Sally Kilpatrick

3.5 stars out of 5 but on Goodreads that translates to 4 out of 5. I rarely give 5's. So this is a good rating.

To be honest, I really didn't want to like this book. It has the word choir in the title. I love music so that doesn't mean I don't like choirs but choirs come with churches usually. Then I read the back cover which mentioned a small town in the South and a preacher and lost souls. A couple more ticks in the boxes as to why I didn't want to read.

As a current atheist and recovering Southern Baptist, I tend to stay away from books that are going to try to convert me subliminally or mention religion too much. I thought for sure this was going to be one of them.

But I stumbled upon Sally's Twitter feed a few months ago and started following her. She and I have had a few Twitter conversations even. I like the way she thinks. I like her humor. She has a great amount of southern sass and you know I like that. She lives here in the ATL as do I. I've gotten more than few chuckles or words of wisdom from her Twitter musings. So, I thought I'd give it a shot against my better judgment.

I'm so very glad that I did as I really liked the book a lot and it was a fast read for me. I had a lot in common with the main character, Beulah. We both love music, have red hair, stubborn, generous amounts of smartassery, ample bosoms, and don't like going to church. I knew I was going to like her right off the bat.

SPOILER ALERTS:
The storyline has a little bit of everything; humor, sadness, the death of a character by cancer, social issues, unwed mothers, drinking, etc. It covers all the bases.

There are some great one-liners in the book, especially the one about melons. I'll just leave it at that.

What I didn't like and the reason I docked it a half a star, because once I again I rarely give a 5-star rating, was that I wanted a resolution between Beulah and her mother. It didn't have to be a happy ending I just like closure. There was also some little hints left about Luke's past but we never really read about what happened there, why he was divorced, or the reason he came to town. I sensed there was more to the story but it just left you hanging.

The title listing of the book says this is Book 1 of the Ellery series but I have no idea where the word Ellery comes from and why it's Book 1 but maybe I just missed that part of it. Maybe Luke's past is discussed in another book in the series.

I'll definitely keep reading the series. The book got to the point where I didn't want to put it down and couldn't wait to get back to it each night. I'll always keep reading an author that makes me laugh and Sally definitely did that.

If you are into breaking the book down afterward or reading it with friends there are book group questions in the back and even a recipe for food mentioned in the book.

Maybe I should make Sally the first honorary member of the Well Read Southerner club. Hey, that's a good idea........maybe I should start one of those.e here on this blog.… (más)

"For this full book I give it 3.4 out of 5 stars, each story was charming in its own way. I enjoyed the glimpses that we got of all the characters ... just some stories I wish were fleshed out a little more than others. Overall, I definitely recommend this anthology to any romance reader, especially for those who want to get into the "St. Patrick's Day spirit." "

Read more of this review, individual reviews for each story, and THREE TEASERS here: rel="nofollow" target="_top">https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2020/02/made-grade-tiny-treats-2-st-p...… (más)

4.5 stars.

Bittersweet Creek by Sally Kirkpatrick is a funny and poignant second chance at love romance. A well rounded cast of characters bring this story vibrantly to life but it is the true to life storyline that will resonate with readers.

Romy Satterfield has come a long way in the ten years since leaving home. After completing college, she took a job as an English teacher in an inner city high school. She is in a comfortable relationship with a wealthy Nashville attorney. As far as she is concerned, her small town roots are firmly behind her, but when her dad needs help after breaking his leg, Romy discovers that her past is nowhere near as resolved as she thinks. This realization is brought home when she comes face to face with her high school sweetheart (and secret husband) Julian McElroy.

Julian did what he thought was best to protect Romy all those years ago, but his decision definitely took a toll on him. He made a lot of stupid choices and took a lot of unnecessary risks, but he finally decided to get his act together. He is living and working on the family farm and to help make ends meet, he also works as a mechanic in one of the local car dealerships. Julian never quite forgot his first love and although they have previously managed to avoid each other on Romy's rare visits home, they are not so lucky this time around.

Although Romy returns to help her dad, she is also determined to put an end to her ill-fated marriage. She never understood why Julian abandoned her and although ten years have passed, Julian still remains unwilling to discuss his decision. He agrees to sign the divorce papers, but complications arise after her boyfriend discovers she kept her marriage a secret. After learning about her father's possible plans for the family farm, Romy makes an impetuous decision that jeopardizes the future of her relationship with her boyfriend.

While Romy is trying to figure out what comes next for her, Julian continues to try to keep his father from destroying his legacy. The situation between them is quite volatile and Julian is quite suspicious of his dad's sudden capitulation regarding their land. In the midst of his family's ongoing drama, Julian and Romy are thrown together when she needs his assistance with some of the day to day operations on her farm. They are both surprised to discover they still harbor feelings for one another but will Julian's secrets and fears ruin their chance at happiness?

A wonderful balance of serious, real life issues and plenty of laugh out loud humor, Bittersweet Creek by Sally Kirkpatrick is a captivating small town romance with a refreshingly realistic storyline. The characters are down to earth and likable with relatable flaws and issues to overcome. The plot is quite engaging and moves at brisk pace. An all around feel good read that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys small town contemporary romances.… (más)