Sophia Rose is here today with an early review of A Chance Inheritance by Carolyn Brown, where three women return home in hopes of a second chance. Grab some hot cocoa and enjoy!
by Carolyn Brown
Genres: Women's Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Three women return home in search of second chances in this heartwarming short story from New York Times best-selling author Carolyn Brown.
What do a runaway bride, a free spirit, and a corporate exec have in common? Besides all being down on their luck, Lainie, Jodi, and Becky are Lizzie Cornell's granddaughters. Upon inheriting their grandmother's home and family bait shop, the three cousins return to Catfish, Texas, grieving Lizzie's passing and hoping to find the fresh start they all need.
Turns out cohabitating together and running the Catfish Fisherman's Hut isn't at all like the idyllic summers they spent as children on the banks of the Red River. The days are long and hot, the tourists demanding and rude. And then there's Chris, a local river guide who seems to have eyes only for Becky.
But Lizzie's death has set in motion a chain of events that will cause a new generation of Cornell women to come together. And thanks to this chance inheritance, some local fishermen, and the love of their Granny Lizzie, the Cornell cousins discover that sometimes an ending is really the beginning of a brand-new happily ever after.
Sophia Rose’s Review
A runaway bride is joined by her feisty cousins in running their late gran’s bait shop on the Red River in this women’s fiction about starting over. And, in the second tale, a woman finds getting her childhood wish of finding her dad might not be what she imagined. Carolyn Brown does it again with the downhome country charmers.
A Chance Inheritance begins with some endings- a grandmother’s death and a failed wedding- that lead to a new beginning for three women who need new starts. Lainey realized just in the nick of time that she didn’t want to marry a control freak, Becky is tired of going to work and seeing her ex flirting with other women, and Jodi’s life has gotten into a rut and no substance so Lizzie’s will leaving them her bait and snack shop along with her house on the river is just the jumpstart they all needed and Becky gets an additional romance out of the deal.
Elements of this one are present in other books previously published in full-length novels. The fishing scene is new, but a shared inheritance among three women who start out less than pleased with each other is familiar. This novella was engaging, but also felt like it could have been further developed around the central story and tied up more of the surrounding details.
The second novella, The Three Wishes, introduces the story when a young girl, Jessica, finds a bottle on a Florida beach and her much older sister and mother play along that it has a genie so she makes three wishes- to find a shell, to find her father, and to find true love. The first comes true the next day, but it isn’t until after her mother’s death that she finds clues in her mother’s things as to her father. And, following up in finding her father leads her to the potential for the last wish coming true.
The Three Wishes drew me in and made me heart sore for her a little when she gets her answers, but not for long. Carolyn Brown knows how to tuck the bitter in with the sweet so the story is one of healing and happiness involving a feisty small town romance. Definitely a magical story. All in all, a pair of charmers with small town folks finding life’s answers and a bit of romance. Those who enjoy laid back, heartwarming women’s fiction should definitely reach for this pair of novellas.
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A Chance Inheritance by Carolyn Brown delivered a magical story of healing and happiness wrapped in a feisty small-town romance #SophiaRose #bookreview Share on XAbout Carolyn Brown
Author Carolyn BrownNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Carolyn Brown was born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma. These days she and her husband make their home in Davis, Oklahoma, a small town of less than three thousand people where everyone knows everyone, knows what they are doing and with whom, and read the weekly newspaper to see who got caught. A plaque hangs on her office wall that says I know the voices are not real but they have such great ideas. That is her motto and muse as she goes through the days with quirky characters in her head, telling their stories, one by one, and loving her job. She has been married almost half a century to a retired English teacher that she calls Mr. B and he does not read her books before they are published because she cannot afford a divorce. They have three grown children.—and enough grandchildren to keep them busy and young. When Carolyn is not writing she likes to sit in the back yard and watch the two tom cats protect the yard from all kinds of wicked varmints like crickets, other cats, spiders and blue jays.
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About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Karen Hall
I felt this story stopped just as it was getting started. Very disappointed, the basic story was good,I liked each character, just so under developed.
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
I didn’t know this was a couple of novellas. I do enjoy Carolyn Brown when I want something easygoing and fun to read. The stories are usually positive and uplifting too. Nice review, Sophia!
Sophia Rose
I was surprised to learn that, too. The first one ended fast and then I saw the second title come up. Turned out to be perfect for me since I was in the middle of the holidays so short and sweet worked great for my mood.
Karen
What was the second title. Thank you
Sophia Rose
The Three Wishes
Katherine
Adding this to my TBR. Both novellas sound really good and I have several other books by this author on my TBR.
Sophia Rose
LOL, always happy to pile one more to the top of your TBR pile, Katherine. 🙂
Lola
I know you read a lot of this author’s books and you make me curious about them. I hope I can pick one of them up sometime. I like the sound of the three cousins inheriting the bait and snack shop and how it’s a chance to start over for them. The Three Wishes sounds like a magical story indeed and I like how you describe the sweet and bitter elements are mixed. Great review!
Sophia Rose
She has written so many books and I’ve read many. I love love her cozy style.
The bait shop was a fun setting and different for me. I loved all the feels I got from the second novella, too.
Wendy
Carolyn Brown is so good. Sometimes I think she writes the same book over and over again, but I like to read the same book over and over again, so that’s ok with me. 🙂
Sophia Rose
Haha, very true, Wendy! I do love reading her books so much even a familiar plot or theme. 🙂
Lover of Romance
Great review you have of this one here! I have been wanting to explore these type of books from this author. There is definitely something magical about Carolyn Brown and how she blends the multiple elements together.
Sophia Rose
Oh, yes, she definitely has the magic touch, Renee!
Victoria Hamel
This sounds like some delightful weekend reading-
Sophia Rose
Total ‘curl up in your chair and relax’ reading, Victoria! 🙂
Silvia
They sound like touching and heart-warming novellas, and I am glad they were both engaging 🙂
Sophia Rose
They most definitely are, Silvia!
Melliane
It looks nice. I did read one book by her but I should try more
Sophia Rose
I second that opinion, Melliane. 🙂