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The Lucky Shamrock
New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown’s bighearted novel about family, secrets, small-town Texas romance, and—with a little bit of luck—starting over. Family doesn’t mean everyone has to like each other. That’s the case when cousins Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja return to Shamrock, Texas, to help manage their grandmother’s flower shop, the Lucky Shamrock. The reunion isn’t exactly a beautiful arrangement—considering they’re as compatible as ranchers and coyotes. Thank heaven for a handsome go-between like Clinton, who lives above the shop. The easygoing war vet, and most eligible bachelor in Wheeler County, is now throwing romance into the mix and setting the local women to gossiping. But as the hot months wear on, hidden secrets begin to surface for the temperamental Irish trio. And it’s bringing them closer together than they ever thought possible. With a flurry of weddings, a love story in the making, a surprise baby, and crazy good fortune, maybe that shamrock painted on the window does bring luck. Because for Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja, this could be the summer that’ll change their lives forever.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2023
1998 people are currently reading
4337 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Brown
182 books4,129 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!
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July 26, 2023
EXCERPT: 'Good morning, or maybe I should say afternoon,' Clinton said, backing into the shop with a baby carrier in his hand and a diaper bag over his shoulder. 'I'd like you to meet Zoe. She will be joining us for the next six weeks.'
Taryn hadn't been knocked speechless very many times in her life, but she was right then. A thousand questions ran through her mind, yet when she opened her mouth, words would not come out.
Clinton set the carrier in the middle of the worktable and slid the diaper bag off his shoulder with such ease that Taryn wondered if Zoe was his daughter. Was that why none of the women who had put up their money in the contest had a chance with him? Was he involved with Zoe's mother?
ABOUT 'THE LUCKY SHAMROCK': Family doesn’t mean everyone has to like each other. That’s the case when cousins Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja return to Shamrock, Texas, to help manage their grandmother’s flower shop, the Lucky Shamrock. The reunion isn’t exactly a beautiful arrangement—considering they’re as compatible as ranchers and coyotes. Thank heaven for a handsome go-between like Clinton, who lives above the shop. The easygoing war vet, and most eligible bachelor in Wheeler County, is now throwing romance into the mix and setting the local women to gossiping. But as the hot months wear on, hidden secrets begin to surface for the temperamental Irish trio. And it’s bringing them closer together than they ever thought possible. With a flurry of weddings, a love story in the making, a surprise baby, and crazy good fortune, maybe that shamrock painted on the window does bring luck. Because for Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja, this could be the summer that’ll change their lives forever.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm always excited to see a new Carolyn Brown hit the shelves. She's my go-to author when my heart needs warming and I need a little sassy sweetness in my life.
I always just want to jump straight into her family situations and be a part of them. Brown places the emphasis of her stories on family loyalty and sticking up for and supporting those you love and those who love you.
There's a definite similarity between this and a previous Carolyn Brown book I have read which dropped my rating a half star, but despite this feeling of deja vu, I enjoyed this read; the squabbling between the cousins, the sassy dialogue, and the reminder not to forget the older members of our families, the ones who have always been there for us, when we spread our wings and head out into the world.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheLuckyShamrock #NetGalley.
I: @carolynbrownbooks #montlake
T: @thecarolynbrown #Montlake
#christianfiction #contemporaryfiction #familydrama #friendship #romance #sliceoflife #smalltownfiction
#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 Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Taryn hadn't been knocked speechless very many times in her life, but she was right then. A thousand questions ran through her mind, yet when she opened her mouth, words would not come out.
Clinton set the carrier in the middle of the worktable and slid the diaper bag off his shoulder with such ease that Taryn wondered if Zoe was his daughter. Was that why none of the women who had put up their money in the contest had a chance with him? Was he involved with Zoe's mother?
ABOUT 'THE LUCKY SHAMROCK': Family doesn’t mean everyone has to like each other. That’s the case when cousins Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja return to Shamrock, Texas, to help manage their grandmother’s flower shop, the Lucky Shamrock. The reunion isn’t exactly a beautiful arrangement—considering they’re as compatible as ranchers and coyotes. Thank heaven for a handsome go-between like Clinton, who lives above the shop. The easygoing war vet, and most eligible bachelor in Wheeler County, is now throwing romance into the mix and setting the local women to gossiping. But as the hot months wear on, hidden secrets begin to surface for the temperamental Irish trio. And it’s bringing them closer together than they ever thought possible. With a flurry of weddings, a love story in the making, a surprise baby, and crazy good fortune, maybe that shamrock painted on the window does bring luck. Because for Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja, this could be the summer that’ll change their lives forever.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm always excited to see a new Carolyn Brown hit the shelves. She's my go-to author when my heart needs warming and I need a little sassy sweetness in my life.
I always just want to jump straight into her family situations and be a part of them. Brown places the emphasis of her stories on family loyalty and sticking up for and supporting those you love and those who love you.
There's a definite similarity between this and a previous Carolyn Brown book I have read which dropped my rating a half star, but despite this feeling of deja vu, I enjoyed this read; the squabbling between the cousins, the sassy dialogue, and the reminder not to forget the older members of our families, the ones who have always been there for us, when we spread our wings and head out into the world.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheLuckyShamrock #NetGalley.
I: @carolynbrownbooks #montlake
T: @thecarolynbrown #Montlake
#christianfiction #contemporaryfiction #familydrama #friendship #romance #sliceoflife #smalltownfiction
#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 Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
July 2, 2023
The lucky shamrock 🍀
By Carolyn Brown.
