Carolyn Brown writes friendship, small town, and relationships with simple country charm that invites the reader to slip into another world and wish they could kick off their shoes and stay awhile. Her latest women’s fiction tells a cross-generational tale of friendship, family where you make it, small town incidents, a dab of romance, and a dash of winter holiday cheer.

Sissy has just lost her beloved Aunt Bee and feels all the loneliness of no more living family. She has a thriving family and marriage therapy practice back home in Louisiana, but she is in her aunt’s Newton, TX for the next six weeks and her determination to leave is severely tested when her aunt’s best friends in the Sunshine Club work devilishly hard to give her a reason to stay. Sissy adores Gussie and Ina Mae, her aunt’s house with its old furnishings and quirky pets, and she even starts to love Newton and its small town oddities. However, she works hard not to fall for that handsome blue-eyed, kind-hearted preacher man who Gussie and Ina Mae determine as her perfect match. In fact, she might help Luke with the church Christmas program and enjoy helping with his parishioners in her work capacity and spending time with the man so that resistance is faltering, but she determines to turn the tables on those two scheming old ladies with a bit of matchmaking of her own. She’s not Blanche Ducaine’s niece for nothing, right? Meanwhile, the Christmas spirit and a little lesson about family not always being blood and Sissy might have found a reason to stay.

The Sunshine Club is quintessential Carolyn Brown from her feisty older ladies, close friendships and small town gossips, to her down home heartwarming, cozy book vibes. I enjoyed the rich history of friendship and memories that come out as Ina Mae and Gussie share their grief at losing a best friend alongside Sissy.
I didn’t realize this one was set during the holiday season until I started reading because I rarely read the blurbs anymore when it comes to her books. Loved the south Texas small town setting and fun to have the love interests all tied to their little local church.
I thought it was neat that Sissy was a relationship therapist for families and couples when she sees herself as all alone. And, yes, the author humorously has Sissy realize that what she advises for others might be the best advice she can take for herself. There is always the hilarious townsfolk and in this case a bossy, hypochondriac leads the pack and then, Blanche’s rescue pets- a disabled rooster and a discarded crotchety cockatiel steal the scenes.
While there is a romance, whew boy, is Luke a bit of sexy something for a preacher, but the focus is definitely healing from grief, friendship, and family. Oh, yes, and a couple side romances for Gussie and Ina Mae to show older gals and guys aren’t on the shelf yet.

All in all, it was comfy and engaging. It doesn’t jump into the story, but slips in and slowly builds momentum. Those who want something easygoing, low angst, and downright fun should give this women’s fiction holiday charmer a go.

Good story of love, friendship, and healing. Gussie, Blanche, and Ina Mae have been friends since they were children - more than sixty years. The three women were sisters of the heart, and when Blanche suddenly passes away, Gussie and Ina Mae don't know how they'll cope with their grief and loneliness.

The story opens on the day of Blanche's funeral, as Gussie, Ina Mae, and Blanche's niece Sissy carry out Blanche's last wishes. I had to laugh at Blanche's last bit of shenanigans as her requested "jazz funeral" shocked the townspeople, though Gussie, Ina Mae, and Sissy enjoyed every minute of it. I loved the flashbacks/memories that each of them experienced and how they provided insight into Blanche for the reader. Ina Mae and Gussie continued their celebration of Blanche's life by inviting Sissy into their clubhouse and sharing memories - and whiskey shots - for the rest of the day. The three women's grief leaped off the page, and I ached for their pain.

I enjoyed the story of how they began the Sunshine Club and the part it played throughout their lives. It was the support of Gussie and Ina Mae that got Blanche through her disastrous and short-lived marriage. All three were there for each other through their successful careers. They also earned a reputation as the matchmaking queens of the town. Ina Mae and Gussie agree that the best way to honor Blanche is to find a husband for Sissy. This would have the added benefit of keeping Sissy in Newton rather than returning to Louisiana.

