Sophia Rose is here with a review of The Party Line by Carolyn Brown. Grab a cup of tea and find out what Sophia enjoyed about this small-town women’s fiction with romance, humor and family secrets.
The Party Lineby Carolyn Brown
Genres: Women's Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating:
A niece’s inheritance comes with family secrets, new romance, and sweet Texas strawberries in a refreshing and warmhearted novel by New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown.
Returning home to Ditto, Texas, is bittersweet for Lila Matthews. Her dear and feisty aunt Gracie has passed away, leaving Lila her estate. That includes a centuries-old house, a field of the freshest strawberries in Atascosa County, more money than Lila can count, and a secret Aunt Gracie took to her grave. All the angels in heaven won’t be able to pry it out of her.
For more than eighty years, generations of folks in Ditto have whispered and gossiped about what the secret could be. When Lila inherits Aunt Gracie’s legacy, ears perk up and tongues start wagging. As Lila reacquaints herself with locals, finds warmth in family—extended and otherwise—and cozies up to a handsome new neighbor, she begins collecting clues to the past. They’re revealing an Aunt Gracie nobody knew—and a life of rebellion, broken hearts, and selfless love that affected more people than anyone realized.
Whatever reason Aunt Gracie had for leaving Lila the secret, will it now be Lila’s secret to keep?
Sophia Rose’s Review
When her old aunt passes away, a woman comes back to her small town to claim her inheritance. Family secrets and a new promise of love and new start on life are there waiting if she’s willing to take a chance on change. Carolyn Brown is an autobuy author for me particularly when it comes to the cozy, country charm of her small town women’s fiction with a smattering of romance and humor.
The Party Line is set in a town that isn’t on most maps where everyone knows each other and all the secrets, but one. Aunt Gracie had a secret that has the town stirred up again when they think Lila will discover it after she moves into Gracie’s house. Lila has been an accountant in the big city, content with her job and acquaintances, but she feels the difference between contentment and deep-seated happiness when she sorts through Gracie’s past, reacquaints herself with the neighbors, spends time with her mother and Gracie’s friends. The strawberry fields behind the house and the new young foreman have her attention and tempt her to try something new.
Gently paced and full of all sorts of heartwarming moments, The Party Line is a book that the reader can sit back, relax, and feel- feel the summer heat and taste the sweet strawberries, appreciate family, friends, and romance, and then dig a little deeper into bittersweet truths the past generations had to face. Not a book for high entertainment or drama, but well satisfying all the same. The Party Line is for those who like the crossover of women’s fic and romance in a country town setting.
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Sophie
Oooh I love gently paced books! I will add it to my list!
Sophia Rose
Glad to put you onto it, Sophie!
Laurel-Rain Snow
UPDATES
Sophia Rose
Hi there, Laurel-Rain!
Mary Kirkland
I like hidden family secrets and inheriting an old house type stories. This sounds like a good read.
Sophia Rose
Yes! I was so curious to know the secret and to see her find the answers in the house.
Anne - Books of My Heart
She is just prolific! I generally enjoy her books but there are so many!
Sophia Rose
Oh man, you said it, Anne! I’ve chipped away at her backlist a little, but I’m no where near close to having read them all and I can’t even keep up with all the new releases. 🙂
RO
Great reviews! Thanks ❤️
Sophia Rose
Ah shucks! Thanks, Radiant Ro!