The Purple Thistles

A bittersweet inheritance draws three women back to their Texas hometown in a heart-lifting novel about found family, friendship, and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown.

Kate, Elizabeth, and Gloria come from three vastly different backgrounds and were never friends in high school. But what they have in common counts: Ula, a beloved nanny to all of them, has left a shared inheritance that reunites them in Applewood, Texas, at a time when each woman feels alone.

Kate was part of Applewood's elite until bad decisions and a disappointing marriage left her disowned by her wealthy parents. Elizabeth fled her austere family for a new life in Kentucky, only to return under the shadow of a devastating secret. And Gloria, who grew up in poverty with an alcoholic mother, is struggling now with her own demons and divorce.

As they navigate painful pasts, heartbreak, unexpected romance, and the warm bonds of community, Kate, Elizabeth, and Gloria discover how much they need each other. And back in Applewood they can bloom again. Just as Ula hoped.

(c) 2026 by Carolyn Brown, all rights reserved.