Books and Needlepoint: Honky Tonk Christmas

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Honky Tonk Christmas by Carolyn Brown (Book Review)

Shared by Kristi

Title: Honky Tonk Christmas
Author: Carolyn Brown
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

My synopsis: Once again we are back in Mingus, Texas at the Honky Tonk bar, which is now owned by Sharlene Waverly. She inherited the bar and the "Bahamas" house (painted like it belongs in the Bahamas - not actually there) when Larissa fell under the Honky Tonk charm and married her cowboy Hank. Sharlene has vowed that she will not fall under the charm and will not be marrying any cowboy. Instead, she decides to expand the Honky Tonk so that the crowds that gather in the parking lot will now be able to come in and enjoy the Tonk's atmosphere, too.

She hires Holt Jackson who is the best carpenter in the area. He is also a single dad, having taken in his six-year-old twin niece and nephew when his sister is killed by a drunk driver. Sharlene makes him a deal that allows him, Judd, and Waylon to live in the Bahamas house rent free as long as the addition gets done on deadline. She settles into a routine of bartender at night, daycare for the 2 kids after school and working on her second book in between. Her first book, Honky Tonk Charm is due out in December. What doesn't figure into her routine is the attraction that is growing between her and Holt.

She finally agrees to a visit with her family in Corn, Oklahoma and drags Holt and the twins with her. She has been avoiding going home as her family knows nothing about her owning a bar or writing a book. They think she lives and works in Dallas. She tells herself that she is taking Holt as a buffer, but I think that she just wants him to be with her. Could she be falling under the Honky Tonk charm too?

My thoughts: This is the fourth and last :( book in this series and I have enjoyed them all. Even if you haven't read the first three - this one gives you all the background to catch you up to speed. I love that even though all the books are centered around the Honky Tonk - the main characters of each are very diverse and the routes the stories take are driven by the characters. There are characters that carry over from story to story to keep them connected, but they each have a different conflict. The books are quick reads and the series would be a great gift for the booklover on your Christmas list!