Tag Archives: Susan Wiggs

Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs – a Review

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Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs – a Review

 

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Description:
Jerome “Sugar” Barnes learned the art of baking in his grandma’s bakery, also called Sugar, on historic Perdita Street in San Francisco. He supplies baked goods to the Lost and Found Bookshop across the street.

When the restaurant that shares his commercial kitchen loses its longtime tenant, a newcomer moves in: Margot Salton, a barbecue master from Texas.

Margot isn’t exactly on the run, but she needs a fresh start. She’s taken care of herself her whole life, pulling herself up by her fingernails to recover from trauma, and her dream has been to open a restaurant somewhere far, far from Texas. The shared kitchen with Jerome Sugar’s bakery is the perfect setup: a state-of-the-art kitchen and a vibrant neighborhood popular with tourists and locals.

Margot instantly takes to Jerome’s grandmother, the lively, opinionated Ida, and the older woman proves to be a good mentor. Margot thinks Jerome is gorgeous, and despite their different backgrounds their attraction is powerful–even though Jerome worries that Margot will simply move on from him once she’s found some peace and stability. But just as she starts to relax into a happy new future, Margot’s past in Texas comes back to haunt her…

 

 

Review:

Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs is another one of her wonderful standalone novels. The story revolves around Margot Salton, our heroine, who at the start has moved from Texas to open her dream barbeque restaurant; Margot has developed a special sauce that has become a masterpiece. The story is told in two timelines; the success in opening her new restaurant in San Francisco and meeting Jerome, who runs the local bakery next store; and her past in Texas, which was a harsh period in her life. This did start as a lighthearted story, only to spend more than half to see the hardship and injustice she had to endure.  

In the past, a young Margie, helped out in a BBQ restaurant that started her into developing wonderful sauces. In between, she hanged out with friends, including one older boy, who she decided she did not want to continue their relationship, since he was very arrogant and only cared about what he wanted.  One evening, making more sauces, the boy, after her telling him it was over, he then rapes her, in the process of choking her; Margie desperate for her life, manages to grab hold of his gun and shoots him.  This was self-defense, as he was killing her; but the laws in Texas only cared that she killed him.  Everything changed for Margie, as the victim’s family was wealthy and powerful, and Margie was treated horribly; with the police, judicial system and bad lawyers.  Almost a year will pass with a friendship that will bring a very good lawyer to finally free her, and eventually move away, under a different assumed name.  The past story was long and very a dark story to read.

When we finally go back to the present, we learn more about Margot’s successful new business and her relationship that will grow with Jerome, who owns the bakery.  Margot got to know Jerome’s mother, Ida, as they became close; with us getting a backstory about a love from the past. It was a nice story with Ida and Frank.  I really did like how Jerome was patient and caring with Margot, and when she reveals her horrific period of the past, he still professes his love.  The past will rear its ugly head again, but Margot will stand up to fight the evil. The food (barbeque and bakery) was fun to read, leaving us a bit hungry.

Sugar and Salt was very well written by Susan Wiggs. It is a story of tragedy, second chances, as well as love and friendship.  Though there was a long and tragic storyline from the past, but overall this was a great story line.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs – a Review

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The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs – a Review

 

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Description:
There is a book for everything . . .

Somewhere in the vast Library of the Universe, as Natalie thought of it, there was a book that embodied exactly the things she was worrying about.

In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather Andrew, her only living relative—not counting her scoundrel father.

But the gruff, deeply kind Andrew has begun displaying signs of decline. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the derelict but valuable building on historic Perdita Street, which is in need of constant fixing. There’s only one problem–Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.

After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.

To Natalie’s surprise, her sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new connections, discoveries and revelations, from unearthing artifacts hidden in the bookshop’s walls, to discovering the truth about her family, her future, and her own heart.

 

 

Review:

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs is a wonderful standalone novel. We meet our heroine, Natalie Harper immediately, as she is being honored for a promotion at her job.  Natalie learns a short time after the announcement, that her mother and her boyfriend, who were flying to be at the announcement were killed in a plane crash. 

When Natalie inherits her mother’s bookstore in San Francisco, she realizes it is financially strapped, and when she inquires about selling the store, she learns her grandfather is actually the owner.  Grandy (her grandfather is in stages of dementia) and he refuses to see the bookstore.  Natalie decides to quit her job, and see if she can bring the bookstore back to its former glory, as well as become the caregiver for her beloved Grandy.  Though she is in financial straits, Natalie slowly begins to remember the good old days when she loved staying at the book store.   She meets Peach Gallagher, a contractor, who is willing to help her renovate the old historical building, especially areas that need immediate care. 