Sissy had an unusual childhood, traveling the country with her rock band parents in an RV. While she loved her parents and enjoyed the travel, it was a lonely life. She enjoyed the time she got to spend with Aunt Blanche, experiencing "normal" life. Sissy now lives in Louisiana and has a job as a therapist that she loves. When Blanche died, Sissy took six weeks of leave to settle Blanche's affairs. She received quite a shock when she learned what Blanche left to her and decided to take her time deciding what to do.

I loved seeing the interactions between the three women. Ina Mae and Gussie think of Sissy as family since they have none of their own. They also don't bother to sugarcoat anything at their ages and are forthright with their opinions and advice. It was funny to see their plotting and planning to throw Sissy and Luke, the preacher, together. They think they are subtle about it, but Sissy figures it out right away. Sissy doesn't want to hurt their feelings, so she goes along with their efforts. She has no intention of falling in love as she plans to return to her job in Louisiana, but Luke certainly gets her attention.

Luke has been the preacher in town for about two years, hired when his Uncle Jimmy retired. He's a good-looking and charming young man who loves what he does. He's successfully avoided the efforts of other matchmakers but finds himself intrigued by and attracted to Sissy. I loved their conversation about the matchmaking efforts and their agreement to be friends. I enjoyed watching their relationship develop as friendship grew into more. It was easy to see that their outlooks on life and helping others were compatible, and I loved seeing them support each other. There are obstacles, however, as a few people don't approve of Luke's interest in Sissy, and they are intent on making trouble for the pair. I liked the reasoned and practical approach that Luke and Sissy took to their options and that they found a way to have each other and the life they wanted. I especially loved Luke's statement at church.

Ina Mae and Gussie do their best to help things along. There are some terrific parts as they attempt to run interference against the most vocal of the objectors. This woman is a real piece of work, and I wanted to see her get her comeuppance at the end. I'm not sure she did, but it all ended well anyway.

I also had fun watching Sissy turn the tables on Ina Mae and Gussie. After getting wind of their plans to push her and Luke together, Sissy figured that getting them involved with suitors of their own would keep them out of her hair. She also recruited Luke to help her. They were much more subtle than the two ladies. I had a great time seeing Jimmy and Paul become more involved in their lives, and none of them suspected a thing. The scenes involving them were often sweet and sometimes hilarious.

I liked how these activities helped all three women work through their grief. Stories of Blanche frequently came up when some action would remind them of her. In contrast to the tales of hijinks, Ina Mae and Gussie also revealed the whole story behind Blanche's marriage. Their actions to protect Blanche showed the depth of their love for her and their willingness to go to any lengths to do so. One of the things I loved about the book was how each one would hear Blanche's voice in their heads during times of stress or confusion or just needing advice.

One of my favorite characters in the book was Blanche's bird, Danny. His salty language and nightly drinks of vodka were hilarious. Though each of the ladies frequently seemed disgusted with him and threatened to give him away, none of them could. He reminded them too much of Blanche. I also loved his relationship with the rooster.

I liked hearing stories about their Sunshine Club activities, from how and why they started it to what they did during their meetings. Ina Mae and Gussie's grief over Blanche's death made it difficult for them to spend time there. I loved the decision they finally made about what they would do.

The Sunshine Club is a quintessential Carolyn Brown novel. If you like small-town novels with meddling old women and a sweet love story then this might be the book for you.

Sissy returns to Newton, Texas because her beloved Aunt Bee died unexpectedly from a heart attack. She's not so sure about the funeral her aunt's two best friends have scheduled and she certainly isn't expecting to find the local minister so attractive but that's just how things go sometimes. Luke loves his job as a minister and he certainly wasn't expecting to find Sissy so alluring but the more he gets to know her, the more he wants to know.

This is a sweet, innocent small-town romance. Yes, there is a " bad guy" but it's not murder mystery level bad more like small-town politics bad. There are two crazy birds (yes, actual avians) in the book. There's a Christmas pageant in the works. There's even a meet the parents moment. It's just a very sweet, very quiet story about two grown adults falling in love.

I recommend this book to anyone that loves a nice, clean love story.

What a great escape from reality. I loved this book. The sassy and fun older ladies in this book warmed my heart, made me laugh out loud, and reminded me of my grandma. A sweet love story you won’t be able to put down.

