Anna is a documentary filmmaker obsessed with finding and telling the truth. She wants to complete one last important project before shutting down her production company and finds the subject she's looking for when the band Five Star hires her to film their comeback. Years ago, when the band was at the height of its fame, Anna's best friend Terri died in an accident on their tour bus. Anna was never satisfied with the explanation for the accident and hopes to use the current project to get answers to her lingering questions.
Mason Star is Five Star's former lead singer. His alcohol and drug use resulted in him being fired from the band after the bus accident. After getting sober he started a cohousing community called Mulligans to provide a supportive environment for other recovering addicts. All his energies go to running the community and being a single father to his 17 year old son Christian. All Mason wants is to have a nice, normal suburban life. Unfortunately some of the community's neighbors have decided that they don't want "undesirables" in their town and are trying to force Mulligans to close. At the same time he's dealing with serious problems at home. Christian is in a band and wants to drop out of high school to go on tour. Mason is terrified that Christian will go down the same road he took and absolutely forbids it, which creates painful conflict between them.
When Anna first approaches Mason for her project he refuses to talk to her but she makes him an offer he can't refuse. If he answers her questions about the accident Anna will make a promotional film that will help him change the neighbor's minds and save Mulligans. Mason fears what dredging up the past will cost him but his sense of responsibility for Mulligans and its residents leads him to agree.
This story had a lot going on, especially for a category. I was worried that some of the story's threads would be short-changed by the limited length. I was also concerned that I wouldn't be able to like Anna. Because she sees herself as seeking the truth she feels entitled to whatever information she wants and doesn't always consider the potential consequences. Personal space and privacy are important to me, so it's hard for me to warm up to a person who describes herself as an “unrepentant snooper”. I really liked Mason, but I knew that if I couldn't develop some sympathy for Anna it would be hard for me to invest in their relationship.
Fortunately Ellen Hartman is a skilled enough writer that I needn't have worried. She does a good job showing the motives of the key characters and allowing them to grow in believable ways. I also appreciated the insight she provided into cohousing, which is a form of community that I think is unfamiliar to most people. I'll definitely be seeking out more of her books.
Grade: A-
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