Farmers make the earth move.
The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago.
At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings … supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.
Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay—a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.
They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some.
Warning: Contains sexual situations, gourmet yumminess, a steamy outdoor shower and proof that farmers don’t mind getting dirty.
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I love this writer’s characters. They are authentic and deep.
It was a bittersweet experience reading this book: it was interesting and amazing, but (the proverbial BUT people!!!) it had to end. So, yup, a little bit of bitter right there to the sweetness of the story.
This might just be one of the best books of 2016 I’ve read so far, and I think it’ll stay at the top of my read list for a long time. It’s unusual story to say at least, but it’s fantastically written. The colliding worlds of one grumpy farmer and sassy cook are brought to life in such manner that you find yourself sucked into the story after having read only a few pages!
It’s a story that unfolds mostly on a farm, and I loved how much I got to learn about Vermont and life of one cider-making farmer and his family. But, here’s what amazed me: when I read books where there’s topic I really know nothing about – what’s the case here – I usually don’t like that I get bombarded with so many new information that make it hard for me to follow the main story and still pay attention to details. That wasn’t the case in Bittersweet. The main story and these little details about farming, apples, ciders, cook-like thingies – it was all perfectly composed. A perfect mix. Bittersweet.
Grumpy Griff is by far my favorite farmer. He’s really making some changes on my fave book boyfriends list! He’s an amazing man dedicated to his family, and to the job he loves. Despite the hard time. Audrey… she’s the character that brings the smile on your face – the one you just can’t not love. And their love definitely deserved a story – and they got the most perfect ne they could get!
Loved it. Seriously. Read it.
Loved the family scenes. Hope there is romance in the future for the Mom.
This was such a sweet and enjoyable story.
I was totally engaged in it even if at times there were too many details of the farmers lives,but that shows that the author knows what she is writing.
I liked all the characters of this story and can’t wait to read more about them in the next books of the series.
At the beginning I was a little angry at our Hero pretentious and judging behaviour but fortunately our grumpy farmer,Griffin, changes his mind knowing our heroine better with the help of his family and his hired hands.
I liked Audrey right away,she puts a smile on my face every other page and at the tough times I envy her strength and her obstinacy to reach her goal and see her dreams come true.
At the end Griffin and Audrey relationship made me feel warm inside…and that’s why I read Romance.
Farmer Grif, the bearded wonder, has this whole tractor beam of hotness thing goin’ on. I’ll review later. I need to read Jude’s story like right now!
I really enjoyed this book, the characters were very likeable.
Great characters with real life situations!
Liked the story and the characters. Now trading others on this seried
When I first started Bittersweet, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Griff caught my attention, but Audrey came off as a horrible, spoiled brat. This was just within the first 15%!
However….
Audrey turned out to be sweet, funny, and a real trooper over her work situation. She easily fell into Griff’s family rhythm and fit perfectly into Griff’s daily life as if she had been made for the role. Griff was my favorite part of the story. He was this gruff, hardworking farmer, trying to keep the family farm going to support his siblings, mom and grandpa. What Griff didn’t know was what his life was missing until Audrey showed up, with a flat tire and a bright ray of sunshine.
Maybe it makes me odd, but I loved the descriptions of food, organic farm life, and the idyllic countryside moments in the apple orchards. It had me wanting to take a trip through Vermont! While it did sometimes overpower the romance building between Griff and Audrey, it also kept the environment realistically relatable. It also showcased the challenges these two faced trying to nurture a relationship while living very different lives.
I almost gave up when Audrey was first introduced, but I am happy I stuck it out! Bittersweet turned out to be a slow burning, sweetly written, second chance romance I thoroughly enjoyed!
Two people going in different directions , from totally different up brings , in two different areas in New England , falling in love and making it work ! What more could two people ask for ??
A feel good read. I definitely wanted to be sitting around the table, tasting the fare!
BITTERSWEET – Sarina Bowen – 5 BIG AND FAT STARS
Former rich-girl Audrey never really knew what to do with her life.
She tried college, twice. Didn’t work out.
After that, her Boston-royalty mom cut her off from the family money.
And Audrey found her passion on her own…she went to culinary school and became a chef.
Only she’s not really working as a chef yet. She’s interning at this huge Restaurant-group, BPG, as the girl for everything. Everything she’s not really talented for.
