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The Empty Nesters
The worst of times calls for the best of friends in this sassy novel about starting over, from New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown.
Dear friends and army wives Diana, Carmen, and Joanie have been through war, rumors of war, marital problems, motherhood, fears, joy, and heartache. But none of the women are prepared when their daughters decide to enlist in the army together. Facing an empty nest won’t be easy. Especially for Carmen. With emotions already high, she suffers an even greater blow: divorce papers. Diana understands the fury and tears. She’s been there.
With nothing to lose and no one at home, the girlfriends impulsively accept an unexpected offer from their elderly neighbor. The recently widowed Tootsie has an RV, a handsome nephew at the wheel, and an aim for tiny Scrap, Texas, to embrace memories of her late husband. Still grieving, she can use the company as a balm for her broken heart. So can the empty nesters.
Embarking on a journey of hope, romance, and healing, Diana, Carmen, and Joanie are at a turning point in their lives. And with the open road ahead of them, it’s just the beginning.
Dear friends and army wives Diana, Carmen, and Joanie have been through war, rumors of war, marital problems, motherhood, fears, joy, and heartache. But none of the women are prepared when their daughters decide to enlist in the army together. Facing an empty nest won’t be easy. Especially for Carmen. With emotions already high, she suffers an even greater blow: divorce papers. Diana understands the fury and tears. She’s been there.
With nothing to lose and no one at home, the girlfriends impulsively accept an unexpected offer from their elderly neighbor. The recently widowed Tootsie has an RV, a handsome nephew at the wheel, and an aim for tiny Scrap, Texas, to embrace memories of her late husband. Still grieving, she can use the company as a balm for her broken heart. So can the empty nesters.
Embarking on a journey of hope, romance, and healing, Diana, Carmen, and Joanie are at a turning point in their lives. And with the open road ahead of them, it’s just the beginning.
315 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 2019
9200 people are currently reading
6074 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Brown
176 books4,071 followersHi! I'm twenty five years old and movie star gorgeous. The camera added thirty plus years and a few wrinkles. Can't trust those cameras or mirrors either. Along with bathroom scales they are notorious liars! Honestly, I am the mother of three fantastic grown children who've made me laugh and given me more story ideas than I could ever write. My husband, Charles, is my strongest supporter and my best friend. He's even willing to eat fast food and help with the laundry while I finish one more chapter! Life is good and I am blessed!
Reading has been a passion since I was five years old and figured out those were words on book pages. As soon as my chubby little fingers found they could put words on a Big Chief tablet with a fat pencil, I was on my way. Writing joined reading in my list of passions. I will read anything from the back of the Cheerio's box to Faulkner and love every bit of it. In addition to reading I enjoy cooking, my family and the ocean. I love the Florida beaches. Listening to the ocean waves puts my writing brain into high gear.
I love writing romance because it's about emotions and relationships. Human nature hasn't changed a bit since Eve coveted the fruit in the Garden of Eden. Settings change. Plots change. Names change. Times change. But love is love and men and women have been falling in and out of it forever. Romance is about emotions: love, hate, anger, laughter... all of it. If I can make you laugh until your sides ache or grab a tissue then I've touched your emotions and accomplished what every writer sets out to do.
I got serious about writing when my third child was born and had her days and nights mixed up. I had to stay up all night anyway and it was very quiet so I invested in a spiral back notebook and sharpened a few pencils. The story that emerged has never sold but it's brought in enough rejection slips to put the Redwood Forest on the endangered list. In 1997 Kensington bought two books for their Precious Gems line. Two years and six books later the line died with only four of those books seeing publication. But by then Avalon had bought a book and another, and another. Ten years later the list has grown to thirty nine. Last year Sourcebooks bought the Lucky Series which is in the bookstores now. They've also bought The Honky Tonk Series which will debut with I LOVE THIS BAR in June and will be followed by HELL, YEAH, MY GIVE A DAMN'S BUSTED, and HONKY TONK CHRISTMAS.
Folks ask me where I get my ideas. Three kids, fifteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren. Note: I was a very young grandmother! Life is a zoo around here when they all come home. In one Sunday afternoon there's enough ideas to keep me writing for years and years. Seriously, ideas pop up at the craziest times. When one sinks its roots into my mind, I have no choice but to write the story. And while I'm writing the characters peek over my shoulder and make sure I'm telling it right and not exaggerating too much. Pesky little devils, they are!
I have a wonderful agent, Erin Niumata, who continues to work magic and sell my work. I'm very lucky to have her and my editors who continue to believe in me.
Happy reading!
Reading has been a passion since I was five years old and figured out those were words on book pages. As soon as my chubby little fingers found they could put words on a Big Chief tablet with a fat pencil, I was on my way. Writing joined reading in my list of passions. I will read anything from the back of the Cheerio's box to Faulkner and love every bit of it. In addition to reading I enjoy cooking, my family and the ocean. I love the Florida beaches. Listening to the ocean waves puts my writing brain into high gear.
I love writing romance because it's about emotions and relationships. Human nature hasn't changed a bit since Eve coveted the fruit in the Garden of Eden. Settings change. Plots change. Names change. Times change. But love is love and men and women have been falling in and out of it forever. Romance is about emotions: love, hate, anger, laughter... all of it. If I can make you laugh until your sides ache or grab a tissue then I've touched your emotions and accomplished what every writer sets out to do.
I got serious about writing when my third child was born and had her days and nights mixed up. I had to stay up all night anyway and it was very quiet so I invested in a spiral back notebook and sharpened a few pencils. The story that emerged has never sold but it's brought in enough rejection slips to put the Redwood Forest on the endangered list. In 1997 Kensington bought two books for their Precious Gems line. Two years and six books later the line died with only four of those books seeing publication. But by then Avalon had bought a book and another, and another. Ten years later the list has grown to thirty nine. Last year Sourcebooks bought the Lucky Series which is in the bookstores now. They've also bought The Honky Tonk Series which will debut with I LOVE THIS BAR in June and will be followed by HELL, YEAH, MY GIVE A DAMN'S BUSTED, and HONKY TONK CHRISTMAS.
Folks ask me where I get my ideas. Three kids, fifteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren. Note: I was a very young grandmother! Life is a zoo around here when they all come home. In one Sunday afternoon there's enough ideas to keep me writing for years and years. Seriously, ideas pop up at the craziest times. When one sinks its roots into my mind, I have no choice but to write the story. And while I'm writing the characters peek over my shoulder and make sure I'm telling it right and not exaggerating too much. Pesky little devils, they are!
I have a wonderful agent, Erin Niumata, who continues to work magic and sell my work. I'm very lucky to have her and my editors who continue to believe in me.
Happy reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 816 reviews
August 20, 2019
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
Sometimes if you are lucky, you pick up a book at just the right time in your life that every emotion written by the author resonates and you cannot put it down. THE EMPTY NESTERS by Carolyn Brown is that book for me.
The story starts by introducing us to Tootsie and Smokey Colbert. Smokey is retired Army and Tootsie is his beloved wife of over 50 years. They never had children of their own, so they are very excited when three new military couples move into the neighboring homes each with their own young daughter. The men are in the same unit and the wives are close friends.
Jump ahead thirteen years. Diana, Carmen and Joanie are all still best friends and about to face an empty nest at home as all three of their daughters leave for bootcamp after having enlisted in the Army together. Diana has been divorced and moved on, working and focusing on her daughter Rebecca. Joanie is still an army wife, waiting for her husband to come home as her daughter Zoe leaves also. Carmen just said goodbye to her daughter, Natalie and she receives the emotional punch of receiving unexpected divorce papers in the mail after 20 years of marriage.
After losing the love of her life, Smokey, one month ago, Tootsie decides to go on their planned trip to his family’s reunion and take the girls with her. They have nothing to lose and no one at home, so they begin their two month long life changing journey as “The Empty Nesters” in a large RV driven by Smokey’s nephew, Luke. Tootsie faces the memories of her late husband and hopes to ease her loneliness and broken heart, Joanie receives life changing news from her husband which will alter the group, Carmen must deal with the hurt, betrayal and end of her marriage and Diana just may learn to open her heart to a new relationship and love.
This is my favorite Carolyn Brown book to date. Keep the tissues handy for not only sad, but happy tears. I read this in one sitting because I just had to know the resolution of all of “The Empty Nesters”. This book deals with so many stages of life and love. It also shows each character dealing with what life dishes out to them and how they cope with the help of their friendship. I felt the dialogue, the emotions and the trials and triumphs were realistically written and handled by Ms. Brown. Each of the women as a character is unique and yet they mesh so well together.
I highly recommend The Empty Nesters!
Sometimes if you are lucky, you pick up a book at just the right time in your life that every emotion written by the author resonates and you cannot put it down. THE EMPTY NESTERS by Carolyn Brown is that book for me.