If you haven't read a book by this author I highly suggest it.. I have read many of her books and I have loved each and everyone.. And they get better and better each time. Each story just pulls you right in. They are just amazing wonderful truly awesome books.. I just can't say enough about them because wonderful wonderful stories..
The lucky Shamrock a flower shop.
Three cousins, Have come back to town to take care of business for They're grandmother.. While she's having surgery.. But what they go through.. What they've been through. Cousin that aren't really As Close they once were.. The past will come forward., And things, we'll change for everyone.
This was such a terrific book. I loved every thing about it. I would love to say more but I don't like to give away spoilers. So definitely grab a copy i highly recommend this book. this one I know you will enjoy . I read it in 2 days. Because oh my gosh, so good, but this is all of her books that are fantastic..
I have lost track of how many Carolyn brown books I have read because they are all wonderful... This author is amazing...🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
By Carolyn Brown.
If you haven't read a book by this author I highly suggest it.. I have read many of her books and I have loved each and everyone.. And they get better and better each time. Each story just pulls you right in. They are just amazing wonderful truly awesome books.. I just can't say enough about them because wonderful wonderful stories..
The lucky Shamrock a flower shop.
Three cousins, Have come back to town to take care of business for They're grandmother.. While she's having surgery.. But what they go through.. What they've been through. Cousin that aren't really As Close they once were.. The past will come forward., And things, we'll change for everyone.
This was such a terrific book. I loved every thing about it. I would love to say more but I don't like to give away spoilers. So definitely grab a copy i highly recommend this book. this one I know you will enjoy . I read it in 2 days. Because oh my gosh, so good, but this is all of her books that are fantastic..
I have lost track of how many Carolyn brown books I have read because they are all wonderful... This author is amazing...🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
July 5, 2023
This is a fun read about family, relationships, life in a small town, and hidden secrets that have to be told in order to move forward. Three cousins move to Shamrock, Texas, in order to manage their grandmother’s florist shop. Nana Irene was their rock when they were growing up and when she tells them that she needs their help, they reluctantly come to her aid. Their reluctance is nothing to do with Nana Irene and a lot to do with the fact that the three of them get along about like siblings would. Taryn, Jorja and Anna Rose throw themselves into the work at the florist shop while also hiding secrets from their pasts that have influenced how they currently approach life. The characters are well developed and relatable, with plenty of drama and humorous dialogue between them. The plot is centered around their revealing their secrets and resolving the past so that they can move on to a more hopeful future. This book is top quality entertainment from beginning to end, with chuckles and guffaws resulting from many of their antics. I especially enjoyed the resolution of their contentious relationships as well as of their secrets. The plot moved along quickly and was engaging as well as insightfully thought-provoking at times. This is a remarkably well-written book that has a compelling, multi-layered plot and captivating characters. Along with the setting of a small town in Texas where everybody knows everybody else, this is a charming book that had me laughing out loud as well as saddened by what had happened to the young women when they were younger. The dynamic characters and the brilliant plot made this one of my favorite southern fiction books ever!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All 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 copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All 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.”
March 2, 2023
The Lucky Shamrock is one of the best books Carolyn Brown has written. Three cousins, each with personal issues, are forced by their grandmother to live together in a small trailer and learn to get along while keeping their granny’s flower shop running. Helping them is a bachelor who has several women trying to attract his attention through food…which certainly keeps the four of them well fed. Ms. Brown tackles each girl’s darkest secrets with insight and honesty. This reader appreciates that the author is adept at advancing her story through dialogue that gives additional depth to her characters. Ms. Brown also knows the good and bad sides of small towns and the relatable messages in country music. This is an excellent read with humor, sarcasm and surprises readers will love. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.
April 27, 2023
I’d put this more as women’s fiction than romance. Three cousins, who are only children, return to help out their grandmother Nana Irene. Norma, Taryn and Anna Rose need to run Irene’s flower show and each has worked there in the past. They also must live together in a trailer house behind the shop. At first it is fun bickering as the three settle in together. But as their individual stories are shared they have a common bond of not trusting. The topics are more heavy that I was expecting including date rape, miscarriage, spousal abuse and infidelity. There is a bit of a romance with a wounded vet who is the delivery person for the flower shop. I did like how the cousins support each other. And the author delivers a very good comeuppance that is usually missing for past misdeeds. Thank you to NetGalley and Montclair for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.
July 4, 2023
The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown was a bit different than what I was expecting but it was still an incredible read! Set in the small town of Shamrock, it tells the heartwarming and sometimes heartaching tale of three cousins who find healing and love and fresh beginning in the very same town they ran away from.
Jorja, Anna Rose and Taryn are so different in their personality but when their grandmother has to take a break to take care of her sick friend, they come to run the flower shop.
Jorja is the religious person who is actually praying for redemption for the trauma in her past. Her story moved me the most. Behind the prim and proper and religion loving sweet woman lives a broken and hurting woman. The love and support of her cousins helped her to move from the darkness of the past and embrace a new future.
Anna Rose is the sassy and loud mouthed and spirited member of the trio. She believes living life dangerously and at its fullest. She wants to enjoy life. But even the most fierce woman can have sadness and insecurities that made her weary of settling down anywhere. But staying in Shamrock and spending time with her cousins and her grandma..she realises she doesn't want to run anymore. She can do her photography career from this loving town.
