From the Bookshelf of Turning Pages At Midnight…

Bittersweet (True North, #1)

Sarina Bowen

Start date: July 16, 2016

Finish date: July 26, 2016

Discussion: Buddy Reads

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Buddy Reads

* September 2025 Buddy Reads
By Diana · 13 posts · 21 views

last updated Sep 04, 2025 07:25AM

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What Members Thought

Mar 17, 2019 Diana rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook

I know I am waaayy late to this book party, but thanks to the Pick for Me Challenge, I finally got a chance to read it, and I absolutely loved it.

There was no OTT drama or angst, just a sweet second chance romance between a grumpy farmer, Griff Shipley, and a woman from his college days, Audrey Kidder. Griff and Audrey were complete opposites, but they fit together so well. Griff being the hardworking farmer hoping he is making the right decisions for the farm, and Audrey, a city girl, who was ...more

22 likes · Like · see review

Jun 09, 2019 Leila rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, laugh-out-loud, animals, second-chance-romance, i-could-live-in-this-book, 2019-reads, rrrc-challenges

4.5 apple cider stars!

I’ve only recently read my first Sarina Bowen book and thought that I would continue with her True North Series. I grew up in the country not far from Vermont and my first crush was a farm boy. So I had a little soft spot for this book before it even started.

This is a low-angst, low-drama story of second-chance romance; though I’m not sure I would call two hookups in college as love. But fate has landed Audrey right in Griffin’s ditch (no that’s not a euphemism for somethi ...more

16 likes · Like · see review

Jun 04, 2016 Kate rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: wounded-broody-and-handsome-alphas, funny-as-fcuk, all-things-romance, the-tingles, ebooks, 4-stars, best-book-boyfriends

Free on Amazon 23/05/2018

4 Grumpy Griff & Princess Stars

Audrey Kidder wants to be a chef she works for the devil. Due to some really unfortunate events she nearly gets the sack twice. She is on her third chance where she is sent to Vermont to buy organic produce for the restaurants.

Audrey is cool. She is silly but she is also trying to get her life on track. She has dreams of owning her own restaurant one day well hopefully sooner than later. But she has a lot to learn. She wants to win the Gre Free on Amazon 23/05/2018

4 Grumpy Griff & Princess Stars

Audrey Kidder wants to be a chef she works for the devil. Due to some really unfortunate events she nearly gets the sack twice. She is on her third chance where she is sent to Vermont to buy organic produce for the restaurants.

Audrey is cool. She is silly but she is also trying to get her life on track. She has dreams of owning her own restaurant one day well hopefully sooner than later. But she has a lot to learn. She wants to win the Green Light Project to set up her own restaurant. Audrey is funny, hardworking yet silly and fun to be around.

But first Audrey is off to Vermont.

Griff Shipley took over the farm from his father whom passed away. He had a shot at being a pro football player but family comes first. He’s somewhat come to terms with his dream abruptly coming to an end so he concentrates on the farm, his cider making and his family.

It is official have a major crush on August Griffin Shipley. One of my favorite Heroes this year. He has everything I love.

Grumpy - ✔
Surly -. ✔
Hot built like a linebacker but as a farmer good with his hands? Not usually the farmer bit but - ✔

That is until fate intervenes and Audrey and Griff are thrown together after two sinfully, sexy nights at university which both of them never really forgot. The past is in the past though. Audrey is on a mission to buy produce for the devil. Griff doesn’t trust the big companies and throws a spanner in the works for Audrey but they keep on bumping into one another and well Audrey and Griffin just can’t stay away from one another.

This had everything a good book needs.

60 drops of angst.

A splash of humor.

“Afternoon,” Griff rumbled. “How’s business?” “Not bad. I bought a fennel today.” “That’s fenntastic,” he quipped, wiping sweat off his forehead. “Omigod. You did have your sense of humor surgically removed, didn’t you? Did it leave a scar?”

A pinch of grumpiness and gruffness.

A cup of hot, sweaty, sizzling and sinful nights.

“But don’t you ever tell me I don’t have any manners.” “Ha,” I scoffed. “You’re a grouch. But a hot one.” “At least you could fuck me while you tell me all my flaws.”

A dash of sweet

All the teasing fell out of her voice, which became soft. “Would you like a scone, Grouch Griff?” “Ye, please princess.”

6 a tablespoon of drama.

Audrey is obsessed with produce.

“Oh! These are glorious!” she said of a picturesque display of winter squashes. “Omigod, is this an ambercup?” She hugged an orange squash like a long lost child. “I never see these in Boston. They have the best flavor and texture. It’s so moist and buttery.”

One of my all-time favorite quotes is

“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations.” –Oscar Wilde – I love this quote. So extra brownie points on my part.

I decided I needed a break from reading the ARCs that I have and one of the books that I'd bought. Is Bittersweet and it really hit the spot.

Why didn’t I give it five stars well pure and simple, Audrey's self-confidence issues. Most women have some self-confidence issues and yes Audrey’s “chew you up and spit you out” mother is a real piece of work. But there was so much self-doubt and then she suddenly has an epiphany. It happened in the blink of an eye, I would have liked to have seen progress. I also guessed how it was going to play out with the issue at hand but well done Ms. Bowen, well done!!!

The secondary characters are just as fantastic as the main characters and I can’t wait to read Jude’s book and especially Zachariah’s book. I’d even take a mini novella with Zara.

But the Shipley family? Just like Audrey I love them. I hope we see more of them and hope that Griff’s siblings maybe get books as well. ...more

14 likes · Like · see review

Jun 07, 2018 Stacie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4+ "Tasty" Stars!

I loved it! I completely fell for Grumpy Farmer Griff and his beautiful farm and his sweet family! Plus all the food! And Audrey was cool too! On to Jude, who I know is going to break my heart in the best way! Happy reading! ...more

11 likes · Like · see review