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Blossom Glen #1

The Sweetheart Deal

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From the bestselling author of the Angel Falls series, two enemies say “I do” in the first irresistible book about Blossom Glen.

Pastry chef Tessa Montgomery knows what everyone in the teeny town of Blossom Glen says about her. Spinster. Ice Queen. Such a shame. It’s enough to make a woman bake her troubles away, dreaming of Parisian delicacies while she makes bread at her mother’s struggling boulangerie. That is until Tessa’s mortal enemy—deliciously handsome (if arrogant) chef Leo Castorini, who owns the restaurant next door—proposes a business plan…to get married.

Leo knows that the Castorinis and the Montgomerys hate each other, but a marriage might just force these stubborn families to work together and blend their businesses for success. The deal is simple: Tessa and Leo marry, live together for six months, and then go their separate ways. Easy peasy.

It’s a sweetheart deal where everyone gets what they want—until feelings between the faux newlyweds start seriously complicating the mix. Have they discovered the perfect recipe for success…or is disaster on the way?

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 25, 2022

73 people are currently reading
7033 people want to read

About the author

Miranda Liasson

24 books3,103 followers

Miranda Liasson is a bestselling author who writes about the important relationships in women’s lives. Her heartwarming and humorous romances have won numerous accolades and have been praised by Entertainment Weekly for the way she “deals with so much of what makes life hard . . . without ever losing the warmth and heart that characterize her writing.”
A proud native of Northeast Ohio, she and her husband live in a neighborhood of old homes that serve as inspiration for her books. She is very proud of her three young adult children. And though every day she thinks about getting a dog, she fears a writer’s life may bore the poor animal to tears. When she’s not writing or enjoying books herself, she can be found biking along the old Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath trails in the beautiful Ohio MetroParks.
Miranda loves to hear from readers!

You can learn more at:
MirandaLiasson.com
Twitter @MirandaLiasson
Facebook.com/MirandaLiassonAuthor
Instagram @mirandaliasson

For information about new releases, sales, and other news, feel free to sign up for her newsletter at http://www.mirandaliasson.com/#mailin....


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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 351 reviews
Profile Image for Tina Loves To Read.
3,489 reviews1 follower
October 9, 2022
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.
Profile Image for Julie .
4,252 reviews38k followers
January 27, 2022
The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson is a 2022 Entangled publication.

Tessa Montgomery is stuck. Her family owned Boulangerie is floundering, her fiancé cheated on her, and the town residents tend to look at her with pity, and her big dreams of running her own bakery are rapidly fading away.

Enter Leo Castorini, an old rival who has returned home to help with his father’s restaurant, which is also floundering. Leo and Tessa trade barbs for a while, but both confide in the other about the struggles of getting their parents to make changes that will save their business. The pair put their heads together and come up an unconventional plan. It’s an 'all business' arrangement between Tessa and Leo…

Until it isn’t…

This is an adorable contemporary romance! It’s a relatable story about waking up one day and realizing your life is in a rut and having the courage to shake things up before it's too late.

The ‘Sweetheart Deal’ Tessa makes with Leo has unexpected dividends for them both, which was fun to watch. Both characters grow as individuals, but Tessa has a real moment of clarity that was impressive, and I loved seeing her embark on the dreams she had postponed from so long.

Overall, this is a charming ‘enemies to lovers’ story. It is light and clean, with great characters, humor, and a wonderful, heartwarming conclusion- Just the kind of story I love!
Profile Image for Carrie.
3,576 reviews1,697 followers
January 22, 2022
The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson is the first book of the contemporary romance Blossom Glen series. As with a lot of romance series the main characters will change with each book in the Blossom Glen series so they can be read as a standalone if choosing to do so.

This first book of the new Blossom Glen series is a fake dating/relationship trope mixed with enemies to lovers trope. Tessa Montgomery helps run her family’s bakery where business hasn’t been going so well. Tessa, the oldest of three sisters, stayed in Blossom Glen to help out and wants the business to succeed.

Leo Castorini has come back to Blossom Glen to help with his family’s restaurant but is having trouble getting his stubborn father to listen. The Castorini’s and Montgomery’s have been feuding for over a century but Leo knows the restaurant and bakery could be successful together so he proposes a fake marriage to Tessa to get both families to let them make the changes that will help them both.