Taryn almost fled the town because she was unfairly given the reputation of being a Troublemaker while she just carried the burden of other people's mistakes. She is the most hesitant to stay in Shamrock. But the shop's new hire and ex vet Clinton may change her opinion. This the only romance angle that was explored in a bit details while the other cousins' love life was just hinted at the end. She is so sweet and kind and Warm and my heart hurt to see how she was misunderstood but I am so happy these awesome women got everything they deserve at the end.
I would say this book was more of a woman's fiction with the focus being how three mismatched people went from being reluctant helpers to greatest friends to each other's biggest supporters. This town has taken away a lot from them but they got it back..with their love, their tenacity and their strength. This is the kind of book that filled my heart with beautiful and hopeful and sweet feels and I loved spending some time with Shamrock.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
Jorja, Anna Rose and Taryn are so different in their personality but when their grandmother has to take a break to take care of her sick friend, they come to run the flower shop.
Jorja is the religious person who is actually praying for redemption for the trauma in her past. Her story moved me the most. Behind the prim and proper and religion loving sweet woman lives a broken and hurting woman. The love and support of her cousins helped her to move from the darkness of the past and embrace a new future.
Anna Rose is the sassy and loud mouthed and spirited member of the trio. She believes living life dangerously and at its fullest. She wants to enjoy life. But even the most fierce woman can have sadness and insecurities that made her weary of settling down anywhere. But staying in Shamrock and spending time with her cousins and her grandma..she realises she doesn't want to run anymore. She can do her photography career from this loving town.
Taryn almost fled the town because she was unfairly given the reputation of being a Troublemaker while she just carried the burden of other people's mistakes. She is the most hesitant to stay in Shamrock. But the shop's new hire and ex vet Clinton may change her opinion. This the only romance angle that was explored in a bit details while the other cousins' love life was just hinted at the end. She is so sweet and kind and Warm and my heart hurt to see how she was misunderstood but I am so happy these awesome women got everything they deserve at the end.
I would say this book was more of a woman's fiction with the focus being how three mismatched people went from being reluctant helpers to greatest friends to each other's biggest supporters. This town has taken away a lot from them but they got it back..with their love, their tenacity and their strength. This is the kind of book that filled my heart with beautiful and hopeful and sweet feels and I loved spending some time with Shamrock.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
July 4, 2023
The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown is another well written story by a very gifted author. An intriguing story that will pull you in from the start and not let go until the last page. Carolyn Brown combines small town Texas with family issues and all the drama that goes with it. It is fast paced with some of the most wonderful characters there are, some you will love and others you won’t. She takes some touchy issues and mixes it with family, secrets, hope, forgiveness and romance and handles it all so well. This is a heartwarming story you will want to read on the beach!! I have read many books by this author and she never disappoints me!! I look forward to her next one!!!
Thank you Montlake and Carolyn Brown for another exciting boo to read and review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
#montlake #carolynbrown. #theluckyshamrock. #arc
Thank you Montlake and Carolyn Brown for another exciting boo to read and review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
#montlake #carolynbrown. #theluckyshamrock. #arc
July 3, 2023
Another heartwarming read from one of my favorite authors. The Lucky Shamrock was a fun and entertaining storyline. The three cousins come to Shamrock, Texas to help run their grandmother's florist shop. Each cousin has their own secret they have been carrying around, none more heavy than Jorja but by the end of the book wow had she come out of her shell. I definitely would recommend this read to everyone.
I received an ARC from the author and Montlake the publisher, I am leaving my review voluntarily and the opinion I express here are my own.
I received an ARC from the author and Montlake the publisher, I am leaving my review voluntarily and the opinion I express here are my own.
March 4, 2025
I genuinely expected this to be awful - it has a really cliched title and cover - but it was delightful. I started off scoffing and, although I predicted the beaus quickly, it was the relationship between the cousins that was important and the most lovely. Would definitely recommend
August 28, 2023
It may be hotter than a firecracker outside in this Texas small town, but that is nothing to the heat this trio of feuding cousins can generate when they all come back to their hometown to take care of their grandmother’s flower shop when she needs them.
It has been an age since I even bothered to look hard at a blurb for a Carolyn Brown book before I just dove right in knowing I’d love meeting her new cast of characters in the latest situation. In this case, we have three girl cousins who are about to face up with their pasts, with each other, and see their way clear to a happy future. Even their painful past associations with Shamrock, Texas and their bickering behavior around each other don’t stop them from rushing to help their special, sassy grandmother when she needs them.
I like how The Lucky Shamrock introduces the women and the situation and then slowly paces out as they work out their lives and grow close as they share their darkest secrets. There is a lovely blend of three generations from their gran and her friends to the little baby who captures Taryn’s heart especially when she helps Clinton look after one of his military clients’ baby while the woman is in rehab.
Ah yes, Carolyn Brown might make her readers chuck with the sassy comebacks and downhome dialogue and daily life, but she dug deep into a few different mental health struggles such as what those associated with military combat face, abuse from a relationship partner and a case of high school drugged and raped. My heart broke for these situations, but also warmed by the tight knit crew of family and friends in this one.
The antics of the gold-digging women over Clinton and the bantering around the flower shop were a nice sweet and funny balance to the darker issues going on inside some of them.
I love the way I settle in and get comfortable like with a long-time friend when I get my hands on a Carolyn Brown women’s fic. The small town atmosphere and relationship connections adds country cozy experience not to be missed.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will appear at That's What I'm Talking About on Aug 24th.
