Bitter and Sweet

A Lowcountry Novel

By: Rhonda McKnight

Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Angel Pean, Lynnette R. Freeman

". . . a poignant story of sisterhood, motherhood, and new love found in old places. McKnight's writing is as delectable as the Gullah cuisine at the heart of the novel." —Denny S. Bryce, bestselling author of The Other Princess and Wild Women and the Blues

From the beloved author of The Thing About Home comes a dual timeline tale of Lowcountry flavor, family, grief, secrets, and the sweet redemption that lies within the bonds of sisterhood.

-The Present-

When summoned to Georgetown, South Carolina, sisters Mariah Clark and Sabrina Holland both assume their ailing grandfather's health has gotten worse. Neither expects their grandmother's undeniable request—save the family restaurant.

Mariah is at a crossroad in her life. After being dumped by her husband and forced to walk away from their diner that she helped rescue from bankruptcy, bitter feelings consume her. Even though the restaurant has been in the family for eighty-six years, giving her all to another struggling business isn't something she wants to do.

Living out of her van and striving for a fresh start, Sabrina yearns for stability for herself and her daughter and a chance to turn her baking hustle into a bona-fide business. The family restaurant may be just the blessing she needs—but as old tensions and angry disagreements resurface, Sabrina wonders if her sister will let her have a say.

-The Past-

After falling victim to a love she thought would last a lifetime, Tabitha Cooper finds herself away from home and struggling to survive in Charleston in the early twentieth century. She is determined to turn corn into cornbread and to take care of her children the best way she knows how—by serving food that's good for the soul—and along the way forges a path that leaves a legacy of success for generations to come.

Through letters that reveal Tabitha's complicated past, the sisters discover truths that just might be the right recipe to mend their hearts—if they can find a way to savor the blessing of today and leave the bitter aftertaste of old memories behind them.

©2024 Rhonda McKnight (P)2024 Thomas Nelson

Phenomenal from start to finish

Don’t know where to begin…the narrators, the characters, the storylines… all that things. Prepare to go on the journey with this family

Another gem from Rhonda McKnight

This is another fantastic story from Rhonda McKnight. I love how she discusses the Black South Carolinian experience and our history in the state.

A Southern Gem

This story was an amazing journey. The complexity of relationships, strength, forgiveness, self-esteem, loss, and love. Thank you Rhonda McKnight for sharing your gift, and using your pen to empower and encourage women. I wish I could rate more than five stars. The narrators were awesome and embodied this journey!

This is my second book and they get better more better!

Love this audiobook it had me on the edge of my seat. I love her writing of incorporating the current state versus the past of a family. I can’t wait to pick the next book to listen to.

Narrator

Absolutely loved this book, correction, NOVEL. Loved learning the “Gullah” history as my father is from South Carolina but didn’t speak much about it. The narrators made me believe I was in the same room as the characters. BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO!!

The Detailed Story Telling

Loved the story of this generational family. It had everything from history, race, slavery, colorism, trauma, Love, determination and so much more. Loved all of it!

A great read

This book was so inspiring I wish that this book was made into a television series or put on the big screen. The characters in this book are so real. And the subjects that they deal with also pronoun I love listening to this book. The storyline is great. I give it five stars. It kept debate you from the beginning to the very end.

Strength and Healing

Excellent read sad and happy at the same time… bitter and sweet true meaning . Loved all the narration. Character development was good and I loved the back and forth in the eras. Historical and enlightening storytelling. I really enjoyed this book and audible.

The strength of the women

I like the storyline how the characters came together at at there weakest they found strength and they didn’t give up on God they knew that when God saw for he would make things right

Read it!!!

10s across the board! This story is so rich and so full of love, heartache and healing! I know Mariah is a widely hated character but I personally loved her character development and perspective shift by the end of the story. I have always love a multi-generational story and this story proved that love over again. Black women endure so much and still find space to hold each other up and fill each other with love and community.

Such a good read. The narrators were spot on as well!