I have to admit the beautiful cover on The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson was the first thing to catch my eye. However, I’m also a sucker for a good fake dating romance so I couldn’t help but be intrigued when picking this one up. The story has a great small town vibe to it and I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. Thankfully neither were truly enemies and it was easy to fall into wanting them together and enjoying their story as it unfolded. Really enjoyed this opener of the series and will look forward to book two in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Profile Image for Chris  C - A Midlife Wife.
1,837 reviews465 followers
December 29, 2021
A fun, sweet, clean romance. Feel good story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are some books that you know are going to be awesome as soon as you start reading them. The vibe and feel you get from the writing style and storytelling abilities of the author really set the tone. That was clearly evident in this book.

I am not sure how to categorize this book. On one hand it could be a second chance romance. On another it can be classified as an enemies to lovers romance. Whatever you decide, it is going to be a story you will fall for, just like I did.

The characterization was perfect. The two main characters played off each other perfectly. I loved the fact that they were a bit older and this was not an angst filled story that stressed me out.

Playful, fun, with a small bit of angst along the edges to keep us on our toes, The Sweetheart Deal turned out to be a sweetheart of a read that made me happy and left me smiling! Loved the epilogue too! That’s how to end a story!

* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-sweethea...
Profile Image for DJ Sakata.
3,305 reviews1,779 followers
January 26, 2022
Favorite Quotes:

… she had to endure a lot of sad headshaking and endless questions about being dumped. Yes, still, even after almost a year. That was the thing about a small town— the first thing you did in your life that was gossip-worthy became the defining trait of your existence.

… this garden is protected by Gnomeland Security

“It’s three in the morning,” Gram said, tying a knot in her blue silk robe. “All of you are alive and breathing, so who’s pregnant?”


My Review:


I reveled in this entertaining and discerningly written tale and felt it was the author’s most poignant of those I’ve read. The storylines and writing tapped all the feels with a keen sensitivity and canny insights into the complications and sacrifices required to maintain family business as well as a peaceful existence in a small town. I adored these characters and how could I not? These are my people as they enjoyed Moscato, rainbow flip-flops, and sallying clever quips at each other like missiles. This new series is off to an excellent start and I am hooked and eager to see what and who this clever wordsmith does with the next installment.
Profile Image for Jen (jenslostinthepages) ♥Star-Crossed Book Blog♥.
773 reviews392 followers
February 4, 2022
The Sweetheart Deal was a heartwarming story that had the most wonderful happily ever after. With a bit of an enemies to lovers vibe, elements of Romeo and Juliet and a fake marriage, this book was quickly devoured. If you adore family, friendship, small towns and your romance sweet, then definitely add this one to your tbr!
When their gazes snared, he actually sucked in a breath because she looked worried and a little fidgety and...beautiful. There was no other word. He couldn't even lie to himself.
His nemesis was beautiful.

Tessa and Leo both felt stuck. Tessa was helping her mother's french style bakery, which was in desperate need of more business. But her dreams were to be a pastry chef, they definitely weren't baking bread all day or being stuck in a small town where she was referred to as an ice queen. And Leo had so many fabulous ideas to help his father's struggling Italian restaurant, but his father was set in his ways and refused to listen. To top it all off, their families' businesses were next door to each other and had an ongoing feud that stretched generations. So when Leo came up with an idea that would help both families get what they want, Tessa was blindsided that it was marriage. Between them.
Living with him in this adorable little place was not playing house.
They were on a mission. Project Save the Bakery/Restaurant began tomorrow.
And she'd better not forget that.

I liked Tessa right away. Yes she'd been given the name ice queen and spinster, but my heart hurt for her. She was dumped by her cheating ex, who still came into their store. But Tessa was loyal and put her dreams on hold to help the family business. She was also loving, selfless and had huge walls. I loved that anytime Leo was around, she seemed to come alive. Her and Leo had a past as rivalries for academics in High School. There was definitely a little bit of hate going on after all of these years. But there was a whole lot of sparks too.
He knocked elbows with her.
That simple, playful gesture slayed her. She was suddenly filled with a longing so intense she felt it might crush her. For love. For a family. For a life.

