Wake-Up Calls

by Mariah Stewart

A woman’s surprising inheritance opens the door to her family’s secrets in a moving novel about healing, forgiveness, and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Mariah Stewart.

Kit Porterfield is coping with the upheaval of her personal life when another shock blindsides her. Maxine Meadows, an aunt she never knew existed, has bequeathed to her a rustic campground in Maine. With it comes a long-buried family secret that Kit’s late mother took great pains to hide for her entire life.

When Kit arrives to tenuously claim her inheritance, she learns the town’s history and finds the lakeside sporting camp and its beautiful wooded acres in need of restoration to their former glory. But it’s Kit’s own history that compels her to stay, and she’s not returning home until she uncovers the secrets that tore two sisters apart so many years ago.

Kit soon discovers clues in old photographs and in the tale of a tragic and enduring love story, but the most startling revelations are yet to come. For Kit, they could be the path to understanding the mystery that defined her mother’s life—and her own.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Contemporary, Family, Ebooks, Womens Fiction

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 1, 2026

About the author

Mariah Stewart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of forty-one novels and three novellas and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal. She is a RITA finalist in romantic suspense and the recipient of the Award of Excellence for contemporary romance, a RIO Award for excellence in women's fiction, and a Reviewers Choice Award from Romantic Times Magazine. A three-time winner of the Golden Leaf Award presented by the New Jersey Romance Writers, Stewart was recently awarded their Lifetime Achievement Award (which placed her in their Hall of Fame along with former recipients Nora Roberts and Mary Jo Putney — very excellent company, indeed!)

After having written seven contemporary romance novels, Stewart found true happiness writing murder and mayhem. She considers herself one lucky son of a gun to have landed the best job in the world: getting paid for making up stories. At home. In sweats and J. Crew flip flops. Could life be sweeter?

Reviews

[Heather Marshburn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was almost a DNF for me but I was mildly vested for the big reveal. As such, I scanned many pages - the author goes into a lot of excruciating (unnecessary IMO) detail in each of her scenes. In one example, it took her three pages to get the characters out the door for breakfast. I feel like this could have been a short story.

[Shannon Rochester · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was apparently not my first book by this author but the other one also got four stars so I must have liked it too :) This one was right up my alley. The main character is an older woman who is not so happily married anymore and her kids are all grown up. One day, she gets a call out of the blue about how she inherited a house and camp in Maine from her aunt...an aunt she didn't even know she had. So she heads out to look the place over, fully intending to sell it down the road...but instead she seems to find peace and a little bit of herself out there...I 100% wish something like this would happen to me, even if it is in Maine or anywhere else cold. Just like she did, I imagine I would "find myself" all over again. Because as you get older, life can become a little weird because you have no idea who you even are anymore sometimes.

[Sara Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so boring and predictable. The story seemed to drag on and on and so many details were repeated over and over. I really skimmed through the last third of the book just because reading each page was so tedious. I was waiting for something interesting to happen and it never really did.

[Tanisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually read romances with characters in their thirties or early forties, so picking up a general fiction novel centered around a woman in her mid-fifties felt like a refreshing change of pace. I ended up really loving that shift. The main character is juggling so much at once, from tensions in her marriage to everything her daughter and sister are going through, and it made her journey feel incredibly grounded and relatable.

When she suddenly inherits a property in Maine from a relative she barely knew, she decides to check it out for herself instead of doing what everyone else expects. That decision sets the tone for the entire story. Watching her explore the house and the town, settle into the slower pace, and rediscover pieces of herself was one of my favorite parts. There is also a quiet mystery woven into the family history, and even without getting into details, it added a layer of emotional depth that kept me invested.

By the end, I loved the sense of hope and possibility that the story created. My only wish is that the ending had been a little more complete, because there were a few threads of the main character’s personal journey that I wanted to see wrapped up more fully. Still, I truly enjoyed this book. It is heartfelt, reflective, and full of moments that make you think about the different ways people rebuild their lives.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

[Jaime Honeycutt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent story

The storyline for this book was good. The execution not so much. The dialogue reminded me a poorly scripted after school special. There were constant contradictions in the story… like something had already been established then fast forward a few pages or chapter and then the MC or another character would wonder about or be trying to figure something out they’d already been told or figured out. The epilogue I’m pretty sure included the wrong character name mention. Just overall a disappointing read.

