A duo timeline story - told in current day by estranged sisters Mariah and Sabrina. When their grandmother sends them urgent text to come home -- and they do bringing secrets with them, and finding more secrets when they get there. With their grandfather in the hospital, they are tasked to finishing the remodel of the family restaurant.

Their grandmother gives them letters of their great-great-grandmother from the 1920s - Tabatha's letters show her struggles and the beginning of the family restaurant.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Rhonda McKnight has done it again! She has woven a beautiful story of secrets, repressed feelings, and eventual mended relationships. Two sisters have a tumultuous relationship, and each feel they are slighted by the other. Their grandmother calls them home to South Carolina to help rebuild and run the family restaurant. Neither sister knows they have been summoned home until they are there. Both sisters have unresolved problems in their lives and don't want to be involved with such a huge undertaking, especially alongside each other. The book vacillates between two time frames to explain the inception of the restaurant and why this means so much to their family. The reader watches the sisters' relationship change as they learn about the past and how this affects the present. Of course, intertwined in the main story line is a little bit of romance. This is the 2nd book I've read of Rhonda's and have loved! She has a way of endearing you to the characters and teaching you some history. Bravo, Rhonda!
Thank you to Thomas Nelson, a registered trademark of Harper Collins Christian Publishing, Inc. and NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

OMG I’ve been told to give this author a try and I’m oh so glad that I did! This story told in alternating timelines was so amazingly told! I was captivated and couldn’t put it down! I loved reading about how strong Tabitha had to be and how her love of cooking came through the bloodline to the “black women who dared”. What a powerful story and even though it was fictional, I’m sure there are aspects of this book that could have actually happened!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is my first Rhonda McKnight book and what a pleasant surprise! I love a good family-centered story and if you do as well this is the one!

Mariah Clark finds herself in a deep despair following her divorce and the betrayal of her business by her ex-husband. Trust seems like an impossible feat after such manipulation and deception, leaving her feeling utterly alone. Meanwhile, Sabrina Holland clings to a fragile dream with little hope of it becoming reality. Grieving the loss of a loved one, she navigates each day in a state of mere existence, living out of her van and unsure of how to break free from her stagnant routine. Their grandmother, Gail, unexpectedly calls them back home under the guise of caring for their ailing grandfather. However, the true reason is revealed when Gail implores them to join forces in saving the family business, established 86 years ago. As they delve into the letters of their great-great-grandmother, Tabitha Cooper, they uncover a tale of resilience amidst adversity. Inspired by Tabitha's story, Mariah and Sabrina begin to realize that through mutual support and guidance, they can find the strength to overcome their own challenges and forge a path forward together.

This story includes a dual timeline, women-centered storylines, multi-generation trauma, and more! Highly recommend

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

Rhonda McKnight has a way of writing solid family dynamics with plenty of complications...and eventual character growth and healing. Bitter and Sweet was another book following her past writing success with dual timelines and strong women characters. This time we have estranged sisters with a complicated history and both with tons of emotional baggage. I admit, Mariah was a hard character to like and root for...yes, her life had tragedy and painful life situations, but so did Sabrina. I'm glad there is an eventual awakening and Mariah takes steps to make amends, but still...

There is also a past timeline with the story centering on Tabitha (the great grandmother) and her life, loss, and eventual love. I enjoyed the full circle moments connecting the past and the present.

4 stars

This is a beautiful story about family, helping each other and healing. It is a story about learning from the past and becoming better people for it.

Life can be hard for all of us. But a good life is all about how we handle and grow out of these hard times. It helps to know that all people have hard times, this keeps us from feeling sorry for ourselves. This dual timeline story is about two sisters that are living right in the middle of crisis and how they plan to handle life going forward. Their grandmother is also in a crisis of her own and calls them both for help..

This dual timeline story between contemporary and 1920s takes place in different places in South Carolina. The story from the 1920's comes from letters of their great-great-grandmother Tabitha. These letters are inspiring and share her hardships and her response to them. This book made the duel timeline work the best of any book I have read so far. Switching between the times worked smoothly and wove the stories together. I loved how the contemporary women responded to what they were reading in the letters and how they were inspired to rise above their hardships in a positive manner. This was exactly why their grandmother brought them together and shared these letters with them.