I loved Leo! He was strong, level headed, thoughtful and knew what he wanted in life. Leo also had walls, but with his easy going smile and charming personality, it wasn't always noticeable. Until you got close enough to him. He desperately wanted to help his dad's business now that he was back in town for good. And he knew that teaming up with Tessa was the ultimate solution. But with their two families feuding, the only way they could accomplish their goals and get their families to listen was if he and Tessa got married. And once he got Tessa on board, eeps, it was so delightful!
She met his gaze, and there he was, looking at her with a secretive glint in those big, moony Italian eyes.
And just like that, something in her heart broke open.

The fake dating trope is one of my favorites, but when you bump it up to marriage, it took it to another level. And with them moving in together, I loved the forced proximity! So while Leo and Tessa had a lot in common, they still struggled with one another. Their past, their present to even their future seemed to create obstacles between them, but it just added to the entertainment of it all. Their story was heartwarming, emotional, and there was lots of chemistry between them too. But when it came to more, that happened off the pages. Throw in small town characters and two families that felt larger than life, I found this story a lot of fun!
She'd left her scent in his bed and her imprint on his soul.
And he was in big trouble. Because he'd gone and fallen for his wife.

The Sweetheart Deal was an adorable story that kept me smiling. It was an easy read with likeable characters and a story-line that kept me interested. This was my first story by Miranda Liasson, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

For more of my reviews, please visit:
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Profile Image for Sara Oxton.
3,806 reviews18 followers
November 20, 2021
The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson a tasty treat of a five-star read. This is my first read by this author, but it won’t be the last as I adored the writing, it was sweet, without being sugary. Tessa was so strong, and you could physically feel the gut punches she suffers, always putting others first. Then you add Leo in the mix, and it all goes up in smoke, like a burning batch of buns. These sweethearts will suck you into their story, and have you rooting for them, but love isn’t always smooth, especially when you don’t want to acknowledge it.
Profile Image for Wendy W..
517 reviews185 followers
January 28, 2022
The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson is her first book in her Blossom Glen series and was everything I love in a women’s fiction/romance novel. This sweet romance was emotional, with realistic characters, and just so comforting to read. All this with a twist on Romeo and Juliet.

Tessa Montgomery works hard in her family’s struggling boulangerie, making bread every day, but she dreams of opening a french patisserie with delicate, scrumptious French pastries. Chef Leo Castorini has returned home to help his family’s struggling Italian restaurant. His father is stubborn, and won’t allow Leo to make any changes, and Leo is afraid the restaurant won’t last much longer without any major changes.

The Montgomeries and the Castorini have been feuding for years and the two families have been bitter enemies. Leo’s father refuses to allow Leo to make any changes to the restaurant until he shows he’s responsible and willing to make a permanent home in the small town of Blossom Glen. Leo knows the only way he can prove to his father he’s responsible, is to get married. Leo then proposes a marriage of convenience to Tessa, she’s very surprised and reluctant to agree. But, in order to help her family and the bakery, she reluctantly agrees to a fake marriage.

This sweet romance has everything I want in a romance. The characters are realistic and charming. The romance was adorable and I was rooting for Tessa and Leo throughout the book. It’s an enemies to lovers, with a Romeo and Juliet twist along with a fake marriage trope! Both Tessa and Leo are working to save their families and their family’s businesses, and I liked that they both were so invested in the families as well as their own career aspirations.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Profile Image for Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany).
2,800 reviews4,696 followers
January 20, 2022
Enemies from feuding families agree to get married in order to save their families businesses! The Sweetheart Deal is a modern take on a marriage of convenience story. Tessa works in her family's French bakery and dreams of going away to pastry school, but has always shouldered a lot of responsibility for her sisters and the financial woes of the bakery. Leo is back in town to help his family with their struggling Italian restaurant. The businesses are next door, but the families hate each other and refuse to work together. Could a marriage change that?

This is a cute small-town romance that is very low-steam. There were some standout moments where Leo does very thoughtful things for Tessa, and I liked how it managed their past with each other. That said, you always get a third act breakup and I didn't like how far they each went in saying and doing hurtful things when a conversation could have solved a lot. I know this is a common trope, but I would love to see a book do it with a bit less drama and more mature conversation. But overall, a cute romance! The audio narration is great. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews870 followers
January 30, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson, this enemies to lovers with a bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe (sans death), was a sweet and extremely entertaining romance. I loved that this book centered around two families; one Italian the other French, both with generational businesses that are not doing so well because they adult children are being ignored by their parents about changes that need to be made to increase their business and the bottom line. While there is a romance within the pages of this book, this book is about relationships of all kinds and how they change.

