I am not really a Hallmark kind of woman. But when I saw this book set in the south named Sweet Tea and featured a multicultural relationship I was on board.

Being from the south and married to a Latino man there is not a whole lot of represention for our relationship in books. And even though this one wasn't white and Latino I was excited to read it.

I LOVED all of the food. Like the whole book is based on southern foods. So you get fried chicken, tea cakes, greens, sweet cornbread, biscuits, jams, and so much more. And there is even a recipe in the back for biscuits and gravy.

I didn't love Jack. Some of the things he did got on my nerves. But they were very southern. Maybe that's why I ended up with a Californian. But he was from Nashville like me so that's cool. And Nashville and Franklin even make an appearance.

Also, there was something that was hinted at alot but nothing ever happened with it, which is weird. It is a huge part of the first half but it isn't even mentioned in the second half.

Overall, I think this was a sweet Hallmark book with some very serious topics discussed, which I appreciate. Plus, the author has already hinted that this will be a movie.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hallmark for this eARC.

This book is exactly as sweet as the title suggests! It’s an interracial romance between an intellectual property lawyer and the filmmaker who’s trying to preserve old southern recipes. It does lean heavily on the “big city person returns to her small town roots” Hallmark premise, so be warned if that’s not your thing.

After a tragic accident upended her life as a young teen, Althea left Milford and her remaining family behind her. Years of boarding school, college and hard work later, she’s just made partner at her NYC law firm and is finally ready to set her sights on the next item on her check list… whatever that may be. When she hears some aspiring film maker is cozying up to her grandma, she decides to take advantage of another case bringing her back to the south to roll in like an avenging angel – but Jack isn’t what she expected. And to his surprise, Tea – her childhood nickname – isn’t at all what Miss Ada described her granddaughter as, either. She’s prickly, antagonistic and convinced he’s out to swindle her grandmother. But there’s something about Tea that Jack can’t get out of his mind. And maybe, with a little reminder of her family’s roots, Tea can find what she’s been looking for all along.

“I’ve got to keep an eye on him.” Allie looked over Monique’s shoulder instead of into her eyes.
“On him?”
“Yes. He might swindle my grandmother. Why is no one concerned about that?”
Monique folded her own arms. “He might.” Her face was a mask of everything serious, but then she broke out into a radiant smile. “But what a way to go!”


Althea – Allie as she prefers to be called now – is a complicated character. Her entire life has revolved around making partner, with the result that her only friend in NYC is her executive assistant Connie. She cares deeply about her grandmother, but consoles herself by paying people to keep tabs on her rather than going back to Milford herself. But when she hears about Jack, wow. As an intellectual property lawyer, she knows how people can be screwed out of things – she’s handling one of those cases in fact, as she’s slowly coming to realize – and she’s prickly and disinclined to trust Jack, especially when she sees how much everyone in the community, including her “Granda,” seems to like him. Jack’s poor little handsome rich boy background raised my eyebrows at first, but it only took a few chapters from his perspective to realize that while he may be a bit spoiled, he’s got a good heart. He’s not sure he could say the same about Tea – at one point he muses she’s more like Iced Tea towards him – but he still sets out to reassure her that his intentions aren’t as nefarious as she fears. And while on the surface Jack and Althea are quite different, they both rejected following in their families’ footsteps. For Tea, that would’ve been staying in Milford, attending and then helping out with the college her ancestors founded. For Jack, that would’ve been following in his civil rights lawyer father’s footsteps. But Jack, trust fund and all, figured out something important quickly – he didn’t want to be a lawyer, he wanted to cook and share his love of food. Tea’s not sure she even knows that, but she takes Jack’s lesson to heart. That it’s one that her grandma has been trying to teach her as well… well, I’m sure it helped that it was coming from a handsome guy!

I don’t feel very qualified to talk about this, but there’s quite a bit of colorism ingrained in Tea’s thoughts. She wears foundation several shades too light, and after someone recognizes her because of her nose (apparently all Smithsons have the same nose) she resolves to finally get a nose job and have it narrowed. She’s removed all traces of her southern accent from her speech. It feels like she’s trying to distance herself as far as possible from her roots – reject all traces of her family, especially her dead parents – and it’s heartbreaking to read. But all of this comes to a head with her first case as partner. All of the other partners at her law firm are old white guys (she’s dubbed them the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, which absolutely killed me), and when her first case is representing a case about sweet tea between a white woman’s restaurant chain and the Black owner of a rundown restaurant, well… you can see where this is going.

“We got her strength. We’ve got her resilience and love. All we need is to know our purpose, Tea.”


