I really enjoyed this one and thought Margot's story was very interesting and full of many twists and t turns.

There is a lot of telling instead of showing here but it didn't take away from the story at all in my opinion.
Margot's resiliency and ability to constantly make a way out of no way and just figure it out was inspiring.

My only complaint as it pertains to Margot overall was the fact that she never grew out of being naive and was entirely too forgiving, especially as it relates to what Lana does to her late in the book.

Speaking of Lana, I felt like as a character, her development was a little elementary. She is smart and headstrong while simultaneously being unnecessarily manipulative and at times evil. I feel like the excuse we got for her being this way did not curl all the way over for me.

All in all, this story felt unique, relatable, and was a real page turner.

This was a well-told story that spanned multiple decades through Black history. Though I felt like some of the conversations were pat and didn’t explore an idea enough, A Taste for More was engaging with a quick moving storyline. Dixon’s characters bring a Mary Monroe book to mind- determined and charismatic but also very simple and country.
There were several characters I just did not care for— most of the men to be honest. Even Clark after a certain point. Winston for sure- for a woman so self assured, Margo really wanted to relax and count on someone else but chose the wrong people to put her faith in. I can’t even talk about Lana- I like a headstrong, tough as nails character as much as the next person but Lana tried my nerves and that twist at 90% about did me in! This was a quick read that held my attention over the course of two days- well done.

A Taste for More is an entertaining story of a young woman who boldly creates her destiny far from the Jim Crow South. Margo has bumps along the way and seems to struggle to learn who she should trust, but she continues to build a life for herself. I saw shades of Imitation of Life and Mildred Pierce in this book. Margo is a strong woman who loves her daughter unconditionally. As parents, we often overlook the less-than-desirable habits our children display. We don't want to discipline them too harshly or make them angry with us, but we are not doing them any favors when we don't correct outright bad behavior. Overall, this book is a masterclass in self-worth, parenting, and family values. Great job with this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dafina for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

This story was very comforting! I loved the recipes given and how the pacing was in this story. There were lots of things going on but each event that took place was important for what the story stood for. There is a more in depth review on my bookstagram page @chelsreadsss

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book! <3

Omg I absolutely loved this book so much. The authors writing style is absolutely amazing. I love when I read a story I feel like a little mini movie is playing in my head because it’s so well written. Margo was a black woman from the South who moves up North to get away from her small town & issues concerning the Jim Crow era. Unfortunately she leaves her daughter behind with her ex husband and mom until she gets settled, but one issue after another delays her daughter to moving with her until years pass. Margo is gaining some stability or so she thinks as she helps runs a cafe’ in Milwaukee & then finds love once again, so after awhile her daughter can join her and her new life. Yet when Lana finally comes everything really starts to spiral out of control. This story was really good but crazy. I enjoyed so many of the characters like Clark, Eva, & Mr. Ben etc but Lana was diabolical & got away with too much . Definitely plan to check out more from this author since this was my first read from her, because this was a 4.5 read for me. I appreciate the complimentary copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.,

This novel wasn’t for me. It seemed as if the narrator had been accidentally involved in every single pivotal event in the Civil Rights movements, yet she did absolutely nothing to move it forward. I was intrigued with the first chapter, however the subsequent chapters, where she transports us to the past wasn’t believable. I prefer a novel that is steeped in its history to move seamlessly between the past and the present to tell her story. This one just seemed a bit too egotistical.

Margo's story of finding herself and her place in the world - and succeeding at life despite roadblocks- will no doubt resonate. She's a good, well rounded character you can root for. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

I enjoyed this book & I finished it in one night. Margo was a woman before her time. She had many struggles that she had to endure and at times it felt like she was going backwards, but she prevailed. Sometimes she was naive.There were some time line inconsistencies such as mentioning crack cocaine in the 1970s, but didn’t really come out until the mid 1980s. Also Margo BP was dangerously low and in the stroke zone, but stroke BP is usually high. But it didn’t take away from the storyline. Lana wasn’t a likeable character and I rolled my eyes everytime she spoke. Overall I enjoyed the story and the twist ending! Whoa..that wasn’t expected! Really appreciated the recipes at the end of the book especially the chicken Marsala. I would recommend this book.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher & of course the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Phyllis R Dixon has solidified her place as one of my favorite authors, so when I stumbled upon her upcoming release, I was eager to dive in. The book started off strong, immediately pulling me into Margo's story and prompting me to uncover how everything had spiraled out of control. However, as I reached the middle of the book, I found myself feeling like the plot was meandering and repetitive. Just as the story regained momentum, it ended, leaving me feeling a bit shortchanged and rushed. While some parts of the narrative were predictable, overall, it was a simple yet decent read.

Thank you to Kensington and Dafina for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.