Such a beautiful book and evocative writing. The author is obviously a rising star. I loved the story of two estranged sisters and how eloquently it was narrated.

Truly happy I read this book. This books is full of drama about family, misconceptions and mending wrongs! Thoroughly enjoyed to to the end!

Favorite Quotes:

And she wondered why she’d never thought about this day would come. Or stopped to realize how much it would hurt when it did.

Sanganette Gautier-Preston. White. Prim. She incorrectly, by most accounts, considered her size twelve, five-foot-four-inch frame to be petite and her thinking progressive. An aficionado of designer heels and designer purses, she was always overdressed in the classroom full of sixth graders at Harris-Harper Elementary School where she taught. Her hair was blonde and curly, her eyes blue and heavily mascaraed, and her nose, straight, delicate, and usually in the air.

“I don’t think that man knows what he’s saying to you,” Sanganette quipped. “Telling you he’d give you anything you need.” Sanganette let loose a sinister little laugh. “You been single a long time. He might not be able to live through what you can put on him.”

… she was surprised that the service was in a church. Nona hadn’t known her father to be a religious man. She’d only heard him call on the Lord when he wanted the dice to roll his way or when the level in his whiskey bottle was low.

In her time away, Nona had accomplished so much and done nothing. Coming home, she found that things rarely work out like they were supposed to, but it didn’t mean things didn’t turn out right.

My Review:

I struggled with this one while reading, although I consistently appreciated the excellence of the author's craft. This family and town were comprised of characters who were realistically, deeply, and uncomfortably flawed and often were rather awful, yet truthfully, nearly every family I know of has issues and history just as heinous. Each one was completely knowable, and I was intrigued and annoyed by them in equal measure.

The storylines were perceptively written with provocative and heart-squeezing insights and profound observations that go far beneath the skin, this author must either have Superman’s x-ray vision or magical goggles. While their culture, latitude, and longitude are far different from mine, the characters were exposed and laid bare. Ms. Bentley sucked me in and hit a nerve, I was right there with them.

After I finished reading, I tried and failed to write a review, I couldn’t determine my overall rating or derive an opinion. I ruminated, stalled, and mulled for several days, which is highly unusual. In looking over my highlighted notes, I have concluded that Cade Bentley/Abby L. Vandiver/Abby Colette is an exceptionally talented, brilliantly observant, and perceptive human being.

Well written book.
I was just not able to get into it. I did try for the first 42% but finally had to give up. It's just not what I was in the mood for I guess. It had a lot of great things. Two sisters who wasted years that they could have been together. A lie sure cost a lot for them.

I'm very sorry this book just did not hold my interest. I picked it up and put it down so many times I finally just gave up.
Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC.
5 stars because I just can't say it was bad. Read it. It may be just what you are looking for.

Sisters Nona and Julia have drifted away from each other through the years due to misunderstanding and lies. When their father died, they were forced together after twenty years. What they discovered was that they wasted years together because of things beyond their control. This was a great book that anyone who has brothers and sisters should read, they could learn a lot.

It is incredible to see how easily one misunderstanding and one lie can change the course of so many lives. Where Wild Peaches Grow showcases the delicate and complex balance necessary to navigate family dynamics.

I loved this book. I could see everything I was reading so vividly as if watching on tv. The entire story and many characters are relatable, and I could see my family in them. The interaction between each shedding light on who they were within. I could feel their raw emotion as everyone started to show their hand and was surprised once all truths were revealed.

Although a fiction novel, it touched on genuine issues. This is especially true of race as it pertains to history. The story of Devil’s Punch Bowl instantly reminded me of Black Wall Street, so I wasn’t surprised once the characters made the comparison. The story behind both highlights the importance of truth in history. It is said that the victors write history, so to know one’s history is to have the tools necessary to fight its repetition.

Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher, and the author, Cade Bentley.

I thought this was a very good book, Where Wild Peaches Grow, by Cade Bentley, The story is about a family that has been hurt , by each other, 2 sisters, Nona, who feels like she was betrayed, and Julia, who feels like her sister deserted her. Nona comes back home after being gone for several years, surprised by some of the changes that have happened, she was he father's favorite, life had been hard with her gone,
I rely like I was part of the story, Cade Bentley has a good way of telling the story, I will look for more books by this Author.
I was given this book by Net Galley, just to give my honest opinion.

This is a story about two estranged sisters who have very different recollection and perspective on past events in their lives. We also get to realize that the secrets of their parents ended up having such a tremendous effect on the girls, which followed them right up to adulthood. Consequently, the build up to the two sisters seeing each other after 20 years was beautifully achieved by the author.

I do love a good descriptive literary fiction where the writing transports you to the setting in the novel and this is what Where Wild Peaches Grow is! The characters were believable, relatable and developed well. I was rooting for everybody that needed to be rooted for. This is definitely a must-read!

Special thanks to the author, publisher, & @netgalley for my advanced copy.

I really enjoyed this novel it was a great family drama. The writing style was amazing , character development was great, and I loved seeing everything unfold. But I also felt like there was something missing and maybe there could’ve been a better reason for Nona leaving her family behind. Opposed to it being over a simple misunderstanding that could’ve been cleared up by a simple conversation.

Julia kind of annoyed me because I honestly didn’t see why she held a grudge with her sister for leaving. Never hearing from Nona after she left was understandable but she didn’t attempt to reach out either. So, I didn’t feel her argument was sufficient enough to be that hurt considering what she did to her sister.

Also, the fact that their grandmother and Julia didn’t see anything wrong with Julia marrying Marcus just because Nona left was crazy. This entire family was the reason they were so divided. To many lies and assumptions.

I didn’t like Sanganette!!! That’s all I have to say about her because her character really wasn’t needed.

