I really don't know what to say about this book. I just finished and really don't know what I was supposed to take away from the ending.
The story and characters were interesting, but I really don't know what the point was. Mark and Emily have several adventures and the odd little connections around them and the community were intriguing, but it never seemed like anything went anywhere.
I felt like this was more a collection of odd little short stories with Mark and Emily being the connecting factor than a novel.

A standalone comedic romance novel about a man who inherits his aunt's estate in 2014 in upper Michigan and must remember his past.

This eARC was sent to me by NetGalley and Celestial Eyes Press for an honest review.

My Take
And, they're gonna get one. My first pet peeve is the primary character doesn't even have a last name. WTF? I don't get that. You can provide a protagonist with a first name, how hard is it to come up with a last name? Open a phone book. Call him Smith, Jones, Farmer, Black, Jaspevtinquawtew. Just give him a frickin' last name!

That whine over, it's a group of characters trying to find themselves, into self-reflection and discovery, especially our two protagonists in something of a classy Keystone Kops routine with unwanted guests dropping in, being dramatic, and having their own conflicts. Mark is running about not wanting guests, but also not wanting to tell them the truth about the B&B. Which I really don't understand. As for Vivian, she's a poignant mystery.

There are a number of conflicts in this: Mark's is inheriting his aunt's estate when they hadn't spoken since he was eight and now pretending his aunt is alive — I can't see any good reason to not tell people she's dead(!!), and Emily knows she needs to stop seeing John and is traumatized about losing a young patient. Secondary characters have their interesting conflicts: Peter and his need to conquer while Yvonne has "something" going on(?); George, poor George is such a sweetheart with his very own nerve wracking mystery; and, some interesting, entwining, and revealing conflicts that relate to Aunt Vivian's time in Sarajevo. A nice bit of mystery.

A few too many awkward info dumps and way too much tell; I so did not feel that romance. I kinda wonder if it even was a romance... I certainly can't get excited about Emily, at least in terms of her not caring about how she's disrupting her lover's marriage. And why doesn't she tell Mark about George's issues? It'd be a heck of a lot safer for George! Of course, Emily does have a thing for lying...

Speaking of Emily, I do wish Cuesta had played up the drama between Bulcher, who is too much of a stereotype and doesn't even get it(!), and Emily.

I like that Mark has scruples, even if he is rather wishy-washy. Probably a good thing in a CFP, lol. Part of me was amused by his meekness, and the other part of me wanted to give him a good kick.

My favorite part was the radio show "Knitting Time" with a couple of old ladies, Doris and Evelyn, who carry on as though they're alone. Of course, Mark, having no clue about what his aunt is doing in Manistique, is pretty funny, as he juggles dealing with all these people and their expectations. Bear Foot has some interesting scenes as well *grin*

I really appreciated the italics to help indicate when the characters were reading the book.

There are so many weird issues combined with the immature writing, that it makes me nuts. I mean, why would being involved with Bulcher have caused that death? Lord knows, Emily whines on about this so much, why didn't Cuesta slip a few of Emily's reasons for this in? What's with Emily's insta-jealousy and both her and Mark's assumption that going to dinner with Laura was a date? Then there's Emily's overly fierce reaction to Mark being concerned about her.

At any rate, the use of third person global subjective point-of-view means that we have a ringside seat to this comedic romance.

As for the ending. I suspect Cuesta wants to create a series, 'cause there really wasn't one. I guess the issue was that "Trespassers Will Be Violated"!

The Story
It's supposed to be a romantic weekend, just the two of them. And there's so much to look forward to when Emily starts her residency at the prestigious Lincoln Presbyterian in Chicago, not least is being able to cut some ties. It's just her and the open road ahead...until, bam!

With no room at the inn, Emily turns to the only other option, the Manistique Victorian B&B and its reluctant manager, Mark. A man flustered by the revelations zipping his way and too confused to stop what's heading for him.

The Characters
Mark, a personal financial planner, has a deep fear of bridges, who lives in Chicago. His mother, Margaret, had been a psychiatrist; his father had been a doctor as well. His aunt Vivian Peregrine, a Chippewa who ended up being adopted, but Margaret considered her, her sister, was a humanitarian aid doctor in worn-torn countries. Bear Foot Hemenway had been Vivian's handyman for some time.

Dr Emily Davis has a couple more years in her residency as a DO, osteopathic medicine. Kyle is the brother who died, and her parents have retreated from life. Her father had been a structural engineer and bridge inspector. Lynnie is her favorite aunt. Lauren, a third-year resident at a nearby hospital, is her about-to-be-former roommate.

Dr John Bulcher, an attending and teaching pediatric surgeon and Emily's mentor, is married to Lisa. They have two sons, Joey and Cory. Dr Greg Olsen is an unconfident resident.

