About the Book
Book: Sweet Rivalry
Author: Terri Gillespie
Genre: Women’s Contemporary/ Christian Romance/Family Life Fiction
Release date: October 27, 2021
While watching her favorite baking show, “Cupcake Rivalry,” to her utter amazement and disbelief, Sarah Sweeting suddenly spots a contestant who looks, sounds and moves exactly like her long-lost twin sister, with whom her mother ran away twenty years ago! Unfortunately, Granny suffers a heart attack when she confirms Sarah’s shocking discovery.
Meanwhile, Raven Souwer’s morning begins at a frenzied and frenetic pace, with phones ringing incessantly with no respite, as everyone clamors to see the Cupcake Rivalry contestants—Raven and her best friend, Will Durning.
That’s when a mysterious phone call from an excited woman called Sarah causes pandemonium! Sarah claims to be Raven’s long-lost sister whom she cannot remember. Sarah informs Raven that their grandmother, whom she never knew, was admitted in hospital.
The call upends Raven’s young life and resurrects old trauma that lay buried for so long. Will Sarah and Raven finally be united, or will other sisterly rivalry and heartbreaking memories threaten to destroy the fragile relationship between twins long separated by the trauma of their mother’s addiction.
Forgiveness and unconditional love is the urgent need of the hour, but can these two sensitive sisters risk more hurt of the heart to realize their dream of a united family at long last?
Terri Gillespie paints a vivid and heartwarming picture of a broken family, ultimately transformed through their blossoming relationship with God who loves them most. This is a faith-inspiring book that swells the heart and make us sing with the joy of peace and reconciliation.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Award-winning author and beloved speaker, Terri Gillespie writes stories of faith and redemption to nurture women’s souls. Her novels, devotionals, and blogs have drawn readers to hunger for a deeper relationship with their Heavenly Father.
Life is a journey. Terri lived in fear most of her life. Stories helped her see life through the lens of adventure and God’s abiding love. Those stories were the seeds that changed her perspective. They empowered her to be brave. She hopes her stories will do the same for you.
She is the author of critically-acclaimed women’s devotional Making Eye Contact with God, the award-winning novel She Does Good Hair, CUT IT OUT!,
Really Bad Hair Day, and award-winning novel, Sweet Rivalry.
More from Terri
Where do stories come from? Oh, so many places. Sweet Rivalry began over ten years ago with an idea called the “cupcake sisters.” Two sisters who worked in a small hometown bakery trying to be true to family recipes and not get overrun by the food chains. Not much more than that. Boring, right?
The other day, I ran across my notes written years ago with other ideas for the sisters. No plots could carry an interesting enough story to get the creative juices going.
A dear friend—and amazing author—gave me a life-sized cupcake candle. The vibrant colors and glittery icing were meant to inspire me to develop the idea and write the book. It sat on my inspiration shelf for years. At first every time I looked at it, I would smile
But, as the years went by the sun faded the candle, as did my hope of finding the right story for the cupcake sisters.
Then, during COVID I got hooked on those reality shows about long-lost families being reunited after decades of separation. Some of the families had no idea the other family member existed.
Each episode meant a fist of soppy tissues. Yet, even with the dramatic music, professional editing, and big build-up, some families’ smiles didn’t quite reach their eyes.
I wondered, what happens to these people after the camera crews leave? After the emotional reunions, the excitement subsides and reality settles into their respective homes? How do these people from very different histories become a family? Do they even try? Do they want to face the secrets that separated them?
Some of the “long-lost” family members were children from affairs. Most were children given up through adoption. Others abandoned. One man found his birth mother, only to learn he was the result of a rape. How do they navigate the choppy and complex psychological waters?
These interesting stories became delicious ingredients for the Sweet Rivalry novel. Twin sisters separated as toddlers by a troubled mother. One sister, Sarah was raised by her loving, Christian grandmother who owned the local Sweet’s Bakery.
The other sister, Raven was raised by her addicted mother, in crack houses. Still, Raven manages to become a celebrated pastry chef.
How do twins with completely different childhoods become a family? How does the sister raised in a loving, stable, Christian environment form a relationship with the sister who has seen the worst of society and had to pull herself from a terrible background all on her own? Who now blames God for the horrific things that happened to her.
And a grandmother that hides a terrible secret?
Now, throw into the mix three handsome men vying for the twins’ affections, then bake with the emotional investments into the lives of these women, and you’ve got quite a recipe for a delectable story.
With humor and passion and delicious recipes, Sweet Rivalry will satisfy the hungry reader looking for a unique story of hope.
You know, Sweet Rivalry’s journey proved to me once again, that creativity can’t be forced, and GOD’s timing is always the best—even if it is a ten-year wait.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 6
Miriam Jacob, April 6
Genesis 5020, April 7
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 8
Splashes of Joy, April 8
For Him and My Family, April 9
Texas Book-aholic, April 10
deb’s Book Review, April 11
Inklings and notions, April 12
Aryn The Libraryan, April 13
Mary Hake, April 13
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 14
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 15
Vicky Sluiter, April 15
She Lives To Read, April 16
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 17
Pause for Tales, April 17
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 18
Academy, April 19
Spoken from the Heart, April 19
To celebrate her tour, Terri is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon Gift Card, signed copy of Sweet Rivalry, Sweet Rivalry Coffee Mug, Sweet Rivalry bookmark, and a Hand-poured Cupcake Candle!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/1c94b/sweet-rivalry-celebration-tour-giveaway
ANOINTED TO SERVE - Miriam Jacob 
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