Member Reviews

Angela Marie has spent all of her thirty-five years on Meadow Falls, the farm that’s been in her Texas family for generations. It wasn’t her plan. It was an obligation. Now that her parents—less loving kin than strangers—have passed, the whole shebang belongs to Angela. And a legacy she never wanted is hers to uphold.

She can’t forsake it now. Her beloved nanny, Mandy, who was always more of a mother, needs a caregiver herself. And Mandy’s great-granddaughter, as close to Angela as a sister, has returned to roost. When a handsome veteran arrives seeking work as a farmhand, Angela thinks the future might not be half-bad after all.

But it’s the past that proves enlightening. Mandy is revealing secrets Angela never knew about her parents. As the clouds on her family history begin to part, the inheritance feels more like a precious gift, and Meadow Falls more like the home Angela’s been looking for her whole life.

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I love the down-home southern feel of Carolyn Brown's books and Meadow Falls did not disappoint in any way; awesome characters, a great storyline & all the feels.

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This is one of those books that going in you know is going to be predictable, so that didn't have much effect on my rating. My main issue with this was that there was just a lot of telling and not showing. A large portion of the backstory of Meadow Falls is told through dialogue and just felt like one huge info dump. I feel like the story could have been so much stronger if we seen all of those moments play out in flashbacks instead. I just felt myself not really caring and getting bored throughout most of it.

I would classify this book as mainly general women's fiction, but there was a small romance plot as well, and I felt like we never really got to know Devon as a person. It felt like he was just there solely to be a love interest for Angela Marie. Therefore, I had no investment in the relationship. It also moved too fast for my liking.

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An emotional novel about a small-town Texas family, forgiveness, and coming to terms with the past by New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown. Angela Marie has spent all of her thirty-five years on Meadow Falls, the farm that’s been in her Texas family for generations. It wasn’t her plan. It was an obligation. Now that her parents―less loving kin than strangers―have passed, the whole shebang belongs to Angela. And a legacy she never wanted is hers to uphold. She can’t forsake it now. Her beloved nanny, Mandy, who was always more of a mother, needs a caregiver herself. And Mandy’s great-granddaughter, as close to Angela as a sister, has returned to roost. This is a wonderful, typical Carolyn Brown novel, she's been writing forever and I always enjoy her books.

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Meadow Falls by Carolyn Brown is a beautiful domestic story about love, loss, family, disappointments, and acceptance.

Angela Marie has inherited her families peanut farm after her fathers death. She grew up on that farm and has lived there all her life. Not that she wanted to. What she really wanted to do was to go to college and get away from her town. But as her father's only heir, he kept her at the farm and she felt like she had no choice but to stay there and help. As she begins running the farm on her own, she invites her old nanny Mandy and Mandy's great-granddaughter Celeste into the home to help her. Mandy pretty much raised Angela and her love is pretty much all Angela has ever known. As Angela uncovers secrets and works hard to make this farm her own, Celeste and Angela encourage Mandy to tell them stories of their life on the farm.

This book reminded me of a Hallmark movie (in a good way!) and I think that anyone who enjoys a family tale mixed with a little romance with strong female characters will enjoy Meadow Falls by Carolyn Brown. This was my first novel by Ms. Brown and I'm excited to read more.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was such and engaging an wonderful read. I am more of mystery/murder reader. I needed something different so I chose this book. I am so glad I did! This was a sad and uplifting story about family drama and secrets. The small town was a character in and of itself. Highly recommend

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Meadow Falls was such a warm, wholesome read of family secrets, grief, and finding love. The characters were all wonderfully written along with the story. I absolutely adored Mandy (aka Granny), and love the journey Angela Marie went on to find herself. The fake dating to real dating romance that she had with Devon really made me smile. Truly, I was gushing just as much as Angela Marie was. Devon was such a charming and genuine person. The romance between them was sweet and fade to black so there was no overly spicy scenes which really didn't bother me as I just wanted a sweet romance and that was exactly what this was. A beautiful story.

