Winter storms A novel

Margaret Quinn is finally marrying the charming Dr. Drake Carroll, and all three of her children will reconvene on Nantucket for the event. Her oldest, Kevin, is struggling for his place in the world, especially now that he and his girlfriend have a baby girl. His sister, Ava, is badly managing two boyfriends and swears off men until Christmas, only to meet a handsome stranger while on vacation in Anguila. Patrick is finally out of prison, having served his sentence for insider trading, but the shine on his charmed life is dulled by his wife's addiction to pain pills and the fact that her dealer is Kevin's toxic ex-wife. Meanwhile, the Quinn patriarch, Kelley, has defeated prostate cancer with his formerly estranged second wife, Mitzi, by his side, though a celebration just doesn't feel right without their son, Bart, still MIA in Afghanistan. There's a lot going on in this dishy and readable conclusion to the Winter Street trilogy, with some luxurious details adding a touch of glamour to the drama. Best enjoyed as part of the trilogy.--Maguire, Susan Copyright 2016 Booklist

The complicated web of familial turmoil created by Hilderbrand in this concluding chapter of her Winter Street trilogy is almost too much to bear as the Quinn family prepares for one last holiday season on Nantucket Island. This fictional depiction of a family working through the tragedies of loss, love, divorce, and addiction brings to the forefront the issues of living in a dysfunctional family and surviving the repercussions of each other's decisions. As readers follow career-driven Margaret, romantically confused Ava, Jennifer, the interior designer addicted to pharmaceuticals, and Margaret's ex-husband, Kelley, now undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, they become exhaustively entangled in the events that unfold. Unfortunately, Hilderbrand's writing does not construct a thrilling plot line. By developing all of her characters at once, leaping from one character's perspective to another, she leaves the story without a solid, defining climax. By the time the reader becomes invested in Jennifer's battle against addiction, Ava takes over the story as she, once again, tries to sort out her tangled love life. Those already familiar with the series will find solace in learning the fate of the main characters, but readers looking for a light read will be disappointed by this emotionally-wrought, scattered conclusion to the trilogy. Agent: David Forrer and Michael Carlisle, InkWell Management. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

The conclusion to acclaimed Hilderbrand's "Winter Street" trilogy (Winter Street; Winter Stroll) has the Quinn family trying to gather on Nantucket Island for the holidays in the midst of a snowstorm. Kelley and Mitzi are back together, running the Winter Street Inn despite Kelley's battle with cancer and their anguish over their missing son, Bart. Margaret and Drake get married while Kevin and Isabelle plan a Christmas wedding. Ava, however, still struggles to pick the right guy. At least Patrick is finally released from prison but Jennifer is still dealing with her pill addiction. After this harrowing yet hopeful year, the Quinn family reunion is bound to make for an unforgettable Christmas. VERDICT Hilderbrand satisfyingly wraps up this holiday trilogy with ample doses of joy that are bound to please her many fans. [See Prepub Alert, 4/18/16.] © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.