This is the story of a young woman who moves 300 miles to start a new job working in an antique shop and falls in love with the owner.

Sadly, none of the characters appeared very realistic. Libby packs up everything she owns and drives 300 miles for an interview, based on the recommendation of her elderly neighbour. There was no guarantee she would like the place or even get the job.

Then there’s the two elderly neighbours. I get being friendly and welcoming but they practically live in each other’s pockets.

Throw into the mix the handsome, wealthy antique store owner and you have the recipe for a predictable romance. There wasn’t so much as a misunderstanding between them or any “will they, won’t they”.

Libby has had a traumatic past but she manages to get over that pretty easily with a bit of advice from the neighbours and two other members of their regular book club, helped in part by her life mirroring that of the characters in the books they read. A good, inspirational quote seems to turn up just when it’s needed.

The conversation at times felt forced and on one occasion I laughed out loud at how contrived the dialogue was in order to move the story on. Maybe folks do have conversations like that in parts of the USA, but if they do, I have no desire to visit there.

All in all, an inoffensive but uninspiring story.

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

My review.
☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️

This book releases on july 9th 2024.

Women's/ Fiction romances Of the best kind.
Carolyn Brown Books are the absolute best.
small town stories are where it's at.
You get to know your characters. You feel like you're right at home with each and every One.

Just another phenomenal story.
Miss brown writes the best. You get the best Of both worlds in her books.

Absolutely. Love this one as I have with every book i've read of hers.

Two worlds brought together, Similar past they didn't know about. Everything wraps up perfectly. Two lost souls. And of course let's not forget dogs 🐕 Anytime a book has the dogs in it It's an awesome story.
Dogs make a book more wonderful.
Elvis was a bonus..🐾

I highly recommend it because well, it's an amazing story.

I was in need of a quick and easy read with a feel-good story. The Sawmill Book Club fit the bill completely. I just fell into this story with the charming characters each with a story to tell.

Libby grew up at her grandmother's antique store and she was not very nice to Libby. Libby sworn she did not want to work in an antique shop ever again. After getting laid off from her job Libby up and leaves Austin and moves to Sawmill, Texas to take a job in an antique shop. She just needs some change in her life to reflect. When she arrives at her job interview, she meets Benny. Benny was an attorney but he had enough of the corporate world and moved to run his grandfather’s antique shop. Benny knows that Libby is everything he needs to run the shop successfully. Life at the antique shop is very hard work, but Libby loves everything about it. Her and Benny work together great and become friends and then she meets the sweet old ladies, Opal and Minilee that live across the street. You will not regret reading this sweet small town romance.

This was an absolute gem of a story, and the authors gifted us with the sweetest epilogue.

Life and love in a small town. Libby is trying to reset and so takes a job working for Benny in Sawmill Texas. She bonds with his dog Elvis first and then with the older women who comprise the book club (which by the way, isn't as prominent in the plot as the title would lead you to believe). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a gentle love story that won't surprise you but sometimes that's just the thing you need.

This is a heartwarming story about a young woman making a fresh start in her life. It’s wonderful!
Libby a single woman, decides to be brave and make a new life for herself. After working ten years in a soulless job, she is urged on by her friends to take a job far away in the back of beyond in Texas. She decides to go back to a job she did in her grandmother’s antique store. Her friend Dolly, while on a trip with friends, sees a sign asking for a book keeper/shop assistant to work in a large antique store in a secluded area. After enquiring about the job, she finds out that accommodation goes with the job. Perfect for Libby. The fact the owner is good looking is an added bonus!
So Libby goes for her interview, finds she wants the job and after signing the contract finds herself excited about the future. Something she hasn’t been excited about for a long time.
I really really loved the characters, the doggies and the country way of looking after people. Poor Libby has a lot to contend with after having a rocky childhood with a difficult grandmother, but she wants a better life. She’ll definitely have a good chance of making that happen!!
Many thanks to Montlake for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley.
#Netgalley, #MontlakeRomance, #CarolineBrownBooks.

This is a great summer read, a feel good story.

Libby has never felt loved. She has no more blood relatives. The last one alive, her grandmother, never showed her any love, and spent all the money that was meant for Libby and her education. Libby has several close friends, however. They encourage her to apply for a job at an antiques shop in the literal middle of nowhere. But she knows antiques, she knows book keeping and office management, so she is the perfect fit. The job also offers a rent-free apartment. It turns out the town has only 3 real residents.

The book has a minimum of a plot, but the characters are wonderful and the storyline is simple and gratifying. I enjoyed reading the book and for someone who is looking for a sweet story, I highly recommend this book.

This is a light/breezy read centered around Libby who leaves a big city to work at an antique store in Sawmill, Texas - population 4. Two older ladies also live in the area and invite Libby to join their book club, and every day lives, as they get to know Libby and determine the best interests of Benny who owns the antique store. This storyline is a familiar trope, and results in a happy read.

Libby and Benny are two separate people who trade big city living and stressful careers for small town life. They fall in love with the town, the people in it and each other. Can they put their pasts behind them and start a new life and family together? I love small towns and I love this book. Thanks @NetGalley for the ARC of this book! I enjoyed it.

