Paradise for Christmas is the 1st book in the Sisters in Paradise series by Carolyn Brown. This book takes us to small town Nacona, Texas. The Simmons family has 7 girls and when their father left them, their mother raised them in the old brothel, known as The Paradise. Ursula Simmons, the oldest sister, is a novelist like her mother, and has writer's block. She has headed home for the holidays, hoping that will inspire her for her new book. Of course, all her sisters will be coming home as well. She is happy, yet surprised to meet up with Remy, her handsome high school crush. Remy was shy, awkward, and super smart, and now he is back, with a small spread nearby and working as a college history teacher. The chemistry is there and it doesn't take long for them to become a couple, but, Ursula is just home for the holidays. Ursula's twin, Luna, has a secret she is keeping from her family, especially from Endora, who's fiance has left her for her best friend. Handsome veteran, Shane, wants Luna to let everyone know about their relationship, but can she let everyone know?

I really enjoyed this story. It is full of all the warmth, humor and sass that I love about Caroline Brown's books. Apparently, Trouble in Paradise, written back in 2005, is the story of Mary Jean Simmons and her present husband Joe Clay Carter, so I definitely want to read that before I continue with this series. I loved the characters in this book, as they are funny, caring, stick up for one another, loyal and loving. There is a lot of Christmas in this one with decorating, parties, charity work and presents. With two romances, a broken heart, swoon worthy love interests, a couple of tarts trying to get their men and a sassy aunt who shares some stories that make the girls turn red, I was all in. Another great read from Carolyn Brown.

This one was just OK for me. It was a slow start and didn't really pick up. It was solid but predictable. A sweet Christmas story, but nothing special.

THis was a cozy Chrisstmas book about a family of girls that come home for the holiday. THe house they live in was a bordello in the early days. It was a great book and took you in to a small mystery.

For me it was a fast read and it kept my interest.

This is a good book. This is a story of a family with seven daughters. Three of the daughters return home to stay. All the daughters come home at Thanksgiving and Christmas it is about family. The story has love, divorce, and togetherness. It is a really good story.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book! I'm a Texas Panhandle girl, so it's always fun to read about stories that are close to home! I got a bit confused when the story totally switched focus halfway through, and the story lost me some when we moved to the second sister.

I love Carolyn Browns writing style, and she did such a great job fleshing out these characters and giving them interesting back stories. I wish I could read the two book series mentioned in the book-- they seem so fun!! I also read this in February, and it was a perfect break from intense heavy books, and my life!

The audiobook narrator did a really great job keeping my attention and bringing these colorful characters to life!

Thanks to Netgalley and Carolyn Brown for the advanced copy to review.

I was excited about this book and couldn't wait to read it. Unfortunately it wasn't for me. I struggled throughout the entire book. I wasn't drawn to any of the characters. I didn't enjoy the atmosphere and the writing style. Maybe i read it at the wrong time, but I didn't enjoy this book. But I know that I usually enjoy books by Carolyn Brown so I will give her next book a try!

A charming tale about not taking life for granted and loving family and friends. I was smitten with the characters and the small town.

"Paradise for Christmas" follows the oldest Simmons sister, Ursula, who returns home for the holidays and unexpectedly finds a chance at love with her old high school crush, Remy. Meanwhile, the youngest Simmons sisters, Endora and Luna, navigate their own romantic dilemmas and family loyalty. Ursula, a writer like her mother, hopes to overcome writer's block while reconnecting with Remy, who has harbored feelings for her for years. Endora struggles with heartbreak from a cheating fiancé, while Luna faces a new romance with a local man named Shane. The novel is filled with family holiday traditions and explores the relationships among the seven Simmons sisters. With gentle pacing and heartwarming moments, "Paradise for Christmas" sets the stage for a series following each sister's journey to love and happiness.

This is a Romance/Women's Fiction, and this is the first book in the Sisters in Paradise series. I really love the characters in this book, and I laughed so many times while reading this book. The beginning of this book pulled me into the story right away. There is so much Christmas work in this book. I just found myself losing interest in this story by around 50% into this book, and I had to make myself finish the book. There was nothing I did not like about the book it just did not have a lot going on. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

I'm a huge fan of Carolyn Brown's books and Christmas books, but this one just failed to hit the mark in my opinion. I think part of the reason I didn't get into this book as much as I wanted to was because Paradise for Christmas has a LOT of characters to keep track of and different plots/relationships going on simultaneously. This was overload on my brain. During the winter I like to snuggle up with a nice, cheesy Christmas romance that allows me to escape the drama of my life, not try to sort out the numerous characters'. This was an ok read. Give it a shot, you may like it better than I did.

The book Paradise for Christmas was an enjoyable read. I would recommend any book written by Carolyn Brown. Happy Reading!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.

Coming home for the holidays, for her career, and a surprise chance at love with an old high school crush for the oldest Simmons sister, paired with a new chance at love if the youngest Simmons sister can sort out the priority of love interest and family loyalty, made for a warmhearted first-in-series from long-time favorite author, Carolyn Brown.

Paradise for Christmas is the first in a new series featuring seven sisters who scattered to the winds in their adulthood and are trickling home to find their chance at love and happiness. However, some readers who read the older story, Trouble in Paradise, will be dancing up and down to see that this book is a follow up to see what came of those seven young girls who did some matchmaking to get themselves a daddy for Christmas long ago when the family first moved into the old brothel, Paradise.

