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.

A wonderfully complex story about motherhood and the effect of growing up without a birth mother. For sisters Sabrina and Mariah, other family members step up to be there for them. They are both resilient, strong women who often clash with each other but learn from letters left by their great great grandmother, Tabitha, another strong woman.
The story brings to light the difficulties of African Americans in the south in 1915. It is heartwarming to see family pull together, to learn to forgive and support each other through all that life throws at them or what they get themselves into. *The devil likes to use shame. He uses it because it works, but not when you resist him. * Wise and strong grandmother Gail: *Everything we struggle through has a purpose. Good and bad and the bitter and sweet.*
A worthy offering from a very talented author who writes with honesty and sensitivity and shows that faith and grace matter. So glad I read this book and hope to read more.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

Rhonda McKnight's Bitter and Sweet is a poignant exploration of family, resilience, and Southern culinary traditions. The novel deftly intertwines the present-day struggles of sisters Mariah Clark and Sabrina Holland with the historical journey of their ancestor, Tabitha Cooper, in early 20th-century Charleston.

When Mariah and Sabrina are summoned to Georgetown, South Carolina, they expect to address their grandfather's declining health. Instead, they face the challenge of rescuing their family's eighty-six-year-old restaurant. Mariah, recently divorced and forced to leave the diner she helped save, is initially resistant. Her bitterness and reluctance to invest in another struggling business form a compelling character arc as she gradually finds renewed purpose.

Sabrina, on the other hand, views the restaurant as a potential lifeline. Living out of her van and seeking stability for her daughter, she hopes to turn her baking talent into a viable business. The tension between the sisters, fueled by past disagreements, adds emotional depth and suspense to the narrative.

The historical subplot follows Tabitha Cooper, who, after a love gone wrong, finds herself in Charleston, determined to provide for her children through her cooking. Her story of survival and success, revealed through letters, creates a rich, multi-generational tapestry that connects past and present.

McKnight's lyrical writing and vivid descriptions of Southern life and cuisine enhance the narrative. While the pacing occasionally falters and some plot points are predictable, these minor flaws do not detract from the novel's overall impact. Bitter and Sweet is a heartfelt story that celebrates family, heritage, and the redemptive power of love and forgiveness. It leaves readers deeply touched and eager for more.

This was an exceptional and inspirational read! Written very well. The author shows the characters' progressions in realistic and relevant ways. This novel tackles many hard subjects including grief and the concept of therapy v religion but does so without being preachy.

An overall great read. Definitely recommend

After reading Long way home by this author I was thrilled to get an ARC of her newest novel and definitely recommend this one too!

The synopsis sums up the book brilliantly.

Characters you will fall in love with, root for, cry over and laugh with. All the emotions. Death,love, life, healing and redemption also forgiveness.

“Sometimes it’s funny, and sometimes it’s sad. 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.”

Inspirational for sure and such healing of souls and relationships while showing relatable real life situations.

“Forgive my grief.” These words will stay with me. As a woman who has had to learn to love myself before being able to love others, the words are simple yet deep and profound.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This story is a heartfelt and engaging exploration of family, legacy, and personal redemption. The plot skillfully weaves together the present-day struggles of sisters Mariah and Sabrina with the poignant history of their ancestor, Tabitha Cooper. The setting of Georgetown, South Carolina, adds a charming backdrop that enriches the narrative with Southern hospitality and tradition.

Overall, this story is a delightful read that balances drama, nostalgia, and hope. It captures the essence of familial bonds and the importance of preserving one’s heritage while finding the strength to move forward. I am really enjoying her writing in dual time.

this was harder for me to get through. it's hard for me when an author goes back and forth with characters and timelines. so each chapter what a different character and there were two timelines: present and the character's great grandma's time.

i finally was able to finish the book and i liked the story line, just with it could have been told differently.

the story was about forgiveness and hardships even if you are a christian, life isn't easy.

Bitter and Sweet is a family drama about two sisters who are called home to save a legacy, and end up saving themselves as well. Mariah and Sabrina are both at a crossroads, trying to figure out their next steps--and it seems their grandmother may have the key.

Set in Gullah country and rich with the cooking and heritage of its people, Bitter and Sweet captured me immediately, and didn’t let go. The writing flowed so easily, the cadence was lovely. It went fast and didn't take me long to read at all--that speaks to the writer's skill.

