SMALL TOWN RUMORS by Carolyn Brown is an interesting look at how rumors have affected the life of several generations living in this small town. Surprisingly the citizens are truly reluctant to leave their home town and ultimately wind up returning and what is really very revealing is the uptake that they are all really happy to be back home. You could say with complete sincerity that some children don't match their parents. I'm not talking about looks or smarts but personality and sensibilities. That's absolutely the case in SMALL TOWN RUMORS to the nth degree. Jennie Sue couldn't be more different than either of her parents in too many ways to try to mention. She does not match -- well except for DNA of course. There's something to be said about doing the right thing versus what you want to do. Now that's not to suggest you would be choosing the wrong thing. Quite the contrary. As an adult you're charged with the responsibility of making tons of choices. Big question is whom are you going to please -- yourself or others. When Jennie Sue woke up to her new normal -- new reality she didn't feel as though she had any choices or viable options. She had left behind that "good" life. Yes I did do the quote thing because it fits here. Jennie Sue had strived to be the good daughter and good wife and in the end no one was happy. Jennie Sue had no choice but to turn her back on her old life and find peace with her new one. Charlotte -- Jennie Sue's mother was hyper critical of everything she did. Her father loved her but stayed pretty much in the background overshadowed as it were by his wife. Charlotte was a force to reckon with and it seemed Jennie Sue and her dad shared the desire to stay out of that force- field when possible. But life and circumstances change and you have to follow suit. So SMALL TOWN RUMORS is about making a new start with many obstacles facing you. Some of your making but most caused by incessant rumors about you and your family. Everyone is interested in Jenny Sue's return and most feel that it is due to failures on her part. But Jennie Sue doesn't drown herself in past mistakes. Instead she is reaching out for a new normal of her own -- emphasis on her own. She is making her mother really unhappy but so be it. That is certainly nothing new. Upon returning Jennie Sue has also captured the eye of someone who absolutely hates her. And then Jennie Sue finds some amazing new friends that seem to welcome her with open arms. Big question is whether they too have an ulterior motive. Two crazy old ladies -- they would not be offended with that description -- Lettie and Nadine become a sort of catalyst for Jennie Sue's reintroduction to Bloom Texas. They also provide their fair share of humor. But the character with the sassiest voice is Jennie Sue. Without a doubt she will have you laughing out loud.

Book Summary

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.