The Book Tour Stops Here: A Review of "Where Wild Peaches Grow" by Cade Bentley, Sered with Links to Five Favorite Southernesque Recipes

I can't believe September is already here! I think a good southern fiction story is a great way to ease out of summer and into the fall season. Lucky for me, I am on the TLC Book Tour for one, Where Wild Peaches Grow by Cade Bentley. Accompanying my review are five southern-inspired recipes that match the vibe of the book.

Publisher's Blurb:

In a deeply emotional novel of family, cultural heritage, and forgiveness, estranged sisters wrestle with the choices they’ve made and confront circumstances beyond their control.

Nona “Peaches” Davenport, abandoned by the man she loved and betrayed by family, left her Natchez, Mississippi, home fifteen years ago and never looked back. She’s forged a promising future in Chicago as a professor of African American Studies. Nona even finds her once-closed heart persuaded by a new love. But that’s all shaken when her father’s death forces her to return to everything she’s tried to forget.

Julia Curtis hasn’t forgiven her sister for deserting the family. Just like their mother, Nona walked away from Julia when she needed her most. And Julia doesn’t feel guilty for turning to Nona’s old flame, Marcus, for comfort. He helped Julia build a new life. She has a child, a career, and a determination to move on from old family wounds.

Upon Nona’s return to Natchez, a cautious reunion unfolds, and everything Nona and Julia thought they knew–about themselves, each other, and those they loved–will be tested. Unpacking the truth about why Nona left may finally heal their frayed bond–or tear it apart again, forever.

Lake Union Publishing (August 30, 2022)

Paperback 301 pages

 

 My Review:

At its soul, Where Wild Peaches Grow is about family drama and dysfunction, something I think most everyone can relate to, at least a little. In this case, although the family discord exists in a few generations, it centers around the two main characters, sisters, Nona (known as Peaches in her hometown of Natchez) and Julia. Julia is the older sister who stayed in Natchez and took care of Nona when their mother deserted them and she wears her bitterness like a shawl, holding resentment for Nona for leaving and never coming back for twenty years, and even more for her mother, who she assumes is dead. Nona has her own resentment for Julia, who she thinks betrayed her by telling their father than she was going to elope with her first love, Marcus that lead to her leaving town for Chicago where she threw herself into getting her education and is a successful professor of African American studies, but is living an unfulfilled life with an inability to write the book she wants to and mixed feelings about her somewhat controlling fiance. The sisters are brought together when their father dies, Nona returns to Natchez. and a whole host of secrets and betrayals unfolds.

I enjoy books that expose me to pieces of culture and history that I am not familiar with and Where Wild Peaches Grow is tagged as "cultural heritage fiction" and illuminated me to some of the black history of Natchez, Mississippi. I only wish it had gone a bit deeper. Both into the relationship between the sisters and with the many assorted side characters (grandma, neighbors, friends, former and new romances), and more importantly the whole Natchez history of the Devil's Punch Bowl which was in effect a concentration camp where slaves, newly freed during the Civil War were rounded up in a walled encampment of a "pit" surrounded by bluffs, and many (some estimates claim 20,000) slaves died of starvation and diseases such as smallpox because of the conditions of the camp.The title of the book refers to the wild peaches that were grown there that people weren't supposed to cook with or eat due to the atrocity that took place there. As much of American history gets "white-washed" I had heard very little, if anything, about this horrific incident. I ended up Googling information (as I am wont to due when reading historical fiction-here's a good brief article), but I think the book would have benefited from more information about it being included. At just about 300 pages, I wouldn't have minded an afterword about the history and more development of ongoing relationships with the characters. 

All in all, I enjoyed the book and Bentley's writing and will look from more from her. (Apparently she is published as Abby L. Vandiver and Abby Colette). I think this book is good for someone who wants a summer read that goes a bit deeper than other domestic/sisters fiction and is trying to read more diverse novels and books.

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Author Notes: Cade Bentley is a novelist and editor who is also published as Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Abby L. Vandiver, as well as Abby Colette. When she isn’t writing, Cade enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. She resides in South Euclid, Ohio. For more information visit www.authorabby.com.

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 Food Inspiration:

There is plenty of southern food in the book from fried chicken to ribs, collards, mac-and-cheese, casseroles and honey dishes galore from the community for the family's bereavement with the loss of Jasper, red velvet cake, cornbread, banana pudding, deviled eggs. There was peach pie but since the rumor was that it killed the family patriarch, and the history was that the peaches were grown in the Devil's Punch Bowl (see above), that didn't seem like the best dish to make.

