Meet Me in The Orchard by Carolyn Brown – a Review

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Description:
Two and a half months have passed since Brodie Carter showed up in Spanish Fort, Texas to meet the father who never knew he even existed. Well, family is family, and Brodie is welcomed in (once everyone gets over their shock). Getting to know his seven half sisters and all their spouses has not been an easy job. Add to that Audrey Ross, the obnoxious, sassy, overbearing woman who owns the orchard next to his. Between Audrey haggling Brodie to buy his property and his matchmaking Great Aunt Bernie setting him up on flop dates, nothing seems to be going right.

And then a tornado demolishes the house Brodie and his brothers live in and everything they own. At least the orchard and farm are left untouched. Luckily, his new family offers up rooms to Brodie and his brothers while they work to rebuild. They move into the former brothel known as the Paradise, and try to get on with their lives.

Audrey claims the storm is an omen that Brodie should sell, but that’s the last thing he’s going to do. No one boils his blood like she does, and Aunt Bernie can see it. Can Brodie and Audrey stop arguing over their properties long enough to realize the spark that’s growing between them?

Review:

Meet Me in the Orchard by Carolyn Brown is the first book in her new series, Paradise. We meet Brodie Carter and his brothers, Knox & Tripp, who get hit by a tornado that demolishes their home.  The orchard and farm are not damaged. Luckily, Joe Clay and Mary Jane offer their extra rooms for the brothers to stay at their place, until they can start work on rebuilding. Brodie learned months ago, that Joe Clay was the father, he never knew existed; and he was welcomed by all the family.

Audrey Tucker, owns the orchard next to his, and she is constantly bugging Brodie to buy his property. Audrey comes across as obnoxious, overbearing and sassy, with her Aunt Hetti pushing her to find a way to get the property.  Of course, Aunt Hetti is bad, and hates her old and distant former friend, Aunt Bernie, who has most of the families. Over time, Brodie and Audrey constantly fight, with Audrey beginning to lose any hope.  Audrey finds a pig on her property, and goes to Brodie to take the pig, whom he later names him Pansy.

When Aunt Bernie sets up Brodie with a blind date, Audrey will come out of nowhere, and run to Brodie with a kiss. To Brodie’s surprise, Audrey only wanted to get the other person to, whom she did not like, to get mad.   In a short time, both Audrey and Brodie begin to have feelings for each other, as the chemistry between them was hot.  Their romance begins to increase, with both Audrey and Brodie start to realize they are falling in love.  Of course, Aunt Hetti is very angry and upset that Audrey is not listening to her; especially when they are going out to dinner often, and enjoying their company.  

Meet Me in the Orchard is a sweet, fun, romantic story.  At the end, we learn that Aunt Hetti will move away (with an old friend, Bitsy), leaving Audrey and Brodie bringing their lands together. Meet Me in the Orchard was very well written by Carolyn Brown.  This was a fun read, which I suggest you read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy Provided by Publisher