Emma Merrill has had an incredibly challenging life. She has been living in a fog since her late teen years, and is feeling hopeless about her future. Sophia Mason, her childhood best friend, comes back into her life at an opportune time and the two set off together on a journey of self discovery.

The two rekindle their once deep bond while staying in a trailer on the vast plains of south Texas, reconnecting over their shared love of art. While it seems at first a one way street, with Emma nedding Sophia to help her begin to finally heal, it becomes clear that these two need each other in equal measure. Both are weighed down by secrets, and rediscovering their friendship helps both finally speak their truths and look forward to the future.

Told from multiple points of view, I found the premise of Carolyn Brown’s latest story interesting, but this book did not draw me in. The descriptions of the surroundings and people were well written and provided colorful imagery, but I found the early conversations incredibly stilted. The amount of internal dialogue spoken out loud was unnatural and affected the flow of the story.

While I found some of the minor characters to be very well written and enjoyable, I struggled connecting to the main characters. One was able to let go of severe trauma very quickly, and the other struggled with deeply rooted feelings years after the fact from an event much more minor in comparison. Romance as a genre often asks the reader to suspend their disbelief, but I was completely unconvinced by the major arc of the story.

I enjoyed Hummingbird Lane, it was a quick read and sweet story. Everything was nicely wrapped up in the end but at times I was left feeling like characters traumas were dealt with very quickly and was left wanting more. I especially enjoyed the different artistic mediums used by the various characters throughout the book. They were an interesting part of the part of the stories of each character and also tools that helped them deal with trauma and helped their healing.

This book was very refreshing. It was very well written and I was captivated by the characters. It was a great slice of life and it resonated with my life.

I have loved every one of Carolyn Browns books. This is a worthy entry to her list. I really love her characterizations and how she makes me really see and feel the places she sets her stories. I like that she makes me laugh and sometimes cry (although that's not too hard as I cry at commercials these days) Her books just leave me feeling good.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. What a nice feel good easy read this was, great storyline and great characters, really enjoyed it

I was given this book for an honest review

This is a new to me author and it took me a while to get use to the style. However I enjoyed it.

#NetGalley

I look forward to reading all of Carolyn Brown’s books, but for some reason, they waffle between 3 star books, and 4 or 5 star books for me. This one was a 3-star, at best. I liked the characters and the setting - a small community of people that don’t necessarily fit in with society find their way to each other and form a close-knit family of their own on Hummingbird Lane.

The problem I had was believing that the complex and deeply ingrained issues that the main characters experienced were so quick to resolve with a little faith, love, and a few weeks? It just seems really implausible to me and resolved far too quickly.

I still look forward to reading Carolyn’s next books, and while I can’t give this a 5 star review, if you are looking for a book about finding family in unexpected places, this might be worth a read.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Emma and Sophie were inseparable friends up to the age of 12 when Emma’s mother fired Rebel, Sophie’s mother, and withdrew Emma from public school to be tutored at home. Bonding over their love of painting, these budding artists dreamed of being famous. They briefly reunited their freshman year of college, but a traumatic event took Emma’s life on a completely unpredicted trajectory. Now at the age of 31, she has been suffering from depression for ten years and has been treated at a variety of institutions by various therapists to no avail. The original trauma is so deeply repressed that she is unable to face it and heal and has lost touch with her talent. A breakthrough occurs when Sophie rescues Emma and takes her to a small, tranquil artist’s “colony” in southern Texas.

The storyline reveals the healing power of love and friendship in a bit of an idealistic way. Perhaps Emma was able to make such strides because of years of therapy leading up to this time, but once she acknowledges the trauma, her recovery seems too fast and too smooth.

I enjoyed the characters that populated the artist colony. They were realistic and likeable in quirky ways. However, Emma’s mother is the character you will love to hate. Her outrageous manipulation and control over her daughter, including trying to steal Emma’s inheritance, made her the villain. The romantic connection between Emma and Josh, the owner of the property and a fellow artist, was sweet but, again, a tad unrealistic.
My last concern relates to the dialogue between the major characters. It was often too simplistic and superficial for the issues being explored.

For the above-mentioned reasons, I am not a big fan of this book and can only give it a mild endorsement. It’s a quick, pleasant read without much substance despite some of the themes.

My thanks to the author, Montlake, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing a digital ARC in exchange for an independent, honest review.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

I wasn't sure how this was going to go as soon as I started it. It's a bit slow to start - Emma's in a care facility and can't seem to do anything herself. She's overly cautious, talks almost little kid like, and can't seem to make a decision even though she's in her mid 30's. It's odd.

From there, Emma's life slowly unravels and you discover why she acts the way she does. And although I was entertained by the story, it was just okay. There didn't seem to be anything to really make it stand out from just your average story. The conversations were okay but a but unrealistic at times. The mother was over-the-top awful. Sophie and Rebel were the two that maybe felt the most realistic. Meh, it was just okay.

