A wonderful historical romance that will take you on an adventure as you step back in time and immerse yourself in the past.

Ground Sweet as Sugar was an overall interesting read. Set in the backdrop of revolt in the 17th century, the book is perfect for the fans of Historical Fiction. I entered this book with my expectations sky-high because of this being a Historical Fiction. The premise was pretty interesting and it drew me in pretty fast. it reminded me of the phrase ‘draw me in like one of your French gals.’

The lead is pretty strong and articulately penned. She was likeable and is penned in such a way that it is very easy to be emotionally invested in her story. The writing style of the author is vivid and engaging and the narrative and diction was absolutely phenomenal. I adored the characters and the way they were introduced.

I will definitely be recommending this book to all the historical fiction fanatics.

I thought this was a really good book and it had great detail to it and had everything meshing the correct way in my opinon. I was able to read this book from the very beginning to the very end when I receieved it. I thought that both the character built up and the story line was so well done and everthing came together very nicely in my opinion. I receieved this book for free thru an Advanced Review Copy, ARC, with an honest review freely given.

I absolutely loved this book. The strong characters and the lives they lived. I was completely drawn in.

This historical romance, which was offered to me as RC by NetGalley, the publisher, and Catherine Heywood, the author, and in return, I was asked to write an honest review. This novel surprised, me, I'm generally not a fan of romance novels, yet I enjoy this book, I thought the writing was good and the characters well fleshed out, plus most importantly, I enjoyed the history.. The book took place between the Catholics and Protestants. during the conflict that took place in Ireland.
The protagonist Charlotte, who was gently raised and educated, was arrested for taking the lfe of a son from a well do family. Charlotte was arrested for the murder that was commited by her father,and the reason was disclosed later in the novel. A guardian angel helped Charlotte to trade her death sentence for seven years of indentured servitude. This was where she encountered James Blair who she was bonded for the next seven years. Blair discovered that Charlotte was not what she described herself and this was where it became interesting.
This novel is the first of a series, As a result, I gave the the novel a four out a five rating.

Are you ready to embark on a grand adventure?

Be transported between Ireland on the brink of rebellion and the sugarcane fields of St. Croix, an island in the West Indies. It’s the early nineteenth century, and Charlotte Dillon, a seventeen-year-old girl, is about to be executed.

Steamy romance develops languorously between James Blair, a sugar planter, and Charlotte who manages to escape, only to become his indentured servant for seven years.

Tensions arise, and mystery unfolds in Ireland, threatening the possibility of a happily ever after, an ocean away, in St. Croix between two people whose differences are not so easily forgotten unlike their clothes on those humid tropical nights.

This special collectors edition of the Ground Sweet as Sugar: The Complete Story by
Catherine C. Heywood includes Ground Sweet as Sugar, its sequel Vice and Virtue, a novella featuring an alternate ending, and extensive author’s notes if you enjoy knowing more about the development of the story and further historical research.

In an epic, sweeping narrative @catherinec.heywood has given readers who enjoy historical fiction romance, a delightful tale that is both adventurous and titillating. The best part is that you don’t have to wait to find out what happens next! That alternate ending, my preferred ending, introduces a whole new sequence of events that will satiate those who are not ready to say goodbye.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is an amazing must read historical romance! This story is full of ups and downs with a storyline that draws you in and doesn’t let you go. You get so invested on trying to figure out what will happen next and you will never won’t this story to end.

Reading this sweeping saga for a second time, I am reminded just how rich a story this is. Catherine Heywood puts together Ground Sweet As Sugar and The Virtues of Vice in one huge volume for the first time with the added bonus of an alternate ending for James Blair and Charlotte Dillon. Their love story is nothing short of exceptional albeit at times very trying and discouraging. But the way Heywood beautifully combines what has and is transpiring in Ireland against the wayward journey Charlotte embarks upon in the West Indies is brilliant. I loved being reminded just how remarkable a storyteller she is, the enthusiasm for the defiant Charlotte and the principled James bursting from deep inside me with each turn of the page.