Manistique, Michigan, is...
...where Vivian's house is located. Ron is a real estate agent; his cousin, Mikey, is a bartender. Barbara is a real stickler about the rules for renting cars. Her cousin, Maryilou, manages the Cozy Inn with Big Joe's next door. C. Bryst and Marv are state troopers. There's another Officer Bryst, a brother, who works with Manistique Public Safety. Diner 37 has great pie, but do not eat the fish. Ace's does a tasty pizza. Cal installs windows and is turkey hunting. Dr Jim "Jimbo" Currant works at the local hospital. Mike is the coroner. Conrad is the young idiot who got hurt. Arnold runs the other gas station.

George is retired and escaping from his wife, Trudy, and the tour bus where Trina is the tour director. He's quite familiar with Fawlty Towers too. Laura is his niece in Chicago. Peter Hinton with his dream goal and the overly sexy Yvonne who turn out to be more guests. Then there's Ellen Terrence who's caught between a rock and a hard place, lol, and saddled with a lighthouse to boot.

Harold and Gail give Emily a lift.

Petoskey, Michigan, is...
...where Frank Walters, Vivian's attorney, has his office. The Tell-Tale is a bar in the Gaslight District.

Laura is Mark's girlfriend who laid down the ultimatum; Shane is her ten-year-old son. Brad and Steve are friends of Mark's, and Annie is Brad's sister whom he adores. Woodland Hills Funeral Home will handle Aunt Vivian's burial. Mrs Schubert had been Emily's very strict second-grade teacher. Nicholas is the boy who was lost. Dr Kevin Sykes got too caught up in partying in Africa; his sister Cynthia wrote his story. Ted "Buff" had been Emily's boyfriend in med school. Lora had been a serious girlfriend for Mark in college, then Lorelei, then Nora, then...

Bosnia, 1992, is...
...where Vivian had been stationed. Marie had been Vivian's contact at the MSF office in Belgium. Ratko is her driver in Sarajevo. Rijad is another local. Vivian worked with Dr Divjak. Claude and Eva are journalists. Phil. Sonja is a nine-year-old orphan while Emela is two.

A UP-er (Yoouper), is someone who lives in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan.

The Cover and Title
I do love the cover. The simple background of Indian Lake where the horizon meets the sky with those gorgeous blues and the shadows in a much darker blue of two people standing at the railings looking over that peaceful view. The title is in the upper third in red while the author's name uses the color of the sky and is set at the bottom in the shadows. You can almost see "A NOVEL" in the lake.

The title is both reality and metaphysical, for Mark is Stuck in Manistique, for good or ill.

Stuck in Manistique is simply a delightful book chock filled with humorous events and characters around every corner. I found the book to be very funny within the pages, comical at times and serious at others. Silly lies, misinterpretations, cloudy intentions abound. I actually loved the book!

Stuck in Manistique by Dennis Cuesta was a charming story with great characters. Mark just inherited the estate of his Aunt Vivian, who he has not been close too in a long time, though he had fond memories. He has no idea what she has been up to and finds out she ran a B&B. His plans was to close things out and head home. But when the doorbell rings, things change.

Emily is traveling when she is in an accident and finds herself at Mark’s B&B. Before Mark’s knows it, he has people coming and going and finds himself playing host. From here we get an entertaining story that had me engaged and made it hard to put the book down. I truly enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more from this author.

Happy reading!

This novel was delightful! I loved the characters and the way the scenes unfolded when they came together. The story takes place in the town of Manistique, Michigan near the lakes. This is where Mark visits to settle his aunt’s estate. Mark soon discovers that his aunt was running a bed and breakfast from her large home. Soon the door of the bed and breakfast will open to different people who end up stuck in Manistique and part of the story. Various characters make an appearance at the bed and breakfast. It seems that everyone is getting stuck in Manistique and there is never a dull moment. There is a sense of seriousness to the events that occur to bring the characters together. But along the way, the pages are full of humor and wonderful interactions.

Enjoyed this book . The characters were well developed and the story had a few twists and turns that I did not expect. I liked the way Mark was not afraid to show his imperfections and called someone to drive him across the bridge. Emily was a headstrong individual that wasn't afraid to do anything and wasn't afraid of much. Both Emily and Mark had some issues to work through and it sounds like Manistique was the place to do it. Great book to share iwith your friends!

Fate has a way of bringing people together.
This book by Dennis Cuesta was a treat to read with its loveable characters and quick moving storyline. The story starts off by introducing Mark who is on his way to settle his late aunt’s estate. He has no clue that he is walking into a bed and breakfast business. As he is touring the house, his first guest arrives.
Emily is a doctor on her way to start a new residency as a doctor. She runs into a deer, or as Emily says, the deer ran into her, which causes her to be stuck in Manistique until her car is fixed.
The story continues with more unexpected guests and some town folk blended into the story of Mark and Emily. This story is witty and heartwarming all at the same time. The ending was something I didn’t expect, but that’s all I’m going to say! For a first novel, Dennis Cuesta struck gold. I loved his style of writing and can’t wait to see what his next book is.

