Whenever my mood needs a lift, I grab a book by Carolyn Brown. I can count on Small town humor at it's very best. Laugh out loud fun. Quirky characters always ready with a great story. I read this in one setting and loved it. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinion is my own

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
I enjoyed this book, but I have to admit that the small town clichés got to be a bit much for me. Growing up and living in a small town, I know how rumors fly, how juicy the fruit on the grapevine can be, but this book put it over the top. Don't get me wrong, a lot of what is written is truth, but I think the rumor mill was overused.

Jennie Sue's relationship with her parents is also something the town likes to gossip about. Her mother, Charlotte, is focused more on what people think of her and the family than the needs of her child. Jennie Sue has a better mother-daughter relationship with Mabel, the housekeeper, than she does with her own mother. Her relationship with her father isn't much better, but at least he appears to accept Jennie Sue for who she is and acknowledges her quest for independence.

Rick Lawson returned home after being injured in an IED explosion two years ago. Rather than coming home as a hero, he limped – literally – into town and back to the farm where he grew up. His sister, Cricket, has a serious hate on for Jennie Sue and all others she perceives to be better than her.

The book explores Jennie Sue's transformation from society wife to a local in a way that everyone can relate to. Her relationship with Rick starts off as friendship and it slowly builds to a romance that everyone can believe in.

I do recommend this book for an easy afternoon read.

Until just recently I had only read Ms. Brown's cowboy romances. I absolutely love them, but boy was I missing out! These other books by her focus more on relationships women have together and how they react to each other. There is also tons of humor. Some think the country type humor is a little over the top, but I loved every line.
Jennie Sue is one of those girls that was at the top of the popularity chart in high school and one of those that was always proper in the way that only southern women with uptight mothers can be. However, all of her feelings have changed after a divorce and the seized by the police of all her belongings. Now she's making friends with the most unlikely people and doing the most unlikely things.
Rick was never in her league in high school and is kind of ashamed that he still has a crush on Jennie Sue. He's come back from war a damaged man ashamed of his scars. His friendship with Jenny shows him that the scars may not matter as much as he thought. When they stop worrying about the rumor mill in town, they may both find that the present matters more than the past ever could.
I would love to listen to the audio version of this also, because the books of Ms. Brown that are like this are just a delight to listen to. I love all the accents and the twang.

SMALL TOWN RUMORS by Carolyn Brown is a contemporary romance perfect for a summer read in the shade of a big old tree with a glass of lemonade or sweet tea. It is a sweet romance with wonderful characters and a small town setting. This was my first book from this author, but it will definitely not be my last.

Jennie Sue Baker has returned to Bloom, Texas. The minute she steps off the bus, the local café is buzzing with rumors about her return. Jennie Sue was raised to be a society belle and trophy wife, like her mother, but her marriage falls apart. Her mother goes into damage control and wants to get Jennie Sue back on track for another husband, but Jennie Sue has changed and has other plans for her life.

Jennie Sue wants to build her own life with her business degree and never again rely on a man to support her. Her mother does not understand her and her father is not willing to interfere. As Jennie Sue accepts two jobs house cleaning which includes an above garage apartment her mother is scandalized and the rumor mill is working overtime.

Rick Lawson has returned to Bloom after medical discharge from the army. He is working to keep his family’s farm running with the help of his sister, Cricket who waitresses at the local café. Rick does not believe in gossip, but he is interested to learn of Jennie Sue’s return. He sees Jennie Sue for who she is and not her past status, but he also does not believe she could ever be interested in a scarred veteran with simple dreams.

The romance between Jennie Sue and Rick builds slowly throughout the book. Kisses and hand-holding build at a realistic pace to all other eventual sex scenes happening behind closed doors. The elder sisters that help Jennie Sue are very adorable and funny. Cricket is as big a gossip as the old ladies, but is never really malicious. I loved all of the characters in this book and especially Jennie Sue’s spirit and determination. The small town of Bloom is depicted as a typical small town and I hope there are real towns just like it.

Jennie Sue left Bloom, Texas as the “it girl”. Wealthy, well-mannered, social standout she’s gone to New York with her husband, bound to make a splash. But now, her husband outed as a lying, cheating thief, she’s back in Bloom, in her mother’s house, with a marriage that’s fallen apart, no direction and a handful of alimony cheques that are tagged ‘Insufficient Funds”. Of course, Jennie Sue wasn’t prepared for her fall from grace, and she’s never really been her own person – from her mother’s iron-fisted control to her husband doing the same – she’s tired of the superficial, the constraints and above all, the gossip.

Rick Lawson has come back to town after years in the military ended with an IED. He’s living and working at the family farm, and he runs the bookmobile – making a life for himself that wasn’t in his plans. The former star in high school, he’s working on a very different life for himself, and he keeps running into Jennie Sue.