This is a historical romance that is truly a must-read. I learned so much about the rebellions in Ireland and the way the West Indies were handled by those seeking more and perhaps a better life outside of the strife they left behind. Add to that the exceptional characters and getting to know them intimately and I was hooked from the start.

The love affair between James and Charlotte is full of fire and the passion they know for one another is nothing either ever expected or had experienced before. What they endure to even think of having happiness they can only dream of is beyond extraordinary. The stops and starts. The miscommunication. The lies. The barest of truths. Oh, it's all there for the taking and can be quite jarring and heartbreaking. But it could also be beautiful and touching as this planter and his bondwoman are clearly a perfect fit for one another despite their many failings.

Heywood flawlessly guides us through every bump in the road, surrounding this story with the sights and sounds of the sea, of St. Croix, and even a bit of Ireland, and my senses were happily overloaded. This is a lengthy book but with such gorgeous prose, and in spite of the fact that I thought I would merely skim most of it since this was my 2nd time around, I found myself devouring every word once again not wanting to miss a thing.

This is an epic journey that I can't recommend highly enough. And although I'm happy to have read the alternate ending only available in this volume, I still adore the original conclusion a bit better. But it's always interesting to experience a 'what if' kind of scenario the author wants to share, too. You will get lost in a world that is lush and full of the feels that I know I can't resist. You won't be able to either.

5 huge stars!

I was effortlessly transported back to the land of my birth and childhood in Catherine Heywood’s epic coming-of-age saga, Ground Sweet As Sugar: The Complete Story. Set against a backdrop of countries in revolt, the worlds of 17-year-old Catholic, Charlotte Dillon, and a Protestant sugar planter, James Blair, clash on an 18th-century sugarcane plantation in the Caribbean.

Spanning five years and set in Dublin, Ireland, St. Croix, West Indies, and Montmartre, France, this unforgettable historical fiction novel explores Charlotte’s journey from death row to Seven Stars, a sugarcane plantation, and onwards to ‘freedom.’ James Blair doesn’t use slaves to work his cane, instead, he indentures convicts from Ireland’s jails. Charlotte has been plucked from her dire situation holding a secret. Her true identity is hidden from the man who now owns her – a man with ties to her enemies and her heart. You’ll read about Charlotte’s journey and discover that to some she’s a pawn and to others, she’s most precious.

This character-driven tale features a dynamic protagonist who drives the story. I didn’t have to flip too many pages to know that what Charlotte wants more than anything and what she fears more than anything. I love how the author set this up because I could sit back and watch how those wants and fears then built tension and propelled the story. Each character is a passenger on a journey and is introduced in a compelling way so that readers are invested in their growth. Charlotte is a victim of good intentions in a bad situation, and this adds a third dimension to her character. She continually makes questionable choices and this, with her flaws, makes her authentic. I think Charlotte is one of my favourite historical fiction characters ever!

Tension is created two ways in this novel. Firstly, in order to save her life, Charlotte needs to keep a secret, but she struggles with holding her tongue. Secondly, who Charlotte is and who she believes herself to be, are two different people. The author masterfully uses these two opportunities to ramp up the nail-biting conflict. I appreciated how Heywood didn’t reveal Charlotte's backstory all at once because the anticipation of it propelled me to keep reading. The diction was phenomenal! Heywood included everything from Irish slang to Caribbean creole and even a character who begins in Creole English and then slips into French when she gets angry!

My only complaint is that I felt uncomfortable with the language and intimacy level. I knew the setting and circumstances going into this saga, so any unease felt was my own doing. If open door romance doesn’t bother you, this is a fantastic and compelling read.

This saga of power, punishment and undying love is worthy of your investment. As I turned over page 1029, I couldn’t believe it was over. It truly is a worthy read. It’s like getting up from the table after Christmas dinner – full but completely satisfied. This collector’s edition includes ‘Ground Sweet as Sugar’, ‘The Virtues of Vice’, ‘Into the Complete Unknown’ (an alternate ending) and Heywood’s extensive research notes.

Publishes September 21, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Catherine Heywood, Victory Editing, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.