The Sunshine Club is three women who have been friends for sixty years. When one of them suddenly dies the remaining two channel their grief into finding a husband for their dead friends niece. This book is full of love, quirky characters, and life.

This is a Women's Fiction/Romance. I have to say I really loved the group of Old Women in this book, and their lives sounds like they made the most of life. One things I really love in books is when they have older characters in the book. My favorite character and the one who made this book everything that it was is a bird. This book started off so slow, and I really did not think I would like it. I have to say once it got really going I really loved this book. I took off one star because of the beginning of this book. I had to make myself push through the beginning before I got really into this book. This book had good times, sad times, and parts that was so funny. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Montlake) or author (Carolyn Brown) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

The Sunshine Club is a sweet, small town romance filled with wonderful characters. I enjoyed Sissy and Luke's story and would love to hang out with Ina Mae and Gussie. They were so funny!

Gussie and Ina Mae had been friends with Blanche for more than sixty years, so it was heartbreaking to attend her funeral. These women even started their own club as young girls called the Sunshine club sharing many fun times and some heartbreaking moments as well that brought them even closer. All their secrets were kept within the walls of their small clubhouse. When Blanche’s niece Sissy comes to town, the Sunshine girls believe that they have one last mission and that is to play matchmaker for Sissy. They are so busy trying to set Sissy up with the handsome single pastor in town, they do not see that Sissy has her own matchmaking plans in place for the two remaining Sunshine club members.

This book was such a breath of fresh air. I loved all the characters, but Gussie and Ida Mae along with a few fun birds, steal the show with their antics and stories. As this was a story of loss, it is also a story of new love and hope renewed. Carolyn Brown wrote an amazing novel and I thought it was the perfect book to curl up by the fire with. My thanks to Montlake Publishing for an advanced readers copy which I voluntarily read and reviewed.

5 stars
The Sunshine Club by Carolyn Brown
What a delightful book. Carolyn Brown knows how to write compelling readable books that almost anyone can relate too! Everyone needs an Ina Mae, Gussie and Blanche in their life. Oh. how I wish I had friends for this long. Carolyn Brown did a superb job of writing about small town politics and church gossip. I truly thought I knew how it was going to end, but I was so wrong! The ending was so much better than the trite basic finale that I had envisioned.
The birds were hysterical, as was the inclusion of elderly couples. I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to read another book by Ms. Brown.



I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

This story was just so warm and inviting, making me feel like meeting up with old friends. Gussie, Ina Mae, and Blanche have been best friends for over sixty years. When Blanche dies, her niece, Sissy comes to take care of her aunts affairs. After the funeral, life slowly moves forward, for all of them.
Blanche had a bird that can talk in the same voice as Blanche, so even though, he drinks vodka, and swears, they can't give him away. Gussie and Ina Mae decide to play matchmaker for Sissy and Luke, the preacher. Sissy decides to play matchmaker for Gussie and Ina Mae with two older men who have lost their wives. The adventures they have, But as the adventures happen so does the local gossip, and decisions will have to be made. Sometimes, people can put people in their place without, hurt feelings, by finding other ways to occupy their time.
This is an inspiring story, that everyone makes their own life, and they find a way to get along. The emotions they went through, some with tears from thinking about the memories, to the laughter of the bird sounding just like Blanche, to the connection with Blanche didn't go away, when she died, because when they needed her, they could hear her replies in their head, and it was comforting.
I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.

Carolyn Brown has written another heartwarming story about found family and friendship. I immediately wished I was a part of the Sunshine Club with their friendship and the way in which they protect and support each other. Throughout the story there is small town shenanigans but also the showcase of how small town communities are always there for each other. There is humor and strong willed characters! With a vivid setting and a way with words, I felt as I was walking alongside Sissy as she navigates her aunt's hometown and life. Will Sissy find a home after all these years? You will have to read this book to find out! Thank you NetGalley and Montlake Books for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