It has been an age since I even bothered to look hard at a blurb for a Carolyn Brown book before I just dove right in knowing I’d love meeting her new cast of characters in the latest situation. In this case, we have three girl cousins who are about to face up with their pasts, with each other, and see their way clear to a happy future. Even their painful past associations with Shamrock, Texas and their bickering behavior around each other don’t stop them from rushing to help their special, sassy grandmother when she needs them.
I like how The Lucky Shamrock introduces the women and the situation and then slowly paces out as they work out their lives and grow close as they share their darkest secrets. There is a lovely blend of three generations from their gran and her friends to the little baby who captures Taryn’s heart especially when she helps Clinton look after one of his military clients’ baby while the woman is in rehab.
Ah yes, Carolyn Brown might make her readers chuck with the sassy comebacks and downhome dialogue and daily life, but she dug deep into a few different mental health struggles such as what those associated with military combat face, abuse from a relationship partner and a case of high school drugged and raped. My heart broke for these situations, but also warmed by the tight knit crew of family and friends in this one.
The antics of the gold-digging women over Clinton and the bantering around the flower shop were a nice sweet and funny balance to the darker issues going on inside some of them.
I love the way I settle in and get comfortable like with a long-time friend when I get my hands on a Carolyn Brown women’s fic. The small town atmosphere and relationship connections adds country cozy experience not to be missed.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will appear at That's What I'm Talking About on Aug 24th.
April 29, 2023
#arcreview The Lucky Shamrock by #carolynbrown
2⭐️2🌶️
The Lucky Shamrock follows 3 female (Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja) prodigal cousins on their journey back to their hometown in Shamrock, Texas. As teens and young adults each cousin experienced difficulties in their romantic relationships. These cousins fight and bicker, but find they truly love each other deep down especially when they form an ad hoc therapy group to get over their pasts. The mmc (Clinton) is a retired vet and oil baron’s heir whose passion in life is to counsel other veterans into productive civilian lives. Using Shamrock as his home base, he is surrounded by the town’s worst gold digging females. Add in one of his clients - Rebecca - who struggles with PTSD and cannot be responsible for her infant child, Zoe, and we have a small town drama/romance.
I did enjoy parts of The Lucky Shamrock - small town, family drama, redeemed past, friends to lovers, but overall I don’t think this book was for me. The style of writing was a bit hard to follow, because of multiple POV without clarification on which character was speaking. This also didn’t fall into a genre specific category-it’s a bit of a secular small town closed door romance, but also leans into some Christian romance.
There are some serious triggers in this one as well:
-teen rape (not descriptive)
-cheating
-emotional/physical abuse
-ptsd
-child abandonment
But if you like lightly faith based, small town, closed door romance with multiple POV’s you might give this one a try!
2⭐️2🌶️
The Lucky Shamrock follows 3 female (Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja) prodigal cousins on their journey back to their hometown in Shamrock, Texas. As teens and young adults each cousin experienced difficulties in their romantic relationships. These cousins fight and bicker, but find they truly love each other deep down especially when they form an ad hoc therapy group to get over their pasts. The mmc (Clinton) is a retired vet and oil baron’s heir whose passion in life is to counsel other veterans into productive civilian lives. Using Shamrock as his home base, he is surrounded by the town’s worst gold digging females. Add in one of his clients - Rebecca - who struggles with PTSD and cannot be responsible for her infant child, Zoe, and we have a small town drama/romance.
I did enjoy parts of The Lucky Shamrock - small town, family drama, redeemed past, friends to lovers, but overall I don’t think this book was for me. The style of writing was a bit hard to follow, because of multiple POV without clarification on which character was speaking. This also didn’t fall into a genre specific category-it’s a bit of a secular small town closed door romance, but also leans into some Christian romance.
There are some serious triggers in this one as well:
-teen rape (not descriptive)
-cheating
-emotional/physical abuse
-ptsd
-child abandonment
But if you like lightly faith based, small town, closed door romance with multiple POV’s you might give this one a try!
March 4, 2023
This is my first book by this author. It was a sweet read about family and growing up. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
Cousins Taryn, Anna Rose & Jorja just came back to their hometown of Shamrock, TX. They have agreed to help in their grandmother’s flower shop called The Lucky Shamrock while she’s out caring for her friend, Ruby, after hip surgery.
It turns out they all have their secrets and need each other more than they know. Can the cousins get along well enough to work together? Only time will tell.
Living above the shop and helping out is Clinton. He’s a good looking war veteran with family money. He’s also the most eligible bachelor in town and has quite a few ladies after his hand in marriage. Clinton is passionate about helping veterans handle PTSD and is even willing to take temporary custody of a cute little baby while one of his vets gets help.
As the group works together, friendships will build. There could even be a love match.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Cousins Taryn, Anna Rose & Jorja just came back to their hometown of Shamrock, TX. They have agreed to help in their grandmother’s flower shop called The Lucky Shamrock while she’s out caring for her friend, Ruby, after hip surgery.
It turns out they all have their secrets and need each other more than they know. Can the cousins get along well enough to work together? Only time will tell.
Living above the shop and helping out is Clinton. He’s a good looking war veteran with family money. He’s also the most eligible bachelor in town and has quite a few ladies after his hand in marriage. Clinton is passionate about helping veterans handle PTSD and is even willing to take temporary custody of a cute little baby while one of his vets gets help.