After moving away from her mother’s constant criticisms and expectations, Jennie Sue is busily trying to find her own direction: living her life for others has always been her go-to, but now she’s determined to be ‘all grown up”, find her own path and do whatever it takes to make people see her as Jennie Sue – not ‘THE Jennie Sue”. Her new jobs – housekeeping and working in a bookstore, a small above-the-garage apartment, and a flirtation that may be more all make her days more exciting, even if the challenges are never-ending and the gossips never stop.

Several twists and turns, some unnecessary, add to the conflicts and struggles here: it was enough to see Jennie Sue reach for her own new life and overcome the negativity, and her interactions with the “older ladies” in town, with their own memories, desires and advice was lovely. A solid small-town feel with a rather predictable series of events, it was a nice read and perfect to while away a few hours.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href= https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9Sg/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Small Town Rumors by Carolyn Brown
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4½/5 stars

Holy Hannah is it hot in Bloom, Texas!! Jennie Sue Baker is back in town and the town is alight with gossip. Not only is she back in town, but she showed up on a bus, doesn’t have her husband in tow, and only brought one suitcase with her. The icing on the cake, she looks terrible and her momma is the first one to tell her so.

Jennie Sue Baker doesn’t particularly care what anyone thinks about her. Yes, she’s gained ten pounds, yes, she’s wearing jeans and sneakers, and yes, her ex husband ran off with another woman right before the IRS seized all their property and froze their accounts. To say Jennie Sue Baker has more important things to worry about than what other people think, doesn’t even scratch the surface. With less than a thousand dollars, no job, and only her parent’s home to run to, Jennie Sue Baker is home and determined to turn her life around. Jennie Sue is resolved in her mission, she will never again be a pretty piece of arm candy to a man who doesn’t love or even care about her, and she will never again be dependent on anyone other than herself.

Jennie Sue’s momma has other plans . . . .

In less than 24 hours, Jennie Sue’s momma has made her position clear: her only daughter will lose weight, she’ll get a proper wardrobe, she’ll take her overall appearance and attitude more seriously, and by Christmas, she’ll have a new fiancé if not husband, of proper social standing. What’s more, in order to secure the first part of her plan, there will need to be a damn good cover story spread around town to account for Jennie Sue’s sudden appearance in Bloom and her lack of a husband and money. Nothing is going to get in the way of Jennie Sue’s momma and her grand plan, and if something does, well, she just may die from the humiliation.

Jennie Sue has other plans . . . .

Determined to thwart her momma and her momma’s ridiculous plans, Jennie Sue leaves her childhood home and heads into town. A bus got her there and a bus can get her out too. But, before she can hop the next bus out of town, Jennie Sue runs into Lettie and Nadine, two of Bloom’s oldest and wealthiest woman who happen to be looking for a new house keeper. If Jennie Sue will clean the ladies’ homes and help them run errands, she can take up residence in the garage apartment and share meals with the old girls as needed. House cleaning will only take up a couple days a week which leaves Jennie Sue three more days of the week to run the old bookstore. In short order, Jennie Sue has herself two jobs with some benefits, a place to live and call her own, and a few new friends who seem truly interested in helping her. Oh yes, her momma is going to absolutely die from the shame and humiliation!

As Jennie Sue begins to settle into her new life and routine, she finds she is truly happy for the first time in many years. Lettie and Nadine are positively blessings, the bookstore is a Godsend, and her time with Rick Lawson, local farmer, is an exciting new prospect. For the first time in her life, Jennie Sue is standing on her own, doing as she pleases, and sincerely enjoying the modest lifestyle she is carving out for herself. Among her new friends, there are no pretensions, no judgements (OK, there is Cricket!), and nothing but kindness and support. This is well and truly a whole new world for Jennie Sue and she can’t ever see herself going back to the false, fake, horribly judgmental world of her mother. All that’s left to do is settle with the ghosts of her past, find some common ground with her momma, and move forward with her newfound happiness.

The Bottom Line: I just sunk right into this crazy story and didn’t care to crawl out until the very end. Bloom, Texas is one crazy place that would positively dry up if it weren’t for the rumor mill. 😊 Jennie Sue Baker is a character who’s hard to dislike and as her story unfolds, I found myself liking her more and more. Though she clearly loves her momma and daddy, she has had enough of their fake world/existence and wants something far more authentic for herself and her future. To be sure, there are a lot of obstacles, but with the small group of new friends she’s made, Jennie Sue is more confident than ever in her ability to succeed. At its core, Small Town Rumors is about love, friendship, loyalty, overcoming, and living the best life possible, with or without a boatload of money. This book has a bit of everything I adore in my books: there’s light romance, there’s light conflict, there’s a great deal of backstory/history, and there are some crazy little old ladies who just keep the overall mood light. Though there are some truly sad moments throughout this story, it is ultimately a happy ending I found to be immensely satisfying.

