Carolyn Brown has been writing book for a long time and I've read many of them. They are always wholesome and happy endings. This one is no exception. A restless woman discovers the comforts of small-town Texas—and more—in a bighearted novel about the next chapters in life by New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown.
Unsure of the future but ready for risks, Libby O’Dell trades big-city life for whatever the back roads hold. In this case it’s the small community of Sawmill, Texas, where Libby’s taken a temporary job putting an antique store in order. Her new boss, Benny Taylor, a handsome charmer with a three-legged dog named Elvis, isn’t a bad change of scenery, either.
Across the street Benny’s surrogate grandmothers—the widows Minilee and Opal—are ready with homemade corn bread, sweet tea, and an invitation for Libby to join their book club. Even if it is mostly a gathering for local gossip and meddling. The ladies’ main agenda: find Benny a wife. Except Benny’s not looking, and Libby’s only passing through until she decides what direction she’s headed next.

aving been raised by her neglectful grandmother in her antique store, Libby vowed never to smell lemon oil again, and to absolutely, absolutely never step foot into another antique store. But when she is laid off from her big city accounting job, Libby travels to tiny Sawmill, TX and accepts a 6 month trial job for an antique dealer. Besides a job, she finds real friendship with the elderly neighbors Minilee and Opal who invite her to join their small bookclub, and she grows to trust them enough to share the truth about her past. Tatum, a spoiled twenty-something with an attitude and sights set on the handsome antique store owner, Benny, adds a bit of humor to the simple plot of girl meets boy. This is a quick, satisfying read, but I wished the book club vein was more than just superficial.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I am such a sucker for books about books or bookish things. This was such a fun read. I loved the found family aspects.

The Sawmill Book Club by Carolyn Brown. This was a fantastic story of love, romance, and surprise. I loved the setting of an antique store and a book club to bring about the story. Read it you will love it.

I enjoyed this sweet romance. People I could relate to with a perfect small town feel. Enjoyable to the end.

4.5 Stars: Libby O’Dell is tired of living in the big city, so she agrees to a six month temporary job in the small town of Sawmill, Texas, population 4. She has experience working in her her grandmother’s antique store and is ready to organize cabinets, shelves, boxes as well as clean out spiders and other unwelcome rodents. Her boss if Benny Taylor, a handsome man with a three-legged dog names Elvis. He travels to estate sales and auctions to populate his store. Minilee and Opal, live across the street and quickly become surrogate grandmothers to Libby. They convince Libby to join their book club with homemade treats, gossip, and book talk. There are a few others from a near by town that also join the group where they spend a lot of their time talking about Benny and trying to find him a wife. They zero in on Libby, but she doesn’t know where she is going to be in six months, so only wants to be friends, although there is a lot of chemistry there. Working through some unresolved anger at her grandmother, and trying to find her place in the world, keeps her mind occupied, but suddenly, she realizes that maybe, she and Benny might make a good team in more than just the store.

This is a Carolyn Brown romance, so you know where it will go and that there will be a happily ever after, but the fun in her books is getting there. This is a slow developing romance, but the story itself is not slow. It is fun, with quirky characters, laughs and two wonderful dogs. There is another woman who arrives, with her eyes on Benny, but the women keep her on the outs, knowing she is not the one for him. There is a secondary storyline that deals with Libby's past and her anger at her grandmother, so forgiveness is also part of this story. This is small town living where everyone knows each other and their business. It is full of friendship, gossip, some laughs, forgiveness, food and more. If you enjoy a clean, fun small town romance, then I recommend The Sawmill Book Club.

Thanks to NetGalley, Montlake, and the author for the chance to read this book.

This book is easy to read, but you will have to look past a few cliches and a very fast-moving romance.

The main character, Libby, has a lot to work through and does so with the help of her new neighbours and boss after moving away to an ultra small community.

The story is full of quirky characters who are ready to help and support each other while also meddling more than a little.

It was an enjoyable book but not overly deep and emotional for me.

This is a book about change and in it Libby O'Dell decides she needs a change from city life so moves to Sawmill, Texas and a part time job in an antiques store. And there she becomes friends with the very handsome and very available Benny Taylor (her new boss!).

And so you will see this is such a charming and easy to read book about new beginnings, change, friendship and of course romance. The characters are so sweet and the writing flows so effortlessly. I had no problems reading this in now time at all. A lovely read.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a good book. It is one that you will not want to stop reading. The two main characters are Libby and Benny. There is an instant attraction. Libby is be interviewed by Benny for a job at his family’s antique store. Libby gets the job. She was at her ropes end. She is doing the bookkeeping and sailing the antiques. They realize they have feelings for each other and start dating. They fall in love.

I received a free copy of, The Sawmill Book Club, by Carolyn Brown, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Libby O'Dell wants a change so she decides to move from the big city to a small town in Texas. Change is never easy, but Sawmill, Texas is growing on Libby. A nice read, good characters.

