Small town romances make me so happy! I love contemporary romance as well as romantic suspense stories, but I also have such feels about small town romance. Rooster, Texas is where the Banty House resides, and where we meet three aging spinsters who are a hoot. Ginger comes into their lives, 8 months pregnant and homeless. The sisters take Ginger in, and a wonderful story develops from there. This was such a joy to read, and even though I have read other books by Carolyn Brown, I truly believe this is one of her best.

EXCERPT: Change is a good thing.

Kate Carson wished she had the person who had first said that by the throat. She'd choke them until their face turned blue and then slap them for being that colour. She didn't like change.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: In the fading town of Rooster, Texas, all that’s really left is a service station, a church…and the Banty House, a long-ago Depression-era brothel. For more than seventy-five years, Betsy, Connie, and Kate Carson have called their mama’s house a home. The three eccentric sisters get by just fine with their homemade jams and jellies, a little moonshine on the side, and big hearts always open to strangers. Like Ginger Andrews.

An abandoned teen with a baby on the way and nowhere to go, she’s given a room to call her own for as long as she wants. The kind invitation is made all the sweeter when Ginger meets the sisters’ young handyman, Sloan Baker. But with a past as broken as Ginger’s, he’s vowed never to get close to anyone again. As a season of change unfolds, Ginger and Sloan might discover a warm haven to heal in the Banty House, a place to finally belong, where hope and dreams never fade.

MY THOUGHTS: WARNING: if you are on a diet, DO NOT read this book.

The Banty House is full of comfort food; hot, buttery croissants, muffins, bacon, homemade jams and jellies....
need I go on?

This whole read is just like comfort food. It made me laugh out loud, it choked me up, and left me feeling all warm and fuzzy and with a wide smile on my face and a twinkle in my eyes. Reading The Banty House (how it got its name is a story on its own) is as comforting as a hot bath on a cold winter's night, and as tasty as the first bite into one of those hot buttery croissants Betsy has just placed a plate of onto the breakfast table along with a fresh pot of coffee.

I just loved these three elderly, unconventional women who go to the hairdresser and return with a 19 year old, homeless, pregnant, woman named Ginger. Betsy, Kate and Connie may never have married, may have always lived in the same house, and what a history that house has, in the same town, but they definitely have lived. As I said, unconventional. We learn their interesting back stories during the course of the novel. These women are feisty, sassy and warm hearted with cores of steel. But don't ever get on the wrong side of them. Just wait til you read what they do to Edith!

I loved The Banty House by Carolyn Brown, my first book by this author. It definitely won't be my last.

❤❤❤❤.5

#TheBantyHouse #NetGalley

'...it's just money. That ain't nothing but dirty paper with dead presidents on it.'

ABOUT 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: A huge thank you to Montlake Romance via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Banty House by Carolyn Brown for review and for introducing me to this amazing author. 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

Loved it! Grab a box of tissues and enjoy. Tears of joy, sorrow, and laughter. The characters are a delight. The back stories are heart-breaking and heart-warming.

This is a hopeful, uplifting, satisfying story and I highly recommend it.

The book takes place in the small town of Rooster, Texas and centers mostly around the Banty House. The Banty House is still notorious in the town and surrounding areas because it was operated as a bawdy house in the 1930's. The main characters are the sisters Kate, Connie and Betsy (the youngest is 75) who live in the Banty House, their handyman Sloan, and Ginger, a young woman the sisters happened to meet and persuaded to come home with them to help them out. Sloan also has a great dog named Tinker.

Sloan was discharged from the military due to PTSD. Ginger is heavily pregnant, broke and has no family or friends to call for help. She literally has nowhere to go when she meets Betsy at the bus stop. There is a very slow developing love story between Sloan and Ginger that is not the focus of the book. Rather, the focus is how these five people make a family and it is lovely to read.

