What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sandcastle Hurricane
Family, wounded hearts, and a Texas bed-and-breakfast are in need of repair in New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown’s inviting novel about down-home comfort and second chances.
Cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae are due for a change. Running their aunt’s beachfront bed-and-breakfast in Sandcastle, Texas, is just the thing to shake things up…though their lives spin out of control in more ways than one when a hurricane barrels into the coastline. It’s a miracle it didn’t carry them off to Kansas. Not so lucky are the assisted-living center and a small eclectic group of local folks who take shelter with the cousins.
Two estranged sisters, rowdy as a circus, need a referee for a battle that goes back decades. And a pair of veterans, best friends for years, hash out bittersweet old times. There’s also handyman Alex LaSalle and his business partner, Ricky, experts at repairing the hurricane’s damage—and at making Tabby’s and Ellie Mae’s hearts beat a little faster.
As unpredictable, crowded, and stormy as it gets, the Sandcastle B and B is still the perfect harbor for healing past wounds, finding romance, and making up for lost time. Add in Tabby’s homemade pecan pie, and the Texas shore feels like a little slice of paradise.
Cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae are due for a change. Running their aunt’s beachfront bed-and-breakfast in Sandcastle, Texas, is just the thing to shake things up…though their lives spin out of control in more ways than one when a hurricane barrels into the coastline. It’s a miracle it didn’t carry them off to Kansas. Not so lucky are the assisted-living center and a small eclectic group of local folks who take shelter with the cousins.
Two estranged sisters, rowdy as a circus, need a referee for a battle that goes back decades. And a pair of veterans, best friends for years, hash out bittersweet old times. There’s also handyman Alex LaSalle and his business partner, Ricky, experts at repairing the hurricane’s damage—and at making Tabby’s and Ellie Mae’s hearts beat a little faster.
As unpredictable, crowded, and stormy as it gets, the Sandcastle B and B is still the perfect harbor for healing past wounds, finding romance, and making up for lost time. Add in Tabby’s homemade pecan pie, and the Texas shore feels like a little slice of paradise.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2022
2423 people are currently reading
4314 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Brown
182 books4,131 followersHi! I'm twenty five years old and movie star gorgeous. The camera added thirty plus years and a few wrinkles. Can't trust those cameras or mirrors either. Along with bathroom scales they are notorious liars! Honestly, I am the mother of three fantastic grown children who've made me laugh and given me more story ideas than I could ever write. My husband, Charles, is my strongest supporter and my best friend. He's even willing to eat fast food and help with the laundry while I finish one more chapter! Life is good and I am blessed!
Reading has been a passion since I was five years old and figured out those were words on book pages. As soon as my chubby little fingers found they could put words on a Big Chief tablet with a fat pencil, I was on my way. Writing joined reading in my list of passions. I will read anything from the back of the Cheerio's box to Faulkner and love every bit of it. In addition to reading I enjoy cooking, my family and the ocean. I love the Florida beaches. Listening to the ocean waves puts my writing brain into high gear.
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.
I got serious about writing when my third child was born and had her days and nights mixed up. I had to stay up all night anyway and it was very quiet so I invested in a spiral back notebook and sharpened a few pencils. The story that emerged has never sold but it's brought in enough rejection slips to put the Redwood Forest on the endangered list. In 1997 Kensington bought two books for their Precious Gems line. Two years and six books later the line died with only four of those books seeing publication. But by then Avalon had bought a book and another, and another. Ten years later the list has grown to thirty nine. Last year Sourcebooks bought the Lucky Series which is in the bookstores now. They've also bought The Honky Tonk Series which will debut with I LOVE THIS BAR in June and will be followed by HELL, YEAH, MY GIVE A DAMN'S BUSTED, and HONKY TONK CHRISTMAS.
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!
I have a wonderful agent, Erin Niumata, who continues to work magic and sell my work. I'm very lucky to have her and my editors who continue to believe in me.
Happy reading!
Reading has been a passion since I was five years old and figured out those were words on book pages. As soon as my chubby little fingers found they could put words on a Big Chief tablet with a fat pencil, I was on my way. Writing joined reading in my list of passions. I will read anything from the back of the Cheerio's box to Faulkner and love every bit of it. In addition to reading I enjoy cooking, my family and the ocean. I love the Florida beaches. Listening to the ocean waves puts my writing brain into high gear.
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.
I got serious about writing when my third child was born and had her days and nights mixed up. I had to stay up all night anyway and it was very quiet so I invested in a spiral back notebook and sharpened a few pencils. The story that emerged has never sold but it's brought in enough rejection slips to put the Redwood Forest on the endangered list. In 1997 Kensington bought two books for their Precious Gems line. Two years and six books later the line died with only four of those books seeing publication. But by then Avalon had bought a book and another, and another. Ten years later the list has grown to thirty nine. Last year Sourcebooks bought the Lucky Series which is in the bookstores now. They've also bought The Honky Tonk Series which will debut with I LOVE THIS BAR in June and will be followed by HELL, YEAH, MY GIVE A DAMN'S BUSTED, and HONKY TONK CHRISTMAS.
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!
I have a wonderful agent, Erin Niumata, who continues to work magic and sell my work. I'm very lucky to have her and my editors who continue to believe in me.
Happy reading!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
November 24, 2022
EXCERPT: Rising out of the rocky and sandy beach right across the EastBay of southeastern Texas and the Bolivar Peninsula, the Sandcastle Inn had a stone seawall in front of it that had been built with the same gray stones as the house. With twelve-foot ceilings in every room, the inn stood like a tall and proud sentinel keeping watch over the small beach town of Sandcastle. A wide porch wrapped all the way around the first floor and provided a catwalk for the rooms on the second story. Three of the bedrooms faced the Gulf of Mexico - or 'the ocean' as Aunt Charlotte called it - and two had a view of the old barn at the back of the property. The house had been home to generations of Landrys, was on the register of historical homes, and had survived more than one hurricane.
ABOUT 'THE SANDCASTLE HURRICANE': Cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae are due for a change. Running their aunt’s beachfront bed-and-breakfast in Sandcastle, Texas, is just the thing to shake things up…though their lives spin out of control in more ways than one when a hurricane barrels into the coastline. It’s a miracle it didn’t carry them off to Kansas. Not so lucky are the assisted-living center and a small eclectic group of local folks who take shelter with the cousins.
Two estranged sisters, rowdy as a circus, need a referee for a battle that goes back decades. And a pair of veterans, best friends for years, hash out bittersweet old times. There’s also handyman Alex LaSalle and his business partner, Ricky, experts at repairing the hurricane’s damage—and at making Tabby’s and Ellie Mae’s hearts beat a little faster.
As unpredictable, crowded, and stormy as it gets, the Sandcastle B and B is still the perfect harbor for healing past wounds, finding romance, and making up for lost time. Add in Tabby’s homemade pecan pie, and the Texas shore feels like a little slice of paradise.
MY THOUGHTS: Another heart-warming fun read from Carolyn Brown.
Families - the reason for our existence - the bain of our lives. The Sandcastle Hurricane is a good reminder that parents need to let their children pick their own paths in life; that children are not there to fulfil their parents unrealised dreams, desires and potential.
