I received an Advanced Reader Copy from Montlake Romance for my unbiased opinion of the book. This is a story about Jolene Broussard coming back to the only home she's known in Texas to run her Aunt and Uncle's inn that has fallen in disrepair and in need of a major upgrade. Bracing to deal with her awful cousin who is joint in this deal is surprised when he sells it to the best offer out there. Tucker Malone buys the half interest in the inn to hopefully make some money and put the demons he's been wrestling for the last few years to rest. With Jolene's elbow grease and Tuckers money they start the beginning of a friendship and hopefully more! I read this book in less than a day!!! Carolyn hit it out of the park again!!! You must read this book! Its one of her best!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

This is the first Carolyn Brown book I've read. I thought it sounded like a sweet romance when I read the blurb the publisher sent over for consideration. Sweet is right. I didn't know what to expect since I'd not read this author before.

At The Magnolia Inn we have Jolene who's inherited half of the Inn from her Aunt & Uncle. The other half belonged to her cousin who she couldn't stand to be in the same room with. Luckily he sells his half to a man named Tucker.

Tucker is known as the best handyman around town and he has a pretty good nest egg since his wife died in the bank. He uses this to buy into the bed and breakfast his late wife seemed to love so much.

Both of these characters have tortured pasts and it effects their present as well as their future. The entire book is about dealing with your demons. It's a necessity for these two. For Jolene she shouldn't judge Tucker by the sins of others. As for Tucker he needs to allow the memories of his wife to not hurt him anymore so he can see the love right in front of him.

Their love story isn't quick. It isn't easy. It's definitely sweet. One that takes time to build, savor, and respect. I hope if you read this book you enjoy the route these two take to get to their happy ever after.

3.5 stars

Another great story from Carolyn Brown. Also, another story from her where the characters talk to themselves (or dead relatives) a bit too much. I just need to resolve myself to the fact that this author uses that device a lot and I either have to live with it or quit reading her books. For the most part, I enjoy her stories. So, for now, I’ll have to live with it I guess.

Tucker is a very sympathetic character. When he’s first introduced I didn’t think that would be so, but as he started interacting with other people his kindness and good heart shone through. My issues with this author having people talk to themselves did not extend to this character because it really worked for him and his part of the story. If such things had been kept to this one character it would have been completely fine.

In all ways but one I liked Jolene. I felt she was way too judgmental of Tucker, even while understanding her reasons for judging him so harshly. It’s not so much her strong feelings about his drinking that annoyed me, it was that she seemed to think there was some kind of bad seed within him. Her aunt had taught her that nobody is all good or all bad, and she often thought about that when thinking of Tucker. But not in the “hey, he’s a great guy but I know there has to be something bad in there, too” way. Nope. It was more like “this guy is bad news but I see that goodness trying to peek through”, which made no sense with how giving his character is throughout this story.

Needless to say, Jolene and Tucker had things in their own lives to work through before they could see if there could be something more than a friendship and partnership between them. Throughout the whole story there was definitely chemistry with the characters. I was truly rooting for them to resolve their issues and find a way to reach out to each other.

While this wasn’t my favorite Carolyn Brown book, it did a great job of keeping me turning the pages.

I adored this book!!! You just feel in love with these characters from the beginning... Highly recommend

Love this author and probably was expecting more romance. This was a story about Tucker, a heartbroken man and all the deep pain he has to work through before he was ready to accept love again. He meets Jolene, half owner of a dilapidated inn, and owner of her own bad relationships. Tucker owns the other half. Thanks to a common goal of remodeling the inn, they work through the burdens of the past and create a new future together.
I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I'm already a big fan of Carolyn Brown's western and small town romances. The Magnolia Inn is a big reminder of why I'm so drawn to her stories! I never miss a chance to spend time with her down to earth or quirky characters.

Jolene and Tucker both come with emotional baggage, but their determination to restore the Magnolia Inn is the beginning of their healing journey. I liked that these characters both had pasts tinged with betrayal and tragedy because it made them seem all the more real and made me root for them throughout the story. Along the way they had the support of a group of long-time friends who livened up the story and provided comic relief. There was a bit of confrontation at the beginning of the novel between Jolene and her cousin that I wished had been drawn out further into the novel. Her cousin was a piece of work and it would have been interesting to see where he ended up after selling his share in the Inn.

