Publishers Weekly
12/13/2021
Liasson (Coming Home to Seashell Harbor) charms with her witty Blossom Glen series launch, a modern twist on Romeo and Juliet. A year after Tessa Montgomery’s fiancé dumped her, their breakup is still the hottest gossip in small-town Blossom Glen, Ind., where she’s struggling to keep her family’s bakery afloat. Then Leo Castorini returns to town to help out with his family’s nearby restaurant. The Montgomery and Castorini families have been rivals ever since one of Leo’s ancestors jilted a Montgomery at the altar. Though Tessa had a crush on Leo in high school, their family feud kept them apart. Now both struggle to be taken seriously by their parents, until Leo floats a scheme to make their parents pay attention—and save both family businesses—by faking a marriage. Tessa reluctantly agrees, on the condition that they go their separate ways after six months. But as they work together to convince their loved ones the marriage is real, a genuine connection forms. Liasson brings her idyllic small town to life with a close-knit, engaging cast; humor; and sparkling romance. Readers will be cheering for Leo and Tessa to find their happily ever after. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Feb.)
Kirkus Reviews
2022-01-03
Two sworn enemies enter a modern-day marriage of convenience.
Tessa Montgomery is single, 32 years old, and stuck in her hometown. Despite good grades in high school, she never left Blossom Glen, Indiana, to become a pastry chef and still works in her family’s boulangerie, where her ex-fiance, Sam, visits almost daily to seek guidance about his shiny new relationship. Enter Leo Castorini, now back from a high-powered finance job in New York City to help his father with their failing family restaurant—and who beat out Tessa for a coveted college scholarship when they were teenagers. Tessa never disclosed her secret crush on the handsome, cocky Leo, which was always convenient, as the Montgomery and Castorini families have a long-standing rivalry dating back a hundred years. Leo comes to Tessa with a plan: To save both family businesses, they should tie the knot themselves. Tessa immediately declines until she considers what it could mean for the Montgomery bakery, which is struggling just as much as the Castorini restaurant. Soon, Tessa and Leo are officially married and living together in a charming new house…and learning there’s a lot to love about one another. Meanwhile, Tessa’s YouTube channel takes off, and she gets a promising new opportunity. But Leo wants to stay right where he is, in Blossom Glen. Can the enemies-turned-spouses make it work for real despite their still-squabbling clans? And what secrets are they hiding from each another? Liasson nails small-town romance: Blossom Glen itself comes alive with every endearing description, and Montgomery baked goods and Castorini dishes are presented in mouthwatering detail. The plot is a lovely contemporary take on a tale as old as time, with two equally strong leads and a colorful cast of parents, siblings, aunts, and uncles. Finally, the couple’s chemistry is hot (though the book’s heat level doesn’t go beyond kissing), and their conflicts are realistic and must be resolved through mature communication.
A fun, updated take on Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending.
