Cover Image: The Sweetheart Deal

The Sweetheart Deal

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This is a good story. If you are a fan of a slight enemy to lovers and fake marriage tropes you should enjoy this one. It’s cute.
Tessa Montgomery is a pastry chef. She knows everyone in her small hometown of Blossom Glen and she knows what they say about her. They think of her as an “Ice Queen” and in many ways feel sorry for her. So what’s a girl to do? This girl bakes her troubles away while dreaming of Parisian delicacies. All the while she is baking bread at her mom’s struggling boulangerie. Then one day her mortal enemy, who also happens to be incredibly gorgeous and owns the restaurant right next door, comes up with a fool proof business proposal. They should get married.
Leo is well aware that his family and Tessa’s despise each other. He’s thinking that a marriage might just be the thing that forces the families to work together and to blend their businesses in order to keep them both going and to achieve success. The deal he proposes is very simple: the two get married and live together for six months and then go their own separate ways. Simple! But when old feelings resurface, will it really be all that simple after all?
This is just a cute, easy book to read. It has a fun story and the characters are terrific. It follows the typical format for this sort of book but the story is still fresh and fun. This is the perfect book for someone looking for a little romance to take them to a happy place as it’s hard not to smile while reading this one.
I received a copy of the audiobook of this story from Netgalley. The narrator is absolutely fantastic and she really brings the story to life. I recommend this format if you are an audiobook fan.

Was this review helpful?

Cute. I really wish I could elaborate more on this one but it was just cute. Wasn’t spectacular but also wasn’t terrible.

Was this review helpful?

The Romeo and Juliet theme was cute and I'm glad they acknowledged it in the book (Leo and Tessa make jokes about it!). I do feel like some of the family drama was a bit forced and I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable. Not the worst romance I've ever read but it was a bit too saccharine for my taste. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

They have a high school crush that ends due to a misunderstanding and a family feud. Later they embark on a 6 month fake marriage to help save each of their families businesses. A really cute story that I listened to in one day.

Was this review helpful?

I’m not rating this because it would be unfair to the author and publisher. This book just wasn’t for me. But thank you, Dreamscape Media for this opportunity. You guys are awesome!

Was this review helpful?

The Sweetheart Deal is the first book in the Blossom Glen Duology. Tessa Montgomery is the oldest of three sisters, the one who stayed in Blossom Glen, the one who helps her mother run the family boulangerie, the one who gave up her dreams so everyone else got what they wanted. She wants to be a pastry chef and sell more than just bread at the shop, but her mother always vetoes her ideas. Next to them is the Castorini Italian Restaurant. When their son, Leo returns home to help out his dad. After his mother died the business began to go downhill and Leo is worried it will go out of business. Leo and Tessa do not like each other very much, at least on the surface. Leo decides there is only one thing to do if they both want to save their family businesses, get married. It will be a fake marriage, but maybe their parents won't know that. They might finally take them seriously and let them make changes at their respective businesses. The only wrench in the works is the family feud that has been carried on between the Montgomerys and Castorinis for several generations. Of course the fake marriage trope usually leads elsewhere.

This was a great story with wonderful characters. I loved all the members of both families and how they tried to support each other and stop Tessa and Leo from "ruining" their lives. Of course secrets come out and Leo learns that the anger he has toward Tessa is undeserved and built on incomplete information. Once he realizes how he still feels about her, I loved seeing the little things he does to try and woo her. Of course there is some angst due to miscommunication, but that just added a bit more interest to the story and showed more of the closeness of the sisters. I really enjoyed this fake marriage, enemies to lovers story and look forward to what the next book has in store for us. Virginia Rose narrated the audiobook and I enjoyed it very much. Her voices, tone and expression added to my enjoyment of the story. My one complaint is the voice for Leo's 16 year old sister. She sounded like she was young (11 or 12) at some points and older at others. It was a bit disconcerting. Fortunately she was not a main character, so was not a major part of the story. I do recommend this book to those who enjoy a small town romance with wonderful families.

Was this review helpful?

The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson is a light-hearted, romance that would fit in perfectly on the Hallmark channel if it were a movie. In a small Indiana town, Tessa Montgomery is dealing with a lot. Not only does the whole town knows that her former fiancé had an affair, but she has to interact with him almost daily as he continues to come into her family's bakery. And her family's bakery is on the brink of having to close due to finances, but her mother refuses to consider expanding their offerings to include desserts even though baking them is Tessa's passion. That's not even mentioning the century old rivalry with the Castorini family that runs the Italian restaurant next door to the bakery! However, it turns Castorini family has something in common with the Montgomery family. Their restaurant is struggling too. Struggling enough that when Leo Castorini can't convince his dad to make changes he decides to try a drastic solution. His dad thinks that he needs to show he is serious by settling down to become a family man before he will be ready to run the business, so Leo proposes a fake marriage to his old classmate and once crush, Tessa, despite their family's feud. What is even crazier than the proposal? Tessa accepts!

Overall, the story is exactly what you would want from the genre of a quick and easy, light pg-rated romance. It may be a bit predictable, but the characters are lovable and the narrator is easy to listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! #NetGalley #BrightStar

Was this review helpful?

Oh what a lovely read!

The Sweetheart Deal by author Miranda Liasson was such a great feel-good read. The "fake marriage" trope is always a "they-will-most-likely-fall-in-love" in my opinion...and this one didn't disappoint!

I really enjoyed this storyline and the characters. Tessa was such a wonderful heroine, it was hard not to love her and hope it all worked out for her. Leo was a great hero, and one you hoped Tessa would end up with.

This romance is kind of a Montagues and Catapults/Romeo and Juliet type storyline, without the death of the characters (spoiler alert! LOL).

The Sweetheart Deal is the first book in the Blossom Glen series by this author and I am looking forward to the next book to release!

The audiobook was VERY well done! I enjoyed the narrator and would recommend listening to this!

Was this review helpful?

Such a great enemies to lovers story. Was a quick book. I think this would be a really great movie!!!!

Was this review helpful?

This was my first book by Miranda Liasson. It has a fake marriage/feuding families story that was cute, but I didn't love it. My favorite thing about the story was Virginia Rose's narration.

Was this review helpful?

Loved this modern-day ROMEO and Juliet love story. Leo and Tessa are both ambitious, talented and want what's best for their families. Though there is a feud between them, these two plan a way to bring them together to save them from going out of business. The book is full of Whit, Charm and romance, so sweet that you will want dessert while reading, loved it so much, great author, great story!

Was this review helpful?

A fun romance that starts out as a business arrangement between Tessa and Leo to save both their family businesses. The problem is that the two families have been feuding for decades so they decide to do something extreme.

This is not my usual genre of choice when selecting a book but I really did enjoy the story. It is funny, touching and had me hooked from the beginning. I received a complimentary copy of this story but the opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson
Narrated by Virginia Rose
Blossom Glen no. 1
This is the beginning of a new series, sweet and clean (no explicit sex). The idea is that the two families, Castorini and Montgomery are like the Montague and Capulet families in Romeo and Juliet. They do have a feud but that is the only comparison.
It was a cute romance with a fake marriage trope and the typical fight and breakup near the end. Of course, they get back together and have a HEA.

Was this review helpful?

Leo and Tessa are sworn enemies. Their families have been at war for years, even though no one quite remembers why. Leo’s family owns the Italian restaurant next door to Tessa’s family’s bakery in Blossom Glen. As both businesses are struggling, Leo proposes a six month marriage to Tessa to save both stores. She accepts and quickly realizes she likes Leo. When he also accepts that he is falling for Tessa, can they make this commitment more long term? Or will the family rivalry get in the way?

A new twist on Romeo and Juliet, but with a much happier ending, The Sweetheart Deal is a darling romantic love story with two wonderful main characters that have amazing chemistry! I’m excited to know that this is the first in a new series and I get to read more about Blossom Glen. It’s the perfect way to spend a few hours ignoring real life.