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I've tried so many of Carolyn Browns books lately because the few I read last year I really loved. But this one just isn't keeping my attention. I plan to come back to it, I think its a matter of right book, wrong time!

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After the death of her last living relative, a woman in her mid-thirties realizes for the first time that she is free of her father’s stifling expectations and is free to be herself. What will she do with her life now?

Carolyn Brown is among my favorite authors and pretty much one that I barely glance at the blurb before reading. Much of the time, the reader gets light, heartwarming country charm full of multi-generational family and small town romance. But, every once in a while mingled among these is a book with all that, but a whole other thin layer of the bittersweet.

In the case of Meadow Falls, the bittersweet is the result of Angela Marie reaching the age of thirty-five, living at home and working the wealthy peanut farm that has been in the family for generations, but never once feeling love, acceptance, or approval from either of her recently deceased parents. Her mother died of cancer and her father most recently passed and theirs had been a cold marriage of convenience with Angela Marie experiencing that plus her own disconnect from both. Thank goodness Mandy the long-time nanny raised her on love and common sense.

This heavy feeling of sadness for what was and could have been permeates not just Angela Marie’s life, but also her best friend like a sister, her nanny’s great-granddaughter Celeste, another woman left unaccepted by either parent and reared by Mandy.

This could have felt dreary and depressing, but Angela Marie has old Mandy and soon Celeste is back home. Soon followed by Celeste’s army buddy, Devon, to work the farm as equipment manager with his bright outlook and friendly attractiveness that Angela Marie is determined to resist at first. Angela Marie discovers the healing and joy of found family and new chances.

But, what Angela Marie and Celeste find mostly are answers and eventual healing. Mandy is persuaded to finally give both women the answers to why they were emotionally abandoned as well as physically abandoned in Celeste’s case.

Mandy’s stories go back to the beginnings of the farm. The family saga for both women is spread out over the whole book so there is a past timeline in story form from Mandy as well as the current situation of Angela Marie, determined to move on and break the mold that has kept her family rigidly on a self-destructive course.

Meadow Falls moves from sadness to hope and, finally, to triumphant happiness, and I was carried along with it. Carolyn Brown outdoes herself and plunges into the emotional depths of life. A sure-thing read for women’s fiction fans who like a smidge of small town romance in the background.

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I know I say this every time about Carolyn Brown's books but she has small town and family stories as her forte! I absolutely get immersed in the small towns, they all sound so charming. I also immediately become protective of the characters in the story and want all the best for them throughout the story. I love knowing that happiness is coming in some way but the journey to get there is never the same. This story had messages that made me reflect and think about aspects of life in certain ways. Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake books for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

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I always appreciate Carolyn Brown’s work and this is no exception. Family secrets, tenuous friendships, mother-daughter relationships abound from the author you can depend on for a good story.

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Wow! Carolyn Brown out did herself writing Meadow Falls. In my opinion this is the best story she has ever written. With her exceptional prose she had me entirely hooked from the very beginning in this story about family, forgiveness, secrets, sorrow, love, and joy.

Brown gives us true to life characters whom you could not help but admire and root for. Mandy and Polly, two elderly women, shared their wisdom with Angela and Celeste since they were born, guiding them through life’s ups and downs. These moments in the story brought back many memories about the time I spent with my own childhood guardian and the wisdom she shared with me while I was growing up. Throughout this amazing heart-wrenching story I felt like I was there with everyone on the peanut farm called Meadow Falls, and I hated to say Goodbye when the story ended.

I received a complimentary copy from Montlake via NetGalley for an honest review. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review and all opinions are my own.

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"MEADOW FALLS" is a captivating contemporary tale by Carolyn Brown, drawing readers in from the start with its beautiful cover and engaging storytelling. The story follows Angela Marie, who has spent her life on a peanut farm without much love from her parents. As secrets unravel, Angela finds herself drawn to Devon, a new hired hand, while her friend Celeste navigates her own feelings for Jesse amidst a pending divorce. The narrative is filled with twists and turns, keeping readers hooked until the end. Carolyn Brown's heartfelt writing leaves readers with a smile and a happy heart, and the vivid characters feel like old friends. With its charming cast and compelling plot, "MEADOW FALLS" has the potential to captivate audiences on the big screen.