The Sunshine Club by Carolyn Brown is a low-key romance but so much more. As these people work through their grief for Blanche, their friend who died suddenly, universal truths become apparent: the stages of grief are real and once a bitch, always a bitch. Trying to help someone doesn't always work out. The personalities were different and varied, and mostly likable. Gussie, Ida Mae, and Blanche had formed the Sunshine Club sixty years earlier when some little boys had posted a "No Girls Allowed" sign. They met every week and had few, but firm rules. Now there were only two of them and they were determined to hold Blanche's funeral just as she had requested, no matter what other people thought. They found an ally in Sissy (Martina), Blanche's niece, and only living relative. That it meant a second line in the freezing cold of Texas was a minor detail. They had to figure out a way to keep Sissy her with them, instead of going back to her own life (which was really not that impressive, anyway) so they determine to set her up with t he young preacher, Luke. As soon as Sissy noticed (almost right away) she determined to bring some men into their circles of life, as well. She was more subtle. So now it was the six of them.

This was a terrific book. It started off slowly but once it got doing it was dynamite! Elvira, the mean girl (sixty years later) was a terrific character. We all know someone just like her. No matter how much one vows to be nice to her and help her, she makes it impossible. Well written, Carolyn Brown! Sissy recognizing she was two people: Sissy or Martina, depending on where she was eye-opening. Choosing the one she wanted to be was an act of supreme maturity. Another great character. They got past their grief and it was all by interacting with other people. It was a great lesson in how to live your life. I hope I was listening.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Sunshine Club by Montlake, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #montlake #carolynbrown #thesunshineclub

Sissy is returning to her aunt's hometown to attend her aunt's funeral. Her Aunt Blanche had been the main person in her youth who gave her the sense of stability and belonging and of being loved that she didn't get from her parents. Thanks in large part to her aunt's encouragement, she had gone on to attend college and was a licensed therapist. Her parents were musicians, and Sissy had grown up in the back of their van, on the road.

The funeral itself was not your usual Texas small town funeral. Blanche had wanted a New Orleans-style funeral where people walked behind the hearse, and she got it. Of course, the bitter cold was a little different than the weather in New Orleans... Blanche's two best friends were there to support Sissy since she had to take care of her aunt's estate. They also began a stealth campaign to keep her in the town as they had matchmaking on their minds. The minister in their church was single and they thought he would be perfect for Sissy. I liked Gussie and Ina Mae - they were a feisty pair, as was Blanche. I also loved Blanche's pet birds. They were a hoot.

While I enjoyed reading the book, I thought it was a little juvenile. The old ladies had a secret clubhouse and rules that they had followed for decades. To me, it was like they had never quite grown up. I also had trouble telling Ina Mae and Gussie apart as their 'voices' sounded alike to me and a little too strident. The romance between Sissy and Luke, the preacher, was the best part. I thought the parts where the church members were up in arms because their pastor was dating a perfectly nice woman were overdone.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher Montlake via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. These are my own opinions.

I received from NetGalley/publishers!
It was a quick and easy read!
I love the cover so pretty..
I love her books I had a feeling I could get right in to it and not want to put it down, I can't wait for more of her books was not a disappointment. helps me when I struggle to sleep. I read tell I feel sleepy..

EXCERPT: 'We haven't devoted much time to the matchmaking since we all retired, so we might be a little rusty,' Ina Mae reminded her. 'With all this new technological stuff on the internet, our old-fashioned ways might be water under the bridge. But maybe it's like riding a bicycle. How many thirty to thirty-five year old bachelors are left in Newton County?'

'Not many that we'd have in our family,' Gussie answered, 'but did you notice that Luke held Sissy's hand a little longer than necessary this morning? I think I saw a few sparks.'

'No, no, no!' Ina Mae shook her head. 'He's a preacher. You know how Blanche felt about being a preacher's daughter. If Sissy and Luke had kids-' she shuddered.

'What's wrong with that?' Gussie asked. 'Things are different even for preacher's kids in today's world. Just think of it as our greatest challenge, and besides, times have changed. Preachers aren't as strict as they used to be when we were kids. I saw Luke playing basketball in the church fellowship hall last weekend when we were cleaning the church. He was in there with a bunch of teenagers, and he wasn't wearing a shirt.' She fanned herself with her hand. 'And honey, he would make any woman swoon.'

