Category Archives: Cold River Series

Review: The Sisters Hemingway by Annie England Noblin

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.

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Filed under Annie England Noblin, Cold River Series, Contemporary, Rated B, Review, The Sisters Hemingway, William Morrow Paperbacks, Women's Fiction

Review: Just Fine with Caroline by Annie England Noblin

Title: Just Fine with Caroline by Annie England Noblin
Cold River Series Book One
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

From the author of Sit! Stay! Speak! comes a tender, terrific novel complete with long-buried secrets, a three-legged pot belly pig, and an irresistible dog—an unforgettable story about love, friendship, and community. Perfect for fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Mary Alice Monroe.

Caroline O’Connor never dreamed she’d be back home in Cold River, Missouri, the Ozark Mountain town where everyone is ‘up your business.’…they mean well as they drive you crazy. She thought she’d left town for good, but now she’s back, helping to care for her New York born mother—struck with Alzheimer’s, and prone to saying and doing anything—and her father, the beloved local doctor frustrated he can’t cure his own wife.

As for Caroline, she’s doing ‘just fine’ coping with her parents, her brazen cousin Ava Dawn’s marital disasters, her mostly-deaf dog…and with Noah Cranwell, far-flung relative of a local family mostly infamous for running moonshine, an ex-veteran who’s come to Cold River with troubles of his own.

Caroline believes she knows everything about Cold River and the people who live in its hills and hollers … but sometimes life’s greatest surprises happen closest to home

Review:

Annie England Noblin’s delightful Cold River series is off to wonderful beginning with the first installment, Just Fine with Caroline.  This absolutely marvelous novel is a poignant but uplifting story that I highly recommend to readers of contemporary women’s fiction.

Caroline O’Connor left college before obtaining her degree to move back to her small hometown nestled in the Missouri Ozarks to help care for her mother after she is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  During the summer months, she runs her mom’s bait shop in addition to caring for her mom.  This summer is a little livelier than usual due to the unexpected arrival of Noah Cranwell, who plans to reopen his family’s store, the return of Caroline’s ex-boyfriend, Reese Graham and her cousin Ava Dawn’s impending divorce.  Despite living in a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business, the Cranwell family remains a bit of a mystery and Caroline is stunned to discover her family is harboring a shocking secret as well.

Caroline is struggling with the reality of her mom’s worsening condition while feeling like her life is in limbo.  While she does not begrudge assisting her parents’ through this difficult time, she cannot help but feel like she is waiting for her own life to begin.  At the same time, Caroline is a little frustrated with her emotionally distant father who is not handling his wife’s diagnosis very well.  Not exactly content with the status quo, Caroline just  sort of drifts through her days until she meets Noah.  She  is quite drawn to him but will their burgeoning relationship survive once Caroline learns the truth about a long held family secret?

After several years in the military, Noah is finally ready to put down roots. He is soon caught up in renovating his family’s long closed business while at the same time reconnecting with his grandfather.  He is just as surprised as Caroline by their mutual attraction and although there is tension between their families, they enjoy getting to know one another.  However, secrets do not always remain hidden and Caroline feels betrayed by him once her family’s secret is revealed.  Is their fragile relationship strong enough to withstand this stunning setback?

A secondary story arc featuring Ava Dawn’s decision to leave her abusive husband, Roy, provides added depth to the main storyline.  Her troubled marriage has to be the worst kept secret in town and although she has left Roy numerous times in the past, this time Ava Dawn is serious about divorcing him.  Further complicating the situation is her involvement with a popular church and its minister, Brother Haiden Crow.  Unlike Caroline who does not trust Brother Crow, Ava Dawn hangs on his word  but does her involvement with him go beyond spiritual guidance?

Just Fine with Caroline is an incredibly moving novel that delves into the complicated dynamics of family relationships. Caroline’s heartbreak over losing her mother to the vagaries of Alzheimer’s Disease is realistically portrayed and will definitely resonate with readers whose lives have been affected by the ravages of the disease.  The romance between Caroline and Noah is sweet yet steamy but misunderstandings and lack of communication threaten to derail their relationship at the first hint of trouble.  he Missouri Ozarks serve as the perfect backdrop for this marvelous story and Annie England Noblin brings the town of Cold River and its inhabitants vividly to life. An absolutely charming first installment in a promising new series that I absolutely loved and highly recommend.

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Filed under Annie England Noblin, Cold River Series, Contemporary, Just Fine with Caroline, Rated B+, Review, William Morrow Paperbacks, Women's Fiction