As always Brown tugs at the heart-strings and I became fully invested in the characters and their outcomes. Two young women who have known much, if different, heart-ache - cousins Tabby and Ellie-Mae - also have precarious relationships with those who should be their nearest and dearest and rely on each other for support and friendship with Aunt Charlotte as back-up. Their plans for the B&B are hi-jacked by a group of residents from a nearby assisted-living facility evacuated to the B&B when their facility is under threat from Hurricane Delilah. The four are made up of Chloe and Maude who are constantly at war, and Homer and Frank who had served in Vietnam together, and then been business partners. What a foursome! The asides between Maude and Chloe had me laughing out loud, while Frank and Homer are the voices of reason - most of the time. Alex and Ricky are the cherries on top - blown in by the hurricane. Who says an ill wind never blows any good?
The Sandcastle Hurricane is a delightful, heart-warming read about taking the chances offered and not closing off either your heart or mind to change. It deals with grief, various forms of loss, the healing properties of pets, and families - the good, the bad, and the downright ugly!
⭐⭐⭐.8
TheSandcastleHurricane #NetGalley
I: @carolynbrownbooks #montlake
T: @thecarolynbrown #Montlake
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #romance #womensfiction
THE AUTHOR: Hi! I'm twenty five years old and movie star gorgeous. The camera added thirty plus years and a few wrinkles. Can't trust those cameras or mirrors either. Along with bathroom scales they are notorious liars! Honestly, I am the mother of three fantastic grown children who've made me laugh and given me more story ideas than I could ever write. My husband, Charles, is my strongest supporter and my best friend. He's even willing to eat fast food and help with the laundry while I finish one more chapter! Life is good and I am blessed!
Reading has been a passion since I was five years old and figured out those were words on book pages. As soon as my chubby little fingers found they could put words on a Big Chief tablet with a fat pencil, I was on my way. Writing joined reading in my list of passions. I will read anything from the back of the Cheerio's box to Faulkner and love every bit of it. In addition to reading I enjoy cooking, my family and the ocean. I love the Florida beaches. Listening to the ocean waves puts my writing brain into high gear.
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.
I got serious about writing when my third child was born and had her days and nights mixed up. I had to stay up all night anyway and it was very quiet so I invested in a spiral back notebook and sharpened a few pencils. The story that emerged has never sold but it's brought in enough rejection slips to put the Redwood Forest on the endangered list.
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 Sandcastle Hurricane by Carolyn Brown for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT 'THE SANDCASTLE HURRICANE': Cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae are due for a change. Running their aunt’s beachfront bed-and-breakfast in Sandcastle, Texas, is just the thing to shake things up…though their lives spin out of control in more ways than one when a hurricane barrels into the coastline. It’s a miracle it didn’t carry them off to Kansas. Not so lucky are the assisted-living center and a small eclectic group of local folks who take shelter with the cousins.
Two estranged sisters, rowdy as a circus, need a referee for a battle that goes back decades. And a pair of veterans, best friends for years, hash out bittersweet old times. There’s also handyman Alex LaSalle and his business partner, Ricky, experts at repairing the hurricane’s damage—and at making Tabby’s and Ellie Mae’s hearts beat a little faster.
As unpredictable, crowded, and stormy as it gets, the Sandcastle B and B is still the perfect harbor for healing past wounds, finding romance, and making up for lost time. Add in Tabby’s homemade pecan pie, and the Texas shore feels like a little slice of paradise.
MY THOUGHTS: Another heart-warming fun read from Carolyn Brown.
Families - the reason for our existence - the bain of our lives. The Sandcastle Hurricane is a good reminder that parents need to let their children pick their own paths in life; that children are not there to fulfil their parents unrealised dreams, desires and potential.
As always Brown tugs at the heart-strings and I became fully invested in the characters and their outcomes. Two young women who have known much, if different, heart-ache - cousins Tabby and Ellie-Mae - also have precarious relationships with those who should be their nearest and dearest and rely on each other for support and friendship with Aunt Charlotte as back-up. Their plans for the B&B are hi-jacked by a group of residents from a nearby assisted-living facility evacuated to the B&B when their facility is under threat from Hurricane Delilah. The four are made up of Chloe and Maude who are constantly at war, and Homer and Frank who had served in Vietnam together, and then been business partners. What a foursome! The asides between Maude and Chloe had me laughing out loud, while Frank and Homer are the voices of reason - most of the time. Alex and Ricky are the cherries on top - blown in by the hurricane. Who says an ill wind never blows any good?
The Sandcastle Hurricane is a delightful, heart-warming read about taking the chances offered and not closing off either your heart or mind to change. It deals with grief, various forms of loss, the healing properties of pets, and families - the good, the bad, and the downright ugly!
⭐⭐⭐.8
TheSandcastleHurricane #NetGalley
I: @carolynbrownbooks #montlake
T: @thecarolynbrown #Montlake
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #romance #womensfiction
THE AUTHOR: Hi! I'm twenty five years old and movie star gorgeous. The camera added thirty plus years and a few wrinkles. Can't trust those cameras or mirrors either. Along with bathroom scales they are notorious liars! Honestly, I am the mother of three fantastic grown children who've made me laugh and given me more story ideas than I could ever write. My husband, Charles, is my strongest supporter and my best friend. He's even willing to eat fast food and help with the laundry while I finish one more chapter! Life is good and I am blessed!
Reading has been a passion since I was five years old and figured out those were words on book pages. As soon as my chubby little fingers found they could put words on a Big Chief tablet with a fat pencil, I was on my way. Writing joined reading in my list of passions. I will read anything from the back of the Cheerio's box to Faulkner and love every bit of it. In addition to reading I enjoy cooking, my family and the ocean. I love the Florida beaches. Listening to the ocean waves puts my writing brain into high gear.
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.
I got serious about writing when my third child was born and had her days and nights mixed up. I had to stay up all night anyway and it was very quiet so I invested in a spiral back notebook and sharpened a few pencils. The story that emerged has never sold but it's brought in enough rejection slips to put the Redwood Forest on the endangered list.
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 Sandcastle Hurricane by Carolyn Brown for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 8, 2022
Tabby and Ellie Mae Landry are cousins, their aunt Charlotte has moved out of her beachfront bed-and-breakfast in Sandcastle on the Southern Coast of Texas, and her nieces have taken over the family business. The cousins have recently experienced devastating losses, they need a change, and they have fond childhood memories of staying with their aunt Charlotte at Sandcastle.
A hurricane called Delilah is quickly approaching, when Tabby and Ellie Mae receive a call from aunt Charlotte, she’s sending Alex LaSale's to help them prepare for the storm, and he’s bringing four residents from the assisted living center with him, as they have no family, and it’s not safe for them to stay in the building.
Alex arrives with Frank, Homer, Maude and Cleo, and they prepare to batten down the hatches. Frank and Homer are Vietnam War veterans and best friends, both are sweet and kind older gentlemen, Cleo is rather eccentric and she and the very proper Maude don’t get along. Tabby and Ellie Mae are shocked to discover Cleo and Maude are sisters, Cleo ran off, and joined a carnival sixty years ago and Maude has never forgiven her.