This book shows how well rumor mills work in a small town! It's a delightful read full of humor, great characters and the politics of a small town. Jennie Sue returns home penniless, divorced and on a bus, surely her mother would just for of embarrassment. Jennie Sue has decided that she wants to live her life for herself, not her mother, not the Belles, and certainly not her lying, cheating ex husband! This book has it all, humor, emotions and a sexy farmer, of course, as Jennie Sue finds her place in the small town of Bloom. The Clifford sisters steal every scene!

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. This was just a wonderful book to read and it was just easy to lose yourself in the story. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

I enjoyed reading this small town romance full with humor. I stayed late in the night just to finish reading.
Perfect read for all seasons. More on my blog
https://heyjustreadit.wordpress.com/2018/07/05/small-town-rumors-by-carolyn-brown-review-arc/

Carolyn Brown effortlessly drawers readers into the lives of well-meaning residents of Bloom, Texas. Small Town Rumors, humorous and sweet, follows Jennie Sue Baker to Bloom where the rumors run rampant of her return home. While the truth is more heartbreaking than anyone may guess, Jennie Sue is determined to find the place she belongs and heal from the turmoil of the past.

I don't even know where to begin to describe how much I loved this story. The characters were real and so easy to connect with. From Cricket, who hates Jennie Sue based on their differences in high school, to the Clifford sisters who gave Jennie Sue her first taste of true friendship, I couldn't get enough of their antics and drama! On the other hand, there's a serious aspect to the plot that makes you thankful for the levity. So much of this story broke my heart for Jennie Sue as she breaks free of the mold her mother is trying to force her into and live her own life.

Carolyn Brown is quickly becoming a new favorite author! Her way of writing is down to the point without leaving readers empty of pining for more information on the main characters. I felt like I was plunked down into the middle Jennie Sue's story, but everything that happened before I met her was dished out in due time. Small Town Rumors is one of those small town romances that fills you up with lighthearted sweetness and just enough humor to temper the heartache. I highly recommend to fans of Catherine Anderson or Jennifer Probst!
*ARC provided in consideration for review*

The title of this book says it all – rumors, rumors, rumors. Gossip runs wild in the little town of Bloom, Texas. Whether you are young or old, rich or poor – everyone is fair game.

Jennie Sue Baker’s marriage is over and she is left with nothing. She has no choice but to flee New York back to her parents’ home in Bloom, Texas. She has been groomed all of her life to be a wife and serve on charities and committees. She tried that in New York and it didn’t make her happy. Now she wants to try something new.

I admire Jennie Sue’s drive to want more for herself. I can’t blame her for wanting to be independent and not be taken care of by her family. She wants the opportunity to find herself and her passion, even if it means angering her mother in the process.

I love Lettie and Nadine! They are 90-something-year-old sisters with attitudes and spunk, and are deeply embedded in the rumor mill. I love the depth of friendship between the young and old citizens of Bloom. They take care of each other, have each other’s backs, and genuinely care for one another.

There was an underlying book theme running throughout this story which I always find enjoyable. I was pleasantly surprised how often it popped up – from a used book store, to a bookmobile, a local book club, and more.

I was genuinely enjoying this book until the last seventy pages or so. Something, that I cannot tell you, happens and it completely changes the vibe of the story. In my opinion it went off in an odd direction and I found myself not enjoying it as much as I had been.

This made a wonderful poolside read! I was totally immersed in these characters’ lives and hoped Jennie Sue would find her way to happiness.

I was instantly sucked into Small Town Rumors right from the get go and breezed through it fairly quickly although I think it needs to come with a have tissue on hand warning because you will definitely need it in the last 1/4 of the book. This literally came out of left field and I was crying as I was reading it. I wasn’t expecting that to happen.

Wonderful read with all the small town feels. Truths.. Admiration.
Jennie Sue Baker has been groomed to live a life of high society. She returns to her small hometown Bloom where gossip runs rampant. She is done with being controlled and aims to live a life which makes her happy..
A story of relationships - enemies, frenemies, friends.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from Montlake Romance for my unbiased opinion of the book. I loved this book!!! Carolyn Brown is now one of my favorite authors. This the second book I’ve read by her and loved it. Get Sometime Sisters you will not be able to put it down. This book sucked me in and did not let go until the end I read it in less than 12 hours!! It is the story of Jennie Sue Baker who is from a well to do family yet arrives back into town on a Greyhound Bus. The rumors run rampant as to why she is back in town with just one piece of luggage and clothes that it looks like she got the Goodwill. Her husband left her with all her possessions fitting into one suitcase. Jennie Sue can home to regroup and figure out her plan to get her life back. Meanwhile, Rick Lawson is fighting his own internal battles while trying to run his farm with his sister. His body was heavily scarred from stepping on a land mine while serving his country. Can the rumor mill in town handle of they get together since the rumor mill is in full force? Not if her nosy, busy body of mother has anything to say about it. You need to read this story to find out what happens next....

