I received a free ebook of The Sweet Taste of Muscadines from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Wow! What an unexpected pleasure to read this book. Reminiscent of Pat Conroy's South, Terry paints a Southern setting filled with charm and grace, prejudice and lies. Adult Lila and her brother and sister come together in the wake of their mother's death. Lila, the oldest, had longed lived in Maine, away from the stifling South where she bore the loneliness of her father's early death. Henry, the middle child, had escaped to New England to live an authentic and happy life as a gay man, a lifestyle he deemed impossible in the judgmental environment of his youth. And Abigail, the youngest and their mother's favorite, had stayed in the role of Southern belle and mother's best friend. Coping with the reality of their mother's sudden passing and discovering that the foundation of their lives was built on lies causes each to turn off their set path in order to bring some peace and truth to their souls.

The characters and settings in this novel are so well drawn - the Southern older ladies who know how to entertain and how to cut to the quick; the overbearing and overarching Southern Baptist church with its absolute certainty of how one should live a godly life; the stunning isolating beauty of the Maine and the Scottish coasts. Terry pulls these disparate elements together in a gorgeous tale.

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Narrator Lila Breedlove is a transplanted Southerner now living as a young widow on Wigeon Island, off the coast of Maine, who says of the South, “The roots of its influence still run through me like vines, entwining memories and creeping under the doors of my dreams.” A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, she lives quietly and successfully seaside, designing and creating woven garments, an occupation metaphoric of The Sweet Taste of Muscadines’ intricately woven tale.
In an intimate, first person voice as confessional as a private journal, author Pamela Terry lulls the reader with descriptive passages both atmospheric and introspective in such a subtextual manner as to significantly assist a story built on a family dynamic predicated on secrets forcing their way to the light.
The sudden death of her cool, distant mother calls Lila home to Wesleyan, South Carolina, where she’s reunited with younger siblings, Henry, her beloved brother, and Abigail, the doting sister who remained tied to their mother’s side. Lila muses, “It’s never wise to wonder if you’d be friends with your family were you not bound together by blood.” In the case of Henry, “There was no one on earth I’d rather be with than my brother.” In the case of the emotionally erratic Abigail, it’s another story, and although the sisters have culled different lives, a bond remains out of familial loyalty.
Southern tradition, cultural nuance, and unresolved childhood memories lie at the foundation of this engaging story. Because matriarch Geneva Burns is found dead with a spoon in her hand in the family’s muscadine arbor, the questions raised begin the unearthing of the family’s well-kept secret, which startlingly redefines their understanding of what happened to their father, and sets the wheels in motion for Lila and Henry to ultimately go to Scotland in search of further discovery.
Lovely, lyrical, and often profound, The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is women’s fiction at its finest and then something more. Written in two parts while weaving familial loyalty with the meaning of home throughout, the search for truth on the backdrops of Wesleyan and the remote island of Ben Mathan, Scotland is breathtakingly visceral, in an emotionally evocative story with a strong sense of place. Deep seated fear pertaining to keeping up appearances in the face of societal judgement against what the family is hiding impact the story, and Terry writes with a warm-hearted, equitable hand. There are no loose threads in The Sweet Taste of Muscadines’ rich fabric. A sonorous look at “the past we take with us, along with new understanding and the seeds of forgiveness,” it’s a satisfying, heart and soul read with resonance, sure to make you a fan of author Pamela Terry.

Pamela Terry’s descriptive writing explores family secrets and the destruction of people raced in a homophobic Southern state during the 50’s. The mystery of the mother’s death propels a brother and sister to journey to a rocky island in Scotland to search for their “dead” father. It contains enough mystery and descriptive sense of place that the reader is thrust into the cloying Southern heat and the wild Scottish wind and rain. A delightful read!

Pamela Terry writes a beautiful, poetic tale that people with Southern roots, family secrets and life struggles will enjoy. Well developed characters, lush descriptions and vibrant with emotion, it's a trip that will evoke humor, nostalgia and sadness. I would have liked to hear more about the main character's life away from her childhood home, maybe a sequel?

I just LOVED this book. It’s a perfect Southern story and Southern Baptists to boot. The story seems to have taken part after the Korean War so our society was more traditional than it is today which made all of the incidents very reasonable. The characters all have some great quirks, empathy and love. And the tale is just terrific—again very southern. BTW, I’m a Midwesterner but have appreciated and enjoyed Fanny Flogg and of course “Gone with The Wind”.