I loved weaving the history of Mariah and Sabrina’s ancestry into the restaurant they were saving, and tying together what their legacy actually meant. Tabitha’s story was poignant and affirming; very real and I loved that she only had to learn a lesson once. As a young woman led astray by a preying man, her journey in creating a life for her family after his duplicity and death was reflected in Mariah and Sabrina. Her story was THE story. I loved that. Her courage was a wonderful testament to pushing forward no matter how many times you get knocked back, and also that sometimes the solution is going home.

The two sisters struck me—I saw them in each other and was happy their relationship changed. Sabrina was a warrior, the fiercest mama bear, and the strongest of them because the hurt would have made a weaker person hide their heart, and she never did. She was my favorite. Although I genuinely felt for what Mariah had to overcome and was happy she pushed through and went to therapy, ultimately she wasn't a girl's girl and I can't get with that. Why did it take a man (Dante) to make her confront how thoughtlessly she was treating her sister? Why did she spew so much negativity to her sister and swallowed it when it came to her father (arguably the real source of her anger)? She just didn't curl all the way over for me. But it was a good book, great even.

Thank you to Hear Our Voices and Netgalley for the review copy.

This was my first book by this author and it will not be my last. This book was an emotional rollercoaster for me. I honestly didn't think I would respond to this book the way that I did, but so many themes in this book touched on real life. This book covers it all...family, sisters, bonding, grief, divorce, sickness. you name it, this book has it. It was all written so beautifully and the only think I could think was "Wow...my mama would have loved this book."

I related a bit to Sabrina as the younger sister. I know what it has felt like to feel not so loved by those closest to you. I loved that Mariah sought therapy to help her with herself. She sought help and guidance but focused on healing herself. Then she took accountability. At first, I didn't care for her, but boy does she remind me of my big sister. Strong, firm in her stance, but so loving.

I enjoyed the Gullah references as my husband is Gullah. So its always nice to be able to make those connections. Grandma Tabitha was that girl! I wish she knew what she was capable of. The legacy she left her family after all she endured. She's a strong woman...especially after dealing with Joseph.

Oh, and Kenni's grandma was about to catch these hands at one point. I'm just saying.

Overall, I'm a sucker for historical fiction and in dual timelines and multiple POVs. This was an easy 5 star read for me.

I loved the entire story line! Also with bringing up therapy and how many are afraid of seeking services for better mental health, Mariah was like her great great grandmother in ways. She held on to grief for so long she was shamed on moving forward. But being reminded that things takes time and to believe in faith will instill her back only eh right path. I wish we could’ve heard more of Mariah and Dante story line, we got to know Sabrina and Quentin is engaged. Overall great story.

This was my first book by Rhonda McKnight and it was honestly incredibly. I can't want to discover more works by her. This book was about family through generations. Women facing hardships, but never letting these things stop them from being great. I loved the story of the two sisters. They both had their own personal issues to work through along with not really getting along, but eventually they are able to understand each other better and see eye to eye. They end up coming together to support each other and maintain their family legacy through their great great grandmothers restaurant.

I also loved reading about Tabitha. It gives us a view of how the business came to be. Tabitha was a bright eye young girl who was deceived by a man she thought she loved. Though heartbroken by the unfortunate truths, she's able to start fresh with her children. Despite having fears of seeing her family again after straying from her faith and going against their beliefs, they welcome her back with open arms in the long run.

Definitely a five star read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the second book I’ve read by Rhonda McKnight and just like the other one it did not disappoint. Marian and Sabrina are sisters who both happen to be going through a trying time in life. After receiving messages from their Grandmother to come HOME, things change forever. This story has a lot of poignant stories that are told within the story that pulled at my heartstrings. Learning of Tabitha’s life story and the things she went through before she got to the “Sweet” part of life was just wow. Joseph had me fooled for a minute but my blinders came off quickly. I loved how things went between Tab and Grady. Because I had tears dropping for them by the end. I’m a definite Rhonda McKnight fan now. This was just so beautifully written.
This is the second book I’ve read by Rhonda McKnight and just like the other one it did not disappoint. Marian and Sabrina are sisters who both happen to be going through a trying time in life. After receiving messages from their Grandmother to come HOME, things change forever. This story has a lot of poignant stories that are told within the story that pulled at my heartstrings. Learning of Tabitha’s life story and the things she went through before she got to the “Sweet” part of life was just wow. Joseph had me fooled for a minute but my blinders came off quickly. I loved how things went between Tab and Grady. Because I had tears dropping for them by the end. I’m a definite Rhonda McKnight fan now. This was just so beautifully written.

Thank you Thomas Nelson, HearOurVoicestour, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance