Meet Me in The Orchard by Carolyn Brown – a Review

Meet Me in The Orchard by Carolyn Brown – a Review

 

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Description:
Two and a half months have passed since Brodie Carter showed up in Spanish Fort, Texas to meet the father who never knew he even existed. Well, family is family, and Brodie is welcomed in (once everyone gets over their shock). Getting to know his seven half sisters and all their spouses has not been an easy job. Add to that Audrey Ross, the obnoxious, sassy, overbearing woman who owns the orchard next to his. Between Audrey haggling Brodie to buy his property and his matchmaking Great Aunt Bernie setting him up on flop dates, nothing seems to be going right.

And then a tornado demolishes the house Brodie and his brothers live in and everything they own. At least the orchard and farm are left untouched. Luckily, his new family offers up rooms to Brodie and his brothers while they work to rebuild. They move into the former brothel known as the Paradise, and try to get on with their lives.

Audrey claims the storm is an omen that Brodie should sell, but that’s the last thing he’s going to do. No one boils his blood like she does, and Aunt Bernie can see it. Can Brodie and Audrey stop arguing over their properties long enough to realize the spark that’s growing between them?

 

 

 

Review:

Meet Me in the Orchard by Carolyn Brown is the first book in her new series, Paradise. We meet Brodie Carter and his brothers, Knox & Tripp, who get hit by a tornado that demolishes their home.  The orchard and farm are not damaged. Luckily, Joe Clay and Mary Jane offer their extra rooms for the brothers to stay at their place, until they can start work on rebuilding. Brodie learned months ago, that Joe Clay was the father, he never knew existed; and he was welcomed by all the family.

Audrey Tucker, owns the orchard next to his, and she is constantly bugging Brodie to buy his property. Audrey comes across as obnoxious, overbearing and sassy, with her Aunt Hetti pushing her to find a way to get the property.  Of course, Aunt Hetti is bad, and hates her old and distant former friend, Aunt Bernie, who has most of the families. Over time, Brodie and Audrey constantly fight, with Audrey beginning to lose any hope.  Audrey finds a pig on her property, and goes to Brodie to take the pig, whom he later names him Pansy.

When Aunt Bernie sets up Brodie with a blind date, Audrey will come out of nowhere, and run to Brodie with a kiss. To Brodie’s surprise, Audrey only wanted to get the other person to, whom she did not like, to get mad.   In a short time, both Audrey and Brodie begin to have feelings for each other, as the chemistry between them was hot.  Their romance begins to increase, with both Audrey and Brodie start to realize they are falling in love.  Of course, Aunt Hetti is very angry and upset that Audrey is not listening to her; especially when they are going out to dinner often, and enjoying their company.  

Meet Me in the Orchard is a sweet, fun, romantic story.  At the end, we learn that Aunt Hetti will move away (with an old friend, Bitsy), leaving Audrey and Brodie bringing their lands together. Meet Me in the Orchard was very well written by Carolyn Brown.  This was a fun read, which I suggest you read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy Provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Paradise for Christmas by Carolyn Brown – a Review

Paradise for Christmas by Carolyn Brown – a Review

 

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Description:
The oldest of seven sisters, Ursula Simmons has followed in her mother’s footsteps as a novelist. With a bad case of writer’s block, she brings her notebooks and computer home to the old brothel called Paradise where they all grew up, in the hope that being home for the holidays will inspire her—and since it’s Christmas, all her sisters will be there too. The sisters take the holidays very seriously, and as soon as they’ve celebrated Thanksgiving, it’s on to decorating for Christmas. As all pitch in to make the spirits bright, younger sister Endora is dismayed to find some of the handsome men who’ve come to help doing more flirting than anything else. She’s determined to show her sisters that no relationship is worth the heartbreak. But it might be Ursula who reminds the family that Christmas is a magical time, and finding new love is always a gift.

 

 

Review:

Paradise for Christmas by Carolyn Brown is the 1st book in her new Sisters in Paradise series. We meet Ursula Simmons, who is the oldest daughter of the seven sisters in this family.  Ursula has decided to move back home to Paradise, which used to be an old brothel, with her mother still living there with her husband, Joe Clay (she was divorced at a young age, with the first husband leaving her to bring up seven young girls).  The story revolves around the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and all seven children return home to be together to decorate and celebrate the holidays, (we meet the Simmons sisters, Ursula, Ophelia, Tertia, Rae, Bo, Endora and Luna)

The girl’s mother, Mary Jane is a famous novelist, and Ursula is also a writer, in the midst of a writer’s block that she hopes coming home will find her muse. She is trying to write a historical novel, based on Daisy, a mail order bride, who made friends with the madam during the old days.  Ursula meets Remy, who lives next door, and someone she had a crush on in high school.  In a short time, both Remy and Ursula will begin to have feelings for each other, as well as Remy helping her find old books about the brothel and Daisy, her muse.  I really enjoyed Remy and Ursula, who were so great together. 

Luna, the youngest sister (she is a twin, Endora), and she too finds someone she is falling in love with.  Shane is her boyfriend, and their relationship escalates over time.  They too were both great together.  However, Luna and all the sisters try to help Endora get over her broken heart, when her boyfriend, was she caught having an affair with her best friend.   

It was nice to see all the sisters return home to help celebrate the holidays, as well as all seven of them spending the day together buying presents for all.  They all take the holidays very seriously, jumping from Thanksgiving and then Christmas. I loved how Mary Jane and Joe Clay (all the girls called him Daddy, since he was always part of the family) created such a wonderful family. I thought Aunt Bernie (a former bar owner) was a hoot, always pushing and using curses forcing Ursula and Luna into relationships. This was a great family with wonderful strong bonds.

Paradise For Christmas was an enchanting delightful family-oriented story that not only captured the holiday spirit, but emphasized a family filled with love, support, happiness and heartwarming. Paradise for Christmas was so very well written by Carolyn Brown. I look forward to seeing who will be the next two sisters.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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