There is so much delicious food in this book. Muscadine pie, cinnamon rolls, Coca Cola ham, biscuits… I could just go on about all the different biscuits for hours. Miss Ada is famous for running a year-end fundraiser meal for Milford College, which is how Jack originally hears about her. She’s an amazing cook and does it with so much love, nearly as much love as she has for the town of Milford and its history. I loved the bits and pieces about their ancestors and how alive they still felt to Miss Ada and the other Milford residents. Milford was practically a character in its own right! As for other side characters, I loved Sherry, the aforementioned sweet tea cook, and Tea’s NYC friend Connie (I want to know what happened with her baby!). But the character who really stole the show was Miss Ada. It was evident on every page how much she loved Tea and how much she regretted whatever forced her to leave Milford. Her quiet belief that she would come back eventually was heartwarming. Which brings me to another point…

“You’re with others who understand your pain and you’re all there for the same reason. To have God, and the knowledge that there will be a better day ahead to heal you.”


There is a decidedly Christian flavor to the book, bordering on inspie. From prayers before meals to attending the historic AME church, religion’s an important part of Milford and an integral piece of Miss Ada’s life. Not so much for Tea, who ran out after her parents’ funeral service and has basically ignored religion – much like she’s ignored Milford – ever since. There’s a reason Tea’s compared to the prodigal son! The tone isn’t particularly evangelical, but it’s pervasive, and I’m not sure how a firmly secular reader would react to it. It does lead to some extremely touching moments, though. Tea’s first time back at church (accompanied by an emotional speech from her grandmother) leads to a revelation for her, and suddenly the text switches from referring to her as “Allie” to calling her “Tea.” It was a very poignant moment and well-written, and Tea’s coming back to the church is as much of her coming back to Milford as anything else. Much as you’d expect from the religious content, there’s no sexual content besides handholding and sweet kisses.

Overall, this was sweet and heartwarming, and if this isn’t made into a Hallmark movie pronto, I will be highly disappointed. I’ve already added the author’s Milford historical to my TBR and look forward to reading more about the Smithsons!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This was a cute…Hallmarkish story. I mean, its publisher is Hallmark…so yeah.
Let us start off this thought by saying that this is a cute read and… I am not mad at it because yes: cute.
So, the gist. Althea does not want this stranger all up in her grandmother’s recipes…. her business. So, when she heads home, she is instinctively defensive of Jack and his intentions. And Jack? He just trying to get this cookbook off and running and then well…. Althea.
Sweet Tea is just that, a sweet read. For me, it was an okay read as I always like my romance a bit more…spicy but I get what the author was trying to do here. I have read Ms. Hugely’s works before…more on the historical side and her attention to details and the history she provides in her stories are always a good lesson I’m learning. The Blending of history, family and friendship in Sweet Tea makes it a somewhat memorable read.
The background of a small town in Georgia is nice and the food mentions? Another nice addition. But at the end of it all, I would have liked a more engaging romance between Althea and Jack. If you are more on the spectrum of semi-sweet sugar in your romances, then this one is for you.
Sidebar: when doing these cover reveals, please make it plan what genre the book is. By not saying this, imo is not cool. Me personally, I would have like knowing before hand that this book in an interracial romance. Surprising me with the cover is not the move some think it is. Anyolways, does it take away from the book? No. But make it plain to readers what they are expected to get into.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Sweet Tea is a contemporary companion novel (in a sense) to Piper Huguley’s historical Milford College books, which explore the founding of the institution. However, this is very much a stand-alone novel, because of the change in time period, alluding to the legacy of those foundational years in a way that will simultaneously please fans who’ve read the series and inspire those who haven’t to pick it up to glean more of the college’s history.

The story itself is pure Southern charm. Althea has been avoiding going home to Milford for years, until she had to for a case, and it was sweet to see her re-ingratiating herself with her old friends and her beloved grandmother.

Meanwhile, Jack has begun working with her grandmother, Ada, on a culinary documentary, which presents the initial source of conflict between him and Althea, due to her fears that he’s using her grandmother. But as things unfold, commonalities between them emerge, even as differences remain apparent. Althea is about to be the only Black woman to make partner at her law firm, whereas Jack happens to be a former lawyer who eschewed the ambitions his father had for him to become a filmmaker. Despite the initial tensions, they had enough foundation to believably come together and build a romance worth rooting for.

You also can’t talk about this book without talking about the strong presence of Southern soul food. I definitely wanted some biscuits and gravy after reading a certain scene, and there’s also a recipe for that dish included at the end of the book for any culinary-minded reader.

I enjoyed this one, and I hope this isn’t the last we see of modern-day Milford. If you love sweet Southern small-town romance, you’ll enjoy this one!

Sweet Tea: A perfect heartwarming romance from Hallmark Publishing by Piper Huguley
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing
Genre: Multicultural Interest | Romance
Publication Date: July 13, 2021

Sweet Tea by Piper Huguley is a sweet coming home romance. This will make an exceptional beach read for this summer!