[Atomic Pixie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It dragged on way too long.

This was not a GOOD book. It was a passable book. I didn't like most of it, but there was a mystery introduced early on that kept me waiting for answers. Everything else feel intolerably dull. I don't even know who I would recommend this to. But the writing was OK enough to finish.

[Sally Atlas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4 stars!

This was my Amazon Free Read for this month. I am really glad that I selected it because it was very well written. Recommend this one.

[Christine Hazel Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, but I always round up on Goodreads.

The pacing in this book is so off. It takes until chapter 14 (!!!) before something relatively interesting happens. The pacing continues to drag. There are a few really interesting moments, but they drown in the boring. Each and every character sounds exactly the same. Without the narration stating who’s talking you would never be able to guess the different characters. The premise has the main character, Kit, inherit a summer camp in Maine from an aunt she never knew existed. The mystery and the New England aspects drew me to pick up the story, but many parts didn’t follow through. It was mostly disappointing, even with a few glimmers of interest.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mariah Stewart can always be counted on for a good read. Wake-up calls is a quiet, easy read that leaves you feeling good. Kit is in her fifties with two grown children she's proud of and a husband she no longer seems to have much in common with. When she first gets a phone call from a lawyer in Maine, she hangs up, thinking it's a scam. It takes a Fedex package full of documents to convince her an aunt she didn't even know existed has left her a "sporting camp" in the Maine woods. Wake-up Calls is a complicated family story about old secrets, old loves and unrecognized present day truths. There are a few threads toward the end that have me thinking (hoping) this may be the first book of a new series. A very satisfying read.

[Cindy P Huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book earned its 5⭐️s!! Might be the best book I have read in a while. This book contains a little of it all like family drama, character development, mystery, wilderness, small town & all it involves, but also such a love story! Highly recommend this book.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟 - This was an easy and beautiful read, with well-developed characters and a few plot twists.

[Jodi Gernon · Rating 3 out of 5]

light and Fluffy

You figure out pretty quickly where the story is going but it is a nice story about a community coming together. It could have been told in half the time and it probably would have been better if Miles himself had written the story. The prose was pretty basic.

[Karilyn Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first 5 star review of 2026. So well-written that, even when the mystery became obvious halfway through, it wasn't drawn out or overdone by the time the pieces were officially revealed.

[Courtney Rabideau · Rating 4 out of 5]

mystery In Maine

Kit is a married mother of two with a grandson. Just as her daughter’s marriage hits the skids she gets what she thinks is a scam call. Her aunt died leaving her with property in Maine. The only problem with that is that she doesn’t have an aunt. Her mom was an only child or so so thought.

Turns out that it was real and Kit goes to Maine to investigate and find out why her mother and aunt didn’t talk. She makes friends with the locals and slowly uncovers the story with the help of her daughter and sister who come to help.

Found the story very good, but the mystery of the aunt was predictable. Have read several books over the last couple years that used the same type thing.

[Sheri Fields · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of Wake up Calls by Mariah Stewart, she is an author I enjoy. I don't know how to give a synopsis of this book without giving away the twists and turns. I think you will enjoy reading about the characters and the small town that becomes involved in the main character's story line. There are complexities, heartbreaks, and new bonds made. Read the book I think you will find it interesting.

[Katie Mettner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wake-Up Calls by Mariah Stewart is a heartfelt story that reminds us how life’s most unexpected turns can become the very moments that redefine us. What begins as a surprising inheritance of a wilderness camp in Maine from an aunt whom Kit barely knew, quickly unfolds into something deeper. Her adventure to Main becomes a journey of self-discovery, uncovering the truth about her family and unraveling a life she thought she understood.