It was so easy to become attached to the characters and the paths they take. As the story drew to a close I felt like I was preparing to say goodbye to my own friends although I loved how the ending brought the story full circle and left on a positive note.
*ARC provided in consideration for review*

The Magnolia Inn by Carolyn Brown is a captivatingly sweet second chance contemporary love story of a man and a woman who are both damaged by their past. I found this book to be well written with characters that were easy to connect and relate too. This is the first book by Carolyn Brown that I have read and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Jolene has had a far from perfect life growing up, but what she does have is a wonderful aunt and uncle who has given her half of the Magnolia Inn. Unfortunately, the other half was given to her pseudo-cousin, who is a despicable human being. Through a series of events, he sells his half to Tucker Malone. Tucker is a tortured soul who is still grieving for his wife, of 5 years. He has lost his job as a cop due to his drinking and now works refurbishing houses. Tucker and Jolene strike up a deal to work together, as partners/friends of sorts, and fix up the Magnolia Inn. There are some definite ups and downs, and their romance develops in a slow, sweet southern way.

The story wouldn't be complete without Tucker and Jolene being joined by three eccentric “aunties” who are instructed by Jolene’s Aunt Sugar to keep close tabs on her…and Tucker. These women sure did take their job seriously, they had me cracking up, I just adored them all, the world definitely needs more "aunties"!

I also liked how the author used the analogy of reinventing the Magnolia Inn and at the same time healing the broken hearts of Jolene and Tucker. This book is like wrapping yourself up in a warm and fuzzy blanket on a snowy day. If you are looking for a sweet, slow burn of a romance, you have found your next book.

***I kindly received an ARC of this book by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion .***

I loved this book! This is an emotional and heartwarming story. I've never been disappointed with a Carolyn Brown story. Highly recommended!

The Magnolia Inn is a sweet story of healing and friendship. It's the perfect type of fiction for women everywhere. It's got a warm inviting feel and relatable characters. Give this one a try!

The Magnolia Inn is an emotional journey filled with heartbreak, humor, love, forgiveness, friendship, and of course, good food. I enjoyed the camaraderie amongst the women and how they pulled Jolene and Tucker into their circle. And I loved their sassiness. I bet they kept the townsfolk on their toes. Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

Jolene Broussard's Aunt Sugar and Uncle Jasper are set to start their new life exploring the U.S.A. in a new RV. They have signed over half interest in The Magnolia Inn, their Victorian home and B&B to Jolene. Too bad they signed the other half interest over to Jasper's nephew, Reuben who was always being mean to her during her visits as a child. Jolene has decided though to pull up her big girl panties and deal as best she can with Reuben hoping he will be easier to deal with as an adult. Nope! When they meet to discuss plans for renovating the inn and reopening it he is just as nasty as he always was. The good news that comes out of that meeting is that he put his half interest up for sale. Jolene is happy to hear this but worries about who might buy his half interest since she is broke and sure can't. Will she be able to work with the buyer?

Tucker Malone is living in a trailer and doing carpentry work to keep himself busy after the tragic death of his beloved wife Melanie in an automobile accident. It's been a few years and he still isn't over her death and isn't dealing with it in a healthy way. Getting drunk every weekend is definitely not healthy. He decides that getting invested in the Magnolia Inn might help. What he finds is another soul with a sad history of her own in his new partner Jolene. She spent many years dealing with her alcoholic mother and she still hasn't moved on from that mess. Misery loves company they say so Jolene and Tucker should get along just fine. Will they?

The Magnolia Inn by Carolyn Brown is a great big helping of comfort food with characters that will leave you with that warm feeling of having met some great new friends. You laugh with them. You experience joy and sadness with them. You can't help but come away at the end of this story with a wad of used tear-filled tissues and then a big smile on your face. Carolyn Brown never disappoints her readers and The Magnolia Inn is no exception!

Carolyn Brown is the Woman. She writes a story which has it all every time. This is a tale which looks at so many feelings people have to deal with and brings it all together perfectly.

The Magnolia Inn by Carolyn Brown
Source: NetGalley
My Rating: 5/5 stars

Without doubt, Carolyn Brown is my go-to girl for all things sweet romance, small town life, and generally good writing. While I feel that way about her books in general, I have particularly fond feelings for The Magnolia Inn.