As the group works together, friendships will build. There could even be a love match.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2024
Three cousins move back to their hometown to run their grandmother’s flower shop for the summer. They all meet men and romance ensues. 🙄 Be real, this formula has been used countless times. I admit that I still run across a book or two that uses this formula and still manages to have an unexpected twist or two and keep me entertained. This one did not. Very predictable with one dimensional characters that needed serious beefing up. I should’ve passed on this one.
August 23, 2023
It was super cheesy for the most part and one of the characters was super weird. Easy read but still too slow paced for my liking. Giving hallmark movie in the summertime.
March 27, 2025
The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown (2023)
ix+275-page Kindle Ebook
Genre: Family, Romance
Featuring: Praise, Carolyn Brown's Bibliography, Fictional Small-Town in Texas Panhandle, Grandmother, Cousins, Flower Shop, Homecoming Trope, Rivals, Weddings, Funeral, Hot Employee, Air Force Veterans, Peacemaker, Prayer Warrior, Party Girl, Tricenarians, Vicenarians, Summer, Food, Man Contest, Gossip, Cat, Abuse, Memorial Day, Veterans Affairs, Oklahoma, Trust Issues, Reputation, Sex - Off-Camera, Elders, Bullying, Letter From Author,
Rating as a movie: R for adult content
Songs for the soundtrack: "Let Them Talk" by Joshua Hedley, "I'll Fly Away" by Brenda Parker, “One Margarita” by Luke Bryan, “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton, “I Like It, I Love It” by Tim McGraw, “Boot Scootin' Boogie” by Brooks & Dunn, "The Thunder Rolls" by Garth Brooks, "The Dance" by Garth Brooks, "Storms Never Last" by Miranda Lambert, "Hard Rain Don't Last" by Darryl Worley, "Lead Me Home" by Jamey Johnson, “Stand By Your Man” by Tammy Wynette, "Diggin' Up Bones" by Randy Travis “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” by Thompson Square, “God Gave Me You” by Blake Shelton, “Broken Halos” by Chris Stapleton
Books and Authors mentioned: Hummingbird Lane by Carolyn Brown, The Daydream Cabin by Carolyn Brown, Miss Janie’s Girls by Carolyn Brown, The Banty House by Carolyn Brown, The Family Journal by Carolyn Brown, The Empty Nesters by Carolyn Brown, The Perfect Dress by Carolyn Brown, The Magnolia Inn by Carolyn Brown, Small Town Rumors by Carolyn Brown, The Sometimes Sisters by Carolyn Brown
Memorable Quotes: “You’ll be living in the trailer out back with your two cousins. Believe me, they aren’t happy with the arrangement, either, but you’re three grown women. You don’t have to like each other, but you do have to work together till I get back. I’ve taken the guns out of the shop, so the only things there for the next few weeks are floral knives and a hammer in the storage room. We’ll see y’all on Saturday for a late lunch. One o’clock. Other than that, don’t be calling me every day. Learn to get along and work together. Bye, now.” Taryn laid her head on the steering wheel for several minutes, then raised up and sighed. She’d promised Nana Irene that she would help run the flower shop—the Lucky Shamrock—after Nana’s best friend, Ruby, had fallen and broken her hip, and Taryn wasn’t one to go back on her word. Truth was, she was afraid of the lecture she’d get from her grandmother if she did, so she had no choice but to suck it up. She’d worked in the flower shop, right along with Anna Rose and Jorja, every summer since before she was old enough to go on the payroll. Nana Irene had given the three of them a generous allowance to help her in the summer months. She was of the firm belief that working together helped build friendships; Taryn thought that might have been the only time her grandmother had been dead wrong about an issue. “She also said it was to teach us responsibility and to keep us out of trouble. The first part worked. The second, not so much—at least in mine and Anna Rose’s stories. Jorja didn’t do so bad, but then, she loves Jesus more than we do,” Taryn muttered as she got out of her vehicle.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½🍀💐🍉
My thoughts: 🔖68 of 275 Chapter Six - This story just keeps getting better and better. I was cool with the opening but it seems the plot compounds each chapter and it's hilarious.
🔖132 Chapter Ten - I love how Brown takes you through humor before the pain and ends with sweetness.
This was a nice story and this author has rarely let me down, she does seem to have a fixation on Wendy's. I really appreciate this story for turning my mood around as the previous 2 books I read weren't good to me. I plan to read Carolyn Brown's catalog eventually, I like her style, and every story I've read so far has involved sisters or cousins connected through a grandmother with a homecoming in Small-Town Texas, it's amazing she can write so many different stories with those bones.
Recommend to others: Yes, if you need a go-to palate cleanser consider this author.
