I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Lila left her small southern town and made a new life for herself in Maine. Now she has to return to her former home after her mom passed away. Memories and secrets slam her directly in the heart, and she ends up on a journey to understand the past. Beautifully written with enough snarky southern humor that kept me giggling. Enjoyable.

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines: A Novel by Pamela Terry.
First I will admit I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the word Muscadines in the title. As a southern girl muscadines hold a special place in my heart and bring back memories of childhood and days on grandma and grandpa's farm. I was not disappointed, the writer went into much detail of the southern town where the main characters grew up and described beautifully everything we love about the south. She also gives you beautiful descriptions of Maine and Scotland. The characters are enjoyable and the story line is that fairy tale I'm sure every child who has ever lost a parent would love to live out. This is the perfect vacation read.
Thank you #Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I absolutely loved this book. What a fantastic debut novel. The characters were well written and likable (for the most part). The descriptions were amazing. I could picture these places without any problem. I look forward to reading more from this author.

A nice story that was a pleasure to read during these rough times. Family secrets that are entirely believable. Reminded me of when my father in law passed away and my husband found out that his dad had been previously married with two children! But that’s not the most shocking- when my husband’s mom died we found out that his parents weren’t his biological parents! Yes, crazy things can happen when someone passes.
Two things stuck out for me that I thought were interesting:
1. The past often rides on the notes of a song.
2. It was impossible to tell if the lines around the eyes had been drawn by the cold hand of loss or the warm touch of laughter.

Really great descriptions- very poetic.

Loved the relationship between Lila and Henry although his being gay was kind of over done but I understand where the author is coming from.

What a great story. It starts by telling you the Mother that died twice. I thought that was odd then the explanation came that she had died for a few moments after hitting her head. I expected Abby to be the child the mother hates because she tripped her and caused the fall. It seems I was wrong. I read the whole book in one day since I could not wait to see what happened next. I will say Henry was my favorite from the book. The fact that him and Laila were so close made me root for them the whole story. I could not predict the ending but I was worth the time. The writer captured the beauty of all the spots the book took you from Maine to Scotland. I hope to read more stories from Pamela Terry.

This book took so many different shapes for me. I originally thought it would be about solving the mystery of a suspicious death. It took a turn to solving the intimate secrets of a family plunged by religious guilt and shame, and eventually, the deepest understanding of oneself. Though a bit slow to start, it picked up in so many ways in the second half and I was itching to find out what happens. A great read for anyone interested in a book about understanding both your family and yourself separately before you can understand them together. Would be a 4.5/5 if I could've rated it that.

Of all the places a great southern widow woman like Geneva, to die, no one would have thought, face down in her nightie, in the muscatine arbor. There you have it that's exactly what she did. The next morning her youngest daughter Abigail finds her. It was quite a tragic moment for her after all her and her mother were best friends and very close. After calling her brother, and oldest sister, then she can fall apart. Her two older siblings couldn't wait to leave their hometown. Abigail had stayed. Her mother lived there and they were like two peas in a pod. They knew each other so well. Then her and her siblings find out there are many dark secrets that have been hidden from them. Things aren't always as they appear. Even in the best of families.
A story of secrets, forgiveness, love, betrayal and self discovery.
Great read!

OMG. I loved this book. All the characters are so well written you feel like they are friends. Maybe it is because I grew up in the South or maybe it is just a good story or maybe it's because muscadines are my favorite thing in the world..I don't know, but you NEED to read this book.

Secrets have a way of coming out into the open. When lila’s mother dies in the muscadine arbor back home in Wesleyan, Lila flies home to join her sister Abby and brother Henry in planning her funeral. Lola can’t figure out why in the world her mother would have been in the arbor and no one understands why her mother didn’t want a funeral. When Lila and Henry discover one of their mothers many secrets, they set off on a journey that will hopefully help them to understand d her and her choices. But will it bring them peace - or more turmoil.

