Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Carla’s always been lucky at the poker table. Her mentor always told her to stop when she was ahead – something she always listened to…until tonight. Now she’s leaving with not a penny to her name, literally. She knew better than to keep playing, but greed and ego got in her way. Now all she’s got left in the world are her SUV…and the deed to a diner in the middle of nowhere Texas. She has no way of knowing that’s all she needs, or the wonders ahead of her at the Tumbleweed.
Carolyn Brown is back again with her signature humor and small-town romance to heat up your TBR stack. The Wild Card takes readers on a journey of female empowerment, camaraderie, and self-discovery, while showing how sometimes our biggest blessings can be found in our biggest mistakes. Brown, an award-winning author, has made a career out of writing female characters every woman wants to be more like, and the men of our dreams. This story is no different, following a group of women who were all down on their luck at one point in their lives and watching them blossom into strong women who love themselves and each other unconditionally. This book is about finding the silver linings in life and learning to stand up for yourself when no one else will.
I give The Wild Card 4 out of 5 stars. I have always been a fan of Brown’s small-town romance novels, and I loved this one. However, it felt a bit rushed and like something was missing. The main character goes from staunchly loner to fiercely loyal to heart-struck lover without much of a catalyst. The other characters also see a development without a well-defined transition. I was also bothered by the lack of story around the final chapters as well – it felt as though whole plot points were missing. With that said, this was an easy read and a quick weekend enjoyment for me. I also appreciated the look at Texas culture of the oil fields and the tumbleweeds – something Brown knows well, having grown up in Texas and Oklahoma!
With notes about domestic violence, gambling addiction, and armed robbery, this book may not be best suited for all audiences. However, if you’re looking for a quick read romance novel this holiday season, this is a great choice! I would recommend this book to readers who have enjoyed other recent reads on our list like Denise Hunter’s The Second Story Bookshop or Julia McKay’s Christmas at the Ranch. This would also make a great holiday gift for the reader on your list who has enjoyed Brown’s works as much as I have!
The Wild Card will release on December 9th. Preorder yours today on our Bookshop.org page!
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Cold Zero, Brad Thor
- Current audio book: Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, Anne Tyler
- Book I’m most looking forward to: How to Be Okay with Nothing is Okay, Jenny Lawson
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