Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Devine Doughnut Shop by Carolyn Brown
Published by Tantor Audio on February 14, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Length: 8 hours, 20 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
For Grace Dalton, her sister, Sarah, and her cousin Macy, the Devine Doughnut Shop is a sweet family legacy and a landmark in their Texas town. As the fourth generation to run the Double D, they keep their great-grandmother’s recipe secret and uphold the shop’s tradition as a coffee klatch for sharing local gossip, advice, and woes. But drama brews behind the counter, too.
Grace is a single mother struggling with an unruly teenage daughter. Heartbroken Sarah has sworn off love. Macy’s impending wedding has an unexpected hitch. And now charming developer Travis Butler has arrived in Devine with a checkbook and a handsome smile. He wants to buy the shop, expand it nationally, and boost the economy of a town divided by the prospect.
Sophia’s Review:
Four generations of Dalton women have held the secret recipe and run the Devine Donuts aka Double D in small town Devine, TX. They’ve shared laughter, tears, private pains, and a tough triumph to hang in there. Now, Grace, Sarah, Macy, and young Audrey, with a newcomer to their midst, Raelyn are the current Daltons to face big developers, small town gossip, teen angst, broken hearts, sisterhood, and a little romance.
Wild Sarah is the oldest Dalton sister and she’s kicked up her heels and given ‘em something to talk about for years, but that was to cover her private resentment to have to return to Devine after her mama died and pick up the reins right when her sister got herself into trouble with a bad boy who broke her heart. Deep down in her heart, she’s ready to settle down with a loving man and start a family.
Grace, the younger sister, made a teenage mistake and ended up raising Audrey without her runaway bad boy Jake, and now she’s the mainstay of the family and the doughnut shop. Her daughter is making her own big mistakes and Grace is using tough love to waking Audrey up to the truth of her ‘popular friends’ and mean girl behavior that thinks she’s entitled to wealth and a cushy life. What she hadn’t counted on was pesky feelings of attractions for the big businessman developer who wants her to sell shop and property, Travis Butler.
Macy is a Dalton cousin like a sister who seems to have the happily ever after all sewn up with her good man, Neal. But if something sounds too good to be true… then hell hath no fury Texas-style.
Audrey knows best over her behind the times mama and aunts and she’s in the popular crowd if she can keep her friends happy and not knowing her mom took in her geeky former bestie after Raelyn was homeless when her gran died and mom skipped town, gah! Slave in the donut shop through her spring break all because she covered for her friends by getting caught with their booze and cigs? But, maybe she doesn’t know everything and it takes a hard fall to discover this while she’s young.
Loved the multi-generational focus on family and sisterhood and life in this light, heartwarming small town women’s fic.
Robin’s Review:
The Devine Doughnut Shop is only my second book by Carolyn Brown, who writes stories about families. In a doughnut shop in a small town, two sisters and their similar aged cousin run the shop. There is a new player in town and a once in a lifetime opportunity for them to sell the family business or decide to keep the routine they have now.
Grace had a daughter out of wedlock young. She still has some emotional baggage to deal with from that experience and her daughter now a teenager has some life lessons to learn. Audrey wants to be popular and gave up her former friends in order to in the cool click. She will learn some mean girl lessons the hard way and Grace will be a good parent through it all helping Audrey learn that with actions there are consequences both good and bad. Grace is also going to need to decide if Trevor is just interested in her shop and land or if there is more there to explore.
Sarah and Macy both are not really lucky in love right now and having the town gossip about them might be good for business with everyone showing up for doughnuts and to see if they catch any news, it is bad for their hearts. But families stick together and Grace, Macy and Sarah will be there for each other with comfort and support and no judgement which is nice to know you have a safe harbor when the world seems out to get you.
Audrey I was a little worried about with her blinders on but spending a little more time with her family and a former friend Raelene. I will say I loved Raelene, she has fallen on some hard time since her grandmother died and her mom took off without her. Her story broke my heart a little since she thought she was alone in this world but found a family in an unexpected place.
The story is really about a small town and how a family can find solace in each other and be supportive. There is a slow burn romance in the background but for the most part it is just a story about the relationships of the three women and how they impact each others lives. I enjoyed this women’s fiction story with the family story and the small town as the backdrop. There is just something about stories in small towns that always works for me.
Narration:
Brittney Pressley is an experienced narrator and it shows. She does a great job at capturing the voice of all the women in this story in their various journeys. The southern twang added to the authenticity of the small town too. I enjoyed her narration and was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to the clip:Â HEREÂ
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I did read a book by this author that I enjoyed. I should try more
For sure, Melliane. 🙂
I’ve only read one other book by her but I like the family centered story lines of each.
Yay, glad you loved it, too, Robin. 🙂
Yes…solid read for sure.
Carolyn Brown is always fun.
I second that, Carole. 🙂
Good wholesome fun.
I am not sure why I haven’t read this author as yet. This sounds really sweet.
It will be fun to see what you think of her country-charm style. 🙂
I think so too. I liked the blend of small town living with the story of a few generations of women.
I still have not read this author. This book sounds great and I am sure that I would enjoy it. I do hope to get to her books sometime soon!
Oh yes, another author to try. 🙂 I was so hungry for donuts the whole time I was reading this.
LOL…to true. I was like how can you own a donut shop and still have any kind of a figure.
I love the sound of this read. And how awesome that you both enjoyed it so.
A double dipped delight with sprinkles, Maureen. 🙂
Great duo review here! If I ever decide to read more into women’s fic, I will definitely look into this one. I do love foodie themed books.
I only seem to read a few women’s fic a year. Which is funny since I usually enjoy them.
Yes, she’s definitely one I always recommend for women’s fic.
Both great reviews. Carolyn Brown writes the most heartwarming books, and fun too.
heartwarming is a great word to describe it.
Thanks, Wendy! I agree- her books have a warmth to them.
Sounds like a good one, I’ll have to add it to my TBR. Love the cover too!
Cute cover for sure. Hope you have a good time with it when you get the chance, Lisa. 🙂
I always have a good time with this author and should read her more..or listen. Great reviews.
Same here! I find her books so relaxing and her narrators have all been good matches for me.
This sounds like a good one. I like the sound of the set up with the donut shop and small town settings are always fun to read about. I plan to give this author’s books a try one day as they sound good.
Oh yes, the donut shop was a great setting for a family run business and I was dying to know what their secret to good donuts was. 🙂