Book Review: Bittersweet (True North, #1)

Title: Bittersweet

Author: Sarina Bowen
Type: Fiction
Series: Yes - Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Acquisition: Amazon: Free
Pages: 340

Premise/Plot: Audrey is a career-driven woman working in a busy city trying to prove her worth to everyone, including her mother.  From Boston to Vermont her current assignment takes her to farm country to procure farm-to-table ingredients.  What she didn't anticipate was a flat tire and an old familiar face to help her get what she doesn't know she needs.  Griffin is a grump of a farmer, with the weight of the world on his well-sculpted shoulders, is here to help but not sell out.  Both driven by their own need to be successful, both lacking something they may just find in each other.

 Rating: 4.5 Stars

Sarina Bowen has put the 'sweet' in Bittersweet! A cute, contemporary story filled with emotional struggles, opportunities for personal growth, and some perfectly steamy moments between it all.  I couldn't stop reading this one.  

Quote: "It was apples, bulging biceps and rippling pecs as far as the eye could see." 

Is it fall yet? I need to find a northeastern apple orchard, ASAP!  Apparently, this is where the ax-wielding, shirtless apple crate toting, Green Mountain men are hiding!  With their thick beards, thick muscles, and big...strong...hands, gimme, gimme, gimme!  

Let's talk about Audrey first, she's amazing.  

Quote: "Beneath her girl-next-door facade beat the heart of a perfect sinner"

 This is perfect, she's sweet but absolutely full of passion and womanly desires.  Incredibly relatable, she is strong enough to be making it on her own, goal-driven, and prioritizes herself.  This is so refreshing! She doesn't go doe-eyed, fumbling idiot the minute she sees scorching hot Griff.  She's a lioness, devours him with her eyes, and takes him on head-on as a confident woman. Mind you she was the one that didn't return his call from the first time they hooked up.  Oh yes, the blast from the past rebound sex guy, oh Audrey I approve of your get over the ex with a couple hot romps with a muscle clad hottie! Get yours, girl!  I was very grateful for that, it made her more real to me.  I enjoyed that she is a trained chef, but humble and grounded when it came to the tasting of Ruth Shipley's food.  In the sex scenes, she had prowess but wasn't doing acrobats either, bless Sabrina Bowen for writing an amazing leading lady.

    Quote: "My happiness all came down to a war between Audrey's big plans and mine. The conflict was irreconcilable. And even if I had some crazy notion of giving up my plans to chase after her, I couldn't do it. My family depended on me."

Oh my poor sweet Griff, with stress like that, it's no wonder you're a grump all the time! Even the big and strong, the tough and rugged have stressors. A good woman and some steamy sex makes it all better, right? Hell, it would certainly do my mood a boost to have a romp in the bunkhouse with one Griff Shipley. Yes. Please. 

There were perfect parts in this story where I read what Griff said and my retort in my head was the same as Audrey's inner monologue.  It was hilarious and I couldn't help but cheer her on in her quest for happiness.  I was so relieved that this is a stand-alone book in the series. the entire book can be read without a cliff-hanger ending.  I won't tell you where they end up, that's for you to find out.  I will say is that I want to know what happens to the other bicep bulging guys, especially the tattooed one, your girl loves some inked bods.