Tessa Montgomery and Leo Castorini went to high school together and were academic rivals. At one time they seemed to be on the path to dating but that all ended when Leo saw Tessa kiss another boy whom she later got engaged to and then found cheating on her prior to their wedding. While Tessa loves her family and working at the family bakery, she longs to go to pastry school and to offer up beautiful desserts in addition to the bread they sell. She’s a bit surprised when Leo shows up at the bakery even though it’s next door to his family’s restaurant, and even more surprised when he suggests they marry in order for their families to give them a chance to make the changes in their family businesses. A generational feud between their families make the idea outlandish, but with a contract to supply bread to his family’s restaurant along with possibly some of their business contacts, the bakery could turn around and Tessa would be able to finally go to pastry school. They agree on 6 months, no physical intimacy, living as roommates and then a quick divorce, unfortunately their hearts seem to have a mind of their own.

I loved this couple’s history; there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye and their chemistry was off the charts. It was easy to see they both are affected by the other one any time they are near each other. Both have some baggage in their past, both lost a parent in their teens so while they share that background, the way that loss shaped them is different, and Tessa’s past relationship left her a bit wary making it hard for her to trust. Their families while overbearing and at times obstinate were also their strong foundation and I loved the interactions they had with them, even the difficult ones.

I appreciated that their road to their happily ever after was a bit bumpy, but I also enjoyed the way they were so supportive of each other in their endeavors to make things better for their family’s businesses. There was mutual respect for one another and pride when what they set out to do was accomplished.

For my romance readers this was a fade to black romance which was kind of a bummer because they did have amazing chemistry and this couple oozed sensuality, so it would have been nice to see it come to fruition.

A heartwarming and entertaining story filled with family, traditions, compromise, and love; The Sweetheart Deal was a wonderful start to this new series from Miranda Liasson.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Profile Image for Lina.
698 reviews24 followers
January 27, 2022
This book was a good nice and light romance to read. It reminded me of the Harlequin romance books I was reading when I was a teenager. They were always like a light breeze and fixed my mood when I was sad.

Fake-marriage is one of my favourite tropes and I liked that the author managed to make it fun and light for the readers.

Since is a first book from the series I will love to know what happens with Tess sisters within the next books 😊.

***ARC received from the author for my honest opinion.***
Profile Image for Nancy .
550 reviews21 followers
February 10, 2022
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.
Profile Image for Carol.
1,390 reviews265 followers
June 4, 2023
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.

Profile Image for Micky Cox.
2,320 reviews38 followers
January 20, 2022
A modern-day Romeo and Juliet with a twist and a happy ending to give you all the feels! In an attempt to save their very stubborn families from losing their family businesses, Leo and Tessa join forces by getting married and the antics take off from there. Actually, the antics in this rom com start from the beginning and the author has you smirking, if not outright giggling from the start. A fun plot wrapped in wit to keep you delightfully entertained for ours. The narration does an outstanding job of bringing the characters, setting and story to life! I'd definitely recommend adding this to your listen to list if you like a sweet romance story.
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
8,992 reviews173 followers
January 19, 2022

Audiobook/Ebook Review: The Sweetheart Deal (Blossom Glen, #1) by Miranda Liasson, Narrated by Virginia Rose

The Sweetheart Deal is enough to make the tastebuds swoon. Liasson blends savory spice with sentimental and finds a sweet spot to the heart. From love and hate to sweet and salty, Tessa and Leo are too delicious a treat to pass up.
Profile Image for Debby *BabyDee*.
1,482 reviews80 followers
December 16, 2021
The Sweetheart Deal is a first by Miranda Liasson, new author to this reader. A sweetheart of a story that was a little predictable for me. It had likeable characters and “friends/enemies to lovers…fake marriage’ trope that I like in stories. A nicely written story between two people who are believable with believable problems to overcome. The ending became a bit slow for me but welcomed the sweet ending. A good storyline and as a new author to this reader, I look forward to reading more
.
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Wendy'sThoughts.
2,670 reviews3,289 followers
December 17, 2021
3.5 Everything Added Up Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free- A Quick Review
When I have a chance to read all the troupes I seem to be jamming on, I dive right in. What are the things I have been craving lately, you may ask...