They send her off to Vermont to talk farmers into selling their fine products to Boston restaurants.
That’s where she runs into Griffin. Again.
They had a little – and verrry hot – two-week-affair five years ago.
And the attraction is still there.
So between fighting about cider prices and Audrey cooking in Griff’s mom’s kitchen, there will be some very sexy moments.
But can a farmer from Vermont and an up-and-coming cooking legend from Boston ever get their Happy Ending with each other??
What will happen to Audrey & Griff?
Will there be a Happily Ever After?
Or will there be a huge Cliffy?
Oooohh – the cover!
Such a hot cover-guy. Even though he kinda had me thinking of some kind of shapeshifter-vampire-werewolves book at first I think the cover – even though it’s really hot – is a tiny bit too dark for this happy-sunny-apple-cider story.
And I LoOoOoOoVED the story!
I can’t even find enough words to say how much I loved this book!!!!
Griff and Audrey are sooo adorable!
Griffin, the brooding, grouchy, quiet farmer. Who’s had to worry about the family farm ever since his dad died and he had to give up his football future. But who is now so very adorably proud of his cider and everything he achieved.
And this cute former rich sorority girl, who finally knows what she wants to do with her life.
It’s just too cute to watch them argue and make up.
And I loved how Audrey felt right at home with Griff’s family. She only ever had her not very loving, single mom and cooks and maids growing up. She was never allowed in the kitchen. But Griff’s mom lets her do whatever she wants in the kitchen.
You just want Griffin and Audrey to hurry the eff up and get married, so that she can move in there and cook for the farm. But of course it’s not as simple as that. She’s dreaming of owning her own restaurant … in Boston.
This book had everything a great romance needs.
VERRY funny and adorable and even some very moving scenes and of course
…. lots of SEXY times!!!!
I’m not really good with words and writing, so I can’t really express how much I adored this book. But I did. You should go and read it asap. Or not – because I wouldn’t mind keeping Griff and his cider all for myself
And I loved all the supporting characters – Griff’s family and the farm-helperlings… perfect cast!
I wouldn’t mind seeing this series on HBO one day
Can’t wait to see what Jude will tell us in the next book!
BITTERSWEET was an amazingly funny & adorable & sexy & moving Romance! What’s not to love about a hot & adorable bearded apple farmer? I’m planning of moving there asap, get rid of Audrey and move in with Griff to ‘make cider’ for the rest of our lives!!! Sorry Audrey
One of the best I have read in a while. The Vermont setting was very realistically written and I loved each and every character. Can’t wait to read more.
Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen is a fantastic contemporary romance. Ms. Bowen has given us a well-written book loaded with phenomenal characters. This is written in first person, alternating point of view format, which I normally hate, but the author made it work in this story. Griffen gave up a chance at a pro football career to return home to run the family orchard when his father died unexpectedly. Audrey is an underpaid, overworked new chef. Their story is full of drama, humor and smokin’ hot sex. I totally love the humor in this book. I enjoyed reading this book and would happily read more from Sarina Bowen in the future. Bittersweet is book 1 of the True North Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
EVERY SINGLE TIME I read this book I get teary eyed. I love these two.
This book was wonderful. The chemistry between Griff and Audrey was palpable. I loved that they had a previous connection and it was so strong it lasted through space and time. This book made my heart squeeze numerous times and I definitely smiled a lot!
I have really enjoyed all of Sarina Bowen’s books that I have read. This first book in her True North series was a welcome addition to that!
This book is about a couple- Griffin and Audrey- who hooked up in college, but nothing came of it. Audrey had just gotten out of a relationship at that time, while Griffin wasn’t exactly known for having girlfriends. So it was a great surprise when Audrey, now trying to become a chef for a large corporation in Boston, ends up with a flat tire on the side of Griffin’s family’s farm. These two work through a lot, and come together wonderfully!
I loved the way Griffin took control of taking care of his family and their farm, while still trying to Perdue a new dream of his. And Audrey manages to find herself finally after struggling with finding her place in this world.
The writing was wonderful, and I absolutely fell in love with the side characters! I can’t wait for more!!
Sarina Bowen writes such realistic, likable characters. Just the right amount of drama vs. fun.