I really enjoyed the chance to be an early reader for this book! I have read several by Carolyn Brown and I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. The dynamics of these characters, their relationships, were just what you hope your friends and family would be.

Carolyn Brown is an author that puts a lot of thought and feeling into her stories which in turn brings out all my emotions while reading them. Just like so many of her other books I’ve read, Hummingbird Lane had this same effect on me. This is the story of Sophie and Emma, 2 lifelong best friends who come from very different backgrounds. Both have endured a very traumatizing event in their life which causes them to not live their best self. They live in fear, self doubt, and low self esteem. Together the 2 of them learn to conquer their fears with the help of each other and with their friends who basically feel like family. This was a heartwarming story of friendship, finding love and acceptance and learning that hope is the magic that heals hearts and souls. That line I took straight from the book. But most of all it was about the characters learning to find themselves, their best and true self, and liking who they are. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc that I obtained from the Read Now section to read and review. I enjoyed this story just as I have many others by this author. I’m going to rate this at 4 stars.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Emma Merrill is the daughter of privilege - the best of everything except she can do nothing right.
Sophia Mason is the daughter of a single mother who works as a maid.

Sophia's mom works for Emma's mom and Sophia goes to work with her from time to time and the girls form a tight bond. This is to the dismay of Emma's mother who invents an excuse to fire the maid to alienate her daughter.

Emma goes away to college, but leaves abruptly and goes into several "wellness centers" for healing.
Sophia's mom tells her about the latest stay in passing one day and Sophia decides to reconnect. On a whim, Sophia busts Emma out of the center and takes her on an adventure in a secluded part of Texas surrounded by nature and the three people she trusts more than anything (besides mom!).

Hummingbird Lane is an exploration of the human spirit, the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Emma and Sophia both have secrets to work through - can they make out the other side in a better place?

I received and advance copy of, Hummingbird Lane, by Carolyn Brown. I really liked the book. I loved the characters in the book. Friendship, depression, growing up, and other stuff the book talks about.

What a wonderful story showing that friends don't have to be in each other's "pockets". The growth of Emma, once her environment changes, is lovely to see as well as the evolving of her relationships with the other on the lane. highly recommend.

I can always count on a Carolyn Brown book to whisk me away for several hours of reading pleasure. Hummingbird Lane is a tranquil trailer park near Big Bend National Park where calmness and acceptance prevail. Emma heals there in the presence of other artists and finds inspiration after allowing her mother to rule her life. Arty and Filly were my personal,favorites. Their banter and bickering kept a smile on my face. I love the setting since I’ve visited the area and Brown has the desert beauty painted just right. I’m,I’ve now everything gets sorted out satisfactorily. I love the cover and wish I could visit Hummingbird Lane personally.

Hummingbird Lane is a wonderfully uplifting story about friendship, family both of blood and selection, and finding home. Author, Carolyn Brown writes solid characters, witty dialogue and, as usual, works her love and knowledge of country music into the narrative. Set in a trailer park inhabited by a group of diverse artists who nurture each other’s talents this book should make her fans very happy. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

Hummingbird Lane by C. Brown, published by Montlake, is a full-length, stand-alone romance with some thriller elements mixed in.
Emma is a 35 year old who always lived under the thumb of her overbearing mother. She spent quite a pretty time in care centers, living in a fog. Till her best friend Sophie finds her and takes her with her on a journey of healing and finding herself. Sophie has some unresolved issues of her own that she has to work through.
I started reading and it took me a minute to get in the story, but then, wow what a ride it was. I connected so easily with the two women, was their cheerleader right from the start. I loved how the grew, how they stood up for each other and themselves, how they became selfdependent, loving, strong-ish and successful, found love and their hea.
A well balanced read with great writing and a storyline that kept me in suspense till the last page.

This was very different from what I normally love from Carolyn Brown. But let me tell you it was no less entertaining! Absolutely wonderful book. I was sucked in with the very first paragraph. Sophie and Em have both lived with major trauma in their lives. They both need to learn to love themselves before they can love the men in their lives. Best friends and children then separated as preteen for more than 10 years they reunite and learn to be best friends for each other and give the support they both need. Amazing book!

Nobody writes with quite as much heart as Carolyn Brown. Her characters jump off the page and live their lives so fully that things turn a little gray after reading the last page. Hummingbird Lane is a treasure. It tells a story of what life should be, and how we need to hold onto the friends we choose as our real family.

Emma quit college .Emma went to an elite art college in the as and had trauma. She is thorgy five years old. She use to have a best friend Sophie. I got bogged down by Dr details. Emma can't shake what happened at college. I liked the descriptions.