What a perfectly appropriate, descriptive title for this great dual timeline historical fiction. I often prefer one timeline over another but both here are equally compelling. I knew nothing about the Gullah culture and really enjoyed learning about it along with all the mouthwatering food descriptions! It was compelling watching each of the main characters grow and change through their different but connected journeys of heartbreak, healing, forgiveness woven into a moving tale of faith and family relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

This book was wonderful. Deep, made me think, moving. I loved learning more about the Gullah traditions, culture and accent. I loved the complicated relationships between the family members and the grandmother was by far my favorite person. I loved how I could sympathize and empathize with both sisters. This was a great book, first one I've read by this author and will not be my last. Highly recommend.

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.

It’s a “Ten”!

Women’s Fiction…
Southern Fiction…
Dual Timeline…
with all the feels!

Bitter and Sweet is an extraordinary read that captures your attention from the beginning to the end.

The engaging dual timeline makes for an edge-of-your-seat read that you won’t want to put down! It’s a perfect blend of the past meets the present, exploring the implications of family secrets, grief, forgiveness, and redemption.

Rhonda McKnight gives you an emotionally engaging story with all the feels, including therapy on the page. Not to mention, the real, raw emotions of the characters that keep you turning the pages wanting more.

Bitter and Sweet is a tell a friend to tell a friend page-turner that is totally book hangover-worthy.

It’s historical fiction at its finest.

4.5 stars

“Everything we struggle through has a purpose. That’s what God’s Word says. We have to take the good and bad and the bitter and sweet.”

The first book I read by Rhonda McKnight – The Thing About Home – made me a forever fan of her work, so I was eager to return to Georgetown, South Carolina, on the pages of Bitter and Sweet. And what a meaningful journey it was!

Sisters Mariah and Sabrina have a strained adult relationship, at best, thanks to their complicated family dynamics as they were growing up. Both women are also struggling to manage personal crises of their own – and on their own – when their grandmother calls them home to Georgetown to manage the family restaurant in the face of their grandfather’s declining health. And of course one of the reasons we love a forced proximity romance trope so much is that it forces those repressed feelings out into the open… well, the same is true for forced proximity in a family drama as well. At some point, these two strong-but-hurting women are going to need to deal with their stuff if they’re going to survive what’s needed to save not only the restaurant but their family’s legacy as well.

At separate points in Bitter and Sweet, I gravitated more toward one sister than the other. But by the end I felt like both had become dear friends to me. There are such deep layers here, and deep healing – and I loved that healing looked different for each sister, but the end result was the same: Wholeness, after many years of missing pieces. I also appreciated that the author shows (so perfectly) that Divine healing can come about with medical intervention, therapy, AND Jesus. I really identified with this aspect of their journey toward wholeness and I’m grateful to see therapy getting more page time in Christian fiction.

And I can’t forget to mention all the other characters that make Bitter and Sweet so delightful to read. Swoony Dante the chef and swoony Quinton the ‘one that got away’ (one for each sister), adorable Kenni and adorable Jordy, Mariah & Sabrina’s endearing grandparents, and – of course – the star of this story’s past timeline, great-great grandmother Tabitha. Her letters open Mariah & Sabrina’s eyes to the fact that they aren’t the only Cooper women to face shame over past decisions or present failures. That Mariah isn’t the only Cooper woman to be treated dirty by a man who said he loved her. That Sabrina isn’t the only Cooper woman to make tough decisions for the good of her child. And that neither are the only Cooper women to use their own determination and talents to start over with a restaurant. Life comes full circle sometimes, doesn’t it? And Bitter and Sweet shows all the good and bad – and bitter and sweet – of that process.