The story starts by introducing us to Tootsie and Smokey Colbert. Smokey is retired Army and Tootsie is his beloved wife of over 50 years. They never had children of their own, so they are very excited when three new military couples move into the neighboring homes each with their own young daughter. The men are in the same unit and the wives are close friends.
Jump ahead thirteen years. Diana, Carmen and Joanie are all still best friends and about to face an empty nest at home as all three of their daughters leave for bootcamp after having enlisted in the Army together. Diana has been divorced and moved on, working and focusing on her daughter Rebecca. Joanie is still an army wife, waiting for her husband to come home as her daughter Zoe leaves also. Carmen just said goodbye to her daughter, Natalie and she receives the emotional punch of receiving unexpected divorce papers in the mail after 20 years of marriage.
After losing the love of her life, Smokey, one month ago, Tootsie decides to go on their planned trip to his family’s reunion and take the girls with her. They have nothing to lose and no one at home, so they begin their two month long life changing journey as “The Empty Nesters” in a large RV driven by Smokey’s nephew, Luke. Tootsie faces the memories of her late husband and hopes to ease her loneliness and broken heart, Joanie receives life changing news from her husband which will alter the group, Carmen must deal with the hurt, betrayal and end of her marriage and Diana just may learn to open her heart to a new relationship and love.
This is my favorite Carolyn Brown book to date. Keep the tissues handy for not only sad, but happy tears. I read this in one sitting because I just had to know the resolution of all of “The Empty Nesters”. This book deals with so many stages of life and love. It also shows each character dealing with what life dishes out to them and how they cope with the help of their friendship. I felt the dialogue, the emotions and the trials and triumphs were realistically written and handled by Ms. Brown. Each of the women as a character is unique and yet they mesh so well together.
I highly recommend The Empty Nesters!
November 26, 2019
Given all the stellar reviews, I thought this one would be a good, light read - nope. Instead, I found it flat with undeveloped characters, unrealistic dialogue and a predictable plot. Not for me - couldn't get into it at all so dnf after 3 chapters.
July 19, 2021
4 Empty Nesters/Full Hearts Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
There is nothing more satisfying than recognizing women do not stop being vital after a certain age. Women have been the disappearing segment once they hit a certain age and the age this happens has been getting younger and younger...
Carolyn Brown has brought together 3 women who have lived full lives as army wives and moms. Their beautiful children have decided to enlist in the army together leaving these women with an "empty nest." There is a husband a little lost...and another man who has decided to divorce his wife now...
As these women figure out their next step, their surrogate mother figure has decided to take an RV trip to Texas to remember her late husband. She invites these women to go with her and what takes place is more than a road trip.
Each person has moments with insight and heart. This was a read which touched the heart.
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * Spoiler Free
There is nothing more satisfying than recognizing women do not stop being vital after a certain age. Women have been the disappearing segment once they hit a certain age and the age this happens has been getting younger and younger...
Carolyn Brown has brought together 3 women who have lived full lives as army wives and moms. Their beautiful children have decided to enlist in the army together leaving these women with an "empty nest." There is a husband a little lost...and another man who has decided to divorce his wife now...
As these women figure out their next step, their surrogate mother figure has decided to take an RV trip to Texas to remember her late husband. She invites these women to go with her and what takes place is more than a road trip.
Each person has moments with insight and heart. This was a read which touched the heart.
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
February 9, 2020
Nine hours of my life that I will never get back. The only redeeming quality about the book was the theme of the importance of friendship in our lives. However, the friendships in the book aren't real. Even if you've been friends with someone forever there will be bumps in the road. It's not possible that a group of people never argue, never disagree, enjoy all the same things AND live together for several weeks without a major blowup.
Yes, all the right events happen and isn't it lovely. Then there's the event that happens in the last few moments of the book that is suggested early on COULDN'T happen...contrived, dull, dreadful.
The constant talking to the loved ones who have passed destroyed any nerves I had left. The constant emphasis on cooking and the meals cooked is completely overdone, done-done and too done. These folks have small groceries they use on the trip and EVERYONE comes up with these extravagant meals. Even if the person supposedly is not a great cook, he/she comes up with a dish that sets their stomachs on fire, in a good way.
The synopsis pulled me in and once again I was disappointed.
It was mostly a heaping, steaming pile of cornball.
Yes, all the right events happen and isn't it lovely. Then there's the event that happens in the last few moments of the book that is suggested early on COULDN'T happen...contrived, dull, dreadful.
The constant talking to the loved ones who have passed destroyed any nerves I had left. The constant emphasis on cooking and the meals cooked is completely overdone, done-done and too done. These folks have small groceries they use on the trip and EVERYONE comes up with these extravagant meals. Even if the person supposedly is not a great cook, he/she comes up with a dish that sets their stomachs on fire, in a good way.
The synopsis pulled me in and once again I was disappointed.
It was mostly a heaping, steaming pile of cornball.
July 16, 2019
The Empty Nesters chronicle the happiness and heart breaks of three friends and their friend and “adopted” mother figure as they transition into empty nesters. Brown pens genuine, heartfelt emotions of the trials, tribulations and triumphs as these friends process grief, loss and life altering circumstances while embarking on a RV road trip.
Unwavering friendship is the tie that binds these characters to the reader! The characters find their solace each other’s unwavering loyalty to one another. Difficult topics, heart aching trials, knowing when to let go and never loosing hope is written in such a way that the circumstances just come to life.
I received this ARC copy of The Empty Nesters from Montlake Romance. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Empty Nesters is set for publication Aug. 20, 2019.
My Rating: 4 stars
Written By: Carolyn Brown
Paperback: 315 pages
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Publication Date: August 20, 2019
ISBN-10: 154204300X
ISBN-13: 978-1542043007
Genre: Woman's Lit
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Nesters-...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
BAM!: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Empty...
Unwavering friendship is the tie that binds these characters to the reader! The characters find their solace each other’s unwavering loyalty to one another. Difficult topics, heart aching trials, knowing when to let go and never loosing hope is written in such a way that the circumstances just come to life.
I received this ARC copy of The Empty Nesters from Montlake Romance. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Empty Nesters is set for publication Aug. 20, 2019.
My Rating: 4 stars
Written By: Carolyn Brown
Paperback: 315 pages
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Publication Date: August 20, 2019
ISBN-10: 154204300X
ISBN-13: 978-1542043007
Genre: Woman's Lit
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Nesters-...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
BAM!: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Empty...
August 20, 2019
Well, The Empty Nesters isn’t a romance that I am used to reading. Filled with a lot of drama, a lot of humor and characters that you will fall in love with, The Empty Nesters will have you crying and laughing at the same time.
Diana, Carmen, Joanie are best friends. They have been for a very long time. Moving to Sugar Run, TX with their husbands was the best move they could have ever made. Meeting Tootsie and Smokey was a god send. Now, they all need each other to pull through some of the hardest times of their lives. Their daughters have all followed in their father’s foot-steps and enlisted leaving the three of them alone and sad. Then comes the bomb-shell from Eli and everyone’s life really changes in a New York minute. It’s time to make some decisions and the first one is to go on the road trip that Tootsie is suggesting to Stump, TX. They will make it a long road trip and end up at Basic Training graduation where they could all celebrate with their wonderful daughters. First, they have to get Carmen through her double grief, deal with Diana deciding to date again, accepting Joanie moving away and getting Tootsie through her grieving process. Throw in a few storms another death and you have yourself a very heart-warming story.
I loved the bond between the four woman. Tootsie was a treasure trove of understanding and advise. She was funny, loving and the most wonderful mom anyone could ask for. Diana understood exactly what Carmen was going through and was instrumental in getting her though the had times. She also had her own bridge to cross and I was thrilled that she decided to cross it with Luke. Diana had a lot of demons to fight and she was fighting them from the day that she married Eli. Now it’s time for her to stand on her own two feet, face life and everything that it throws at her. Joanie was the stable one. Yes, Brett was still in the military. Yes, she had her doubts about their life together because of Diana and Carmen but she knew, deep down, that Brett loved her and they life they built and, in the end, he shows her just how much she really means to him.
Carolyn Brown really showed me her talent for writing romance but mixing in everything that life can throw at you. She shows you that family doesn’t necessarily be a blood relation. She wrote four very complex characters that meshed and bonded through their experiences. Their journey through life was intense. And, Carolyn Brown brought them together seamlessly and showed us just what small town love and relationships is all about.