I decided to feature five "southernesque'  dishes that I have enjoyed on the blog for my bookish inspiration. Recipe photos and links are below:

As an appetizer, vegan soul food chef, Bryant Terry's Crispy Okra Strips with Lime-Thyme Vinaigrette from "Vegan Soul Kitchen" seem like a good match. 

I have plenty of pimento cheese recipes on my blog but these Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs are a favorite and I think the perfect party or bereavement dish.

 Also from Bryant Terry and Vegan Soul Food, these Pan-Fried Grit Cakes with Caramelized Onions, Garlic & Thyme and Spicy Smothered Green Cabbage are true comfort food.

Now I know you shouldn't mess with Sweet Tea in the southand no self-respecting southerner will find it sweet enough, but I really like my Healthier Sweet Tea with Honey and Mint.

  OK, I will sneak in a peach dessert but this Quick Peach and Pear Crumble with Cinnamon-Pecan Streusel uses canned peaches, so I feel it's OK. 

 

Note: A review copy of "Where Wild Peaches Grow" was provided to me by the author and the publisher via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.  

You can see the stops for the rest of this TLC Book Tour and learn what other reviewers thought about the book below.

 Reviews:

 Monday, August 15th: @blackbiracialandbookish

Tuesday, August 16th: @karendeeandabc

Wednesday, August 17th: @merewordsinarizona

Thursday, August 18th: @booksnbikram

Friday, August 19th: @hoardingbooks.herdingcats

Saturday, August 20th: @welovebigbooksandwecannotlie

Monday, August 22nd: Lit and Life

Monday, August 22nd: @mississippimomreads

Tuesday, August 23rd: IG: @bookish_afrolatina and TT: @bookish_afrolatina 

Tuesday, August 23rd: @runhideandread

Wednesday, August 24th: @wonderousreads

Thursday, August 25th: @whatkarinareads

Friday, August 26th: @bookn.all.night

Monday, August 29th: Run Wright

Wednesday, August 31st: Eliot’s Eats

Thursday, September 1st: Kahakai Kitchen

Tuesday, September 6th: Books and Bindings

 

 

Donut-Fried Apple Rings for "What You Wish For" by Katherine Center {#WhatYouWishForParty}

Two Blog Parties in one month? Yes! I am very excited to be joining The Book Club Cookbook, St. Martin's Press, and a group of fellow bloggers today to celebrate the paperback release of What You Wish For by Katherine Center. For this #WhatYouWishFor party, we received copies of the book and were tasked with coming up with a dish inspired by it.  

Publisher's Blurb:

Samantha Casey is a school librarian who loves her job, the kids, and her school family with passion and joy for living.
But she wasn’t always that way. 
Duncan Carpenter is the new school principal who lives by rules and regulations, guided by the knowledge that bad things can happen. 
But he wasn’t always that way. 

And Sam knows it. Because she knew him before―at another school, in a different life. Back then, she loved him―but she was invisible. To him. To everyone. Even to herself. She escaped to a new school, a new job, a new chance at living. But when Duncan, of all people, gets hired as the new principal there, it feels like the best thing that could possibly happen to the school―and the worst thing that could possibly happen to Sam. Until the opposite turns out to be true. The lovable Duncan she’d known is now a suit-and-tie wearing, rule-enforcing tough guy so hell-bent on protecting the school that he’s willing to destroy it.

As the school community spirals into chaos, and danger from all corners looms large, Sam and Duncan must find their way to who they really are, what it means to be brave, and how to take a chance on love―which is the riskiest move of all. 

With Katherine Center’s sparkling dialogue, unforgettable characters, heart, hope, and humanity, What You Wish For is the author at her most compelling best.

St. Martin's Publishing Group

On Sale: 07/13/2021

ISBN: 9781250219374

368 Pages

My Review:

My first Katherine Center book was How to Walk Away, which I read and loved a few years ago. I have Things You Save in a Fire downloaded on my Kindle and I will get to it soon. She writes books that balance the sad and the joyful parts of life with wonderful characters and What You Wish For is exactly this. I so enjoyed this book! I think it was a case of the right book at the right time--it's funny but poignant, light but deeper than you think. Mixed into the romance, friendship and family relationships is a message about embracing who you are--the scars both visible and not, and living with joy despite all of the ups and downs and pain that comes with life. This is a message I think we can all use right now. I especially loved Sam, the main character and her friend Alice and friend/mentor/mother-figure, Babette--they made me laugh and made me tear up. The setting, the romance, all the quirky characters that made up the school and community, it all worked for me. Sure, at times it was a bit predictable, but I relished every page. It engaged me and gave me all the feels. One of my favorites of the summer❣️

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Author Notes: Katherine Center is the New York Times bestselling author of over a half dozen novels, including What You Wish For, Things You Save in a Fire, and How to Walk Away. Katherine has been compared to Nora Ephron and Jane Austen. The Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” Katherine recently gave a TEDx talk on how stories teach empathy. Her work has appeared in USA Today, InStyle, Redbook, People, The Atlantic, Real Simple, and more. She lives in Houston with her husband and two kids.

You can connect with Katherine on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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Food Inspiration:

Although it was not a huge focus in the book, there was food to be found in What You Wish For. Mentions included: cake, cookies, booze, coffee, blueberry muffins, pasta and tomato sauce, frozen dinners, pizza, bakery items--cinnamon rolls, donuts, eclairs, a birthday cake, honey, chocolate bar, tacos, hot chocolate, warm tea, baking, fudge, funnel cake, chocolate, lemon cake, home-brewed beer, and cookie-decorating competitions. 

My recipe inspiration came from a scene where Duncan is challenged with juggling and walks among the school lunch tables looking for round objects to juggle. He grabs different fruits from the kids lunches but calls them by the wrong names to get the kids laughing and involved: 

"So I'm sticking with easy," he said then, lifting up the apple, and saying, "Like this donut!" 

"That's not a donut!" the kids called out.

A tangerine becomes a watermelon, then he mentions a pomegranate, a tomato, and a cactus, before finally settling on an unpeeled kiwifruit on Sam's plate, calling it an avocado, as his final fruit to juggle. 

At first I was going to make a fruit salad or a salsa with all of the fruits named, but the apple and donut combo kept replaying in my head. Since I am not much of a baker, apple donuts or fritters were out, but apple rings deep-fried like donuts? That I could do! This is not an original idea, there are lots of recipes for deep-fried apple rings online, but this is what I did for mine. 

Donut-Fried Apple Rings

By Deb in Hawaii

(Serves 3-4 as snack or dessert)

a few cups of cooking oil for frying

3-4 large apples of choice (I used tart Granny Smith apples)

fresh lemon juice

1 cup all-purpose flour

a good pinch of baking soda

a small pinch of sea salt

3/4 tsp cinnamon

2 Tbsp granulated sugar 

1 large egg

1 cup buttermilk (or regular milk with vinegar or lemon added)

cinnamon-sugar topping (buy prepared or use a mix of 1/2 cinnamon & 1/2 sugar)

Heat a large shallow pan with 2-3 inches of cooking oil and heat over medium heat.

Prepare your apples by slicing them about 1/4-inch thick and removing the core with a small round cookie cutter. Sprinkle slices lightly with lemon juice and set aside. 

Mix your batter by combining the flour, baking soda, sea salt, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. In a mixing cup, blend egg into the buttermilk until thoroughly combined, then pour the milk and egg mixture into the flour mixture and mix together until well blended. Place some cinnamon sugar mixture on a plate or shallow bowl. 

A few slices at a time, dip apples into the batter mixture and let excess batter drip off before placing slices into the hot oil. Just put in a couple slices at a time so they don't touch/clump together. Let the slices cook for a minute or two until the bottom of the slice is golden brown, then gently flip slices over and cook until the other side is golden brown. Carefully remove slices from oil with a slotted frying spoon and allow excess oil to drip off on paper towels before dipping them into the cinnamon-sugar mixture--making sure both sides are coated and gently sharing off excess. Place on a plate and keep warm. Repeat until you have dipped and fried all of the apple slices. 

Enjoy immediately (while they are still warm). You can east them as-is or dip them into caramel or chocolate sauce. 

Notes/Results: OK, YUM! My fall flavor is never pumpkin spice and always apple-cinnamon, so these tasty little battered apple slices with soft and juicy tart apple inside the sweet, slightly crispy cinnamon crust were right up my alley. My shaking off the excess batter technique needs a little work for their appearance, but extra fried batter is no hardship. The batter will make probably 4 to 6 apples or more worth of slices. Because it was just me, I sliced up 2 apples and I am saving the batter for more later because they are best when fresh and warm. These are great as-is but a caramel (salted) dipping sauce or even a chocolate sauce would not be unwelcome. I will definitely make them again. 

I'm sharing this post with the Weekend Cooking event  being hosted by Marg at The Adventures of An Intrepid Reader. It's a weekly event that is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share. Here's a link to this week's post. 

Check out this link for the #WhatYouWishForParty at The Book Club Cookbook to see the other bloggers taking part in this event and their delicious recipes!

Mahalo to St. Martin's Press (@stmartinspress) and The Book Club Cookbook for the review copies of the book, and for hosting this fun event. I received no compensation for my participation and, as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Find The Book Club Cookbook here: 

Facebook: TheBookClubCookbook

Twitter: @bookclubcookboo

Instagram: @thebookclubcookbook

Pinterest: @bookclubcook

 

The Book Tour Stops Here: A Review of "The WIdows of Champagne" by Renee Ryan, Served with a Recipe for Cooked Grapes with Cream

Happy Aloha Friday! I am happy to be today's TLC Book Tours stop for The Widows of Champagne, a new historical fiction novel by Renee Ryan. Accompanying my review is an excerpt from the book and a Jacques Pepin recipe for Cooked Grapes with Cream.  

Publisher's Blurb:

For readers of Lilac Girls and The Lost Girls of Paris comes a captivating novel of resilience, as three generations of women battle to save their family’s vineyard during WWII.

Champagne, 1939

Gabrielle Leblanc Dupree is taking her family’s future into her hands. While she should be preparing for a lavish party to celebrate two centuries of champagne making, she secretly hides Chateau Fouché-Leblanc’s most precious vintages behind a fake wall in the cellar in preparation for the looming war. But when she joins the resistance, the coveted champagne isn’t the most dangerous secret her cellar must conceal…

A former Parisian socialite, Gabrielle’s mother, Hélène, lost her husband to another war. Now her home has been requisitioned by the Germans, who pillage vineyards to satisfy the Third Reich’s thirst for the finest champagne. There’s even more at stake than Hélène dares admit. She has kept her heritage a secret…and no one is safe in Nazi-occupied France.

Josephine, the family matriarch, watches as her beloved vineyard faces its most difficult harvest yet. As her daughter-in-law and granddaughters contend with the enemies and unexpected allies in their midst, Josephine’s deep faith leads to her own path of resistance.

Across years and continents, the Leblanc women will draw on their courage and wits, determined against all odds to preserve their lives, their freedom and their legacy…

Publisher: Love Inspired (July 27, 2021) 

Paperback 379 pages

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Excerpt #6

Her feet were cold.

Josephine looked down. She was standing in mud that wanted to claim the top of her boots. How long had she been frozen in this moment to have sunk so far into the earth? A few minutes? An hour? The sky with its deceptive cloud cover gave her few clues.

Go home.

Josephine hurried back to the house. It was a fifteen-minute walk, enough time to gather her thoughts into some semblance of order. Back in the kitchen, routine took over. She stripped off her coat, then climbed out of her muddy boots to pull on thick, dry socks. She made a pot of strong coffee, then moved to the scarred table, cupping the steaming mug between her palms.

Her thoughts grew fuzzy again. Luring her, always so en­ticing. Her mind wanted to drift back across time, back to happier days full of nothing but brightness. She would not allow such frailty of spirit. Still so much to do for the party tonight.

Tonight? Was the party tonight? She thought maybe yes.

How had she missed the passage of two whole days?

She stood on shaky legs, glancing around at her surround­ings. She’d come to the kitchen for a reason. Brushing the wet strands of hair off her face, she paced a bit until she re­membered. The list. The one she’d begun the night before. Remembering now, she snatched it out from beneath a stack of other papers on her writing desk. Placing her mug on the table, she sat and studied the empty page.

Empty page? Her list had somehow vanished in the jour­ney from desk to table.

No matter. She would start again.

Pencil poised over the paper, she forced herself to concen­trate on the party. The champagne would flow freely, that much Josephine promised herself. They would serve only the best. Definitely the 1928. She wrote it down. The ’37, possibly the ’26. She made another series of notations. Once started, the ideas poured quickly from brain to hand to list.

Preparing for the anniversary party made Josephine proud of the past and gave her hope for the future. Perhaps all was not lost. Château Fouché-LeBlanc had survived tragedy be­fore. Bad harvests had given way to better ones. Economic crises had forced them to move into international markets. Even untimely death had taught those left behind to fend for themselves.

There was much to celebrate.

A fragment of paper, torn from somewhere—she couldn’t remember where—slipped from tabletop to floor. Josephine reached for it. Words blurred as she laid the ragged page gently back on the table. She ran her fingertips over the looping text. Her handwriting. That was her handwriting.

When had she made this list? Today? Yesterday?

Unearthly silence settled over her. Darkness beckoned, se­ductive and full of false promises. Shutting her eyes, she con­fronted the familiar battle with her legendary iron will. One day, she would lose this fight, but not today.

No, she vowed. Not today.

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 My Review:

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and WWII and stories from different perspectives always interests me. I liked the look at the experiences of three generations of a French family--its elderly matriarch, Josephine, her daughter-in-law, Helene, and granddaughter Gabrielle. All of these women are widows and they operate the family's successful vineyards in Champagne, each tough and resilient in her own right. They are still feeling the effects of The Great War as WWII looms on the horizon and soon they are faced with their worst fear when a Nazi officer takes requisition of their chateau, moving in and controlling their lives. It's a calculated move on his part as he was once a German wine merchant who is acquainted with the success of the 200-year-old vineyard. Gabrielle took a preemptive measure by building a false wall behind which she hid much of the family's best vintages before the Germans invaded. Josephine is determined to fight as well and uses her memory loss to make her seem harmless while she gathers information in a journal to give to Gabrielle to pass on to the resistance, helped by Marta, the family's longtime servant. Helene has spent her time on her art and shopping and socializing in Paris with her teenage daughter and Gabrielle's spoiled sister, Paulette. Each woman must make difficult choices to protect their family, legacy, and secrets that the others do not always understand. 

The story is told from their alternating points of view, which gives the reader a glimpse into their actions and motivations. For the most part it works, although it is hard to get too deep into each character with the jumps back and forth. The story is not a happy one, as most WWII stories tend not to be and although suspenseful, it's not always an easy book to read, but the story is  compelling. I also didn't realize it was  a faith-based, Christian historical novel and at times that emphasis was a bit much for me. While not a heathen savage, I am not particularly religious and the many mentions of God and The Lord became a distraction for me, which is why I tend to stay away from books with a push for religion. This could be all me--others may not be bothered by it or may not think it was excessive. And in the end, I am glad I read it and got a glimpse into the lives of these strong and brave women.  

Note: The Widows of Champagne is a Walmart Exclusive Paperback, so only available in paperback at Walmart, or it can be purchased online from your favorite audio or ebook retailer.

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Author Notes: Renee Ryan grew up in a Florida beach town where she learned how to surf and skateboard very poorly. As a teenager, she gave up on both pursuits and began entertaining herself during countless hours of “laying-out” by reading all the classics.

After graduating college, with a degree in Economics and Religion, she explored various career opportunities at a Florida theme park and a modeling agency. She moved on to teach high school Economics, American Government and Latin while coaching award-winning cheerleading teams.

You can connect with Renee on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

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Food Inspiration:

Although set in the midst of war, there is food mentioned throughout the book. Mentions included a pot of strong coffee, champagne, grape juice, grapes, a rosé recipe made from "blending pinot noir with white champagne instead of the usual elderberry juice, ham goat cheese and freshly baked croissants, champagne with a hint of pears or maybe apricots, French onion soup, spinach soufflé, rich chocolate mousse, caviar, poached salmon, oysters in nests of ice, duck in orange sauce, seabass, cherries jubilee, watery soup and moldy bread. 

For my bookish dish, I thought abut a soup, the spinach soufflé's or chocolate mousse but ultimately, I wanted to make something with grapes. I looked online for French grape recipes and found one from Jacques Pepin that sounded interesting, Cooked Grapes with Cream. It also looked quick and easy, which I always like. 

Cooked Grapes with Cream

Slightly Adapted from Jacques Pepin via TheNewYorkTimes.com

(Serves 6) 

 

1 1/2 lbs seedless Red Flame grapes, stems removed (approx 4 cups)
1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
1/2 cup water
 2 tsp grated lemon rind
1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp shredded mint leaves
1 Tbsp Cognac or other brandy (optional)
1/2 cup sour cream

Place grapes, vinegar and water in a stainless-steel saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook gently for about 5 minutes. The grapes will lose their red color and begin to crack open.

 

Meanwhile, in a bowl combine the lemon rind, lemon juice, honey and mint leaves. When grapes are cooked, add them to lemon-honey mixture and stir well. When cool, add the Cognac. Serve in wine glasses, garnished with a spoonful of sour cream. 

Notes/Results: This is a simple little recipe that works as a dessert or refreshing little palate cleanser. The vinegar, lemon juice and cognac or brandy (Should you choose to use it) give it a bit of tangy acidity and keep the grapes and honey from being too sweet, as does the sour cream on top. You could also use yogurt I think, skip the alcohol and eat this for breakfast. I like the combination of flavors and would happily make it again. 

Linking up this Jacques Pepin recipe at I Heart Cooking Clubs for July Potluck.

I'm also sharing this post with the Weekend Cooking event  being hosted by Marg at The Adventures of An Intrepid Reader. It's a weekly event that is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share. Here's a link to last week's post. 

Note: A review e-book copy of The Widows of Champagne was provided to me by the author and the publisher via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.   

 
You can see the stops for the rest of this TLC Book Tour and what other reviewers thought about the book here.