This is a story of a family riddled with secrets. It reads like a true family saga.
It really made me hurt for those, especially gays, who just want to be accepted for who they are and live a happy life. But there are too many prejudices out there.

The story centers around, Lila and her brother Henry, who return to their small Southern hometown after learning of their mother’s sudden death. Their mother’s death reveals a host of stunning family secrets. Lila Bruce Breedlove never quite felt at home in her hometown of Wesleyan, Georgia, especially after her father's untimely death when she was a child. He died in service. Both she and her brother, Henry, fled to the north after high school, establishing fulfilling lives and relationships of their own. In contrast, their younger sister, Abigail, decided to live her life in Georgia near her domineering mother Geneva. Now, their elderly mother has died suddenly and strangely. Her body is discovered in the dense vines of the muscadine arbor behind the family estate with a spoon in her hand. The discoveries prompt Henry and Lila to travel back to the town where they were raised. Lila and Henry are very much different from their younger sister Abby... in lots and in manner. The strangeness of Geneva's death, reveals some shocking truths that the Bruces' history as they know it, is not what it seemed. These truths send Henry and Lila on an extraordinary journey to Scotland to chase a truth that will dramatically alter the course of their lives.
Pamela Terry most certainly knows the culture and expectations of a small Southern town.
Great book!

"So much hurt in the world, and for so many years. All over who people love."

I was definitely caught up in this story! It is most definitely an absorbing read!

This family, with so many secrets, mysteries and sadness that need to be discovered and spoken about; yet, have been deeply hidden for many, many years!
Three adult children return to their home town when their mom departs the world in a precarious way.
What is it that this family has to discover in order to heal together?
Will this mystery be solved?
This novel is brilliantly written with the descriptions of the grounds, flowers, and journey of these characters coming alive as we attempt to resolve the hurt that has been hidden!

I will be looking for more of Pamela Terry's future books! Excellent!

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is one of the most heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful books you'll find. There's plenty of novels about family dynamics-what sets The Sweet Taste of Muscadines apart is the writing. Simply magnificient, the words hug the pages like a winding road-sometimes the terrain is rocky, sometimes it's smooth as silk. If you're from the south The Sweet Taste of Muscadines might remind you of why you love the land you call home. If you're a Yankee like me, parts of the book might be hard to digest. But we'll all find meaning in the story-from the struggle to accept our true selves and the peace that comes when we do, the real meaning of family, and the amazing power of forgiveness. Imagine-all this from a book about a grape! (Not really-while a muscadine arbor plays a pivotal role in the plot very little of the action takes place there, and the muscadine is only partially related to grapes). Muscadines are a study in contrasts-tough exterior, soft center, abundantly sweet-a perfect description of this book.

An unearthing of a past long buried, one rich with secrets and flawed characters. Revelations and confirmations that family life can be both heartwarming and maddening at times. It was nice to escape 2020 for a while to visit Lila, Henry, and Abigail in this cozy southern sibling mystery.

A few areas of the book I found to be slightly embellished, dripping with descriptives, but I suppose quite reflective of small-town southern charm. Bouquets of words meant to conjure an authentic, below the Mason-Dixon Line experience . . . where you can almost smell the confederate jasmine on a summer’s eve and feel the sticky humidity cling to your skin.

I thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an early copy of The Sweet Taste of Muscadines, it was a lovely treat that I highly recommend.

In the house and in the small town that Lila Bruce Breedlove grew up in, she never felt a sense of belonging. Her mother did not seem to have any affection for her and her brother Henry. So what do you do when you aren't wanted? Leave! Lila and Henry left their hometown and began living their lives. Their mother did have affection for their youngest sister, Abigail, who stayed in their hometown of Wesleyan, Georgia. She was mother Geneva's best friend. Lila and Henry stayed away and Abigail and Geneva remained at home.

Lila and Henry return home when their mother unexpectedly passes away. As they begin the difficult task of dealing with the detritus of their mother's life, both Lila and Henry learn that their mother kept many secrets. As they untangle the web of their mother's life they begin to understand Geneva's strange behavior. They even find that their father could still be alive instead of killed in war! But as they uncover the secrets that their mother kept, will it bring peace to them at last?