Complex characters, a heart-warming story, a little romance and a whole lot of laughs … The Empty Nesters was a wonderful story filled with family, love and strong-willed woman who you can’t help but adore.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Diana, Carmen, Joanie are best friends. They have been for a very long time. Moving to Sugar Run, TX with their husbands was the best move they could have ever made. Meeting Tootsie and Smokey was a god send. Now, they all need each other to pull through some of the hardest times of their lives. Their daughters have all followed in their father’s foot-steps and enlisted leaving the three of them alone and sad. Then comes the bomb-shell from Eli and everyone’s life really changes in a New York minute. It’s time to make some decisions and the first one is to go on the road trip that Tootsie is suggesting to Stump, TX. They will make it a long road trip and end up at Basic Training graduation where they could all celebrate with their wonderful daughters. First, they have to get Carmen through her double grief, deal with Diana deciding to date again, accepting Joanie moving away and getting Tootsie through her grieving process. Throw in a few storms another death and you have yourself a very heart-warming story.
I loved the bond between the four woman. Tootsie was a treasure trove of understanding and advise. She was funny, loving and the most wonderful mom anyone could ask for. Diana understood exactly what Carmen was going through and was instrumental in getting her though the had times. She also had her own bridge to cross and I was thrilled that she decided to cross it with Luke. Diana had a lot of demons to fight and she was fighting them from the day that she married Eli. Now it’s time for her to stand on her own two feet, face life and everything that it throws at her. Joanie was the stable one. Yes, Brett was still in the military. Yes, she had her doubts about their life together because of Diana and Carmen but she knew, deep down, that Brett loved her and they life they built and, in the end, he shows her just how much she really means to him.
Carolyn Brown really showed me her talent for writing romance but mixing in everything that life can throw at you. She shows you that family doesn’t necessarily be a blood relation. She wrote four very complex characters that meshed and bonded through their experiences. Their journey through life was intense. And, Carolyn Brown brought them together seamlessly and showed us just what small town love and relationships is all about.
Complex characters, a heart-warming story, a little romance and a whole lot of laughs … The Empty Nesters was a wonderful story filled with family, love and strong-willed woman who you can’t help but adore.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
July 6, 2020
Great read with intriguing characters and a unique plot. The narrator is excellent as well. Happy reading and listening!
August 23, 2019
Carolyn Brown takes us back to small town Texas with a story about women, friendships, love, loss, and hope for the future.
The book starts in a suburb of San Antonio close to a military base where three women have found a home and friendship with each other. It doesn't hurt that they have been adopted of sorts by another couple on the block, Tootsie and Smokey, that were never able to have children but welcome the women and their families into their lives. Fast forward approximately 12 years and the daughters are all entering basic training and the crux of the story is what happens in about a 3 month period.
I found this story to be a bit heavier than most of her books due to the grief of several characters. These three women become empty nesters and don't know what do with themselves. I see this today with a lot of people that their children become their whole lives and I wonder when they plan to have their own interests outside of their children. Diana, Carmen, and Joanie have each other and it helps as the girls grown up and their husbands are doing their military job (they are all on a team together). It is a huge eye opener for these three to figure out how to handle life when they don't have their daughters to worry about, or at least not as much as they are now young women and on their own.
Tootsie and Carmen have to deal with the stages of grief - Tootsie for the death of her husband and Carmen for the death of her marriage. I am glad that the author fully pursued the different stages for these women.
Diana has been divorced for five years and enter Luke, Tootsie's nephew. He is as attracted to Diana as she is to him. Her issue, the fact that she is 7 years older than him. Their story is woven throughout the book and there is a bit of a surprise at the end but one I thought might happen.
Joanie has a different kind of surprise with her husband but you will have to read the book to find out what.
I enjoyed the book but noticed one discrepancy - there is a 72 hour waiting period to get married in Texas, so two characters might have been in for a surprise arriving at the courthouse and expecting to get married the same day!
Overall I enjoyed this book and give it 4 paws up.
The book starts in a suburb of San Antonio close to a military base where three women have found a home and friendship with each other. It doesn't hurt that they have been adopted of sorts by another couple on the block, Tootsie and Smokey, that were never able to have children but welcome the women and their families into their lives. Fast forward approximately 12 years and the daughters are all entering basic training and the crux of the story is what happens in about a 3 month period.
I found this story to be a bit heavier than most of her books due to the grief of several characters. These three women become empty nesters and don't know what do with themselves. I see this today with a lot of people that their children become their whole lives and I wonder when they plan to have their own interests outside of their children. Diana, Carmen, and Joanie have each other and it helps as the girls grown up and their husbands are doing their military job (they are all on a team together). It is a huge eye opener for these three to figure out how to handle life when they don't have their daughters to worry about, or at least not as much as they are now young women and on their own.
Tootsie and Carmen have to deal with the stages of grief - Tootsie for the death of her husband and Carmen for the death of her marriage. I am glad that the author fully pursued the different stages for these women.
Diana has been divorced for five years and enter Luke, Tootsie's nephew. He is as attracted to Diana as she is to him. Her issue, the fact that she is 7 years older than him. Their story is woven throughout the book and there is a bit of a surprise at the end but one I thought might happen.
Joanie has a different kind of surprise with her husband but you will have to read the book to find out what.
I enjoyed the book but noticed one discrepancy - there is a 72 hour waiting period to get married in Texas, so two characters might have been in for a surprise arriving at the courthouse and expecting to get married the same day!
Overall I enjoyed this book and give it 4 paws up.
March 21, 2020
“The Empty Nesters” is NOT a fav of mine from Carolyn Brown
If you’re a military wife & military mother, I’m SURE your life’s are a HELL of a lot harder and not so happy, always eating, in this WORDY WORDY book!
I love Carolyn Browns books!
I didn’t from “The Empty Nesters”
I did love the ‘mother figure’ steady & always there to lean on. Then there was a romance that was brewing from a divorced mom..BUT SO LONG in happening! Lord like yo the epilogue!
2 hours could have been eliminated & the reader would have gotten the point!
There is one particular mom that wants her marriage to work but he doesn’t want to, out of the blue? He was having an affair with a twenty something & she got pregnant..BUT good lord..WHY the “empty nester” mom didn’t have REAL ANGER & show it! was beyond me!! She didn’t even hold her husband responsible for ruining her life!! I’ve been divorced there’s NO WAY I’d just say “So you make love to me while thinking of her, then you make love to her & get her pregnant?” She hung up the phone, and said to her friends “I’m done, I don’t care..I’m gonna take a walk & cut up some wood, I’m fine, let him marry this girl!”
HELLO?! FREAKING SHOUT, SCREAM, take every penny from him! But don’t just say “I’m fine let’s eat a big ole greasy cheeseburger & a milk shake” SMH
These friends were ALWAYS EATING..I mean in nearly 2 paragraphs of every chapter!? Example: “I’m so upset” Another woman “Lets get some more food & we’ll feel better.” The food items were always listed out too..it was like a cook book/empty nester moms, widows & divorcées!
I will say one thing that’s positively what I’ve always wanted. A group of women, whether “Empty Nesters” or not, is a group of women I wish I belonged to, that stick by you through thick & thin!
If you’re a military wife & military mother, I’m SURE your life’s are a HELL of a lot harder and not so happy, always eating, in this WORDY WORDY book!
I love Carolyn Browns books!
I didn’t from “The Empty Nesters”
I did love the ‘mother figure’ steady & always there to lean on. Then there was a romance that was brewing from a divorced mom..BUT SO LONG in happening! Lord like yo the epilogue!
2 hours could have been eliminated & the reader would have gotten the point!
There is one particular mom that wants her marriage to work but he doesn’t want to, out of the blue? He was having an affair with a twenty something & she got pregnant..BUT good lord..WHY the “empty nester” mom didn’t have REAL ANGER & show it! was beyond me!! She didn’t even hold her husband responsible for ruining her life!! I’ve been divorced there’s NO WAY I’d just say “So you make love to me while thinking of her, then you make love to her & get her pregnant?” She hung up the phone, and said to her friends “I’m done, I don’t care..I’m gonna take a walk & cut up some wood, I’m fine, let him marry this girl!”
HELLO?! FREAKING SHOUT, SCREAM, take every penny from him! But don’t just say “I’m fine let’s eat a big ole greasy cheeseburger & a milk shake” SMH
These friends were ALWAYS EATING..I mean in nearly 2 paragraphs of every chapter!? Example: “I’m so upset” Another woman “Lets get some more food & we’ll feel better.” The food items were always listed out too..it was like a cook book/empty nester moms, widows & divorcées!
I will say one thing that’s positively what I’ve always wanted. A group of women, whether “Empty Nesters” or not, is a group of women I wish I belonged to, that stick by you through thick & thin!
September 4, 2019
Whiney, annoying “grown ups”
I’m the same age as these women, and I could not stand all of their whiney self doubt. Omg women. Pull your selves together! The story was predictable, down to the “surprise” at the very end. Luke was about as perfect a man as a fiction writer could make him, which was annoying. I love Carolyn Brown. I’ve read a ton of her books. This was was just too much, though.
