BOOK REVIEW: Sweethand by N.G. Peltier

“I don’t mind bossy women one bit.”[1] – Keiran, Sweethand by N.G Peltier.

This book is an absolute delight. We had the pleasure of having N.G. Peltier as a panellist at our most recent Caribbean Links event in March 2023. Please check out this most recent event here.

As a reader, I loved witnessing the development of the relationship between the main protagonists Cherisse and Keiran. I watched with my imaginative mind’s eye as their relationship ignited from being enemies to bubbling, searing red-hot attraction, passion and lust and then simmering down into still hot but more long-lasting feelings based on genuine care and selflessness.

I believe wholeheartedly that the tried and tested script for romantic novels and romantic comedies works. Naysayers may roll their eyes at romance novels, but I say what is life without love (of any kind.) Romantic love can be not only exciting and thrilling, but joyful and inspiring. Romantic novels, films and shows often show us how love can liberate us and bring out the best in us (note Bridgerton.) Love (of any kind) can challenge our preconceived notions of people and the love of a caring partner can make us even better than we would be by ourselves. I believe the best romantic comedies don’t necessarily depart from the ‘enemies to lovers’ or ‘best friends to lovers’ template but infuse newness and originality into the romantic novel, film or television show story arc.

Sweethand is a romantic novel for the modern age. N.G. Peltier infuses and injects freshness and new-ness into this well-known love story script.

Trinidadian Culture:

N.G. Peltier is a writer who hails from the beautiful country, Trinidad and Tobago and gives us a romantic novel that provides the ‘enemies to lovers’ storyline within the context of Trinidadian culture. Trinidad serves as a beautiful backdrop through the surroundings, the events, the food and the friends and family who surround this couple who bewilderingly and begrudgingly realise they have feelings for each other.

Characters in the novel wear vividly described lovely outfits and meet up at events and go out regularly, whether it’s at Fleurs Tea Shop, Chaguaramas Boardwalk, Bootleggers or other fancy venues. These clearly well-to-do characters hob-knob at aspirational places which serve as a decadent and lively backdrop for the developing sexual and potentially romantic relationship between Cherisse and Keiran.

Friends and family are connected to each other. Often (rightly or wrongly so), love stories are not just between the two parties involved but are supported by the cushion of community. Friends and family usually have an input. In Sweethand, friends and family offer their opinions and advice on this growing clandestine, then out-in-the-open love and lust affair.

Soca, of course plays a huge role in this novel. Sean Daley, the ex-boyfriend/antagonist is a Soca artiste and Keiran has a secret in relation to him. Keiran does some work in his father’s music company and beautifully plays Soca for Cherisse on the piano in his studio.

Of course, I wouldn’t be a language lover if I didn’t mention how characters in this novel punctuate their speech with Trinidadian Creole phrases such as “Buh aye aye, where all that bumper come from?”[2] or “Like up yuhself”[3] (which reminds me of this song by Patrice Roberts and Machel Montano.)

N.G. Peltier provides us with mouth-watering descriptions of Trinidadian food. We are introduced to geera chicken and pork, fried wings and curry (yum!) The food, mixed with friendship, language and community serve to provide us with a love story that is uniquely and authentically Trinidadian.

Sex Positivity and Sexuality:

In N.G. Peltier’s Sweethand there is no shaming of women for having sexual desire. Keiran relishes Cherisse’s bossiness and dominance. The relationship between Cherisse and Keiran involves a healthy dose of playfulness and sexual tension. During the first sexual encounter between Cherisse and Keiran, emphasis is placed on safe sex as there is mention of condoms. Usually, during sex scenes on television or in films, there isn’t mention of condoms. It’s sometimes almost as if tv or film characters exist in a magical, make-believe world where the concept of sexual health doesn’t exist. The mentioning of condoms during this encounter reminds us of the importance of sexual health and that acknowledging the existence of and importance of protection doesn’t have to ruin the mood.

There is also much respect for diverse sexualities through LGBTQ+ representation. Keiran himself identifies as bisexual and there are other LGBTQ+ characters in this novel who are treated with respect, care and dignity e.g. a character at an Easter party (Mrs. Johnson-Reyes), Remi and Dale.

Relationship and Character Development:

Cherisse is a Pastry Chef business owner who has been dubbed ‘The Sugar Queen’ and is reeling from a public breakup with infamous Soca artiste, Sean Daley. Cherisse is not a dainty, perfect princess and the tension between her public persona and expectations of sweetness and her private, raw and more honest Self is evident throughout this novel. It is especially blisteringly obvious in the sex scenes. This sweet ‘Sugar Queen’, is in fact, very spicy. Cherisse is feisty, swears frequently and is certainly not a damsel in distress waiting to be saved by a prince. Cherisse is sexually confident yet also vulnerable. She commands Keiran in the bedroom and is very clear about her needs and desires yet second guesses herself at times. Cherisse sets out the terms for their physical relationship yet wrestles with her burgeoning feelings for Keiran and not wanting to be hurt again. She is sensitive – she feels hurt when she meets her ex at an event and he appears to comment on her weight.

I enjoyed the delicious irony of a feisty baker who bakes sweet treats but is anything but sweet privately. N.G. Peltier’s characterization of Cherisse, particularly through the juxtaposition of her public vs private persona shows that women are multi-dimensional and that women don’t have to only be sweet to have love stories.

Keiran is also a delight. He doesn’t follow traditional expectations and ways of being for a man either by his temperament or his sexuality. He is assertive yet sensitive and emotionally intelligent. He works with another character Dale at DK Productions and works a little with his father. Keiran doesn’t want to follow in his father’s footsteps and live up to his expectations of taking over his father’s music company.

Keiran is gracious in accepting a false rumour about him deserting his pregnant ex-girlfriend in order to save her reputation. Keiran is a swoon-worthy character. Keiran is of course, only human and is not perfect. He is hiding a secret that could decimate his tentative budding relationship with Cherisse and succumbs to traditional male bravado when getting into a fight with Cherisse’s ex. But Keiran is kind, open-minded and respectful.

Colourism?

In Sweethand, characters speak briefly of skin colour. At an Easter party, a character called Celeste mentions Cherisse’s skin tone and Sean Daley, Cherisse’s ex is also described as being light skinned. There seems to be an inference that lighter skin may be more prized in this society. I would have been interested to see N.G. Peltier explore this a little in her novel by having characters allude to skin tone and preference in relation to dating in Trinidadian society.

Conclusion:

To conclude, I absolutely loved Sweethand by N.G. Peltier. It was a joy to read from beginning to end. I loved using my imagination to watch the developing love story between Cherisse and Keiran. I enjoyed the verbal sparring and sexual tension between these two characters. I loved getting a view into Trinidadian culture and witnessing not only Cherisse and Keiran’s romance but the love and care of their family and friends. The characterization and descriptions were excellent. Most of all, I loved the way that Keiran truly ‘saw’ Cherisse for who she really was and relished her feistiness. It was an excellent feminist message that it is not social expectations of sweetness but a woman’s raw authenticity and confidence that is truly seductive.

PS If you really want to skip right to the hotter scenes, things really heat up from page 181 onwards.

You’re welcome lol.

[1] Sweethand by N.G. Peltier page 94.

[2] Sweethand by N.G. Peltier, page 274.

[3] Ibid. page 279