This is a perfect summer read...well really a perfect anytime read! Especially since it is set in a small Texas town where rumors and gossip abound. The book has funky characters, some tension between the "haves" and the "have-nots", and family drama that will keep you entertained from beginning to the end. It is also a love story and knowing what you want and don't want to ensure a happy life going forward.

If you enjoy romance, laughter, and small town charm, you'll enjoy this book!

The main character in this story, Jennie Sue, is just so darn lovable. She’s a good person through and through and she really won me over with her positive outlook on life. Jennie Sue has had some pretty crappy things happen to her, through no fault of her own and instigated by those that should love and protect her. Yet she tries her hardest to see the silver lining in everything.

It was hard for me to stomach Jennie Sue’s mother, that woman is a piece of work. And Cricket was really wearing on me. I honestly don’t know how Jennie Sue could keep her positive outlook with those two around. She handled them both with such grace, I admire her strength.

While I found this story to be really cute and sweet, I can’t say that it sucked me in. I enjoyed all of the characters, but other than Jennie Sue they didn’t deliver any depth. As much as I wanted to love the hero, Rick, I didn’t feel the author fleshed him out enough. He has such a rich back story and could have been given more to do in this book. I loved the older generation that took Jennie Sue under their wings, but side characters cannot hold a book up on their own.

One of Carolyn Brown’s recent releases, Cowboy Bold, charmed me with the character talking to her deceased parents. In this story, pretty much every character talked out loud to themselves and it was no longer charming. It almost seemed like the author was using it as a crutch. There are so many other ways to express a character’s inner thoughts than to have them talking to themselves.

I will, of course, continue to read this authors books. While this wasn’t a favorite of mine I still enjoyed the story.

Small Town Rumors by Carolyn Brown

Small Towns are not for everyone! Especially when the population seems to live on and share rumors with abandon. The book, Small Town Rumors by Carolyn Brown was well named. Bloom, Texas seemed to run on rumors. When Jennie Sue came into town on a bus with one suitcase of clothes needing to rebuild her life. She was the the rich daughter and was expected to become a wife who lunches and works on committees and always looks beautiful. Only life doesn’t always work the way it is supposed to. Jennie Sue is back and ready to start to live the life she wants to live, not the one that was supposed to live according to her mother. She is exhausted with pretense and expectations.

And then there is Rick Lawson, a decorated war hero turned farmer. New friends, new jobs, and a new life, Jennie Sue is opening up new world and the rumor mills are running at full speed. Small Town Rumors made me chuckle and sputter. I enjoyed the characters that made the book interesting and the love story of the main characters (even when Rick was having a snit.) Small Town Rumors by Carolyn Brown was a fun read.

Jennie Sue Baker comes from a rich texas oil family but she is returning home from New York City to Bloom, Texas after a disastrous marriage with next to nothing. She is also returning home with a new philosophy on life as an independent woman who wants to live life as she sees fit, not as her mother wants. So instead of living in the lap of luxury in her parents' house Jennie Sue gets jobs cleaning houses and working in a book store while living in a tiny apartment above a garage. How this new independence affects her relationship with her parents and finding new friends is the poignant journey the reader travels on with Jennie Sue in this book.

Carolyn Brown is a master at writing warm, complex characters who find their way into your heart. In Small Town Rumors she introduces so many wonderful characters the reader can easily become immersed in their lives and loves. This is another "must-read" Women's Fiction story by this author.

Small Town Rumors is the first book I have read by Carolyn Brown and it won’t be my last I loved how she described small town living, I loved the characters I loved the gossip mongers and I loved the storyline. This book is everything I would expect in a small town is was funny it was romantic and it was about people intrigued in the girl who’s back in town after moving away many years ago. This was a fun easy to read love story and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thumbs up to Jennie for finally stepping away from all the people who want to control her. Unfortunately, in some ways, she's back in the small town where she grew up so everyone has something to say about her. She, however, is working hard and rebuilding her life= just like Rick, who is home after suffering an injury due to an IED. These two are made for each other but you know there's going to be an irritant, in this case, Rick's sister Cricket. I wanted to tell Cricket to stuff it but that would have lessened the tension. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a pleasant read with two good characters (and Cricket!).