Though the opening chapters are a bit of a rough go for Jolene (her cousin is an ass!) she gets a plan of action in place quickly and prays for the best. Remodeling, refurbishing, and revamping the Magnolia Inn is going to take a monumental effort and even more money, but Jolene is dedicated and determined. As fate would have it, she isn’t going to be in the remodeling/refurbishing business alone.

Tucker Malone has spent the past months and years mourning the loss of his beloved wife. Tucker’s mourning takes the form of hard work during the week and hard drinking come the weekend. With a pile of money in his bank account and a desire to stay busy, Tucker buys a half interest in the Magnolia Inn. With every intention of getting right to work, Tucker strolls in, takes a look around, and makes a list of what needs to be done. With he and Jolene in near total agreement on the plan, the work begins and so does a new life for each.

Jolene can clearly see Tucker is hurting, but given her past experiences, she has no tolerance for drinking and drunks. Though Tucker only drinks “on the weekends” and never while he’s working, the Magnolia Inn is a huge job, Jolene is a tough cookie (you only get ONE hangover cure!), and the memories of his wife seem to be fading which is making every aspect of life even harder. What’s even tougher and more confusing, Jolene makes Tucker feel and want things he vowed to never feel and want again following the loss of his wife. He wants to do better and to be better if not for himself then for Jolene and the Magnolia Inn.

Keeping both Tucker and Jolene on their feet are Jolene’s aunt’s three best friends. Three of the feistiest old birds Jolene and Tucker have ever met, the ladies take the kids under their collective wings and help keep them moving in the right direction both professionally and personally. With those three involved, and frequent phone calls to and from Jolene’s aunt, Jolene and Tucker have no choice but to face their respective issues head on and get the Magnolia Inn up and running.

The Bottom Line: Hands down, my favorite part of this book would be those three feisty old birds who have a tendency to walk right on into a room without knocking, intervene in each other’s lives when and if needed, and generally be there for one another through all life’s ups and downs. It’s those three old birds who help Jolene and Tucker on their way to a beautiful HEA and very much bind every aspect of this book together. Another particularly interesting aspect of this book would be the recurring voices in both Jolene and Tucker’s heads; the voices not only give insight into Jolene and Tucker’s respective pasts but help each move forward toward a happy and fulfilling future. On top of everything else, this book is just well-written, easy to read, and completely engaging. Finally, it has a completely satisfying epilogue that just brought everything together for me. I am absolutely looking forward to anything and everything Carolyn Brown has for me in 2019!

Sweet, sexy, fun, engaging and enchanting second chance romance with a small town feel and down home heartwarming goodness.... Loved it! This is as real as it gets loved how these beautifully broken charters found the healing touch they each needed.

This is a great bittersweet story about healing, both Jolene and Tucker have some healing to do before either are ready for any kind of a relationship. I love how the story starts with them finding a way to become friends even though there were sparks from the beginning. Jolene has had a hard life, especially handling her mother after her father's death, she' watched her mother go down a slippery slope of drugs and alcohol but her strive not to be pulled down with her mother has her building walls around her heart.. Plus her relationships with men proved to be poor choices, so moving across Texas to be a part owner in her new retired aunt and uncle's inn seemed to be a good step in a new path, but when her uncle's nephew sells his half to a stranger she knows she's going to have to do some quick talking to keep her ideas for the inn in place. Tucker is a grieving widower, whose wife died too young, he has turned to alcohol to numb his pain. After loosing his job as a cop because of his drinking he moved to be closer to his wife's grave and into her world. Making a name for himself in contracting skills buying half a an inn that needs work seemed perfect, but the inn came with an half owner that wasn't happy to be getting a drunk for a partner. He's not ready to give up his wife yet but he knows there's something between Jolene and himself. This book is filled with wonderful quirky characters who all part of the family of community. A real feel good read!

