Book Review of 'The Sweetheart Deal' by Lenora Worth

Hello Bookworms!

Finding authors that are new to me has been a big personal goal for 2025, and today I am featuring another author that I was recently introduced to. I am excited to add another name to the roster!

I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Sweet Cozy Romance and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours.

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Sweetheart Deal by Lenora Worth, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Sweetheart Deal
Author: Lenora Worth
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: September 10, 2025
Genre: Sweet Cozy Romance

"One day I’m going to marry you..."

Jake Harper had said those words to Vanessa Conroy since kindergarten, but after watching her parents’ bitter divorce and living with her mother’s devastation, Vanessa made a promise to herself—she’s never getting married. She’ll stay single and pursue her dream of being a ready-to-wear fashion designer.

In high school, Vanessa dated and broke up with every bad boy in the book, while Jake remained her consistent buddy. He was her wingman, her best friend, her go-to person for special occasions, but she held him at a distance. Why ruin a wonderful friendship? On the night of their final prom, Jake takes a risk and kisses her. Stunned by how right it feels, Vanessa rashly blurts out a deal: if they’re still single at thirty, maybe she’ll marry him.

Now, thirteen years later, they’re back in Sweetheart Bay to be part of her sister’s wedding. And they’re both still single at thirty. Vanessa begins to see Jake in a new, more romantic light, but Jake, a successful architect living in California, hasn’t said a word about their old pact.

As family drama bubbles and old feelings resurface, Vanessa must face the one possibility she’s always run from: what if her true love has been standing beside her all along? Can she and Jake find their happily-ever-after back on Sweetheart Bay?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

My Review

This novel has such a cute premise and was a plot I often dreamed of when I was younger. Who doesn’t want someone that loves you unconditionally and is always faithful and a huge supporter in your life? It’s clear from the jump that Jake is a real one. While Vanessa might not take him seriously when they were kids, it’s obvious he’s got a pure heart and is growing into a strong, loving, and supportive man.

I’m not sure what it was, but there was something about Vanessa that rubbed me the wrong way. She came across as a pretty selfish person while also having moments of caring, but only when it comes to her and her family. There were moments that seemed to drag as Jake and Vanessa hash and rehash their relationship, which became tedious with each conversation. While I felt charmed by the pair and the premise, over time it did become a bit tired and felt surface-level. The ending was incredibly predictable yet sweet, but I was left wanting and wishing there was more focus put on Jake.

While not the most eloquently written story, there is a sweet charm that permeates the narrative. The invisible strings that bind Vanessa and Jake together are evident with every scene they share, and you can’t help but feel something for these characters. While I was reading this novel, I was deep into the throws of helping to plan my younger sister’s wedding and felt the wedding chaos in my bones, though I hope my sister’s wedding goes a lot smoother than Rachel’s did.

With a cute premise and charming characters, The Sweetheart Deal is an entertaining read and is one deal that, honestly, we all win.

My Rating: ★★★★

About the Author

A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Honor Roll, Lenora Worth writes romance and romantic suspense for Love Inspired, sweet romance for Tule Publishing, and single-title Amish stories for Kensington Books. Three of her books finaled in the ACFW Carol Awards, and she received the Romantic Times Pioneer Award for Inspirational Fiction. Lenora is a NY Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and ECPA bestselling writer and a 2019 RWA RITA® Finalist. With one-hundred-plus books and novellas published and 5.3 million books in print, she enjoys adventures with her retired husband and loves reading, baking, and shopping … especially shoe shopping.

Go to lenoraworth.com to sign up for Lenora’s newsletter and find her book list and upcoming releases.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a $20 Amazon gift card, print copies of Designing His Bride and The Widow’s Unexpected Suitor, and beachy goodies!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 23, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 30, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies
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Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!