Trespassers Will Be Violated! This is a quirky comedy of errors with a bit of mystery and recent history thrown in. Solid effort, and a very pleasant and quick read. New to me author, but one I plan to watch for in the future.

Stuck in Manistique by Dennis Cuesta was a different book for me to read. I had the feeling that the book was going to be more drama/romantic that comedy driven situational humor. I think this book might be a good play or another type of visual art, but for me I found the book did not work. I was underwhelmed by the characters and how they interacted. I did not find how Mark handled the Bed and Breakfast as realistic and wanted to shake him for his half truths and partial truths.

I did like the setting and the various opportunities for the character to rewrite their lives. I like how the house was almost a character in itself. I like the whole paddle boat scene. To me,. Stuck in Manistique by Dennis Cuesta was okay. I am sure that people who enjoy comedy might find this more humorous than I.

This a novel about friendship between the sexes. It is about sharing issues and caring about one another. An interesting read

Thank you to Celestial Eyes Press for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.

I loved humor in a book. I think, when it’s done well, it really can make the book enjoyable. This book nailed it. While serious at times, there was a lot of humor and light-heartedness scattered throughout. I liked the coincidences scattered throughout. I thought it didn’t seem awkward or forced.

The writing made this book easy to read. I could’ve stayed in this town with these characters for much longer than the book was. I liked the uniqueness of the characters. They were all quirky and fun to read about.

If you’re looking for something fun to read, I highly recommend this.

A new author with a new approach.
A simple book that brings two characters in an unusual meeting that changes their lives.
4 stars

Stuck in Manistique is such an original story. We follow Mark, who is the sole beneficiary of his aunt’s estate in Manistique, a place he’s never heard of before. He never realized his aunt ran a bed and breakfast, and despite his best efforts, guests continue to arrive and stay. This is such a character drive novel, which makes it one of my favorites. I really enjoyed Mark and Emily as main characters, and found the side characters also the be well developed and unique. I really enjoyed this book, centered around family and fate, and will definitely recommend it!

An Unexpected Inheritance

Mark was close to his Aunt Vivian as a child, but he hadn’t heard from her in years when he finds he’s the sole beneficiary of her estate which includes a house in Manistique, Michigan. Manistique is near the midpoint of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and quite a trek for Mark. It’s remote and when he arrives his first thought is to figure out how to get rid of the house.

He’s looking through the house when he’s surprised by a knock at the door. Dr. Emily Davis, a recent medical school graduate, on her way to Mackinack Island, hit a deer near Manistique and shattered the windshield. She needs a place to stay and was told that Mark’s house is a bed and breakfast. This is news to Mark, but she’s in trouble, so he agrees to let her stay for at least a day.

Mark’s surprises are far from over when more guests arrive, and he finds that he is actually operating a bed and breakfast. One day leads to the next, and Mark and Emily find themselves enjoying each other’s company, but there are more surprises in store.

This is a fun read. Mark is the clueless innkeeper to whom things keep happening. It’s hilarious to see him deal with his new role. Emily is a likable character and makes a sensible foil for Mark. The character development in this story is thin, but the action is fun and fast.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Reflecting on this, the word that keeps coming to mind is 'warm'. There is simply a warmth to it that keeps it moving along; the characters, the town, the underlying plot. It's not all warm fuzzies, however, as it starts off pretty slowly. It did take a little while for me to reach that comfort where I wanted to curl up it and forge on. Here's the first note I took a few chapters in:

Mark is...a fairly clueless, but altogether pretty normal guy kind of stumbling through life. Emily is...a fairly clueless, but altogether pretty normal girl just kind of stumbling through life. Their paths converge shortly after Emily becomes the victim of a "deer-car". (It hit her, she is fiercely adamant of this). A week shy of her 25th, or, one week short of rental car eligibility, she wanders to the nearest bastion of hospitality. That just happens to be Mark's Aunt's bed and breakfast, bequeathed to him that very same day after her recent passing.

It goes on like that. I wasn't convinced. Thankfully, there aren't any fatal flaws or nagging habits that sink the entire affair. Easily my biggest critique is Cuesta's lack of physical description. Some notes I took to illustrate:

- 25% in and I have no idea what either of our protagonists look like. Mark is "not unattractive". Emily is "thin" with "brown hair". Knausgard, this is not...

- 34%, Mark is "6 feet tall"!

- 41%, "Emily had legs...her hand was warm, smooth. She was light." Good grief.

- 55% "The sky was a deep purple with pink highlights." Most descriptive passage yet...

There are more, but I think that gets the point across.