This is a very sweet slow burn romance, with no open door sex scenes, but a whole load of friendship and understanding. There are a variety of ancillary characters, and a few red herrings that make the read expect more twists and turns than there actually are. It’s a book suitable for all ages, with no themes that would be too adult, and no expletives. It’s just a good old fashioned small town romance, with rich character back stories

Starting over in a new location after being made redundant takes a lot of courage. Libby has never had a close family relationship .
Nursing hurts from the relationships Libby is wary of new friendships and relationships.
Can meeting and working with Benny be the start of something wonderful or the worst thing ever? Dating the boss doesn't always work but can it make them both happy?
A book that will make you smile and value the good relationships in your life.

The Sawmill Book Club, is a wonderful women's novel with a little romance thrown in for good measure. Libby is a very strong lady. Growing up the way she did made her stronger. She has a lot of fears but is willing to overcome them. Benny is happy with his life and his job. He doesn't think that he needed someone to share it with because most women want him for his money. Libby is a complete opposite of what he usually dates. I loved the chemistry that they shared.

This is a Women's Fiction/Romance. I loved all the characters in this book, and I loved getting to know all the characters. This book had me from the first page, and I did not want to put it down. I really loved this book so much. There were cute moments, old women that got into everyone's business, and cute dogs ... what more do you need in a book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

This is the sweetest read about a young woman finding herself in a charming small town. The characters are richly drawn to the setting, the hint of romance done to perfection and the setting atmospheric and enjoyable to read. This is the perfect summer read to transport the reader to small town life and the courage of a young woman starting her life anew. You will love the Grandmothers and their endless contributions of foods to delight every reader. Add in the book club and this is the perfect read. I loved this book as it truly is the most enjoyable read. Well done to the author.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and to the author. My review opinions are my own.

The Sawmill Book Club was a very wholesome story of growth, healing, and facing your fears. I really hoped for more from the main characters. Their relationship didn't feel like it had much chemistry and just felt boring. A very closed door slow burn romance story.

3.5 star rating. Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy for my honest review.

Libby O'Dell, weary of city life and jobless, hears from her neighbor Dolly about an opening in Sawmills for a bookkeeper and antiques specialist. Having grown up in her grandmother's antique shop, Libby is familiar with the trade. Her new employer, Benny Taylor, is surprisingly younger than she anticipated. Benny, a former high-powered attorney, now manages his grandfather's antique shop. Libby agrees to a six-month contract in the small town of Sawmills.

Two senior ladies residing in Sawmills maintain all store's dusting and tend a nearby garden. Benny's pet, a three-legged dog named Elvis, was previously owned by his best friend. Although Libby was raised in her grandmother's loveless home and initially reluctant to pursue a career in antiques, she discovers a newfound enjoyment in her work and Benny's company.

Carolyn Brown captivates with her delightful storytelling, engaging readers from the very first page. I wholeheartedly recommend all of her books.

This is another amazing book by Carolyn Brown. Libby's life is ready for a change, and her friend, tells her about a job, in Sawmill, Texas, and she applies. When she goes for an interview, she would be leaving the big city for a very small town, but she is offered the job on a 6-month trial and decides to take the job. She never felt like she knew who she was or where she belonged in the city, or growing up, so she is surprised when she is living in Sawmill. The book is her journey from when she was young to who she is today. Along the way, there are tears, her journey connects friendships, learning lessons, and she was surprised, that there was laughter, and a feeling of belonging. After moving to Sawmill, her journey connects with Benny, and his surrogate grandmothers, the widows Minilee and Opal, journey. Life does change for them, and it makes for some interesting reading. I loved the story, and found such a connection with them. I loved how they each talked to themselves, made me feel right at home.
I received an ARC from Montlake through NetGalley.

Honestly, this is a book that you read because of the title and the cover. Taking judging a book by its cover to the next level over here. The story is set in a small town in Texas, around a young girl who begins a book club with two widowers.
The story did become repetitive, and because of that it got difficult to read and the ending was very easy to predict. However, where this book lacks in some areas Brown does make up in her writing style.
This would be a good read for someone looking for a quick feel-good small-town romance.

I can always count on a Carolyn Brown book to be the relaxing escape that I need when I am stressed! Libby and Benny were made for each other. I loved how they seemed to have so much fun just being together. Opal and Minilee also add an amusing dimension to the story. I’m just glad that Opal gave up on Benny and Tatum getting together! I’m happy to add this book to my 5-star list.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely love Carolyn Brown. I have been reading her books for years and I still love the after all this time. This was another quick and easy read. I love how she draws you in right from the start and keeps you entertained until the end. I love how she writes about small towns. She makes you feel like you are there with these characters. I live in a small town so I always feel warm and fuzzy while reading her books. Her characters are well written. If your looking for a feel good book, then pick this one up and ENJOY! I would definitely recommend this book and her other books.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

This was a fun easy read. Perfect as a palette cleanser in-between reading darker themed books. Well written and enjoyable. Thank you for the chance to read this ARC