The title Wake-Up Calls couldn’t be more fitting. Throughout the novel, Kit, Beth, and Abby are confronted with emotional situations that force them to reevaluate their choices, relationships, and identities. These “wake-up calls” aren’t always gentle or heartwarming, either. They arrive in the form of secrets, heartbreak, and difficult realizations about who they thought they were and who they really are. Ms. Stewart beautifully illustrates how sometimes life has to shake us awake before we understand what’s missing or what needs to change. Because if we aren’t living our best lives, then we’re doing ourselves a disservice.

The novel’s strongest theme is the importance of family. The importance of understanding our blood family with the same acceptance we give to the family we build along the way. It’s about connection, support, and the community that shows up when it matters most. The importance of found family in this story is especially moving, offering a reminder that love and belonging can come from those who choose to be part of our lives, not because of blood ties.

Ms. Stewart’s writing always shines with warmth and authenticity as she has a gift for making readers feel as though they’re right there beside the characters as they go about their day. We walk the camp's wooded paths, share in their laughter, and feel the weight of their struggles.

Wake-Up Calls is a story about transformation and rebirth. It reminds us that surprising life events that initially feel like disruptions can actually lead us to exactly where we’re meant to be. Kit and Beth’s story reminds us that sometimes the best things in life come disguised as challenges, and that finding a new community, a new purpose, or even a new version of ourselves often begins with a single, life-altering wake-up call.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mariah Stewart, the Author of "Wake-Up Calls" has written an intriguing, captivating and astounding novel. In this well written novel, the genres are: Women's Domestic Life, Contemporary, Women's Fiction, Sisters, Family, Mystery and Suspense, and Romance. There are twists and turns, unexpected surprises, dark family secrets, and edgy suspense. I appreciate that the author discusses, second chances, healing and forgiveness. The author vividly describes the scenic locations, and the colorful and dramatic characters. The characters are complex, complicated, flawed, quirky, secretive and mostly likeable and relatable. Of course there is one loveable dog.

Kit Porterfield is dealing with changes in her life, when her husband Russ is about to retire. Her daughter Abby, and baby son come back home, as Abby contemplates divorce. Kit's sister Beth is trying a new cancer treatment, and Kit's son is helping out in Beth's store. Kit discovers that she had an Aunt she never knew, Maxine Meadows, and an inheritance of a camp, and land in Maine. More confusing is that her mother never revealed that she had a sister. When Kit meets the executor and laywer, he is bound by secrecy not to explain any part of the relationships. He hands her the keys, and shows her the properties, and is helpful with names of people that can fix things, and local places in the community. Kit is now playing "sleuth and detective" trying to reveal the relationships, and secrecy.

As Kit, Beth and Amy look through photographs in Maxine's house, they uncover glimpses of their family from years ago. As Kit makes new friends in the community, she has to decide whether to sell or keep the well-known camp, and beautiful grounds. I loved this memorable and thought-provoking novel, and highly recommend it! I appreciate how the author describes the importance of family, friends, community, happiness, love and hope.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a heartwarming story about a small town, sisters, and a family mystery. This enjoyable novel starts just like so many other novels – a woman learns she has inherited property from an aunt she never knew existed. Fifty-five-year-old Kit Porterfield visits the property: a rustic campground and large family home in a small town in Maine, with the intention of taking a few days to go through and clean out everything before putting it on the market. But she soon realizes that in addition to the old family photos, furniture, jewelry, and tableware, there are long-hidden secrets that will change the way she considers her parents, her sister, and how she defines herself.

Although some readers found this predictable, I enjoyed the writing, the characters, and especially the small-town charm. Towards the end of the novel the poignant way the characters come together reminded me of the ending in the 1946 Frank Capra film “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

The novel isn’t perfect. Two things that bothered me were that an unusual number of the characters are divorced. This seemed to be a higher than natural ratio. And Kit’s husband Russ undergoes an unbelievably quick personality change, from selfish to caring. But I was able to overlook these items as the rest of the novel was entertaining.

If you’re looking for a feel-good family mystery to read in between those heavier novels and thrillers, this is the book for you.

[Laura Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was immediately drawn to Wake-Up Call by Mariah Stewart because of the intriguing premise—who wouldn’t be curious about a surprise inheritance and the mystery of a property tied to family history? That element didn’t disappoint and kept me engaged as the story unfolded .