I’m the same age as these women, and I could not stand all of their whiney self doubt. Omg women. Pull your selves together! The story was predictable, down to the “surprise” at the very end. Luke was about as perfect a man as a fiction writer could make him, which was annoying. I love Carolyn Brown. I’ve read a ton of her books. This was was just too much, though.
August 16, 2019
Terrific story of friendship, healing, and love. The story opens in the past as Tootsie and her husband Smokey watch three young families move into houses on their block. All three are military families, each with one young daughter. Tootsie immediately senses that these people will become good friends. The prologue spends some time introducing each of the characters and their personalities. It also shows the depth of friendship that already exists between Diana, Carmen, and Joanie, as they finish the prologue by sending their men off, hiding their heartbreak behind cheerful faces. The story picks up thirteen years later, as all three women watch their daughters depart for Army basic training, leaving them with empty nests. That's not the only life-altering event either. Tootsie's husband Smokey recently passed away, leaving all of them feeling his loss. To make matters worse, Carmen unexpectedly receives divorce papers from her husband. As the women come together to support Carmen, Tootsie invites them all on her road trip as a way to get away from it all.
Tootsie: Tootsie is a warm-hearted woman who was deeply in love with her husband. She is devastated by his loss, but the other women's presence in her life helps her deal with her grief. Helping them through their problems provides a needed distraction. I loved her down-home country wisdom and her straightforward way of delivering it. There are some hilarious times ahead for them, as well as some profoundly emotional ones. Smokey's loss isn't all Tootsie has to deal with on this journey, and the other women repay Tootsie's support with some of their own. I loved Tootsie's conversations with Smokey. They gave a good look at the type of man he was and the relationship he had with her.
Carmen: I loved Carmen and ached so much for her. The unexpected arrival of divorce papers on the day her daughter left for boot camp made it especially devastating. She's always been a little bit insecure thanks to her feelings of being not good enough for Eli (reinforced by her witch of a mother-in-law) and immediately starts thinking about what she must have done wrong. I loved seeing her journey through denial, grief, and anger, and seeing her come out stronger on the other side. I detested her husband, Eli, whose true colors were revealed in his phone calls to her. There was a funny scene in which Carmen contemplated emulating a book character's revenge on a cheating spouse. I laughed because I recognized that revenge from an earlier book by the author.
Joanie: After witnessing Diana's divorce years earlier, and seeing what Carmen goes through now, Joanie experiences some guilt about the solidity of her marriage. But recent phone calls from Brett have been disturbing, and she wonders if the bonds are as strong as she thought. I ached for her and her fears. Brett turned out to be the best of the husbands, and I liked how he came clean about the issue. I especially liked his understanding of her bond with the other women. Joanie impressed me with her realistic look at the proposition and consideration of all the ramifications.
Diana: Diana's life has revolved around raising her daughter. Mostly by herself, as first her husband was gone so much, then later as a single mother. She showed little interest in dating, not ready to trust another man with her heart. Having already been through it, she is in an excellent position to help Carmen. What Diana did not expect was to feel a connection to Tootsie's nephew Luke, who is their driver on this road trip. She is a bit freaked out about their age difference since he's a few years younger. I loved the friendship that grew between them as they discovered things they had in common and how that friendship grew and changed. There were some sweet moments between them, and some very steamy ones. Diana has some issues she has to deal with before she lets herself even consider a future with Luke in it. I liked the fact that they kept the lines of communication open, even when they were at odds.
Luke: The lone man on this road trip. Luke is a self-professed geek who claims limited social skills. He spent most of his adult life immersed in the software company that he built. Luke recently sold it and now must decide what he wants to do. He loves his Aunt Tootsie and looks forward to the memories of his Uncle Smokey on this trip. He is taken by surprise by his connection to Diana, especially as he usually is shy and awkward around women. I liked how the age difference meant so little to him and loved how he explained it to Diana. I liked his patience as he didn't try to push Diana past where she was comfortable but still left her in no doubt about his interest. Luke also helps each of the other women through some of their problems with some practical advice and/or viewpoints from the male perspective.
I loved the journey these five made together, with the love, friendship, and respect that helped each of them through some rough times. I loved the end of the journey as they attended their daughters' graduation and saw the changes that they, too, had experienced. I enjoyed the glimpses of each mother/daughter relationship, as well as the friendships between the three girls. I got a kick out of Rebecca's comments to Luke. There was also some insight into the three women's husband and how the men's relationships with each other compared to their wives' relationships.
The epilogue was great. I liked seeing them all a few months down the road and how things have worked out for them. I loved seeing Luke and Diana together, and the unexpected twist that capped off the book.
Tootsie: Tootsie is a warm-hearted woman who was deeply in love with her husband. She is devastated by his loss, but the other women's presence in her life helps her deal with her grief. Helping them through their problems provides a needed distraction. I loved her down-home country wisdom and her straightforward way of delivering it. There are some hilarious times ahead for them, as well as some profoundly emotional ones. Smokey's loss isn't all Tootsie has to deal with on this journey, and the other women repay Tootsie's support with some of their own. I loved Tootsie's conversations with Smokey. They gave a good look at the type of man he was and the relationship he had with her.
Carmen: I loved Carmen and ached so much for her. The unexpected arrival of divorce papers on the day her daughter left for boot camp made it especially devastating. She's always been a little bit insecure thanks to her feelings of being not good enough for Eli (reinforced by her witch of a mother-in-law) and immediately starts thinking about what she must have done wrong. I loved seeing her journey through denial, grief, and anger, and seeing her come out stronger on the other side. I detested her husband, Eli, whose true colors were revealed in his phone calls to her. There was a funny scene in which Carmen contemplated emulating a book character's revenge on a cheating spouse. I laughed because I recognized that revenge from an earlier book by the author.
Joanie: After witnessing Diana's divorce years earlier, and seeing what Carmen goes through now, Joanie experiences some guilt about the solidity of her marriage. But recent phone calls from Brett have been disturbing, and she wonders if the bonds are as strong as she thought. I ached for her and her fears. Brett turned out to be the best of the husbands, and I liked how he came clean about the issue. I especially liked his understanding of her bond with the other women. Joanie impressed me with her realistic look at the proposition and consideration of all the ramifications.
Diana: Diana's life has revolved around raising her daughter. Mostly by herself, as first her husband was gone so much, then later as a single mother. She showed little interest in dating, not ready to trust another man with her heart. Having already been through it, she is in an excellent position to help Carmen. What Diana did not expect was to feel a connection to Tootsie's nephew Luke, who is their driver on this road trip. She is a bit freaked out about their age difference since he's a few years younger. I loved the friendship that grew between them as they discovered things they had in common and how that friendship grew and changed. There were some sweet moments between them, and some very steamy ones. Diana has some issues she has to deal with before she lets herself even consider a future with Luke in it. I liked the fact that they kept the lines of communication open, even when they were at odds.
Luke: The lone man on this road trip. Luke is a self-professed geek who claims limited social skills. He spent most of his adult life immersed in the software company that he built. Luke recently sold it and now must decide what he wants to do. He loves his Aunt Tootsie and looks forward to the memories of his Uncle Smokey on this trip. He is taken by surprise by his connection to Diana, especially as he usually is shy and awkward around women. I liked how the age difference meant so little to him and loved how he explained it to Diana. I liked his patience as he didn't try to push Diana past where she was comfortable but still left her in no doubt about his interest. Luke also helps each of the other women through some of their problems with some practical advice and/or viewpoints from the male perspective.
I loved the journey these five made together, with the love, friendship, and respect that helped each of them through some rough times. I loved the end of the journey as they attended their daughters' graduation and saw the changes that they, too, had experienced. I enjoyed the glimpses of each mother/daughter relationship, as well as the friendships between the three girls. I got a kick out of Rebecca's comments to Luke. There was also some insight into the three women's husband and how the men's relationships with each other compared to their wives' relationships.
The epilogue was great. I liked seeing them all a few months down the road and how things have worked out for them. I loved seeing Luke and Diana together, and the unexpected twist that capped off the book.
June 24, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for providing me with this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In their years in Sugar Run, Texas, Tootsie and Smokey Colbert had had so many neighbors that they'd lost count.
Tootsie and Smokey never had children of their own so were very pleased when three military families moved to their block. The couple took all of them under their wings and became surrogate parents and grandparents for the young families. The men are all in the same squad and their wives have been best friends since they all met at enlistment. The women keep the home fires burning while they are away.
Each family has a daughter about the same age. Upon graduation from high school, they all decide to enlist as well. This leaves the moms with serious Empty Nest Syndrome. Tootsie has lost her beloved Smokey yet still plans to go to her homeplace(and their honeymoon spot) as they did each year. The elderly couple had bought an RV for this upcoming trip. Tootsie convinces the three women to come with her on the adventure.
Diana, Carmen and Joanie are in for a journey of discovery. Smokey's nephew, Luke is the driver. HE has fond memories of time spent in Scrap, Texas with Smokey and Tootsie. The extra ladies add a bit more to the adventure than he planned.
