And they lived happily ever after ...

STARRED REVIEW IN BOOKLIST: Daisy O’Dell, owner of the Honky Tonk beer joint, is well-liked in the community. Her skills as a veterinary tech are often put to use since no one else is qualified to take care of the pets and other animals owned by the good folks of Erath County , Texas . Tricked into a friendship with Chigger, the town’s “almost” prostitute, and pursued by handsome Jarod McElroy, Daisy finds her nice, predictable, orderly life thrown into a tailspin. How could she be good enough for Jarod, she asks herself. After all, what sort of man would be seriously interested in a bartender? Besides, she’s already escaped one abusive relationship. Jarod is only in town to help his elderly uncle with his ranch, and his list of tasks doesn’t include getting involved with a woman. Underlying themes of self-confidence and self-identity run throughout this sometimes humorous, sometimes touching story, and Brown’s fans will be pleased to reconnect with her trademark cast of quirky characters. Readers who enjoyed Pamela Morsi’s Red’s Hot Honky-Tonk Bar (2009) will also take to Brown’s latest.

MY BOOK ADDICTION AND MORE: I LOVE THIS BAR by Carolyn Brown is a delightful  Romance set in modern day rural Texas. It is well written with depth and detail. It has charm, character, humor, romance, sweet sensuality, and rural charm. The characters are charming, and witty. The hero is handsome, charming, hard working, cares for his family and friends. The heroine is charming, cute, gutsy, hard working and cares for her friends and family. When the two meet sparks fly although they don’t want them too.The secondary characters are just as charming and help carry the story along.  This is a delightful romantic story of love, caring for your family and neighbors. A must read. I would highly recommend this book especially if you enjoy romance, humor, rural charm and gutsy characters. This book was received for review and details can be found at Sourcebooks. Rated 5/5

THOUGHTS IN PROGRESS: I LOVE THIS BAR shows a great example of don’t judge a book or a person by what you first see.
Looking at this great book cover some readers might assume it’s all about bars, brawls, and cowboys. Well, there are plenty of sexy cowboys, a couple of minor brawls, and one great bar. What they might not get at first glance is the terrific story of friendship, family ties and true love mixed in with a big dose of laugh-out-loud, down-home humor.
Author Carolyn Brown has captured small town America and reminds readers what it’s like to know your neighbors and be there for each other when times get bad.
The story is about Daisy O’Dell, the owner and bartender of the Honky Tonk in a small Texas town. Daisy has sworn off men after she got away from her abusive ex-almost husband seven years earlier. She found herself at the Honky Tonk under the care of its owner, Ruby Lee. When Ruby died, she left the Honky Tonk to Daisy with a few rules Daisy doesn’t intend to break.
Meanwhile, Jarod McElroy comes to town to help his ailing uncle run his ranch during this final days. Jarod’s been burned three times when proposing so he’s not looking for anyone new.
When Daisy and Jarod literally collide at the Honky Tonk, sparks fly and fires ignite. Daisy reminds herself of Ruby’s rules and Jarod doesn’t want to get mixed up with a bartender from a beer joint. Trying to fight his attraction to Daisy, Jarod begins to learn there so much more to her than he first thought.
Throw in an eclectic group of Honky Tonk patrons - Chigger, a flamboyant hairdresser; the red-headed Walker triplets (Billy Bob, Jim Bob and Joe Bob), one of which constantly proposes to Daisy; and Merle Avery, Ruby’s best friend and pool playing queen of the Honky Tonk; and you’ve got a load of fun. Add in Jarod’s uncle, Emmett, with his mischief interfering and Tinker, the bouncer, and you’ll be longing to visit to the bar for a an evening of country music and a beer from a mason jar.
Author Carolyn Brown paints a wonderful landscape of the countryside with her descriptions. She creates characters you would swear you know or wish you did. She sprinkles in an array of country music songs of both old and new artists that will have you searching for a country music station to hum along with.
I will admit I put this book down with two chapters left and didn’t pick it up for several days. I knew the end was close. Problem was I didn’t want these characters to go away. I wanted to keep reading about them and all their crazy stunts and funny adventures. Ms. Brown had pulled me into Daisy and Jarod’s world and I wasn’t ready to leave.
Then I remembered I LOVE THIS BAR is the first book in the Honky Tonk series. So I finished reading the book and found a few surprises I wasn’t expecting.
Never judge on first sight, first impressions or first meetings. I LOVE THIS BAR shows there’s always more to uncover and you might just be amazed at what you find.

