Small Town Rumors

Written by Carolyn Brown

Narrated by Brittany Pressley

From New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown comes a funny heartache of a novel about overcoming the past, confronting the future, and defying all expectations.

Everyone is talking about Jennie Sue Baker and the mess she made of her life in New York. The former high school queen bee—and wealthy darling of Bloom, Texas—has returned home after all these years, riding on a common bus and bearing two bounced alimony checks. In a town that thrives on gossip, Jennie’s fall from grace has shamed her mother, set the town buzzing, and caused old, jealous enemies to whisper in delight. They say she’s taken a job as a housekeeper, gotten a garage apartment, and might be crushing on Rick Lawson, a simple farmer with modest dreams.

As romance starts to bud, Jennie relishes what it means to follow her heart, find real new friends, and finally be herself—regardless of all the lying town chatter. But fate has another twist in store. Rumor has it that Jennie now stands to lose what matters most…unless she can convince Rick of one true thing—and that’s love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Jul 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543688191

Carolyn Brown

 Carolyn Brown is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher’s Weekly and #1 Amazon and #1 Washington Post bestselling author. She is the author of more than 125 novels and several novellas. Brown has been published for 26 years, and her books have been translated into 21 foreign languages, and have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide.  When she’s not writing books, she likes to take long, road trips with her family to research and plot future stories.

Reviews for Small Town Rumors

[lauren britton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Definitely had romance, but that was more like a sidenote. I had a lot of sadness in it that just made me bit depressed. I don’t think I will be reading this author again because it’s just way too much emotion in a book that I want to read to have a bit of a Escape from reality. My reality is definitely better than this today. It is a sweet story overall, and you really do feel like part of this little town. The characters were awesome and real, it’s just way too much emotion for me that’s not romance related. But I was happy to feel a part of the town for a little while, just not what I was looking for. This author is extremely descriptive and I’m sure many people would love this book.

[Lammert · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I’m surprised by the amount of food almost everyone in this story consumes. Whit the obesitas epidemic and all. The only person who tried to eat healthy is ridiculed.

[Julie Williamson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A don’t really have the words to describe this book. It touched me in areas that have effected my own life in such a short span.

Uncovering truths about ones parents; ones own insecurities from childhood into adulthood. To friendship in the most unlikely places; acceptance; growth; loss and love.

This book is heart felt and experiences many experience in life in varying degrees.

No matter what it highlights what is truly important in life. True friends; family and love.

[Wanderlustheart CB · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this story and all the characters! Especially the two old ladies. Good humour in this book. Loved it! And narrator was great!

[gingersnap000 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Another small town tale from Carolyn Brown. Ms. Brown is my go to comfort author. Whenever I wish to escape the hustle of everyday life, I download one of her books. I suggest any of her books for a plane ride or beach read.

[lorikboyd · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars for this read! Small towns can be great...but the rumor mill is fierce. Bloom, TX is no different, people will know what you did, before you do! Jennie Sue comes back home after her unhappy marriage ends, this setting tongues wagging. She learns a lot about her parents, herself and her community in this endearing read. Likeable characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[lauigl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What do you get when you have a small town full of busybodies? Rumors and gossip that spread like lightening. And in small-town Bloom, TX, the folks thrive on them. So when Jennie Sue Baker, daughter of wealthy businessman Dill Baker and snooty southern belle Charlotte Baker, is seen getting off of a Greyhound bus looking ratty and carrying a single suitcase, rumors start flying. What happened to her charmed life in NY, and why is she back in Bloom? Opinions vary about Jennie Sue. Some think she’s a spoiled brat who deserves to know what it feels like to suffer adversity. Others see her as a loving, caring individual who’s nothing like heri stuck-up, snobbish mother who’s more interested in keeping up appearances than she is of people. Who’s right?Cricket Lawson, a farmer’s daughter who grew up alongside Jennie Sue, chooses to despise her and doesn’t mind letting her know.Cricket’s brother, Rick, disagrees with his sister’s assessment of Jennie Sue. In fact, Rick has always had a bit of a crush on her.There’s one thing that everyone living has in common whether they’re good, bad, rich or poor—unforeseen occurrences that can change our circumstances in an instant. And when that inevitably happens, to Jennie Sue and others, everyone’s true colors come to the fore.There’s much to love about this book. The small-town setting where everybody knows your name (and situation); the highly developed characters, including my favorites, a pair of feisty, sassy old sisters (octogenarians) who have Jennie Sue’s back; life-altering tragedies and redemption.I chose this book because of the title, cover and positive reviews. And thanks to Amazon's offering me a 3-month Kindle Unlimited trial for 0.99¢ a month that I couldn’t pass up, I was able to download both the e-book and audiobook for my reading and listening pleasure. ? This was a great way for me to discover a new author, Carolyn Brown, and I’m glad I took a chance on her. I see more of her books in my future.

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Charming but very slight western romance. Well written but just not in my wheel house. I think I might have liked this more in a different period of my reading preferences. The characters were nice, the plot was basic (their conflicts were not great), and the environment well described. I think the thing that most intrigued me was whether this was an accurate description of small town life, at present or at any other time. In the age of the opiate epidemic and the dying of rural towns and rural jobs, it was an interesting question. I did return my other Carolyn Brown books to Kindle Unlimited unread.

