The Sweetheart Deal

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.

The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson, book one in her Blossom Glen series, is a wonderful, emotional, sweet romance, a marriage of convenience with a twist on Romeo and Juliet. Tessa Montgomery works hard in her family’s struggling Boulangerie, making bread every day, while dreaming of someday opening a French Patisserie with delicate, mouthwatering French pastries. She tends to put everyone, especially her family, ahead of her desires and needs. She would do anything for them; including give up pastry school. Chef Leo Castorini returned home to help his family’s struggling Italian restaurant. His father is stubborn, and old school, not allowing Leo to make any changes, while Leo fears that without any major changes the restaurant won’t last much longer. The Montgomery and Castorini families have been feuding for years with the two families acting like 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 truly prove that 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. Living together, Leo and Tessa are soon discovering an attraction and chemistry neither expected; although there were peaks of it while they were in school together. Their competitiveness soon shifts into finding a way to save their family businesses, even as their feelings toward each other begin to change. Ms. Liasson wrote a wonderful marriage of convenience story that is a must read. She provided a sweet, emotional tale, filled with clever banter, good intentions, and a cast of secondary characters assisting Tessa and Leo help their families as they find the love they both deserved. I highly recommend The Sweetheart Deal to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

A sweet twist on Romeo and Juliet. Leo will do anything to save his father's restaurant and Tessa's mom bakery including marrying the arch enemy, Tessa. A marriage of convenience comes into the plans of these polar opposites but soon their hearts will get involved. This is a must read of a sweet romance with plenty of banter that will have you laughing out loud. Lots of yummy food and the love of family. I highly recommend this book.