The Bitter and The Sweet

by Anessa Sewell Kent

When sixteen-year-old Vernadine Dawn Turnipseed is asked to join the boys’ basketball team for Buford County High School in 1943, shock waves, riots and anger roll through her hometown of Spit’s Creek, Alabama with a fury. In a strange twist of fate, the once hated, despised and rejected Vernadine becomes the ‘Queen of Basketball’ and the unlikely hero of her hometown, county and state.

But Vernadine has a secret; a secret that would devastate her newfound status in her community if anyone knew. After a carefully hatched plan with her parents, Vernadine suddenly departs her hometown, leaving the town to speculate what happened to her?

After receiving the news of her father’s illness, Vernadine returns home after many years as a beautiful, successful and confident woman finally ending the mystery of ‘what became of Vernadine?’ once and for all.

When Louanna Parsons disappears in the spring of 1961, no one would ever suspect the prominent man involved.

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2023

Reviews

[Lee Ann]

A great southern read with memorable characters. Three cheers for Anessa and her debut novel!

[Michelle Kidwell]

The Bitter and the Sweet
by Anessa Sewell Kent
Pub Date 04 May 2023
Black Rose Writing
Christian| Women's Fiction


In 1943, 16-year-old Vernadine Dawn Turnipseed is invited to join Buford County High School's boys' basketball team. Spit's Creek, Alabama, is roiled by shock waves, riots, and anger. In a twist of fate, the once hated, despised and rejected Vernadine becomes the ‘Queen of Basketball’ and the unlikely hero of her hometown, county and state.


However, Vernadine harbors a secret that would devastate her newfound status in her community if it were ever revealed. After a carefully hatched plan with her parents, Vernadine suddenly departs her hometown, leaving the town to speculate what happened to her?She abruptly departs her hometown after carefully drafting a plan with her parents. What happened to her is left up to speculation.


Upon learning of her father's illness, Vernadine returns home after many years as a successful, confident and beautiful woman, finally solving the mystery of 'what became of Vernadine?' once and for all.This time for good.


Louanna Parsons disappeared in the spring of 1961, and no one would ever suspect the prominent man involved.


I give The Bitter and Sweet five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

[Dianne]

The Bitter and the Sweet by Anessa Sewell Kent is Ms. Kent's debut novel. I am in awe of the abundance of story threads within the book. Expansion into a series would be no problem at all if that's what she desires. Her mouthwatering descriptions of Southern cuisine and detailed accounting of Southern customs such as were found in the funeral scene are very accurate for the majority of the people in Alabama. The old expressions like "feeling peckish" made me smile. My only regret for Ms. Kent is naming her main character Vernadine Turnipseed. I immediately felt sorry for the child. However, after giving birth to a 13 pound daughter in the 1920's, Mrs. Turnipseed may have wanted to give her child a name as substantial and as unique as she hoped her daughter would become.

My congratulations to Ms. Kent on her first published work and best wishes for new work coming soon!

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews)]

This book reads really differently. It's almost like an outside person is telling the story in a very monotone way. I made it through 60% of the book and decided I was not going to finish it. The story and the writing just did not appeal to me.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

[Sharon Penley]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Anessa’s first book as it included events and characters based on my hometown during my childhood, so felt warmly familiar.

It is a light, Southern read that also doesn’t sugarcoat some of the reality of the day and things people didn’t discuss.

The main characters are very believable and I’m looking forward to Anessa’s second book to see what happens next. 🤞🏻

[Ellen Canada]

I wanted to like this book because it’s based on my home town. Sadly, the writing is simple and a little sloppy. I couldn’t finish the book.