Another aspect I really appreciated was the bonding between the adult children /sisters. Watching their relationship develop as they explored the property and uncovered pieces of the past added warmth and depth to the story. Their connection felt like the emotional anchor of the book and was one of the most compelling parts for me.

What stayed with me most, though, was the portrayal of marriage. It was sad to see how easily the relationship unraveled rather than evolving. Instead of learning to ebb and flow with the transition into retirement and a new season of life, the couple seemed to disconnect at a time when rediscovery and shared adventure could have been possible.

Overall, the novel offers an engaging mix of mystery and emotional reflection. I especially valued the themes of family connection, even as I found myself wishing for a deeper exploration of resilience and growth within long-term relationships.

[Hillary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my choice for the April 2026 Kindle free book.

It was an interesting story, with a unique setting: a summer camp in Maine. The descriptions of the locale, the townspeople, and the timeline were fun to read. There is a mystery involved (no spoilers here), as Kit, the main character, has questions about her family's past.

There's a good-sized group of characters who are fairly interesting. But I found the narrative structure to be uneven. At some points, the reader makes progress in "solving" the mystery, and maybe learns a little bit about life in Maine, its flora and fauna, etc.

But at other points, we get long descriptions of some pieces of jewelry/heirlooms, or how Kit cooks eggs, or arranges books on shelves in the house, or what color and design was on each blanket in a trunk. I'm not sure why we needed to know all that information. Personally, I was a little frustrated with what felt to me like distractions. I would have preferred a tighter, cleaner narrative, getting straight to the story.

So, three stars. Not bad, but the style didn't entirely suit me.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empty nester Kit Porterfield is living a placid life of relative luxury in Pennsylvania. Her daughter and toddler grandson have moved back home temporarily due to a failed marriage, and Kit’s husband is planning to retire soon but is cagey about his post-retirement plans. Kit is contacted by an attorney from a small town in Maine advising her that she is the sole heir of the estate of her aunt Maxine, whom she had never previously heard of. KIt’s mother always claimed to be an only child and Kit’s grandparents died before she was born. Kit plans a visit to the small town in Maine, and is intrigued about learning more of the story of this mysterious aunt. The elderly attorney who had known Maxine most of his life was sworn to secrecy about some of the details of Maxine’s life. KIt’s husband just wants her to sell it all and get back home right away.

As Kit unravels more of the story of Maxine, she starts to question her own history and many of her relationships. The characters and narrative arc in this long and complicated tale were really well written annd developed, and I raced through the book in just a few days.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wake-Up Call by Mariah Stewart is one very heartwarming story! The last thing Kit Porterfield expected from what she thought was spam calls, was a lawyer telling her she inherited a sporting camp and home in Maine that belonged to her aunt Maxine Meadows. She knows of no aunt as her mother was an only child but the draw is too much and she is off for the unknown in Maine to find out how she could have had an aunt she knew nothing about. Get ready for a family story of secrets, heartbreak, forgiveness and second chances. Love the characters you’ll meet from Kit’s daughter Abby and Kit’s sister Beth to the people of Tolerance, Maine. Learn the mystery of the aunt she gets to know from investigating and falling in love with the home she has inherited. Love the support the women of the family give each other. Be surprised at what Kit learns and walk with her as she looks to her future. This is a must read! Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories with older characters who have a second chance at love, reinventing their lives, or both. In Wake-up Calls, after hearing from a lawyer from Tolerance, Maine, Kit finds herself the sole heir to a house and sporting camp bequeathed to her by an aunt she never knew existed. All of a sudden, she is questioning her late mother’s story of being an only child and seeks to find out why there was a feud between her mother and aunt. Her husband believes she is on a wild goose chase, not understanding Kit’s need to figure out her true roots. She immediately feels at home where her aunt and mother grew up, embracing a house full of history.
This is a wonderful story of family, love, community, forgiveness, and second chances. This is another great book by a masterful storyteller, Mariah Stewart. I highly recommend it.

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this as an Amazon First Reads.

