Title: The Sisters Hemingway by Annie England Noblin
Cold River Series Book Two
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
The Sisters Hemingway: they couldn’t be more different…or more alike.
The Hemingway Sisters of Cold River, Missouri are local legends. Raised by a mother obsessed with Ernest Hemingway, they were named after the author’s four wives—Hadley, Pfeiffer, Martha, and Mary. The sisters couldn’t be more different—or more alike. Now they’re back in town, reunited to repair their fractured relationships.
Hadley is the poised, polished wife of a senator.
Pfeiffer is a successful New York book editor.
Martha has skyrocketed to Nashville stardom.
They each have a secret—a marriage on the rocks, a job lost, a stint in rehab…and they haven’t been together in years.
Together, they must stay in their childhood home, faced with a puzzle that may affect all their futures. As they learn the truth of what happened to their mother—and their youngest sister, Mary—they rekindle the bonds they had as children, bonds that have long seemed broken. With the help of neighbors, friends, love interests old and new—and one endearing and determined Basset Hound—the Sisters Hemingway learn that he happiness that has appeared so elusive may be right here at home, waiting to be claimed.
Review:
The Sisters Hemingway by Annie England Noblin is a heartwarming novel of healing.
Following the death of their Great Aunt Beatrice, sisters Hadley Lawrence, Pfeiffer Hemmingway and Martha Hemingway return to their Cold River, MO for her funeral. Aunt Bea raised the girls following the tragic death of their mother and youngest sister. Each of the sisters moved away as soon as they could and at Aunt Bea’s insistence, none of them returned to visit. The Hemingway sisters have drifted apart over the years but will their unexpected reunion prove to be a turning point in their strained relationships?
Everyone in Cold River was surprised when Hadley broke up with her high school sweetheart Brody Nichols and then left town. She quickly met and married law school graduate Mark Lawrence who then went into politics. Now the consummate politician’s wife, Hadley is keeping a fairly large secret from her sisters.
Pfieffer left Cold River for college and after graduation, she moved to New York City. A fortuitous encounter with a publishing executive led to a lucrative career as an editor. Pfieffer is also holding back information from her siblings, but Hadley has her suspicions about what is going on in her sister’s life.
Martha ran away from Cold River to pursue a career in country music. She rose to stardom then married fellow musician and songwriter Travis Tucker. Now divorced and recently sober, Martha is hoping to revive her career.
The sisters are a little on edge around each other as they say their final goodbyes to Aunt Bea. All of them harbor regrets about some of their decisions and as they spend time together, they gradually let go of some resentment toward one another. They pull together to attempt to put their family home to rights and with help from family friend Rufus Crowley and Brody, they are making headway when the men make a shocking discovery. The truth about this inexplicable finding lies deep in their family’s past but will they uncover the truth about what happened? And how will the stunning revelation affect the women’s plans for the future?
The Sisters Hemingway is an engaging novel with an interesting storyline and a charming cast of characters. Hadley, Pfeiffer and Martha remain deeply affected by the events of their tragic childhood. However, as they spend at the family farm, they finally begin to heal from the wounds of their past. Annie England Noblin brings this touching novel to an uplifting conclusion that is quite satisfying. Although characters from the first installment in the Cold River series make a few guest appearances, this newest release can easily be read as a standalone.