Tired of city living Libby O'Dell agrees to a temporary position at an antique shop in Sawmill, Texas.
Her new boss, handsome Benny Taylor, travels from town to town with his 3 legged dog seeking out antiques and other household items for his shop. Both unattached, they quickly become friends and then more.
A heart warming small town romance full of life, love and family.
Engaging characters and a flowing storyline.
I loved the path that Carolyn Brown creates of two very different people finding each other, love and a future together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

A sweet small town romance. Just the kind of book you'd expect from Carolyn Brown.

Great characters, the antique setting was fun, I loved the meddling neighbor ladies! Fast moving, quick easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

A sweet small town romance story, super small with a population of 4. Benny burnt out from his job as a lawyer returns to Sawmill. There he has many happy memories of times with his beloved grandfather. Being that he inherited his grandfather estate he makes a go running the Sawmill antiques, but business is overwhelming and help is desperately needed.
Libby life has gone downhill, her well meaning neighbor tells her about a job looking for a bookkeeper and knowledge of antiques. The last thing she wants to do, but needing a change and desperately needing a job, she drives the 5 hours and is offered not only the job, but a free tiny apartment. Not sure with her past ghosts if this will work out she signs a 6 month contract.
A fairly predictable story, think Hallmark movie. A enjoyable fast read, lovable meddling old ladies will make you laugh. Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC. #TheSawmillBookClub

This was a charming, small town story. I loved the relationships between the older women and the wisdom they passed along to the younger generation. I also liked that much of that wisdom was shared over books and food. This was an enjoyable read. Thanks #NetGalley #Montlake

What a sweet, cute small town romance!
I thoroughly loved reading The Sawmill Book Club.
The build up of the story was so engaging and pulled me in right away.
What to say about the characters? I loved all of them except for one. Once you read the book, you will know who that is!
Great characters
Cute dogs
Quirky senior women
Book club aspect is a big part of the story
Cozy romance
Antique information was very interesting
Carolyn Brown had me smiling. Laughing and shedding a few tears while reading this heartwarming novel.
Highly recommended!
Thanks NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Libby needs to make changes in her life, and on the advice of her elderly neighbor, she accepts a job in a town a distance away from her previous life. Libby has been a loner for most of her life, and a new location seems to be just what she needs to start again. Her new boss, Benny is not quite what Libby imagined, but she settles in to the new life and new challenges. The characters in the story are fun and interesting, They are also determined to find Benny a wife, and decide Libby, although a good person, is not who Benny needs, which suits Libby fine since she is not interested in marriage.

It's a lovely restful book. Perfect for a summer read that doesn't contain harsh language, or severe plot twists and turns.

Carolyn Brown does it again with a cozy romance that hits all the right notes. It’s an easy, quick read - perfect for summer.

After being laid off, a woman decides to look at a job offer at a country antique shop that takes her right back to the past she determinedly left behind. Finding solace, friendship and a little something more was like finding a rare treasure tucked back on the shelf. Carolyn Brown delivers once again with another heart-felt woman’s fiction featuring healing, friendship, and a dollop of romance.

The Sawmill Book Club is a standalone women’s fiction that introduces Libby, who starts out with a hard crust about her and a need to shift for herself. Slowly her dismal childhood is revealed, but at first, one learns she’s averse to anything having to do with antique shops or the region of Texas she once called home. Yet, here she has to contemplate returning to that old part of Texas for a really good job offer that she has a unique skill-set for at an antique shop whose owner also needs someone to keep the books.

The Sawmill Antique shop was once a sawmill and now it’s a small community of three, four if you count Benny’s old police dog with three legs. Libby has been a loner, but she doesn’t resist very hard when Benny, his dog, old widows Minilee and Opal draw her in with friendship and kind interest. They can all see she’s had something in her past to make her reserved, but give her the space to unbend to them slowly.

Meanwhile, meals with the others, book club with four old feisty gals, working the busy weekends selling antiques, straightening up Benny’s disaster of an office, hunting up antiques to sell, and fending off a would-be gold digger after Benny with a nice winding, running path along the river and a private apartment at the back of the old gas station provide the catharsis Libby needs to open up to life’s enjoyments, friendships, and a spot of romance with handsome sweet Benny.

As Libby’s story came out, my heart broke for the little girl who had her basic needs met by the grandmother who raised her, but often was left alone to fend for herself even developing night terrors and never shown an ounce of tender care or love. Her grandmother cared more for gambling with her friends and I was wary of finally finding out why the woman was so cold to her son’s child. Libby had a box that was sent her after her grandmother’s death and she wouldn’t open it for the longest time. Yes, part of me was curious if there would be an explanation, but part of me dreaded what it would be and how it would affect Libby’s new-found joy.

The backdrop elements of a book club with fun discussions and antiquing activities, mentions of the delicious meals, and even a fun farmer’s market were a fun and fascinating addition to the charming characters and the gently-paced plot.

