Member Reviews

I do love a fake marriage trope mixed with enemies to lovers, and this story from Liasson really delivers. This was fun from beginning to end.

Was this review helpful?

This is really a charming small town romance. I love the secondary characters portions of the book as well as the hero and heroines interactions. It’s cute, emotional and entertaining from start to finish. There is something soothing about this book. It’s a fun book to read on a lazy Sunday

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars.
A fun, sweet and clean small-town romance.
A feel-good story that contained a marriage of convenience, a Romeo and Juliet type of family feud and a HEA...what's not to like.

Was this review helpful?

Tessa and Leo are both determined to help their family businesses turn around, and Leo has an idea that the 2 business can help each other - the only problem is that their families have been feuding for decades. Leo and Tessa also had a falling out in high school, but decide to work together, and think families have to come together if they get married…right?

This was a fun read, I really liked the characters and their quirky families.

Was this review helpful?

The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson, is a delightful and heartwarming romantic comedy.

The story revolves around Tessa Montgomery, a talented pastry chef who runs her mother's boulangerie in Blossom Glen. Tessa has a reputation as an ice queen and a spinster in her small town, which makes her feel isolated and lonely. But everything changes when her rival and neighbor, Leo Castorini, proposes a fake marriage to save his restaurant.

Tessa reluctantly agrees to Leo's business plan, but their pretend marriage starts to feel more real as they spend time together. As they work together to save Leo's restaurant, they learn more about each other's strengths and weaknesses and find themselves falling in love.

The Sweetheart Deal is a fun and engaging read that will keep you entertained from beginning to end. The characters are well-developed, and their banter and chemistry are delightful. The story is filled with humor, heart, and a touch of drama, making it a perfect read for anyone who loves romantic comedies.

Was this review helpful?

I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance, combine that with a fake relationship, a marriage of sort of convenience, and the quirks of a small-town’s gossip mill, and I’m hooked from the very start! The Sweetheart Deal begins the Blossom Glen series with a delightful romance between the children of parents who have been involved in a generational feud that they are determined to end… for good, or for the good of their family’s businesses at least. Neither expected their high school rivalry to eventually lead them to the altar, but with determination and crossed fingers, this couple is about to embark on a make it or lose it all adventure… that just might lead to a lifetime kind of love.

Tessa has been defined by this small town by one act… a cheating, now former fiancé. She’s working in the family’s bakery helping her mother, but her dreams are far more than what she’s doing right now. Her so-called enemy, Leo, has returned to town and is helping his father run the family restaurant, which is slowly failing. When Leo comes up with an outrageous idea to get their families to actually begin to work together to save both businesses Tessa is reluctantly on board. It doesn’t hurt that her former archenemy is as handsome as sin and not as bad as she once thought him to be… or that there are definitely sparks between them as adults. A fake marriage, over and done in six months, they walk away from each other and put an end to the family feud. On paper, it’s a perfect plan. Unfortunately, when emotions get involved, that plan needs some re-writing to get to that happy-ever-after ending they deserve… together.

I had such fun with Tessa and Leo’s romance. It’s lighthearted, emotional, funny, frustrating, engaging, and just plain delightful. I loved the banter between this couple and the way they slowly worked their way into each other’s hearts. Small towns are fun to visit again (I grew up in one, so I know them well), and Blossom Glen is full of quirky, interesting, and sometimes gossiping citizens that I look forward to knowing more about.

If you love a well-written small-town romance, two people who really aren’t enemies, a perfect plan that backfires, and watching two people discover that they really do belong together, then The Sweetheart Deal is perfect for you. The next story in this series is available now, and I’ll be diving into that one soon, then another story later in 2023 – lots to look forward to in Blossom Glen!

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent.*

Was this review helpful?

I love a good enemies to lovers book and this hit the spot! A Romeo and Juliet retelling of sorts, Leo and Tessa are so adorable and I was just rooting for them to fall for each other. There’s also great banter and some good funny moments.

Was this review helpful?

This was one of the best comfort reads. I ended up a long flight from the US to London and was pleasantly surprised. Such wonderful characters that feel like your friends after you are finished reading. Description of places was so vivid. Very well done.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book! It’s a romantic twist on Romeo and Juliet. I thought the author did a great job with it. I was engaged from the start and didn’t want to put it down. Also, how beautiful is the cover!? If you’re a fan of Romeo and Juliet retellings, I recommend checking it out!

Was this review helpful?

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A cute cover. A great women's fiction novel. Recommend

Was this review helpful?

This is a take on Romeo and Juliet, which was quiet fun, as I love some family drama. The premise is also faking a relationship, which tends to work well for me. I loved Leo and Tessa as characters, and loved seeing them try to save their family businesses together. This is the first in a series, as I am guessing we will see perhaps Tessa’s sisters or Leo’s best friend in future books? I hope so! It was just a fun read that I finished rather quickly. I absolutely loved the ending.

Bottom Line: Read it! You have a morph of fake relationship/second chance romance/enemies to lovers thing going on.

**I received a copy of The Sweetheart Deal from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Was this review helpful?

A French boulangerie and an Italian restaurant, both in a small southern town? Of course! This cliched enemies to lovers story was a quick read that I'll forget as soon as I read something new, with the exception of the names pulled straight out of Moonstruck.

Was this review helpful?

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect book to snuggle up with on any day.

Was this review helpful?

A extremely fun, entertaining and happy ending retelling of Romeo and Juliet. This book is one of those you keep aside for a rainy day when you need to believe in true love again. This was absolutely swoon-worthy. I guarantee you will be grinning from ear to ear when reading Leo and Tessa’s story to join forces.
The enemies to lovers and marriage of convenience trope in this book was done perfectly. If you love a clean romance as a bonus, this book is absolutely for you.

Sweetest of sweet reads. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are feeling down, this is a brilliant pick me up.

Was this review helpful?

I love how these two families will go to great lengths for their family members. Family is everything. I also enjoyed reading about how Tessa and Leo handle all the problems and obstacles in their lives, even if they brought some of them on themselves. Haven’t we all done that to ourselves? The story line is great and the characters are wonderful. I would love to go eat in their restaurant and indulge myself in the bakery. I would definitely like to hand out with the Castorinis and the Montgomerys again. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Was this review helpful?

This was a cute, fun read, kept me reading, kind of a modern day Romeo and Juliet… definitely something I’d recommend if you want a fun romance

Was this review helpful?

Before I started reading this book, I already knew I was going to like it. There’s nothing from Miranda Liasson that I haven’t enjoyed. I have to say that her latest book, The Sweetheart Deal from her new series Blossom Glen is one that I can’t stop singing its praises. This right now appears to be the contender for my potential new favorite series from her. There was something different about what she did with this series that was fresh, funny, and had beautiful characters that you can relate to and love unconditionally.

The Sweetheart Deal, book one in her Blossom Glen series, introduces us to this beautiful small town called Blossom Glen. This is one of those little towns that you just want to stroll through. The only downside is that everyone knows your business. For Tessa Montgomery, pouring herself in her mother’s bread shop is what kept her going each day. Giving up her dreams and devoting herself to her struggling family business is what she felt she had to do to help her mother. Then one day, she is presented with a sweetheart deal that proposes a solution that if all works out would be a win-win situation but at what cost?

Enter Leo Castorini. He is smart, handsome and owns the restaurant next store. Not only the Montgomery’s but the Castorini’s are facing their own struggles as well. Both Tessa and Leo face the challenges of parents who are comfortable with tradition. As they want to try new things, they are met with resistance until after a conversation with his father, Leo is inspired to present Tessa with the idea of pretending to be married. Well, being fake married.

The only problem is their families have hated each other for some time and not to mention drama between the two of them. The proposal is if they get married, both families will have to work together and in turn they each help each other and both win. All they have to do is agree to this fake marriage and when their goal is accomplished, part ways. Will it be that easy?

Besides the main storyline in the book, what I truly love about this book is the multigenerational relationships in the book.That truly is the foundation of it and having those different perspectives woven in makes it more special.

Dive into this awesome new series that I promise you will not want to put down. The Sweetheart Deal is a sweet, funny contemporary romance that will leave you feeling so good. I’m so excited to see what’s to come in the second book, The Sweetheart Fix. You can look for that one in the fall. Just on a side note that these books can be read as a standalone. If you are a Miranda fan, you will love this new series. If you haven’t checked her out yet, make sure you jump on this series and check out her other books. I’d recommending adding this to your TBR list.

Was this review helpful?

Romeo and Juliet modern day fairytale but with a happily ever after! Leo and Tessa come from a long line of family that hates each other. The feud goes back hundreds of years which makes owning a restaurant (Leo) and Bakery (Tessa) next to each other super awkward. Both businesses are struggling to stay alive when Leo has the idea that getting married and saving both businesses as a team would be in everyone's best interests. From enemies to lovers, both Leo and Tessa are amazing characters. This book really asks how far you would be willing to go for love and business.

Thanks to netgalley for opening my eyes to this author who I will be buying more books in the future!

Was this review helpful?

A modern day Romeo & Juliet retelling with a happily ever after!

Tessa is a young woman with dreams of becoming a pastry chef while living in her small hometown of Blossom Glen and running her family’s bakery alongside her mother and grandmother. As her days meld together, she realizes that her life has gone stagnant and feels like her chance to chase her dreams has gone. The business is suffering as is Tessa’s love life.

When Leo Castorini rolls back into town ready to turn his family’s restaurant business around, Tessa is shocked at his proposal of a fake marriage to bring their family businesses together and help bring them back to success. Tessa & Leo’s families (The Montgomery’s & The Castorini’s) have been feuding for over a century - will a marriage really be the thing to bring them together?

Miranda Liasson has crafted a beautiful, contemporary romance with “The Sweetheart Deal”. Tessa and Leo’s story is one for the ages that shows it’s never too late to chase your dreams and that you should never judge a book by it’s cover. Their love story is full of surprises and I love their journey together. This is a clean romance with a fade to black moment.

Was this review helpful?

Loved it! Great food, friends, and wine make an even greater story when shared. I have to say this book had all the feels. A Romeo and Juliet vibe that ends with a HEA!

What did I like? My first by this author and I couldn’t put it down! Leo and Tessa were amazing. Two fueding families with businesses failing come together to help the other survive with a fake marriage! Leo and Tessa have been competing against the other since high school. Sparks fly! Fabulous book!

Would I recommend or buy? I’d love a copy! This story just sucked me in! The camaraderie in the book is so engaging that you feel like your in the same room as the characters! I would definitely read more by this author! Five stars!

I received a complimentary copy from Entangled Publishing to read and voluntarily left this review!

Was this review helpful?