read by this author. I do enjoy a clean read to clear my mind of clutter and this was perfect.

The Sugarhouse Blues is the story of three sisters who have inherited a theater from their father, and must live in the family home until they finish renovations in order to get their inheritance. Other than the lead character, Des, I found the sisters very hard to warm to. Allie had a huge chip on her shoulder that made her nasty to everyone. I'm not sure if Ben did something to her in the first book, but she was horrid to him. Cara was okay, but not very fleshed out...maybe that also happened in the first book? This was Des's story...and really left so much unfinished that there has to be another book coming. Not sure I'll read it though, the conversations were forced, the relationships were fraught and I struggled to get through it.

Mariah Stewart's second book of the Hudson Sisters series picked up where the first ended. It's the story of three sisters who share the same father and have been tasked with restoring his family's historic theater in his Pennsylvania hometown. They will receive their inheritance if they can complete this huge assignment. First they have to find away to be comfortable working together. Two of the sisters share the same parents and have grown up with a sibling rivalry that was more on Allie's part than Des. That resentment seems to grow now that they're living under the same roof and working on this huge project. Can they work past their issues and come to value what they truly have as adults? I love the progression of this storyline. The pacing seems right. Des will find out what can happen when she lets go of her insecurities where relationships are concerned. The story of Des and Seth brought a smile to my face. Adding in the dog rescue facet made The Sugarhouse Blues a gem of a novel for me. I recommend picking up the first book, The Last Chance Matinee, to learn how the three sisters meet and then read The Sugarhouse Blues.

Last year I read The Last Chance Matinee and was totally captivated by the Hudson sisters and the authors inspiration for the books. The first time around you meet all three of the sisters but it was really Cara’s story and this time around it’s Des turn. It’s not completely necessary to read the first book, but you would be more familiar with the characters and their histories if you started at the beginning.

Des is a character that I warmed to quickly the first book so I was excited to learn more about her this time around. She’s a huge animal lover, she runs a shelter back home in Montana so if you’re a dog lover there are some sweet moments with some pups here. The girls Aunt Barney is my absolute favorite, she’s a sassy gal, full of wisdom and charm, just the sort of matriarch you imagine when you think of a mature woman with a heart of gold.

The family is still trying to restore the old theater and it’s not an easy process, especially as they’re running out of funds. I love that this has such a realistic plot, there are no heroic rescues or unbelievable saviors, they face the same issues anyone of us would come up against. The romantic aspect is also true to real life, relationships evolve at a reasonable pace, no one falls in love at first sight, no Prince Charming, but it is sweet and fun still.

There are still some family secrets and mysteries to be solved although Stewart does answer a few questions she leaves a few things hanging, a surefire way to keep me continuing with this series. This is a well written, smooth novel, ideal for a summer read, more depth than a beach read but with all of the fun!

Sugarhouse Blues in three words: Charming, Authentic and Captivating.

I love the Hudson sisters and Barney.  The sisters are not sure that they will stay in town after the theater is done, but Des is really thinking about it.  She knows that Seth isn't her type and she will just keep him as a friend so that she knows she won't be hurt.  But, it isn't possible to keep him in the friend zone.  He is such a good guy.  As the sisters deal with the ceiling problems, they learn a lot about themselves and their relationship.  They are also learning that their father wasn't the person they thought he was.  Add in the rescue dogs and a small town celebration and you get a winning combination.  Good story.

The Sugarhouse Blues is the second novel in Mariah Stewart’s Hudson Sisters series.  The first book, The Last Chance Matinee, brought the three sisters to the bucolic town of Hidden Falls, Pennsylvania, in the heart of the Poconos. We learned some of the girls’ backstory, met their dear Aunt Barney and many of the local residents, and began the incredible task of restoring the historic Sugarland Theater. 

The first book also put a greater focus on Cara, the east coast sister. Cara is a take charge kind of lady and she has taken on the task of overseeing the project along with her new love, contractor Joe Darnowski.  