[arthistorychick · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Small Town Rumors by Carolyn BrownSource: NetgalleyMy Rating: 4½/5 starsHoly Hannah is it hot in Bloom, Texas!! Jennie Sue Baker is back in town and the town is alight with gossip. Not only is she back in town, but she showed up on a bus, doesn’t have her husband in tow, and only brought one suitcase with her. The icing on the cake, she looks terrible and her momma is the first one to tell her so. Jennie Sue Baker doesn’t particularly care what anyone thinks about her. Yes, she’s gained ten pounds, yes, she’s wearing jeans and sneakers, and yes, her ex husband ran off with another woman right before the IRS seized all their property and froze their accounts. To say Jennie Sue Baker has more important things to worry about than what other people think, doesn’t even scratch the surface. With less than a thousand dollars, no job, and only her parent’s home to run to, Jennie Sue Baker is home and determined to turn her life around. Jennie Sue is resolved in her mission, she will never again be a pretty piece of arm candy to a man who doesn’t love or even care about her, and she will never again be dependent on anyone other than herself. Jennie Sue’s momma has other plans . . . .In less than 24 hours, Jennie Sue’s momma has made her position clear: her only daughter will lose weight, she’ll get a proper wardrobe, she’ll take her overall appearance and attitude more seriously, and by Christmas, she’ll have a new fiancé if not husband, of proper social standing. What’s more, in order to secure the first part of her plan, there will need to be a damn good cover story spread around town to account for Jennie Sue’s sudden appearance in Bloom and her lack of a husband and money. Nothing is going to get in the way of Jennie Sue’s momma and her grand plan, and if something does, well, she just may die from the humiliation.Jennie Sue has other plans . . . . Determined to thwart her momma and her momma’s ridiculous plans, Jennie Sue leaves her childhood home and heads into town. A bus got her there and a bus can get her out too. But, before she can hop the next bus out of town, Jennie Sue runs into Lettie and Nadine, two of Bloom’s oldest and wealthiest woman who happen to be looking for a new house keeper. If Jennie Sue will clean the ladies’ homes and help them run errands, she can take up residence in the garage apartment and share meals with the old girls as needed. House cleaning will only take up a couple days a week which leaves Jennie Sue three more days of the week to run the old bookstore. In short order, Jennie Sue has herself two jobs with some benefits, a place to live and call her own, and a few new friends who seem truly interested in helping her. Oh yes, her momma is going to absolutely die from the shame and humiliation!As Jennie Sue begins to settle into her new life and routine, she finds she is truly happy for the first time in many years. Lettie and Nadine are positively blessings, the bookstore is a Godsend, and her time with Rick Lawson, local farmer, is an exciting new prospect. For the first time in her life, Jennie Sue is standing on her own, doing as she pleases, and sincerely enjoying the modest lifestyle she is carving out for herself. Among her new friends, there are no pretensions, no judgements (OK, there is Cricket!), and nothing but kindness and support. This is well and truly a whole new world for Jennie Sue and she can’t ever see herself going back to the false, fake, horribly judgmental world of her mother. All that’s left to do is settle with the ghosts of her past, find some common ground with her momma, and move forward with her newfound happiness.The Bottom Line: I just sunk right into this crazy story and didn’t care to crawl out until the very end. Bloom, Texas is one crazy place that would positively dry up if it weren’t for the rumor mill. ? Jennie Sue Baker is a character who’s hard to dislike and as her story unfolds, I found myself liking her more and more. Though she clearly loves her momma and daddy, she has had enough of their fake world/existence and wants something far more authentic for herself and her future. To be sure, there are a lot of obstacles, but with the small group of new friends she’s made, Jennie Sue is more confident than ever in her ability to succeed. At its core, Small Town Rumors is about love, friendship, loyalty, overcoming, and living the best life possible, with or without a boatload of money. This book has a bit of everything I adore in my books: there’s light romance, there’s light conflict, there’s a great deal of backstory/history, and there are some crazy little old ladies who just keep the overall mood light. Though there are some truly sad moments throughout this story, it is ultimately a happy ending I found to be immensely satisfying.

[shazjhb · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A predictable romance.

[charlotte_lynn-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Carolyn Brown wrote a book set in small town USA. Everyone knows what everyone else is doing and they are happy to spread the gossip around the town. The original story changes as the gossip is passed from person to person and many times it gets blown entirely out of proportion. This is exactly how a small town is. Jennie Sue is a unique and strong character. She is the daughter of the queen and king of the town and she turns up her nose to that. I like that she knew she didn’t want to be like her mother yet she took a chance with Percy to try to live that life. I also like that it didn’t turn out well for her, I know that sounds bad but she was so unhappy and now that she is divorced from him she is so much happier. The town of Bloom, Texas should have turned its back on her but instead, those who are below her mamma’s station in life welcome her with almost open arms. While those who are her momma’s friends want to make her into one of their own without seeing how that is exactly what Jennie Sue (Southern name at its best) doesn’t want. The characters that welcome Jennie Sue home and help to handle the twists and turns in her life now that she is home are perfect. They are open, they are welcoming, and they are accepting. They let Jennie Sue be who she has always wanted to be and encourage her to grow in that. I love that and hope that if that was to happen in my town I’d be one of those welcoming people. It gives me something to strive for. Everything about this book is perfect. A perfect summer book with a wonderful small town setting, and characters that I loved that I definitely recommend.

[debkrenzer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was my first book by this author, but it won't be the last.Poor Jennie Sue Baker, the girl who was the queen of the town, the girl who made it big and got out of town, the girl who married a loser and is now broke. The first thing anybody does when Jennie comes back to Bloom, Texas is to take her picture getting off the bus with a suitcase and two bounced alimony checks. Of course, the picture isn't flattering and no, it doesn't actually show the bounced checks.While sometimes this book was a little sugary sweet, I did not enjoy reading it. I certainly kept reading it hoping to see Percy get his comeuppance. Ha!!Nadine and Lettie were hilarious together with their sisterly arguments.As I stated, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and am certainly glad to have been able to do so. I'm also glad to find another author to follow.Thanks to Montlake Romance and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.