I just recently discovered Carolyn Brown and I must say that I have really loved what I read. This book has sadness, happiness, uncertainty, anger, joy and most of all love. As is often mentioned, you don't have to share DNA to be family.
The writing is effortless. The storytelling is enchanting. I feel like I could step into the story and be right at home. I ached for each of the mom's missing their daughters. I rejoiced with them when they finally got calls and letters from them.
Each woman has a different event going on in their life yet they were are intertwined. The strong bond of their friendship was wonderful. Tootsie was the glue that held them all together. And Luke. Well Luke was a delightful addition. He was smart, funny and a bit shy. Oh, and of course, handsome.
What a fabulous afternoon read. I started it and couldn't put it down. I would love to see a story with the daughters.
Highly recommended!
In their years in Sugar Run, Texas, Tootsie and Smokey Colbert had had so many neighbors that they'd lost count.
Tootsie and Smokey never had children of their own so were very pleased when three military families moved to their block. The couple took all of them under their wings and became surrogate parents and grandparents for the young families. The men are all in the same squad and their wives have been best friends since they all met at enlistment. The women keep the home fires burning while they are away.
Each family has a daughter about the same age. Upon graduation from high school, they all decide to enlist as well. This leaves the moms with serious Empty Nest Syndrome. Tootsie has lost her beloved Smokey yet still plans to go to her homeplace(and their honeymoon spot) as they did each year. The elderly couple had bought an RV for this upcoming trip. Tootsie convinces the three women to come with her on the adventure.
Diana, Carmen and Joanie are in for a journey of discovery. Smokey's nephew, Luke is the driver. HE has fond memories of time spent in Scrap, Texas with Smokey and Tootsie. The extra ladies add a bit more to the adventure than he planned.
I just recently discovered Carolyn Brown and I must say that I have really loved what I read. This book has sadness, happiness, uncertainty, anger, joy and most of all love. As is often mentioned, you don't have to share DNA to be family.
The writing is effortless. The storytelling is enchanting. I feel like I could step into the story and be right at home. I ached for each of the mom's missing their daughters. I rejoiced with them when they finally got calls and letters from them.
Each woman has a different event going on in their life yet they were are intertwined. The strong bond of their friendship was wonderful. Tootsie was the glue that held them all together. And Luke. Well Luke was a delightful addition. He was smart, funny and a bit shy. Oh, and of course, handsome.
What a fabulous afternoon read. I started it and couldn't put it down. I would love to see a story with the daughters.
Highly recommended!
April 21, 2020
This was my first Carolyn Brown book and I'm now unlikely to want to read another.
The character development was nonexistent and the plotline was cornball. The experiences are implausible and unrelatable. I don't post spoilers, but I'll just say I found some of the emotions and decisions of the characters to be not only unlikely, but unhealthy from a mental health perspective. One of them is going through a traumatic experience and is told repeatedly to walk away from her feelings, or only feel them for 15 minutes at a time? Good grief, I'm glad I don't have friends like that. They think she should be completely over a terrible thing that's happened to her in two months or less. No, that's not how healing works. Holy cow. That kind of suppression and pressure to be okay is horrible.
If the dialogue or writing style were fun I'd easily be able to see past all the failings of character and plot, but as is, I left the book feeling as though I'd spent an unpleasant amount of time with people I found bland and unlikable. "Basic" doesn't even begin to describe them or their experiences. I could have been watching an old episode of desperate housewives (the original, obviously) and even there this whole story would have been covered in one very early episode where we're being introduced to rough outlines of the characters on the show.
I can imagine this book being picked up as an option for a Hallmark or Netflix movie and I can see it being made into something more fun and easily digested by either. As is, though, I found I needed to dive into another book immediately after finishing this one just to try to scrub my brain of the experience of it as quickly as possible.
The character development was nonexistent and the plotline was cornball. The experiences are implausible and unrelatable. I don't post spoilers, but I'll just say I found some of the emotions and decisions of the characters to be not only unlikely, but unhealthy from a mental health perspective. One of them is going through a traumatic experience and is told repeatedly to walk away from her feelings, or only feel them for 15 minutes at a time? Good grief, I'm glad I don't have friends like that. They think she should be completely over a terrible thing that's happened to her in two months or less. No, that's not how healing works. Holy cow. That kind of suppression and pressure to be okay is horrible.
If the dialogue or writing style were fun I'd easily be able to see past all the failings of character and plot, but as is, I left the book feeling as though I'd spent an unpleasant amount of time with people I found bland and unlikable. "Basic" doesn't even begin to describe them or their experiences. I could have been watching an old episode of desperate housewives (the original, obviously) and even there this whole story would have been covered in one very early episode where we're being introduced to rough outlines of the characters on the show.
I can imagine this book being picked up as an option for a Hallmark or Netflix movie and I can see it being made into something more fun and easily digested by either. As is, though, I found I needed to dive into another book immediately after finishing this one just to try to scrub my brain of the experience of it as quickly as possible.
April 20, 2020
I listened to Carolyn Brown's The Empty-Nesters on Audible. Brown seems to use the same people to narrate, or person to narrate, each of her books. And that's a wonderful thing because the narrator is phenomenal! As for the book, I absolutely loved it! As a mom and an empty-nester and a retiree, I could relate on so many levels. Each character had her own issues and even if it was not something the reader had gone through, suddenly you understood what the character felt. Brown has a way of writing that not only puts you into the character's mind but also into the character's heart. You become part of a family. And family isn't always by blood. The women in the book become intertwined by being military wives and mothers. But we have all had friendships and raised children together. When the time comes for life to change, it is always a sad day but Brown makes it a day filled with excitement. You feel like the best Is yet to come. Being in self-quarantine, while reading The Empty Nesters was probably not the best idea. I now have more people to miss. I guess, when this is all over, I will just have to get a big-ass motorhome and drive to Texas and check on Tootsie!
August 8, 2019
Four stars: A delightful story about friendship, hope, love and overcoming grief.
Army wives Diana, Carmen and Joanie are doing their best to staunch the flow of tears. They just said goodbye to their three daughters, who are headed to Basic Training. These three women know a thing or two about military life as they have all been married to career military men. Diana is still getting over her divorce even though it’s been five years, and the thought of an empty house makes her sad. Then disaster strikes when Carmen gets divorce papers in the mail. How could her husband do this to her without even talking to her? Luckily, Tootsie their elderly neighbor who was recently widowed comes to the rescue. Tootsie proposes that all four of them go on a trip in her new RV. Her handsome nephew, Luke, is willing to drive them. What could be better than a little time away to recharge?
What I Liked:
*Carolyn Brown delivers another heaping dose of comfort reading with her latest book: The Empty Nesters. I loved that this book was all about supportive friendships and overcoming grief and loss. Girl power for the win!
*The main focus of this book is on friendship and camaraderie. The four women over the years have forged a strong bond. They feel like family. When disaster strikes, the four drawn in close to help one another. I loved how these women looked out for one another. There is so much positivity and love in this one. The strong female friendships were so inspiring. I loved it.
*I liked that each woman was dealing with a different problem. Tootsie was trying to cope with life after losing her long time husband. Carmen is reeling from her impending divorce, Diana is trying to find love after divorce, and Joanie is questioning the bonds of her own marriage. Each woman was in a different stage of a relationship, and I liked that. It was interesting to watch each woman grapple with her problem and overcome it the best she could. It was a joy to watch these women succeed. I was especially proud of Carmen and Tootsie. Carmen especially gets handed a nasty load to handle. She takes her anger and uses it to help her through. She is fierce and tough, and she comes out on the other side better off. Loved that.
*Yes, there is a romance in this one. It wouldn’t be a Carolyn Brown book without one. I liked that the romance starts out as a friendship and slowly, slowly moves into the romance zone. There are some stumbles and some hesitation, but it all works in the end. It was delightful.
*I loved all the coziness of this one. It takes place during fall, and I loved how the season was incorporated into the story. It is the perfect curl up with a good blanket book. It is full of all the lovely things that fall has to offer.
*The ending is perfect. It catches it up with the characters a few weeks down the road, and everyone is in a good spot. I thought it ended on the right note.
And The Not So Much:
*I was disappointed that we didn’t get to know Smokey a little better. He sounded like such an interesting and kind man.
*I felt like the whole kid drama in the romance was a little forced and predictable, I knew exactly how it was going to play out.