Well, I love anything to do with baking, bakeries, and restaurants-Check

I seem to be reading a lot of Marriages of Conveniences-Check
Throw in a Romeo and Juliet Type of Family Feud, sign me up-Check
And then promise me a HEA and you have me Hook, Line, And Sinker.

This tale had all of the above and more. A very easy cute read.

The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson The Sweetheart Deal
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


A gifted copy was provided by Entangled Publishing, LLC, Entangled: Amara via NetGalley for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
Profile Image for Sue .
2,048 reviews124 followers
February 4, 2022
This romance novel is a fun read. It's got two great main characters, possessive families and a happily-ever-after ending that will make the reader smile. It takes place in the small town of Blossom Glen were everyone knows and interferes with what's going on in everyone's life.

Tess is a pastry chef and works at her family boulangerie. She longs to make more than just bread - she wants to bake beautiful Parisian pastries. But her mother insists that the bakery is a bread store only and she won't allow her daughter to follow her dream. Growing up, Tess wanted to be a pastry chef and she dreamed of attending school to learn the craft. When her father died unexpectedly when Tess was in high school, his wife and three daughters had trouble coping so Tess stayed at home to help her family and put her dream on hold. She still has the dream and knows if business picks up she'll finally be able to pursue her dream of going to school.

Next door to the boulangerie is a family run Italian restaurant. The son of the family, Leo, has come home from his job in Boston to try to make the restaurant profitable again. But his father refuses to try anything new and wants to stay with his outdated menu even though the restaurant is empty most of the time. He finally tells his son that if he would get married, his father might listen to his advice. Leo has no desire to get married but then he has a great idea. If he and Tess would get married, they could help each other make changes to the bakery and the restaurant. The main problem with this idea is that Tess and Leo knew each other from high school where they were rivals and didn't like each other much plus their families had a generations old feud and refused to even speak to each other.

This was a light and easy romance. Both of the main characters were well written and very likable. Plus the people in the town added a humorous vibe to the story. This story had love, family and an HEA ending - everything that makes a romance novel become more than just a run of the mill romance.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Elaine .
1,043 reviews64 followers
January 22, 2022
The sweetheart deal.
By Miranda liasson.


This Book Releases January 25th 2022.

Book one In this new series.
Simply A will written story..
Absolutely adored this book..


This is a sweetheart deal where everyone gets what they want sometimes it takes a few fake things but in the end things normally work out like they should.




Tessa Montgomery,

Pastry chef, doing what she has to do for her family because family is everything.. Including giving up what she should have had years ago.. Tessa puts family first.



Leo Castorinis,

A guy willing to do things to help out his family, Things he wouldn't normally do.. Proposing to his nemesis.
Leo is a guy who normally has lots of girls. But now hes all about the business of the family..



This is definitely a sweetheart of a deal.. I Loved this Book.

Thank you Miranda Liasson
For Such a wonderful story.
Looking forward to the next Book.
Profile Image for Sherwood Smith.
Author 168 books37.5k followers
Read
January 25, 2022
It's the Montagues and the Capulets in the restaurant biz--Tessa's family runs a French bakery that is barely holding on, next door to Leo's family's Italian restaurant, same deal. Tessa and Leo very soon find a way to communicate--he knows his father needs to upgrade the restaurant's image, and Tessa can't get her mother to let her expand into the desserts she wants to add to the bakery.

The two decide on a fake marriage. The reasons don't really hold up under scrutiny, but this is a fluffy romance, and the family members are fun, the interactions and pacing brisk and enjoyable . . . until the Dark Moment that too many romances seem to have to shove in. Most of these could be solved with thirty seconds of adult conversation, and even better, working together. I was disappointed in where this one went, but that over, the rest was lovely.

