As the saying goes don't judge a book by it's cover. The title didn't sound good but I trusted the author. A very slow start but 15 to 20 minutes in you're hooked. Very good read. Something that could be true in a small town. Really enjoyed how different the sisters were and find it believable. Love reading this author.

*** I received a copy of this book in exchange via NetGalley for an honest review ***
I adored this book! I love the 3 spinster sisters, Connie, Betsy, and Kate. Although the younger character, Ginger is the main character, I think the elderly sisters steel the show with their crazy antics and beliefs. They literally had me laughing outlaid while I was reading. My favorite line was a prayer that one of them said before dinner asking for God to hospitalize their sworn enemy so a colonoscopy could be performed and the corncob pulled from her butt! So funny! Very Golden Girl-esque. Of course, this is Carolyn Brown, so there is a romance budding between Ginger and the neighbor boy. This is a book about finding home, friendship, love, family, and healing. It is a nice, light, and happy-ever-after story! I highly recommend, one of my favorite that I've read so far this year.

Ginger, a pregnant homeless teenager. Three elderly eccentric spinsters – Kate, Connie, Betsy – living together in the family home, a former brothel. Sloan, their handsome, single but troubled neighbor / friend / handyman. Rooster, Texas, a town of 95 inhabitants, with all the scandals and frictions of a much larger town.

Doesn’t sound like a fun story, but it is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in a long time. I kept finding myself smiling at the antics of the sisters and their friends. The interaction among the sisters and of each sister with Ginger was engaging and true to life. And, then there’s Sloan – PTSD, guilt, loneliness. His ability to overcome his challenges as he faces his past is authentic and gratifying. Proof positive that a family does not necessarily have to be related by blood.

I would recommend this book to any anyone looking for a good read. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. The opinion is my own – read this book so you can smile too!

Another charming novel with quirky characters and a sweet tale of friendship and love. With her characteristic wit, offbeat dialogue, and picturesque small-town setting, Carolyn Brown reminds us that family isn't always a blood-relation but can be found among those we choose. It's a sweet and languid tale that will leave you laughing, wiping away a tear, and sighing in satisfaction at the very last page.

The Banty House was a great read, I could not put this book down and read it in 2 days. The love that was shared between the sisters was so heart warming. Also the love they shared with a total stranger and her unborn baby. They all had their share of heartaches in their lives, from their pasts to the current day, but they overcame them and saw the good in others. The sisters were full of life and mischief but do not cross them or any one in their inner circle or there would be consequences. I really enjoyed the Banty House.

Take 1 old brothel, 3 elderly sisters, 1 retired solider, and 1 pregnant woman and what do you get? Banty House!
Banty House is a sweet story filled with love, laughter, and healing. The characters are easy to fall in love with and the sisters will have you laughing out loud. If you love a good romance or just need a break from suspense books, you should check this out.
It has been a while since I read a book by Carolyn Brown and I can honestly say that she has not lost her touch.
Thank you Carolyn Brown, #Netgalley and # Montlake for the ARC.

Ginger lucked out the day that she sat down on a bench in Rooster, TX. The amount of love that is showed to her in the weeks that follows made me tear up. Sloan is so wonderful, I just love how he steps up and helps so many, not just Ginger.

I adore this book. The characters are deep and rich and so real! I felt like I was right there in Rooster, Tx and never wanted to leave. I was rooting for Ginger from the get go. Betsy is a hoot but then so are all of the sisters. Sloan is real and wounded and so worthy. You will not regret picking up this book by one of my favorite authors!!

What a wonderful and heartwarming story of three elderly women, a young pregnant teen and a soldier suffering from PTSD! Ginger is pregnant and trying to get to the Pacific Ocean with her unborn child. She runs out of funds in the little Texas town of Rooster. There she is invited to stay with Kate, Betsy and Connie Carson at their homestead, the Banty House, for as long as she needs to stay. She is given chores to do and earns money doing them. Kate, Betsy and Connie are more than generous paying her, just as they are generous with their handyman and neighbor, Sloan Baker. Sloan shows up daily to help out doing whatever the sisters cannot do, like take care of the cornfield or clean the car weekly. Kate uses the corn to make her own moonshine in the basement. Betsy grows and smokes her own weed. Connie dusts everything in sight, so the house is sparkling clean. Into this home comes Ginger, a frightened and displaced pregnant teen. All of the characters have a history to share, and it is their sharing of their history that I was engaged and enthralled by the story. The eccentric Carson sisters are unbelievably unique but still believable. Sloan and Ginger are dealing with demons from their pasts and depending on the sisters and each other to come out on the other side. I really enjoyed learning about these characters and would look forward to seeing them again in another book. They were amusing and they taught a lesson about how each of us should treat others.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Once again, Carolyn Brown does not disappoint in delivering a fast, feel-good read this is for you. The sisters were a trip and, in my opinion, the best characters in the book. Light-hearted and fun, this is a great book to add to your TBR list.

Thank you #netgalley and #montlakeromance for the eARC.

It’s a feel good book about three older sisters living together in Texas. I love the banter between the elderly sisters! They have such big hearts and such unique personalities that really came across well in the writing. Each one had a personal history they shared that tugged at your heart. Their house, the Banty House, has quite a fun yet scandalous history. The little old ladies still follow their momma’s rules from decades ago and their bonds are impenetrable. They opened up their homes and hearts to a young pregnant girl, Ginger. Sloan, their friend’s grandson, and Ginger have a slow building, sweet, clean romance. They all live, laugh, cry and just enjoy life. Those women definitely had some antics they got into. I’d like to know what potion these women were drinking because their age never seemed to deter them. It was a quick, enjoyable easy read. I love the small town stories. Thank you to Montlake & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest opinion.

