Susan Wiggs' new book SUGAR AND SALT is billed as #4 in the Bella Vista Chronicles, but don't expect to see many characters from the other books since we only see a couple of brief unsatisfying glimpses of Natalie and Peach from THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSTORE (Published July 2020). Don't let that keep you from reading this book focused on Margot Salton opening "Salt," her upscale Texas Barbeque restaurant on Perdita Street.
The restaurant shares a kitchen with the bakery next door named "Sugar" owned by Jerome Sugar and his mother, Ida B. The book contains two intertwined stories - one involving Ida B.'s second chance romance with her first love that began in 1967 during the last days of the Vietnam War and the second involving Jerome and Margot as they meet and work through their inner demons. The book time slips between 2019, 2017, and 1967, as well as 2007 Texas. The entire middle of the book recounts a traumatic series of events for Margot that occurred in 2007.
Wiggs develops fabulous characters that you truly care about as they experience and, eventually, overcome horrible conflicts based on societal prejudices and privileges that unfortunately still happen in today's world. SUGAR AND SALT should make everyone take a step back and think. Happily ever afters and a thoughtful commentary on social injustices all in one book.
The New York Times bestselling author of The Lost and Found Bookshop brings readers a can’t-miss tale of friendship, hardship, redemption, and love between a San Francisco baker and a barbecue master from Texas.
Jerome Sugar learned the art of baking in his grandma’s bakery, also called Sugar, on historic Perdita Street in San Francisco. He supplies baked goods to the Lost and Found Bookshop across the street.
When the restaurant that shares his commercial kitchen loses its longtime tenant, a newcomer moves in: Margot Salton, a barbecue master from Texas.
Margot isn’t exactly on the run, but she needs a fresh start. She’s taken care of herself her whole life, pulling herself up by her fingernails to recover from trauma, and her dream has been to open a restaurant somewhere far, far from Texas. The shared kitchen with Jerome's Sugar bakery is the perfect setup: a state-of-the-art kitchen and a vibrant neighborhood popular with tourists and locals.
Margot instantly takes to Jerome’s mother, the lively, opinionated Ida. The older woman proves to be a good mentor, and Margot is drawn to Jerome. Despite their different backgrounds their attraction is powerful—even though Jerome worries that Margot will simply move on from him once she’s found some peace and stability. But just as she starts to relax into a happy new future, Margot’s past in Texas comes back to haunt her…
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