Pamela Terry has written a book looking deeply at family dynamics. How do they change when a member leaves the family? Can a previously good dynamic become bad? Lila, Henry, and Abigail all deal with their mother's death in their own way.and it will take time to determine the true influence of her life on theirs. Intertwined with the mysteries of their childhood are the issues that Henry has being a gay man in the Bible belt South. Son of a pastor, how can he be who he is inside without facing his mother's scorn? This story dives deep into life impacted by a rigid society. Henry, Lila, and Abigail know they need to answer their questions about the past so they can truly move on. The Sweet Taste of Muscadines shows how they manage to ascertain all their answers and make their peace.

A marvelous book full of family connections and mystery. After her mother dies, Lila returns home for the funeral and as the oldest child prepare for the event. Once there she and I were completely immersed in the c harm of the south - I can still smell the Jungle Gardenia. Eventually Lila and her brother go to Scotland in hopes of solving a family mystery - I can still feel the rocking of the ferry. Terry's writing is so descriptive and atmospheric the reader is completely immersed. . I have never been south or to Scotland but after reading this book, I think I have had a gr and introduction. If you read only one book in 2021, make usre it is this one. It's the best I've read in a long, long time.

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.

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#PamelaTerry
#BallentineBooks
#NetGalley

Wild Sage Book Blog

This book falls under "don't judge a book by it's cover". The title doesn't do this wonderful story justice. This story of family loss, family secrets, and small town connections is wonderful. The author has wonderful, descriptive language that appeals to all your senses. I truly enjoyed this novel from beginning to end - in fact, I didn't want it to end!

Rounded up to a four, actual rating 3.5
Everything about this book was enjoyable for me - the way the author grasped southern attitudes, the fraught relationships. I’ve dinged it half a star just because there were a couple points in the book where I thought “is this going to get preachy?” Though that didn’t really happen, it interrupted the flow of the book just enough (for me) to give me pause. Characters were well done, loved the mentions of weaving,

This story is a book of family relationships, emotions, and discoveries. Lila's mother passes away unexpectedly, and as she gathers with her brother & sister, they are surprised by her mother's desire for zero funeral plans. This is an unexpected decree from their mother, so they do a little investigating in to the death of their mother. They learn more about family assumptions and history as the story moves on.
The second half of the book was a quicker and more engaging read to me, but this was an enjoyable book overall.

What an emotional, lyrical and compelling story about a family mystery set in a small Southern town. The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is in parts hertbreaking, but a truly heartwarming story of family and second chances.

After her mother dies, Lila returns home for the funeral and as the oldest child. She never really liked her small town in Georgia, so she and her brother Henry moved out right after high school graduation. They had gladly separated themselves from the cage-like town and their widowed mother's peculiar parenting. On the other hand, their younger sister Abigail stayed in town with their lonely mother despite her many faults. So when their mother dies suddenly, siblings reunite in their childhood home to mourn their mother and get things orgaized... but they are left with many unanswered questions about their mother's life and death, all of which they have to come to terms with.

This wonderful novel is full of Southern charm, which is all the more satisfying with all the difficulties faced by the characters concernign a dysfunctional family and its secrets. But my favorite thing about The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is its rich cast of characters and their developmetn throughout the novel. It is very well written, so much so that I couldn't believe it was a debut.

In addition, I loved that this novel really made me think - particularly about the dangers of dishonesty and hiding the truth, even if we think it's for the best.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book ine xchange for an honest reveiew.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review. The Sweet Taste of Muscadines, by Pamela Terry, is a well-written novel about family and secrets. The characters are likable and the story unfolds as siblings, Lila, Abby, and Henry, work to find out what the truth really is.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well-written and really hit the importance of how hiding the truth can hurt people and the impact of decisions after we are gone.
Lila gets up one day to a phone call from her younger sister that their mother has died. Her and her brother return home to help with the funeral, only to find out their mother didn't want one. They also uncover secrets their mother kept buried since they were children. These secrets can change everything they knew to be true about their lives. Can they make sense of the information discovered and can they learn to forgive secrets kept by the people they loved most.
I think the author did a good job with sensitive subjects in this book, things were addressed, without being the entire point of the story. I also feel that the characters each had a role to play, however big or small, to create whole story. Thank you Netgally and Ballantine Books for a Digital ARC to read in exchange for my honest review!

An interesting story of self-discovery that is wrought with lies, deceit and untruths. Lila, Henry and Abby's journeys had many ups and downs but that's what real life is all about.

With a sad event The Sweet Taste of Muscadines opens up to family rediscovering themselves with a small town full of stories and secrets. With discoveries found, learning that what is expected and what actually is makes up who we truly are. Each one of us is ourselves not the town we were raised in. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC