Sweet story two sisters and their cousin who run their family's bakery. The pacing was a little slow, but the story was enjoyable, and definitely hit the small town feel with the issues of gossiping.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I was tempted by the cute cover and the blurb. Who wouldn't want too read a story set in a bakery?!

Unfortunately, the story did not love up to my expectations. The narration is disjointed and the pace is too slow to my liking. Though three book is tagged as general fiction romance, it is more of Christian fiction. The repeated references to religion were off-putting.

There are a lot of interesting characters, but their character sketch left me wanting for more.

DNF at 36%

This is a cute story about 3 women running a donut shop in a small town in Texas. Great characters, good story with a few bumps in the road along the way for the characters. This is a light, fun read and as usual Carolyn delivers a story you can count on to keep you entertained. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Another wonderful story by Mrs. Brown! I love reading her books early, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

Thank you @netgalley and #Montlake for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

“Three women are torn between traditions of the past and unexpected new beginnings in a novel about family, romance, and the best pastries in Texas.”

Normally, I love a good book about a family bakery. This one just missed the mark, unfortunately. It started off with a promising premise and a fun cover – and of course doughnuts – but it all went downhill from there.

The writing and plot points seemed off to me – I kept feeling like I was missing parts of the book. And the transitions were clunky. I also wish there had been more character development. For example, one character kept talking about romantic sparks with another character – and it seemed like they barely even interacted.

I could almost hear their southern accents coming off of the page and this family is clearly religious – so I guess if you’re from the south and go to church regularly, you might appreciate this book.

The one thing that they said that I did agree with – “ice cream heals everything.”

Small town gossip, relationship troubles, hard working women, and deep friendships are all things I've come to expect in a Carolyn Brown novel. This one did not disappoint! Her character development, is as always, absolutely on point, you'll find yourself either loving or really disliking them. In this day and age, it's truly a gem to find good clean women's fiction. I would highly recommend this one!

Many Thanks to Carolyn Brown, Montlake Publishing and Net Galley for this ARC opportunity in exchange for my honest review.

A quick, easy and cute read that was well written and had well developed characters all wrapped up in an adorable storyline. I really enjoyed it

I really enjoyed this book. The two sisters and a cousin had great interaction throughout the book. I like how they took care of those in their sphere as well. I'm also glad they fell in love at the same time too. Kismet for all

Grace Dalton runs Devine Doughnut Shop alongside her sister Sarah and their cousin Macy, who’s a partner at the doughnut shop 🍩


The three women and Grace’s teenage daughter, Audrey all live in the same house not far from the shop.

Their great-grandmother started the shop after inheriting a chunk of money from a land sale when her father died.

Meanwhile a man named Travis is in town looking for some land to buy to use for a housing development. Travis is hoping to buy Grace’s shop, expand it nationally and boost the economy of the town. But can he get Grace to come onboard?

Sarah finds out that the man she’s been seeing for four months now is married. Worse she saw Macy’s fiancé Neal leaving a motel with a widower named Darcy Jo.

Neal who works as assistant manager at a hotel, has been trying to get Macy to sell her part of the doughnut business so that he could swindle her of her inheritance.

An enjoyable read in small town of Devine, Texas. The characters ate likable and relatable. Would recommend

Thank you to Carolyn Brown, NetGalley, and Montlake for the arc of this book.

A sweet story of 3 women who run a doughnut shop. When a developer comes to town he wants to buy them out, but they say no. Good characters and story, and was hard to put down. Would highly recommend this book and author.

Lovely book. Grace is worried when a millionaire wants to buy their doughnut shop and land. She's also worried about the behaviour of her daughter Audrey

The Devine Doughnut Shop by C. Brown, published by Montlake, is a stand-alone romance novel. A fun read that gives all the feels, a sweet slow burn with lots and lots of characters.
A pleasure reading this sweet story, 4,5 stars.