ix+275-page Kindle Ebook
Genre: Family, Romance
Featuring: Praise, Carolyn Brown's Bibliography, Fictional Small-Town in Texas Panhandle, Grandmother, Cousins, Flower Shop, Homecoming Trope, Rivals, Weddings, Funeral, Hot Employee, Air Force Veterans, Peacemaker, Prayer Warrior, Party Girl, Tricenarians, Vicenarians, Summer, Food, Man Contest, Gossip, Cat, Abuse, Memorial Day, Veterans Affairs, Oklahoma, Trust Issues, Reputation, Sex - Off-Camera, Elders, Bullying, Letter From Author,
Rating as a movie: R for adult content
Songs for the soundtrack: "Let Them Talk" by Joshua Hedley, "I'll Fly Away" by Brenda Parker, “One Margarita” by Luke Bryan, “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton, “I Like It, I Love It” by Tim McGraw, “Boot Scootin' Boogie” by Brooks & Dunn, "The Thunder Rolls" by Garth Brooks, "The Dance" by Garth Brooks, "Storms Never Last" by Miranda Lambert, "Hard Rain Don't Last" by Darryl Worley, "Lead Me Home" by Jamey Johnson, “Stand By Your Man” by Tammy Wynette, "Diggin' Up Bones" by Randy Travis “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” by Thompson Square, “God Gave Me You” by Blake Shelton, “Broken Halos” by Chris Stapleton
Books and Authors mentioned: Hummingbird Lane by Carolyn Brown, The Daydream Cabin by Carolyn Brown, Miss Janie’s Girls by Carolyn Brown, The Banty House by Carolyn Brown, The Family Journal by Carolyn Brown, The Empty Nesters by Carolyn Brown, The Perfect Dress by Carolyn Brown, The Magnolia Inn by Carolyn Brown, Small Town Rumors by Carolyn Brown, The Sometimes Sisters by Carolyn Brown
Memorable Quotes: “You’ll be living in the trailer out back with your two cousins. Believe me, they aren’t happy with the arrangement, either, but you’re three grown women. You don’t have to like each other, but you do have to work together till I get back. I’ve taken the guns out of the shop, so the only things there for the next few weeks are floral knives and a hammer in the storage room. We’ll see y’all on Saturday for a late lunch. One o’clock. Other than that, don’t be calling me every day. Learn to get along and work together. Bye, now.” Taryn laid her head on the steering wheel for several minutes, then raised up and sighed. She’d promised Nana Irene that she would help run the flower shop—the Lucky Shamrock—after Nana’s best friend, Ruby, had fallen and broken her hip, and Taryn wasn’t one to go back on her word. Truth was, she was afraid of the lecture she’d get from her grandmother if she did, so she had no choice but to suck it up. She’d worked in the flower shop, right along with Anna Rose and Jorja, every summer since before she was old enough to go on the payroll. Nana Irene had given the three of them a generous allowance to help her in the summer months. She was of the firm belief that working together helped build friendships; Taryn thought that might have been the only time her grandmother had been dead wrong about an issue. “She also said it was to teach us responsibility and to keep us out of trouble. The first part worked. The second, not so much—at least in mine and Anna Rose’s stories. Jorja didn’t do so bad, but then, she loves Jesus more than we do,” Taryn muttered as she got out of her vehicle.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½🍀💐🍉
My thoughts: 🔖68 of 275 Chapter Six - This story just keeps getting better and better. I was cool with the opening but it seems the plot compounds each chapter and it's hilarious.
🔖132 Chapter Ten - I love how Brown takes you through humor before the pain and ends with sweetness.
This was a nice story and this author has rarely let me down, she does seem to have a fixation on Wendy's. I really appreciate this story for turning my mood around as the previous 2 books I read weren't good to me. I plan to read Carolyn Brown's catalog eventually, I like her style, and every story I've read so far has involved sisters or cousins connected through a grandmother with a homecoming in Small-Town Texas, it's amazing she can write so many different stories with those bones.
Recommend to others: Yes, if you need a go-to palate cleanser consider this author.
September 18, 2023
I think this was my first Caroline Brown novel but it won’t be the last. “The Lucky Shamrock” is a fast moving, women’s fiction, small town, family drama with a bit of romance and humor.
Three cousins who spent a lot of time together as youngsters have returned back to the small Texas town of Shamrock to help Nana Irene. She and her bestie own the local flower shop, where the cousins worked during their middle and high school years.
Nana’s partner is having a hip replaced and the two of them will be away from the shop for weeks, leaving the girls to run the place. They have an extremely handsome military veteran to help them with deliveries and the heavy lifting. He inherits an infant which makes for some very interesting twists to the story! Of course, he manages to have a relationship with one of the cousins but it’s far from typical, very, VERY far!
All 3 cousins have past secrets that need to be brought to light. Some occurred during their high school years; others since their early adulthood but all are keeping the three young women from being close as the family they once were. Bringing them to light and finding resolutions was done carefully and sensitively.
Nana Irene is a character I won’t soon forget. Even tho’ she appears to be on the periphery, she’s intimately connected with everyone and watching that play out was SO much fun! This town and these characters could easily be a foundation for an ongoing series📚
Read & Reviewed from a GoodReads Giveaway eArc, with thanks
Three cousins who spent a lot of time together as youngsters have returned back to the small Texas town of Shamrock to help Nana Irene. She and her bestie own the local flower shop, where the cousins worked during their middle and high school years.
Nana’s partner is having a hip replaced and the two of them will be away from the shop for weeks, leaving the girls to run the place. They have an extremely handsome military veteran to help them with deliveries and the heavy lifting. He inherits an infant which makes for some very interesting twists to the story! Of course, he manages to have a relationship with one of the cousins but it’s far from typical, very, VERY far!
All 3 cousins have past secrets that need to be brought to light. Some occurred during their high school years; others since their early adulthood but all are keeping the three young women from being close as the family they once were. Bringing them to light and finding resolutions was done carefully and sensitively.
