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!!

The Banty House by Carolyn Brown

There is something so healing about the Betsy, Connie & Kate and how they love so many people. It's been difficult to find the words for this review, but the one thing I will say is Carolyn Brown is a master at creating small towns and memorable characters that we don't often forget.

This book was an entertaining ride for sure. Following 3 widows who take in a young teen with a baby makes for a great second chance story. The widows were all a lot of fun to read from, and the second chance this young woman gets is truly heartwarming.
Though I do prefer Carolyn Brown's cowboy romances to these, I love the sense of community that these books bring across. If you are interested in the concept, I recommend picking it up and giving it a try. The romance is sweet, along with the community taking in someone new.

A heartwarming and sweet story that made me smile and root for the characters.
It's a sweet story, engrossing and entertaining. I liked the well thought characters, the storyline and the lovely setting.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Carolyn Brown has once again written an entertaining story that doesn’t disappoint! It is so easy to judge people by circumstances that are beyond their control, but Ms. Brown shows us that we miss out on fun, loving relationships when we do that. I loved the sisters of The Banty House, a former brothel! They show us with their humor and sass that not all elderly women fit the typical grandma stereotype. Their unconditional love and acceptance of Ginger, a total stranger, is refreshing. Although parts of the plot were a bit predictable, it was a feel-good read that was hard to put down.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever read a book by Carolyn Brown before, but after reading The Banty House, I know I’m going to be reading a lot more of her books in the future! This was a women’s fiction/romance style book that really captured my heart. The characters were all really great people that you couldn’t help grow to care about. The three elderly sisters who owned The Banty House were just the funniest ladies. While reading, I found myself laughing out loud at some of the things they would say and do. One of them made moonshine in the cellar while another would crossbreed pot outback in her flowerbed. They were just so fun and entertaining. It’s a story about finding love and family when you least expect it and learning that you don’t have to be blood to be family. I loved this book and am looking forward to reading more by this author. I’ve already went ahead and bought a few more of her books so I know I’m in for a treat. This is a story I’m going to recommend to my friends. I know they will enjoy it as much as I did. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc to read and review. All opinions are my own. I’ve rated this at 5 stars.

The best feel good book I have read in a long time !!! It will grab you on the first page and not let you go even after you finish. Three old sisters, Kate, Betsy, and Connie, living in an old brothel, making moonshine, raising weed and taking care of every misfit they come across. Throw in a young pregnant unwed mother and a ex-solder and you have a wonderful book. Reading this book is like taking a vacation and it will make you want to live in Rooster Texas and be part of their clan !!

Book Info
Paperback
Expected publication: May 26th 2020 by Montlake
ISBN 1542018811 (ISBN13: 9781542018814)
Other Editions (3)
Source:Netgalley EARC
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BOOK BLURB
A homeless young woman finds an unexpected family in beloved New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown’s novel of healing hearts and new beginnings in a small Texas town.

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


Elderly sisters Kate, Connie and Betsy Carson are the ultimate example of best kind of maiden aunt/grandmother fictional combo characters.

It was hard to say goodbye to these feisty older female characters when book ended.

24 year old Sloan Baker and 19 year old Ginger Andrews are a perfect foil for each other as both romantic interests and friends.

Their beginning was a little rocky but the middle and ending was especially worth the angst the pair experienced.

The backdrop of small town Rooster Texas was reminiscent of where I grew up, as were a few select inhabitants featured in this story.

As with any of the fictional towns, and the eclectic groups of characters that populate them, this time spent reading their story was an excellent escape into a place and people that made it well worth it from start to finish.

To forget mentioning one of the main places, and in it’s own right a major character, The Banty House would be not only a horrid oversight but a mistake as well.

Reading the history of the fictional homes background was one of the highlights interspersed here and there throughout the story as it unfolded.

Book was not long enough as read the story too quickly but these characters demanded my attention from first page to last.

[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.

I always love her book's can't wait for more.
I love the character's and the cover and the the title fits the book..I was able to get in to and didn't want to put it down..I received the book from netgalley.

Awww, such a sweet story and absolutely loved it!

The four sisters of Banty house and took Ginger under theirs wings..Ginger was pregnant until she first met Sloan until they’re both fell in ,ove with each other and had three kids on their own..it was beautiful writing!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy...

I'm sorry I couldn't finish this. It wasn't my taste. But don't let my opinion stop you from reading this. I am still grateful that I received this in exchange for an honest review

I am a Carolyn Brown fan. I never miss one of her books. I love The Banty House. This book may be the best yet. I love the characters and the setting. The story was so well written. I highly recommend this book.

I love Carolyn Brown's books and The Banty House is no exception. I really liked the three soldiers and their journey. Great read!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoy Carolyn Brown’s books. This one was another winner about a young pregnant woman, 3 elderly sisters and a soldier suffering from PTSD. They help each other to heal and grow. It’s a feel good story that I couldn’t stop reading.
Thanks to Net Galley for my copy of this book.

#TheBanyHouse#NetGalley
Another great read by Carolyn Brown.
As the story opens a young unwed mother steps off the bus in Rooster Texas. She meets the Carson sisters, Betty,Connie, and Kate. Connie comes out of the beauty shop she's the girl on the bench and they take her home to the Bantu House as this was something their Mother had taught them to help those who needed it. The sisters make excuses to keep her.Their young handyman Sloan wonders if she is scanning his neighbors but comes to realise they all need each other. Sloan tries to stay distant as he is a vet with Ptsd. It is a feel good story as family can start in many different ways.