They survive the hurricane, many of the buildings in town don’t, and the four guests are invited to stay at Sandcastle bed-and-breakfast longer. Alex and his friend Ricky Benoit start repairing the hurricane damage, while Tammy, Ellie Mae, Maude and Cleo start working on the issues from their pasts.
I received a copy of The Sandcastle Hurricane by Carolyn Brown from NetGalley and Montlake publishing in exchange for an honest review. It’s a story about a group of people being brought together during a natural disaster, and the motto “you don’t meet people by accident, there’s always a reason, a lesson or a blessing” is true in this case. The well written and thoughtful narrative is about overcoming loss, grief, hurt, fresh starts and new romances, having fun and the joy of owning a pet, age is just a number and you don’t have to be related to become a family. Five stars from me, the first book I have read by Carolyn Brown and it won’t be my last.
A hurricane called Delilah is quickly approaching, when Tabby and Ellie Mae receive a call from aunt Charlotte, she’s sending Alex LaSale's to help them prepare for the storm, and he’s bringing four residents from the assisted living center with him, as they have no family, and it’s not safe for them to stay in the building.
Alex arrives with Frank, Homer, Maude and Cleo, and they prepare to batten down the hatches. Frank and Homer are Vietnam War veterans and best friends, both are sweet and kind older gentlemen, Cleo is rather eccentric and she and the very proper Maude don’t get along. Tabby and Ellie Mae are shocked to discover Cleo and Maude are sisters, Cleo ran off, and joined a carnival sixty years ago and Maude has never forgiven her.
They survive the hurricane, many of the buildings in town don’t, and the four guests are invited to stay at Sandcastle bed-and-breakfast longer. Alex and his friend Ricky Benoit start repairing the hurricane damage, while Tammy, Ellie Mae, Maude and Cleo start working on the issues from their pasts.
I received a copy of The Sandcastle Hurricane by Carolyn Brown from NetGalley and Montlake publishing in exchange for an honest review. It’s a story about a group of people being brought together during a natural disaster, and the motto “you don’t meet people by accident, there’s always a reason, a lesson or a blessing” is true in this case. The well written and thoughtful narrative is about overcoming loss, grief, hurt, fresh starts and new romances, having fun and the joy of owning a pet, age is just a number and you don’t have to be related to become a family. Five stars from me, the first book I have read by Carolyn Brown and it won’t be my last.
November 8, 2022
Aunt Charlotte gives her two adult nieces her Bed and Breakfast at Sandcastle Texas and packs up and moves away. No sooner do Tabby Landry and Ellie Mae Landry move in than Hurricane Delilah comes to town. As if that isn’t bad enough Aunt Charlotte takes it on her self to invite some old people from a nearby assisted living center to come and stay at the B&B during the hurricane and in the following weeks until electricity is restored and repairs are made to the center. Then two good looking men come to help out at the B&B and clean up debris from the hurricane. Find out how that works out for Tabby and Ellie Mae who just arrived at their new home a week before the hurricane.
I had always wanted to try a book written by Carolyn Brown and this was the first of her books that I have read. Unfortunately I wasn’t completely drawn into this book as I hoped I would be. I have never really enjoyed books that had cussing and taking Jesus’s name in vain. I thought there was a little too much mention of unmarried couples sleeping together. I had read the books description and there was no mention that these would be a part of the story. I thought it was very interesting the way the author gave her readers a look into the eye of a hurricane. Both Tabby and Ellie Mae grieved the sudden loss of a loved one and packing up and moving was really a turning point in their lives. The book points out that family doesn’t always mean you are blood relatives. Also that Hurricane Delilah had a silver lining in its wake.
Readers of women's fiction and fans of the author will enjoy this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
#SandcastleHurricane#NetGalley
I had always wanted to try a book written by Carolyn Brown and this was the first of her books that I have read. Unfortunately I wasn’t completely drawn into this book as I hoped I would be. I have never really enjoyed books that had cussing and taking Jesus’s name in vain. I thought there was a little too much mention of unmarried couples sleeping together. I had read the books description and there was no mention that these would be a part of the story. I thought it was very interesting the way the author gave her readers a look into the eye of a hurricane. Both Tabby and Ellie Mae grieved the sudden loss of a loved one and packing up and moving was really a turning point in their lives. The book points out that family doesn’t always mean you are blood relatives. Also that Hurricane Delilah had a silver lining in its wake.
Readers of women's fiction and fans of the author will enjoy this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
#SandcastleHurricane#NetGalley
July 1, 2025
Although there are ten years between cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae they are close like sisters. Aunt Charlotte has decided they need a change and has left running her beachfront bed and breakfast in Sandcaste Texas to the pair. It sounds an ideal change. Until a hurricane named Delilah hits the area. With that hurricane approaching and a phone call from Aunt Charlotte Tabby and Ellie Mae suddenly find themselves providing shelter for Cleo and Maude two old age pensioners who fight like cat and dog, and Frank and Homer two Vietnam war veterans who are best friends. Aunt Charlotte also sends Alex, to help them prepare for the hurricane. Alex is happy to help caretake, cook, whatever is needed to be helpful. He is so different to Tabby’s ex husband James who had very definite ideas about what men did and didn’t do and treated Tabby like a servant during their marriage. The death of their sixteen year old daughter was the final nail in the coffin of their marriage. Tabby is not ready to trust any man again. Ellie Mae is also grieving the death of her best friend Sam, who she flatted with and who her father refused to acknowledge or welcome into their home because of his skin colour.
So, a story of grieving, family, racism, friendship, romance and blessings that sometimes come from disaster bringing the most unlikely people together. Sometimes family is drawn together by circumstances and personalities rather than by blood ties.
This is an enjoyable story with some quirky characters, of which Cleo is one. Her antics provide amusement, as do the feline and canine critters that appear. At times it gets a bit repetitive or just a little too convenient perhaps, but on the whole a heart warming story that I enjoyed, peopled with characters I cared about. A great setting also helped.
A good bit of light fun that manages to be thought provoking at times. It made me glad I don’t live in a hurricane area.
So, a story of grieving, family, racism, friendship, romance and blessings that sometimes come from disaster bringing the most unlikely people together. Sometimes family is drawn together by circumstances and personalities rather than by blood ties.
This is an enjoyable story with some quirky characters, of which Cleo is one. Her antics provide amusement, as do the feline and canine critters that appear. At times it gets a bit repetitive or just a little too convenient perhaps, but on the whole a heart warming story that I enjoyed, peopled with characters I cared about. A great setting also helped.
A good bit of light fun that manages to be thought provoking at times. It made me glad I don’t live in a hurricane area.
November 17, 2022
3.5 Stars
August 20, 2023
The Sandcastle Hurricane was such a sweet book that brought out all my emotions.
Carolyn Brown delivered a multi layered story, with an eclectic group of characters.
They are all very different people, different ages, backgrounds and life experiences, but they will come together, helping each other while they wait for the hurricane to pass.
I was so glad to go on this journey with them, I had the pleasure to see them change and grow up.
If you like heartwarming stories you really need to read this novel, and to keep this author on your radar.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for kindly giving me an advanced copy of this book to read.
October 9, 2022
I don’t live in an area where we’ve experienced hurricanes nor where natural disaster evacuations have been necessary, so I was wrapped up in the preparations the folks in Sandcastle were taking to avoid complete disaster. I can understand how in the panic and race against time, the most vulnerable among us can be overlooked because one of the most affected groups of the pandemic has been the elderly. It was nice to see an author focus on a section of society not often the focus of popular novels.
Author Carolyn Brown invites us to Sandcastle, Texas where cousins, Tabby and Ellie May, are running their aunt’s beachfront B & B when Hurricane Delilah forces the evacuation of an assisted-living facility and four residents take shelter at the cousins’ establishment.
I loved the spunk and breath of fresh air that Cleo, Maude, Homer and Frank brought to the seaside B & B! After the hurricane passes and the damage is assessed, the broken relationships are mended and the buildings in Sandcastle are repaired. It was a good reminder that we all need each other, kindness is King, and that sometimes adversity is a necessary teacher. I loved the message about working through grief, burying past hurts and working together.
A heartwarming book about fixable damage and the true meaning of family needs to be on your reading list.
I was gifted this copy by Montlake and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Author Carolyn Brown invites us to Sandcastle, Texas where cousins, Tabby and Ellie May, are running their aunt’s beachfront B & B when Hurricane Delilah forces the evacuation of an assisted-living facility and four residents take shelter at the cousins’ establishment.
I loved the spunk and breath of fresh air that Cleo, Maude, Homer and Frank brought to the seaside B & B! After the hurricane passes and the damage is assessed, the broken relationships are mended and the buildings in Sandcastle are repaired. It was a good reminder that we all need each other, kindness is King, and that sometimes adversity is a necessary teacher. I loved the message about working through grief, burying past hurts and working together.
A heartwarming book about fixable damage and the true meaning of family needs to be on your reading list.
I was gifted this copy by Montlake and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
December 13, 2022
While reading this was a bit on the nose since I was reading it during hurricane season and a hurricane was indeed pelting Florida as I finished, I found Carolyn Brown’s usual country charm, sweet family and friendship, multi-generational characters, and a dash of romance quite the thing.
The Sandcastle Hurricane begins when Hurricane Delilah slams into the south Texas gulf coast and the little coastal town of Sandcastle. New inn owners, cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae find themselves hosting four feisty older folks from the senior living center and a local handyman who once swapped kisses as teenagers with Tabby.
Tabby and Ella Mae are inheriting an old family home turned in from the great- aunt who has high-tailed it to Colorado where there aren’t any hurricanes, thank you very much. The chance came at a time when both needed a reset on life. Ella Mae’s partner has just past leaving her at a loss and Tabby’s out of a rough marriage. They’re fixing up the inn and hoping to make a success at it, grow closer to each other and get beyond the hurts of the past. Alex, and later his friend Ricky are a part of that.
But, there are also a few animal strays and four older folks, Vietnam War vet best buds, Frank and Homer and two fierce old gals who can’t get along, Maude and Cleo to make it all interesting when they have to extend their stay at the end while the town rebuilds. Quite the surprise comes about Maude and Cleo, but the stay at the inn for all of them including the cousins works its magic on repairing their pasts.
I’ve come to really anticipate and enjoy the down home feel-good style Carolyn Brown writes and makes the reader relax and be part of a nostalgic setting and group of people that come to be ‘found’ family. Comfort reading at its best. I like getting all the point of views in the narration and seeing the women old and young (not to mention the men) find their way and figure out a happier life as a result. Not that there aren’t any conflicts to get past, but the low angst style appeals to me as do the relaxed small town coastal Texas setting there at The Sandcastle and the environs.
So, a natural disaster brought a new engaging cast of characters, a plot and a setting from a favorite author and I enjoyed it thoroughly. While there is plenty of romance and a bit of snappy dialogue and spice, I would still say this leans more toward women’s fiction and recommend it to both crowds.
I rec'd an eARC through NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer Dec 7th.
The Sandcastle Hurricane begins when Hurricane Delilah slams into the south Texas gulf coast and the little coastal town of Sandcastle. New inn owners, cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae find themselves hosting four feisty older folks from the senior living center and a local handyman who once swapped kisses as teenagers with Tabby.
Tabby and Ella Mae are inheriting an old family home turned in from the great- aunt who has high-tailed it to Colorado where there aren’t any hurricanes, thank you very much. The chance came at a time when both needed a reset on life. Ella Mae’s partner has just past leaving her at a loss and Tabby’s out of a rough marriage. They’re fixing up the inn and hoping to make a success at it, grow closer to each other and get beyond the hurts of the past. Alex, and later his friend Ricky are a part of that.
But, there are also a few animal strays and four older folks, Vietnam War vet best buds, Frank and Homer and two fierce old gals who can’t get along, Maude and Cleo to make it all interesting when they have to extend their stay at the end while the town rebuilds. Quite the surprise comes about Maude and Cleo, but the stay at the inn for all of them including the cousins works its magic on repairing their pasts.
I’ve come to really anticipate and enjoy the down home feel-good style Carolyn Brown writes and makes the reader relax and be part of a nostalgic setting and group of people that come to be ‘found’ family. Comfort reading at its best. I like getting all the point of views in the narration and seeing the women old and young (not to mention the men) find their way and figure out a happier life as a result. Not that there aren’t any conflicts to get past, but the low angst style appeals to me as do the relaxed small town coastal Texas setting there at The Sandcastle and the environs.
So, a natural disaster brought a new engaging cast of characters, a plot and a setting from a favorite author and I enjoyed it thoroughly. While there is plenty of romance and a bit of snappy dialogue and spice, I would still say this leans more toward women’s fiction and recommend it to both crowds.
I rec'd an eARC through NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer Dec 7th.
November 16, 2022
I was drawn to this book by the cover…so lovely!! This book is such a sweet, wholesome romance that is an easy, quick read.
Tabby and Ellie Mae are cousins who needed a change in their lives. Their Great-Aunt, Charlotte handed them the family Bed & Breakfast but soon after they took over a hurricane was about to crash upon the coast straight to the B&B! As they start to prepare, Aunt Charlotte tells them that they are needed to take-in four elderly guests from the retirement center as well as the local handyman who has a history with Tabby! What only is supposed to be a few days ends up being a few months (or more). A lot of drama happens between the walls of the Sandcastle during that time…friendships are made, family struggles (some good/some bad) & sparks start to fly!
I did struggle a little bit in the beginning…like the chaos of prepping for the storm to hit but it didn’t last long! I really enjoyed the main group of characters! I absolutely loved Cleo - she had me laughing out loud!!! The secondary characters - not so much…they are racist, narcissistic & misogynistic. I felt for both Tabby & Ellie Mae for having to deal with that. The opportunity for them to start a new life with the B&B was a blessing for them both!
Even though I have never lived in an area that has hurricanes, nor have I ever been in one, this book really resonated with me with the recent Hurricane Ian and all of the devastation it left behind. It really made reading this book even more vivid…I could really picture all of the damage.
