“The Sweetheart Crush (Blossom Glen, book 3) by Miranda Liasson
An Easy Sweet Read
I loved my time in Blossom Glen with Viv, Logan, and their families and friends in the town of Blossom Glen, Indiana. Although I enjoyed the feel of being with old friends since I had previously read the first two stories in this series; this story can be read as a stand-a-lone read. And when you finish this story, you may just want to read books 1 & 2 of this series, too. Happy Reading ! !
Note: This review expresses my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.

3.5 Stars

I found this book to super cheesy, but very well written. I love a romance novel, but the storyline was extremely predictable, and every side story seemed to have the perfect happy ending.

The storyline itself, is about growing up through hard times, and learning to deal with prior mistakes. Viv and Logan were best friends in high school that fell apart when he tried to kiss her and she turned away. The pair reconnect ten years later, stirring up some unforgotten emotions.

There are a ton of cheesy lines, and I would have liked to dive more into character development. I have this 3.5 stars because I thought it was predictable, but the storyline was fun. There are some great, “warm your heart moments”, and I loved the small town feel. If you’re into mushy, happy-ending, page turners, this is the book for you!

Tropes:
-Ex-Best friends to Lovers
-He fell first
-Small Town

My favorite quote:

“So basically, motherhood is a giant basket of conflicting emotions you can’t ever resolve.”

Thank you NetGalley and Miranda Liasson for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy!

The Sweetheart Crush,
is another wonderful book
in the series.
Viv & Logan, had been best friends forever. Till one night
when everything changed.
After that night, they both disappeared from each other's lives. Viv & Logan, were filled with sadness, hurt & anger.
Years later, Logan, is back in
Blossom Glen. When they see
each, all the old feelings return.
Great characters & small town charm add to this delightful story.
I loved Viv & Logan's chemistry.
I truly enjoyed reading it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3 very lukewarm stars
I gave the other books in this series 3 stars - I liked them but didn't love them. This one was disappointing to me but I'm reluctant to give it less than 3 because I didn't dislike it THAT much. I just didn't see a romantic connection between Logan and Viv. And there was zero spice, so that didn't help. I also didn't see what was so great about Viv - she's supposed to be the sweetheart of the community and of her family? She was kind of unlikeable. And my biggest problem with the story: the reason they didn't speak for TWELVE YEARS! It was so ridiculous.

I do like this author (go read her Angel Falls series!) and would continue with this series if there are more to come, but this one's my least favorite by far.

Small town, second chance, friends to lovers? I was beyond excited to read this. I am a sucker for those tropes separately, but put them together I'm all over it. Unfortunately this just did not deliver. I could not stand the writing style or the characters. I honestly think that Viv and Logan have absolutely zero chemistry. Friends to lovers can be the most beautiful trope or an excuse to not make your characters have chemistry, and explain the connection they have without trying to expand on the backstory. I also refuse to believe that lifelong friends stopped being friends over a failed kiss.

I found so much of the writing and dialogue cringy. Also this is a closed door romance, which I did not know, and I usually don't read that. None of this book made an impact on me and I'm so upset because I really wanted to love this.

Vivienne and Logan both come back to Blossom Glen. For Vivienne, she is returning after failing at spreading her wings in Paris. Logan returns to support family. Once best friends, neither knew the other had returned. Long forgotten feelings clash head on with career plans for both. Are they ready to pick up where they left off or do they follow their career paths? You'll have to read The Sweetheart Crush to find out!

The Sweetheart Crush is book 3 of a series but I unknowingly went in not knowing that and it was completely fine as a stand alone.

Viv and Logan were childhood best friends who meant everything to one another. But when an almost kiss caused a divide, they ran and their relationship ended. Now, 12 years later they have reunited in their small town. Viv to raise money to support her dream of living in NY and Logan to spend time with his family. Logan is a successful writer who is struggling with the public persona and interactions that goes along with his career and Viv doesn’t feel like she’s been successful in her career despite being the towns sweetheart and having the support of everyone around her.

This is a cute small town romance and as is true with many others of its kind, the side plots and characters were often my favorite. There was a subplot about bullying both as adults and as teens and while it was discussed it was also wrapped up a bit too neatly for me.

A quick enjoyable read. Thank you to Entangled for my earc on NetGalley.

This was okay, but not great. I honestly wasn't feeling Viv or Logan as a couple. Sure, they had a history as best friends, but their chemistry was just okay. Viv was one step out of town and Logan was committed to staying in town with his family and giving things a try with Viv. I just didn't like that Viv was so stubborn and determined to leave in order to prove something to everyone else when she really didn't have to. She was nice though, I'll give her that. She certainly had the patience of a saint and I would not have held my tongue like she did when it came to town bullies. Logan was cute, I liked him. I just thought he deserved better than someone who wasn't 'all in.' Intimate scenes are fade to black, boo.

I do appreciate how the author always spotlights something in her group, like bullying (or dementia in another one I read before). It's nice to bring that to the attention since it's such a huge problem with our youth today.

While I enjoyed the first two books in the Blossom Glen series (The Sweetheart Deal and the Sweetheart Fix), this latest offering was mildly disappointing. The slow pace, coupled with the repetition of backstory details, kept me from fully engaging with the storyline. After enduring about 40% of the novel, I skimmed the highlights for the remainder.