Was this review helpful?

Leo’s family restaurant is struggling. Tessa’s family bakery is struggling. But, Leo has a plan. He wants to “pretend” to marry Tessa. However, these two families hate each other for something which happened years and years ago. Will Leo’s plan work? Can he and Tessa save their businesses? Or will the feud continue until all is lost?

I just adored these characters. I fell hook, line and sinker for Leo! He is hot and perfectly sweet, especially when it comes to Tessa! I loved the way these two characters go about trying to protect their family. Got to keep the feud intact! These two try really hard not to have feelings for each other, but sometimes you just need to quit fighting it!

Virginia Rose is a wonderful narrator. She really did a superb job with the quirks and cute comments.

Need a sweet romance with great characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review

Was this review helpful?

This was a good, Hallmark type story. I mean who gets married when they don't even like each other. I really enjoyed this quick listen and the narration was very good. It was a fun story that brought not only a couple families together but a whole town!

Was this review helpful?

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version.
Hmm I don't know what to say about this book, but only this that it was extremely unrealistic. It felt very Hallmark movie/book feeling. I don't know why they keep writing stories about faking a relationship or a marriage to get what they want and fool other people. But this story went a step further and they decided to fake relationship and get married .. married! So that both sides of their families will let them give more of a voice in their failing business? I don't know .. I have read a lot of Hallmark type stories where they fake an boyfriend/girlfriend relationship but getting married and finding a house and moving in together when they don't even love each other. Just doesn't feel realistic for a modern day story. It works for pioneer/ Victorian etc period but not in today's time.
I will give the narrator credit. I enjoyed her voice and how she voiced all the characters.
Also the cover is cute.
I will also say that I honestly tried with this story and I really wanted to like it.

Was this review helpful?

The Sweetheart Deal is a delightful Romeo/Juliette style story. Generations back a family feud developed between the Montgomery family and their boulangerie and the Castorinis and their neighboring Italian restaurant, why no one recalls.

Tessa Montgomery, eldest daughter of the family, has taken on the role of caring for her family: grandmother, mother and two sisters. Leo Castorini has returned to Blossom Glen, Indiana, to help resurrect his family’s restaurant. Neither of the neighboring businesses is thriving. Tessa and Leo are doing whatever they can to bring them both out of the red and a close alliance seems to be the answer, even if it is a fake marriage.

Once the couple amazes all with their swift marriage, the real fun begins. They have purchased a house in a desirable area, but was it to prevent Tessa’s cheating ex from getting the lovely home? They have worked together tirelessly to help both businesses. But as they do, a close relationship develops.

This is a lovely, humorous story and I enjoyed every moment! I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

Was this review helpful?

This is a Romance with a twist on Romeo and Juliet, and this is the first book in the Blossom Glen series. I read this book two time (kindle book and listening to the audiobook). The characters in this book grow on me, but it took a little bit of me to totally love the characters. The beginning dragged on, and the very start of this book was eye rolling for me. Once, I got into this book a loved it and could not put it down. I normally not a big fan on books that have takes on Romeo and Juliet, but this book was really good. I loved the ending. I think one of the reasons I really enjoyed this book is that the family feud felt to be in the background, and It also felt everyone wanted to family feud to be over. I really enjoyed the audiobook, and I liked the narrator. I was kindly provided an e-copy and e-audiobook of this book by the publisher (Entangled: Amara) or author (Miranda Liasson) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Was this review helpful?

The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson pulled me in from the very beginning. I loved the sweet and clean story of Tessa and Leo. The storyline was reminiscent of Romeo & Juliet with feuding families, but with a much happier ending. I loved how the marriage of convenience turned into the real deal. The author wrote delightful banter, sumptuous descriptions and heartwarming characters. I loved this book and want to thank #NetGalley and #Dreamscape Media for letting me review this audiobook. Virginia Rose was delightful to listen to and she really brought the characters to life with her voice.

Was this review helpful?