Copy provided by NetGalley
Profile Image for Ashlyn.
1,495 reviews64 followers
August 17, 2023
This book was so sweet! I love a good marriage of connivence book, but what I love even more is a contemporary marriage of connivence. This was the perfect book for what I needed. It was sweet, it was cute, it was really just so adorable. I wasn't sure how I would feel about it before I started, but I'm so glad that I read it. This had feuding families, a little enemies-to-lovers, and high school crushes. I believe this is my first book by this author, and I already want to find out what else they write so I can read them too! I definitely recommend this one if you are looking for a sweet closed-door romance.
Profile Image for Janilyn Kocher.
5,125 reviews115 followers
January 1, 2022
I loved the location and the cover for this story. What a perfect book to kick off the new year! Two people, Leo and Tess, marry to save both their respective family businesses. Of course they fall for each other, but a lot of history and present problems have to be faced. I loved Leo and his vette! Tess sacrificed too much and needed to see her own potential. Crusty parents who refuse to change added spice to the mix. THe ending was sigh worthy. Don’t miss out on this book! Thanks to Entangled Amara and NetGalley for the advance copy.
Profile Image for Rachel.
2,354 reviews99 followers
January 14, 2022
The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson and audiobook narrated by Virginia Rose is a great contemporary romance that I truly enjoyed. This is the first book in a new series: Blossom Glen.

I loved this romance that gives us the classic love to hate to just downright love trope (enemies to friends to romance). This plot adds in the twist of it also involving “rival” families of sorts to add to the entertainment. Leo Castorini and Tessa Montgomery (and their respective families) have competition written all over them, but Tessa and Leo see beyond that and know that they have to adapt and join forces to keep their own respective family businesses cooking.

Their marriage of “business” is supposed to be cut and dry…a proposal of sorts to help make each of their businesses diversify and strengthen….and also to force their families to just get over it already…then move on. But of course they don’t plan on the attraction and chemistry bubbling up to the surface that is quite evident to everyone but those two. I really enjoyed both of their characters, the full cast, the added twist to the classic narrative, and their relationship progression as the story continues.

I also really like that this is the first book in a new series.

I look forward to future books.

The narrator also did a great job.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Dreamscape Media 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 1/25/22.
Profile Image for Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50).
2,024 reviews268 followers
January 20, 2022
The Sweetheart Deal
By: Miranda Liasson
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This novel is full of small town charm. If your a fan of Hallmark movies, this is the book for you. I can see this as a movie.
🍝
Imagine two feuding families. The Castorini’s and the Montogomery’s. Leo Castorini’s family has an Italian restaurant that has been in his family for years and Tessa Montogery’s family owns a Boulangerie and makes bread.
🥖
Tessa and Leo have been competing since high school and have always bantered. Their families have had an ongoing feud. They have each made decisions which tore them apart. Years later they reconnect. Can the Italian and French families come together if Leo and Tessa marry?
🍝🥖
I thoroughly enjoyed this charming novel. This novel is available January 25, 2022. Thank you @dreamscapemedia and @negalley for this advanced audio.
Profile Image for JoAnna.
234 reviews
November 8, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Do you ever read a book, and as you are reading you want to yell at the characters for being blockheads? And so you actually yell at the book but then have to explain to your partner who is sitting with you what is happening so he doesn't think you are crazy? Just me? Okay then. When I read the synopsis of this book I got major Romeo & Juliet vibes (we have the Castorinis & Montgomerys aka the Capulets & Montagues), which I always love to see twists of, and add to it a fake marriage trope COMBINED with enemies to lovers? Yep, sign me up.

This book follows Tessa and Leo as they set out to resolve their families longstanding feud and save the family businesses. We have Italian vs. French in a battle for food dominance where hearts are on the line, not just peoples pocketbooks. Leo and Tessa have been competing for years, as they grew up together (yes, lets add in the boy next door/girl next door trope too!) and they both long for things to improve for their family, willing to do whatever it takes for them to thrive. The end result is for them to get married, with a legally binding contract, so that things could improve. This book has hijinks, lots of familial bonding & love, a cat named Cosette, and a surprisingly slow burn considering all that this book puts in place for the main couple. I finished this book a few hours after getting it because once I started reading I had a hard time stopping.