This book is a such a great addition to the Hallmark family! The story is enjoyable and the characters are relatable! I really enjoyed the self-discovery of Althea and Jack.

This was such a great book! I recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet read! I look forward to reading more from this author!

I'm so grateful to Piper Huguley, Hallmark Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Another sweet and heartwarming story from Hallmark! I rooted for the characters, had fun reading their banters and loved the setting.
Good character and plot development, a sweet and realistic romance.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is a well written book that a lot of people loved, but it just wasn't for me. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and I just couldn't get into it. Don't let my review stop you from reading this book, you might love it. I received a complimentary copy from Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was really looking forward to this one when I saw the cover online, but it unfortunately wasn't that great. Being in the MC head in the beginning, and seeing how judgmental she was towards people, really set the tone for the rest of the book. Everything just felt really forced, even the banter between her co-worker/friend. I just couldn't connect with the way of thinking of the MC and it's difficult to enjoy a book when the main character isn't likeable. A few years ago the Hallmark books were so good, but this past year they all feel forced and have personally been flops to me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hallmark for an eBook copy for my honest review.

Everything about Piper Huguley's SWEET TEA reinforced why this author is an instant buy for me. Her attention to detail, historical anecdotes, and the brevity of her writing style made Althea and Jack's story a very sweet read. Kudos to the author for blending family, friendship, and history into a beautiful contemporary romance. I can't wait for what comes next and I also hope that Hallmark will bring this to the big screen. It would make for an incredible movie! My sincerest appreciation to #NetGalley, #Hallmark for the advanced read!

Althea Dailey is successful and has made partner at her law firm. Her first case as a new partner requires her to travel for a case, taking her back home to Milford, Georgia. Once she arrives, she is shocked to find a young man has befriended her elderly grandmother.

Jack Darwent is a documentarian and is working on a cookbook about Southern food. That's when he meets Althea's grandmother and encounters her suspicious niece who is convinced Jack is after her grandmother's recipes.

As they get to know each other, will Althea and Jack overcome their differences and see each other in a sweeter light?

Althea and Jack's sweet romance is a typical Hallmark sweet read that would make a nice movie. I loved the descriptions and the food, which made me feel like I was in the town. I really enjoyed how Piper Huguley incorporated rich history for Milford's ancestry in her work. It really helped established the small town roots and made me understand why this was a town no one wanted to leave.

I also absolutely loved loved the cover design. Thank you #Netgalley and #HallmarkPublishing for allowing me to read this work.

While this book did have the rhythms of the Hallmark movie/romance, it's a very rich story with detailed writing that made it truly enjoyable. It's got more bite to it than a Hallmark property typically would, with respect to its engagement with race/class/education/etc. I think anyone who watched the Netflix series High on the Hog about African American cuisine would appreciate the food writing in this book.

The romance itself has the prickly woman who has to be won over by the friendly good guy, and I think as far as romance pacing goes, it was quite satisfying. She was prickly maybe a hair too long, and then the final crisis was very late, quite silly, and so easily resolved that I think we didn't really need it at all, but I think this will make a fine movie and I hope Hallmark makes it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hallmark Publishing for allowing me to have an Advance Readers Copy.

This is a lovely and very well crafted novel. The beginning of the story is especially strong, and the small college town really feels special.

The author is definitely talented, as small character details really allow the characters to have depth, which helps to compensate for large time jumps, and the occasional feeling that I was missing half of the conversation.


Be warned -- you will want to take a trip to your favorite bakery or breakfast place for some home cooked biscuits and sweets by the end of the book!

*Actual rating: 4.5*

Firstly a huge thanks to Hallmark Publishing and NetGalley for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sweet Tea tells the story of thirty something lawyer hold up I meant Partner at a prestigious law firm in New York City who is pretty much hiding from her past in Milford Georgia. However home always has a way of calling you back so she ends up heading back home for a case about iced tea *insert smiley emoji* but ends up home to stop the dashing tall glass of water who is her grandmother’s new acquaintance, Jack Darwent. Jack is a former lawyer who is now a filmmaker making a documentary that Althea’s grandmother is part of. We follow her as she finds her footing back home, rekindles her relationship with her childhood friends, her grandmother and finds out who she is truly. This book was fast paced so do prepare yourself to be hooked and hungry( the cravings will hit). Piper also did a good job giving us baker vibes because I am off to make pie

Sweet Tea is a sweet romance set in Georgia that will leave you with a smile on your face! Hallmark movies have showed more diversity and now it has come to their books! Thank you, Hallmark! Can Jack crack Althea’s tough and suspicious exterior? Both have issues in their respective hometowns that they have avoided, but work through them while supporting each other. Along the way, they learn about their differences and how they aren’t so different after all. I really enjoyed reading Sweet Tea! Now I want to make a muscadine pie! Kudos to Piper Huguley for sharing this story with us! I would love for this to become a Hallmark movie!

