Miranda LiassonBesprekingen
Auteur van This Thing Called Love
Besprekingen
This was super sweet!
Con: it seems that they didn't explore their options for resolving the problem much.
Pros: Even though the plot seems a little rushed I was sucked in. The writing style, banter and characters kept me interested and engaged the whole way!
A sweet romance and friendship too. Not too syrupy or sexy either. Just a fun read.
The Sweetheart Fix fills the bill on all of those notes and more as Ms. Liasson brings her small town characters to vivid life in a fun and entertaining read. The small town of Blossom Glen sounds like the kind of place it would be fun to live – everyone seems friendly and welcoming.
Of course we can’t live in a romance novel as appealing as that might seem.
But for the several hours one gets to inhabit the characters and their lives we can thank the author for providing the lovely escape to places of happy endings and love everlasting.
The Sweetheart Fix and its accompanying novels are great ways to detach from the crazy of the holiday season or the ordinary of your life and just escape into a world that we all know will never be but wouldn’t it be nice…..
Such a fun story, watching two people work out their feelings, past, present, & future. What likeable characters and, mostly, believable situations. Juliet and Jack are perfect together. I even loved the town, Blossom Glen. Ms Liasson even made the secondary characters full of life with stories of their own that melded into the plot.
#Negalley #MirandaLiasson #TheSweetheartFix #EntangledPublishing
Jack and Juliette were great together, although it took them some time to figure that out. Juliette is just starting out as a counselor in her hometown where everyone knows her history so she is questioned about her ability to give relationship advice after a few failed engagements. Jack is the town’s mayor and needs some help dealing with the people in town. Juliette ends up helping Jack out as the new town counselor and through working together they find that they are more compatible than they ever would have imagined.
I enjoyed watching Jack and Juliette fall for each other even though the romance seemed to move fairly slowly at times but that is just because they were both trying to be very careful. I thought that they had great chemistry together and I loved the fact that they had a lot of family support. The secondary characters in this story were very well done and added a lot to the story.
I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. This was a charming small-town romance with an unforgettable cast of characters. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Entangled: Amara.
After Kit’s husband, Carson, died in the line of duty, she’s been going through the motions, raising her young son and leaning on her parents for support. It's been two years since Carson died, though, and Kit is beginning to feel restless. She knows she needs to get moving again, to start living fully, reclaiming her independence, and preparing her son for school.
One of the first things she needs to take care of is a dilapidated home Carson inherited. She needs to put it on the market, but before she can get her plans in gear, Carson’s best friend, Alex de la Cruz, returns home and barges into her life, insisting he help get the old house in shape so she can sell it.
Alex, riddled with guilt about Carson's death, is determined to fix up the old house for Kit- feeling it was the least he could do. He feels he owes Carson, but he’s not looking forward to confronting Kit. The two have never had a close relationship and he knows Kit will resist his involvement.
Sure enough, once Kit finds him doing repairs on the house the sparks fly- more ways than one!
Mix up some good friends, light banter, big ‘pull on the heartstrings' moments, romance, a cute kid, and adorable animals and you have the recipe for a lovely inspirational beach read. I say that because 'Summer' is part of the title, the season is almost officially here, and this is the type of book I’d like to enjoy sitting poolside or while spending a day at the beach. But this story is so lovely and touching I’d recommend reading it no matter what the current season is.
I loved this book so much! It is emotional at times, and I did swallow a lump in my throat once or twice, but mostly this story made me happy. Two people working through their grief, finding love again, and seeing a special little boy have a father figure in his life was so heartwarming and uplifting!
This is only my second book by this author- but I have a feeling she may become on of my favorites!
All the stars for this one!
*Expected publication date- June 28, 2022- Edelweiss review copy.
And that is just what I was given with The Sweetheart Deal. From the first page through to the end I pretty much knew what was going to happen but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this fun and breezy novel. The lead characters are what you are looking for in a romance; smart, good looking, and just perfect for each other – if only they would realize it.
And they do, it just takes them a little longer than it took us. But that is the fun of a romance novel, isn’t it. They are here to entertain us and remind us that love is all around. The Sweetheart Deal is a perfect way to spend a weekend while munching on a cupcake or an eclair.
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.
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.
Can this modern day Romeo and Juliet story result in a happy ending for Tess and Leo and their families? Will getting married help them achieve their dreams?
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.
I'm giving a, rare for me, 5 stars to The Sweetheart Deal. I enjoyed this story so much that I'm gushing. The characters are wonderful, the romance is lovely, and the secondary characters aren't really secondary so much as part of the flip side of it. When you mix romance with food and bread, well I'm all in. I was in no way disappointed. The author is new to me but I'm now on the lookout for more of her stories. This is labeled as Blossom Glen book 1 and I'm looking forward to book 2.
#TheSweetheartDeal #MirandaLiasson #Netgalley #Entangled: Amara #romance
Author: Miranda Liasson
Publisher: Entangled Publishing LLC
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"The Sweetheart Deal" by Miranda Liasson
My Opinion:
'The Sweetheart Deal' seemed to be somewhat updated from the Romeo and Juliet story, a delightful novel set in a small town. To see these two families [the Mongomery's and the Castorini Clan] who have been feuding for generations are now coming together. However, will this six-month fake marriage work for Tessa and Leo? What will happen as the love bug sneaks itself into their plans? What had happened early in their lives as these two, Tessa and Leo, were high school rivals?
The characters were well-developed for the most part; however, some of the secondary characters [Tessa's sisters] got on my nerves at times.
For most of the story was a sweet and intriguing fun read, with some 'mystery, drama, and romance' that will keep your attention as you are kept turning the pages. However, to see how this relationship will grow and see if these family members will finally forget about this long-held feud and become friends, you will have to pick up "The Sweetheart Deal" and see how well this author brings it all together to the reader.
In the end, the reader will get a heartwarming story that I would recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
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!
Tony is also newly back to Seashell Harbor after a knee injury ended his football career. Now, he's looking to continue his legacy by opening a restaurant. Problem is, it's Hadley grandmother's building he's looking to buy.
What starts as a competition soon turns into Cam and Hadley reigniting that old flame. But will their career goals get in the way of what they could have together?
I enjoyed how we see both Hadley and Cam coming back to their hometown after both having some super life-changing moments happen in their lives. And in turn seeing how they each are coping with their change. Namely, they're both reaching for their futures and questioning what their futures should look like. Cam wants to open a restaurant, but is conflicted between utilizing his fame as a pro-football player versus wanting to keep it close to his family's heart.
Hadley doesn't want to see her grandmother give up her business due to pressure from Cam to sell, but an injury causes Hadley to take over running her grandmother's dog grooming business and she begins to see an opportunity for growth. But her heart still sees being in Seashell Harbor as a summer-only respite.
While both are questioning their futures, Cam and Hadley bond over their shared past and learn that feelings they've had for one another are still there.
I kind of liked seeing them work through their business conflicts then their burgeoning romance as two separate entities. Obviously there comes a point where these things converge, but building up separately really gives readers a good glimpse of how much they both stand to lose in the process.
Along the way, Miranda Liasson does this great thing where we get clear pictures of the next books in the series which I'm assuming will follow Hadley's friends. Their setups are wonderful yet don't detract from Hadley and Cam's focus whatsoever.
I will say that Coming Home to Seashell Harbor doesn't break any new ground. It might seem downright repetitive to many, but I always feel like there's something to be said for those comfort reads that you know will satisfy and enjoy, much like coming home again. Seashell Harbor is somewhere you just want to tuck in a lose yourself for a short while.
I look forward to seeing this series grow and seeing where things go with the other characters along the way.
A well traveled route, man unable to 'love' due to mommy and daddy issues and woman who has given up on finding her HEA after a divorce (cheating husband).
It has an added extra, he works away in dangerous situations related to his issues and they have met before.
Bit predictable but if you like this sort of story then it's fine.
Kaitlyn has had a long time crush on her friends' brother and when they have one too many drinks at a wedding, Kaitlyn finds out her life is going to drastically change in nine months.
Rafe was engaged young and lost his fiancee and though not a lot of people know, she was pregnant. Every since then he has tried to wall his heart off but Kaitlyn always finds way to sneak past his guard. When a baby and a fake engagement force him into opening up to her more, he begins to realize that maybe loving again is worth the risk.
And oh, she felt the current between them, strong as always, brought on by camaraderie and banter, but sustained by pure, unholy chemistry.
Third in the Angel Falls series, readers have been waiting for Rafe and Kaitlyn to finally get together. In the previous book, we saw them hook-up and All I Want For Christmas Is You starts off with Kaitlyn realizing she is pregnant from that encounter. Previous characters from the first two books in the series make appearances here but mostly stay to the side as Kaitlyn and Rafe work out their issues. Kaitlyn's troubled niece adds some extra stress to Kaitlyn's storyline and I only really liked her addition as a maybe see these character in a future book with her good-looking and nice kid math tutor.
Kaitlyn was like sunshine, offering warmth and sweetness and… hope. The scary part was that she made him wonder, what would it be like to dare to step into that light?
Rafe's issues with opening up to Kaitlyn were understandable but as I didn't get any flashback scenes with him and his previous fiancee and it was so many years ago, I never felt emotionally connected to his heartbreak. This made his reluctance and dragging feet to accept he liked and loved Kaitlyn feel kind of prolonged towards the middle and end. The whole plot of his grandmother faking a heart-attack and their fake engagement felt like going through the motions of a trope, not many funny moments or tension emotions taken out of it.
Kaitlyn and Rafe do have sweet and cute moments together but the vast majority of emotional energy from the two is Kaitlyn thinking how Rafe is acting toward and what he is doing for her is from a sense of obligation for the baby and Rafe stays in his past hurts purgatory for so long, the pace and tone of the story isn't very upbeat.
“Someone should make you feel special every single day.”
I felt like I got to know Kaityln more as a character and the heap of stresses she had on her plate, unplanned pregnancy, troubled niece, and trying to win a cookie recipe contest to help her bakery out had me feeling for her. I would have liked a couple more scenes with her and her friends to see her communicate and have her personality flourish in that way. Rafe didn't shine as brightly for me, he's a fireman but we almost never see him in that capacity or get a feel for him in that way and he has a certain cloud of moping around him. Like I said, these two did have some sweet moments together but I would have liked to have seen more of a definitive growing and marked decision to choose one another; the surprise pregnancy kind of made the decision for Rafe.
The ending added some extra angst that I wasn't sure fit the previous cozy, low-key tone of the story (obligatory firefighter in danger angst) and again helped make the decision for our couple to come together instead of showing a more emotional journey to get there. Except for holiday baking and some family get togethers, the holiday feel could have been stronger and since I'm a big dog lover, I could have stood for more cute puppy scenes. This had some checklist tropes and additives that didn't quite end up jumping out at me but this also had some quiet sweetness.
Colton is really good at his job, even if at times he felt that he fell into it and didn't choose this path. He is currently having a bit of fun sparring with Sara. She is back in town after a year's absence after a bad breakup. Sara gets to Colton and he beings to realize that he might want to do more with Sara than fight.
Sara is hardly prepared to get involved with Colton. After all, he is called the Revolver, alluding to his sexual exploits. No way will she put up with a man like that, especially since he was really unkind to her when they were in high school. Also, she feels that Colton has a lot of blame for her awful breakup. With Colton's pursuit and Sara's reticence, it was lovely to find out that there were buried feelings between them and it was very enjoyable watching them work things out.
I loved meeting Sara and family, and this book was a great introduction to a new series. We got to meet Sara's sisters, brother and grandmother - who, by the way, has a very touching role as an Alzheimer's sufferer. There were definitely some poignant moments in this story. Loved the dogs in this book as well.
Then There Was You was a terrific story that had a lot of layers. Imagining how Sara could grow fond of Colton was something that I did because of their history. A history of missed opportunities that could grow into a lifetime of happiness. I so loved watching this evolve. The story delivered a bunch of great one-liners too. I really enjoyed this sensitive book and already read the next in the series.
This is the first book in the Angel Falls series and was followed by The Way You Love Me, which was just released and then readers have All I Want for Christmas in September to look forward to.
Many thanks to Forever for this ARC for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Gabby Langdon just made partner at her law firm and she should be deliriously happy. She does enjoy her job, but she has a bigger dream. Gabby wants to be a writer. Over the years, she has taken a lot of auxiliary classes trying to find her niche, and she knows without a doubt that it is writing. So, she takes a creative writing class.
Caden Marshall is a best-selling author who has taken a job as a professor. One of his students causes an immediate distraction. However, Cade has a lot of baggage. He was humiliated in the publishing world, he is divorced, and he is raising his four-year-old daughter on his own. Cade hopes being back in Angel Falls will put everything to rights, even if he never writes another book.
What are Cade and Gabby going to do now that it is clear that they are very attracted to one another. With regard to Cade, he really cannot date a student. it is unethical. As far as Gabby is concerned, she previously ended a serious relationship and doesn't want a fling or anything remotely like that. She is nearing thirty-one and is looking for a future. As drawn as she is to Cade, how can he be the man for her?
Just before I read this book, I read the first book in the series. I was quite drawn into the family with that book and this followed along just perfectly. Readers got to see who Gabby had dated previously and that gave a terrific basis for this story. However, the books do well as standalones.
