I love Carolyn Brown books and this one was no exception.It's a wonderful story of family heritage. Lily finds and old journal dating back six generations of women in her family. They all have the same issue and troubles which resonates with Lily. This is just the tonic Lily needs to deal with her daughter Holly and helps her get back to her roots. It deals with trust issues, matters of the heart, troubled teens, handling grief and the importance and power of connection.

This is another gem from Carolyn Brown and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary, small town, womens fiction with romance and family at the core.

2.5 stars.
The journal was a bit boring and felt like it dragged on unnecessarily long. But I enjoyed the single parent bit and found that somewhat fun. But it I did not love it, and was skimming most of the journal because of it being boring and too long for my taste.

I am a huge fan of Carolyn Brown's books about family and friendship. In The Family Journal, Lily Anderson is getting frustrated. As a single mom, divorced but with no help from her ex-husband, she is tired of her children getting into trouble. The most recent incident of drinking and/or smoking marijuana, has her taking away her children's technology, including their cell phones, as moving to the small town where she grew up. She inherited her grandparents farm when they passed, but is renting it out to a local teacher/farmer, Mack Cooper, a friend from her childhood. She and her two children, 14 year old Holly and 12 year old Braden, move in and share the house with Mack. Mack is great with her kids and they begin to thaw with their mother and small town life in Comfort, Texas. When Lily finds a journal that has been written in for many generations by the women in the family, Lily shares it with Lily and they realize that their family is full of strong women. Meanwhile, Mack is fighting his growing feelings toward Lily. Mack has low self-esteem due to his brother who married two of his girlfriends and parents who never supported him or chastised his brother. He has never felt good enough, but he cares about this family he is sharing a home with. Can they grow together as a family and come to realize what is really important?

This was Carolyn Brown's 100th book and I am not surprised that so many of them were best sellers. I love her writing style, it is so honest, relatable and easy to immerse yourself in. The characters in this book are well developed and realistic. I loved almost all of them except Lily's ex, Wyatt, his selfish girlfriend and Mack's narcissistic brother. Of course that was supposed to happen. Lily's kids were typical of kids today in big cities, so it was awesome to see them change as they lived in Comfort and became comfortable with life and what made everyone happy. Of course the romance is there, but it is slowly developed and is not the main storyline. Even in small towns there is some adjusting, some bullying, trying to fit in and make friends and finding your place which was all part of the story. This is an uplifting story about family connections, finding what is important in life, making peace with your past, forgiving others but not letting them hurt you again, and finding love. This is all done with a Christian undertone, and using a family journal. I definitely recommend this one to lovers of Christian Women's Fiction mixed with romance.

I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

I read this book very quickly thanks to such an engaging talented author! Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Great characters, setting and storyline. Would highly recommend.

Thank you netgalley for a chance to read this early! I loved the premise of this story. It was sweet, had great dialogue & was a light read. I also enjoyed the small town feel.

Likeable main characters. Great dialogue. Quite a predictable plot you could say...perhaps saved by the journals that go back a few generations.

To me, the pacing was rather slow but fans of family drama, community life, and sweet romance in a small town will like this book.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

The Family Journal was just a light sweet read. I enjoy a romance where the main couple is mature and thoughtful. Single Mom with troubled kids returning to her home town and restoring her family and finding love made for a lovely story. I appreciated the addition of the Civil War Journal and the discussions that surrounded it. Carolyn Brown can be counted on for a solid romance!
3.5
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

"There's a difference between love and being in love, and also liking a person. Love is akin to lust, and lasts a few minutes a day. In love is deeper than that….Its what's left when you're old and lust isn't there anymore for health reasons. It’s the glue that holds a marriage together. "

Book Review:
A family Journal by Carolyn Brown touched upon many topics close to home. As a mom, raising 2 children, both of which are nearing the teenage years, there are many things I am concerned about. Things such as drugs, sex, drinking, bullying, and everything else that goes with raising 2 boys in the current climate.
Lily is a divorced mom with 2 children. A 14 year old daughter and a 12 year old son. Lily discovers her daughter had been caught smoking pot in the school washroom and found out that her son was sneaking out of the house at night. She makes the decision to move out of the city and back to the small town where she grew up, for the summer. They would revisit the living situation by the summer.
Mack Cooper, a boy that she went to school with, has been living in her family home, taking care of the house, their many goats and teaching at the local school. They decide that Mack will continue living in the house carrying down his regular duties while they move into the upstairs bedroom.
Once she moves back she discovers a family journal in an antique dresser. In it she discovers entries written by women of generations before her. Reading through the journal gave Lily an opportunity to bond with her daughter and to think about the life that she wanted for herself and her family. The legacy that she would leave behind.

Reading about the life in the small town, Lily reconnecting with her past, with the friends she grew up with made me think about what it would be like to live without all the external pressures of city life, of the pressures we put on ourselves. Lily took her life into her own hands, found love, established stronger relationships with her children and created a wonderful life for herself and her children.

This was a wonderful story about a woman, a mom, taking charge of her own life and creating a better future for her children.

Carolyn Brown does it again, and this is her one-hundredth novel according to her website. All I can say is WOW! Her stories always draw me in immediately and are always up-to-date and full of family, friends, angst, and love.

THE FAMILY JOURNAL is set in Texas, where single mom, Lily, is having troubles with her children. Both are running with the wrong crowd, and Lily decides to take a stand before their lives totally get out of control. She moves them to the small town of Comfort, where she grew up and still owns a home, and takes away all their electronics. Obviously, Holly and Braden aren’t too happy with any of the changes their mom is making,but they have no choice but to abide by her decisions. Small town life might just be what they all need though including mom!