What follows is a heartwarming story, revolving around the past, as far back as Grandy’s father, with discoveries of artifacts, journals behind the archaic walls that were falling apart.  These discoveries lead to stories of how and why they were hidden, leading to treasures to be given back to those who may have lost it years before.  It is a story of the present, with Natalie, Grandy, Peach, Dorothey (Peach’s sweet young daughter) and Trevor (a possible romantic interest for Natalie, who is a famous author); and a story of the family’s history back to the days after the 1906 earthquake and how the bookshop started.

I really liked Natalie, as she made a great heroine, especially as her life changed, and she found herself happier than ever.  There is a little romance, and I liked both Peach and Trevor.  Of course, Dorothy was an adorable cute girl. Grandy was terrific as a wonderful kind hearted grandfather, who we enjoyed in his lucid days.  Susan Wiggs did a wonderful job creating these wonderful characters.

The Lost and Found Bookshop was a very good story that kept your attention throughout.  This story revolved around the present and the past, with a bit of everything;  history, romance, mystery, and wonderful characters that you couldn’t help but care for.   The Lost and Found Bookshop was so very well written by Susan Wiggs. I suggest you read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

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Family Tree by Susan Wiggs – a Review

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Family Tree by Susan Wiggs – a Review

 

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Description:
Sometimes the greatest dream starts with the smallest element. A single cell, joining with another. And then dividing. And just like that, the world changes.

Annie Harlow knows how lucky she is. The producer of a popular television cooking show, she loves her handsome husband and the beautiful Manhattan home they share. And now, she’s pregnant with their first child.

But in an instant, her life is shattered. And when Annie awakes from a year-long coma, she discovers that time isn’t the only thing she’s lost.

Grieving and wounded, Annie retreats to her old family home in Switchback, Vermont, a maple farm generations old. There, surrounded by her free-spirited brother, their divorced mother, and four young nieces and nephews, Annie slowly emerges into a world she left behind years ago: the town where she grew up, the people she knew before, the high-school boyfriend turned ex-cop. And with the discovery of a cookbook her grandmother wrote in the distant past, Annie unearths an age-old mystery that might prove the salvation of the family farm.

Family Tree is the story of one woman’s triumph over betrayal, and how she eventually comes to terms with her past. It is the story of joys unrealized and opportunities regained. Complex, clear-eyed and big-hearted, funny, sad, and wise, it is a novel to cherish and to remember.

 

Review:

Family Tree by Susan Wiggs is a standalone contemporary fiction novel.  We meet our heroine, Annie Rush immediately, as she is a successful producer of her own cooking show and happily married to Martin, who is the star of the show.  Annie discovers to her surprise that she is pregnant, and hurries to the studio to tell Martin the news.  At this point, Annie’s life is about to change.  Much to her dismay, she finds Martin with another woman, and when she runs away, a scaffolding accident will put her into a coma for one year.  When Annie awakens, she has a hard time focusing and remembers very little; she learns that she is back home in Vermont, in a hospital with her family surrounding her.

What follows is Annie’s road to recovery, starting with therapy to teach her body to learn how to do the basic functions again.  Annie confusion is partially due to memory loss, which will slowly return.  In the beginning she has no memory of Martin or her life in L.A.   Annie did have dreams while in her coma of her younger days in Vermont, especially the man she loved, Fletcher.  The story goes back and forth in flashbacks between the days when she was with Fletcher and doing a cooking video thesis, and current day. Family Tree is a story of survival, love, family and betrayal, as Annie tries to restart her life.

Fletcher was a great hero, having never forgotten Annie.  When he visits her in the hospital, she immediately remembers Fletcher, and slowly the romance between will begin. For now they remain just friends.   In her flashbacks, we learn that Fletcher, who was poor, decided that he could not keep up with Annie, and distanced himself.  Especially after a tragic accident with his father, which forced him to stay home.  We also watch in flashbacks how Fletcher learned from helping his father many legal aspects, which changed the direction of his life. In the current time Fletcher is now a successful Judge and wealthy.  Life has changed for both of them.

As Annie memory returns, she learns of Martin’s divorce, the loss of her child and her creation, the cooking show. But Annie’s family will be there for her every step of the way, as will Fletcher, bringing her back to her roots and changing her life for the better.  Once Annie is fully recovered, she will step up to get back what is hers, but with the help of her family and her true love.  Family Tree was excellent and well written story that focuses love, loss, betrayal and second chances.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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