Bittersweet #Review

Bittersweet

(True North #1)

by 

Sarina Bowen 

The new series is set in Vermont. True North is populated by the tough, outdoorsy mountain men that populate the Green Mountain State. They raise cows and they grow apples. They chop a lot of wood, especially when they need to blow off steam. (Beards are optional but encouraged.)

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the orchard.

The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago. 

At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.

Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay—a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.

They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some.

Kindle Edition, 293 pages

Published June 14th 2016 by Rennie Road Books

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Amazing!

Griff gave up his own dreams to support his family. Now he's a brooding grumpy sexy farmer. He worked his butt off in college to gain a degree in chemistry while holding down a place on the football team. He had made it into a team when he left college but that's when life threw a curveball. 

Audrey has an overbearing mother. She wants to please her but her strengths are different from her mothers. She's a college drop out, twice and an excellent chef. She's now on her own and struggling to find her place in the world. She knows what she wants but it isn't going to be easy. She's on her last warning at work and has been asked to travel to Vermont and speak with local farmers about providing ingredients for a corporate company. When she arrives, her entrance is anything but smooth. Her cooperate company have sent her on a goose chase and she isn't going anywhere fast. 

Audrey and Griff hooked up in college. They have great chemistry and can't deny it. Audrey's life is in the city and Griff doesn't have time for anything but his farm. Their paths cross and the wires are electric. Something's are just meant to be. 

I loved the background story of this romance. The apple growing and the mouth-watering baking. Audrey is a fun loving, self-doubting (but not with her cooking), walking mess but she funny and sweet. Deep down Griff has always known she was special. This is the start of the series and there are lots of chapters with a sprinkle of intrigue about them.

This book is great. 5 stars. The romance is intense. There are funny bits, touching bits and a lovable family.