This is a sweet, small-town romance - easy to read - likeable characters - somewhat predictable - friends to lovers and a fake wedding scheme

A culinary twist on Romeo & Juliet, the main characters are rivals in their small town - one family runs an Italian restaurant and the other family runs the French bakery next door. A feud has kept them fighting for generations. Both businesses are struggling and the main characters, Tessa and Leo, have great ideas to help their families, if only someone would listen.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

This is really a sweetheart of a story. Tessa and Leo are wonderfully real with real world problems. I became completely engaged with the characters. The story moves smoothly from scene to scene and the reader gets the thoughts of the two main characters. This is my first book from this author and I am impressed with her writing. I will have to check out her other offerings.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and NetGalley and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

I love the fake marriage trope and this book executes it, in a funny and hilarious way. You will fall in love with the main couple and their families.

This was the sweetest and most delightful story! Enemies to lovers, chocolate cakes, Italian food and lots of fun. I am excited to read more from this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Small town gossip can make living in a small town difficult and for Tessa Montgomery when her fiance dumped her for another woman the things that were said hurt. Working in the family bread only bakery, when what she really wants to do is bake desserts is just another stab in the heart. All Tessa wants to do is go to culinary school.and then open her own bakery.

Leo Castorini is recently.returned home to help his father at their failing family Italian restaurant. Set next door to the bakery the Castorini family and the Montgomery family had been feuding for many generations. Although Leo and Tessa went to high school and shared one date, they were unable to end the feud. Also, Tessa is hiding a pretty big secret

When Leo convinces Tessa that they should work together to make both businesses successful, Tessa is considering it. When he says they should get married for a year to convince his dad he's serious, she thinks he's crazy.

Very enjoyable story with a great storyline about going after what you want even if you take a long time to achieve your dream. The characters are well written and the author makes the reader route for them. I will definitely read.more books by this author.

#MirandaLiasson #TheSweetheartDeal #EntangledPublishing #Amara #romance #NetGalley

Pastry chef Tessa Montgomery is going through a breakup and dreaming of making French pastries instead of bread in her mother’s bakery. Leo Castorini has returned home to try and convince his father to revamp the menu to help their struggling restaurant. The bakery and restaurant are next door to each other but the families are carrying on a bitter fetus that started years ago. Both businesses are struggling so Leo proposes a plan to Tessa to combine the businesses and save them both. They will marry to make the families work together and when things are unproved, they will go their separate ways. A really sweet romance and I loved it!


Thanks to Miranda Liasson and Entangles Publishing for the book

I enjoyed the story, but one thing I struggled with was the description of how they were going to save the businesses. It was highly glossed over and just told us they were working hard without really doing anything.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley; I’m reviewing it voluntarily.

I loved this book so much! I adore the enemies-to-lovers, fake marriage tropes with a slight dose of only one bed thrown in. It has nods to Romeo and Juliet but with a guaranteed HEA. This is the light, heartwarming read needed for the winter season.

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an advanced copy!

The Sweetheart Deal follows Tessa, a small town pastry chef with big dreams of attending culinary school and making the most of her baking skills. Leo's family owns the restaurant next to Tessa's family's bakery, and he has dreams on a similar scale to what Tessa wants. The two families have a long standing rivalry, but when Leo proposes a temporary marriage as a solution to both of their problems, Tessa hopes to get everything she wants and more.

The Sweetheart Deal had a little bit of everything: enemies to lovers, rival families, a marriage of convenience.....and did I mention the fantastic food themes thrown into the mix? The description had me hooked from the start and the story did not disappoint along the way. Loved the relationship between Tessa and Leo and their proposed short term marriage; it was fun to read and kept me on the hook with the will they or won't they feelings. And of course there was tons of meddling family drama to boot! The Sweetheart Deal is a great choice for romance novel enthusiasts looking for their next read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for this ARC; this is my honest and voluntary review.

Fans of marriage of convenience trope are going to love this book! I liked how Leo and Tessa had a hate love aspect going on. I’m in love with the relationship Tessa has with her sisters. I found the last third of the book a little slow paced but the ending was really sweet. Know that this is a closed door romance!

Wonderful story with excellent characters. Leo comes home to help rescue his father’s restaurant. Tessa never got to leave as she stayed to help her families bakery. It’s interesting to see what lengths this couple will go through in order to help both of their families. There is a feud between their families. So there’s family drama, romance, mistakes made and so much love. I received a complimentary copy of obviate NetGalley and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by Ms Liasson.

I really liked the characters in this story. Leo and Tessa have always been in competition with one another and have also had a crush on each other without letting the other know. When situations arise with their parents and their family businesses, Leo and Tessa make a business arrangement and marry. Of course complications arise and chaos ensues. However, there are many parts that were swoon worthy and I really recommend this to anyone who wants an "enemies to lovers" experience.

Tessa Montgomery and Leo Castoninis have been rivals all their lives due to the feud between their families . Unfortunately, their family businesses are next door to each other. Tessa's family owns a French bakery and Leo's family owns an Italian restaurant. The relationship between these two son comes to a head when Leo asks Tessa to marry him because he believes that is the best way to fix their family businesses. Tessa agrees because she knows that both of their businesses are about to shut down if they don't turn them around.
This is a modern day Romeo and Juliet story with a twist - an HEA.
I could not put this book down. It was fascinating, entertaining and heartwarming.
You'll love it.