The Empty Nesters is the perfect read for fall. This one features four strong women bonded together thru friendship and love as they grapple with different issues in their relationships. I loved the focus on friendship and love. I also adored the cozy fall feel to this one. It is a lovely read. Grab this and cozy up on a fall day.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Army wives Diana, Carmen and Joanie are doing their best to staunch the flow of tears. They just said goodbye to their three daughters, who are headed to Basic Training. These three women know a thing or two about military life as they have all been married to career military men. Diana is still getting over her divorce even though it’s been five years, and the thought of an empty house makes her sad. Then disaster strikes when Carmen gets divorce papers in the mail. How could her husband do this to her without even talking to her? Luckily, Tootsie their elderly neighbor who was recently widowed comes to the rescue. Tootsie proposes that all four of them go on a trip in her new RV. Her handsome nephew, Luke, is willing to drive them. What could be better than a little time away to recharge?
What I Liked:
*Carolyn Brown delivers another heaping dose of comfort reading with her latest book: The Empty Nesters. I loved that this book was all about supportive friendships and overcoming grief and loss. Girl power for the win!
*The main focus of this book is on friendship and camaraderie. The four women over the years have forged a strong bond. They feel like family. When disaster strikes, the four drawn in close to help one another. I loved how these women looked out for one another. There is so much positivity and love in this one. The strong female friendships were so inspiring. I loved it.
*I liked that each woman was dealing with a different problem. Tootsie was trying to cope with life after losing her long time husband. Carmen is reeling from her impending divorce, Diana is trying to find love after divorce, and Joanie is questioning the bonds of her own marriage. Each woman was in a different stage of a relationship, and I liked that. It was interesting to watch each woman grapple with her problem and overcome it the best she could. It was a joy to watch these women succeed. I was especially proud of Carmen and Tootsie. Carmen especially gets handed a nasty load to handle. She takes her anger and uses it to help her through. She is fierce and tough, and she comes out on the other side better off. Loved that.
*Yes, there is a romance in this one. It wouldn’t be a Carolyn Brown book without one. I liked that the romance starts out as a friendship and slowly, slowly moves into the romance zone. There are some stumbles and some hesitation, but it all works in the end. It was delightful.
*I loved all the coziness of this one. It takes place during fall, and I loved how the season was incorporated into the story. It is the perfect curl up with a good blanket book. It is full of all the lovely things that fall has to offer.
*The ending is perfect. It catches it up with the characters a few weeks down the road, and everyone is in a good spot. I thought it ended on the right note.
And The Not So Much:
*I was disappointed that we didn’t get to know Smokey a little better. He sounded like such an interesting and kind man.
*I felt like the whole kid drama in the romance was a little forced and predictable, I knew exactly how it was going to play out.
The Empty Nesters is the perfect read for fall. This one features four strong women bonded together thru friendship and love as they grapple with different issues in their relationships. I loved the focus on friendship and love. I also adored the cozy fall feel to this one. It is a lovely read. Grab this and cozy up on a fall day.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
August 28, 2023
The Delight:
When the going gets tough, the tough go on a road trip! I loved that this story focused on the lives of three middle aged women and one even older still when it comes to life, loss, friendship, and even a bit of romance. This author is a fav and it is largely do to the down home country charm, sassy dialogue, and genuine characters that all blend to make up a story I can get comfy with from page one.
Review:
A standalone, The Empty Nesters introduces three middle-aged women, two are army wives and the third was one until her husband divorced her for a younger woman. They've been through thick and thin together, but now, while their husbands are away, they must send their three girls off to boot camp together leaving the women at a loss. Carmen gets another nasty surprise right after seeing her daughter off so Tootsie, their neighbor of many years, proposes taking the three women on a road trip she meant to take with her husband.
The three friends, Carmen, Joanie, and Diana don't hesitate to join the recently widowed Tootsie and her nephew Luke in the big RV headed for Tootsie's old home in small town Texas. Tootsie and their friendship, the stops along the way, and a charming Luke help the women work through their separate troubles and missing their girls.
Diana gets a second chance at finding love if she can get past the trust issues that her ex husband left her with and Joanie wonders if her own husband's recent distance and distracted phone calls from his current assignment are a warning that he plans to leave her or is cheating. Carmen has faced much growing up poor and then keeping things going while her husband is always away, but this latest cruel life twist is only survivable with Tootsie's country-style wisdom and the support of her friends. Luke didn't want to go on this trip and drive the big RV with a bunch of women from his aunt's neighborhood, but he soon discovers that it was the best chance that has come his way in a long time.
The Empty Nesters is more women's fic than romance, but it is definitely something of both. I enjoyed the friendship that developed between the four women and how childless Tootsie adopted the younger women and made their children her grandchildren. She is suffering the loss of her husband and is on this journey as a memorial to him while helping the women to fill the ache that their now empty nests and other trials of life have come.
The author's focus on military wives and the toll the long missions and assignments can take on families and marriages was well done and a nice tribute to their sacrifice. She didn't hold back on what can and does happen, but she didn't let it wallow in sadness. The focus was on finding inner strength, falling and picking one's self up, and also embracing new opportunities.
For Diana, the new opportunity is to try romance again with Luke. Luke was sweet and gentle, he gave her time and space, and he was upfront and honest with her even when he thought it might blow his chances with Diana. His generous heart and simple caring ways do what suave romance couldn't have accomplished.
It was a gently-paced, heartwarming story that left me well-satisfied and not in the least anxious for it to end. There was laughter and a few tears, fun times and some heartache, but a fab story when all was said and done. Those who enjoy country charm and a contemporary romance/women's fiction crossover should give this one a go.
I rec'd this book from Net Galley to read in exchange for an honest review.
COYER Summer Scavenger Hunt clue- car on cover 3 pts.
When the going gets tough, the tough go on a road trip! I loved that this story focused on the lives of three middle aged women and one even older still when it comes to life, loss, friendship, and even a bit of romance. This author is a fav and it is largely do to the down home country charm, sassy dialogue, and genuine characters that all blend to make up a story I can get comfy with from page one.
Review:
A standalone, The Empty Nesters introduces three middle-aged women, two are army wives and the third was one until her husband divorced her for a younger woman. They've been through thick and thin together, but now, while their husbands are away, they must send their three girls off to boot camp together leaving the women at a loss. Carmen gets another nasty surprise right after seeing her daughter off so Tootsie, their neighbor of many years, proposes taking the three women on a road trip she meant to take with her husband.
The three friends, Carmen, Joanie, and Diana don't hesitate to join the recently widowed Tootsie and her nephew Luke in the big RV headed for Tootsie's old home in small town Texas. Tootsie and their friendship, the stops along the way, and a charming Luke help the women work through their separate troubles and missing their girls.
Diana gets a second chance at finding love if she can get past the trust issues that her ex husband left her with and Joanie wonders if her own husband's recent distance and distracted phone calls from his current assignment are a warning that he plans to leave her or is cheating. Carmen has faced much growing up poor and then keeping things going while her husband is always away, but this latest cruel life twist is only survivable with Tootsie's country-style wisdom and the support of her friends. Luke didn't want to go on this trip and drive the big RV with a bunch of women from his aunt's neighborhood, but he soon discovers that it was the best chance that has come his way in a long time.
The Empty Nesters is more women's fic than romance, but it is definitely something of both. I enjoyed the friendship that developed between the four women and how childless Tootsie adopted the younger women and made their children her grandchildren. She is suffering the loss of her husband and is on this journey as a memorial to him while helping the women to fill the ache that their now empty nests and other trials of life have come.
The author's focus on military wives and the toll the long missions and assignments can take on families and marriages was well done and a nice tribute to their sacrifice. She didn't hold back on what can and does happen, but she didn't let it wallow in sadness. The focus was on finding inner strength, falling and picking one's self up, and also embracing new opportunities.
For Diana, the new opportunity is to try romance again with Luke. Luke was sweet and gentle, he gave her time and space, and he was upfront and honest with her even when he thought it might blow his chances with Diana. His generous heart and simple caring ways do what suave romance couldn't have accomplished.
It was a gently-paced, heartwarming story that left me well-satisfied and not in the least anxious for it to end. There was laughter and a few tears, fun times and some heartache, but a fab story when all was said and done. Those who enjoy country charm and a contemporary romance/women's fiction crossover should give this one a go.
I rec'd this book from Net Galley to read in exchange for an honest review.
COYER Summer Scavenger Hunt clue- car on cover 3 pts.
August 19, 2019
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This story made me cry messy tears and it made me immensely grateful for the girlfriends who have become my own unshakeable chosen family. It’s a book about four women, all at crossroads in their lives. The themes in this story are universal I think that any woman over 35 will be able to relate to the experiences of this tight knight group of friends. It’s a story about friendship, about sisterhood and about navigating the unexpected pain life throws at us all.
Like most women my age, I could relate far too easily to parts of each of the four women’s experiences. From bereavement, divorce, infertility, empty nests and fresh starts, the women in the story have all had their hearts hurt in very familiar ways. And like women everywhere, they only allow themselves a small interlude to nurse their pain before they have to move on and keep living. I love the road trip they take together. I love that it provides distance while also offering the emotional intimacy they need from their friends.