"Refreshing" in every way describes Piper Huguley's contemporary southern Romance SWEET TEA, Devouring it, page by page, I was flooded with wonderful memories of all the times I'd been met with a glass of sweet tea at the out-of-the-way country inn in the northwestern corner of North Carolina, served up by the then-septuagenarian proprietor -- an elegant white haired woman with sparkling blue eyes who was as fierce as her wit was naughty. You left her inn two weeks after your arrival, having lost both your heart and your waistline, happy to have parted with both. She could have been one of Huguley's "Southern Treasures," southern women of a certain age whose recipes bear memorializing.

Like a nouveau Proust, I savored the sweet tea of my memories as I read Ms. Huguley's novel. She has penned a refreshing plot filled with a wonderful cast of characters:over-achievers, strivers, iconoclasts, and those who epitomize a certain southern ethos who embody the best virtues of Southern Charm -- as well as cuisine. Don't you love a good novel when reading it makes you hungry?

Ms. Huguley's SWEET TEA is what a Hallmark story should be: uplifting without being cloying. It's a glorious celebration of old traditions, and the possibilities of making new ones. Hug this book to your heart.

[I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
#SweetTea #NetGalley

Sweet Tea by Piper Huguley is really a ‘sweet’ story of family and community and of course, Tea!! Here we have the main character, Althea, who is an Intellectual Properties Lawyer living in New York. She is sent to her hometown to work on a case. (I loved the case by the way) Her beloved Grandma is an amazing cook and she is filming a documentary about her Southern Style cooking… and let’s just say the filmmaker is also a chef and let the fun and adorable banter begin. There are so many other witty characters in this book that make for a sure fire fun read!! I really appreciated the Milford College and Plantation history references… and oh, the church hat!!!
I really don’t want to give to much of the story away, it’s such a fun read. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. That’s important to me when I’m reading. And I’m truly hoping Hallmark makes this into a movie!! It would be amazing.

Thank you to Hallmark Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sweet Tea by Piper Huguley is a perfect summer beach read. The story is centered around high-powered New York City attorney, Althea Dailey, a woman who has run from her past in Milford, Georgia. Althea heads back to her Southern roots in order to investigate one of her cases but soon finds herself back in her hometown to look into her grandmother's new acquaintance, Jack Darwent. Jack, a former attorney turned filmmaker, is making a culinary documentary starring Althea's grandmother, Ada. When Althea and Jack meet it's far from love at first sight. Althea believes Jack is taking advantage of Ada and is interested in gaining access to her precious recipes. Althea has no intention of allowing that to happen.

Althea and Jack are quite different in many ways, but as the story unfolds the layers are peeled back so the reader is able to see their commonalities. As the romance builds in the story, the reader sees the heroine softening and blossoming as she falls in love.. It was very appealing to read about an African American heroine who is in a power position at a law firm. Jack is a multi-layered hero who we root for throughout the story.
Rich in culinary details and layered with Southern family traditions, Sweet Tea is a fantastic read and a great addition to the Hallmark fold. As I read the story I saw it playing in my mind as a television movie. A heartwarming romance that is as refreshing as a tall glass of Iced Tea.

I'm a huge fan of Piper Huguley's historical romances, so I was VERY excited to read this contemporary set in Milford, Georgia. Huguley excels at drawing a vivid small town, populated by memorable characters, and I loved reading about how Milford evolved through the years (with plenty of references to Amanda, Virgil, and even March). The romance bit takes its own sweet time( and in fact the supporting characters occasionally outshine Tea and Jack), but I so enjoyed hanging out in Milford that I didn't mind a bit. Also, THE FOOD. I'm already recommending this book to patrons and friends, and I'm very much hoping it will be one of our 2022 book club picks!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Sweet Tea by Piper Huguley is a refreshing story in the romance genre. Most stories that focus on romance tend to be heavy on tension and physical intimacy, but this story manages to ramp up the tension while staying PG. Althea is a welcome heroine--a black woman running from her heritage in the rat race of a New York law firm. While the story is romantic, Huguley digs deeply into the themes of home and identity, through both Althea/Tea and Jack, the former lawyer turned documentary film maker.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book which is scheduled to be released in July 13, 2021. I received a copy of Sweet Tea in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #SweetTea

Loved it. An interesting law case. A reconnection to her former home. A biracial romance. Most of the time that isn't even top of mind. A man doing his job. A woman protecting her family. A town welcoming a stranger. Yes, this does have the potential to becoming a Hallmark movie due to the lack of intimacy. Just the way I like my stories.