The Magnolia Inn by Carolyn Brown is a sweet contemporary story about a new start for two lost souls that help each other overcome their pain and grief and move forward in their lives. The storyline is a twist on love, loss, and forgiveness. Great Characters and seems like a perfect start to a new series? I would recommend it.
# MagnoliaInn #CarolynBrown #Texas #newstarts #death #grief #alcoholism #patience #understanding #forgiveness #Flippinghouses

Okay- up front you know that Tucker and Jolene are going to conquer their demons and get together, right? Well, it takes some time because Tucker, in particular, has a lot to deal with. He spends a lot of time talking to his dead wife and drinking. He thinks that buying half the Magnolia Inn and renovating it might be the ticket to pull him out of this morass. He didn't count on Jolene, who inherited the other half. She had an alcoholic mother who she feels she didn't do enough for. The romance comes on slowly but it does bloom. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I loved this book and series. I cannot wait to hear more from Carolyn Brown. She is one of my favorite authors

I love Carolyn Brown's women's fiction. Magnolia Inn is a fantastic book. I loved the setting of the inn and the country feel. Small towns are always. The love story building between Tucker and Jolene kept me enthralled. The old lady gang was a huge plus because who doesn't love sweet and feisty older ladies. I'd like to see more books involving this people.

Book Info
Paperback, 286 pages
Expected publication: January 15th 2019 by Montlake Romance
ISBN 1503904393 (ISBN13: 9781503904392)
Other Editions (3)
Source:Netgalley EARC

Buy book from
Amazon
B&N

BOOK BLURB


New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown brings together two wounded hearts in a Texas romance of second chances and twice-in-a-lifetime true love.

Inheriting the Magnolia Inn, a Victorian home nestled in the East Texas pines, is a fantasy come true for Jolene Broussard. After living with the guilt of failing to rescue her self-destructive mother, Jolene knows her aunt and uncle’s B&B is the perfect jump start for a new life and a comforting place to call home. There’s just one hitch: stubborn and moody carpenter Tucker Malone. He’s got a half interest in the Magnolia Inn, and he’s planting his dusty cowboy boots squarely in the middle of her dream.

Ever since his wife’s death, Tucker’s own guilt and demons have left him as guarded as Jolene. The last thing he expects is for his new partner to stir something inside him he thought was gone forever. And as wary as Jolene is, she may have found a kindred spirit—someone she can help, and someone she can hold on to.

Restoring the Magnolia Inn is the first step toward restoring their hearts. Will they be able to let go of the past and trust each other to do it together?

My Thoughts


The formerly resplendent Victorian home that became the Magnolia Inn a few miles outside the East Texas town of Marshall is a now shabby version of its former glory.

The new half-owner Jolene Broussard along with best friends of her Aunt Sugar, namely Dotty, Flossie and Lucy, are determined that the Magnolia Inn once more take it's rightful place as an elegant profitable B&B.

The other half-owner is Master Carpenter, Widower and total eye-candy, one Tucker Malone. So along with his renovation skills and Jolene's flair for soothing decor the dream of creating a welcoming plus functional environment for future guests is one step closer to becoming a reality.

The local watering hole, Dotty's bar "The Tipsy Gator", provides Jolene steady employment and a paycheck for utilities and Tucker bankrolls the rest. Having previously spent 10 years as a bartender in West Texas at "The Twisted Rope" Jolene is amazed at the difference in atmosphere between the bars and the treatment of her new employer versus her old one as well. Dotty treats Jolene like family where her previous boss rarely gave her the time of day much less a kind word or compliment on her work performance.

Sunday get togethers with the 3 elderly ladies provide time to enjoy good company and good food. Also those same get togethers strengthen a bond Jolene formed with them as a child, making it deeper as an adult is icing on the cake for her. As bonds go the one she and Tucker are forming as friends soon deepens into more as the reno continues to come together nicely.

For Tucker the get togethers are a reminder of happier times. Times spent with his wife of only 5 years Melanie whose death has left his heart broken and guilt ridden as well.

Jolene is also full of guilt, however hers comes from years spent taking care of her alcoholic/drug addicted Mother until one day the responsibility becomes too overwhelming and she moves out on her own.

For both Jolene and Tucker this second chance for the Magnolia becomes a symbol of hope that their own second chance is possible.

Letting go of the past is not as easy as embracing the future for either of them however. A lesson that is brought home in ways that neither Jolene or Tucker can choose to ignore nor choose not to take heed of.

Why did I finish so soon?

Hated flipping e-reader last page of this one, TOO SHORT! For me of course every one of Carolyn Browns books are too short so not really surprised at how quick the read went.

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.