I have never read anything by Carolyn Brown before this book but I will be reading more of her books in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake and Carolyn Brown for the Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Tabby and Ellie Mae are cousins who needed a change in their lives. Their Great-Aunt, Charlotte handed them the family Bed & Breakfast but soon after they took over a hurricane was about to crash upon the coast straight to the B&B! As they start to prepare, Aunt Charlotte tells them that they are needed to take-in four elderly guests from the retirement center as well as the local handyman who has a history with Tabby! What only is supposed to be a few days ends up being a few months (or more). A lot of drama happens between the walls of the Sandcastle during that time…friendships are made, family struggles (some good/some bad) & sparks start to fly!
I did struggle a little bit in the beginning…like the chaos of prepping for the storm to hit but it didn’t last long! I really enjoyed the main group of characters! I absolutely loved Cleo - she had me laughing out loud!!! The secondary characters - not so much…they are racist, narcissistic & misogynistic. I felt for both Tabby & Ellie Mae for having to deal with that. The opportunity for them to start a new life with the B&B was a blessing for them both!
Even though I have never lived in an area that has hurricanes, nor have I ever been in one, this book really resonated with me with the recent Hurricane Ian and all of the devastation it left behind. It really made reading this book even more vivid…I could really picture all of the damage.
I have never read anything by Carolyn Brown before this book but I will be reading more of her books in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake and Carolyn Brown for the Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
August 19, 2022
Aunt Charlotte decides that she is moving to Colorado and leaving her Tabitha and Ellie Mae to run the B and B. She doesn't like goodbyes so she is gone when the girls arrive. The cousins have no clue what to do but Aunt Charlotte talks to them every day and helps them figure things out.
The girls are getting the place ready for an awful storm that is coming. Hurricane Deliah should be there in a few days. As the girls are boarding up the windows and getting ready they receive a phone call from Aunt Charlotte letting them know that there are four Seniors from the Assisted Living Center that had no place to go so they will be coming to the B and B to ride out the storm.
When the Seniors arrive it appears that there may be a storm inside as well as out. It's a great story that I think you will enjoy. I could not put it down.
The girls are getting the place ready for an awful storm that is coming. Hurricane Deliah should be there in a few days. As the girls are boarding up the windows and getting ready they receive a phone call from Aunt Charlotte letting them know that there are four Seniors from the Assisted Living Center that had no place to go so they will be coming to the B and B to ride out the storm.
When the Seniors arrive it appears that there may be a storm inside as well as out. It's a great story that I think you will enjoy. I could not put it down.
July 10, 2022
This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Montlake and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
Carolyn Brown's portrayal of cousins coming tougher is thoughtful, heartwarming and lovely.
Carolyn Brown's portrayal of cousins coming tougher is thoughtful, heartwarming and lovely.
March 21, 2023
This author has a magical way of creating characters that I early on fall in love with. Such a warm and sweet group of people, that are blended into a remarkable story. Couldn't put it down!
April 20, 2024
I read this to get into “beach mode” before my vacation. Unfortunately, the book wasn’t very “beachy”. There was a whole lot of drama and annoying people/fights/circumstances in this book. It did end well but still was not very enjoyable for me. This was my first book by this author and I’m hoping this was an unusual book for her. I’ve had another of her books in my tbr pile for awhile. It might take me a bit to get over this book before I attempt the other!
November 8, 2022
My Review
☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️
The sandcastle hurricane.
By Carolyn Brown.
This Book Releases
November 8th 2022.
Another fabulous story I love reading this author's work. Every book is absolutely wonderful well written Stories about family that will touch your heart.. Sometimes family isn't always about blood.
When aunt Charlotte has decided to leave hurricane Texas, Turning the B and B over to her nieces... And that's where it all began..
Tabby, and Ellie Mae, two cousins close as sisters ever wanted to be. Running A B and B, Left to them by their Aunt Charlotte. Not only was there a hurricane coming...in The small town of Texas.
Devastated by the remains of what the hurricane left... extra people come for for shelter. Because of the hurricane..
Soon, Every one learns of the devastation that happened because of this hurricane. But what becomes of everyone is another story..
friendships family and so much more.
I found myself laughing in several parts of this book.. And Parts about being blown to Kansas I just love that part because Hey I live in Kansas.
I've never been where hurricane is.but I live in Kansas where we have plenty of tornadoes..
This was an absolutely truly wonderful story one that you could read again well I could.. And if I could give Mrs. Brown 10 stars for her story I would because it's that good but then every book I've read by her I felt this way she is a wonderful author.
Thank you once again Carolyn Brown for a beautiful story.
☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️
The sandcastle hurricane.
By Carolyn Brown.
This Book Releases
November 8th 2022.
Another fabulous story I love reading this author's work. Every book is absolutely wonderful well written Stories about family that will touch your heart.. Sometimes family isn't always about blood.
When aunt Charlotte has decided to leave hurricane Texas, Turning the B and B over to her nieces... And that's where it all began..
Tabby, and Ellie Mae, two cousins close as sisters ever wanted to be. Running A B and B, Left to them by their Aunt Charlotte. Not only was there a hurricane coming...in The small town of Texas.
Devastated by the remains of what the hurricane left... extra people come for for shelter. Because of the hurricane..
Soon, Every one learns of the devastation that happened because of this hurricane. But what becomes of everyone is another story..
friendships family and so much more.
I found myself laughing in several parts of this book.. And Parts about being blown to Kansas I just love that part because Hey I live in Kansas.
I've never been where hurricane is.but I live in Kansas where we have plenty of tornadoes..
This was an absolutely truly wonderful story one that you could read again well I could.. And if I could give Mrs. Brown 10 stars for her story I would because it's that good but then every book I've read by her I felt this way she is a wonderful author.
Thank you once again Carolyn Brown for a beautiful story.
November 20, 2022
Another heartwarming and well written novel by Carolyn Brown. Well rounded characters, a lovely setting, sweet story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
November 24, 2022
A heartwarming story of family, friendship, and love that brings together a diverse group of people, young and old. Tabby and Ellie Mae are cousins who are more like sisters. As children, they spent summers with their Aunt Charlotte in Sandcastle, Texas. Both women experience grief and loss and are at crossroads in their lives because of it. In serendipitous timing, Aunt Charlotte decides to retire from running her B & B and move to Colorado, leaving Tabby and Ellie Mae to run the business.
They've only been there a few weeks when Hurricane Delilah sets her sights on Sandcastle. The book opens as the women make preparations for the storm. Aunt Charlotte calls to tell them she's sending help in the form of handyman Alex LaSalle, who will stay at the house and take care of the generator and repairs. She also tells them that he will bring four local assisted living center residents with nowhere else to go. The hope is that they will be able to return to the center after the storm, but the reality becomes quite different.
The four oldsters are Chloe, Maude, Frank, and Homer. Chloe is a woman who has lived life on her terms. She ran off and joined a carnival as a teenager, met and married her husband there, and ended up owning the whole shebang. She is fun and full of life and loves pushing the buttons of a fellow resident, Maude. Maude is an uptight and bitter woman who can't seem to find a nice thing to say about anyone, especially Chloe. It isn't until halfway through the book that we learn of the connection between the two and what has caused their enmity. Frank and Homer are childhood friends and veterans who went to Vietnam together, then built a business together after their return. They are kind-hearted, reasonable men who provide a sense of calm around their more volatile friends.