The Sawmill Book Club was another comfy, satisfying read, full of simple life, friendship, down earth humor, and love that is Carolyn Brown’s specialty.

The cover and the title were what forst drew me to read this book. Unfortunately the book club part is very minimal in the story.

I liked the idea of following Libby on her journey of discovering where she fits in the world by moving to a small town and I initially loved the characters that she meets but it quickly became rather slow and at times a little bit boring.

Opal and Minilee are cute and exactly the grandmas you would expect from a small town but I found them quite a bit one dimensional after a while. They seemed to be there just to fill some gaps in the story. Same thing could be said for the dogs, but I enjoyed their little appearances.

Benny is a nice character but I would have loved to explore more of him and his personality. Libby is driving the story with her insecurities and fears but also her willingness to move on from the past. I liked their relationship but I expected more. They went from acquaintances to friends to lovers quite quickly. I’m used to other kind of romances so I was expecting some obstacles or plot twists that I never got.

Overall cute story, very slow in the first half and bit better in the second one. No spice so if that’s your vibe this could be for you. You have a bit of found family and for sure a lot of small town vibe. I really liked the antique store background for almost anyone in the books. I would recommend it if you’re into all of the above.

EXCERPT: The next sign she saw told her that she was traveling on a dead-end road. That was the gospel truth, she decided with a nod. Angels walking on a barbed wire fence and singing her favorite song couldn't make her work in an antique store for the rest of her life - especially not in this godforsaken place. At best, this was simply a stopover until she figured out exactly what she wanted to do with her life. She had lived thirty years in two ruts - one in Jefferson, Texas, until she was eighteen; the other in Austin, where she had worked at a boring job in a little cubicle for eight hours a day because it was secure.
'I am a stick-in-the mud,' she whispered. 'No wonder I can't hold on to a relationship. I'm as boring as yesterday's news.'

ABOUT 'THE SAWMILL BOOK CLUB': A restless woman discovers the comforts of small-town Texas—and more—in a bighearted novel about the next chapters in life by New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown.

Unsure of the future but ready for risks, Libby O’Dell trades big-city life for whatever the back roads hold. In this case it’s the small community of Sawmill, Texas, where Libby’s taken a temporary job putting an antique store in order. Her new boss, Benny Taylor, a handsome charmer with a three-legged dog named Elvis, isn’t a bad change of scenery, either.

Across the street Benny’s surrogate grandmothers—the widows Minilee and Opal—are ready with homemade corn bread, sweet tea, and an invitation for Libby to join their book club. Even if it is mostly a gathering for local gossip and meddling. The ladies’ main agenda: find Benny a wife. Except Benny’s not looking, and Libby’s only passing through until she decides what direction she’s headed next.

Truth is, Sawmill is starting to feel pretty nice. Benny, even nicer. Time will tell if this meantime job in a stopover town is just what Libby’s been looking for—and where she belongs.

MY THOUGHTS: I always get a warm feeling when I pick up a Carolyn Brown book - they are written with warmth, good sense and humor. What else could I want?

I have never lived in a town as small as four people and a three-legged dog, but I have sure driven through a few that fit that bill and wondered who on earth lived there and why. Carolyn Brown has given me my answer. And a beautiful, fun-filled answer it is.

One handsome owner of an antique store and a three-legged dog called Elvis, two well-intentioned, meddling old women and the blow-in, Libby. Luckily there are another couple of people from a nearby small town who come to book club, where it's not just the books that get discussed - it's a hotbed of gossip! The main topic of discussion is Benny and how to get him hooked up with Sally's granddaughter Tatum. Libby is warned off any romantic thoughts towards Benny very early on. He IS going to marry Tatum, whether he likes it or not!

Yes, I knew where this was going, but the journey to get there is wonderful. There is an abundance of beautiful moments to treasure, a few sparks flying, great food and the occasional giggle to round out an entertaining reading experience.

My favorite quote from this book: Forgive, forget, learn the lesson and move on with no regrets.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#TheSawmillBookClub #NetGalley.

THE AUTHOR: I love writing romance because it's about emotions and relationships. Human nature hasn't changed a bit since Eve coveted the fruit in the Garden of Eden. Settings change. Plots change. Names change. Times change. But love is love and men and women have been falling in and out of it forever. Romance is about emotions: love, hate, anger, laughter... all of it. If I can make you laugh until your sides ache or grab a tissue then I've touched your emotions and accomplished what every writer sets out to do.
Folks ask me where I get my ideas. Three kids, fifteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren. Note: I was a very young grandmother! Life is a zoo around here when they all come home. In one Sunday afternoon there's enough ideas to keep me writing for years and years. Seriously, ideas pop up at the craziest times. When one sinks its roots into my mind, I have no choice but to write the story. And while I'm writing the characters peek over my shoulder and make sure I'm telling it right and not exaggerating too much. Pesky little devils, they are!

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Montlake via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Sawmill Book Club for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.