This is an enjoyable book with uneven writing. When I say that the writing is uneven, I mean that sometimes it is excellent and at other times, overly flowery. I'm not sure how this first time author can find the right balance, but I believe that she can. The story was compelling enough for me to read through it quickly, eager to find out the end, which was appropriate and satisfying. I would read this author again.

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

I loved this book!! having lived in Georgia and visited in Scotland, everything I read bought back so many memories.Three siblings all are led to believed that their father had died when they were children. All reunited for their mother's funeral where long laid buried secrets are revealed. I did not want this to end especially part 2 which takes place in Scotland. For readers of Pat Conroy and Cassandra King, this is a must read. My favorite book that I have read this year.

What a fantastic debut! After reading the description for The Sweet Taste of Muscadines I knew this was going to be a book for me! From the beginning, I found the characters completely endearing which is the reason I finished this book in record time! Pamela Terry does a great job with creating a multilayered storyline centering around familial bonds and how secrets manifest over time. I was most surprised with how much depth this novel had—so many heartstring pulling moments! The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is a 5 star book that I highly recommended! I am so excited to read what Pamela Terry cones out with next!

There’s nothing better than starting a new book by a southern woman author especially when the first sentence grabs you, pulling you into the page so you don’t want to stop reading. Terry’s wording is so lyrical and you feel like you’ve come home and can’t wait to read the next word, then the next and the next. She evocatively describes time and place, whether it’s Maine, down south, or Scotland. I don’t know if authors like to be compared to other authors, and if they don’t I apologize, but I kept thinking Terry makes me think of Anne River Siddons, one of the best southern authors there was. and a little of Terry Kay, equally as great. I think this book will be a big hit.

This is a family story of three siblings, Lila, Henry and Abagail, raised in the deep south, their father a preacher before he died and their mother a proper southern woman, and how this impacted their lives. Lila and Henry both living in the north are headed back home to bury their mother and their visit back home upends their life.

I loved this book and already know it’s one I will read again. My only criticism is when they were headed to Scotland the book was already at 70%, and I didn’t think with only 30% left it was adequate to cover what happens there, and it did feel abbreviated especially compared to the first half of the book, even with the epilogue tying loose ends up.

This book was so beautifully written that it was a real pleasure to read. The characters in this story are so well written, I felt like I was reading the thoughts of someone I knew. In the first few chapters as Lila describes her past Southern home and her present home in Maine, my heart swelled feeling like this story was written for me since my life has had a similar journey. Her description of what's its like to be Southern in New England was well detailed and very accurate. This story develops into a heart warming book about family, loss, and acceptance. I look forward to reading this one again.

This was a very detailed and descriptive novel. I wanted Part Two in Scotland to be a bit longer, as I felt like it took a while to get to that point (I believe 70% of the novel was read by then).

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I often found myself skimming this novel but I wanted to see the book to its conclusion. Why the skimming? Because Ms. Terry often is simply telling the story and not showing the story. It took her almost 20% before Lila finally left to return home after her mother was found dead. If she switches her writing style to show more of the action, then she will have.a winning story on her hands.

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.

Oh my! What an excellent read. I need to start by saying that I was really looking forward to this book. I was drawn to the cover and I am a transplanted Michigander who has lived in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. The author does a fantastic job in capturing the sound and feel of a southern story. This book really speaks to my heart. The storyline flows with such ease that I found myself staying up way too late to finish it. I enjoyed the self-discovery and relationships that this book emphasized. I really can't recommend it enough. Ifeel that this is an excellent read for women's fiction fans. Especially for readers that enjoy the works of Mary Alice Monroe, Karen White and Kristy Woodson Harvey. It's the perfect summer/beach bag addition to enjoy with a big glass of sweet tea or Cheerwine.

I would like to thank Pamela Terry, Random House Publishing Group - Ballatine and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Lila and her brother Henry never felt at home in their small town in Georgia. After the death of their father, the siblings flew the coop and started new, productive lives elsewhere. When their mother dies, however, they head back home. Their mother’s death raises questions for Lila and Henry and they are forced to reckon with their upbringing. The lush southern setting of this book is the star of the show. A leisurely stroll down a souther back road