I’ve read a lot of good books lately, but the writing of this novel truly sets it apart. I found myself highlighting so many eloquently written lines throughout this book. An example: “As with so many of the women in my family, there were no subtleties in my sister’s life; all her choices, from adjective to earrings, were outsize and theatrical.” So great!

I loved the relationship of Henry and Nila; the type of sibling love that isn’t often portrayed yet is so endearing.

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 loved this book! The characters were believable and likable, and the storyline didn't lag. Very enjoyable!

Pamela Terry has an amazing voice which shines in her debut book, The Sweet Taste of Muscadines. Her writing is as tightly woven and complex as the patterns her characters weave. Her descriptions of settings transport the reader to places they may never want to leave. An excellent, well-told story of how family secrets impact the lives of everyone involved. I'll definitely look forward to reading more of Ms. Terry's work.

Thank you, Random House and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A very enjoyable debut novel.

After the sudden death of her Mother, Lila and her brother Henry return home to Georgia to meet their sister Abby and sort their Mother's funeral. But the circumstances of their Mother's death are peculiar, as are the circumstances surrounding the funeral.

For Lila and Henry, who both moved away from Wesleyan as soon as they could after college, returning home opens up a lot of old wounds, especially those around the early death of their father. Both never felt close to their mother, Geneva, who was quite a domineering woman, and who clearly much preferred Abby, who remained in Wesleyan with her.

As they start to investigate their Mother's death, they are led down a path of discovery, as they begin to realize that most of their early lives were a lie. Several strange turns of events lead Lila and Henry on a journey, both physically and emotionally.

A delightfully southern tale of family, small towns, church and expectations. The characters were very well drawn, and the descriptions of their locations, both at home and when they traveled abroad were incredibly well done.

While all of the plot points were very neatly tied up with a bow at the end, it was how I expected the book would end, and it was a really pleasurable read. I hope to read more by this author in the future.

Many thanks to Random House and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

When she was young mama hit her head in the pool and almost died. She has two siblings Henry and Abigail.Daddy was in the army and died of a bullet wound. I liked the characters. The dialogue was good

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry is a lovely novel that takes place in the South. Lila never felt like she belonged in the South, especially after her father died suddenly when she was young. She and her brother Henry escaped, vowing not to return except for short visits as soon as they were old enough. But a call from their sister, telling them that their mother had died, under the muscadine arbor changed that and brought back some haunting memories when they discover that their mother had gone out at night in search of a box buried under the arbor. The box contained secrets about their father, things they had never known...was she going to tell them the truth about his death all those years ago?

As their stay lengthens, they learn more than they could have imagined about their lives and family and it will change them forever. A brilliant novel! Thank you to the author, Random House Publishing - Ballantine and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

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The Sweet Taste of Muscadines
This is a bit of a heavy read but flows quickly. I really enjoyed it and believe it’s one of those books that make you reflect. It has mystery and family drama along with a bit of heartache for some because you see clearly how it can effect those in the book. I thought it was well written, and a really good plot.
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This is a story about a family of two sisters and a brother whose mother suddenly dies and after a horrible experience growing up with her they find out that what they believed happened to their father may not be what it seemed. Secrets are often kept because of no other choice which can lead to heartache and time missed.

I just wiped a few tears from my eyes, after just finishing this book, so I could focus on writing this review. The writing is exquisite, the characters are wonderful and the descriptions about Scotland are transformative. The cadence of language, in the writing style here, is metamorphic. Pamela Terry, I adore this book. Love, lost and found, is bittersweet. I do not recap the stories in my reviews, that is what book flaps are for, and I rarely give 5 stars in my reviews. This is a 5 star review for a 5 star writer. Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for offering me this ARC.

This book is about 3 siblings raised in a southern town after their father is killed in Vietnam. Two of the siblings come back home after their mother's death to discover family secrets and they take a journey to Scotland to unravel these secrets. Being from the south I enjoy books set in the south if the characters are depicted correctly and most of these were. I liked that the main character was not in her 20's. I liked this book and was impressed it was a debut for this author.

I loved every single moment of this book! I felt invested in the characters and couldn’t wait to unravel the story. The author did an amazing job dropping some hints but not everything and really keep me in the moment with these siblings finding out what really happened to their family. I was on this journey and hoping for a happy ending and I’m glad I got it. I loved that the end of the book gave this wonderful imagery of Scotland. I had to use the dictionary on a few words and I appreciate when authors expand my vocabulary. I really can’t say enough wonderful things about this book and author. I couldn’t put it down and when I turned the last page I was genuinely sad to have finished. I felt all the highs and lows with this family, cried a little in sadness and happiness, and wanted to book a trip to Scotland as soon as possible. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to enjoy this book early! I look forward to suggesting it for my local book club and enjoying the story again.

What does a lying mother, 3 siblings, and a trip to Scotland have in common? Pamela Terry has written a mystery, discovery story that tells us to overcome obstacles and find the truth. An exciting fast read that keep me wondering what was coming next. Beware, this is a dysfunctional family yet the storyline makes strong statements about love, hope and healing. I love books that have a travel element in them so really liked going abroad! Thank you Net Galley for a chance to read this ARC!

I received a ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

From the start, Pamela Terry's detailed writing transports you into the different locations she describes perfectly. Her writing brings illustrations to life vividly in the reader's mind. I appreciated that the story centered around a family from the South, where appearances meant everything, but true feelings were often hidden underneath. That is something so relatable and completely sad if you think about it.

