Deacon Thorpe propelled himself from an impoverished childhood to a life of fame and wealth as a celebrity chef, but it was never enough. He left a wreckage of wives and kids behind when he unexpectedly died at his favorite place, a rundown Nantucket summer cottage. Deacon's third wife, Scarlett, a beautiful Southern belle and his former nanny, couldn't be more different from his first wife and high school sweetheart, social worker Laurel, or his second wife, Hollywood actress Belinda. The only things these ladies have in common are their love for Deacon and their jealousy of one another. So bringing them and their offspring together in a small cottage to say farewell to Deacon is a recipe for disaster. All the old secrets and resentments quickly come to the surface as the assembled mourners try to cope with this loss. Still, just maybe the sun, surf, and memories will help them find a way to forgiveness and new beginnings. Verdict The best-selling Hilderbrand (The Rumor) writes another juicy, beachy family drama set against the beautiful backdrop of Nantucket. Her stories are as alluring as the island itself and as delicious as the included recipes such as champagne cake. [See Prepub Alert, 1/4/16.]-Melissa DeWild, BookOps, NYPL © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In Hilderbrand's latest outing, three wives (two former, one current) and their children gather to mourn and celebrate the life of the man they all loved at the island home they shared with him. Celebrity chef Deacon Thorpe lived passionately, on a quest to re-create the feeling of a single perfect day spent with his father when he was 13 years old. That memory centered on Nantucket, where he celebrated his earliest success by buying a cottage and building years of memories with his family. Nearly 30 years later, each of them changed by their relationship with him, his wives (high-school sweetheart, award-winning actress, former nanny) address their rivalries while their children (travel writer and heroin addict, brilliant young chef, nine-year-old princess) grieve. Deacon's best friend, manager, and executor has learned that the money is gone and the house is in arrears. No one wants to lose it, and only one of them has the resources to save it. Ideal for new and old fans, those who enjoy tales of rarefied angst, and beachgoers.--Moroni, Alene Copyright 2016 Booklist

A celebrity chef's sudden death leaves his widow, exes, children, and best friend in a quandary. And since this is a Hilderbrand novel, is there any doubt that the dilemma involves Nantucket real estate? A somewhat dilapidated (or at least, dated) and decidedly downscale beachfront cottage known as American Paradise serves as plot driver and central symbol. As his success grew, Chef Deacon Thorpe bought the house with his first wife, Laurel, as a repository of happy memories for his son, Hayesthe kind that Deacon himself had been denied. (He had one idyllic day on Nantucket with his own father, who then mysteriously and permanently disappeared.) Deacon and Laurel never wanted to upgrade the house, and there are still reminders of earlier inhabitants, including a ghost supposedly occupying the smallest attic room. Now, Deacon has died (on the cottage's back deck, of a coronary), leaving nothing but debt. American Paradise is facing foreclosure due to the three mortgages Deacon took out, unbeknownst to his family. Surprisingly, or perhaps not given Deacon's (and Hilderbrand's) sense of humor, he has left the place to his three spouses, current and formerLaurel, Belinda, the movie star he left her for, and official widow Scarlett, the Southern belle who was the nanny for his and Belinda's adopted daughter, Angie. Best friend Buck, Deacon's long-suffering fiduciary, has called the wives and children to American Paradise to scatter Deacon's ashes anda duty Buck has been dreadingread the will. Each member of this unique blended family has a say, as they squabble over turf and mull over their past and ongoing missteps, loves, and addictions. Angie, a talented chef in her own right, prepares lavish meals (rendered in mouthwatering detail, including recipes). The question loomsif Deacon's Nantucket legacy can't be shared, can it be saved? No one captures the flavor and experience of a summer placethe outdoor showers, the seafood, the sand in the floorboardslike Hilderbrand. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.