Nana Irene is a character I won’t soon forget. Even tho’ she appears to be on the periphery, she’s intimately connected with everyone and watching that play out was SO much fun! This town and these characters could easily be a foundation for an ongoing series📚
Read & Reviewed from a GoodReads Giveaway eArc, with thanks
July 12, 2023
Family doesn’t mean everyone has to like each other. That’s the case when cousins Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja return to Shamrock, Texas, to help manage their grandmother’s flower shop, the Lucky Shamrock. The reunion isn’t exactly a beautiful arrangement—considering they’re as compatible as ranchers and coyotes. Thank heaven for a handsome go-between like Clinton, who lives above the shop. The easygoing war vet, and most eligible bachelor in Wheeler County, is now throwing romance into the mix and setting the local women to gossiping. But as the hot months wear on, hidden secrets begin to surface for the temperamental Irish trio. And it’s bringing them closer together than they ever thought possible. With a flurry of weddings, a love story in the making, a surprise baby, and crazy good fortune, maybe that shamrock painted on the window does bring luck. Because for Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja, this could be the summer that’ll change their lives forever.
Carolyn Brown is one of those authors that has the magic touch when it comes to writing about families. I really enjoyed this story. The plot was easy to follow and the characters were imperfectly perfect. Will recommend to others.
Carolyn Brown is one of those authors that has the magic touch when it comes to writing about families. I really enjoyed this story. The plot was easy to follow and the characters were imperfectly perfect. Will recommend to others.
July 16, 2023
Cousins Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja all return to Shamrock, Texas to help run their grandmother's flower shop until she is able to return. They have never gotten along and each their own secrets that they keep close. Their grandmother hired a man named Clinton and with his help the cousins start to open up about their lives and past hurts. As the days pass and turn into months the girls start to see things in a different light with the help of an unexpected baby, tons of weddings, and a stroke of good fortune. Follow along and see how each young woman changes in the best possible ways.
March 13, 2025
It was the luck of the Irish that I chose this book for the challenge! I had never read a book by this author before, but I was not disappointed. The plot was predictable, but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless. It’s set in Texas and had a lovable cast of characters. I’m going to have to see if there’s a sequel. It made me want to sit out on the porch with a glass of sweet tea and a dish of blackberry cobbler😊☘️📚🐉
March 5, 2024
Three cousins come to town to help at the family flower shop while Nana is otherwise occupied. As they navigate their past and trust issues, they become closer and try to learn to trust themselves so they can trust others.
March 19, 2025
Very cute book, loved the characters and their glow up throughout the book.
3 granddaughters come home for the summer to run their Grandmother and her friend Ruby's shop while Ruby recovers from a hip replacement.
Clinton was hired as help at the shop and has numerous town women fighting for marriage in a contest created by said women.
Would recommend 10/10
3 granddaughters come home for the summer to run their Grandmother and her friend Ruby's shop while Ruby recovers from a hip replacement.
Clinton was hired as help at the shop and has numerous town women fighting for marriage in a contest created by said women.
Would recommend 10/10
July 18, 2023
I enjoyed this story of three cousins returning to their hometown. Each has secrets that hold them back from a full life. This was a feel good story of growth and love.
July 19, 2023
cute
A very quick cute simple read. Lovely story with lovely characters. Sweet heart felt quick and simple story. Read it!
A very quick cute simple read. Lovely story with lovely characters. Sweet heart felt quick and simple story. Read it!
July 27, 2023
This was an awesome book by Carolyn Brown it’s about family 1st and of course there is romance. Love her books.
May 6, 2025
3.5 stars
March 26, 2025
This book was terrible. I don’t give many one star ratings, but I didn’t like anything about this story. It was predictable, full of cliches, and not well written. The dialogue was especially bad. The contest for Clinton was dumb. The “plot twist” with the will was unbelievable. I honestly don’t know how the average rating is so high; I feel like I read a different book than the one described in other reviews. I do not recommend it.
June 18, 2023
The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown A touching story about three cousins, each with their own flaws and disappointments, who come together over the summer to assist their Nana Irene in running her small town flower shop. They begin to grow and recover their friendships in a delightful way as the summer progressed.
Thank you to the author, Montlake, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to the author, Montlake, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
March 31, 2024
~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~
I love Carolyn Brown's quirky characters, and the Lucky Shamrock is full of them. This is the story of 3 (rivaling and very different) cousins brought together by the grandmother who owns a floral shop. Each girl is facing their own life issues, but throughout the summer in Texas, they grow to know each other and become closer than ever before. This is a fun book with some pretty funny scenes and lines. In the end The Lucky Shamrock is about family, love, trust, and forgiveness. I would highly recommend this book and any book by Carolyn Brown to anyone. Pick this book up for a fun, lighthearted, heartwarming, and entertaining read!
I love Carolyn Brown's quirky characters, and the Lucky Shamrock is full of them. This is the story of 3 (rivaling and very different) cousins brought together by the grandmother who owns a floral shop. Each girl is facing their own life issues, but throughout the summer in Texas, they grow to know each other and become closer than ever before. This is a fun book with some pretty funny scenes and lines. In the end The Lucky Shamrock is about family, love, trust, and forgiveness. I would highly recommend this book and any book by Carolyn Brown to anyone. Pick this book up for a fun, lighthearted, heartwarming, and entertaining read!
July 3, 2023
This was an amazing book. Loved the 3 cousins. Taryn, Jorja, & Anna Rose. Loved that they came to help run their aunt's flower shop. Throw in Clinton & Zoey. It was the perfect storyline. Was glad I was picked to read an advanced copy of this book. Loved reading it. Can't wait for the next one. Love all Carolyn Brown books.