Lily and her children decide to move into the second floor of her house while sharing the kitchen and living room with tenant, Mack. It’s interesting that while Lily and Mack knew each other in high school, they haven’t really had any contact except when he rents her house. I love the vibe between them and how her kids took to him immediately.

The story is portrayed realistically with friendships from childhood still intact and only strengthening when Lily moves back. There are a multitude of characters that span the generations, and all have a depth to them. The story is filled with family, small town life, and love.

The family journal that is unexpectedly found connects everyone and everything and serves several purposes. Ultimately there is a happily ever after and some closure, since the last chapter takes place thirteen months after the story ends. There still seems more story to tell regarding some of the characters lives, and I can only hope we meet up with them in a novella, if nothing else. (Hint, hint!)

Ms. Brown has fast become one of my favorite authors, whether of cowboy or contemporary romances or women’s fiction. Give her books a try if you haven’t already. You’ll be glad you did!

I rated the book 4.5 stars but rounded to 5 stars on this site and others.

Since her divorce, Lily has been raising her two children basically alone. Her husband's new wife doesn't want the kids around. Now daughter has been caught smoking in the library and son has been sneaking out drinking beers. Lily packs them up and moves back to Comfort, Texas her home town. Kids are minus phones, kindles and internet so they start taking interest in church and the goats on the farm. A good story that is pretty realist. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

“The Family Journal” by Carolyn Brown

What would it mean to you if you found a journal that went back multiple generations and had entries from only the women of your family in it? Would you cherish it? Disregard it? Keep it a secret?

Lily Anderson decides to move herself and her two children back to her hometown of Comfort. Not only that but she also takes away all of their mobile devices including laptops, cellphones, etc until her kids turn their life around and are back on the straight and narrow. Needless to say her kids are even more angry by all these decisions.

Once settled in Comfort, Lily finds a journal stuck way back in the secretary desk that used to belong to her mother. She is transfixed by what she begins to read. At first she keeps it to herself, but when an occasion arises where she uses it to assist her daughter in a project she decides to share it with her and is amazed at what effect it has on both of them in similar and different ways.

“The Family Journal,” is a moving and heartwarming novel about the power of love, faith, resilience, family, and new beginnings. With relatable and wonderful characters and an interesting storyline, Carolyn Brown has written another alluring novel.

Rating: 4.7
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

** I initially read and reviewed an advanced copy o

Well written and relatable story of a single mother struggling through the teenage years, trying to survive admist loneliness, hormones and trusting that things do get better.

This book is a beautiful story that brings the importance of family history amd the power of love. I enjoyed this wonderful tale and its delightful characters.

Ahhhhh this was just such a great read. I just didn't want this book to end and I was sad to turn the last page. I'm so excited to see what's next from this author.

I love this book. A fun read and great characters. A strong mother trying to maintain her kids sense of right and wrong; will make you change your life and there.

As a parent, who raised 3 teens, I really connected with this story. I can understand Lily's edict to ban electronics from her kids lives and to move them to the small town that she grew up in.
She finds when they get there that the home comes with long time boarder, Mack. They choose to live as housemates.
In the meantime, Lily finds a family diary that spans 5 generations of females in her family.
As Lily learns about her ancestors struggles, she and Mack grow closer.
Will Lily open up her heart for Mack? I recommend that you purchase this book to find out.
Thank you Carolyn Brown, Montlake Romance and NetGalley for allowing me this advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Carolyn Brown at her very best. I became a reader of her books a few years ago and I can't get enough. I am such a "fan". I love that her characters are like your own best friends, they are real women who have the same issues as you. Carolyn Brown hits this one out of the park . I am constantly looking for new books by Ms Brown

I've heard it said that there is nothing new under the sun, and while I don't quite agree with that, people fundamentally haven't changed, so when Lily finds the journal it isn't a surprise that the feelings expressed by her foremothers aren't all that different from what she has experienced. The times are different, as are the challenges, but when it comes down to it, women by and large are concerned about their children and want to be loved by their husbands.



Lily needs a new start but rather than striking out to a new city, she returns to her hometown. While her parents are deceased, her childhood friends are still there and they welcome her home.



In some ways things go too well--these problem children adapt well to small town life, make new friends and don't get into trouble any more. Mack's relationship with her children is one of the things that attracts Lily to him. Romance novels are supposed to end up with everything neatly tied up with a bow, and this one certainly did, probably too much so, but I'd much rather be smiling at the end the book than crying .



Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book via NetGalley. Grade: B.



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The Family Journal
by Carolyn Brown
296 pages
Publication date: November 12, 2019
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
💜 MY REVIEW 💜
This is my first read by this author, and definitely won't be my last. I loved this beautiful heartwarming story. The author writes in such a way that you fell like you are there. It was well written with such great characters. I loved all of the characters. I loved how the character of Lily was such a strong. divorced, single struggling mom. When her kids get into trouble she makes the decision to take all of their electronics and move them from the city to her childhood home. Its a small town in the country. After moving there Lily finds and reads a family journal with her daughter that was written by some of the women in her family dating back to the civil war.
I loved how the past of this family was brought into the present through this family journal. It truly is such an emotional read that will give u all of the feels.
Many thanks to the Publisher , the Author , and NetGalley for a ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own.
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