The Devine Doughnut Shop is a tender story about living with the hands one has been dealt. Two sisters and their cousin inherited the small doughnut shop that has provided them with economic security but not necessarily the kind of emotional connections each desires. Grace is a single mom with a teenager who is majorly trying her patience. Her sister Sarah and their cousin Macy are involved in relationships that are about to be revealed as less than stellar and a big corporation wants the shop and their land. Carolyn Brown writes about choices and obligations and small town living where very little is private and rumors are repeated as truth. She explores what constitutes true friendship with the experienced eye of one who has lived a full life. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

Such a sweet (see what I did there) read focused on family, the legacies we leave behind, and embracing new futures.

The story follows a family of sisters, through their ups and downs, as they run a doughnut shop. Lately though, it has felt like a burden, are they ready to let go of their family legacy in order to embrace a new future for themselves?

While there are romantic elements to this, it is by no means a romance novel, it is a women's fiction novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

The Devine Doughnut Shop

This book was a VERY slow read for me and it didn't pickup much speed. It was about Grace, Sarah (these two are sisters) and Macy (is their cousin) and how they had messy relationships but how messy relationships can teach you a lesson. The ladies own a doughnut shop together and make them fresh everyday. Graces daughter, Audrey, is in high school and trying to be a popular kid. She learns the hard way that popularity isn't what she thought it would be. Raelene, a friend who she threw out for the popular girls, turns out to have her back. But you will have to read to figure out what she did / does that would show you that! And the romances that come along the way for Grace, Sarah and Macy.

You'll want to read if you don't like a lot of spicy romance and want a light romance, God loving family that hits some hard times!

Talks about: men leaving a relationship with child, con-artists, mean girls, bullying, family, romance

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lucky in business, unlucky in love certainly fits the cousins running the Devine doughnut shop.
Heartbreak at the start leading to questions about life choices.
Can the ladies finally find a good honest man?
Curl up and sink in to the pages and meet new friends that hopefully will expand their relationship with the reader in subsequent books.

three women run the Devine Doughnut Shop. You can't go wrong with a Carolyn Brown book, have read almost all of hers and they are all good.

“The Devine Doughnut Shop” is a contemporary family book by Carolyn Brown. One of the comforting things I will say about Ms. Brown’s books is that you know what to expect when reading one of her books - women, family ties, romance, and great zingers. Ms. Brown’s families are not always traditional ones and this book is no exception. What I liked was the inclusion of the two teenagers - which surprised me because teenage drama - and bullying - are not my favorite things to read, but Ms. Brown made this work. The overall small town feel of this book is very evident, but at it’s heart it’s the story of the three main women that is strong and sassy.

Sisters Grace and Sarah, along with their cousin, Macy, own the Devine Doughnut Shop. They rarely take time off and haven’t ever taken a vacation. All three have been on the losing end of relationships. They take Raelene, a former friend of Audrey’s, into the household when she has nowhere else to go and they treat her like family. But when Grace’s daughter, Audrey, gets in trouble at school, and they find out Raelene has been bullied at school, things start to change. When the girls get suspended, it seems like the perfect time to take a much-needed family vacation.

A wonderful story about family ties, doing the right thing, sticking together, new beginnings for them all, and several HEAs.

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

A big thank you to Carolyn Brown, Montlake, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Devine Doughnut Shop comes out February 14, 2023.

The Devine Doughnut Shop is a heartwarming tale about family, friendship and love. It follows the Dalton family: two sisters and their cousin who is basically a sister, a 15-year-old daughter, and an adopted daughter. The Dalton family has been running the family doughnut shop for generations. The doughnut shop has been there for them through the death of their moms, the birth of a beloved daughter and niece, and the many betrayals that have been performed by men. Lately though it has felt more like a burden then a passion, and the three sisters (yes, I know one is a cousin, but it sounds better) have to decide if they are willing to end a legacy to get the future, they all want.

I thought this was such a cute read, all of the main players in the book have their own personalizes and struggles that they go through. It was amazing to see the family grow and start to let go of the shop a little by little. i would have loved to see more of the romances that come about in the end. Even with that though I think that the ending was perfect! If you are looking for a heartwarming tale that is for sure going to make you crave doughnuts, The Devine Doughnut shop is for you!!