The Sisters Hemingway

Noblin's fourth novel, second in the "Cold River" series (after Just Fine with Caroline), set in Cold River, MO, carries over some of the characters from the first book and adds a new family. Three sisters--Hadley, Pfeiffer, and Martha Hemingway--return to Cold River when the great-aunt who raised them has died. Hadley is a senator's wife, Pfeiffer a New York-based book editor, and Martha a Nashville star, but they're all keeping secrets that are slowly revealed. This forced reunion in their old home, and the discovery of some family skeletons, causes them to reconnect and find the truth of their past, including what really happened to their mother and younger sister years before. When Pfeiffer discovers their great-aunt's journal, they begin to put all the pieces together. VERDICT Combining sibling rivalry, romantic story lines for each sister, a strong cast of supporting characters, and a realistic, colorful Ozarks setting, this well-paced story will appeal to those who enjoy family dramas. Its warm, engaging tone and happy ending for all will appeal to readers of Susan Wiggs or Mary Alice Monroe.--Melanie Kindrachuk, Stratford P.L., Ont.

November 1, 2018
Sisters Hadley, Pfeiffer, and Martha have each gone separate ways since the deaths of their mother and young sister Mary 20 years ago. They are brought back to the family home in the Missouri Ozarks by the death of their Aunt Bea, who had been the one to care for them after the tragic tornado that long-ago day. Each sister is holding on to her own secrets and pain: Pfeiffer has been fired from her job in publishing and is down to her last dime, Hadley is ready to end things with her congressman husband, and Martha is just this side of rehab and a fall from the grace of country-music stardom. As they decide what to do with the old family farm, more secrets are literally unburied and lead the sisters to discover the truth of their own family history. This is a fun, quick read for anyone who loves a family drama, with wit and heart to go around. Recommended for fans of Susan Mallery.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)