Ina Mae shook her head again. 'I don't care if seeing him without a shirt would make Sissy's underbritches crawl down around her ankles. Think of someone else.'

ABOUT 'THE SUNSHINE CLUB': Gussie, Ina Mae, and Blanche have been best friends for more than sixty years. From their humble beginnings of founding the Sunshine Club when they were girls to becoming the matchmaking queens of Newton, Texas, these three were inseparable. When Blanche passes away, Gussie and Ina Mae feel the best way to honor their dearly departed is with a shot of whiskey, some good music, and making a match for Blanche’s niece, Sissy.

Never mind that Sissy’s in town for only six weeks. Is there a better reason for her to stay? And is there a better prospect than handsome, charming, blue-eyed local preacher Luke Beauchamp? No and no. The attraction is already there. Now it’s up to Gussie and Ina Mae to make sure the sparks really get to crackling by Christmas.

The Sunshine Club is back in business. Don’t underestimate two feisty women who have their hearts set on a happy ending.

MY THOUGHTS: I just loved the characters in The Sunshine Club. Ina Mae and Gussie have the warmest hearts with just a little wickedness mixed in, and oh boy! Do they ever like to meddle! Of course, they class it as 'helping', and right now they are 'helping' Blanche's niece Sissy, come to terms with the loss of her beloved aunt, the last of her family. And if it takes a bit of meddling to get Sissy to stick around a bit longer than she planned (read: permanently) then who are they to blanche (sorry, pun intended) at the job.

The Sunshine Club is an easy to read heartwarming story of friendship and the power of love. The characters are full of fun and sass, and I loved the stories of what the three Sunshine Club members got up to through the years. I loved the way Ina Mae and Gussie support Sissy in her grief, and she does the same for them. I also love how Sissy manages to turn the table on the two women in the matchmaking stakes!

There's a few tears in this read, but a whole lot more smiles and giggles. Overall, the moral of this story is that people don't have to be blood relations to be family. Family is in the heart.

P.s. make sure you read the author's note on where she got the idea for this story. It's a nice little footnote.

⭐⭐⭐.7

#TheSunshineClub #NetGalley

I: @carolynbrownbooks #montlake

T: @thecarolynbrown #Montlake

#christmasfiction #christianfiction #contemporaryfiction #romance #womensfiction

THE AUTHOR: 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: DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Montlake via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Sunshine Club by Carolyn Brown for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

Even if I loved Blanche I found this book very slow and the story didn't keep my attention.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

#netgalley #theSunshineClub--Gussie, Ina Mae, and Blanche were best friends almost their entire lives.
They started the Sunshine Club back when there were boys only clubs. The girls weren't allowed, so the Sunshine Club was girls only.

Sissy comes to Texas for her Aunt Blanche's burial and she is accepted by Ina Mae and Gussie as their own family, since Blanche was like family to them.

This story was full of emotion, sadness, grief, joy, and laughter and love as well.

I just love the family feeling that Carolyn Brown puts into her books.

Since Gussie and Ina Mae are lost without Blanche, they decide to matchmake, with Sissy and preacher Luke.

I loved how the older women took Sissy under their wings and I literally cried laughing at the pet bird's antics.

Once I closed the book it felt like saying goodbye to dear friends.


I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to feel different emotions, who likes reading about families, and friendships, changes and even loving relationships being formed.

My thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lighthearted read after you get pass the funeral. I usually enjoy Carolyn Brown's books but I had a hard time getting into this one. I couldn't connect with Sissy, maybe that was what threw the book off for me. I'm sure a lot of people will love it, but for me it was just an ok read. Please don't let my review stop you from giving this book a chance, it might be just what you are looking for.
I received a complimentary copy from Montlake via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

All of Carolyn Brown’s books are feel good and well worth the read! I loved this book of meddling in love, taking a chance and the way the characters blended so easily!
A wonderful reminder about friendship and developing a new romance!

A huge congratulations and thanks to Montlake and Carolyn Brown on a superbly written story about finding love, with plenty of romance!

I started this book and had no expectations as this was my first by Carolyn Brown, I found it very slow and there was so much dialogue I got lost in it all, I didn't manage to finish this book.