A woman returns to her small southern hometown in the wake of her mother’s sudden death—only to find the past upended by stunning family secrets—in this intimate debut novel, written with deep compassion and sharp wit. “A deeply moving work of Southern fiction that will appeal to fans of Where the Crawdads Sing . . . a story to remember long after the last page is turned.”—Susan Wiggs, #1 New … turned.”—Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lost and Found Bookshop
Lila Bruce Breedlove never quite felt at home in Wesleyan, Georgia, especially after her father’s untimely demise when she was a child. Both Lila and her brother, Henry, fled north after high school, establishing fulfilling lives of their own. In contrast, their younger sister, Abigail, opted to remain behind to dote on their domineering, larger-than-life mother, Geneva. Yet despite their independence, Lila and Henry know deep down that they’ve never quite reckoned with their upbringing.
When their elderly mother dies suddenly and suspiciously in the muscadine arbor behind the family estate, Lila and Henry return to the town that essentially raised them. But as they uncover the facts about Geneva’s death, shocking truths are revealed that overturn the family’s history as they know it, sending the pair on an extraordinary journey to chase a truth that will dramatically alter the course of their lives. The Sweet Taste of Muscadines reminds us all that true love never dies.
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This is the story of 3 siblings raised in Georgia. Lila, Henry, and Abigail are raised by their mom after their dad dies in Vietnam. As soon as they are grown Lila and Henry leave home and Abigail stays at home with their mother. When their mother is found dead, Lila and Henry return home. As the siblings try to figure out what happened to their mother, they uncover many family secrets. They travel to Scotland to find out the truth. This was a very good book and shows the love between family. I loved the descriptions as I felt I was in Scotland and Georgia. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Grp – Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a digital advance reader’s copy. All comments and opinions are my own.
I am usually skeptical of debut novels, but couldn’t wait to read this once I had considered the description and saw the cover. And I was rewarded with a beautifully written story of families, siblings, and secrets. Everything was described so vividly – without being overwrought – from the weather, the landscape, the scents, and the emotions of love and loss. I found myself impatient to return to the characters and their story, and I was sorry when I came to the end. This is a novel in which to immerse yourself – I highly recommend it!
#TheSweetTasteofMuscadines #NetGalley
I was enticed by the beautiful cover, so I chose to request this book from Netgalley. I am glad that I did because this is a well-written book with such descriptive passages that sometimes it felt like I was reading poetry. This is the story of family secrets that span a generation and two different continents. Lila is happily pursuing her life on a little island off the coast of Maine when she is summoned home because her mother was found dead. Henry, her brother, has his own life in Maryland and a partner there whom those in the hometown of Georgia have yet to meet. Abigail, the youngest daughter and the one who kept herself under the thumb of their domineering mother Geneva, hardly knows what to do with herself and takes some rather extraordinary steps to express her newfound freedom. This is a family drama about secrets that need to be uncovered, even if it means traveling to Scotland to unravel the truth. The suspense is slow-building but worth waiting for the ending. With themes of resentment, forgiveness, acceptance and family, this is a story that resonated with me and had me reflecting on my own southern upbringing as I read. The author did a fantastic job of portraying the south and the style of life there, a life that is insular and uncomfortable with anything new or different. Lila and Henry go to Scotland to uncover the truth and find a lot more than they expected. This is a book that cannot be read quickly because there is so much within its pages that are written from the heart and touch the soul. Fans of contemporary women’s fiction will enjoy this book as will book clubs.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
A wonderful book full of love, heartbreak and family secrets. What beautiful writing. Lots of wonderful descriptions. Not usually a fan of too much description but the writer had a way of pulling me in and making me feel like I was actually there.! Looking toward to another book by this author
Prepare for a rollercoaster of events. just when you think you know where this story is heading, it takes another turn. The twists and turns move throughout the tale as we travel with Lila and her family with one shocking surprise after another. The characters are extremely interesting, a bit of intrigue, a dab of drama, a touch of the whimsical, and always entertaining. Personally, I would love to spend some time with them.
I received an ARC from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine through NetGalley for an honest review. Lila, Henry, and Abigail lost their father when they were young. Henry and Lila left after they graduated and Abigail stayed with her mother. When their mother died, Lila and Henry went back to Wesleyan, Georgia and Abigail told them that their mother had gone out to the muscadine arbor in the middle of the night. Abigail told Lila their mother had a spoon in her hand when she found her. She showed Lila and Lila recognized the spoon as the one her mother had given her when she was young for digging. They went out to the muscadine arbor and discovered she had been digging so they started to dig and dug up a snowman. What they uncovered will reveal secrets and they learn that their family history isn’t as they believe. Lila and Henry went on a journey in search of the truth.
