Friday, October 14, 2016

Book Review - Just Fine With Caroline by Annie England Noblin

Book Synopsis
From the author of Sit! Stay! Speak! comes a tender, terrific novel complete with long-buried secrets, a three-legged pot belly pig, and an irresistible dog—an unforgettable story about love, friendship, and community. Perfect for fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Mary Alice Monroe.

Caroline O’Connor never dreamed she’d be back home in Cold River, Missouri, the Ozark Mountain town where everyone is ‘up your business.’…they mean well as they drive you crazy. She thought she’d left town for good, but now she’s back, helping to care for her New York born mother—struck with Alzheimer’s, and prone to saying and doing anything—and her father, the beloved local doctor frustrated he can’t cure his own wife.

As for Caroline, she’s doing ‘just fine’ coping with her parents, her brazen cousin Ava Dawn’s marital disasters, her mostly-deaf dog…and with Noah Cranwell, far-flung relative of a local family mostly infamous for running moonshine, an ex-veteran who’s come to Cold River with troubles of his own.

Caroline believes she knows everything about Cold River and the people who live in its hills and hollers … but sometimes life’s greatest surprises happen closest to home.

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Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

 

My Review

Just Fine With Caroline is a wonderful start to the new Cold River series, and for me, also a great introduction to Annie England Noblin's work.

The story begins with Caroline returning home to the Ozarks to help care for her mother, who has Alzheimer's.  In this novel you will come to know (and care about) Caroline and her familyOf course, I loved her mostly deaf rescued dog, Yari.  (I will confess that I knew I would enjoy this novel just from looking at the cover!  I was right.)

This is a gentle book that blends poignant situations with uplifting, warmhearted storytelling.  I loved the small town setting.

The characters are well developed, the dialogue is strong, and I enjoyed the leisurely pace of the book.  I liked the mystery element as well.  I also enjoyed Caroline's budding relationship with Noah.

I would recommend Just Fine With Caroline for anyone who enjoys women's fiction, small town settings, and well crafted fiction.  I look forward to reading the upcoming books in this series!

Author Bio
Annie England Noblin lives with her son, husband, and three dogs in the Missouri Ozarks. She graduated with an M.A. in creative writing from Missouri State University and currently teaches English and communications for Arkansas State University in Mountain Home, Arkansas. She spends her free time playing make-believe, feeding stray cats, and working with animal shelters across the country to save homeless dogs.

Connect with Annie on Facebook and Twitter.

I received this book from TLC Book Tours and HarperCollins.
 

2 comments:

trish said...

This book sounds like such a comforting book, one that you'll feel good about when you turn the last page. Especially around this time of year, I like that in a book, as I get nostalgic and romanticize life. :)

Thank you for being on this tour!

Birdhouse Books said...

It is a great comforting read, and I'm sure it's one I'll reread in the future.