We meet the adorable Nonna again, an Alzheimer sufferer, and I think she, as well as the rest of the family, fit quite well in this story. Despite Nonna's losses, she still has some great expressions to share. Also, there is a bit of a legend, touched on ever so slightly in these books, so there is no doubt at all that there will be a happy ending. Both Gabby and Cade are strong, enjoyable characters. I especially loved Cade and his relationship with his daughter Ava. For example, he Googles hairstyles for Ava.
For an enjoyable read, one that will leave you feeling refreshed - if not a bit attached to this lovely family - then I encourage you to grab this and the first book. This is the second book in the Angel Falls series and was preceded by Then There Was You, and then readers have All I Want for Christmas in September to look forward to. Rafe and Kaitlyn finally get there story. I definitely have been rooting for them.
Many thanks to Forever for this ARC for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
I love second chance books and this is a good one. It's not the usual love lost, love found kind of second chance. It's a second chance at loving one's self and loving another after finally facing a past that held you back. The story of loving your siblings friend is common, but this one has a twist, a heartbreaking twist. Meg and Ben have an adorable romance, a little more snarky than smutty. I really enjoyed that the characters went on normal dates, had family drama, and continued going on with their lives in normal ways. It wasn't just about the relationship between two people, but the relationship with those in the community as well. The secondary characters brought a lot more to the story than you'd expect and I find myself wanting to check in with them and what they are doing.
Unfortunately, I never got a real picture in my head of what Ben or Meg really looked like. There's a mention of height and a beard, but I got pretty confused when Meg described herself as figure-less and on the next chapter Ben described her as petite and curvy. I never developed a real connection to either of them, because I just couldn't see them. On the other hand, I can see Sam and Lukas clear as day. The last chapter wrapped up everything very quickly and I could have easily read a few more chapters on their romance blossoming finally.
I think this is the kind of book that makes for a great relaxing read and can be enjoyed by those who like series and standalone novels.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog, Carlene Inspired.
Using humor to address a serious subject is rapidly becoming the perfect antidote for emotional stories. Miranda Liasson does so in such a way that I forgot I was reading and became involved in Preston and Cat's romance. That's the greatest compliment an author can ever receive in my point of view. A Man of Honor tackles adjusting after life changing circumstances force change to come about. A wounded soldier struggling with injury and scars mentally and physically has to learn it's okay to be vulnerable again and let light into your soul. A woman seeking closure on a whirlwind relationship proves be a wonderful healing tonic on his road to recovery.
ARC Review: Can't Fight This Feeling (Spikonos Brothers) by Miranda Liasson
Home. How can such a simple word play such an integral part in the way we view the world, others and even ourselves? Can't Fight This Feeling is the culmination of a bond between friends, brothers and family whether by blood or through love family and love. What began as the heartbreaking journey of three brothers finding their way back to each other has morphed into something bigger. Maturity, insight and forgiveness has allowed the once estranged Spikonos brothers to open their hearts and find love and hope in the most unlikely of places.With Can't Fight this Feeling, Ms. Liasson gives a glimpse into the world of money, power and privilege through the eyes of Drew Poulos, runaway groom. Wealthy does not necessarily mean happy. Now the golden boy has to decide, if his life of means is worth giving up the woman of his dreams. Maggie and Drew's road is paved with insecurities, heartache, loss and sacrifice but it also brings rewarding experiences. Mirror Lake is not just a fictional town. Visiting is like coming home.
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This is the second book in the Blossom Glen series. This installment is centered around Juliet Montgomery who achieves, then loses, her dream job of being a couple’s counselor, all in one day.
Ordered by her boss to fix her own issues with men after several close encounters with the marriage alter, Juliet puts her therapists’ skills to use by helping Jack, the town mayor, who needs someone to work out a few sweetheart deals for his patrons- something he’s not too good at- while he tries to save his grandmother’s land from greedy developers.
Jack is a man of action- not of words, which is why he needs help from Juliet. The problem is the two of them mix like oil and water. But that might be a good thing as neither one of them is looking for a relationship. While they agree on this head knowledge- their hearts seem to have a mind of their own…
This is a nice gentle romance about two people with opposite personalities who, despite their best efforts, end up falling in love with each other. There is a nice balance of humor, romance, angst, family and friendship- all of which are presented with a light and easy tone. The emotional topics are not very heavy, the banter is fun, and the story is a charming mood enhancer.
I read the first book a while back and really liked it, too- so I’m looking forward to reading the third book in the series, hopefully soon!
*PG13 content. Not entirely ‘clean’- some mild language and sexual situations.