My only cons to this book are minor and really not even that negative - yet they can be borderline spoilery (though really you can get the context from the synopsis). 1) There was NO REASON they had to actually be married! This is more of a commentary on the trope in general - why sign the paperwork and make it a legally binding marriage when you can just get a fake license and hold out as if you are married!? Do you know how much work a divorce is?! That just means there are so many extra people to lie to! Jeez. I mean I get it, it works for the trope - it worked GREAT in this book - but it is a thing I always wonder about when reading this trope, thus the yelling at the book. 2) This isn't a negative, more a funny thing my partner noticed. Leo's initials spell out LLC (at least in the ARC that I have - could change by print) - which is HILARIOUS to us since he is a business person and has a MBA degree. Miranda - I have no idea if you did this intentionally or not but PLEASE don't change it, it made me so happy. We couldn't find anything with Tessa's name but Leo's name made my day.

In the end, I really enjoyed this book and I would love to read more books set in this world/about these characters. 5/5
Profile Image for Patricia.
13 reviews2 followers
November 27, 2021
Once I started reading I didn’t want to put it down. The characters were believable and likable. If you’re looking for trashy sex scenes, this book is not for you. Personally, I found it refreshing that I didn’t have to skip past pages and pages of sex scenes.

The two main characters have been rivals since high school. They’re both smart and resourceful, and want to move past events that have kept their families enemies. The female lead, Tessa, is the glue that holds her family together. She experiences a breakup that leaves her doubting herself. She throws herself into the family business, but she dreams of doing so much more.

The male lead, Leo, returns to his hometown and throws himself into his family’s business. He butts heads with his stubborn dad, but eventually finds a way to get what he wants in order to save the business.

As with most love stories, we know how it’s going to end. It’s the journey that sweeps us off our feet and has us cheering for the success of the characters and crying with them when their hearts are broken. Leo and Tessa’s journey is filled with determination, humor, love, and truth. I really enjoyed reading this book, and look forward to reading more by this author.

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kari.
4,028 reviews96 followers
February 17, 2022
I love enemies to lovers/ marriage of convenience stories. The Sweetheart Deal hit the spot. It was a sweet story involving Tessa and Leo. Their families have been rivals for years. Both of their family businesses need to be updated to become more successful. The couple decide to have a marriage of convenience to try to end the feud and convince their families they are serious about helping the family businesses.

As I said, this one hit the spot. It was really cute. It's a clean romance with fade to black bedroom scenes. But I really didn't mind because I loved the chemistry between Tessa and Leo. I loved that they had a history. It was fun to watch them fall into love with each other. One thing that this book really highlights is the need to communicate with the people you love. A lot of the issues in the book could have been solved with honest conversations. Both of them had great family members who added a lot to the story. I look forward to their stories in the future. I definitely recommend this one.
Profile Image for Linda.
315 reviews1 follower
November 7, 2021
I received this ARC in exchange for a review. This is the first time I have read a book by this author but I guarantee it won't be the last. It's filled with delightful characters, family, romance and fun. A great read! I am looking forward to reading more stories from this talented author.
Profile Image for Richa.
260 reviews2 followers
January 26, 2022
I LOVED THIS!

This is a story with a modern twist to Romeo and Juliet about two nemesis coming together to save their failing family businesses. We follow Tessa, an aspiring pastry chef stuck in her small town because of her past, and Leo, the rich (and deliciously handsome) chef who’s back home from New York. The family feud has been going on since ages and they’ve been a part of the said rivalry since the very beginning, competing with each other from the time they were children. But everything changes when Leo comes back and proposes an absurd plan-marriage to save their business- leading to utter chaos and drama.

Tessa and Leo have amazing chemistry. The banter, emotional conversations, romance and tension, all were written really well. I loved how both of them were determined and passionate while also being family-oriented. They were both realistic and charming. The small bits of angst kept me on the edge of my seat! Parents who refused to listen to their children, let alone end the family feud, added to the mix. Their journey that sweeps us off our feet and has us cheering for them and crying with them when their hearts are broken.

I liked the plot of this book, it was fresh. I finished the book in one day, so it’s safe to say that the first half of the book sets the perfect pace for the enemies-sort of friends-forced proximity-confusion-love part. But second half of the book, which had the conflict and HEA, felt very rushed.

There’s rivals-to-lovers, childhood crush, humor, bakeries and restaurants, fake marriage/marriage of convenience, and forced proximity, a recipe for the perfect swoon worthy romance!

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