The sisters really make the story as they are a hoot. Being sisters, they still squabble but are intensely loyal to each other, and you do not want to get on their bad side. Connie's passion is cleanliness and she keeps the place spotless, Kate makes some very popular moonshine including some unlikely ingredients like strawberries, and Betsy makes and sells jams and jellies. They have some unexpected stories - Betsy, for example, went to Woodstock. The sisters discover that despite living together their entire lives, they still have more to discover about each other. This is a book I won't forget.

I received an e-ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Three sisters, lifetime residents of the small Texas town of Rooster, a pregnant teenager without family and a history of life in the foster care system, and a retired veteran caught between depression and guilt. You’d be more than correct in thinking that this premise doesn’t scream heartwarming, funny uplifting read. But you haven’t accounted or the pen and skills of Carolyn Brown.

In her hands, the sisters are eccentric, childish, generous, open and loving women: each one hiding secrets and longings for years, but determined to see that the child they’ve taken into their home stays, and will go to great lengths to ensure it. From giving Grace the experience of family, to pushing her together with Sloan, grandson of a friend and their ‘employee’ for weekly chores like washing their classic car, helping to plant the corn one sister needs for her moonshine, mowing the lawn, even hiding the decorated Easter eggs for their own annual hunt. Yes, the sisters are eccentric, perhaps even caught in past lessons from their mother, and wholly open to opening their home and family to more people.

And laugh, sigh and smile is what you will do while reading. From the teenage-themed spats between the elderly sisters, to Grace’s revealing her own story to them and to Sloan, and the gentle confidence that Grace shows to Sloan, making him face and understand his own guilt and grief. From dust-ups with other residents, to the never-ending small town gossip, and realizing that family isn’t always ‘blood’ but does always expand to include ‘heart’, Sweet and gentle, the story is the perfect antidote to the frustration, fears and cabin fever in these times, and will have you redefining (and perhaps realigning) your own sense of ‘family of heart’, as you get to know the folks in Rooster.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aId/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Three elderly sisters help a homeless, pregnant teenager and in the process they, and their handyman, prove that family isn't just about blood. This book was wonderful. I loved the banter between the sisters. And I loved watching the relationship between Ginger (the pregnant teenager) and Sloane. I loved everything about this book!

The basic plot: Ginger, a young pregnant woman passing through a small Texas town is taken in by three older women, sisters, and they develop a strong bond while taking care of Ginger. At the same time, she also starts taking care of them. The sisters reveal long-held secrets and are brought even closer together. In the meantime, a local young man also takes an interest in Ginger and they develop a friendship. I really enjoyed the characters in this book - the sisters are a HOOT, and are what make this book a bit different. It is a fun book about this unusual family, though there are some more weighty topics that are dealt with.

I couldn’t get enough of these characters and enjoyed every minute of the book! 5 stars!

I was provided a free copy of this book through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid read - it just wasn't a good fit for me. I always see Carolyn Brown's books on the bestseller lists, so it seemed like the right time to check one out. The writing itself is strong, the characters are interesting, and there are little bits of humor thrown into the story. But it was just too sweet and laidback for me, so I got bored with all of the heartwarming moments and slightly preachy tone. There's definitely an audience for it - I just don't think I'm the intended reader.

The story follows Ginger, a young woman who finds herself pregnant and homeless. She's taken in by three elderly ladies who have interesting personalities and a penchant for taking in strays. The ladies have also taken former soldier Sloan under their wing, and it's through them that the two meet. Sloan suffers from PTSD and still battles his own demons, but he finds a connection to Ginger right away. As old wounds are healed and new bonds are made, this unique family comes together.

It's got a nice small town feel and a very descriptive, serious tone with as much focus on family as there is on the romance. Though Ginger and Sloan's relationship is central throughout the book, it's not developed as well as it would be in a more romance-focused novel. And though there are references to a few adult themes and some potentially triggering content, it's a clean romance with just a few kisses. There is a focus on religion and a few references to race that I didn't love but, again, I'm probably not the intended reader for this. All in all, it's certainly not a bad read, but I was definitely bored and skimming at times, so I can't say that it was a total win for me either. I received an ARC via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review of this heartwarming book.