July 8, 2023
Terrific story of family, secrets, love, and healing. Three cousins, Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja, return to Shamrock to help run their grandmother's flower shop, The Lucky Shamrock. The three women aren't close - they can barely go five minutes without squabbling. Nana Irene forces them to live and work together to get them to learn to get along. The initial reunion among the three women doesn't look good for a peaceful summer.
Easygoing war vet Clinton lives in the apartment over the shop and helps Nana Irene with deliveries and heavy lifting. He's on hand to run interference among the three women. Clinton is the most eligible bachelor in the small town and is the target of several husband-hunting women. These women relentlessly pursue Clinton, using homemade goodies to try to win him over. I loved his focus on helping others and got a kick out of his grandfather's vociferous support.
I loved watching Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja throw themselves into the work. One of their first challenges is setting up a big wedding whose wedding planner is an old nemesis from their school days. Their encounters with Kaitlyn are full of sass and stick-togetherness, including a satisfying post-wedding confrontation. Though the three women bicker among themselves, they stand should-to-shoulder against outsiders.
As they settle into working and living together, their contentiousness slowly evaporates. I loved seeing them share the secrets that have had such long-lasting impacts on their lives. Burdens shared are burdens lifted, and I loved watching them share their coping strategies. I loved their box-burning scene and laughed out loud at their dog-toy-throwing episode.
I think Jorja changed the most. The daughter of missionaries, Jorja is the religious one of the trio. She focuses on trying to gain redemption for a traumatic event in her past. Her prim and proper façade hides the broken and hurting woman inside. I loved the support she received from Taryn and Anna Rose as she faced those memories and moved past them. It was fun to see her do everything from drinking beer and letting loose with some cussing to confronting the person responsible for her demons.
Anna Rose has gone the other way. She is a brilliant photographer who constantly travels, never staying anywhere long enough to put down roots. She is loud-mouthed, sassy, and believes in living life to the fullest. But that spirit hides insecurities stemming from a relationship that turned toxic and made her wary of settling down. Her cousins' support helped her see she was tired of running away.
Taryn left Shamrock in the dust after graduation, tired of the unfair reputation of troublemaker gained by trusting the wrong people. But life away from Shamrock wasn't always better. A bad relationship has made it difficult for her to trust her judgment when risking her heart again. But with the help of a baby, she learns to open her heart again.
The setting of small-town Texas and the drama that accompanies everyone being up everyone else's business made this a fun book to read. From the trio of mean girls to Nana Irene and Ruby, there is never a dull moment. I loved the surprise at the end and its effect on so many lives. I especially enjoyed seeing a particular person finally have to face the music.
While most of the story was spent on Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja and their pasts and relationships with each other, there was a subtle romance going on in the background. I loved watching Taryn and Clinton grow closer thanks to caring for baby Zoe and Clinton's kindness and support. I liked that they took their time and became friends first. The epilogue was terrific. I loved seeing where everyone was a year later.
#netgalley
Easygoing war vet Clinton lives in the apartment over the shop and helps Nana Irene with deliveries and heavy lifting. He's on hand to run interference among the three women. Clinton is the most eligible bachelor in the small town and is the target of several husband-hunting women. These women relentlessly pursue Clinton, using homemade goodies to try to win him over. I loved his focus on helping others and got a kick out of his grandfather's vociferous support.
I loved watching Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja throw themselves into the work. One of their first challenges is setting up a big wedding whose wedding planner is an old nemesis from their school days. Their encounters with Kaitlyn are full of sass and stick-togetherness, including a satisfying post-wedding confrontation. Though the three women bicker among themselves, they stand should-to-shoulder against outsiders.
As they settle into working and living together, their contentiousness slowly evaporates. I loved seeing them share the secrets that have had such long-lasting impacts on their lives. Burdens shared are burdens lifted, and I loved watching them share their coping strategies. I loved their box-burning scene and laughed out loud at their dog-toy-throwing episode.
I think Jorja changed the most. The daughter of missionaries, Jorja is the religious one of the trio. She focuses on trying to gain redemption for a traumatic event in her past. Her prim and proper façade hides the broken and hurting woman inside. I loved the support she received from Taryn and Anna Rose as she faced those memories and moved past them. It was fun to see her do everything from drinking beer and letting loose with some cussing to confronting the person responsible for her demons.
Anna Rose has gone the other way. She is a brilliant photographer who constantly travels, never staying anywhere long enough to put down roots. She is loud-mouthed, sassy, and believes in living life to the fullest. But that spirit hides insecurities stemming from a relationship that turned toxic and made her wary of settling down. Her cousins' support helped her see she was tired of running away.
Taryn left Shamrock in the dust after graduation, tired of the unfair reputation of troublemaker gained by trusting the wrong people. But life away from Shamrock wasn't always better. A bad relationship has made it difficult for her to trust her judgment when risking her heart again. But with the help of a baby, she learns to open her heart again.
The setting of small-town Texas and the drama that accompanies everyone being up everyone else's business made this a fun book to read. From the trio of mean girls to Nana Irene and Ruby, there is never a dull moment. I loved the surprise at the end and its effect on so many lives. I especially enjoyed seeing a particular person finally have to face the music.
While most of the story was spent on Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja and their pasts and relationships with each other, there was a subtle romance going on in the background. I loved watching Taryn and Clinton grow closer thanks to caring for baby Zoe and Clinton's kindness and support. I liked that they took their time and became friends first. The epilogue was terrific. I loved seeing where everyone was a year later.
#netgalley
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