With the story shared between all four women, it isn’t easy to know any one of the women as well as I usually like in a book. I responded to the shared sense of female experience more than I did to any one character. I kinda like that I really have nothing in common with any of these women except for our age - but I can still relate to each story. I really love the friendships here and I love the intergenerational relationships between Tootsie and the younger women. There is a hint of romance in this book but I love that it doesn’t overpower the main themes of friendship and sisterhood.
I didn’t find this an easy read - parts hit too close to home and I found other parts quite slow. I enjoyed the story and the themes but I didn’t enjoy the writing style at all. Three of the women are very close in age to me but they read much older. Either that or they’ve all been much better at adulting than anyone I know. All three feel like they’re from a previous generation with their carefully balanced meals (on holiday even!), constant home baking and careful attention to domestic details. I don’t personally know any women my age who’ve stayed at home to raise kids without a career or even an education to fall back on. While some of their problems feel contemporary and there are few references to modern technology, I feel like this book could have easily been written thirty years ago. There is a slightly conservative feel to the book but it’s difficult for me to know how much of this is part of Southern US culture and how much is the author’s own perspective.
Despite my reservations, I've awarded five stars because this story really touched an emotional nerve. It's the right book at the right time and I love the sense of sisterhood in this book.
This story made me cry messy tears and it made me immensely grateful for the girlfriends who have become my own unshakeable chosen family. It’s a book about four women, all at crossroads in their lives. The themes in this story are universal I think that any woman over 35 will be able to relate to the experiences of this tight knight group of friends. It’s a story about friendship, about sisterhood and about navigating the unexpected pain life throws at us all.
Like most women my age, I could relate far too easily to parts of each of the four women’s experiences. From bereavement, divorce, infertility, empty nests and fresh starts, the women in the story have all had their hearts hurt in very familiar ways. And like women everywhere, they only allow themselves a small interlude to nurse their pain before they have to move on and keep living. I love the road trip they take together. I love that it provides distance while also offering the emotional intimacy they need from their friends.
With the story shared between all four women, it isn’t easy to know any one of the women as well as I usually like in a book. I responded to the shared sense of female experience more than I did to any one character. I kinda like that I really have nothing in common with any of these women except for our age - but I can still relate to each story. I really love the friendships here and I love the intergenerational relationships between Tootsie and the younger women. There is a hint of romance in this book but I love that it doesn’t overpower the main themes of friendship and sisterhood.
I didn’t find this an easy read - parts hit too close to home and I found other parts quite slow. I enjoyed the story and the themes but I didn’t enjoy the writing style at all. Three of the women are very close in age to me but they read much older. Either that or they’ve all been much better at adulting than anyone I know. All three feel like they’re from a previous generation with their carefully balanced meals (on holiday even!), constant home baking and careful attention to domestic details. I don’t personally know any women my age who’ve stayed at home to raise kids without a career or even an education to fall back on. While some of their problems feel contemporary and there are few references to modern technology, I feel like this book could have easily been written thirty years ago. There is a slightly conservative feel to the book but it’s difficult for me to know how much of this is part of Southern US culture and how much is the author’s own perspective.
Despite my reservations, I've awarded five stars because this story really touched an emotional nerve. It's the right book at the right time and I love the sense of sisterhood in this book.
June 9, 2019
I sat down and read this book in one sitting. It was vintage Carolyn Brown - authentic characters in real life situations. I especially appreciated the way she handled loss. Loss of a spouse and your children growing up and moving away are real losses. I loved this book and would heartily recommend it to others.
January 18, 2021
This book has a shallow pleasantness like a chicken breast at a restaurant. Nothing special, and if you were honest, you wasted your money. I finished it, but I wish I had ordered something else.
September 5, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Romance.
A sweet book w/a lot of sass from 4 women traveling in a RV to Tootsie's house (the matriarch of these friends).
Diana, Joanie and Carmen are all Army wives who've been friends since their husbands work together in the Army living in TX and they live on the same block as Tootsie who's Army husband just died. Tootsie considers these women and their daughters to be her children and grandchildren. They are all feeling sorry for themselves for being empty nesters after their daughters just joined the Army. After the girls leave for basic training, all the women go in Tootsie's RV to Scrap, TX, where her lake home is. Along for the ride is Tootsie's nephew, who is driving. A lot going on with these women who are always there for each other. They all have their own story to tell.
A sweet book w/a lot of sass from 4 women traveling in a RV to Tootsie's house (the matriarch of these friends).
Diana, Joanie and Carmen are all Army wives who've been friends since their husbands work together in the Army living in TX and they live on the same block as Tootsie who's Army husband just died. Tootsie considers these women and their daughters to be her children and grandchildren. They are all feeling sorry for themselves for being empty nesters after their daughters just joined the Army. After the girls leave for basic training, all the women go in Tootsie's RV to Scrap, TX, where her lake home is. Along for the ride is Tootsie's nephew, who is driving. A lot going on with these women who are always there for each other. They all have their own story to tell.
April 24, 2021
I'd give this 0 stars if I could as it's just awful. It reads like a 5th grader wrote it with an almost non-existent plot and terrible dialogue. I never realized I could get so annoyed with a Texas accent and if I ever read the world "darlin'" again, it'll be too soon.
October 1, 2019
Change was supposed to be good for the soul, and turmoil created patience, but sometimes accepting either wasn’t easy.
If I had to pick one word to describe Carolyn Brown’s books, I’d pick delightful. Or maybe charming. Heartfelt? Heartwarming? Okay, so it’s hard to pick one. Because The Empty Nesters was all of those.
For almost two decades, Diana, Carmen, and Joanie have developed the tightest of bonds. As army wives and mothers of daughters who are all the same age, they’ve weathered a lot - loneliness while their husbands were away together on top-secret missions, the struggles of raising children essentially alone, and marriage woes. Now their daughters have all joined the army and left for basic training on the same day, leaving them with empty nests. The situation becomes even more distressing for Carmen when she’s also stunned with divorce papers on the same day.
Tootsie has been a de facto mother and grandmother to the three ladies and their three daughters since the three families moved onto the street fifteen years ago where Tootsie and her husband, Smokey, lived. Smokey’s unexpected death a month ago hit them all hard. But Tootsie is determined to load up her RV and take the trip she and Smokey had planned. With her three honorary daughters feeling out of sorts after their daughters’ departure, and now the crisis with Carmen’s marriage, Tootsie decides they can all use some time away. After a bit of convincing, Tootsie is able to load them all up - along with her husband’s nephew, Luke, as their driver - and embark on an adventure that gives them the chance to ponder their futures, and heal from past hurts.
Ensemble books can be tricky, as it can frequently seem like one person is the main character and all the others side-characters. But that wasn’t the case here. All four of the women get equal time to work through their individual issues: Tootsie is adjusting to life without her beloved Smokey, Diana is healed from the crushing hurt caused by her husband’s betrayal and their divorce five years ago and now has a chance to find love again, Carmen is going through all the stages of grief when her marriage implodes and she’s learning to stand on her own two feet and make plans for a future she wants, and Joanie struggles with guilt for having a husband who still loves her dearly but is faced with drastic changes for her future. It was delightful, charming, heartbreaking, and heartwarming to watch them be there for each other, through the ups and downs, and help them get to the other side of their struggles and be happy.
When it seems all women are capable of doing these days is tearing each other down, it’s refreshing to read a story where women build each other up and stand by each other’s side through thick and thin. Yes, parts of this story were hard to read. It’s never easy to watch a marriage disintegrate, especially when one of them is so blindsided by someone being so cruel. But the mark of a good author is that she can take you to such a low before leaving you on such a high. I also give props to the author for the surprise ending, which was what I was really wanting to happen, and didn’t think would, but then did without any of the usual hints and set-up that would usually come with what happened. (HA - how’s that for vague and nondescript?! Gotta let the surprise be a surprise!) With great dialogue and lovable characters, this book just left me feeling happy. And you can’t ask for much more than that!
* thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
If I had to pick one word to describe Carolyn Brown’s books, I’d pick delightful. Or maybe charming. Heartfelt? Heartwarming? Okay, so it’s hard to pick one. Because The Empty Nesters was all of those.
For almost two decades, Diana, Carmen, and Joanie have developed the tightest of bonds. As army wives and mothers of daughters who are all the same age, they’ve weathered a lot - loneliness while their husbands were away together on top-secret missions, the struggles of raising children essentially alone, and marriage woes. Now their daughters have all joined the army and left for basic training on the same day, leaving them with empty nests. The situation becomes even more distressing for Carmen when she’s also stunned with divorce papers on the same day.