In this book, the focus is shifted to younger of the west coast sisters, Des.  Des has taken on the task of overseeing the finances.  She has a knack for wisely managing money as demonstrated by the way she invested and lived from the monies she earned as a child actress.  Des seems to find herself often in the company of Hidden Falls major and organic farmer Seth MacLeod. MacLeod, a military veteran complete with shaved head and tattoos, is a nice guy, but Des professes he just isn’t her type preferring the more Ivy League style of grant writer Greg Weller. That is until she spends time with each, finding that perhaps the mayor is exactly her type.

Again, Ms. Stewart has woven a rich tapestry of characters and their stories. The many subplots add to the complex weave with so much occurring simultaneously, just as in reality.  I loved this story, these people, and anxiously await the next part of their saga. I do recommend this book!

Lovely book about three sisters building not only a theater but a family.  Allie and Des didn't know about their half sister Cara but they are making up for missed time as they try to fulfill the condition of their father's will.  He kept a lot of secrets- basically he compartmentalized his life- but none of them are truly bad.  As they begin work on the theater, they discover they're short on funds.  Des, who is the focal point, carries a lot of the weight.  You'll like her, as you will Allie and Cara.  There's some budding romance but this is really about the relationship between the woman.  Thanks to net galley for the ARC.  This may be the second in the series but you'll be fine reading it as a standalone and then you, like me, will be looking forward to the next one!

I could not finish this book. The dialogue was stilted, unrealistic, and too often used for exposition in excess. Details around painting a kitchen put me over the edge and I had to stop reading. I will not be reviewing online.

My Review of “The Sugarhouse Blues” by Mariah Stewart  Gallery Books. Publishing Date May 15, 2018

I would like to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC of “The Sugarhouse Blues” by Mariah Stewart for my honest review. The genres for this book are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. This is the second book in “A Hudson Series Novel”, but it can be read as a standalone. The timeline of the story is mostly in the present but goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events.

The author describes the characters in the story as complex, complicated and dysfunctional. Three sisters, Alex, Des and Cara, each have their own problems and motivations for working together to restore their deceased father’s prized theatre , for the inheritance. The sisters see  lies, betrayals, and deep secrets that were buried with their father. To renovate this theatre, Fritz, the father had left  money. Unfortunately with unexpected leaks, and rising costs of construction, there might not be enough money to finish this project, unless the sister’s can find a way together.

The author discusses the importance of love, loyalty, friendship, forgiveness , communication and understanding. Can this project succeed? Will the sisters be able to set aside their differences and work together?

This was an easy read, and I regretted that it ended very abruptly. There are many more questions that have to be answered. I eagerly await the next novel. I would recommend this emotional and enjoyable  novel for those readers that enjoy Women’s Fiction.

Three sisters must renovate a decrepit theatre in order to inherit their father's fortune. They discover that there's not enough money to complete the building's repairs, and one of the sisters decides to take on some of the complicated art work herself, while another dedicates herself to finding ways to fund the project. And, of course, there's romance -- not only for each of the sisters, but for the aunt they've moved in with as well.
This is book 2 in a series, and you're definitely coming in late to the story if you start with this one (as I did). I am tempted to read the first book to find out what I'd missed.

I simply love this book! I feel like I'm there in Hidden Falls with this wonderful family as they're finding their way in a new and unexpected journey. The sisters feel like my friends and I wish I had an aunt just like Barney. This is the second book in the series and I'm hooked already....can't hardly wait to see where the story goes next. The sense of community and beautiful descriptions of places make Hidden Falls an excellent escape for me.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not read the first book in this series, but it didn't take me long to catch on to the story. These three sisters are trying to restore the family theater. I quickly learn there are many secrets in this family. The relationships among the sisters turns out to be very fragile, but there are trying hard to make it work. It was a good story and I am interested enough to stay with this series. Very enjoyable.