I was so excited to return to Perdita Street, the location of The Lost and Found Bookshop. That was my first Susan Wiggs book, and I adored the sweet storyline! I was sad that we didn't get more than a quick glimpse of the bookstore.

Sugar and Salt easily held its own, though, and ended up being way more than what I was expecting. The gorgeous cover lead me to believe I'd be reading a sweet, lighthearted romance, but Sugar and Salt goes much deeper. Pay attention to the trigger warnings!

This book is extremely timely with the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade. Margot's story is absolutely heartbreaking, but I also found it fascinating to read. She finds herself in jail and desperate for an abortion, but the powers that be in the south were doing anything they could to prevent her from getting one in a timely and safe manner.

Although Margot's backstory was my favorite plot line, I enjoyed that there were really three stories in one here. We also got to see Jerome and Margot's love story, as well as Ida's love story in the past.

A suspenseful fiction book that leaves you wanting more at every page! The mix of baking and trying to figure out Margot's past life is really intriguing!

Margot has worked her way up from poverty and adversity to own and run one of the best restaurants in San Francisco. Jerome runs a bakery next door. Margot has to come to terms with her awful past in order to trust Jerome and be able to have a relationship with him. I received an ARC from NetGalley and William Morris for my honest review.

When A Susan Wiggs book is coming out...I want it. So I was thrilled when Netgalley gave me an ARC to read and review. I loved it. All her stories are so heartwarming and gives you a mellow feeling in your tummy. Again, this one I flew through (discarding housework) and I just loved the story.

Margot Salton needs a fresh start, away from drama. So she leaves Texas to start anew in SF. She opens a BBQ restaurant next to a bakery - and meets Jerome Sugar. Their different backgrounds somehow attract each other and we see a future here. But Margot soon finds out you cant escape your past.

A story that will have you turning pages until you get to the end....and then sitting back and thinking about what you just read. Put it on your TBR list - it is due to release July 26, 2022. #Netgalley #fivestars

This is my first Susan Wiggs read. Based on the cover I expected it to be a light summery bakery and romance read. Now I know it's unfair to judge a book by it's cover and that's what I did.
What I got when I read this is a whole lot more.
The book is pretty intense,emotional and dramatic if you were to ask me.
It starts off with what we assume is a well to do woman who has worked towards opening her own restaurant her whole life. She is a master chef who was taught the skills years ago as a child by her mother. She was poor growing up but her mother always did her best by her.
She worked hard and it's opening night at her fancy restaurant, the critics are there and she's nervous but she's got this. Until she doesn't.
It takes us through an emotional back story of the woman. There are many characters and we finally see how they all mesh together.
She has a chance at real love for the first time but she's so afraid to share her past experiences with him. Will he give her a chance if her past is told?
There are some very intense parts that may cause some to stop reading. I am wondering if all her books are like this? Overall in the face of adversity our main character had to make some very hard and life changing decisions. Very much an eye opening book. The characters are very well written and realistic.
Tasty recipes also included.

Expected publication: July 26th 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own

"Maybe sometimes love deserves a second chance because it wasn't ready the first time around." - unknown

Second chances, good food, romance, and the past all rolled into one!

But first, that cover! How beautiful is that?

Susan Wiggs writes about people, relationships, family and both good and bad life experiences. I thought this would be a delightful, sweet romance book (and it does have that) but it is much more.

Margot Salton is opening a BBQ restaurant (named Salt) right next to a bakery called Sugar. Salt and Sugar will share a kitchen so both proprietors will have a lot of contact with each other. Margot meets Jerome Sugar who is helping at Ida Sugar's bakery.
*So, in the blurb it says Ida is Jerome’s grandmother but, in the book, she is clearly his mother.

Margot, Jerome, and Ida are all interesting and likeable characters, and we get to know all of them through the present and in their backstories. Ida (who I believe steals the show) becomes a mentor to Margot who is feeling drawn to Jerome.

There are some secrets that come to light in this book. We learn the backstories of each character as I mentioned, but Margot's backstory takes the stage (and a good portion of this book).

While I can say that I enjoyed this book, I didn't enjoy it as much as I have her previous books. I feel this is due in part to me going into this book feeling it would be a light romance perfect for summer. There is romance, but also heavy issues. Readers should be aware of that going into this book. The issues are relevant but may be triggers for some.

A good book that I didn't enjoy as much as I thought I would. Others have enjoyed this book more than I did, please read their reviews as well.

I have been a fan of Susan Wiggs for a long time and look forward to reading more of her books in the future!

#SugarandSalt #NetGalley

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow! Fantastic and timely tale. If one is expecting a sweet romance they will be disappointed. It is so much more. Several heavy subjects are covered. I had to stay up past my bedtime to get to what I hoped would be their happily ever after. I know that isn't usually the case in these situations in real life. Many a tear was shed. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary. I do want to read the previous books in this series.

This book certainly surprised me! I went into it not knowing too much. I was completely engrossed by midpoint and found myself flying through the second half eager to find out what happens next. This book addresses some really hot topics — the judicial system, legal representation, women’s rights, and an honest and disturbing look at how rape victims are often treated.

Margot settles in San Francisco and opens a barbecue joint. There she meets Jerome who owns a bakery next door. Their relationship evolves into one of trust and undeniable chemistry. She is desperate for a second chance at happiness after surviving a very traumatic and painful past. The reader travels back and forth in time through multigenerational heartache and trials. Reading Margot’s back story, I had a visceral reaction to some of the scenes in this book. It really takes an emotionally charged and intense turn that makes it difficult to put down. Heartbreaking at times but also this charm between Margot and Jerome and their love of food that adds sweetness to the book. A story about new beginnings and feeling worthy enough to receive love.

This novel started out strong and I enjoyed a lot of it but I didn't love it. I liked the romance and chemistry between Francis and Ida. I also liked the movement back and forth through time. For me, the middle part of the novel, interesting and key to Margot's character, seemed too long. While I appreciated Wiggs' efforts to paint a complete picture of what happened to Margot (and to handle controversial and sensitive topics),this part stretched out too long between the beginning and ending and took away from some of the flow and continuity/cohesiveness of the book.

I will begin by stating I’ve read plenty of Susan Wiggs books in the past and loved them - I don’t shy away from the heavier topic-women’s fiction. However, this book has a lot of issues. There needs to be a MASSIVE trigger warning for on the page rape, assault, pregnancy, abortion, adoption…it hit me like a ton of bricks smack dab in the middle of the book. There are a lot of supremely difficult topics here that are mentioned and glossed over. None of them felt like they had much care given to them. I liked Margot, and I liked Jerome, but there was just too much going on overall. The jumping timelines were tough, but even in the span of one chapter the pacing na timing was hard to follow. As an aside, the cover does not match with the interior of the book at all. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC! The overall story of Margot/Margie was compelling, but there were sections of the narrative that felt flat and rushed. I have not read any other books in the Bella Vista Chronicles (or by Wiggs) so I'm not sure if characters were known prior to this book's narrative, but if so, it did little for a new reader. What really worked for me was this book's putting the spotlight on the problems within our legal system and how victims of serious crime can go unheard or villainized. I applaud the books approach to this topic.

Honestly, Susan Wiggs will always be a 5-star author for me! As soon as I heard that she was releasing book #4 (Sugar and Salt) of the Bella Vista Chronicles series, I knew I wanted to read and review it! I was so excited that Netgalley & William Morrow provided me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m a huge fan of Susan! I’ve read The Oysterville Sewing Circle and books #1-3 of the Bella Vista Chronicles. I fell in love with her characters and how relatable they are in real life. I am working my way through all of her books and I’m really looking forward to reading The Lakeshore Chronicles next. It has 11 books in the series, so that should keep me busy for a while lol!

Now lets talk about Sugar and Salt…

Sugar and Salt is not a light and fluffy romance book, but sometimes you need a book like this. It’s a book that tells the truth. It doesn’t hold back, so keep that in mind before reading it. The story was raw and real and so timely in every way, especially with the recent Roe vs. Wade overturn.

Margot’s story is heartbreaking and powerful. I love the friendships that were formed in the book and I highly recommend reading it. I don’t want to accidently spoil anything, so I’ll leave it at this…Sugar and Salt is a must-read book of the summer with a story that will leave a lasting impression on your heart.

Find out what happens in this inspirational story of friendship, hardship, redemption and love.

