Review: Market Street by Anita Hughes

Title: Market Street by Anita Hughes
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin/Macmillan
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 302 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Cassie Blake seems to lead a charmed life as the heiress to Fenton’s, San Francisco’s most exclusive department store. But when she discovers her husband, Aidan, a handsome UC Berkeley professor, has had an affair with a student, she flees to the comfort of her best friend Alexis’s Presidio Heights mansion, where she wonders if she should give their marriage one more chance.

Whether or not she can forgive Aidan is not the only choice Cassie has to make. Cassie’s mother is eager to have her oversee the opening of Fenton’s new Food Emporium, which Fenton’s hopes will become San Francisco’s hottest gourmet shopping destination. Cassie’s true passion has always been food, not fashion, and Cassie suspects her mother might be trying to lure her into the Fenton’s fold by entrusting her with such an exciting opportunity. And then there is James, the architect designing the Emporium, who is quietly falling in love with her…

The Review:

If you are looking for an easy to read story that is the perfect escape from ordinary, everyday life, then you are going to love Anita Hughes’ newest release. Market Street is a light read about finding oneself in the midst of betrayal.

After college, heiress Cassie Fenton chose marriage to ethics professor Aidan Blake over working in her mother’s upscale department store, Fenton’s. Ten years later, Cassie is a stay at home wife and stepmom whose love of gardening is put to good use as a volunteer teaching school children to grow vegetable. Just as her mother approaches her to open a new venture at Fenton’s, Cassie learns of Aidan’s infidelity with one of his students. Moving in temporarily with her best gal pal, Alexis, Cassie contemplates the future of her marriage while fighting her growing attraction to James Parrish, the architect she is working with at Fenton’s.

Cassie is overshadowed by both Aidan and her mother, Diana. Aidan and Diana have domineering, forceful personalities and Cassie has a difficult time standing up to either of them. Aidan is manipulative and controlling and he is incredibly self-centered. Cassie has a tendency to avoid conflict instead of confronting her problems head on until she discovers irrefutable evidence of Aidan’s infidelity. Once she moves in with Alexis, she finally finds her backbone and takes control of her future.

Market Street is an entertaining read that is refreshingly angst-free. Anita Hughes has an engaging writing style that draws the reader into the story. Her descriptive prose brings the setting vibrantly to life and makes it easy to visualize the imaginary Fenton’s and its stylish clientele. The characters are down to earth, likable and easy to relate to. The storyline is compelling and entertaining and I really enjoyed the glimpse into the lifestyles of the rich, famous and fashionable.

Another fabulous book by a very gifted storyteller that fans of contemporary women’s fiction are sure to love.