Mary Bowden Carroll left Otsego County, New York, for San José, Santa Clara County, in 1892. Ten years in Paradise (1903) is less a personal memoir than a piece of promotional literature for her adopted home: summary of Santa Clara's social history, descriptions of local towns, tributes to the valley's commerce and industry, and attractions for the home seeker. A substantial portion of the book consists of brief descriptions of local clubs and societies with lists of their membership rolls.