Margot Salton is a woman of inner strength who rewrites her life and finds love with Jerome Salt. Her past life keeps intruding on her new found life and love. Hers is a very, very tender yet brutal story of a young woman’s horrendous journey in the Texas justice system when she is charged with murder after a brutal rape.
An excellent read that will cause your heart to soar and to hurt extremely.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️
Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs
Let’s start with the fact that I love Susan Wigg’s books but I struggled to get thru this one. The current events of the book are her normal super sweet characters. But when it comes to Margot’s backstory in Texas, court cases and abortion it’s not what I was expecting. I was expecting a love story between 2 restaurant owners and that’s just not what you get.
Thanks to William Marrow and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’ve been a longtime fan of Susan Wiggs so I was excited to be approved to read an advance copy through NetGalley.
Typically Wiggs writes tender Women’s fiction with romance. This story is much more than that and in my opinion is darker than previous books.
Margot’s tale is one of strength and resilience but it is not an easy or lighthearted read. Be warned, this one does have a descriptive sexual assault scene and discusses abortion so could trigger some readers.
The story has strong characters that the reader can connect with. We meet Ida and Frank and Jerome. The food descriptions made my mouth water and made me want to light up the barbecue. The pacing of the story is a little slow at the start but I was compelled to finish because I really wanted to know how the story ended. The injustices Margot endures are heartbreaking, and I’m sure I held my breath more than once as I waited to find out what would happen next.

Thank you to William Morrow Books and NetGallwy for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am torn by this book. I liked it in a way and then again, I didn't like it. I did grow bored about halfway through.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs is the fourth book in her popular Bella Vista Chronicles but can be read as a stand-alone. I saw that pretty pink cover with the beautiful cake, read the blurb, and expected a nice summery romance. I also read the previous book in the series, The Lost and Found Bookshop and I expected a similar story or at least a similar tone. And, I did get a nice romance, BUT, I also got a very emotional, tough, intense, and powerful story as well.

Margot needs a fresh start and has always wanted to open up her own barbeque restaurant. She finds a nice space that shares a kitchen with a bakery. She loves the location, so she goes ahead and takes the space after meeting Ida, the owner of the bakery. Then she meets Jerome, Ida’s son, who runs the bakery. Jerome and Margot instantly connect and develop a friendship. Jerome is a single dad to two young sons, and he continues to worry about and care for his mother, Ida.

Margot also has a past that she wants to forget. But when she meets and gets to know Jerome, she knows she has to tell him about her past in order for them to move on. And she’s always afraid of her past catching up to her. Can Margot escape her past and find happiness with Jerome?

I said earlier that this book is much more than a light romance. It started out just fine, I liked Margot very much, she’s a tough woman who knows what she wants. I also enjoyed Jerome and his mother Ida. Everything was progressing as I expected, with Margot getting her restaurant up and running, and Jerome and Margot starting to get closer, and then BAM! Up next came the backstory, which took up about half the book. Not only Margot’s backstory, but Ida has a difficult past as well, with some secrets. This is where the book changes from a light romance to an intense, and emotional story.

I would suggest that you look up the trigger warnings for this book if you get triggered. There is sexual assault, abortion, abortion rights, adoption, desertion, lost family, assault, draft dodging, criminal injustice and so much more. I can’t list it all. Margot’s backstory is horrific, sad, and difficult to read. But, it also made the book into so much more than just a nice romance. I wanted to know how she survived such a difficult past and I couldn’t wait to find out. I also enjoyed Ida’s backstory, although it’s not nearly as horrific as Margot’s.

I don’t want anyone to think I didn’t like this book. I loved it! I felt like the author did a great job handling all the issues, and I was enthralled with the story. It’s just that I didn’t EXPECT such tough issues in such a pretty book.

I highly recommend Sugar and Salt to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I Did Not Finish (DNF) at 26 percent, skimmed to 40 percent mark. I got up to chapter 10 and tossed in the towel.

It just didn't grab me. The writing felt super slow and I felt like after a while the book was going through the motions. There's no heat between Jerome and Margot. And why they would get involved in Ida's business didn't read as believable to me at all. I loved the food descriptions as well as the description of the locations of the area. But the characters had me going meh. Maybe if we just stick with Jerome and Margot I would be for it. But we start off knowing something bad happens and we rewind back several months from 2019. Then the book jumps back and forth between characters an timelines. The 40 percent I read had the timelines going from 1972, 1977, 2007 and 2019. Also I found some stuff wrong in the ARC versus the synopsis which always irks my soul. I also didn't realize this was the 4th book in a series. I wish that NetGalley gave you the heads-up about that. I requested this book eons ago and it's already out and I hate feeling rushed when trying to read/review so that's another reason that since I am not enjoying it, I am going to put a pin in it.

"Sugar and Salt" follows Margot Salton, a barbeque master from Texas. She moves to San Francisco and realizes her dream of opening a restaurant. She finds a place, but is told she has to share the kitchen with a bakery called Sugar. Margot thinks this is a sign and agrees and in a few short months opens Salt. She finds herself pulled in by the former bakery owner of Sugar, Ida and her son (now running the place) Jerome. Margot and Jerome find themselves attracted to each other and starting something new. But then something from Margot's past comes back to possibly ruin their future.