Not one romance, but actually two take place since both Ursula and Luna share the narration and split the focus of the book. In truth, there is a third romance if one counts the historical couple that Ursula is writing about. So yes, Ursula is a chip off the block and a writer like her mama, and she’s come back home to live where she hopes to get past her writer’s block and bust out a solid historical romance.

Ursula comes home for Thanksgiving which is a big family tradition that she and her sisters have never missed since that first Thanksgiving when their mom fell in love with Joe Clay. Coincidentally, she shares more than a penchant for writing with her mom because she has come home to find her handsome high school crush on hand. Remy was shy, awkward, and super smart, and she thought he was too smart for the likes of her, but now he’s the boy next door grown up to be a handsome and worthy college history teacher and small spread rancher who has had a thing for Ursula for years and is doing something about it this time around.

Meanwhile, Ursula’s youngest twin sisters are in turmoil. Endora is hurting from her fiancé and best friend cheating on her and then getting married. Endora is sulking and doesn’t want to see her sisters anywhere near men. Luna has always stuck close to her twin sister so she’s keeping her desire to leave teaching and a new romance with a handsome, local guy just back from the military who wants to open a country store and bait shop on his property along the Red River with Luna as his partner in the shop and love. Shane’s getting tired of being her dirty secret from her sister and deserves to be openly part of her family because, like Remy, he’s an only child and alone for the holidays.

Paradise for Christmas is chock full of family holiday togetherness from Thanksgiving to Christmas. It catches up readers on what Mary Jane and Joe Clay and the seven sisters have been up to for the last twenty years, introduces new character sassy Aunt Bernie, and is a good series starter for following each of the sisters now. It looks like there will be three books that will tackle two to three sisters being spotlighted in each.

There is not much in the way of conflict, just people who need to figure out what they really want and get past their vulnerabilities about lasting relationships. There are some jealousy-induced misunderstanding moments and a really funny Christmas party mishap, but for the most part, its gently-paced slice of life stuff for Ursula, Luna, and their family and friends at the Paradise. Those who like it cozy, warm, and full-of-family with their romance should slip this one onto their reading pile.

Paradise for Christmas by Carolyn Brown
What a great start to a series!! A mother of seven girls turns an old brothel into a lovely home. All the girls return home to Paradise for Christmas. As you can imagine, a house with seven girls, plus momma, daddy and Aunt Bernie, can turn into a houseful rather quickly. But with the hustle and bustle comes love, sister rivalry and even a little romance. This story belongs to Ursula and Luna. New love and an old crush reignite to bring love to Paradise.
Can’t wait for the next in the series!!

This was just a perfect holiday story. Sweet romance. Predictable... But sweet. I would recommend this to others.

Paradise for Christmas is the first book in Carolyn Brown’s Sisters in Paradise series. It is heading into the Christmas season for the Simmons sisters of Spanish Fort, Texas, and they are all heading home for Thanksgiving. However, Thanksgiving is just a day for being grateful and the day before the great Christmas decoration days begin at the Paradise, once a brothel and now the home of this large family.

Youngest sisters, twins Luna and Endora, have moved home and are currently teaching at the local school. Eldest sister Ursula has given up her college position and is moving home to explore becoming a full time author like their mother Mary Jane. Mary Jane is a renowned author of historical fiction. Ursula has had some success but seems to be hitting a patch of writers’ block and hopes she will reconnect with her muse by coming home.

All sisters are stunned to find their Great Aunt Bernie has also come back to the Paradise after decades of running her own honky tonk bar on the other side of the Red River. Bernie has moved with her trailer and chihuahua Pepper and has the prime directive of seeing her great nieces matched to their perfect loves with weddings and children to come. She has made predictions for two of the girls for the year to come. And she isn’t wrong!

This is a lovely story of family, homecoming, Christmas celebration, and new love. I very much enjoyed this book and am looking forward to those to come in the series. I do recommend this book!

Ursula hopes that returning home may inspire her and help.her get rid of her writers block. The oldest of seven sisters she looks forward to catching up with her siblings. They all enjoy the holidays and take the time to do things up right. Younger sister Endora doesn't care foe all the flirting going on between the men who were invited to help decorate and her sisters. She doesn't think any relationship is with getting hurt. Ursula hates that her sister feels this way and is determined to show all of her sisters just how magical the holidays can be and that love is worth it.

A nice holiday story that I enjoyed reading.
Small town
Sisters
Christmas
Family
Perfect, heartwarming reading for the holiday season.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you’ve never read a Carolyn Brown book here are reasons why you need to rectify that.
1. A lovely sentimental read.
2. Feisty Aunt Bernie who still kicks up her heels and nips the good stuff.
3. A sisterhood of seven sisters who even have a slumber party.
4. Ornery cows and cute critters.
5. Hussies and floozies
6. Hunky cowboys who don’t take themselves too seriously.
7. A warm hearted holiday read.
8. It’s a Carolyn Brown book!!!

great book and loved the mystery through out the book. I loved the characters and how they grew through all of their adventures. I enjoyed this book and this author and will check them out again add them to my reading pile.

Such a fun and cheerful story to start your holiday reading! These 7 sisters will make you laugh at their antics. When you add in Aunt Bernie and the menagerie of pets and farm animals, you get a delightful story. There's a bit if romance for two if the sisters and I'm hoping Ms. Brown will add to the Paradise series!

Although I received a free ARC ebook, all thoughts and opinions are my own.