Bittersweet

True North: Small Town Romance, Book 1

By: Sarina Bowen

Narrated by: Tad Branson, Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Fall in love with Vermont in this USA Today best-selling series.

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 27, 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.

Warning: This stand-alone novel contains growly alpha farmers, gourmet yumminess, a steamy outdoor shower, and proof that farmers don't mind getting dirty.

©2016 Sarina Bowen (P)2017 Tuxbury Publishing, LLC

Critic reviews

"Fantastic." (USA Today)

"Smart, funny and super sexy, Bittersweet is full of the kind of writing that makes Sarina Bowen one of my favorite author crushes." (Author Sarah Mayberry)

Good set up for the series, a bit slow to start

I have to admit that I found the story a bit slow to start. I had to stop and start a couple of times. This story follows Griff and Audrey. This is a second-chance romance and Audrey comes back into Griff's life when she tries to convince Griff to sell er employer his crops and cider for a good price. Though the start was slow, I started to really like how Audrey and Griff interacted- cute banter, good intimacy and a nice amount of interaction with other family members that will serve well for the series. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Saskia Maarleveld was good as a narrator, although I thought her male voice sounded a bit forced and unnatural. But I had no trouble distinguishing which character she was playing. This is the first time I've listened to Tad Branson and he also did well and was easy to listen to. I enjoyed the narration overall and was really happy to have the opportunity to listen to this book via Audible Escape.

so sweet

Contemporary romance is usually not my thing but I really enjoyed it. While it was very predictable I didn't seem to mind. and still gave 5 stars so that's different for me. Ended a bit unresolved but hopefully more plays out in the following books.
Glad I read it, glad the rest of the series is available with audible escape.

Bittersweet....

I really enjoyed this bittersweet second chance storyline. The chemistry and banter between Griff and Audrey is fun and sizzling. They are a perfect blend. I can’t wait to read/listen to the rest of this series. I enjoyed the narration.

Hidden Gem

I had my eye on this book for the longest time and recently decided to read it. I wish that I would have read it a long time ago. Such a good story. The narrators were perfect and appropriate for each character.

From booty call to forever love

Cute love story that started as a hook up. Slow build romance and very good dual POV narration. Made me want to listen to the next book. Recommended for contemporary romance fans.

Good book

Honestly it started off kind off slow and I almost stopped but then it picked up and I really enjoyed it. I liked the characters! And the narration was of course amazing!

Cute story

Cute story with many aspects to it. My only disappointment is the end. My first book from this author.

Lovely

This story keeps your interest and leaves you wanting more or a second part. I can’t wait to listen to book 2!!

This book has everything

Sweet story and passionate romance with the great backdrop of apple farm life in Vermont.

Sweet and Sexy!

I love this book. I have to give some context, I came to it after being completely irritated by the book I had just finished. Everything about it was wrong, to the point I was angry at end, both at myself for not being able to stop a book in the middle, and the author for writing characters that whine constantly and make every single bad decision. Ever.

My point is, I was extremely cranky when I started Bittersweet. I even felt sorry for it, any book following one I despise is a harder sell, for me.

This book is PERFECT. I have zero crankiness, and warm feels all over the place. I love the characters, setting, narrators, every single thing about this book. All of the chef-y and farm aspects hit my sweet spot, and the Star Wars references put it over the top. This is my first experience with Sarina Bowen, and I am a fan for life!