Kit Porterfield, wife/mother from a toney college town in PA gets a sudden inheritance from an Aunt in Maine she never knew about. Why did Kit's mother never acknowledge a sister?

Determined to find answers, she heads up to Tolerance Maine to look at this "Camp" and find answers to her questions. Husband Russ is less than supportive (actually a jerk), her sister has cancer and her daughter has major marriage problems.

Although the estate lawyer Banks has the information about the estrangement of the two sisters, he's been sworn to secrecy unless Kit finds it herself. It's a small town, that has always depended on the camp for survival but everyone is welcoming but no one has answers. It takes a while but the info slowly becomes apparent (obvious to me halfway through) and a salvation for Kit and her family.

[Susan McClintock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kit Porterfield seems to have the perfect life, married for 30 years, a beautiful home in Bryn Mawr, two great adult children and a wonderful grandson. But underneath the surface, her life isn’t as idyllic as it seems. When she receives a letter letting her know that she has inherited a camp in Tolerance Maine from an Aunt she didn’t know about, she needs to go up there to find out why her late mother lied to her and said she was an only child. The journey to find out why her mother and aunt cut each other out of their lives, leads to her own realization that her own life needs changes as well. I have read several of this author’s books before and really enjoy her writing style. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I figured out the “mystery” about halfway through the book. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

[Farène · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book could have been cut in half honestly. So unnecessarily long ...

The story had so much potential and yet the execution was lackluster at best. The author drones on and on and on about the same details it became so tedious. From the first third of the book we already understand Kit is shocked this is a lot to process yada yada yada .. Russ is being a jerk yada yada yada ... Everyone loved Maxine yada yada yada ... And yet the other two thirds continue to reiterate those things ? Again and again and again ! It was maddening.

The BIG reveal took so long to actually be revealed that I almost DNF'ed this one. At first I wanted to know what was up with the sisters being estranged .. but after so many pages of useless details and describing the same things the same people the same feelings I kind of just didn't care anymore lol. I just wanted this book to end.

[Beth Hunsberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book.

Kit Porterfield is sure that she is receiving spam phone calls when a lawyer from Maine keeps calling her. But the lawyer's persistence pays off and Kit receives paperwork informing her that her aunt Maxine has passed away and left her a campground and house in Maine. The bigger shock for Kit is that she never knew that she had an aunt Maxine.

Kit travels to Maine to try to find answers and to explore her new inheritance. Everyone in the town seemed to have known Maxine and loved her. As Kit spends more time there, she begins to understand the depth and breadth of several family secrets. At the same time, her current life is taking unexpected turns and this inheritance may provide the second chance that she and others may need.

[Abby and her hobbies]

Wake-Up Calls 3.5 Stars
It was an engaging story, Kit receives multiple phone calls telling her that she has inherited a camp in Maine from an aunt that she never knew existed. When she gets there there are many family secrets that create more questions about her family history and what happened between her mother and her aunt. Some parts of the dialogue felt a bit stilted to me but once I got into the flow of the book I was able to overlook it for the most part. There are many twists and turns to the story and though I was able to figure out the main mystery fairly early on there were more secrets uncovered that kept me engaged and wanting to read straight through the end.

Thanks to NetGalley, Montlake, and Mariah Stewart for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unexpected inheritance comes along at just the right time, when Kit Porterfield discovers that an aunt, of whom she previously had no knowledge, has left her an old campground.

Not quite sure what to expect but in the right frame of mind for a project of sorts, Kit soon discovers far more than she expected to - not least with regard to family secrets, and what her late mother never saw fit to share with her...

This is an engaging novel about relationships, family history, and second chances. It gets 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Sheila Penwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kit Portland 's life is in an upheaval at this time and then she gets papers from an attorney in Tolerance Maine that she has inherited property from an aunt she didn't know she had. Follow her on her journey there and what all it entails. She starts doing things at the house at The Meadows Camp and is learning her family history plus making friends. He daughter is getting a divorce and her sister is being treated for cancer. Do they all end up in Maine, Do they open the camp and does Kit divorce Russ. A GREAT READ. I have read most of this author's and I loved them but I would have to say that this is by far the best.