I particularly found the family dynamics interesting. Lila and Henry, both who have since moved from their hometown, came back when their younger sister Abigail calls telling them of their mother's mysterious death. While they come back to help plan the funeral, what they find is so much more. They unearth letters that let them see into the past and help them make better since of themselves.

While I enjoyed the book, it certainly was a bit of a slow burn for me. I like my books a bit more fast-paced.

A beautiful story about family, secrets and the pain caused when love is denied by the community. With wonderful characters, including the small southern town of Wesleyan. We follow siblings Lila and Henry who return after the sudden death of their mother. Joined by younger sister Abby, we unravel the secrets kept and the results on the family. A great read that brings a place to life.

An unexpected death of a parent can throw one's life off track. What happens when one starts looking for answers about a smallish detail about the circumstances of that passing? Here, they find not chaos but a Pandora's box of secrets. The lead in this novel is a confident woman, a widow of middle years, who has to (finally) go back to her homeplace in Georgia, a place she really didn't want to go again. The sister is a small town drama queen and the brother a steady, loveable kind of guy who got out, stayed out and built himself a happy life. Most people can relate but the shocker is what is unearthed, literally. Though very unsettling, it eventually leads to answers to everything that confused the siblings as children. The relate-able moments of hysteria, buried secrets, family dynamics, small town Southerner social mores, and grief inspired drama keep this novel from veering into the kinds of books I put down only partially read. I'm glad I kept reading.

"The Sweet Taste of Muscadines," what a beautiful title and the book cover is gorgeous.

I have never liked muscadine wine, but I would like to taste a ripe muscadine. I love the south and reading books by authors with a southern flair in their writing style. I don't know that anyone can come close to the beautiful writings by Pat Conroy, but Pamela Terry attempts it well.

Three children; Lila, Henry & Abigal grew up in Wesleyan, GA with their mother and their father who was also a minister; he dies while overseas in the war when Lila was 9 years old. Lila being the oldest remembers her father more than the younger two children. As they grow up, Lila and Henry leave the south and move up north. Lila moves to Maine and her brother Henry to Rhode Island. They never really felt their personalities fit well in the south. One morning Abigal calls Lila telling her that their mother, Geneva, has died, face down in her nightgown in the muscadine arbor. Soon Lila and Henry return to their hometown to settle the affairs of their mother and to mourn her at her funeral, but things don't really go as planned.

The author is very detailed and descriptive in her writings taking us from Maine to southern GA and then later to Scotland. Her writing is very descriptive, maybe a bit overly descriptive but the writing is beautiful. It is a story of a southern family, one in which their father is the minister and perhaps how children of a minister should behave and adhere to strict southern beliefs and behaviors of which Lila and Henry don't have much time for.

I highly recommend this book. I give thanks to NetGalley for a copy of an early release for the purpose of a review. Thank you NetGalley.

Lila and Henry, brother and sister, return to the South after their sister, Abby, tells them their mother died under the muscadine arbor on her property where they grew up. Why was she out in the arbor in the middle of the night with an old spoon in her hand that Lila used to use for gardening while growing up? Soon, Lila and Henry discover a shocking truth that turns their world upside down and leads them to a Scottish island.

I enjoyed the characters and storyline of this novel. The characters are believable and likable. The description of Maine and Scotland make me want to visit them. There is humor, heartbreak and love throughout the story. I think this would make a great book club read.

Oh how I love this story!! Thank you, Pamela Terry, for this incredible book about life in the South. And in the Southern Baptist Church. And the complicatedness of families.

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines tells the story of the old secrets that are uncovered when Lila and Henry's mother passes away. After Lila comes back to Wesleyan to plan her mom's funeral, she discovers a small box full of letters in the Muscadine Arbor. Along with her brother, Henry, she pieces together the clues from these letters and begins to understand the relationship their mother had with their dad, and their community.

This is a beautiful tale of love and forgiveness. It is incredibly well written and compelling. I read it in record speed, as I could not wait to experience the story's outcome. Highly, highly recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

This is a wonderful book full of southern charm and traditions. Lila left her southern home and moved north after graduating. She returns after the death of her elderly mother to discover her childhood was based on lies and secrets that her mother kept from her and her siblings after they find some old letters of her mother's. When the letters indicate the answers may lay in Ireland Lila and her brother Henry travel to Ireland to see if the truth can be found. I found this to be a very enjoyable book and look forward to the next one by author Pamela Terry.

I was expecting just another southern family story - after all, muscadines only grow in the south. I was very pleasantly surprised to discover a well-developed story with a plot and interesting characters. Lila and her brother Henry left home just about as soon as they could. Lila's father died when she was nine and her mother became the brave widow, continuing to carry on with life. Youngest sister Abigail stayed close to her mother and thought her mother was her best friend. One day Abigail called Lila, living in Maine with a thriving hand-weaving business, to tell her that mama is dead, having died in the muscadine arbor, a very strange place for her to be. And, shock of all shocks, mama left specific instructions that there be no funeral. The story, written in two parts, goes from there. Uncle Audie has secrets he has kept for many, many years and it is up to Lila and Henry to ferret them out. Part Two shifts to Scotland, where they finally find answers to questions that have plagued them all their lives.