I've become a fan of Carolyn Brown's small town romances and The Banty House is no exception. If, during these troubled times of self-isolation, you're looking for a feel-good read, look no further, because this novel is it, and it gets 5 stars from this reader.

As the novel opens we meet 3 of the most charming, funny, quirky, octagenarian, never-been married sisters, Kate, Betsy and Connie Carson, as they're driving their vintage 1958 Lincoln the 3 miles from their hometown of Rooster, Texas to the next town, Hondo, for their standing Thursday hair appointment at the Cut and Curl. In a scene oddly reminiscent of Steel Magnolias, not long after the sisters arrive in Hondo, 19-year-old and 8 months' pregnant, Ginger Andrews, steps off the bus and parks herself on a bench just outside the salon. Hondo was as far as all the money she had in the world would take her.

When Connie steps outside the salon for a cigarette, she sits down next to Ginger and starts a conversation. In a town as small as Rooster, Texas, population 95, strangers are a welcome diversion, and when she learns Ginger's situation--the fact that her baby's abusive father is dead and Ginger is penniless, Connie brings her inside the salon to meet Kate and Betsy, who are firm believers in and followers of their mother's many rules. Rule number one was quite familiar to me in a slightly different form--I've even done it in counted cross-stitch, "Be ever careful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware."

Naturally, the 3 sisters offer Ginger a room for a night or two, which turns into a week, then a month, as they can't possibly turn away someone in such dire need of a roof over her head, especially since their mother's favorite holiday, Easter, is just around the corner, and a special day for the sisters, who have no problem pretty much adopting Ginger, who they learn had no one else. Since the sisters were never married and never had children of their own, they treat Ginger like the granddaughter they never had.

Ginger's mother was in prison when she gave birth to Ginger, and her father was both a drug addict and dealer, so Ginger spent her life in the foster care system, being moved from foster home to foster home, never staying in any one of them for more than a year. She likes the quirky sisters and the way they treat her, and learns that she's not the only person they've "sort of" added to their family.

Sloan Baker has only been back in Rooster for two years, having been medically but honorably discharged from the military after his entire unit of bomb experts was blown to pieces when he wasn't with them on a particular mission, and his guilt over their untimely deaths and the resulting PTSD are what got him discharged and have left him with horrific nightmares. He had wanted the military to be his life, but when that became impossible, he moved back to his hometown in Rooster, and the 3 Carson sisters, kept him occupied with chores they could no longer do, like maintaining and keeping that vintage Lincoln spotless and in good repair, mowing their lawn, caring for their flower beds and more. Since I'm a huge fan of novels featuring wounded warriors, it was hard not to fall in l0ve with Sloan, and he was certainly attracted to Ginger as soon as he met her.

Kate, Betsy and Connie are some of the quirkiest old gals I've ever come across--Connie is the sworn enemy of dust, and is constantly cleaning everything. Betsy is the cook in the family, and likes a little bit of the marijuana she grows in her flower bed out back before bedtime. She even bakes it into some of her brownies. She earns a bit of extra money from the jams and jellies she makes and either sells or barters for, and Kate has a still in the basement, making moonshine in interesting flavors like Apple Pie, which she also barters with among the residents in their small town, and even in nearby Hondo. To add more quirkiness and charm to this already charming story, we also learn that the Banty house was once a brothel, that the sisters were of mixed race, and they don't shy away from a fistfight when some of the snooty town ladies make disparaging remarks about their house, their mama, and their upbringing.

There was so much to love about this novel and its characters that I could ramble on about it endlessly, but I'd hate to spoil it for you. If stories like Steel Magnolias and Fried Green Tomatoes are among your favorites, I can practically guarantee that you'll fall in love with the town of Rooster, Texas, Ginger, Sloan, and the Carson sisters, the way I did. At its heart, The Banty House is a novel about friendship, love, honesty, caring, the value of family--blood relations or not, kindness and generosity of spirit. Personally, I wouldn't change a word of it if I could, and I think you'll feel the same way I did--that even when it's hard to see goodness in our crazy world, it still exists in a small town in Rooster, Texas. I so hope that Ms. Brown returns to Rooster sometime in the future. I'll be first in line to grab a copy.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

I love books with a good solid romance in them. The romance in this one is not the center of the story, it's a happily ever after at the end. Before you give that big sigh at the end, you'll meet three sisters who live together in a small town, emphasis on small. They live an eccentric lifestyle, causing no harm to anyone and well known for giving of themselves to anyone in need. They take a young woman, pregnant and alone, under their wings and into their hearts and home. And, in order to have a romance, there is a young man who has adopted the seniors as his family too. A seriously good story on how to grow a family in a community that has used up all of it's goodwill. Great read!!! Now you can sigh!

3.5 Stars
Carolyn Brown has taken generational looks at three women and how they all interact and help each other. This is handled in the professional way of Brown's books.

Thank you Montlake and Netgalley for access to this arc.

I had never read a Carolyn Brown book but after checking out reviews of her other ones, I see that she has a formula and appears to stick to it. Her legions of fans attest to the fact that they love it. This book, however, did not work for me. It was like reading a Hallmark movie. I do not disparage Hallmark movies - they are very popular and deliver what the viewer is expecting. But this isn't enough to keep me interested.

The story is fairly wholesome, with 3 older sisters whose marijuana use and moonshining is passed off as harmless; a homeless, pregnant woman who is overjoyed to find refuge with them; and a wounded, PTSD veteran who treats them as beloved aunts - all of whom come together to be healed. There is little external conflict and a whole lot of telling - of every little detail of their days. In a bare month, it's all done.

Need or want a feel good book? Try this one! Set in a small Texas town, it's the tale of how family is what you make and it's full of hope. Mature (ahem) sisters Betsy, Connie, and Kate live together - and they're a hoot. When Ginger, a pregnant 19 year old, shows up, they take her in and thus begins a wonderful tale. The sisters also have their arms around Sloan, a 24 year old veteran with PTSD. Ginger, who had a hard childhood, wants something better for her unborn baby but she needs to move past her own issues. Her relationship with Sloan warms slowly but you know there's going to be a good result - there has to be. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Good characters and storytelling as well as a plot that will make you smile makes this a good read, especially in dark times.

I just really enjoyed this book. It was just really easy to get lost in this book. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Three eccentric sisters living in a house that was once a whore house. A pregnant homeless orphan, a guilt ridden war veteran, and great story telling by Carolyn Brown equals a wonderful story set in a small town.that we all wished we lived in.

Fans of Debbie Macomber and Nancy Thayer will enjoy Carolyn Brown's latest novel The Banty House. I discovered her last year when I listened to The Magnolia Inn and though I've never been a fan of Southern fiction, I really enjoyed the novel. So when I saw she had a new book coming out this month, I quickly requested an ARC.

The story of a young, pregnant woman finding acceptance and belonging with 3 octogenarian sisters quickly drew me in as the sisters are a hoot. There is a bit of a predictable romance between Ginger and Sloan, but this story is much more women's fiction or Southern fiction than romance.

As I settled into this thoroughly enjoyable story, I wondered why I liked Brown's Southern fiction when most others grate on my nerves. I think it is because The Banty House is set in Texas rather than the deep south.

Betsy, Kate, and Connie, the octogenarian sisters, are quite eccentric. Maybe a bit too eccentric to feel real, but they provide enough comic relief that you can overlook the character flaw. Sloan is also a stereotypical character - a former military bomb technician who was discharged with PTSD after his team is killed in an explosion.