THE BANTY HOUSE by Carolyn Brown is a sweet story about making a family of the heart. Carolyn Brown is a master storyteller, she really creates the best characters. Five 🌟read for me!

This is a heartwarming story about family, loss, tragedy and love. Carolyn Brown pulls the reader in and makes them feel as though the are sitting alongside the Carson sisters, rocking on the porch, sipping moonshine or taking in a walk along the lane with Ginger. She pulls at your heart with Sloan's struggles, his PTSD and his pure love for the Carson sisters and Ginger. And then there is Ginger, a young girl failed by the system and everyone she encountered in her short life stumbles upon Kate, Connie and Betsy, and her life will never be the same. Ms. Brown also engages the reader with the history of Rooster, the failings of a community to see the good in Banty House and the damage gossip can do while bringing all the feels and making the reader fall in love with small town life and the characters who live there.

I received an advanced copy of the book.

I loved this title. The sisters are just too much! It is the epitome of a great Southern read, even if it takes place in West Texas. Ginger and Sloan were both so real and although the sisters were a bit larger than life, it was beautiful to see siblings supporting one another. This was a quick and easy read with lots of laughs. I can't wait until my Carolyn Brown fans read it!

Another heartwarming WINNER
Ms. Brown pens a heartwarming tale of injured souls overcoming undeserved burdens.
Her masterful storytelling brings the characters to life.
Kate Carson overcomes a horrid start in life and making the mistake of trusting a man, undeserving of the trust. He was so nasty, his death was a relief.... and she got far away as fast as she could to protect her unborn child, eventually hitching, she was so desperate to put as much distance as possible.
Sloan Baker fought the demons brought on by war, the only survivor in his elite bomb squad group. The nightmares were frequent and horrifying.
The elderly Carson sisters lived with the judgment of some of their neighbors for years, good enough for their money, but denigrated for things beyond their control by some.
The sisters were raised by their mother to be good Christians and lived that way with a few foibles, that made them interesting.
The humor, romance and family-not-by-blood, but by love makes this book a must read for those who love a good romance. I would love to have a few characters like this in my life, I couldn't wait to see what happened next, but was so bummed when I finished it, I wanted to stay there.
I was fortunate enough to get a NetGalley ARC and plan to buy at least 2 copies as presents for friends that will go crazy for it. I predict this will hit the top of the charts.

Three old maid sisters with little secrets and quirks, a homeless pregnant teenager and a retired military bomb specialist with PTSD make for a fun and interesting visit to Rooster,Texas. Mrs. Brown's descriptions of the town and all her characters put you right there as the proverbial, "fly on the wall". These sisters are more fun than the Golden Girls! The characters and conversations are very realistic and typical of our Southern small town talk. It will make you laugh and cry and laugh so hard you will cry. Just read it and enjoy!
I received this book as a complimentary copy for an unbiased review.The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks to the author,publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Yikes, these women don't mess around when it comes to their hair.

Aw, that's a nice tradition, and a good way to honor their mom.

Poor Lucas.

Survivors' guilt must be the worst.

Breakfast of champions. But he lives next to a graveyard?

Ha, nice history, Banty House!

We have an ocean on this side, too.

Okay, I am glad Lucas is dead now.

Just call their mama Dolly Parton.

Whoa, these ladies sure have bad habits!

What's Kate's secret?

Siblings are good to have.

Why couldn't she take the pictures with her?

Thank God for hangovers.

Where are they getting the paychecks from?

Connie's a good daughter.

Who knew old people could catfight?

Twat doctor.

People are crazy, as Billy Currington sang.

Aw, there's a god friendship story for sure. I can't stand girls like that.

Moonshine's bad, but wacky tobaccy is good?

Sarah McLachlan makes you cry anywhere.

Poor thing never went shopping before.

Uh, where's the oil field?

Ah jeez, I hope it's Braxton-Hicks.

Haha, kissing in the church parking lot, how scandalous! Hope Edith doesn't see.

Biology is a funny thing.

Glad to know 2040 will be the same as now.

This is a heartwarming story about friends who become like family. Ginger is a broke, pregnant unmarried teenager when she lands in Rooster, Texas, and is invited to stay with three older sisters in their large home. They become like the aunts she never had. This is a book for anyone who likes a feel good book with a happy ending. I had a hard time putting it down. I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Montclair Romance. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another must read for any Carolyn Brown fan and and anyone who wants to enjoy a cute, hilarious, sensitive book. I didn’t want to put the book down. Highly recommended.

I love the old 30’s style feel of this book. The way the two different generations interact has a very smooth close feel. The three sisters follow the rules set forth by their mother to help others down on their luck. They take in a much younger pregnant girl who has no family and never knew what family was all about, and make her one of their own. They do all they can to help her through times when she has no money or a place to live and all four grow close like a family. Add in the male character who has significant PTSD and depression and you have a list of characters that form a very united family. The story goes through all the different struggles for each age group and how each one generation helps the other handle their problems. You feel as if you are right there In Rooster Texas as you read the book .I love how the writer shows the love of the two younger characters without writing sex scenes that usually just fills in the pages of other books. She also lets you feel the love and affection each character has for the other despite age differences If you want to travel in your chair to different places and times this is the story to read. #TheBantyHouse #NetGalley