Bottom Line: From the rich cadence of the Gullah dialect (and its food) to the beautifully meaningful multi-generational elements and everything in between, Rhonda McKnight has once again crafted a layered novel that speaks right to the heart with characters who will linger there for a long while. Bitter and Sweet tackles a variety of complex issues like postpartum depression, divorce, grief, unwed pregnancy, passing (as White), and even the struggle of Black people (especially women) under the Jim Crow era in the early 20th century. (I learned even more by reading the author’s note at the end and want to continue learning about this.) But at the same time, the rhythm of this story settles around you like a warm hug, points you to Jesus (and therapy), leaves you smarter and hopefully more empathetic, and keeps you deeply invested with each new chapter. Add in some swoony romance, a lowcountry vibe, and strong women with whom you can be proud to claim a sisterhood… and Bitter and Sweet will join the ranks of The Thing About Home as a novel I will savor for some time to come.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I found this book difficult to read at first, but the further I got into it, the more I liked it. Revolving around three main characters, it takes place in a fictional area of South Carolina, but reads like it should be in Louisiana or Florida swamp lands.

Sabrina and Mariah have been called back to help their grandma after their grandpa had a stroke. Grandma needs help finishing the refurbishing of Tabby's Meats and Sweets restaurant. Both girls have experience and their own unique set of skills to bring to the table. The thing is they both have a rather contentious relationship. Sabrina doesn't understand the animosity Mariah has toward her and Mariah doesn't quite have a full grasp on it herself. As the two girls work together to get the restaurant off the ground, they both delve into their history and find out who they really are.

By the end of the book, I found myself drawn in and consumed by the plot. Rhonda McKnight writes in such a way that women of all colors find themselves in her stories and find points of common interest with the characters. I have to imagine that Rhonda is as beautiful a woman as she writes her characters to be.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a jar cake to tickle your taste buds.

Thomas Nelson Fiction provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

One thing about Rhonda, she’s going to tug on your heart strings. I’m 50% through this book and I’ve grown an attachment Roth women who are clearly trying to find their way through the world while work heir why by have. This clearly isn’t easy but the fact that the are making due and being open is why gets me. I typically avoid books like this but Imust say it is so enjoyable to get this wholesome stores every now and again.

This book was a little confusing about who was who and what was going on at first as the foundation was laid, but within a few chapters it was clear and I was hooked (so keep reading!). I loved the relatable characters going through hard things in life, and watching how they healed and matured over time. Growing up in the Carolinas myself, I also loved seeing familiar places mentioned and the history of Charleston immersed in the story. I've walked the streets of Charleston many times, and now I'll do so with fresh eyes. This book made me appreciate and admire the courage and strength of people who had to overcome many challenges to make a better life, both because of being female and because of race. Though it's a very different story and time frame, it reminded me of Vanessa Miller's "The American Queen" because of the historical, woman power, and faith themes.

𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝑹 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 📖
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

First Thank you @hearourvoicestours and @authorrhondamcknight for allowing me to be apart of this tour. Thank you as well for my ARC. I’m happy to say it has also found its way to my mom’s nightstand currently and she is enjoying it as well.

Whew the ancestors were wrapped all through this one. I finished this book in two days. I’m new to this author but I will look forward to her next book. Just throwing this out there if I could get a book in the daddy or the brothers that would be great. Come on I know some other people had to think the same thing 😆. This story is told from dual timelines past and present. It was very well done. The reader is thrown into the lives of three women,Mariah, Sabrina and Tabitha. Mariah and Sabrina are sisters who are lost and down on their luck. Shame and embarrassment keeps them from seeking out family, until they make it home to see about their grandparents. The elders of families always have a plan. They come to know themselves, each other, and the matriarch of their family Tabitha through her letter. Man you talk about a precious family heirloom. Tabitha’s life was anything but easy. This woman came out the other side of Teen pregnancy, kept womanhood, shame, poverty, racism and verbal/mental abuse to just name a few. The best part is she also found love of her self, family and with her husband. It was a beautiful thing to read. In the present her granddaughters are fighting similar battles. The overlap of effects of generational trauma is so real. Sadly many people don’t make it past it. When you make peace with the demons of your past and live for the present it’s a beautiful thing. Sometimes you just need something that is worth fighting for and for this family it was their grandmothers legacy.
I really enjoyed this one.

