I have to admit. . .chick lit, like chick flix, aren’t my go-to for reading. But, I met author Terri Gillespie at a writers event and found her sense of humor on point and her genuine personality connected with me, so I downloaded “Sweet Rivalry” from Audible. I wasn’t even through Chapter One when I received news that a close friend passed away unexpectedly. This was the same week my daughter was getting married and there were a lot of emotions. I honestly didn’t think I’d listen to it because it was connected to that news.
But, I did and I’m glad.
The story is about twin sisters separated in toddlerhood and raised in very different environments who are reunited as adults. Sarah is raised by her kind and Godly Granny who owns a bakery in a small Missouri town while Raven was raised by a drug-addicted and alcoholic mother on the run. Despite her challenging upbringing, Raven finds joy and passion in baking and attends a prestigious culinary school. The sisters are reunited when Sarah sees Raven on a baking show. Raven and her best bud, Will, leave the City of Angels for Minersville, Missouri to meet the family she doesn’t even remember.
The reunion isn’t picture perfect. It’s fraught with mistrust and insecurities as the twins try to figure out each other. There is just enough romantic tension to keep it sweet and curious. Will, Raven’s closest friend, falls hard for Sarah, who is in a serious relationship with Drew. On the flip side, Sarah’s friend, Asher, is smitten with Raven. Woven in the words are God’s grace, mercy and redemption, making it a clean, uplifting read. As a reader, I listened every chance I could and often sat in my driveway until the end of the chapter!
As a writer, I admired the way Gillespie handled Raven’s turbulent life and the trauma inflicted on her. Often, Christian books gloss over the very real pain but Gillespie didn’t shy away from it nor did she glorify it, making it very believable and I appreciated that.
Y’all, it’s a solid story and an easy read, perfect for a rainy day or lounging by the pool. Bake some of Raven’s Dr. Pepper Cupcakes with Frito Frosting and enjoy Sweet Rivalry.
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