Tootsie has been a de facto mother and grandmother to the three ladies and their three daughters since the three families moved onto the street fifteen years ago where Tootsie and her husband, Smokey, lived. Smokey’s unexpected death a month ago hit them all hard. But Tootsie is determined to load up her RV and take the trip she and Smokey had planned. With her three honorary daughters feeling out of sorts after their daughters’ departure, and now the crisis with Carmen’s marriage, Tootsie decides they can all use some time away. After a bit of convincing, Tootsie is able to load them all up - along with her husband’s nephew, Luke, as their driver - and embark on an adventure that gives them the chance to ponder their futures, and heal from past hurts.
Ensemble books can be tricky, as it can frequently seem like one person is the main character and all the others side-characters. But that wasn’t the case here. All four of the women get equal time to work through their individual issues: Tootsie is adjusting to life without her beloved Smokey, Diana is healed from the crushing hurt caused by her husband’s betrayal and their divorce five years ago and now has a chance to find love again, Carmen is going through all the stages of grief when her marriage implodes and she’s learning to stand on her own two feet and make plans for a future she wants, and Joanie struggles with guilt for having a husband who still loves her dearly but is faced with drastic changes for her future. It was delightful, charming, heartbreaking, and heartwarming to watch them be there for each other, through the ups and downs, and help them get to the other side of their struggles and be happy.
When it seems all women are capable of doing these days is tearing each other down, it’s refreshing to read a story where women build each other up and stand by each other’s side through thick and thin. Yes, parts of this story were hard to read. It’s never easy to watch a marriage disintegrate, especially when one of them is so blindsided by someone being so cruel. But the mark of a good author is that she can take you to such a low before leaving you on such a high. I also give props to the author for the surprise ending, which was what I was really wanting to happen, and didn’t think would, but then did without any of the usual hints and set-up that would usually come with what happened. (HA - how’s that for vague and nondescript?! Gotta let the surprise be a surprise!) With great dialogue and lovable characters, this book just left me feeling happy. And you can’t ask for much more than that!
* thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
October 31, 2021
The Empty Nesters is a story of friends and army wives, Diana, Carmen, and Joanie and their neighbour and surrogate mother Tootsie and her husband Smokey. The three friends have been through a lot, but raised their daughters together with the support of Tootsie and her husband. Time has passed and Tootsie is now a recent widow and all of the women have daughters who are enlisting in the army together. As they face empty nests, Tootsie and her nephew step in and invite the women on a trip to small town, Scrap, Texas, to embrace memories of her late husband. Tootsie is still grieving, she can use the company as a balm for her broken heart. So can the empty nesters.
I enjoyed this story of female friendship that is more like chosen family and how they love, support and embrace each other as they deal with changes in their lives. Diana has divorced and is moving on in her life, Joanie is a happy military wife, but would love her husband to retire, and Carmen is reeling from receiving divorce papers after twenty years of marriage. Saying good-bye to their daughters as they head off to bootcamp has left them unsettled. While the four woman deal with the changes in their lives, they find the strength and hope to move forward and find the happiness they all deserve. I absolutely loved this story. This was an emotional story that had me in tears one minute and laughing the next. This is a story that deals with so many stages of life and love. It is a story of friendship, facing challenges, new beginnings and love. The characters were all realistic and relatable and I would love to meet up with them and celebrate life. A wonderful book that I recommend to those who enjoy contemporary women's fiction. The audiobook was narrated by Donna Postel. This is the first book I have listened to performed by this narrator of over 100 books. I enjoyed this book with the distinct voices, emotion and expression that added to the story. I will watch for more books narrated by this talented narrator.
I enjoyed this story of female friendship that is more like chosen family and how they love, support and embrace each other as they deal with changes in their lives. Diana has divorced and is moving on in her life, Joanie is a happy military wife, but would love her husband to retire, and Carmen is reeling from receiving divorce papers after twenty years of marriage. Saying good-bye to their daughters as they head off to bootcamp has left them unsettled. While the four woman deal with the changes in their lives, they find the strength and hope to move forward and find the happiness they all deserve. I absolutely loved this story. This was an emotional story that had me in tears one minute and laughing the next. This is a story that deals with so many stages of life and love. It is a story of friendship, facing challenges, new beginnings and love. The characters were all realistic and relatable and I would love to meet up with them and celebrate life. A wonderful book that I recommend to those who enjoy contemporary women's fiction. The audiobook was narrated by Donna Postel. This is the first book I have listened to performed by this narrator of over 100 books. I enjoyed this book with the distinct voices, emotion and expression that added to the story. I will watch for more books narrated by this talented narrator.
November 6, 2019
3 women in military marriages w/3 daughters entering the armed forces brings about lots of changes. Their older neighbor & friend takes them on a trip which becomes a journey not just of travel but also of self-discovery. A lot going on b/c it has 3 main characters & 2 supporting, each with their own story lines. I usually don’t read stories with this much going on but I like this writer so I went ahead.
A little long but pleasant characters that were easily relatable. (especially since I went to school w/a lot of kids from military families) A bit corny towards the end. But it had Brown’s typical Texas/Southern charm in the story.
When details emerge about Eli & Carmen’s relationship, I did gasp out loud. Man….that was something…..It definitely got my attention.
Talk about the writer adding drama to the story.
The surprise with Diana was obvious from the beginning.(serious foreshadowing)
A little long but pleasant characters that were easily relatable. (especially since I went to school w/a lot of kids from military families) A bit corny towards the end. But it had Brown’s typical Texas/Southern charm in the story.
When details emerge about Eli & Carmen’s relationship, I did gasp out loud. Man….that was something…..It definitely got my attention.
Talk about the writer adding drama to the story.
The surprise with Diana was obvious from the beginning.(serious foreshadowing)
August 27, 2019
Army wives
Diana, Carmen and Joanne are Army wives who have neighbors for years and their husbands serve together. When their three daughters decide to join the service and leave for basic training they are empty nesters. Carmen gets divorce papers the next day so they are all sad. Their neighbor Tootsie is a recent widow and is grieving her husband.
When the women are asked to go on a trip in the huge RV Tootsie just bought to go to Snap, Texas where her and her husband always went in the summer they couldn't say no. Her nephew ends up driving the women
Another great story about heartache, endurance and friendship by one of our great story tellers. Always good to the last page.
Diana, Carmen and Joanne are Army wives who have neighbors for years and their husbands serve together. When their three daughters decide to join the service and leave for basic training they are empty nesters. Carmen gets divorce papers the next day so they are all sad. Their neighbor Tootsie is a recent widow and is grieving her husband.
When the women are asked to go on a trip in the huge RV Tootsie just bought to go to Snap, Texas where her and her husband always went in the summer they couldn't say no. Her nephew ends up driving the women
Another great story about heartache, endurance and friendship by one of our great story tellers. Always good to the last page.
September 12, 2019
A book about eating
and some romance. I bet the author used a menu planner for every day described in great detail. A large proportion of the dialogue is also about food with a few traumas and some reminiscing thrown in before the next meal. The impression is very homely and it gives an interesting perspective of the lives of army families living in Texas. At one point I wasn't sure I could continue reading, nothing much happens and even when something significant does the banal conversation makes it feel less important than what's cooking for the next meal. It's a rather sweet story but very odd in its way. Don't read it on an empty stomach!
and some romance. I bet the author used a menu planner for every day described in great detail. A large proportion of the dialogue is also about food with a few traumas and some reminiscing thrown in before the next meal. The impression is very homely and it gives an interesting perspective of the lives of army families living in Texas. At one point I wasn't sure I could continue reading, nothing much happens and even when something significant does the banal conversation makes it feel less important than what's cooking for the next meal. It's a rather sweet story but very odd in its way. Don't read it on an empty stomach!
June 3, 2021
I thought this was a good book and enjoyed the friendships between the women and the nephew of the older woman. I want to live in their cul de sac and then remembered how lucky I am to have friends like these. We live in a cul de sac and love each other just like in this book. Highly recommend this book.
April 23, 2021
This is the first book that I have read by this author. I was looking for something light to read. The empty-nesters are 3 military wives and Tootsie, a neighbor who they think of as their mom. When the 3 girls of the 3 army wives join the military, the 4 women leave on an extended trip in Tootsie’s RV. Early in the book, I could relate to Tootsie and some of the age-related losses she had experienced. As the book progressed, it just seemed like a chick-lit drama that was a bit too over the top for me.
This book was free on Amazon. I rate it 3 stars.
This book was free on Amazon. I rate it 3 stars.
April 14, 2022
I only got to 11% and I dnf'ed this book. The amount of times that the characters said y'all is very annoying, maybe that's just me I'm from Canada and we don't say that. I prefer a book to not be written in "slang" 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
April 2, 2021
Tearful Tripe
If you like a sweet story of likable people with lots of talk about food and pajamas, you will love this. Never saw a bunch of women so easily moved to tears.
If you like a sweet story of likable people with lots of talk about food and pajamas, you will love this. Never saw a bunch of women so easily moved to tears.
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