#bittersweet #rhondamckinght #resturant #foodtruck #love #homelessness #passing #white #black #read #books #drbooksreads #historical

Talk about a book that grabs you from the first page! This book has a dual timeline that was brilliantly done. I would love to see this as a movie. The sisters, Mariah and Sabrina, are great characters. Finding their great-great grandmother’s letters sends the sisters down a path that will change them forever.

These timelines! My word! I enjoyed both timelines, but Great-Great Grandma’s timeline was so intriguing. There are so many reminders for me in this book that there’s no shame in asking for help. You don’t know what you don’t know, and you don’t always have to figure things out alone. (That is one of my constant struggles.) This made me want Great-Great Grandma to have her own book. I want to know more about her.

I love how the book comes together, and it flows perfectly. The themes of this story, grief, shame, and healing, are important and should never be overlooked. With dual timelines, trauma, and healing, this is a must-read.

This was my first time reading a book by this author and I am now a fan and will go back and read her previous work. Bitter and Sweet is a poignant work of Southern fiction, told in dual timelines- present day tells the story of sisters Mariah and Sabrina who have returned home to Georgetown, S.C. to help save the family restaurant- Tabby's Place. While they work to save their family legacy, they also end up saving themselves and repair their relationship with each other. The second time line tells the story of Mariah and Sabrina's ancestor, Tabitha (as in Tabby's Place) Cooper. I really enjoyed both time lines, the strong sense of place (the SC low country), and the themes enriched with southern hospitality, tradition, and food. While the story involves tough subjects such as homelessness, motherhood, and racism, the author weaves the story in such a way that it doesn't feel too heavy, and in the end it was one of those books you just can't help but hug. 4.5 Stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publisher for an eARC.

This is my second book by Rhonda McKnight and once again she did not disappoint. The story is a multi-generational family drama that explores love, faith and redemption. It centers around two sisters struggling with their broken relationship, while overcoming personal and family battles, who must learn to lean on each other to forge a brighter future.

What I loved is how seamlessly the author weaved in elements of faith and personal growth without making the story feel too preachy. This made the personal journey of the characters feel more realistic, and honestly made me reflect on my own experiences, especially on the topic of having children.

The story is one of inspiration for resolving family conflict that weaves in Christian values, romance and historical fiction perfectly. The author does a great job of crafting heartwarming and inspiring stories from compelling characters that deliver a much needed meaningful message.

It’s safe to say Ms. Rhonda you have done it again. This will be my favorite book of the year just like The Thing About Home was my favorite last year.
I love dual time line and I especially love when the present learns something from the past. Sisters Mariah and Sabrina both grieving the past they had no control over and now grieving the life they thought would have. The story is weaved in a way that makes you think and forces you, well forced me to look at myself. I cried with the sisters, I healed with these sisters, I learned to forgive with sisters and to learned to love with these sisters. Through the letters of their great-great grandmother they were able to see that the glass is always half full and never empty. This truly spoke to heart. It’s a must read.

What a dynamic and remarkable read from an author who does not miss! From the beginning of this book until the very end you are taken on two distinct journeys that intersect beautifully in the end. This is a triumphant story of the past involving Tabby Cooper who despite a rocky start built a legacy that continues to stand nearly 90 years later and two of her great granddaughters who are sisters. The sisters are each dealing with traumas and victories and have been estranged over the years.
I especially appreciate the author tackling tough topics in such a delicate way and from a perspective that we don't ordinarily see. She sheds a different light on issues such as colorism, grief, forgiveness and maternal-fetal loss among other things. The storytelling is captivating and I did not want to stop reading this book once I started it! I then checked out the audio and it is a superb production that I highly recommend. The narration is top-notch! The story and narration are so compelling that I immediately started the audiobook over once I completed it! I've never done that before!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this work. Audiobook purchased from Audible.