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A feel good read about Angela Manning and the inheritance of her family farm in a small town. A look at coming to terms with your past and the people in your past. Family secrets revealed and finding a way to happiness.

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This is an entertaining read about family, family mysteries and becoming who we are meant to be.

The story is about the main character, Angela Marie, figuring out who her parents were in their youth and how they were controlled by their parents. The story is about a peanut farm that has been in the family for years. So inheriting the farm is good for some and a big burden for others.

As Angela Marie learns about some of her family details she has a choice to make - forgive and start living her life or be hurt and sad about the past. Angela Marie learns that family is not all about blood, but about those we choose to love. She has some great friends in this book that she has had since childhood.

This book is about forgiveness that leads to true joy in life.

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I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for a honest review.
Meadow Falls by Carolyn Brown was not what I expected from Ms Brown, at first I wasn't sure I was going to even like this story. A few chapters later I was being pulled into the story and needed to know the secrets that were being revealed. In the end I found this to be a beautiful story that touched me deeply

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A rural country setting + southern charm + a likable cast of colorful characters + complicated family drama and family secrets + a compelling story + a side of sweet romance + thoughtful themes are all elements to love in Meadow Falls.

Carolyn Brown is on my list of dependable women’s fiction authors. I appreciate tender-hearted stories with substantial content, strong themes, and HEA endings!

Thanks #NetGalley Montlake Publishers for a complimentary eARC of #MeadowFalls upon my request. All opinions are my own.

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This book was really emotionally heavy. I love this author but this book was a hard read for me! Liked the book but I would have loved to have it wrapped up slower!

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Being open to love and change is a theme throughout Meadowfalls. The two main characters, Angela Marie and Celeste, work together to run a farm and figure out how to navigate their lives after major changes have occurred to each of them.

Though the plot was well conceptualized, and there was good character growth, the writing, and poor dialogue pulled the story down. Sometimes the conversations were way too simplistic, and others were just difficult to read. Overall, I was happy with the way the book ended, but I will need to do some research on other books the author has written to decide if I want to try again.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, and have written an objective review.

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MEADOW FALLS is a slow burn contemporary story that I was pulled in to from the very first page. To be honest, I fell in love with the cover the minute I saw it. I knew I would read it anyway, because I love Carolyn Brown, but the cover really pulled me in. I loved everything about this beautiful story and I’m excited to recommend it to my reading friends. Carolyn Brown always has a way of grabbing her readers and she never lets us go. MEADOW FALLS is the story of Angela Marie and how she has spent her whole life on her family peanut farm while never really being shown any love from her parents. There are many secrets that will be uncovered while reading this beautiful story and I loved every minute of it.

MEADOW FALLS really takes a turn that will have you unable to put this beautiful story down. Neither Angela or Celeste are looking for a relationship, but they can’t seem to ignore their growing feelings for the new men on the peanut farm. Angela is quite taken with Devon, her new hired hand. So here we have these two crossing paths and each time, there is a pull to see more of each other. This causes all sorts of rumors and gossip. Celeste is already dealing with the fallout of her impending divorce, but when Jesse arrives, she is smitten. Angela is now in charge of the farm as her father has passed away and she wants to change everything on it and about it. She feels the farm is cursed and it needs to change and it starts with her!

MEADOW FALLS is filled with twists and turns and had me staying up way too late one night to finish! I had to know where Carolyn Brown was taking us and what would happen to Angela and Celeste. There is so much heart in Carolyn’s writing that I’m always left with a huge smile on my face and my heart very happy. I could totally see MEADOW FALLS becoming a movie and I would love to see it. All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I’ve known them for a long time. I would love to hang out with Mandy and Polly. I’m sure they could teach me a thing or two and I know they would keep my laughing all day long! I love how Carolyn does that to me each and every time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

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