***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown's heartwarming novel about old rivalries, young love, and a lemon meringue pie to die for.
In Bonnet, Texas, Liddy Latham, the queen of funeral dinners, keeps a southern comfort-food tradition alive--until fancy-schmancy Matilda Monroe moves back to town. She wants room at the table for her own style of consolation and closure: healthy, modern, and vegan. But this is about more than fried chicken versus tofu turkey. Matilda's return is also stirring up their volatile, unresolved history. And just when they thought it couldn't get more personal...
Matilda's son, Nick, and Liddy's niece, Amelia, have met and the sparks are flying. For Matilda and Liddy, their precious kin's romance is their worst nightmare. Now, it's all Nick and Amelia can do to survive a family feud that has the whole town talking.
The battle for the funeral dinner crown is on. As two strong-willed women wrestle for control, making peace with the past may be the only way to serve the star-crossed lovers a happy ending.
My Review:
The Bluebonnet Battle by Carolyn Brown is a sweet look at small-town life in Texas. This delightful look into small-town life made me laugh, giggle and smile, and if this story doesn’t make you crave a Lemon pie then nothing will.
Recently retired Laddie Lantham lives to serve the small town of Bonnet, Texas, and her church. She’s been organizing the funeral dinners for years, and she keeps tabs on her brother, Paul, and his wife, Ruth Ann, and her niece Amelia. She also works at the hospital as a volunteer with her sister-in-law, Ruth Ann. But, when her arch-enemy, Matilda, comes back to town with her son, Nick, Laddie’s quiet life is turned upside down. Matilda insists on doing the funeral dinners with healthy, vegan dishes instead of the homestyle fare that is usually served. The years-long feud between Laddie’s family and Matilda’s family is dredged back up, and it’s a full-time battle in the town of Bonnet, Texas.
However, when Laddie’s niece, Amelia, and Matilda’s son Nick start to have feelings for each other, the older generation is not having it. Nick and Amelia know they can’t have a relationship with their families feuding, especially in a town the size of Bonnet. But, they can’t seem to keep away from each other. Can their love finally repair the decades-long feud between their two families?
I enjoyed this fun, sweet story of small-town life in Texas. The main characters were definitely Laddie and Matilda and the book focused on their feud and the years of hurt and miscommunication that fed the feud for decades. The romance between Nick and Ameilia was sweet but secondary to the main story of the feuding families. I did feel like the feud was a bit over the top and dominated the story a bit too much. I enjoyed the small-town feel, and the side characters very much.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about small-town life. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About Carolyn Brown
Carolyn Brown is a New York Times, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and RITA finalist with more than one hundred published books. Her books include romantic women's fiction, historical, contemporary, and cowboys-and-country-music mass market paperbacks. She and her husband live in the small town of Davis, Oklahoma, where everyone knows everyone else, knows what they are doing and when, and reads the local newspaper on Wednesday to see who got caught. They have three grown children and enough grandchildren and great-grandchildren to keep them young. For more information visit www.carolynbrownbooks.com.
I agree about the feud feeling a tad over the top. It was still a fun element in the present part of the story unlike how it all got started. I enjoyed it and can’t wait for her next book.
Carolyn Brown has written some pretty funny arch-enemy situations, ones that had me laughing my head off so I’d like to pick this one up. Glad to hear it was a hit, Wendy!
Feuding families is an old theme, but it’s fun to see how different authors handle it. Wendy, your review is excellent!
Feuding families–an old theme, but it is interesting to see what each author does with it. Good review, Wendy!
Thank you, Linda!
I agree about the feud feeling a tad over the top. It was still a fun element in the present part of the story unlike how it all got started. I enjoyed it and can’t wait for her next book.
Thank you, Sophia. It was enjoyable overall for sure.
I’m a sucker for small town novels!
Thank you, Carrie. Me too!
I do enjoy a good Carolyn Brown book. This sounds fun although probably not her best. Nice review, Wendy.
Thank you, Carla. It was good, but there was more anger from the characters than I’m used to in her books.
This sounds interesting. I’m always in for small town romance. Great review!
Thank you, Yesha!
Great review, it sounds lovely 😊
Thank you, Jenny!
Carolyn Brown has written some pretty funny arch-enemy situations, ones that had me laughing my head off so I’d like to pick this one up. Glad to hear it was a hit, Wendy!
I hope you enjoy it if you do!
Lovely review. This sounds a sweet read. And I think you’re right–this will make one crave pie, and may be other food too!
Thank you, Mallika. They kept talking about pie!
I’m so excited to read this one too Wendy! Awesome review! I love small town romances as well! 🤗📚💜
Thank you, Susan! I’m glad we both enjoyed it.