Cuesta does slowly win you over with some quirky character names like Bear Foot Hemenway (I know...) and equally quirky character traits; Mark is deathly afraid of bridges. He also works in an early shout out to Yossarian, and a lecture regarding Nabokov's credentials as a Russian novelist. As the book continued to sort of float on, I found it hard not to begin rooting for Mark and Emily and the goofy supporting cast. I kept finding myself jotting down stuff like:

- Despite its simplicity and straightforwardness, this is a pretty cute story and it reads like a breeze. I smiled more than I'd probably care to admit.

- Whimsical, I daresay.

- The end really got me, somehow it managed to sneak up on me and pack a nice emotional punch.

All things considered, I feel comfortable handing Stuck in Manistique three solid stars. I smiled, I rolled my eyes, I might have even laughed and, most importantly, I never lost interest. I would comfortably recommend this to most readers' list of easy summer reads, beach books, easy-breezy light-lit etc.. One last note:

- This is simply an easy book to like. It's far from perfect, but it's just so darn likable. Maybe it's a touch contrived, corny, forced...But very easy to root for despite those perceived flaws.

Stuck in Manistique by Dennis Cuesta is a magical story about a man named Mark whose estranged Aunt Vivian has passed away and left her estate to him. This includes a Bed and Breakfast in Manistique, which is in the Upper Peninsula on Lake Michigan.

Mark, who lives in Chicago, decides not to open the Bed and Breakfast but rather sell it. But people begin knocking on the B&B's door and Mark cannot turn them away. It does seem though once you check in, you don't want to check out, or can't check or some never check out...

Emily, who is a doctor is his first guest. After hitting a deer on the highway she must wait for her car to be repaired, She shows up looking for a room for one night. Thus begins Mark's adventure with some pretty eccentric guests. While learning to manage a Bed and Breakfast he tries to learn about his aunt as his last correspondence with her was when he was a teenager. Emily soon begins to realizes she too has a connection to Vivian,

All strangers when they meet, the guest's lives intertwine under the backdrop of a small cozy town where everybody knows everybody and the pie at Diner 37 is exceptional.

I had the feeling I was not reading a book, but watching episodes of a soap opera sitcom with the fast paced dialogue. It was an enjoyable read.

Stuck on Manlstique is an interesting read from the first chapter had my attention and kept me curious and I enjoyed reading this story. The characters are interesting and loveable . It had a nice twists and funny moments.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily leave a review. Thank you NetGalley and Celestial Eyes Press and Dennis Cuesta for letting me read this story.

This was a very entertaining read. Lots of quirky characters, lots of strange situations and lots of interesting coincidences. Is it Fate? Whatever it is, it's funny!! Great way to spend the day!
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for my review. Mark is in Manistique to close up his deceased Aunt Vivian's bed and breakfast that he has just inherited. While he is sorting through boxes, Dr. Emily Davis shows up hoping that she can rent a room as the local hotel is full and she had just hit a deer and her car is in need of repair. Mark decides to be a good guy and let her rent the room for the night. But as the story continues, more and more guests show up at the door and in a bit of a comedy of errors, Mark ends up hosting them all. Beneath the kind of crazy B&B drama, is the drama of what really happened to his aunt. At one time they were very close, and then she just disappeared. Also what is the connection of his aunt to Dr. Davis?

This was kind of a mixed bag of genres, part mystery, part quirky story, but I liked it. It is put downable, but you will want to pick it up and finish. I'm glad I did.

Title: Stuck in Manistique
Author: Dennis Cuesta
Publisher: Celestial Eyes Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Stuck in Manistique" by Dennis Cuesta

My Thoughts.....

"Stuck in Manistique" was really a good entertaining read. I found both of the main characters [Mark and Emily] who were strangers that were 'brought together due to some unlikely circumstances' with some amusing as well as endearing moments. What will happen when all of these guest show up at this Bed and Breakfast that Mark had inherited from his estranged aunt that will only to 'add a houseful of oddly eccentric characters?' These characters will take the reader on quite a wide ride as each one having their own story with all of the things that were happening in their lives. Who was this aunt who was a international aid doctor who had ran a bed and breakfast in her retirement and had left this place to Mark? And the mystery continues about this situation is that Mark knows very little about this aunt other than knowing 'she traveled the worked as a humanitarian doctor in war town countries' but the jest to it all he had never met her. Now, to get the rest of this good story you will just have to pick up "Stuck in Manistique" to see how well this author brings it all out to the reader.

Be ready for twist, turns and humours moments that will definitely keep the reader entertained especially about this area in Michigan. I enjoyed how this author was able to give the readers of just how 'one event can bring so many others things to light.' I loved the connection that Mark had with each one of the guest and that twist at the end was quite a good one.

I requested and received a free eBook copy from Celestial Eyes Press courtesy of NetGalley.