Perhaps it is the familiarity that made this story so comforting. I wanted to spend every evening reading The Banty House on the porch with a glass of lemonade while the warm breeze wafted the sweet scent of the tea olive blooms around me. What a pleasant way to spend an evening! And perfect for this time of uncertainty and change we are all experiencing.

The story slowed a little more than I would have liked in the middle. It was obvious where the story was going and I found myself wishing Ginger would have the baby and that she and Sloan would finally get together.

If you enjoy the character's journey, then you will be happy with this story. There is no real conflict or tension. The reader is along for the ride as the young woman who grew up in the system until she was too old for another foster home finds her place in life - a place where she feels she belongs.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Tuesday, May 19 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2020/05/the-banty-house-by-carolyn-brown-review.html

Small town feel. Family. Southern Charm.
Enjoyed Banty House and all the southern comfort.
Three sisters who live together each with their own special talents. ranging from cleaning, brewing, and growing.
Ginger is an orphan and as fate would have it meets up with the sisters.
Traditions are shared in this emotional story of journeys and self reflection.
“Blood doesn’t always mean family.”

The thing I love about a Carolyn Brown book is the down-to-earth realness of it. She gives us beloved characters who are simple yet complex. Characters with all of their flaws, pain and vulnerability displayed in a way that only endears them more to the reader.

She writes about real life, with all of its struggles and pain, yet leaves our hearts happy and satisfied with an uplifting, joyous ending. To borrow from a cliché, she begins with lemons and then, step by step, takes us through making the sweetest most wonderfully refreshing lemonade, sprinkling humor and sentiment in equal measure along the way.

Rooster, TX, population 95, has small-town charm complete with colorful, quirky characters and meddling neighbors. This small town has changed a lot over the decades that the three Carson sisters have lived there in the Banty House.

The house itself has known a questionable past, but it's been in the family for generations, changing with the times to meet the needs of the community. The first rule of the Banty House, which the Carson sisters' mama set down more than half a century ago, is to never turn away a stranger.

I can’t find the words to explain how deep the emotional hits go and how uplifting, inspiring and satisfying this amazing story is. From tears to laughter, abandonment to unconditional acceptance, and the pain and ghosts of the past that lead to healing and joy, these characters will have your heart beating to their rhythm and leave their permanent mark on your soul.

This unforgettable must-read is just what you need to escape for a few hours and leave your heart full, happy and content. Visit Rooster, TX, right away. You just might want to stay there forever.

The Banty House is an excellent, heartwarming story by Carolyn Brown. The Banty House is the name of a former old brothel in Rooster, Texas. Living there are three old sisters named Kate, Betsey, and Connie. One makes moonshine, one raises weed, and one cooks like an angel and makes jam. When they discover a young, pregnant, women, sitting in town on a bench outside their beauty shop, they take her home and care for her. These ladies quickly love Ginger and do a little matchmaking with their ex-solder neighbor, hoping to keep her with them and raise her baby. There is drama, humor, and comfort in this story. Carolyn Brown has such depth and description in her characters and storyline it feels as though you are right there in the story. This was a real page turner, and hard to put down. I rarely give 5 stars but this book more than deserves it.

Reading a Carolyn Brown book is liked being wrapped in a snuggly blanket your grandmother knit with a cup of hot cocoa on a cold day. You always feel better and and comforted having had the experience. Three wonderfully quirky somewhat eccentric sisters live in their long gone mommas house and though in their golden years still live by the rules she established when they children. They are fixers of the heart and soul. Sloan suffers from PTSD and unnecessary, but very real guilt having lost his platoon while serving in the military and Ginger, a pregnant teenager who is truly all alone in the world are their current projects. Through love, perseverance, humor and more love they learn to trust, live and enjoy life again. Treat yourself to this sweet wonderful book. You will thank ourself for it!!