I don't know if certain things are going to get fixed in the final book or what since I am reading an ARC, but the Goodreads description reads:

Margot instantly takes to Jerome's grandmother, the lively, opinionated Ida, and the older woman proves to be a good mentor.


Ida is her mother. Not his grandmother. Also the way the synopsis on NetGalley/Goodreads played it, I thought the lead in this was going to be Jerome. So I just felt flattened by that as well.

I didn't feel much for Margot, Jerome, Ida, or Francis/Frank. I just think that the book kept everyone way too thin throughout that you don't get a chance to just revel in the romances. We have a second chance romance with Ida and Frank and I did not feel it at all. Everyone kept talking about how lit up she was and then when we would pivot to her third person point of view I would go okay then. Same issue when the book switches back to Margot being in Texas in 2007.

I skimmed a bit (to the 40 percent point) and at that point I just realized that nothing was grabbing me. Everyone just felt flat. I maybe laughed at a description of Ida having lines on her face. If she was 18 around 1972, in 2019 she would be in her early or mid 60s, also Black women tend to not get lines/wrinkles around their faces. I don't know, it just was something that hit me and made me crack up. But the reveal about [redacted] felt a bit off. Cause I legit went wait, how about [redacted] and realized that at this point I needed to put the book away. I loathe secret pregnancies in romance novels and this one just felt a bit thrown in. Badly. I think I recently read a Wiggs book which did something similar with the narrative and timelines and I think that is why I didn't really like it either. I would like to just focus on one couple per romance book. Of course when you have a series, you are setting up the next couple, so they usually appear, but this just felt crammed with too many people/plots and not enough to grab me.

As I said above though, the food and location descriptions were awesome. I just wish the rest of the book had been.

Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs is another one of her wonderful standalone novels. The story revolves around Margot Salton, our heroine, who at the start has moved from Texas to open her dream barbeque restaurant; Margot has developed a special sauce that has become a masterpiece. The story is told in two timelines; the success in opening her new restaurant in San Francisco and meeting Jerome, who runs the local bakery next store; and her past in Texas, which was a harsh period in her life. This did start as a lighthearted story, only to spend more than half to see the hardship and injustice she had to endure.

In the past, a young Margie, helped out in a BBQ restaurant that started her into developing wonderful sauces. In between, she hanged out with friends, including one older boy, who she decided she did not want to continue their relationship, since he was very arrogant and only cared about what he wanted. One evening, making more sauces, the boy, after her telling him it was over, he then rapes her, in the process of choking her; Margie desperate for her life, manages to grab hold of his gun and shoots him. This was self-defense, as he was killing her; but the laws in Texas only cared that she killed him. Everything changed for Margie, as the victim’s family was wealthy and powerful, and Margie was treated horribly; with the police, judicial system and bad lawyers. Almost a year will pass with a friendship that will bring a very good lawyer to finally free her, and eventually move away, under a different assumed name. The past story was long and very a dark story to read.

When we finally go back to the present, we learn more about Margot’s successful new business and her relationship that will grow with Jerome, who owns the bakery. Margot got to know Jerome’s mother, Ida, as they became close; with us getting a backstory about a love from the past. It was a nice story with Ida and Frank. I really did like how Jerome was patient and caring with Margot, and when she reveals her horrific period of the past, he still professes his love. The past will rear its ugly head again, but Margot will stand up to fight the evil. The food (barbeque and bakery) was fun to read, leaving us a bit hungry.
Sugar and Salt was very well written by Susan Wiggs. It is a story of tragedy, second chances, as well as love and friendship. Though there was a long and tragic storyline from the past, but overall this was a great story line.

The blurb about this book hints at the end that the heroine’s past from Texas catches up with her. What it doesn’t tell you is that most of the book is about looking at the past of the present-day women in the book. First we learn about the past of Ida B., the mother of Jerome, the love interest of the heroine, Margot. Then, just after we’ve been caught up on Ida B.’s story, it’s time to find out the back story of Margot and the very terrible things that had happened to her. That’s about half the book. And there are terrible things that happened to her. She was violently raped and ended up in prison in a small Texas town being persecuted as all types of unjust things are done to her. It’s all very depressing and dramatic, but I really was more interested in her modern-day romance than hearing how terrible Texas can be to a penniless, orphan girl. The romance is just not developed. Margot and Jerome quickly fall for each other and are deeply in love. There is talk of a problem from Jerome’s former wife, but that is just waved away and not resolved.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.