Vivienne (aka Viv) and Logan have been best friends since early childhood – fostered by being next door neighbors and their mothers’ enduring friendship. A fateful kiss ruptured their relationship as they parted ways for college. Now, 12 years later, each has returned home for different reasons. Logan is a successful writer of novels filled with horror and terror. However, he is emotionally repressed in his relationships and remains aloof from his fan base, which is a problem for his publisher. Viv, on the other hand, is determined to change career paths after failing to fulfill her dream of becoming a stellar photographer. The question, of course, is whether these two will be able to let down their guards, overcome the misunderstandings, and reunite in perhaps more than friendship.

There is also a subplot addressing the serious contemporary issue of adolescent/teenage bullying. Unfortunately, this important topic was addressed rather superficially, and the resolution felt rushed and unrealistic.

Overall, this is a charming, light-hearted (for the most part) romance novel that serves as a good escapist read. Even though it is part of a series, it works well as a stand-alone book. I do feel there is a benefit to reading all three in sequence to appreciate the subtleties of Viv’s family dynamics.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Lovable characters, easy read, but it was a little bit wordy for me. Overall it was a very lighthearted story and I would recommend it if you’re looking for something cute and easy. But it didn’t fully grab me where I was hopelessly rooting for the characters. A good book, just not great.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC.

I am so in love with Miranda Liasson stories. And Sweetheart Crush is no exception. This is such a heartwarming story of Logan and Liiv’s journey. Logan is a famous author and Liv who has always had dreams of being a photographer. They were best friends in school until time to go away to college and then they weren’t. Their paths crossed in their home town later in life. Their deep feelings for each other never died after all these years. But can they finally reveal those hidden feelings and learn to really love each other through all the obstacles in front of them? Only time will tell. So don’t miss this touching story. I was very honored to be allowed to read and review this wonderful story.

The Sweetheart Crush was a nice, lighthearted read.

Vivienne is a photographer, working as a publicist for her childhood friend Logan. Logan is now a well known author but struggles with public relations and publicity issues so Viv agrees to help him for one month. There is a mutual attraction with a lot of push and pull between the two. They fight the attraction, initially but then give in.

The plot was okay but I feel like there could have been a lot more backstory, especially given that twelve years passed from the time they were kids to the present day. I also didn’t feel completely invested in Viv and Logan’s relationship. It felt like it was lacking passion, or chemistry, which is so important. This book did do a good job with addressing bullying and hit the small town, second chance tropes.

Overall, an okay read that I used as a palate cleanser between other books.

I received an advanced reader copy and am leaving my review voluntarily.

3 Stars = Good book, but probably will not reread

This is my first time reading this author, and I’m surprised I’ve never heard of her before. Not only was her story lighthearted, but it was packed with a small town vibe with characters you want to know more about.

Viv was a character I wasn’t sure I would like but she did grow on me. I actually saw part of myself in her, so I wanted her to succeed and have it all in the end. I liked how she was dynamic and had a variety of different hobbies. I just wish we knew more about her life in Paris. The sequence of events during the 12 year time gap were a bit puzzling, so I was unsure what came first.

Logan I had a love-hate relationship with. It is clear from the first moment he walks through the doors of the Christmas store Viv works at that he has loved her since they were children. However, there are a series of events that makes me question this - starting with that book he wrote. I get it, you’re mad, but that was such a heartless thing to do to someone you once loved. Especially since you have been friends with that person since birth.

I wanted a bit more chemistry and wining and dining with these two characters. I also felt cheated that there were no real spicy scenes. Because of the lack of this, I just didn’t 100% feel it between these characters.

Good story if you are looking for a quick read that isn’t stressful. I enjoyed my time reading this one.

Viv is a talented photographer who gave up too early, both on her art and on her best friend from childhood, Logan. But when he comes back into town, now a famous writer who needs publicity, Vivienne agrees to work for one month as his publicist. The two of them go back and forth, first fighting and then giving in to their mutual attraction, while a subplot unfolds about Logan's little sister being bullied. I'm sorry to say this book didn't grab me. I didn't really feel any attraction between Viv and Logan, and their ups and downs were too contrived.

The sweetest story about the Sweetest Crush. Vivi and Logan were best friends all through school… until they weren’t. Now they are both back in their hometown, Logan a famous author and Vivi a “failure” at photography. Can they find their way back to that friendship ( and maybe more) through the lies and miscommunications ? Visit the sweet town of Blossom Glen and discover families and stories that feel like home.

The Sweetheart Crush by Miranda Liasson is a wonderful and sweet contemporary romance that is the third book in the Blossom Glen series.

I really like this series (The Sweetheart Deal, The Sweetheart Fix) and I am so glad thus third book does it justice. It is heartwarming, relatable, and uplifting.

I highly recommend this book and this series.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Entangled Publishing, LLC, Entangled: Amara for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/13/23.

The Sweetheart Crush is the first book I've read by Miranda Liassin, but it definitely will not be the last. Her characters come alive on the page. Their problems are relatable - situations that we have all encountered or know someone who has.

I think The Sweetheart Crush would make a great movie!

The Sweetheart Crush is a sweetheart of a book. It’s a story about family, friends, finding one’s true purpose and recognizing that some thing’s simply are inevitable. Viv and Logan were besties since they were in diapers, but after that horrible day, both had some growing to do. Miranda Liasson has captured all the angst of being a teenager both in the past and in the present as this book also highlights being bullied. There are strong messages wrapped up in a totally delightful second chance at least for friendship…and perhaps more. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.