Daisy is a gorgeous, head strong, tell-it-like-it-is bartender of the Honky Tonk Beer Joint. Jarod is a handsome, tight jean wearin' loner back in town to help his 86 year old uncle

with his ranch. One night they literally collide in the bar and the rest, well, the rest is a saucy, toe-to-toe romance novel.

RED HEADED BOOK CHILD: I signed on to review this one a few months ago and also the next book in the series due out in August. So you will see a few more romance reviews from me this summer. I will probably still read some occasionally. I just won't be reviewing any more. I honestly can't resist a cover with a shirtless man.  Seriously. Where do the shirts go? Who knows? Who cares? It's apparently incredibly windy and shirts just fly off and that's okay with me. (nervous cough)  Where was I?

Okay, so I really had fun with this book. It was full of lusty daydreams, flirting adventures and sexy romps in the ol' hay. The Honky Tonk Beer Joint is a dive bar full of cranky old men, flirty women and lots of beer flowing. Daisy is wicked and funny and holds her own. Jarod is equally full of piss and vinegar and their relationship sets sparks flying.

I kept hearing Toby Keith's song, "I Love This Bar" as I read it. For this country gal, it was really easy to slip into this small town beer joint community. The author slips in many a country reference with familiar songs and artists.I recommend this one for fans of contemporary western romances. It had heart. It had sass. It had a lot of sparks and romance.  It had country music. What more can I say? Rating: 5 stars/ 6 stars

BOOK JUNKIE: I LOVE THIS BARby Carolyn Brownis such a mix of emotions, funny, witty, heartfelt and sexy, sure to take any reader on an roller coaster. This is the story of Daisy who now owns the honky tonk bar she has worked at the last seven years. Pure sass and heart, a lady who knows her mind, not to mention one with a sharp tongue and a shotgun. And she damn well knows how to use it. Then comes along Jared, he has left his life in Oklahoma to help his Uncle Emmet with his ranch. Emmet lost his wife some time ago and also is losing his mind some. He is getting old and a little senile to boot, which is driving Jared insane. He has some to help the old coot and Uncle Emmet has surely turned into a mean old man. But what is endearing about Jared is that he has a heart of gold and will do anything to make sure his unlce's ranch doesn't fall apart. Now Daisy actually falls on Jared right in the bar, well more like he is on top of her. Although an accident Daisy and Jared couldn't be more in love. A love at first sight. Thing is as much as Jared gets to know Daisy she is a hard woman to capture. She is over cowboys and Jared is just that.... at least until she gets to know him. Then all bets are off!A seriously fun story, Daisy is so sassy and on fire that I couldn't decided if I loved her tenacity or wanted to shake some sense into the girl. And then Jared, he knew what he wanted... Daisy, and he wont going to give up on her no matter how much push back he got from her. A great start to what is sure to be a sizzling series!!!!

MINDING SPOT: Daisy O'Dell is the owner and barmaid of the Honky Tonk.  She loves her job, her bar, but she sure gets lonely at night.  Ruby, the previous owner, always told Daisy not to take men into the back apartment, and Daisy hasn't yet.  But, after slipping and falling on the sexiest cowboy she's ever seen, she might have to change her mind.
Jarod McElroy can't take his eyes off the pretty barmaid, but he knows it won't go any further.  She's a barmaid and he doesn't mess with barmaids.  Besides, his stay is only temporary.  He is helping out his Uncle Emmett, who has alzheimer's and has no time for the little brunette.  He's already had three fiances`, and he isn't looking for a fourth.
When Emmett takes a cotton to the idea of Jarod and Daisy being married, Daisy moves in to pretend and play house.  She's always liked Emmett and wants his last days to be peaceful.  But the sparks can't be denied between her and Jarod and the passion and sass sizzles.  Jarod wants Daisy but he has to leave soon, go back to run his own ranch.  Daisy may have to choose between her Honky Tonk and her heart.
I Love This Bar is the first in Ms. Brown's new Honky Tonk series and wowee it is a winner! Hot cowboys, sassy women, country music, and good ole fashioned loving will keep you thoroughly entertained and wanting a cowboy of your own.  I'm looking forward to the next in the series, Hell, Yeah!.  Ms. Brown's romances just tingle my toes and make me smile. 

THIS BOOK FOR FREE: I was 9 years old when I started reading about cowboys. I particularly like Diana Palmer’s Long, Tall Texan series and Joan Johnston’s Hawks Way series. I just love cowboys. When I was offered a chance to immersed myself in Honky Tonk set almost right at my backyard, I cannot resist.This time, there’s Daisy O’Dell who’s perfectly happy to manage a bar she inherited from her friend, Ruby. She has her regulars, and her juke box. She takes care of animals in her time off. She’s sort of the anointed local vet.One night, she literally run into Jarod McElroy, a guy from Oklahoma who only went to Texas to help his old and sick uncle, and changed the course of her life. Jarod’s uncle Emmett is an adorable curmudgeon of a man. He’s practically a teddy bear with a bark and bite. He deserves special mention because I really like him. This is a fun book to read. I highly recommend it. Carolyn Brown excels at giving you a close look at the locales,  you can almost taste the dust on your tongue.

SUCH A LUSH: I can't say I've ever read a Western Romance before but I highly enjoyed I love This Bar! It's the first installment of Brown's Honky Tonk series and it features Daisy O'Dell who is the owner of the bar named - wait for it - Honky Tonk! All is good and dandy until she literally falls on a really cute guy named Jarod. It's attraction at first sight but Jarod's being burned by women before and he's more than cautious about Daisy. And well, Daisy's all about her bar, really. Neither one of them can refuse their attraction to each other though and before you know, things are gettin' hot and heavy.
There's a lot of country songs references and I'll be the first to say that they totally went over my head! I don't listen to country but I still had no problem enjoying the story. I did think that Daisy was a bit rabid about her bar. Yes, I know that it's the only thing she's got left and after being hurt by a man before, she takes refuge in it but it seems like this beer joint was her whole life and at times I wondered if she had to choose between the bar and Jarod, which one would it be? Jarod kind of annoyed me at first. Like I said before, he's being burned by women and he immediately judges Daisy to be an immoral hussy because she owes a bar! Seriously. However, I'm happy to report that all misconceptions are easily remedied and I had a really good time reading about Daisy and Jarod getting to know each other.
I Love This Bar is a super fun read about love, hot cowboys and warm summer nights drinking beer. I'm highly looking forward to the next installment in this series!

THE ROMANCE DISH: Leaving a bad relationship behind in Arkansas , former veterinarian technician, Daisy O’Dell now owns the Honky Tonk beer joint in tiny Mingus , Texas . When she’s not tending bar, she’s caring for the animals of the area, both large and small, even though she keeps telling people she’s not really a vet. There’s just no time in her life for a man, even if she was interested…which she’s not…until the night Jarod McElroy walks into the bar.
He could have played the resident bad boy in an old movie: maybe James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause. She remembered watching the movie with her grandmother back before Granny died. From that day forward, Daisy O’Dell had been attracted to bad boys, and that had been her downfall.
A successful rancher in his own right, Jarod is in town to help his ailing uncle on his ranch but his uncle, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s and getting worse by the day, isn’t making it easy on him. Escaping into town for an evening of beer and music, he’s stunned to find himself bowled over, literally, by a sexy, sassy woman who has all his fires burning…until he discovers she’s the bartender. Seems he doesn’t think much of women bartenders (could have something to do with one of those three ex-fiances who left him in their dust) but that doesn’t stop him from wanting her something fierce. Both Jarod and Daisy try to fight the attraction, for their own reasons. But, then Jarod’s uncle gets it into his head that Jarod and Daisy are married and nothing will pacify him except for Daisy to move to the ranch and be a “proper” wife. That’s when the fun really begins!
The first book in Brown’s new contemporary Honky Tonk trilogy, I Love This Bar is an entertaining story with a distinct “country” feel. The characters are colorful and the language is “salty”, with plenty of country sayings, curse words and stereotypical poor grammar sprinkled throughout. I admit that the poor grammar is a pet peeve of mine that distracted me from the story. I probably would have enjoyed the book more had it not been so pervasive.  It also took me longer than usual to warm up to the hero, primarily because of his condescending attitude toward the heroine's profession. (He does come around in the end.)
This is the first book that I’ve read by Brown and, while there are other contemporary westerns I've liked better, I enjoyed this one enough to give the next book in the trilogy a try.  That book, Hell, Yeah, will be released August 3rd.

MY OVERSTUFFED BOOKCASE: What do you get when you have an independent woman who works in a bar, a sexy hero who likes to get what he wants, and an author who has some amazing writing skills?  You get I Love This Bar by Carolyn Brown.  Who doesn't love a rugged cowboy in tight booty fitting jeans with a smart mouth and strong will to go with it? I loved the authors story so much, that I had to reread a few parts just to get the ultimate thrill of the scene again.
Then the author takes it a step further and creates memorable side characters that kept me laughing and turning the pages even faster to see what was next!  She has done a wonderful job of kicking up a sexy new series that will leave you boot scootin' to the store to get your hands on it!

THE CAJUN BOOK LADY: I love this book! I adore a good cowboy romance and this was a good one! It had me laughing and crying...I went through a whole range of emotions.
I completely fell in love with these characters. They were a great "down home" bunch and I must say that I thought Chigger was great. She made me laugh out loud everytime her character came up.
If you enjoy a good country romance then this is one to check out. I am really looking forward to the next one in this series Hell, Yeah....I think it's going to be good!
And is that cover hot or what!?

 http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-i-love-this-bar-by-carolyn-brown/

LOVE ROMANCE PASSION: I Love This Bar is the first installment of Brown’s new Honky Tonk series. This novel includes, but is not limited to: ladies with sex on the brain, hardworking cowboys who know all about dancin’ and romancin’, an old boy that’ll outwit any youngin’, and one jean wearin’, pool playin’ old gal! Guaranteed to leave you countrified and satisfied!Because this story basis itself around a honky tonk bar, you’re going to run into numerous country song references. Which explains why my review is split into two parts. Part I will have song references and Part II has my more traditional type review.Ready? Let’s see your ID, all right in you go! Throw the car keys as far as you can throw `em and grab a long neck! Uh…oh-kay, you can grab that cowboy’s long neck if you’d like, but I was referring to beer. (I’m off to fire up the jukebox.)

Part I: Song Review: I Love This Bar is a beautiful story of 1. Loss 2. Love and 3. Fate. Kick up those cowboy boots, here’s the song list:

1. Dig Two Graves sung by Randy Travis
2. Last Day Of My Life by Phil Vassar
3. She Said Yes by Chad Brock

Part II: Conventional Review: If you’re familiar with Brown’s Lucky Trilogy, I Love This Bar still has the author’s staple of silly sayings, like cow chips for brains and cuss words… to scorch the hair out of Lucifer’s ears. By contrast, this series has pumped up the fun, but will still give you that warm tingly feeling you’d expect from her happily-ever-after romances.

Daisy O’Dell is disenchanted after an abusive relationship, but she’s vowed to protect her heart from all men. In any event, she’s better prepared now, anyway. Daisy, heroine, runs the Honky Tonk Bar, is a vet tech, and has what all strong heroines should have. A shotgun at the ready and smart retorts that’ll make a man’s head spin faster than a weather vane in the middle of tornado alley. That’s right; she makes them toe-the-line!

Jarod McElroy, hero, just left his ranch in Oklahoma to help his uncle Emmett during his last days. Helping Emmett run his Texas ranch is driving Jarod plumb mad! That old goat is sure stuck in his ways. Jarod’s unlucky in love; his three failed engagements are nothing to boast about. When McElroy visits the Honky Tonk, this sexy dark-haired cowboy will find himself tripping all over Daisy.

Will Jarod get past her shotgun and win her heart?

My favorite scene: When Jarod shampoos Daisy’s hair. Yee-haw!

Want more? Hell, Yeah is the title of book two which releases in August of 2010. Still want more? Me too! Book three’s due out in October, titled My Give a Damn's Busted; while the fourth installment releases in November 2010, named Honky Tonk Christmas.

LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS: She doesn’t need anything but her bar…Daisy O’Dell has her hands full with hotheads and thirsty ranchers until the day one damn fine cowboy walks in and throws her whole life into turmoil…

He’s looking for a cold drink and a moment’s peace…Instead he finds one red hot woman. She’s just what he needs, if only he can convince her to come out from behind that bar, and come home with him. Act fast before the something good in your hands slips right through your fingers. But be careful, if you don’t act at all, you’ll always regret it.Or at least read I Love This Bar. You’ll be glad you did.
I have to admit from the start that I love the books of Carolyn Brown. Her characters pop from the pages and make you feel like you’re right there with them. Her scenes are rich with detail as well. The stories are memorable and when you’re done, you feel like you’re losing close friends.
I Love This Bar is one of her best works.
Daisy is a heroine for the modern woman. She’s fiercely independent and in a way afraid that if she’s with a man, she’ll lose her individuality. But, Ms. Brown writes her in such a fashion that you don’t feel sorry for her. In fact, you want to see her get past the ghosts in her closet (so to speak), and find what makes her happy, besides the bar. She came across a little terse at times, but it helped endear her to me.
Jarod is a complex hero. He wants Daisy from the moment he spots her and is determined to get his way. But he goes about it in such a methodical way that you can’t help but love him. Plus, he’s sexy, which makes it easier to fall under his spell.
The supporting characters in this story add to complexity and humor of the tale. Emmett is full of beans and bluster, but he’s a good guy at heart. Who doesn’t know that one older person who insists on sticking his or her nose in all the time? I think he was my favorite character.
If you want a book to stick with you long after the last page, then you need to read I Love This Bar. I can’t wait for the next story in the series.

ROMANCE STUDIO: Daisy O'Dell is the owner of the Honky Tonk saloon and she's proud to be a barmaid. She loves her job and her quirky customers and plans to only stop serving beer from a mason jar when her old, dead body is removed feet first. Jarod McElroy has moved in with his elderly Uncle Emmett to help him run his ranch and he is definitely not looking for any romantic entanglements. He only stopped in for a cold beer but ends up on the hardwood floor sprawled atop the feisty brunette. The older man gets it into his mind that Daisy would make a great rancher's wife and he tries to convince the younger couple. Can an ornery old man bring together two headstrong lovers? I love this book! It is an amusing romance full of unpretentious rural charm. Have I mentioned how much I adore cowboys. Any cowboy who can tell you that you are the prettiest pile of crap he's ever seen and make your heart skip a beat is definitely a keeper. Daisy is a strong heroine which is good because Jarod is an even stronger hero. Not one of the bar patrons doesn't make a long-lasting, memorable impression. Common, everyday characters easy to relate to funny down home approach to romance. This rollicking romance had so many fantastic characters including three sexy redheaded ranchers. Toby Keith's song is a wonderful idea for a romance. This book brings with it a feeling similar to riding down dirt roads, windows down and singing along with your favorite songs. I was so sad to find myself on the last page and I cannot wait for the next novel in the series. This is definitely a keeper and I know I'll find myself rereading it and chuckling out loud once again.

THE LUCKY SERIES