I was amazed this was Pamela Terry’s debut novel. She led us on a journey that revealed so much, discovered topics that were surprising but with compassion, and still, today is controversial. The ending made me cry not from sadness but because of how they came together and the author wrote this amazing story and it was her debut.
BOOK REVIEW: The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by author, Pamela Terry
ARC ~ Expected release: March 16, 2021
The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is a debut novel that has captured my heart and soul
with its lush and transformative descriptions, the authors devotion to its characters with their strengths and weaknesses, and a storyline full of possibilities~ the very reasons I love to read…
Long-ago hidden secrets that once lay dormant, have held three siblings worlds apart from what they’ve known to be true their entire lives as those secrets now begin to unfold in a most surprising way..
Author, Pamela Terry has created a story of heartbreak, hope and the beauty of forgiveness as she leads the reader through the dramatic unfolding of one families journey in finding the truth. Family history long-ago buried in the warmth of the southern soil, and a mystery that has sprung to life, gives way to a life-altering decision that must be made to either unearth and expose these family thorns by bringing them to light, or leave them to the darkness within the tangled roots just beyond the Muscadine Arbor. The choice becomes clear and the lives of Lila, Henry, Abigail, and those closest to them, will forever be changed.
My personal journey through the pages of this tender yet heart-rending narrative led me to a whirlwind of emotions from the charm, pride and traditions of the South, to the grandeur of the Scottish shores~ and everything in between. A story brimming with the tragic, the heart-wrenching, the inspiring, and a sprinkling of the humorous.
The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is wrapped with all the elements of what makes for a breathtaking, compassionate read and one I recommend highly. A debut novel
that will pull you in, spin you around, have you shedding the tears, and healing your heart….
I thank author, Pamela Terry and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to experience and review this wonderful story, and I look forward to more from this author as I’ve now added a new favorite to my list.
#TheSweetTasteofMuscadines
#PamelaTerry
#BallentineBooks
#NetGalley
Wild Sage Book Blog
The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry is an excellent novel that delves into the complex world of family relationships and dynamics. This novel is set amongst the wonderful landscapes of Scotland, as well as given a southern touch by also taking place at the current family home in Georgia.
The author did a fantastic job weaving a story of family secrets, misunderstandings, complex pasts and childhoods, resentments, love, loss, hope, forgiveness, acceptance, and finally family lost and found.
I loved reading how this mystery played out between siblings: Lila, Henry, and Abby and all that they uncovered in regards to their less then ideal childhood between their recently passed mother, Geneva with secrets and deceptions of her own, and the loss of their father while they were young. The characters were well drawn, realistic, and thoughtful. Not all is what it appears, and as they unravel these mysteries, understanding and change occurs.
I loved Ms. Terry’s literary descriptions of the cultures and landscapes of Southern life in Georgia as well as the alternative visions of Scotland. The images that she was able to conjure was by far, for me, the best part of the novel.
A wonderful novel that took me to another time and place and was a great respite from my daily routines.
Excellent. 5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine/Random House Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
This review is posted to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will be posted to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
I love this cover! This book is really told in two parts. The first part they find their mother dead and the second part they head to Scotland. I think I like the second part best. It was very descriptive and makes me want to go to Scotland.
The characters were like able and I wasn’t ready for the book to end. I really enjoyed it!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
304 pages
5 stars
Lila, Henry and Abigail…preacher’s children…The father was killed in Viet Nam when Lila was nine-years old. Of the three children, she remembers him best.
Lila has been living in Maine for the last twenty-something years, while Henry has been living in Rhode Island. When they must return to the old south when their mother Geneva dies, they are forced to confront the past.
Their sister Abigail, who stayed down south with her mother and was very close to their mother, has done a one-eighty at her mother’s death. Besides finding the body and her mother not wanting a funeral (a major faux pas in polite southern society), she seems to fall completely to pieces. Lila and Henry don’t know what to make of it. Abby is not the person they thought she was?
This book details the children’s journey to the truth. Some lessons are very hard to take, others are delightful. But all are profound. It is a journey of self-discovery, especially for Lili, that engenders both indecision and fear. It is about going home, finding home, no matter where one was actually born.
This is a wonderful book. I have no problem giving it a full five star rating. I truly enjoyed it. The various trials of the children were beautifully written – so descriptive! I liked all three of them, although I felt Abby was a little confusing, but it became clear why later in the book. It makes one think about how an individual’s actions can affect so many others. This is my first book by Ms. Terry and I immediately went to Amazon to look for other novels of hers.
I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine/Ballantine for forwarding to me a copy of this absolutely great book for me to read, enjoy and review.