Alex is a longtime friend of Aunt Charlotte's who has helped her during previous storms. He also has a history with Tabby, with whom he shared a first kiss when they were teenagers. Alex is an all-around nice guy who fits in well with the rest of the crowd. He is also an excellent cook and shares kitchen duties with Tabby. They are initially wary around each other, but it doesn't take long for their old friendship to reassert itself. It is quickly apparent that Alex has feelings for Tabby, but she's still struggling with the death of her daughter.
Ellie Mae struggles with the recent loss of her best friend, Sam. Despite their different sexes and races, they had been best friends and roommates for many years. Having the B & B gave Ellie Mae a purpose to keep her from wallowing in her grief. I liked watching her throw herself into the repair work after the storm, keeping her mind and hands busy. When Alex brings in his friend Ricky to help with the work, Ellie Mae finds a gentle and sympathetic listener for her Sam stories. I liked watching her grief ease as she got to know Ricky.
The story is full of laughs and tears as these eight people (plus a stray dog, a mama cat, and her kittens) learn to coexist and cooperate to meet a common goal. There are stories and secrets shared over pie and glasses of sweet tea, advice given and taken along with milk and cookies, and a family forged over shared meals and work. I loved the contrast between the forged family and the blood family. Tabby and Ellie Mae come from families whose members are more interested in appearances than genuine caring. When those families descended on the B & B for the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, they got more than they bargained for. I laughed out loud as I watched Tabby and Ellie Mae turn the tables on their obnoxious families and send them running for cover.
With the assisted living center destroyed, our four seniors propose paying Tabby and Ellie Mae to live at the B & B permanently. Several twists led to a change in plans, and I loved watching their vision come to fruition. I loved seeing the changes in everyone by the end of the book. The epilogue was excellent, and I enjoyed seeing the results of their hard work, physically and emotionally.
#netgalley
They've only been there a few weeks when Hurricane Delilah sets her sights on Sandcastle. The book opens as the women make preparations for the storm. Aunt Charlotte calls to tell them she's sending help in the form of handyman Alex LaSalle, who will stay at the house and take care of the generator and repairs. She also tells them that he will bring four local assisted living center residents with nowhere else to go. The hope is that they will be able to return to the center after the storm, but the reality becomes quite different.
The four oldsters are Chloe, Maude, Frank, and Homer. Chloe is a woman who has lived life on her terms. She ran off and joined a carnival as a teenager, met and married her husband there, and ended up owning the whole shebang. She is fun and full of life and loves pushing the buttons of a fellow resident, Maude. Maude is an uptight and bitter woman who can't seem to find a nice thing to say about anyone, especially Chloe. It isn't until halfway through the book that we learn of the connection between the two and what has caused their enmity. Frank and Homer are childhood friends and veterans who went to Vietnam together, then built a business together after their return. They are kind-hearted, reasonable men who provide a sense of calm around their more volatile friends.
Alex is a longtime friend of Aunt Charlotte's who has helped her during previous storms. He also has a history with Tabby, with whom he shared a first kiss when they were teenagers. Alex is an all-around nice guy who fits in well with the rest of the crowd. He is also an excellent cook and shares kitchen duties with Tabby. They are initially wary around each other, but it doesn't take long for their old friendship to reassert itself. It is quickly apparent that Alex has feelings for Tabby, but she's still struggling with the death of her daughter.
Ellie Mae struggles with the recent loss of her best friend, Sam. Despite their different sexes and races, they had been best friends and roommates for many years. Having the B & B gave Ellie Mae a purpose to keep her from wallowing in her grief. I liked watching her throw herself into the repair work after the storm, keeping her mind and hands busy. When Alex brings in his friend Ricky to help with the work, Ellie Mae finds a gentle and sympathetic listener for her Sam stories. I liked watching her grief ease as she got to know Ricky.
The story is full of laughs and tears as these eight people (plus a stray dog, a mama cat, and her kittens) learn to coexist and cooperate to meet a common goal. There are stories and secrets shared over pie and glasses of sweet tea, advice given and taken along with milk and cookies, and a family forged over shared meals and work. I loved the contrast between the forged family and the blood family. Tabby and Ellie Mae come from families whose members are more interested in appearances than genuine caring. When those families descended on the B & B for the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, they got more than they bargained for. I laughed out loud as I watched Tabby and Ellie Mae turn the tables on their obnoxious families and send them running for cover.
With the assisted living center destroyed, our four seniors propose paying Tabby and Ellie Mae to live at the B & B permanently. Several twists led to a change in plans, and I loved watching their vision come to fruition. I loved seeing the changes in everyone by the end of the book. The epilogue was excellent, and I enjoyed seeing the results of their hard work, physically and emotionally.
#netgalley
October 15, 2022
This book has a lot of drama and just as many laugh-out-loud moments, so it was totally enjoyable to read. Tabby and Ellie Mae (don’t you love those names) inherit The Sandcastle B & B from their Aunt Charlotte and almost as soon as they get there, they discover that they are in for a big hurricane headed their way. The hurricane is devastating but it is the beginning of a new future for them and for the folks from the retirement home that was destroyed in its path. Homer, Frank, Cleo and Maude make themselves right at home in The Sandcastle and are thrilled that their meals are provided. When handyman Alex is called on to help with repairs, he brings along his contractor friend Ricky and the makeshift family is complete. I really enjoyed the multiple layers of the book, with racism and family tensions part of a running theme. I especially enjoyed the Southern flair and how the cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae rolled with the punches of the life happening to them, over and over. My favorite scene was the family Thanksgiving when the girls’ families came to visit and the chaos that ensued because of their shenanigans and narrow-mindedness was priceless. The humor throughout the book kept me in stitches while the family drama was thought-provoking at times. This book had everything that a well-written novel should have, including resolution at the end of all of the loose ends. I loved the characters, the plot and the setting…this book was a perfect read!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary hard copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary hard copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Read
October 30, 2022Two cousins Tabby Landry and Elle Mae Landry have been given the task of keeping the Sandcastle B&B up and running by their Great Aunt Charlote. This B&B has been in the family for many years and always must be kept in the family and run by a Landry. Tabby is divorced from her domineering husband and also suffered the devastating loss of her only child Natalie. Elle Mae also suffered the devastating loss of her longtime friend Sam, whom she lived with, platonically and they worked together using their woodworking skills. Both of these women needed a change at just this time. Coming to this small Texas beach town was just what they needed. Little did they know that a hurricane would hit just a few weeks into their stay and they would have to house four orphans from the local retirement home at the request of their aunt and that two men would also be involved in their lives and what the days together would bring to these group of people as they wait out the hurricane.
I just loved this story. It had me laughing and feeling melancholy at the same time and of course a few tears at the heartbreaking losses these two women endured. Carolyn Brown always gives her readers quirky and fun-loving characters that make you want to pull up a chair at the table and have a class of sweet tea. You will love Cleo and Maude, one for humor and free loving ways and the other for her prissy manner. Then there are Frank and Homer who are longtime friends who were boyhood friends and bachelors all their life. There are two other men who come into play, who both Tabby and Elle Mae find hard to resist their charms and find that love just may get a second chance. It’s also about how you can make a family, not from just blood, but from the heart. As with all her books, the reader does not want to put the book down and at the same time, does not want it to end.
A 5 Star read.
Thank you, Carolyn Brown, for the chance to read an ARC book and offer my honest review.
I just loved this story. It had me laughing and feeling melancholy at the same time and of course a few tears at the heartbreaking losses these two women endured. Carolyn Brown always gives her readers quirky and fun-loving characters that make you want to pull up a chair at the table and have a class of sweet tea. You will love Cleo and Maude, one for humor and free loving ways and the other for her prissy manner. Then there are Frank and Homer who are longtime friends who were boyhood friends and bachelors all their life. There are two other men who come into play, who both Tabby and Elle Mae find hard to resist their charms and find that love just may get a second chance. It’s also about how you can make a family, not from just blood, but from the heart. As with all her books, the reader does not want to put the book down and at the same time, does not want it to end.
A 5 Star read.
Thank you, Carolyn Brown, for the chance to read an ARC book and offer my honest review.
September 7, 2022
I LOVED this book. Tabby and Ellie Mae were given a bed and breakfast from thier Aunt Charlotte. The hurricane hits and knocks out power to the nearby nursing home so Aunt Charlotte tells the girls she has invited 4 guests to stay at the bed and breakfast until they receive power. She has also invited a friend Alex to help out. This book is absolutely hilarious at times. The connections they make are full of love. I won't give away the drama but just know it is full of love and laughter. I always love Carolyn's books. I did not want this to end.
July 17, 2022
Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Tabby and ger cousin are helping out at their families hotel in Texas. When a hurricane comes through, there is substantial damage to the area. The hotel was lucky, some businesses were not. The residents of the small Texas town came together to fix the town. I liked getting to know the residents of this small town.
October 23, 2022
The Sandcastle Hurricane by Carolyn Brown is a sweet romance about sisters, a bed and breakfast, and a hurricane. Told with Carolyn Brown’s trademark humor and heart, The Sandcastle Hurricane is a story about love, forgiveness, and second chances.
Story Recap:
Tabbie and Ellie Mae are cousins who have come back to Sandcastle, Texas to run their Aunt’s bed and breakfast after her passing. They visited Sandcastle in the summers but have never lived there full-time.
When a Cat 4 hurricane threatens Sandcastle, Tabbie and Ellie Mae agree to take in a few residents from the local assisted living center, as their B&B has survived many hurricanes before. They take in two sisters who do nothing but bicker with each other and a couple of veterans. They have local handyman Alex and his business partner, Ricky helping out at the house and trapped with them during the hurricane.
My Thoughts:
The Sandcastle Hurricane is exactly what I expect from a Carolyn Brown book. It’s heartwarming, funny, and full of southern charm. I enjoyed Tabbie and Ellie Mae and loved their generous spirits as they took in the residents of the assisted living home.
I especially loved the way all these characters worked together against the hurricane and the aftermath of the storm. The older characters were a hoot, and I loved the way they all worked together on the hurricane aftermath as well as helped each other with their various issues.
The backstory of Ellie Mae and Tabby is heartbreaking. Each of them has suffered loss and is in various stages of grief. But, together, this house full of people forms a family bond and they start to help each other heal.
Recommendation:
I recommend The Sandcastle Hurricane to anyone who enjoys romance and fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Story Recap:
Tabbie and Ellie Mae are cousins who have come back to Sandcastle, Texas to run their Aunt’s bed and breakfast after her passing. They visited Sandcastle in the summers but have never lived there full-time.
When a Cat 4 hurricane threatens Sandcastle, Tabbie and Ellie Mae agree to take in a few residents from the local assisted living center, as their B&B has survived many hurricanes before. They take in two sisters who do nothing but bicker with each other and a couple of veterans. They have local handyman Alex and his business partner, Ricky helping out at the house and trapped with them during the hurricane.
My Thoughts:
The Sandcastle Hurricane is exactly what I expect from a Carolyn Brown book. It’s heartwarming, funny, and full of southern charm. I enjoyed Tabbie and Ellie Mae and loved their generous spirits as they took in the residents of the assisted living home.
I especially loved the way all these characters worked together against the hurricane and the aftermath of the storm. The older characters were a hoot, and I loved the way they all worked together on the hurricane aftermath as well as helped each other with their various issues.
The backstory of Ellie Mae and Tabby is heartbreaking. Each of them has suffered loss and is in various stages of grief. But, together, this house full of people forms a family bond and they start to help each other heal.
Recommendation:
I recommend The Sandcastle Hurricane to anyone who enjoys romance and fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 31, 2022
Sweet, wholesome, down-home country story!
When Tabby and her cousin Ellie Mae are put in charge of running their Aunt's Texas B&B, they had no experience with hurricanes. But shortly after they move in, a whopper of a storm is heading their way, straight to Sandcastle! They manage to get the B&B storm-ready with guidance from their aunt who is safely living happily in Colorado, and lucky they did, because they were asked to house a few residents of a nearby assisted living that is in danger of storm damage.
When the assisted living residents show up, Tabby and Ellie Mae don't know what they've gotten into. As luck also has it, a friend of their aunt's, Alex, also shows up and is ready to stay and help. He later brings his business partner Ricky to help with storm cleanup, and the cousins might just have found new harbors in life's storms!
This was a fun, easy read with country goodness throughout.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
When Tabby and her cousin Ellie Mae are put in charge of running their Aunt's Texas B&B, they had no experience with hurricanes. But shortly after they move in, a whopper of a storm is heading their way, straight to Sandcastle! They manage to get the B&B storm-ready with guidance from their aunt who is safely living happily in Colorado, and lucky they did, because they were asked to house a few residents of a nearby assisted living that is in danger of storm damage.
When the assisted living residents show up, Tabby and Ellie Mae don't know what they've gotten into. As luck also has it, a friend of their aunt's, Alex, also shows up and is ready to stay and help. He later brings his business partner Ricky to help with storm cleanup, and the cousins might just have found new harbors in life's storms!
This was a fun, easy read with country goodness throughout.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
September 3, 2022
About a week ago, I received a great surprise, my ARC copy of “The Sandcastle Hurricane by Carolyn Brown. Of course, I had to start reading it right away. Sometime that night, I was already over halfway through it. That is how wonderful it is. It catches you from the first word. Now, here is what I found.
Family!! What makes a family. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, one definition of family is “a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head “. That is what this book is all about, forming a family from a ragtag group of people.
For those of you who have never lived in Florida or any other state subject to hurricanes, allow me to tell you, as a Florida native, that they are nothing to take lightly. They are HUGE, very windy, and a center that can destroy entire city blocks. And that is where we find cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae. They are the new owners of the Sandcastle B and B. And this is their first hurricane. Can you imagine the terror they went through just thinking about this hurricane. But they are troupers, and they make it through with some damage that was completely fixable. Thus, the entrance of Alex and Ricky, two Mr. Fix-Its. But they bring more trouble, the residents of the local retirement home who had no family and nowhere to go. As if that is not enough of a nightmare, throw in a stray dog and a Mama cat who just had her babies. I don’t know about you but that would be enough to send me screaming into the night.
However, it is from this motley crew that the foundation of a true family is born. I will not tell you the story and spoil the read, but this book kept me enthralled to the very end. I laughed and I cried, but the feel-good feeling it left me with whenever I think of this story was the best part. Carolyn Brown knows how to develop characters that are so real and lifelike that they become your best friends and your family. And, of course, during the trials and tribulations that happens, romance blooms. There is also a lesson in here about equality.
Do yourself a favor and read this book as soon as possible. You will not regret it.
Family!! What makes a family. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, one definition of family is “a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head “. That is what this book is all about, forming a family from a ragtag group of people.
For those of you who have never lived in Florida or any other state subject to hurricanes, allow me to tell you, as a Florida native, that they are nothing to take lightly. They are HUGE, very windy, and a center that can destroy entire city blocks. And that is where we find cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae. They are the new owners of the Sandcastle B and B. And this is their first hurricane. Can you imagine the terror they went through just thinking about this hurricane. But they are troupers, and they make it through with some damage that was completely fixable. Thus, the entrance of Alex and Ricky, two Mr. Fix-Its. But they bring more trouble, the residents of the local retirement home who had no family and nowhere to go. As if that is not enough of a nightmare, throw in a stray dog and a Mama cat who just had her babies. I don’t know about you but that would be enough to send me screaming into the night.
However, it is from this motley crew that the foundation of a true family is born. I will not tell you the story and spoil the read, but this book kept me enthralled to the very end. I laughed and I cried, but the feel-good feeling it left me with whenever I think of this story was the best part. Carolyn Brown knows how to develop characters that are so real and lifelike that they become your best friends and your family. And, of course, during the trials and tribulations that happens, romance blooms. There is also a lesson in here about equality.
Do yourself a favor and read this book as soon as possible. You will not regret it.
September 29, 2022
I just love Carolyns stories. Cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae have taken over Sandcastle B&B from their Aunt Charlotte. Charlotte has moved from Texas to Colorado to retired. Tabby and Ellie Mae are ten years apart in age; but have always been close. They are both only children of two brothers that do not get along., They have only been there 2 weeks and a hurricane is coming in. Charlotte calls and says there are 4 old folks stuck at the nursing home and she is sending Alex to pick them up to bring to the B&B. Alex and Tabby shared a first kiss years ago as young teen.
Two of the ladies are actually sisters who can't get along and the two men are buddies from childhood. It's wonderful to see the story unfold of learning to get along with each other and learn to love again. Ellie Mae meets Ricky when he comes to help Alex to repairs and clean up after the hurricane.
The group will share a Thanksgiving together this year with a lot of surprise guest and some healing of hearts.
Stay tuned to see Alex and Tabby fall in love at ago 39 and 40.
Two of the ladies are actually sisters who can't get along and the two men are buddies from childhood. It's wonderful to see the story unfold of learning to get along with each other and learn to love again. Ellie Mae meets Ricky when he comes to help Alex to repairs and clean up after the hurricane.
The group will share a Thanksgiving together this year with a lot of surprise guest and some healing of hearts.
Stay tuned to see Alex and Tabby fall in love at ago 39 and 40.
September 5, 2022
I'm automatically giving this book 5 stars!
Y'all this is such a cute and fun read that I didn't want it to end!
This was about 2nd chances at life after certain tragedies and moving on.
Miss Charlotte made this story even tho she wasn't in it lol. I loved her wisdom and oh my was she full of advice for Tabby and Ella Mae.
I loved these girls! They were such a hoot!
They had me laughing in stitches and felt like they were my sisters.
I really loved how they stuck together no matter what.
I especially loved Maude and Chloe. They helped to make this story too. I giggled at them so much it is hard to believe that they're sisters.
I especially loved the Thanksgiving scenario. It was my favorite scene lol!
I highly recommend this book!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
This was a read now book and I most thoroughly enjoyed it!
Y'all this is such a cute and fun read that I didn't want it to end!
This was about 2nd chances at life after certain tragedies and moving on.
Miss Charlotte made this story even tho she wasn't in it lol. I loved her wisdom and oh my was she full of advice for Tabby and Ella Mae.
I loved these girls! They were such a hoot!
They had me laughing in stitches and felt like they were my sisters.
I really loved how they stuck together no matter what.
I especially loved Maude and Chloe. They helped to make this story too. I giggled at them so much it is hard to believe that they're sisters.
I especially loved the Thanksgiving scenario. It was my favorite scene lol!
I highly recommend this book!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
This was a read now book and I most thoroughly enjoyed it!
March 22, 2023
Cute story
A pair of female cousins have recently taken over the running of the Sandcastle B&B right before a hurricane is expected to hit. Their great aunt had given them the B&B. Their aunt suggested they utilize Alex for help in the kitchen and preparing for the hurricane and Ricky for any repairs they needed done afterwards, as well as telling a local senior citizen center that 4 of their members would have space in the B&B. The 8 of them rough out the storm together and grow together as a kind of family, with the expected fights, as well as sparks flying, and unexpected additional "guests" as 2 furry critters look to them for support and shelter.
A pair of female cousins have recently taken over the running of the Sandcastle B&B right before a hurricane is expected to hit. Their great aunt had given them the B&B. Their aunt suggested they utilize Alex for help in the kitchen and preparing for the hurricane and Ricky for any repairs they needed done afterwards, as well as telling a local senior citizen center that 4 of their members would have space in the B&B. The 8 of them rough out the storm together and grow together as a kind of family, with the expected fights, as well as sparks flying, and unexpected additional "guests" as 2 furry critters look to them for support and shelter.
January 11, 2023
This is the story of a group of people who become family after going thru a hurricane together. Two members of the group are female cousins who have moved to Texas to take over the running of the family b & b from their aunt. Both of these women have suffered severe loss and their own families are not understanding. The story is set in a small town on the coast of Texas. The people are very true to life. The book was a quick easy read.
March 3, 2023
The only reason I'm giving this 4 stars is because it was kind of a slow dragging start the first 100 pages. There was a bit of repeating info throughout as well that didn't need to be but I'm the last 200 pages I loved the rest of the story and how it unfolded. I loved that it dealt with hard family issues and yet pulled it all together to show what the word family really means, and it's not always blood related. I also liked that it touched on grief. Worth the read!
February 20, 2023
My Musings
Another heartwarming novel with endearing characters and a delightful plot. I am so glad I found this one in Kindle Unlimited with the audio included. Happy reading and listening!
Another heartwarming novel with endearing characters and a delightful plot. I am so glad I found this one in Kindle Unlimited with the audio included. Happy reading and listening!
April 1, 2024
Such a sweet story!
Wow an absolutely amazing story of a group of people being forced together during a hurricane in Texas, I love that both cousins got their happy endings! Carolyn Brown never disappoints me, this was a perfect book for a Sunday.
Wow an absolutely amazing story of a group of people being forced together during a hurricane in Texas, I love that both cousins got their happy endings! Carolyn Brown never disappoints me, this was a perfect book for a Sunday.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews