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Bitter and Sweet: A Lowcountry Novel


Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
29
Narrator
16
Release Date
June 11, 2024
Duration
12 hours 9 minutes
Summary
'. . . a poignant story of sisterhood, motherhood, and new love found in old places. McKnight's writing is as delectable as the Gullah cuisine at the heart of the novel.' --Denny S. Bryce, bestselling author of The Other Princess and Wild Women and the Blues

From the beloved author of The Thing About Home comes a dual timeline tale of Lowcountry flavor, family, grief, secrets, and the sweet redemption that lies within the bonds of sisterhood.

-The Present-

When summoned to Georgetown, South Carolina, sisters Mariah Clark and Sabrina Holland both assume their ailing grandfather's health has gotten worse. Neither expects their grandmother's undeniable request--save the family restaurant.

Mariah is at a crossroad in her life. After being dumped by her husband and forced to walk away from their diner that she helped rescue from bankruptcy, bitter feelings consume her. Even though the restaurant has been in the family for eighty-six years, giving her all to another struggling business isn't something she wants to do.

Living out of her van and striving for a fresh start, Sabrina yearns for stability for herself and her daughter and a chance to turn her baking hustle into a bona-fide business. The family restaurant may be just the blessing she needs--but as old tensions and angry disagreements resurface, Sabrina wonders if her sister will let her have a say.

-The Past-

After falling victim to a love she thought would last a lifetime, Tabitha Cooper finds herself away from home and struggling to survive in Charleston in the early twentieth century. She is determined to turn corn into cornbread and to take care of her children the best way she knows how--by serving food that's good for the soul--and along the way forges a path that leaves a legacy of success for generations to come.

Through letters that reveal Tabitha's complicated past, the sisters discover truths that just might be the right recipe to mend their hearts--if they can find a way to savor the blessing of today and leave the bitter aftertaste of old memories behind them.
Reviews
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Roxanne D.

Very good read

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Latoya L.

This is my last book of 2024, and it ended with a bang. This story gave me all the feels. Tabitha story gave way for Mariah and Sabrina. Like many Black families, the women are the matriarch and backbone of their families. They are the way makers, the ones who push through all the adversities and provide for their families despite the world telling them they can't and won't. I smiled throughout this story, especially after every battle defeated. I loved how the author went back and forth between their great-grandmother's past and their present. How their love for their Geechie Culture, cooking, and helping others. They had similarities just like we all would in our Genealogy Tree. Another plus is the author introducing therapy and showing that it's okay in our culture and how the elderly is more open to it than we think. You can pray to God and have a therapist! The way this family moved and developed generational wealth is everything. We are Strengthen when we are healed! The author also highlighted love, naivety, hope, forgiveness, therapy, preserverance, and post-partum depression. and so much more. #Book19of2024 #BookWorm #Whatsnext

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Michelle D.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept my attention the entire time and was a great story about perseverance and forgiveness. The narrators were also great!

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Robin J.

Excellentread. I live in Charleston, South Carolina so making connections to the historical context, you referenced with your grandmother, and the modern day landscape of Charleston and Georgetown, SC was quite a journey through her compelling time travel storytelling.

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Lyn

Great insight.

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Anonymous

I really enjoyed this story. A combination of contemporary and past timelines full of interesting and likeable characters. Very god-y but that was important for the characters. Would recommend.

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HeatherNeff

I loooooved this book so much.

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Brittnbloom

Amazing story! I have read Rhonda McKnight books before, but this one is a new favorite. The characters felt so real and relatable. And I loved the way everyone reached resolutions for their problems. Using the great grandmothers story to connect the women was also so great. I love stories with multiple settings. I’m going to read everything else from Rhonda McKnight now.

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Anonymous

Good story. Engaging. Relatable characters. Satisfying ending. "Christian Women's Fiction".Excellent narration.

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Phyllis R.

Bitter and Sweet is a story chock-full of southern culture, coastal nuances, and the rigor of relationships. This dual-time novel brings a lot to the table to be sorted out and laid to rest. It embraces the wisdom of the matriarch, sisters in conflict, loss of love and trust and the resilience we have when we hold to faith and family. It is Christian women’s fiction, with southern flair, at its best. I have to say that this story in audiobook is stellar. So, if you enjoy this format, this is a book that you will want to listen to. The use of multiple narrators created distinguishable characters and lent clarity to the dual-time frames and multiple POVs. This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.

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