The Goodbye Cafe by Mariah Stewart- 5 Hearts

This is the third book in a series about three sisters forced to relocate to a small Pennsylvania town to fulfill a stipulation in their fathers will. This book focuses on Allie whose life in LA has fallen apart. Divorced and unemployed, Allie is the prickliest of the sisters. She was very resentful at being coerced into coming and having to work on a dilapidated old theater in order to receive her inheritance. As time has passed, she has found peace with her situation and her new found family. The arrival of her daughter has made a big difference. The one major annoyance in her life has been local lawman Ben, who ticketed her the day she drove into town and the relationship has been downhill ever since.

Ally has been working on the restoration of the Sugarhill theater and re-discovering her love of art. When her eccentric aunt Barney buys the local café Ali finds her self working there as well. Given Allie’s cantankerous nature it’s a little rocky in the beginning especially as Ben is a regular customer. However, her time with her family has allowed Allie to discover some truths about herself and to see the positives she has in her life. Her contact with Ben gives her the opportunity to clear up misconceptions on both sides and develop a friendship . Friendship turns into something more as they both get to know each other. 

I enjoyed watching Ally grow and become less dependent on drinking and her anger. As she becomes closer to her sisters and her daughter she is able to find space for love in her life. She becomes stronger in her dealings with her ex-husband and is able to stand up and protect her daughter when his new relationship causes friction. Working at the café gives her a different perspective on her life and the opportunities and losses she has had.

There is an interesting twist in this story that leads into what I would presume is the next book in the series. As I have enjoyed all of the books in this storyline I’m glad to see that it might continue. Mrs. Stewart always does a great job creating a fictional town that has a multitude of interesting residents, storylines, and of course a happy ever after ending.

California Girls by Susan Mallery-5 Hearts

California Girls is the story of three sisters who experience major upheavals in their lives and how they handle their new normal.
 Finola is a TV host whose husband tells her that he is leaving her for another woman just as she is going on air to interview a young pop princess. Adding to the agony, said singer lets Finola know that she is the one that Finola’s husband is cheating with and makes snide remarks throughout the interview.

Ali works in a garage and is preparing for her wedding when her future brother-in-law, Daniel, comes to tell her that her fiancée Glen doesn’t want to marry her and is calling off the wedding. Daniel becomes Ali‘s support as she slogs through the process of calling off the arrangements and moving on.

 Zennie is content with her life as a surgical nurse and a single woman. She breaks up with Clark, a man she has been casually dating because there isn’t any spark. When her best friend asks her to be a surrogate for she and her husband, Zennie makes a life altering decision.

In most stories the three sisters would bond together and emerge with a sparkling new future. That is not how this story goes. Finola is too wrapped up in her own mess to offer support to her sisters. Ali makes choices that her sisters and mother have problems accepting and Zennie’s pregnancy really throws a curve into the family dynamics. Topping the dysfunctional pyramid is the sisters mother, Mary Jo, who never seems able to be understanding or empathic but who also surprises us every now and then.

To me, this book tells the story of how the people we love and the life we live is not guaranteed. Relationships are work and you can’t take love for granted. Each of the sisters learns things about themselves that they don’t like acknowledging but also find out what their strengths are and how they can move on either alone or with someone. This was an enjoyable and thoughtful read.