But the author did well touching on various topics involving racism, family heritage, and cultural history most of which involved the South. The novel really expounds on how miscommunication and well kept secrets can tear a family apart. Their family had A LOT of secrets and each time something was revealed things got worse before they got better.

Overall, this was a decent read so I’d definitely recommend!!!

What a wonderful book!
This new to.me author has done an excellent job with this book. The writing is superb kept my attention the whole way through. I couldn't put it down once I started. The description of the book had me intrigued so I tried it out and I'm glad I did.
This book has it all. Big misunderstandings, secrets and the hardest one of all forgiveness.
All over one thing but I won't say what it is. Y'all just have to read to see.
Can't say whether I liked one sister over the other because both were hard headed and always trying to outdo the other.
Each thought life centered on themselves and to heck with anyone else. All because of a terrible misunderstanding.
My heart went out to Jayden who was caught in the middle of it all. Poor baby.
I loved the nosy neighbor Miss Gus. Sometimes she meant well but most of time well just nosy lol.
My heart did become full and satisfied after the story ended. I was happy with the ending. I hated for it end.
I will say the ending was my favorite scene.
5 stars for a job well done! I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A wonderful book filled with complex interesting characters and a moving story line. Very enjoyable read, a page turner and a must read!

https://www.amazon.com/Where-Wild-Peaches-Grow-Novel-ebook/dp/B09PBJDR5G/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=where+the+wild+peaches+grow&qid=1662493852&sr=8-1#customerReviews:~:text=From%20the%20United,describe%20this%20book.

Never heard of author Cade Bentley and only picked "Where wild peaches grow" because of the description. All I can say is, I'm so glad i did! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it! 👌

Nona Davenport is conflicted about a call she received from her sister Julia, whom she has not spoken to in 20 years. Julia tells her sister Peaches (Nona’s childhood nickname) that their Father has passed away. Nona left her family years ago and never looked back. She returns to her home town of Natchez Mississippi and faces the family she believes betrayed her. Her emotions run high as she takes this journey to discover maybe not everything is as it appears.

This is a beautifully written story of a family trying to piece their lives back together after lies and secrets have kept them apart for decades. I loved the history that is shared in this book as well about Natchez during the Civil War years.

My sincere thanks to the author Cade Bentley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review

This is a new to me author and I will definitely be looking for more of her stories. The characters were interesting and some of them more complex than others. All in all the story was very interesting.


I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Gorgeous, engaging read. Family relationships, rifts, secrets, estrangements, race, an some good old miscommunication makes for a great book.

Happy Pub Day Cade Bentley @abbylvandiver 🥂 #WhereWildPeachesGrow is out now 🥳

This book - about love, grief, family, secrets, working through the myths to find your own truth in your life and in history so you can move forward into the future, righting the wrongs and misinformation of the past to hopefully heal the future - had me from page one and didn't let me go until the last page! I love a book I can sink into and not come up for air while reading it, when the writing has a hold of my mind and heart. When I love a book this much, when a book touches me deeply, I always find it difficult to put a coherent review together vs one that just gushes on & on 😅

In brief: I loved this book. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ And I think you will too. Is Where Wild Peaches on your TBR list?

Thank you again to @amazonpublishing for this gifted copy!

(Synopis in book mail post)

#bookstagram #TBR #fiction #reading #readersofinstagram #currentlyreading #womensfiction #southernfiction #summerreading #newrelease #bloominchick #theeclecticspoonie #theeclecticspooniereads @lakeunionauthors

I love this author whatever name she's using. They're always well plotted and compelling. This one is another good book that kept me hooked and moved me.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Nona Davenport left home, Natchez, Mississippi, twenty years ago and never looked back, especially since she was abandoned by her first love Marcus. Now, she has learned that her father has died, without their reconciliation, Nona is distraught once she realizes that she has valued Black people in her work, as a history professor, more than those in her personal life, abondoning, her father and her only sister, Julia, over a web of secrets and lies. Will Nona be able to piece together her family, her heritage, herself before it is too late, read the lovely Where Wild Peaches Grow and find out.

I really enjoyed Where Wild Peaches Grow. I loved that Cade Bentley, tied the legacy of Black people to family, history, and the land, so I think it is perfect for fans who enjoy the tv series Queen Sugar. As her debut literary fiction novel, there where a few execution stumbles, but overall, I really liked Bentley's character development, writing, and storytelling skills. She knows the South and it shined in her writing. There is a a dire need in the book market for trauma-free simple Southern storytelling featuring Black characters, I think Ms. Bentleys novels can nicely fill that void. I am really looking forward to her next literary work, she can only get better.

This is a beautifully written book about family and how miscommunication can destroy the fiber that holds everything together.

Jasper Davenport has died. His wayward daughter, Nona "Peaches" Davenport, returns to Natchez, Mississippi to attend his funeral. Nona left town years ago on the night she was to elope with Marcus and never returned after he failed to show. She has blamed her sister Julia all these years. Now a professor of African American studies in Chicago, Nona feels that she has no ties to the town she grew up in.

All of the characters quickly became like old friends as I read. I felt Julia's sorrow and pain from the loss of not only her father, but the loss of her sister. Nona tries so hard to remove her feelings from her past only to have them sweep through her. Marcus is a sore spot for each sister. He is Nona's ex-love and Julia's now ex-husband. So much has happened over the years that Nona must experience in a short time. Sanganette was one of my least favorite characters. I felt as Julia's friend she should have been more supportive and less attention grabbing. Her need to rewrite the true history of the Civil War was irritating. I know that there are people like this that still remain in the South, but I would like to think that we have moved past that.

This was a book that I read in one sitting because I did not want to put it down. Everything about it is excellent and I recommend it highly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.