A fun, entertaining romance that's similar to Romeo and Juliet in that two families, the Montgomerys and the Castorinis, have a serious feud going back for generations in the small town of Blossum Glen. Tess Montgomery is a pastry chef, but her family's bakery only makes and sells breads and her mother refuses to allow any changes in their offerings - even though they may need changes in order to stay afloat Leo Castorini, the son of the restaurant owner next door, has been in New York for years working in finance, but has come back to town to help his family. However, Leo's father refuses to make changes to the restaurant or the menu, even though Leo has some great ideas to help the restaurant survive.

Leo and Tessa are each facing the very similar problem of stubborn parents who don't like or want change. They were very competitive in high school and of course, there is the feud, so that stands between them. Even though they hate each other, Leo proposes a plan to work together that might just save both businesses: "Tessa and Leo marry, live together for six months, and then go their separate ways. Easy peasy."

This was an interesting, crazy concept and I couldn't wait to see what happened - even though I figured from the outset a romance would develop. It was a fun read and I enjoyed the story and the writing.

Thanks to Entangled Publishing LLC through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on January 25, 2022.

A Romeo and Juliet rom-com set in current day Indiana. Both Leo and Tessa were likable and their romance was cute. Tessa’s sisters were a little frustrating in that they interrupted and pushed their way into every private moment between Tessa and Leo. But in the end, the family feuds were back burner to the two of them realizing they always liked each other. This would make for a cute beach read or a quick weekend read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the arc.

This was a cute read. I appreciated that it wasn't a wham bam instant love. There was a good detailed background between the characters and established the generational hate between them. Unfortunately the ending became predictable and fell a little flat. overall easy good read.

All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own in response to a copy from NetGalley.

This book was a quick read and one I didn't want to put down. The dynamics between the main characters is sincere and believable while the story line not as much. The back story of family and the desire to help which leaving your on dreams on hold was endearing to me. I also found the idea of a French family and Italian family being adversaries over their food styles was also a nice twist.

Overall, I feel that this book was enjoyable. When I read a book in a day, it is clear that it has grabbed my attention and is very appealing. It has a quick moving plot that had ups and downs in the just the right spots.

Pastry chef Tessa longs to escape the small town of Blossom Glen, where rumors fly about her recent breakup. Instead, she’s stuck there while trying to help save her mother’s boulangerie. Her mother won’t let Tessa create the pastries she longs to make and knows would help save the business.

Meanwhile, next door is the struggling restaurant owned by the Castorini family. Leo is also home to help save the family business and longs to add more to the menu but is met with nothing but resistance.

There’s a history of competitiveness between Tessa and Leo that has been there since high school. There’s also a decades-old family feud between the two families. When Leo comes up with an idea he’s sure would mend the feud and save both businesses, he asks Tessa to go along with it. A marriage of convenience. Leo is sure that if they were to marry, both families would be more open to trying new pastries and menu items and ending the feud. With nothing else to try, Tessa agrees to marry Leo and stay in the marriage for six months. After that, she plans to leave town and follow her dreams.

Somewhere along the way, real feelings develop between Tessa and Leo. Can Tessa stay married to Leo permanently and still achieve her dreams? Will they be able to save both businesses and end the feud? A story of new beginnings, finding true love, achieving one’s dreams, and a HEA.

I was given an advance copy from NetGalley and the publisher, Entangled Publishing, LLC. This review is my honest opinion.

The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson (Blossom Glen #1)
Tags: Contemporary Romance; RomCom; Small Town Romance; Enemies To Lovers; Marriage of Convenience
** Pub Date Jan 25, 2022 **

This lovely small town romance had a Romeo & Juliet vibe, when two enemies from feuding families come together in a marriage of convenience in the hopes of ending a long standing feud and saving their families businesses.

This was exactly what I’ve come to expect in a Miranda Liasson read (having previously enjoyed her Angel Falls, Mirror Lake, and Spikonos Brothers series) – it was filled with fun loveable characters, friends and family who were super loveable, a charming small town feel and a sweet, heartwarming romance.

I really wanted to visit the town – I wanted to see the cute houses that Tessa described, I wanted to try that delicious Italian food and I desperately want to visit that boulangerie. I found both Tessa and Leo to be flawed but loveable characters. I loved them together and was rooting for their happy ending. I’m super curious about her sisters and his besties – am I sensing future romance?

Once again, I’m invested in the small town and the characters and can’t wait to see what comes next for the other characters as they find love. This one could totally be the set up for a sweet, tv streaming show. If you enjoy sweet, fun romcoms set in a small town this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the arc of this book.


Romeo and Juliet BUT better!
This story was sweet, and it follows what us romance lovers enjoy!
The characters were well written, and I cared about them, the supporting ones too!
The Sweetest Deal kept me turning the pages because I couldn’t get enough!
I will write a more detailed and spoilery review on @bookish.blus on Instagram and update my Goodreads review for it!