Matinees with Miriam by Vicki Essex
Released: November 1, 2016
Contemporary Romance
Harlequin
Reviewed by Mandi
Four years ago, Miriam lost her grandfather and her world turned upside down. Growing up with druggie parents, her grandfather swooped in and gave her a safe, happy place to grow and prosper. He grandfather owned The Crown Theater, a theater built long ago that was an important and well liked place in this small town. Miriam grew up in this theater and loves it just as passionately as her grandfather did. Not only the classic movies but the feel of the theater. Behind the scenes, in the rafters – it’s a part of her life. But as the years went on, the theater got old, and defunct and now four years after her grandfather died, it’s on the edge of being condemned. Miriam is somewhat of a recluse, socially shy and lives in the theater. She writes critical reviews of movies for several blogs and online publications, and is friendly with an older couple in the town, but her world is small.
Shane works for a condo development business and his task is to convince Miriam to sell the theater so his company can continue to build new buildings in town. Once he meets Miriam, he realizes the struggle to buy The Crown Theater is going to be tough. Miriam is so emotionally attached, she is not going to let it go. To his surprise, he gets the urge to help her around the theater. He wants to get to know her and he starts a cute courtship.
I heard so many good things about Back to the Good Fortune Diner but it still sits on my TBR pile *weeps – my life’s story.* Matinees with Miriam takes place in the same small town. It’s a sweet story with a sweet romance. Miriam’s struggle with her grandfather’s death and her deep-seated connection to the theater is presented so well. Miriam is vulnerable. She has never moved on from her Grandfather’s death and is so alone. There is a point where she is alone in the theater and says something out loud to her grandfather and realizes he is truly gone and she is alone. It’s a very bleak moment for her. She gets angry and possessive when others come into her theater. Her biggest conflict which unfolds in this book is that it’s her goal to fix the theater in honor of her grandfather, but yet when that goal could be recognized she shies away from it – too scared to let others take control of the theater.
If that happened, there’d be people at the Crown all the time, rehearsing, building sets, wrecking the place…The thought made her cringe. What was wrong with her? Was she so introverted, so insular, so antisocial that the idea of her building being used for its intended purpose actually made her sick?
She falls for Shane, but she feels so conflicted because he wants to take the theater away from her:
Shane walked toward her slowly, slipping his phone into his pocket. As he got closer, he saw the way her chest heaved, the tremble of her fingers, the uncertainty in her eyes. Shane walked right up to her and slipped his arms around her. She shuddered and looked down. He rubbed her back. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She gently pushed him away and took a deep, shaky breath. “I…I just…” She sucked in her lip.
She didn’t need to say it. The conflict was clear in her face. She wanted him, but couldn’t allow herself to want him.
The romance is slow, and the theater may take center stage, but it’s there and the HEA is nice. This one will make you smile.
Grade: B
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